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Homeowners Policy (HO)

101 questions
1. Which homeowners form is the most commonly written policy for an owner-occupied single-family dwelling in California?
a.HO-4 Tenant Form
b.HO-2 Broad Form
c.HO-3 Special Form✓
d.HO-8 Modified Form

HO-3 is the standard owner-occupied form. It insures the dwelling and other structures on an open-perils basis and covers personal property on a named-perils basis, giving most homeowners the right balance of price and coverage.

ISO HO-3 form
2. Which homeowners form provides open-perils coverage on BOTH the dwelling AND personal property?
a.HO-5 Comprehensive Form✓
b.HO-3 Special Form
c.HO-2 Broad Form
d.HO-6 Condominium Form

HO-5 is the Comprehensive form. It upgrades HO-3 by writing personal property on an open-perils basis as well, making it the broadest standard homeowners coverage available.

ISO HO-5 form
3. A college student rents an apartment and wants to insure her electronics, clothing, and personal liability. Which form is appropriate?
a.HO-4 Tenant Form✓
b.HO-6 Condominium Form
c.HO-3 Special Form
d.HO-8 Modified Form

HO-4 is the renter or tenant form. It has no dwelling coverage at all and instead provides Coverage C (personal property) and Section II liability (Coverages E and F) for someone who does not own the building.

ISO HO-4 form
4. Which homeowners form is specifically designed for older homes where the market value is far below the replacement cost?
a.HO-8 Modified Form✓
b.HO-2 Broad Form
c.HO-3 Special Form
d.HO-5 Comprehensive Form

HO-8 is the Modified form. It is used for older or historic homes whose replacement cost greatly exceeds market value; dwelling losses are settled on an actual cash value or functional-replacement basis rather than full replacement cost.

ISO HO-8 form
5. Under a standard HO-3 policy, the limit for Coverage B (Other Structures) is what percentage of Coverage A (Dwelling)?
a.5%
b.20%
c.50%
d.10%✓

Coverage B is set at 10% of Coverage A as additional insurance. It covers detached structures such as a shed, fence, or detached garage and does not reduce the amount available under Coverage A.

ISO HO form Section I
6. On a standard HO-3 policy, the Coverage C (Personal Property) limit is typically set at what percentage of Coverage A?
a.50%✓
b.10%
c.100%
d.20%

Coverage C on owner-occupied forms is standardly 50% of Coverage A. The insured may increase or decrease this percentage, and tenant or condo policies set their own Coverage C limit because they have no Coverage A.

ISO HO form Section I
7. Coverage D on a homeowners policy primarily reimburses the insured for which of the following?
a.Damage to detached garages, fences, and other structures on the residence premises
b.Bodily injury to a visitor
c.The cost to rebuild the dwelling itself at replacement cost after a covered fire
d.Additional living expenses while the home is uninhabitable✓

Coverage D is the Loss of Use coverage. It pays additional living expense, fair rental value, and limited civil-authority benefits when a covered Section I loss makes the residence unfit to live in. It reimburses only the increase above the household's normal cost of living.

ISO HO form Section I
8. What is the minimum standard limit for Coverage E (Personal Liability) on a typical homeowners policy?
a.$50,000 per occurrence
b.$300,000 per occurrence
c.$100,000 per occurrence✓
d.$25,000 per occurrence

The standard minimum Coverage E limit is $100,000 per occurrence. It is commonly increased to $300,000 or $500,000, and a personal umbrella policy can be added on top for higher liability exposures.

ISO HO form Section II
9. Insurance Code §10102 requires a standardized disclosure form to be given to applicants for residential property insurance. When must it be delivered, and in what form?
a.Within 30 days after the policy is issued, in the same envelope as the declarations page and the premium notice for the first term
b.Only on request by the applicant
c.Prior to or concurrent with the application, in no less than 10-point type✓
d.At the first renewal following issuance, so the insured can compare the disclosure against a full year of claims experience

Section 10102 requires the insurer to provide the residential property insurance disclosure prior to, or concurrent with, the application, in no less than 10-point type, and to obtain the applicant's signed acknowledgment of receipt. The form explains actual cash value, replacement cost, extended replacement cost, guaranteed replacement cost and building code upgrade coverage; warns that the insured may be underinsured and that replacement cost is not market value; notes that earthquake, flood and landslide are excluded; and gives the Department of Insurance's contact information. It must be redelivered every other year at renewal. (a) is wrong because this is an application-stage document, not a post-issuance mailing; (b) is wrong because it is owed to every residential applicant, not only to one who asks; and (d) is wrong because the first delivery precedes the policy rather than following it.

