Guides
Insurance guides
Clear answers to the questions that come up when you shop for coverage, checked against primary sources like state regulators, the NAIC and HealthCare.gov.
Auto insurance
Auto insurance guides
Coverage explained
Non-Owner Car Insurance: Who Needs It and What It Covers
Non-owner car insurance gives you liability coverage when you drive cars you don't own. Learn who needs it, what it covers and what it doesn't.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 6 min readFull Coverage vs. Liability Only: Which Do You Need?
What full coverage car insurance really includes, how it differs from liability-only, and how to decide which is right for your car.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 5 min readWhat Is Gap Insurance and Do You Need It?
Gap insurance pays the difference between what you owe on a car and what it's worth if it's totaled or stolen. Who needs it, where to buy it and how to cancel.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 6 min readUninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage, Explained
About 1 in 7 drivers is uninsured. What uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays, which states require it and how to choose your limits.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 5 min readComprehensive vs. Collision Insurance: What's the Difference?
Collision pays when you hit something. Comprehensive pays for theft, weather, fire and animals. What each covers, when lenders require them and when to drop them.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 4 min readRental Reimbursement and Roadside Assistance: Are They Worth It?
Two inexpensive add-ons that can save a bad week: what rental reimbursement and roadside assistance cover, their limits, and when you can skip them.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 4 min readHow to Choose Your Car Insurance Deductible
A higher deductible lowers your premium but raises what you pay after a claim. How deductibles work and a simple way to pick the right one.
Read guide →Rates and saving
12 Ways to Lower Your Car Insurance Bill
Practical ways to cut your car insurance premium, from comparing quotes at renewal to discounts, deductibles and usage-based programs.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 5 min readHow Your Credit Affects Car Insurance (and Where It Can't)
Most insurers use credit-based insurance scores to help set rates, but some states ban or limit it. How it works and which states restrict it.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 5 min readHow Long Do Tickets and Accidents Affect Car Insurance?
Tickets and at-fault accidents usually affect your rates for about three years, and a DUI often longer. How it works, state rules and when to shop again.
Read guide →Life changes and special situations
What Is SR-22 Insurance and How Does It Work?
An SR-22 proves you carry required car insurance after a DUI, suspension or driving uninsured. How it works, how long you need it and how to get covered.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 6 min readAdding a Teen Driver to Your Car Insurance: What to Expect
Adding a teen driver can more than double a household's premium. When to add them, the discounts that help and how to keep costs under control.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 5 min readCar Insurance When You Move to a New State
Moving states means new insurance rules and new deadlines. How soon you need to register your car, why your rate will change and how to switch without a gap.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 6 min readRideshare Insurance for Uber and Lyft Drivers: Closing the Gap
Your personal auto policy probably doesn't cover driving for Uber or Lyft. The three rideshare coverage periods, what the apps cover and where the gaps are.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 6 min readWhat to Do After a Car Accident: An Insurance Checklist
A step-by-step checklist for the scene, the claim and the weeks after a car accident, plus how a crash can affect your insurance rates.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 4 min readHow to Switch Car Insurance Without a Gap in Coverage
Switching car insurance is simple if you do it in the right order. A step-by-step guide to comparing, switching, cancelling and getting any refund you're owed.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 5 min readLapse in Car Insurance: What Happens and How to Get Covered Again
A lapse in car insurance can mean fines, a suspended registration and higher rates. What happens when coverage lapses and how to get insured again quickly.
