Frequently Asked Questions

Notify your AFI agent as soon as possible when you acquire a new vehicle. On some policies and in some states, you have 14 days to add the vehicle to your policy. The vehicle will be added to your policy effective the date of purchase. The newly acquired vehicle will receive the highest coverage afforded by your auto policy until it is added as a specific vehicle on your insurance with the coverage you choose. If you do not have full coverage on any vehicles on your policy, the new car will only have liability coverage. If you have at least one auto insured with full coverage, then the new car will also receive full coverage.

A teenage driver should be added to your insurance policy at the time in which they can legally operate a motor vehicle without being accompanied by an adult driver. In most states this is when they receive their restricted driver license allowing them to drive to and from work or school by themselves.

If you move out of the state in which your auto insurance is written, notify us and we will assist you with the appropriate policy in your new state. Please notify us of any moves you make, even if they are within the same state.

Auto insurance, like most insurance policies, requires a financial interest between the named insured and the property being insured. If you are a title owner of the vehicle along with your child and the child resides in the same household, we will be able to add your child's vehicle to your policy. However, if you are not a titled owner you will not be able to add your child's vehicle to your policy even if they do reside in the same household.

As long as you have at least one vehicle on your policy that has comprehensive and collision coverage you will not have to purchase the rental car companies coverage. If you do not have at least one car with comprehensive and collision coverage, you will need to purchase comprehensive and collision coverage from the rental car company but your policy will provide the liability coverage.

Yes, in most cases you will see a decrease in premium if you raise the comprehensive and/or collision coverage deductibles. Auto insurance rates vary by state and are specific to driver classification and driving records.

Yes, as your agent we insure classic and antique cars through Hagerty Insurance Company who specializes in antique and classic car exposures.

Homeowner's insurance covers damage from many incidents such as fire, theft and vandalism to your house, detached structures, and your personal belongings. It includes coverage for the increase in your living expenses due to damage from a covered loss, if your home becomes temporarily unavailable. There is also personal liability coverage if you or a member of your household accidently injures someone or damages the property of others.

AFI will help determine the amount to insure for by using a rebuilding cost estimate program designed for that purpose.
The factors that are used to determine the cost to rebuild your home include:

• Local construction costs and the square footage of the structure.
• The age of the home.
• The type of exterior wall construction - frame, masonry (brick or stone) or veneer - and the material used for the roof.
• The style of the house (ranch, colonial, etc).
• Attached or detached garages, type of foundation and other special features in the home.

Your replacement cost is not necessarily the market value of the home. Your home should be insured for what it would cost to rebuild it in the event you had a total loss, including the cost to tear down the destroyed structure and haul it away.

In the event of an unexpected loss, your homeowner policy covers the loss of your personal belongings, subject to the policy limits and conditions.

There are two ways to insure your personal property:

• Replacement cost coverage. This coverage pays you the dollar amount needed to replace personal property without any deduction for depreciation, up to the policy limits.
• Actual Cash Value. This coverage pays you an amount equal to the replacement value of damaged property minus depreciation based on the age of the items. Unless a homeowner policy specifies that property is covered for its replacement value, the policy is covered for actual cash value.

No, you do not have to wait until your renewal date to change insurance companies. If you cancel before your policy expiration date you will receive a pro-rata premium refund from the date of cancellation through your expiration date. However, you should check with your current carrier to discuss their cancellation and refund procedures.

The selection of a contractor is your choice. Please review the estimate with your choice of contractor. Should the estimate provided by Armed Forces Insurance not be accepted by your contactor, please have your contractor provide a line-item detailed estimate of repairs to Armed Forces Insurance prior to any agreement. We reserve our right to review and examine for approval any change in scope or estimated charges for repairs. In certain instances, it may be necessary to have the independent adjuster return and inspect the damaged property. The independent adjuster will compare your contractor's line item estimate to his line item estimate to make certain the damages are the same and the costs are in line with the industry standard for your area. If needed, the independent adjuster will work with your contractor to reach an agreement on the repairs. However, if your contractor is not willing to negotiate to reach an agreement, Armed Forces Insurance will make settlement based on the independent adjuster's estimate and industry standard.

Nothing is worse than being responsible for damage to someone else's property or for someone else's injuries. Your homeowner policy will provide liability coverage for most situations. Coverage limits are available from $100,000 to $500,000 in most states.

This coverage is part of your homeowner insurance policy. It protects you and your family against property damage or bodily injury claims for which you are legally responsible. Liability insurance covers you, for example, if you are responsible for the injury when someone slips and falls on your property or if your dog bites someone.

