Answers to the questions clients ask most.

An independent insurance agency represents many insurance carriers rather than just one. Instead of selling a single company's policies, an independent agency like DFW Insurance Group compares coverage across 15 carriers and helps you choose. The agency works for you, not for one insurer, which means it can re-shop your coverage when your needs or your rates change.

No. Buying through an independent agency does not add a fee or raise your premium. Agencies are paid by the carriers, so you pay the same rate you would pay the carrier directly, and you get the benefit of someone comparing the market for you and helping at renewal and claim time.

DFW Insurance Group serves clients across Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Richardson, Dallas, and the surrounding DFW communities. The agency is based in Plano and writes both personal and business insurance throughout North Texas.

DFW Insurance Group compares coverage across 15 national and regional carriers. That range is the point of an independent agency. It lets the agency match your coverage to the carrier that fits your situation best, and re-shop it later if a better fit appears.

Yes. We are glad to review a policy you currently hold, with no obligation. We look at what is covered, where the gaps are, and how the price compares across our carriers, then we tell you plainly whether you are in good shape or whether a change is worth making.

Texas requires every driver to carry minimum liability coverage of 30/60/25: $30,000 for injuries per person, $60,000 for total injuries per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. This is set by state law and explained by the Texas Department of Insurance. Liability coverage pays for harm you cause to others. It does not cover your own vehicle or your own injuries.

For many drivers, the Texas 30/60/25 minimum is not enough. It only pays other people's costs, and only up to those limits, so a serious accident can exceed your coverage and leave you personally responsible for the rest. The Texas Department of Insurance recommends considering more than the minimum. Higher liability limits usually cost less than people expect.

Hail damage to your vehicle is covered by comprehensive coverage, which is optional and separate from liability and collision. If you carry liability-only coverage, hail damage to your car is not covered. Because North Texas sees frequent hail, comprehensive coverage is worth considering, especially if you park outside.

Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle from a crash, whether with another vehicle or an object. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage from most other causes, including hail, theft, vandalism, fire, and hitting an animal. Both are optional under Texas law, but a lender will require both if your vehicle is financed or leased.

It can. A claim or a moving violation can raise your premium, though the effect depends on the carrier, the severity, and your overall record. This is one place an independent agency helps: if your rate rises at renewal, we can compare the market again and move you if another carrier offers a better rate for the same coverage.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is optional in Texas, but it is worth serious consideration. It covers your costs when you are hit by a driver who has no insurance or not enough, and Texas has a meaningful share of uninsured drivers on the road. Without it, you could be left paying for an accident that was not your fault.

Texas does not legally require homeowners insurance. However, mortgage lenders almost always require it as a condition of the loan, for as long as you hold the mortgage. Even with no mortgage, a policy protects what is usually a household's largest asset, so going without it is rarely advisable.

A standard homeowners policy generally covers the structure of your home, other structures such as a detached garage or fence, your personal belongings, your personal liability if someone is injured on your property, and additional living expenses if a covered loss makes your home temporarily unlivable. Specific limits and terms vary by carrier.

No. Flood damage is not covered by a standard homeowners policy. Flood coverage is a separate policy, available through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier. If your property has any flood exposure, this is a gap worth closing on purpose rather than discovering after a storm.

In North Texas, wind and hail damage to a roof is usually covered by a standard homeowners policy, but how the carrier pays the claim can differ significantly. Some policies pay full replacement cost, and others pay the depreciated value of an older roof. Because this varies, it is worth knowing how your specific policy handles roof claims before you need to file one.

Replacement cost pays what it takes to repair or replace property at today's prices. Actual cash value pays the depreciated value, which is the replacement cost minus wear and age. The difference can be large for older items, such as a roof, so it is important to know which basis your policy uses for both your home and your belongings.

You need enough coverage to rebuild your home and replace your belongings, not simply enough to match your home's market price. The rebuild cost and the market price are different numbers. We help you set the dwelling and personal property limits to the cost of actually rebuilding and replacing, so you are not underinsured at claim time.

DFW Insurance Group writes commercial auto insurance, commercial property insurance, and Business Owners Policies for businesses across the DFW area. The agency compares this coverage across 15 carriers and builds it around how a specific business actually operates.

If you or your employees drive for business purposes, your business most likely needs commercial auto insurance. Personal auto policies typically exclude business use, which means a work-related claim can be denied under a personal policy. This applies to contractors, delivery and service businesses, and any business that owns vehicles, even just one.

A Business Owners Policy, or BOP, combines commercial property coverage and general liability coverage into one policy. It is designed for small and midsize businesses with a moderate risk profile, and bundling the two coverages is often more affordable than buying them separately. Not every business qualifies, so it is worth confirming whether a BOP fits yours.

Commercial property insurance covers the physical assets of your business, including your building if you own it, your equipment and furniture, your inventory, and in many cases the income you lose if a covered event interrupts your operations. Whether you own or lease your space affects what coverage you need.

Possibly, yes. A homeowners policy provides very limited coverage for business property and business activity, and it generally does not cover business liability. If you run a business from home, hold inventory, or have clients visit, it is worth reviewing whether you need separate business coverage. We can tell you where your homeowners policy stops.

Umbrella insurance is a policy that adds liability coverage above the limits of your auto and home policies, usually in increments of $1 million. If a covered claim exceeds what your underlying policies will pay, the umbrella policy covers the rest, up to its limit. It is liability protection, scaled up beyond what standard policies provide.

Anyone whose assets are worth more than their current liability limits should consider umbrella coverage. That commonly includes homeowners, families with teen drivers, owners of rental property, and households with a pool or other features that raise liability exposure. A single serious lawsuit can exceed standard auto and home limits and reach your savings and home equity.

Umbrella insurance is usually inexpensive for the protection it provides. A $1 million policy often costs a few hundred dollars per year, though the exact rate depends on your underlying policies, your household, and the carrier. We can give you a specific figure for your situation.

Term life insurance covers you for a set period, often 10, 20, or 30 years, and costs less. Permanent life insurance, such as whole or universal life, covers your entire life and builds cash value over time, and it costs more. Term suits a defined need, like the years of raising children, while permanent suits longer-term goals.

The amount depends on your income, your debts, how many people depend on you, and the goals you want the policy to cover, such as a mortgage or college costs. A common starting point is a multiple of your annual income, adjusted for your specific obligations. We work through the actual numbers with you.

In many cases, yes. Health conditions can affect your options and your rate, but they do not automatically rule out coverage, and carriers differ in how they evaluate the same condition. Because we compare multiple carriers, we can often find a workable option where a single company might not.

After an accident or a loss, make sure everyone is safe and document what happened with photos and details, then report the claim to your insurance company as soon as possible. You can also call us, and we will help you start the claim and walk you through the steps. Reporting promptly matters, since delays can complicate a claim.

Yes. When you have a claim, you can call our office and we will help you report it and guide you through the process. Having a local agent involved means you have someone who knows your policy and can answer questions while the claim is handled, rather than navigating it alone.