Cal. Ins. Code §10102
10. Under an open-perils (special form) policy, who has the burden of proof when a loss occurs?
a.The state insurance commissioner determines coverage
b.The insurer must prove that an exclusion applies✓
c.The insured must prove that a listed peril caused the loss
d.The insured must prove the loss was not the result of negligence

Open-perils coverage reverses the presumption. All direct physical loss is covered unless the policy specifically excludes it, so the insurer carries the burden of proving an exclusion applies. This is why HO-3 and HO-5 provide broader coverage than HO-2.

ISO HO form open-perils policies

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11. California Insurance Code §10081 requires an insurer that writes a residential property policy to do what regarding earthquake coverage?
a.Make a mandatory written offer of earthquake coverage✓
b.Refer all earthquake business to FEMA
c.Refuse to write any policy without earthquake coverage
d.Automatically include earthquake coverage at no extra premium

California Insurance Code §10081 and following sections require insurers that write residential property to make a mandatory written offer of earthquake coverage. The insured may accept or reject in writing, and the offer must be made at least every other renewal.

CIC §10081 et seq.
12. A wildfire that is the subject of a Governor-declared state of emergency destroys an insured's California home. Under Insurance Code §2060, for how long must the policy's additional living expense coverage run?
a.Two weeks, which is the period §2060 sets when a civil authority order denies the insured access to the residence
b.No less than 24 months from the inception of the loss✓
c.Twelve months from the inception of the loss, after which further expense is payable only if the insured has already begun reconstruction
d.Whatever period the declarations page happens to state, because §2060 sets no floor for additional living expense after a declared emergency

Section 2060(b)(1) provides that where the loss relates to a state of emergency, coverage for additional living expenses shall be for a period of no less than 24 months from the inception of the loss. The insurer must then grant an extension of up to 12 additional months — 36 in total — where the insured is delayed in reconstruction by circumstances beyond their control, such as permit delays, shortages of materials or unavailability of contractors, with further six-month extensions available for good cause. (a) quotes the separate two-week minimum §2060 sets for a loss in which an order of civil authority denies access to the residence, which is a different subdivision and a different situation; (c) names a 12-month floor the statute does not contain; and (d) is wrong because §2060 imposes a statutory minimum that the declarations page cannot undercut.

Cal. Ins. Code §2060(b)(1)
13. After a Governor-declared wildfire disaster, for how long does California Insurance Code §675.1 prohibit an insurer from non-renewing a residential property policy because of the property's location in the affected area?
a.5 years
b.2 years
c.1 year✓
d.6 months

CIC §675.1 prohibits non-renewal or cancellation for one year after a Governor-declared state of emergency from a wildfire or other disaster, provided the insured did not commit fraud and continues to pay the premium. The protection covers residential property within the affected area.

CIC §675.1
14. Which of the following losses is EXCLUDED under a standard homeowners policy without an additional endorsement or separate policy?
a.Theft of a laptop from the home while the family is away for the weekend
b.Fire damage to the kitchen
c.Wind damage to the roof shingles during a Santa Ana windstorm
d.Flood damage from a nearby river overflow✓

Flood, including surface water and the overflow of streams or rivers, is excluded under every standard homeowners form. Flood is insured separately through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood insurer.

ISO HO form Section I exclusions
15. Damage caused by earthquake is generally covered under a standard California homeowners policy only when:
a.An earthquake endorsement is added or a separate CEA policy is purchased✓
b.The dwelling is insured to at least 80 percent of its replacement cost at the time of the earthquake
c.The dwelling is less than 30 years old
d.The Governor declares a state of emergency, which under California law suspends the earth movement exclusion for 180 days

Earth movement, including earthquake, is a standard exclusion. Coverage exists only when the insured adds an earthquake endorsement to the homeowners policy or purchases a separate California Earthquake Authority (CEA) or private earthquake policy.