Today, when multimillion-dollar lawsuits are common, your homeowner policy may provide substantial liability limits, but it may not be enough. You may want to consider contacting your AFI agent to discuss an Umbrella liability policy for additional liability coverage. An Umbrella policy provides additional coverage over and above the limits provided for personal liability on a homeowner policy and an automobile insurance policy.

Homeowners who guard against theft, accidents and other losses can avoid losses and sometimes get lower insurance rates and policy discounts. Here are some things that you can do to keep your home and belongings safe and reduce the possibility of a loss:

• Secure your home with dead bolts and window locks.
• Install a security system which is monitored by an independent alarm company.
• Install and maintain smoke detectors.
• Keep walks and entrances clear of snow and ice.

Yes. You can purchase separate coverage for specifically listed items. Your AFI agent can provide more information on a policy AFI has to provide coverage for items such as jewelry, watches, furs and stamp or coin collections. You can insure the listed items for their full value. This separate policy provides coverage for more perils than the homeowner policy including losses from accidental breakage or mere loss of an item.

If you do not OWN the home you occupy, you should consider Renter's insurance to provide protection to you (and your family) in the event you fall victim to a natural disaster or crime. You see stories on the news and social media every day of people who face the daunting task of recovering after a fire, tornado, or theft to the home they rent. Buying Renter's insurance gives you peace of mind, when Mother Nature or your "neighbors" don't.

Everyone should have insurance to protect against lawsuits or litigation for bodily injury to other persons, or property damage to someone else's property. AFI recommends liability insurance to all renters because it also provides Legal Defense, Medical Payments, and protection if you (as a renter/tenant) are liable for damage caused by fire, smoke, or explosion.

Yes, AFI's Renters Insurance provides world-wide insurance coverage for your personal property and liability. You may have things in storage, or stored at your home of record. We all have things in our cars, and auto insurance may not provide insurance for personal property in an auto. Renter's insurance is not limited to your residence.

Explain your needs to an AFI agent to get details on the best way to build your Renters Insurance package. (A package includes insurance for household goods and liability.)

No, you do not have to wait until your renewal date to change insurance companies. If you cancel before your policy expiration date you will receive a pro-rata premium refund from the date of cancellation through your expiration date. However, you should check with your current carrier to discuss their cancellation and refund procedures.

In most states AFI will offer Comprehensive Coverage meaning that in addition to having insurance for the commonly insured perils of fire, wind, and theft, you may purchase an endorsement to have insurance for Accidental Breakage, Flood, Sinkhole, and Earthquake.

Yes, at the renewal date of your policy. All we need is a copy of your current declarations page and elevation certificate (if applicable). Upon receipt of these documents, an AFI flood agent will contact you to review coverage amounts and make any necessary changes. Call our Flood Department at 800-495-8232 and an agent will guide you through this process.

Yes! You are eligible to purchase a flood policy with the same coverage you would receive if you lived in a high-risk area. That is of course, as long as your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). And, you may qualify for the Preferred Risk Policy (a low-cost flood insurance policy). Call our Flood Department at 800-495-8232 for a free quote.

There is a 30-day waiting period from the time a policy is purchased until you are covered, with the following exception:

There is no waiting period for a new Federally backed loan closing. In this case, coverage is effective immediately, as long as the premium is presented at or prior to loan closing.

No. The Flood insurance policy only covers direct physical flood damage to the dwelling and does not provide additional living expenses.

Flood, as defined in the National Flood Insurance Program flood insurance policy, means:

1. A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or of two or more properties (at least one of which is your property) from:
   1. Overflow of inland or tidal waters;
   2. Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source;
   3. Mudflow.
2. Collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or similar body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels that result in a flood as defined in 1.a. above.

To determine if you need an umbrella policy, you may want to answer the following questions to see if you could be held financially responsible for bodily injury or property damage to someone else.

• Do you own a home with a pool, hot tub or pets?
• Do you own any rental properties?
• Do you have inexperienced drivers in your household?
• Do you have any boats, motorcycles or ATV's?
• Do you own property or have investments and savings that are worth more than your current liability limits on you homeowners and automobile policies?

To help determine an amount you should first start with your Net Worth as a guideline. You would need to add the value of everything you own together to include home, investments, bank accounts and retirement accounts. Once you have that total then you would subtract any debts you currently have with the resulting number as your Net Worth.

Assets - Debts = Net Worth (Amount of Liability Exposure)

With AFI we do not require both home and auto insurance in order to write an umbrella policy. Our requirement is that you carry your primary insurance with AFI and carry the minimum underlying limits. Please contact an agent for the eligibility requirements.

AFI E-Z Pay is an automated Bill Payment service that is offered free from AFI. It provides a secure way to pay your bills electronically.

It's easy you can do one of the following:

• Initiate this over the phone by calling 800-524-9325.
• You can obtain an authorization form and mail to AFI.
• Login to your AFIconnect account.

