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We are Augustyniak Insurance Group, an independent agency in Jacksonville. We work with homeowners, drivers, and business owners across Florida. This article covers the things a good agent should be telling you about your coverage.
What Makes a Good Insurance Agent?
A good insurance agent does not just find you a low price. They understand the rules that affect your coverage in Florida, explain your options in plain language, and tell you what you need to know before it costs you money. If your agent has not explained these, that is worth knowing. If you want to talk to someone who will, call (904) 268-3106.
Here is what that looks like across home, auto, business, and flood insurance.
What a Good Agent Knows About Your Homeowners Insurance
Your roof is your insurance application
In Florida, your roof determines whether you can get a policy, how much you pay, and what you collect if you file a claim. Every company has its own roof age rules. Some draw the line at 10 years. Others accept well-maintained older roofs with an inspection.
An agent with access to multiple companies can find options that a single-company agent cannot. That flexibility matters most when your roof is past the 10-year mark.
Replacement cost vs. actual cash value on your roof
Since 2022, Florida law allows companies to offer policies that cover your roof at actual cash value instead of replacement cost. That means if your roof is damaged, the payout is based on the depreciated value, not what it costs to replace.
On a roof that costs $18,000 to replace, the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value can be $8,000 to $10,000 out of your pocket. Your agent should explain this trade-off before you buy the policy, not after you file a claim.
Wind mitigation saves more than almost anything else
A wind mitigation inspection documents your home's resistance to hurricane-force winds. It typically costs $100 to $150 and can reduce your premium significantly, sometimes by 15% to 45% depending on your home's features and the insurance company.
Ask your agent for an inspector referral. Many companies also accept Don Myler inspections statewide.
What a Good Agent Knows About Your Auto Insurance
Florida's minimum auto coverage is dangerously low
Florida only requires $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 in property damage liability. That is it. No bodily injury coverage is required. Florida is one of only two states in the country with this gap.
Those minimums have not changed since 1979. An average emergency room visit in Jacksonville can cost $3,000 to $5,000. A newer vehicle repair after a collision can run $15,000 to $25,000.
If you cause an accident that exceeds your $10,000 property damage limit, you are personally responsible for the rest.
A good agent tells you this on day one. They advise limits appropriate for your situation. In our experience, many homeowners choose to start at bodily injury limits of at least 100/300 ($100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident) and increase from there as their assets grow.
A good agent also explains why uninsured motorist coverage matters in a state where a significant number of drivers carry little or no bodily injury coverage.
Stacking can double your uninsured motorist coverage
If you have two or more vehicles on your policy, Florida law gives you the option to "stack" your uninsured motorist coverage. Stacking multiplies your UM limits by the number of vehicles on the policy.
Many agents never mention this option. If yours did not, ask about it at your next renewal. For more on Florida auto coverage options: Jacksonville auto insurance.
What a Good Agent Knows About Your Business Insurance
Workers' compensation thresholds are different by industry
In Florida, non-construction businesses need workers' compensation insurance when they reach four or more employees. Construction companies typically need coverage with just one employee, although certain owner exemptions may apply.
A good agent knows your industry classification code, how it affects your premium, and whether your payroll estimate is accurate. Getting the classification wrong can result in a painful audit adjustment at the end of your policy term.
Certificates of insurance need to be fast
If your business signs contracts, leases commercial space, or works on job sites, you will need certificates of insurance. Sometimes you need one the same day.
A good agent manages these proactively and turns them around quickly. A bad agent makes you wait three days every time a general contractor asks for one.
In our experience, the speed of certificate delivery is one of the first things business owners notice when they switch agencies. If you have ever lost a job because your cert did not arrive in time, you know why this matters.
General liability is not the same as professional liability
General liability covers bodily injury and property damage. Professional liability (errors and omissions) covers mistakes in your professional services. Many business owners carry one but not the other.
A good agent explains the difference and makes sure you have what your business actually needs. See: Jacksonville business insurance.
What a Good Agent Knows About Flood Insurance
Your homeowners policy does not cover flooding
This is the single most misunderstood fact in Florida insurance. Standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage. Not even when the flooding is caused by a hurricane. Flood insurance is a separate policy.
Florida law does not require flood insurance. But the St. Johns River does not care what the law says. If your home is in Duval County, you have flood exposure.
Private flood vs. NFIP is a real choice now
The National Flood Insurance Program used to be the only option. Today, private flood companies compete on price and coverage. In our experience, private flood policies often cost less than NFIP for many Jacksonville homes and can offer higher coverage limits.
A good agent compares both and shows you the options. A bad agent puts you on NFIP without checking whether a private policy would save you money. For more: Jacksonville flood insurance.
You do not have to be in a flood zone to flood
According to FEMA, a meaningful percentage of flood claims come from properties outside high-risk flood zones. Jacksonville's flat terrain, tidal rivers, and summer storms create flood risk across the county, not just along the waterfront.
The Difference Between a Good Agent and a Bad One Is Knowledge
Every example in this article has one thing in common. A good agent tells you what you need to know before it costs you money. A bad agent sells you a policy and moves on.
The best insurance agency is not the one with the lowest price. It is the one that tells you what you need to know before it costs you money.
For the full guide on what separates a great agency from an average one: How to Choose the Best Insurance Agency in Jacksonville, FL.
Not Sure If Your Current Agent Covered All of This?
Home, auto, business, or flood. Let us review your coverage and show you what you might be missing. Most reviews take one call.
Call (904) 268-3106 Compare Your Rate Across 80+ Companies Augustyniak Insurance Group · 80+ companies · 2,250+ reviewsFrequently Asked Questions
Does Florida require bodily injury auto insurance?
No. Florida is one of only two states that does not require bodily injury liability coverage for most drivers. The state minimum is $10,000 PIP and $10,000 property damage liability only. Most insurance professionals strongly recommend adding bodily injury coverage of at least 100/300.
Does my homeowners insurance cover flood damage?
No. Standard homeowners policies in Florida do not cover flood damage, even when the flooding is caused by a hurricane. Flood insurance is a separate policy available through the National Flood Insurance Program or private flood companies.
How does roof age affect my homeowners insurance in Florida?
Every company has its own roof age guidelines. Some decline homes with roofs older than 10 to 15 years. Others accept older roofs with an inspection.
Since 2022, Florida law also allows companies to cover roofs at actual cash value instead of replacement cost, which can reduce your claim payout significantly.
What is a wind mitigation inspection?
A wind mitigation inspection documents your home's resistance to hurricane-force winds. It evaluates your roof shape, attachment method, deck connection, and opening protection. The inspection costs $100 to $150 and can reduce your premium significantly depending on your home's features.
When is workers' compensation required in Florida?
Non-construction businesses need workers' compensation when they reach four or more employees. Construction companies typically need workers' compensation coverage with just one employee, although certain owner exemptions may apply. These thresholds are defined in Florida Statute § 440.02.
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Call (904) 268-3106 Augustyniak Insurance Group · 12058 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville FL
Susan Augustyniak, CIC
Vice President, Augustyniak Insurance Group
Certified Insurance Counselor with 25+ years in the industry. Before joining Augustyniak Insurance Group in 2008, Susan spent nine years at Nationwide Insurance as a commercial underwriter, large loss property claims adjuster, and sales manager. She holds a Florida 2-20 General Lines Agent license and helps Jacksonville homeowners and business owners make coverage decisions across Florida including Duval, St. Johns, Clay, and Nassau counties. Published June 2026.