ISO HO form Section I exclusions
16. To receive full replacement cost on a dwelling loss under a standard HO-3, the insured must insure the dwelling to at least what percentage of its full replacement cost?
a.100%
b.50%
c.80%✓
d.60%

The 80% insurance-to-value requirement applies to dwelling replacement cost. If the dwelling is insured to at least 80% of full replacement cost at the time of loss, the insurer pays replacement cost up to the limit; below 80%, the insurer pays the greater of actual cash value or a coinsurance penalty calculation.

ISO HO form replacement cost provision
17. A California homeowners policy has been in force for eight months. Under Insurance Code §676, on what basis may the insurer now cancel it mid-term?
a.For any lawful underwriting reason, provided the insurer gives the named insured written notice and promptly refunds the unearned premium
b.Only with the written consent of the named insured and of any mortgagee
c.Only for one of the grounds §676 lists, such as nonpayment of premium or a physical change making the property uninsurable✓
d.Because a reinspection shows the roof is older than the insurer's current underwriting guidelines would accept for a brand-new applicant

Section 676 provides that once a policy described in §675 has been in effect for 60 days — or immediately, if the policy is a renewal — no notice of cancellation is effective unless it rests on something that occurred AFTER the effective date and falls within the statute's closed list: nonpayment of premium; conviction of the named insured of a crime having as an element an act increasing an insured hazard; discovery of fraud or material misrepresentation in obtaining the policy or in pursuing a claim; discovery of grossly negligent acts or omissions substantially increasing an insured hazard; or physical changes in the insured property that render it uninsurable. (a) describes the freedom the insurer has only during the first 60 days, which is exactly what §676 withdraws afterwards; (b) invents a consent requirement the statute does not contain; and (d) fails because an underwriting-appetite mismatch is not a physical change occurring after inception.

Cal. Ins. Code §676
18. The standard mortgage clause requires the insurer to give the mortgagee written notice of cancellation at least how many days in advance?
a.30 days
b.10 days✓
c.5 days
d.20 days

The standard mortgage clause requires at least 10 days' written notice of cancellation to the mortgagee. The clause also protects the mortgagee's interest even when the insured's act or neglect would otherwise void coverage, in exchange for the mortgagee paying premium on request and providing proof of loss if the insured does not.

ISO HO form standard mortgage clause
19. Under the standard homeowners Coverage C special limits, what is the typical sublimit for loss by THEFT of jewelry, watches, and furs?
a.$1,500✓
b.$500
c.$5,000
d.$1,000

The standard special limit for theft of jewelry, watches, and furs is $1,500. To insure valuable jewelry above this sublimit, the insured should schedule the items under a scheduled personal property endorsement, which removes the sublimit and broadens perils to open-perils.

ISO HO form Coverage C special limits
20. The Coverage C special sublimit for theft of FIREARMS on a standard homeowners policy is approximately:
a.$2,500✓
b.$1,500
c.$5,000
d.$10,000

The standard theft sublimit for firearms is $2,500. Silverware and goldware also carry a $2,500 theft sublimit. As with jewelry, a higher value can be insured by scheduling the items separately under a scheduled personal property endorsement.

ISO HO form Coverage C special limits
21. Loss assessment coverage under an HO-6 condominium policy is designed to pay for:
a.Damages awarded against the unit owner personally in a liability suit brought by a guest who was injured inside the unit, above the Coverage E limit
b.Repairs to the unit owner's built-in appliances, cabinets, and floor coverings damaged by a covered peril inside the unit itself
c.The monthly homeowners association dues the unit owner still owes while the building is being repaired after a covered loss
d.The unit owner's share of an assessment levied by the condo association for damage to commonly owned property✓

Loss assessment coverage pays the unit owner's share of an assessment levied by the condominium or homeowners association because of a covered loss to commonly owned property, subject to a sublimit (often $1,000 unless increased by endorsement). It is a key feature of the HO-6 form.