Read guide →Car insurance requirements by state
Nevada Car Insurance Requirements: Minimums, NVLIVE and Penalties
Nevada requires 25/50/20 liability coverage and checks it electronically through NVLIVE. Here's what's required, what a lapse costs and when you need an SR-22.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 6 min readCalifornia Car Insurance Requirements: The New 30/60/15 Minimums
California's minimum car insurance rose to 30/60/15 in 2025 and is set to rise again in 2035. What's required, what uninsured driving costs and how to save.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 6 min readTexas Car Insurance Requirements: 30/60/25, PIP and TexasSure
Texas requires 30/60/25 liability coverage, and PIP and uninsured motorist coverage are included unless you reject them in writing. Penalties, SR-22 rules and tips.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 7 min readFlorida Car Insurance Requirements: PIP, PDL and the 14-Day Rule
Florida is still a no-fault state. You need $10,000 PIP and $10,000 property damage liability. What PIP pays, the 14-day rule, FR-44 and lapse penalties.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 5 min readArizona Car Insurance Requirements: 25/50/15 Minimums and Penalties
Arizona requires 25/50/15 liability coverage. What insurers must offer, how coverage is verified, and the fines and suspensions for driving uninsured.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 6 min readGeorgia Car Insurance Requirements: Minimums and Uninsured Motorist Choices
Georgia requires 25/50/25 liability coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage is included unless you reject it. Added-on vs. reduced-by UM, lapse fees and penalties.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 5 min readIllinois Car Insurance Requirements: 25/50/20 Plus Uninsured Motorist
Illinois requires 25/50/20 liability and 25/50 uninsured motorist coverage. Recent rate-notice changes, how coverage is verified and the penalties for driving uninsured.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 5 min readOhio Car Insurance Requirements: 25/50/25 and the 2025 Penalty Changes
Ohio requires 25/50/25 liability coverage. What changed in 2025 for uninsured driving penalties and proof deadlines, and why uninsured motorist coverage matters.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 7 min readPennsylvania Car Insurance Requirements: Minimums and Limited vs. Full Tort
Pennsylvania requires 15/30/5 liability and $5,000 in medical benefits. How choice no-fault works, limited vs. full tort, stacking and lapse penalties.
Read guide →Auto insurance · 6 min readNorth Carolina Car Insurance Requirements: The New 50/100/50 Minimums
North Carolina raised its minimums to 50/100/50 in July 2025 and now requires underinsured motorist coverage. What changed, lapse penalties and the FS-1.
Read guide →Home insurance
Home insurance guides
How Much Homeowners Insurance Do You Need?
How to set dwelling, personal property, loss of use and liability limits on a homeowners policy, and why rebuild cost matters more than market value.
Read guide →Home insurance · 5 min readRenters Insurance: What It Covers and Why You Need It
Your landlord's insurance doesn't cover your belongings. Here's what renters insurance covers, what it doesn't, and how much to buy.
Read guide →Home insurance · 6 min readDoes Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage and Floods?
Which kinds of water damage homeowners insurance covers, which it doesn't, and when you need flood insurance or a sewer backup endorsement.
Read guide →Home insurance · 6 min readWhat Homeowners Insurance Doesn't Cover
Flood, earthquake, wear and tear, and sewer backup are common gaps in a standard homeowners policy. What's excluded and how to fill the gaps.
Read guide →Home insurance · 5 min readReplacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value: Which Should You Choose?
Replacement cost pays to rebuild or replace at today's prices. Actual cash value subtracts depreciation. How they differ and why it matters most for roofs.
Read guide →Home insurance · 5 min readHow Your Roof's Age Affects Home Insurance
An older roof can mean higher premiums, ACV-only roof coverage or trouble finding an insurer. What insurers look at, Florida's roof rules and what you can do.
Read guide →Home insurance · 5 min readCondo Insurance (HO-6): What It Covers and How Much You Need
Your HOA's master policy doesn't cover everything. What condo insurance covers, how master policy types change what you need, and loss assessment coverage.
Read guide →Home insurance · 4 min readShould You Bundle Home and Auto Insurance?
Bundling home and auto insurance with one company can earn a discount, but it isn't always the cheapest option. How to tell if a bundle saves you money.
Read guide →Life insurance
Life insurance guides
Term vs. Whole Life Insurance: Which Is Right for You?
Term life covers a set period at a low price. Whole life lasts for life and builds cash value. Compare cost, flexibility and who each one fits.
Read guide →Life insurance · 6 min readFinal Expense Insurance: What It Is and Who Should Buy It
Final expense insurance is a small whole life policy for funeral and end-of-life costs. How it works, what funerals cost and which waiting periods to watch.
Read guide →Life insurance · 5 min readNo-Exam Life Insurance: How It Works and Who Qualifies
Many life insurers can approve you without a medical exam. Learn the types of no-exam coverage, who qualifies and the tradeoffs.
Read guide →Health insurance
Health insurance guides
ACA Open Enrollment for 2027: Dates and What's Changing
Open enrollment for 2027 Marketplace plans runs November 1 to December 15, 2026 on HealthCare.gov, with no January extension. Here's what to know.
Read guide →Health insurance · 6 min readLost Your Job? Your Health Insurance Options, Including COBRA
Losing job-based coverage opens a 60-day window to get new health insurance. Compare COBRA, Marketplace plans, a spouse's plan and Medicaid.
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