Once we receive your signed authorization, we can begin the process to automatically pay your bills.

Contact AFI at 800-524-9325 as soon as you know. Depending on the timing, we may need to stop the automated bill payment. If you are switching to a new bank, you will need to complete a new authorization form. If you are staying at your current bank, just changing accounts there, we can make that change over the phone.

You can specify what day of the month (1-28) you want your payment debited. The payment will be withdrawn on that day or the next business day.

We accept cash; check; money order; electronic payments (ACH) and credit cards (Visa or Master Card).

Yes, you can register your AFIconnect account or sign-in to your account if already register and pay your bill online.

Yes, however, once a payment has been authorized and confirmed, we have a very limited amount of time to adjust that payment, so we would need to take action immediately in order to comply with your changes.

The payment will be recorded on your account on the date the payment was made.

The policy provisions provide for settlement to be made on the basis of actual cash value (ACV) until the repair(s) or replacement has been completed. You have a limited period of time to submit documentation for the actual expenses incurred for like kind and quality. You have up to 180 days from the date of loss to file for a supplemental payment under the replacement cost provision of the policy.

If you have repaired or replaced with like kind and quality, you may be entitled to replacement cost coverage. To request coverage under the replacement cost coverage, you must submit all itemized paid receipt(s) or statement(s) of completion which details the full scope of work, agreed price, and completion date for the repair or replacement of the damaged property being claimed. Some property is not subject to replacement cost coverage and will be listed in your policy or endorsement. Actual repair or replacement with like kind and quality is required for coverage under the replacement cost coverage. If you do not repair or replace with like kind and quality, you are not entitled to coverage under the replacement cost coverage.

Armed Forces Insurance has a legal responsibility to protect the interest of the mortgage company or lien holder that has a financial interest in your property. If there is a mortgage and/or lien holder on the property, the settlement check will include the mortgage company and/or lien holder. You must contact the mortgage company and/or lien holder to make arrangements for them to endorse the settlement check(s). If the settlement check is not endorsed by all persons, mortgage companies and/or lien holders, the settlement check will be returned to your financial institution and withdrawn from your account. Armed Forces Insurance will not be responsible for any checks that may be returned on your account or the associated overdraft charges because the settlement check was returned for an improper endorsement.

If the mortgage company and/or lien holder is not correct, or there is no longer a mortgage and/or lien holder, please notify us immediately. We will need a copy of your new mortgage paperwork or , if there is no longer a mortgage, a copy of the lien release. If you do not have a copy of the lien release, you can obtain one through your Register of Deeds office.

Stop the water flow

• Turn off the water to the appliance/fixture.
• Contact a plumber to make the necessary repair. Please be advised that the policy specifically excludes loss to the system or appliance from which the water escaped; therefore, we will be unable to reimburse you for any repairs to the plumbing or appliance which caused the loss.
• Make sure to retain the part. You or your contractor may give the damaged part to the independent adjuster.

Contact Armed Forces Insurance
Our claims department is available 24/7 to accept your emergency calls and to provide you with the necessary assistance to help mitigate your loss. During business hours, our knowledgeable staff will be able to provide you with exceptional customer service. Our water mitigation company will be able to begin drying out your home within 2 hours of your contact. Our on-call answering service specializes in water related losses and will be able to provide you with immediate assistance related to water and the water mitigation company will be able to begin drying out your home within 2 hours of your contact.

The selection of a contractor is your choice. Please review the estimate with your choice of contractor. Should the estimate provided by Armed Forces Insurance not be accepted by your contactor, please have your contractor provide a line-item detailed estimate of repairs to Armed Forces Insurance prior to any agreement. We reserve our right to review and examine for approval any change in scope or estimated charges for repairs. In certain instances, it may be necessary to have the independent adjuster return and inspect the damaged property. The independent adjuster will compare your contractor's line item estimate to his line item estimate to make certain the damages are the same and the costs are in line with the industry standard for your area. If needed, the independent adjuster will work with your contractor to reach an agreement on the repairs. However, if your contractor is not willing to negotiate to reach an agreement, Armed Forces Insurance will make settlement based on the independent adjuster's estimate and industry standard.

Surviving spouses who haven't remarried are eligible.

Provided you and your former spouse are/were AFI members, you are eligible to become a member of AFI in the future.

If you have ever had insurance with AFI then you are always eligible to become an AFI member again, no matter your current military or DoD status.

Our eligibility does not extend to the parents of military personnel.

Currently our membership only extends to Department of Defense employees, not Department of Defense contractors.

Currently our membership is only for U.S. Military branches (Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine, and Navy) and to the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

If your father/mother was insured with AFI then you are eligible.