ISO HO-6 condominium form
22. The liberalization clause in a homeowners policy means that:
a.If the insurer broadens coverage without extra premium during the policy term, the broader coverage applies to existing policies✓
b.The insured may add any coverage at any time during the term without underwriting, and the insurer must issue the endorsement at the rate that was in effect when the policy was written
c.The insurer may raise the premium in the middle of the term whenever the form is broadened, and must refund the difference if the insured rejects the broader coverage
d.Coverage automatically renews every year on the same terms, and the insurer waives its right to non-renew once the policy has been in force for three consecutive years

Under the liberalization clause, if the insurer broadens coverage under the form without requiring additional premium during the policy term, the broader coverage applies automatically to all existing policies. It protects insureds from being stuck with narrower coverage solely because their policy was issued earlier.

ISO HO form liberalization clause
23. Which of the following claims is EXCLUDED from Section II (Liability) of a homeowners policy?
a.The insured intentionally pushes a neighbor causing injury✓
b.A friend trips over a garden hose in the front yard
c.A delivery driver is bitten by the insured's dog on the porch
d.A guest slips on a wet floor in the insured's kitchen

Section II excludes bodily injury or property damage that is expected or intended by the insured. Intentional acts are not covered, even if the resulting injury is greater than expected. The other examples involve negligence-type incidents that fall within Coverage E and F.

ISO HO form Section II exclusions
24. Personal property usually located AWAY from the residence premises is covered under Coverage C at the greater of:
a.5% of Coverage C or $500
b.10% of Coverage C or $1,000✓
c.25% of Coverage A or $5,000
d.20% of Coverage C or $2,500

The standard limit for personal property usually located away from the residence premises (such as items stored elsewhere or in a college dorm) is the greater of 10% of Coverage C or $1,000. This sublimit does not apply to personal property in a newly acquired principal residence for the first 30 days.

ISO HO form Coverage C off-premises
25. On a standard HO-3 policy, the limit for Coverage D (Loss of Use) is typically:
a.50% of Coverage B
b.20% of Coverage A✓
c.10% of Coverage A
d.30% of Coverage C

On HO-3 and HO-5, the standard Coverage D limit is 20% of Coverage A. HO-8 uses 10% of Coverage A, while the tenant (HO-4) and condo (HO-6) forms use 30% of Coverage C because there is no Coverage A on those policies.

ISO HO form Coverage D
26. The most commonly purchased Homeowners form, which covers the dwelling on an open-perils basis and personal property on a named-perils basis, is the:
a.HO-8
b.HO-3✓
c.HO-2
d.HO-4

The HO-3 (special form) is the most widely purchased Homeowners policy. It insures the dwelling and other structures on an open-perils basis while covering personal property on a named-perils basis. HO-2 covers both on named-perils, HO-4 is the renters form, and HO-8 is a modified form for older homes. The HO-5 comprehensive form extends open-perils coverage to personal property as well.

27. A tenant who rents an apartment and wants to insure personal belongings and obtain personal liability coverage should purchase:
a.HO-6
b.HO-8
c.HO-4✓
d.HO-3

The HO-4 form is the renters (tenants) policy. It covers the tenant's personal property and provides personal liability and loss-of-use coverage, but not the building, which is the landlord's responsibility. HO-6 is for condominium unit owners who own the interior, and HO-3 and HO-8 are owner-occupied dwelling forms that include structural coverage the renter does not need.

28. A condominium unit owner who needs to insure the interior of the unit and personal property should buy:
a.HO-3
b.HO-8
c.HO-6✓
d.HO-4

The HO-6 form is designed for condominium unit owners. It covers the unit owner's personal property and the portions of the building the owner is responsible for (typically interior walls, fixtures, and improvements), along with personal liability and loss of use. The condo association's master policy covers the building structure and common areas, so HO-6 fills the gap for the individual unit owner.

29. Under a Homeowners policy, which coverage provides additional living expense when a covered loss makes the home temporarily uninhabitable?
a.Coverage D – Loss of Use✓
b.Coverage E – Personal Liability
c.Coverage A – Dwelling
d.Coverage F – Medical Payments to Others

Coverage D (Loss of Use) pays additional living expenses, the reasonable extra costs of maintaining a normal standard of living, when a covered loss makes the residence uninhabitable, such as hotel and increased meal costs. Coverage A insures the dwelling structure, while Coverages E and F are the Section II liability coverages. Loss of use addresses the insured's indirect costs, not the physical damage.

