FAQs
General FAQs
If you need to file a claim, you can call DSI directly at 352-388-0522 or file directly through your insurance carrier.
Contact our office. We’ll need to gather some details from you to submit the request to your insurance carrier.
Getting married or divorced, having a child, purchasing a new car or recreational vehicle, significant health changes, starting a business, major home renovations, and moving are just some major life events that could affect your insurance policy or require you to purchase new ones. Contact your agent directly when you experience any of these events.
Yes. Fill out our Request a Quote form if you’re interested in a new policy. If you’re interested in changing an existing policy, please reach out to your current DSI agent.
Every situation is different, so please contact us to discuss your options and we will guide you through the process.
Post-Hurricane FAQs
Insurance Claims and Cleanup
File a claim and speak with your carrier as soon as possible following the damage.
You’ll need to provide photos and videos of the damage, receipts of anything you may have purchased to mitigate further damage, and if possible, estimated repair or replacement costs for certain items.
Please be patient. Given the number of claims and the extent of the devastation, response times are likely to be slower than normal.
You should take steps to mitigate further damage. Document everything with pictures and videos, and do not throw anything away until you have spoken with your adjuster and received confirmation that you can do so. Keep receipts if you purchase tarps or other supplies to make minor repairs.
Make an itemized list of everything that is damaged or lost. Provide this list to your adjuster so they can confirm what is covered under your policy.
Do not sign an assignment of benefits or any contract that authorizes your insurance company to communicate with the restoration or repair company directly.
We cannot legally advise you whether you should, but if you haven’t spoken to the insurance claims department yet, give them a chance to make contact first.
Your hurricane deductible is an annual, calendar-year deductible. This means if the damage from the first storm is less than your deductible amount, it may be credited towards the damage from a subsequent storm within the same calendar year.
Car Insurance FAQs
*Note, adding a driver to your policy will result in changes to your premium.
Many insurance carriers offer discounts for safe driving, taking a defensive driving course, bundling your policies, and more. Read more here.
Your PIP (Personal Injury Protection) may help cover your medical bills if you sustain an injury while a passenger in an accident. Your liability and Uninsured Motorist coverage can also help cover your expenses. If your bills exceed your coverage limits, you can file a claim with the at-fault driver. Please contact us to discuss your situation.
Your personal insurance can play a role as well as the rideshare company’s insurance policy.
In addition to discounts available, you may be able to save money on your premium by selecting a higher deductible. Likewise, if you have an older car, the cost of collision and comprehensive coverage may be more than the car is worth. Speak to your agent before making these changes.
Most auto policies extend to rental cars, but there are some important differences. There are additional waivers or policies you can select directly from the rental car company.
Home Insurance FAQs
Renovations likely increase the value of your home and some updates—like a pool—may affect your liability. Other renovations—like updated security and monitoring—can get you a discount. Always speak to your agent when you’re renovating your home.
Yes. Like any insurance policy, bundling policies can give you a discount. So can installing certain safety and security systems like a water sensor. Modernizing your electrical and plumbing can also give you a discount on your premium.
An insurance company may decide not to renew your policy when it expires. This might happen because the carrier decides to no longer offer the policy in your area. Other factors include high claim frequency or significant changes to your property. Read more about nonrenewals here.
As has happened recently in Florida, several insurance carriers have decided to stop offering property insurance in the state. Under Florida law, they are required to give you at least 45 days’ notice of the policy ending. If you receive this notice, start looking for a new policy right away instead of waiting until the last minute. If you’re not already, work with an independent insurance agency who can help you compare quotes and find the best coverage.
Market value is the amount a buyer is willing to pay for your property and typically includes the value of the land. Insurance policies tend to use replacement cost which only applies to the cost needed to rebuild your home to its previous condition after a covered loss. Read more here.
Most home insurance policies cover your dwelling and attached structures like an attached garage or deck. Detached garages, sheds and barns, fences, and guest houses are also covered as are your personal belongings inside the home. Coverage for landscaping, driveways, and pools varies by the policy and certain valuable items in your home like fine jewelry or artwork may need additional coverage.
Go through your home room by room and make a detailed list of your belongings with photographs. Be sure to note particularly valuable items like electronics, jewelry, collectibles, and antiques. We recommend doing an annual inventory to keep track of new items and ones you’ve replaced.
Life Insurance FAQs
Yes, many term life policies come with a conversion option during a specific timeframe. If you’re interested in switching, talk to your agent about the different benefits and costs associated.
Yes. A life insurance policy for your children can allow you time and comfort to grieve if you suffer the loss of a child. It can also provide your child with financial support as they themselves age. Read more here.
To change the beneficiaries on your policy, contact your agent directly or see if your carrier allows you to make changes online.
Most carriers only require someone to be 18 to purchase a life insurance policy for themselves. Premium costs are lower the younger and healthier you are. Some carriers have a maximum age for purchasing life insurance or they offer lower coverage amounts the older you are.
Many companies offer their employees life insurance at very low rates, but this won’t always be enough coverage, and you would lose this coverage when you leave the job. The standard coverage amount is 1-2 times your annual salary. Calculate your financial needs as well as your current debt (such as a mortgage), and speak with an agent about whether your employer coverage is enough.
Business Insurance FAQs
If you’re using your car to make deliveries for your work, transport expensive tools and materials related to your job, and especially if you have employees driving cars owned by your company, you need a separate commercial car insurance policy. If you own a food truck or are using large vehicles, they will not be eligible for a personal auto policy. Read more here.
Home insurance sometimes has low coverage amounts for business property. If you are purchasing valuable equipment and goods related to your business, it’s important to insure them. If you have employees or clients coming to your home for business, your liability coverage will not extend to these instances either. If you run a business out of your home, be sure to discuss this with your agent.
In Florida, if you have 4 or more employees, including yourself, you are required to have workers’ compensation insurance. Even “low-risk” industries are required, and some of the most common workers compensation claims can be from repetitive motion (like typing on a computer). While you should always have workers’ compensation coverage, adding voluntary benefits is a way to reduce claims. Read more here.