Let me guess – you’ve packed your emergency go-bag and batteries stocked and are ready to hit the road if a wildfire flares up nearby. But wait. Is your insurance ready, too?

If you live in a fire-prone area, having proper insurance coverage before fire season is not just smart – it’s a must. Think of it as using sunscreen. You don’t wait until your face has already burned to put it on, right?

When wildfire threats become real and too close for comfort, insurance companies don’t mess around. They often issue what’s called an insurance moratorium. Sounds fancy, but what it really means is this: your insurance options go poof like smoke.

If you’re wondering how this applies to your car, here’s a quick guide on how car insurance handles wildfire damage.

These restrictions can apply to:

• New policy issuance – You can’t buy that shiny new policy now that you smell smoke.
• Changes to existing policies – Want to increase coverage or lower your deductible? Sorry, it’s too late.
• Deductible changes – That $5,000 deductible you meant to lower last month? Stuck with it now.
• Policy rewrites or reinstatements – Lapsed coverage? Not getting it back during active wildfire conditions.

So, if you are thinking, “I’ll handle that insurance stuff later,” please don’t. Later may be exactly when everything gets frozen.

• Review your current policy – Does it reflect your home’s true value? Are personal belongings adequately covered?
• Talk to a broker – (Hi, that’s us!) Ask the questions, even the ones that feel silly.
• Consider your deductibles – Yes, higher deductible = lower premium, but can you actually afford it if something happens?

Wildfire season is not the time to start figuring out what’s covered and what’s not. It’s the time to know you’ve already done the work so you can focus on what truly matters—keeping yourself and your family safe.

Because when the wind picks up and the sky turns orange, peace of mind is everything.