30. Coverage F (Medical Payments to Others) under a Homeowners policy pays medical expenses for an injured guest:
a.Only for members of the insured's own household
b.Only after a lawsuit is filed against the insured
c.On a no-fault basis, regardless of the insured's liability✓
d.Only if the insured is legally at fault

Medical Payments to Others (Coverage F) is a no-fault, goodwill coverage that pays reasonable medical expenses for a non-resident injured on the insured premises or by the insured's activities, whether or not the insured is legally liable. It does not cover the insured or regular household residents. Paying small medical claims quickly helps preserve goodwill and can prevent larger liability lawsuits.

31. Under a Homeowners policy, categories such as jewelry, watches, and firearms are subject to:
a.Special dollar sublimits that cap the amount payable✓
b.Replacement cost settlement without any dollar cap
c.A total exclusion unless the items are scheduled
d.The full Coverage C limit with no internal cap

Homeowners policies apply special limits (sublimits) to certain high-value or high-theft categories such as jewelry, watches, furs, firearms, cash, and silverware. These items are covered, but only up to a stated dollar cap that is lower than the overall Coverage C limit. To fully protect valuable items, the insured can schedule them on a personal articles (scheduled property) endorsement for broader, itemized coverage.

32. The HO-8 modified Homeowners form is intended for:
a.Renters who insure their contents but not the building
b.Older homes whose replacement cost exceeds market value✓
c.New luxury homes needing the broadest available coverage
d.Condominium owners insuring interior building items

The HO-8 modified form is designed for older or historic homes where replacing with identical materials would cost far more than the home's market value. It settles losses on a functional replacement or actual cash value basis rather than full replacement cost, keeping the policy affordable and insurable. Renters use HO-4, condo owners use HO-6, and the broadest coverage is the HO-5 comprehensive form.

33. Eligibility for an owner-occupied Homeowners form such as the HO-3 requires that:
a.the dwelling be leased to a tenant year round
b.the dwelling be under a written one-year lease
c.the named insured own and live in the dwelling✓
d.the named insured hold the mortgage on the home

A Homeowners policy is a package written for an owner who occupies the dwelling as a residence, which is why it can bundle building, contents and liability in one contract. The answer about holding the mortgage confuses the lender's interest with occupancy; a mortgagee is simply named on the declarations and is not the person who must be eligible.

34. An investor buys a house solely to rent out and does not live there. A Homeowners policy cannot be written because:
a.a tenant's liability cannot be insured under any form
b.the owner does not occupy the house as a residence✓
c.an investor has no insurable interest in the house
d.a rented house can only be written on open perils

Owner-occupancy is the eligibility test for a Homeowners form, so a pure rental property is written on a Dwelling policy instead, with rental income insured as fair rental value. The insurable-interest answer is wrong because an owner plainly stands to lose money if the rental house burns.

35. A tenants form (HO-4) differs from the owner-occupied forms mainly because it:
a.covers the landlord's building for its full value
b.carries no Coverage A limit on the building itself✓
c.leaves out personal liability for the renting party
d.insures personal property on an open-perils basis

A renter does not own the structure, so the tenants form insures contents and loss of use and carries no dwelling limit; the landlord insures the building separately. The open-perils answer describes the HO-5, since contents on a tenants form are written on the broad list of named perils.

36. A unit-owner buys a standard HO-6. Before any endorsement, the built-in Coverage A limit for building property is:
a.$5,000✓
b.$1,000
c.$25,000
d.$10,000

The unit-owners form carries a small built-in Coverage A of $5,000 for building property such as interior fixtures, cabinets and floor coverings that the association's master policy does not insure. That limit is routinely raised by endorsement when the unit has costly built-ins, so the $25,000 answer describes a bought-up limit rather than the standard one.

37. Which Homeowners form covers both the dwelling and the personal property on an open-perils basis?
a.HO-8
b.HO-5✓
c.HO-3
d.HO-2

The comprehensive form applies open perils to the dwelling and to contents, so the insurer must name an exclusion in order to deny either kind of loss. The HO-3 answer is the common trap: it writes the dwelling open perils but leaves contents on the broad list of named perils, and the HO-8 is the modified form for an older home.

38. On the HO-2 broad form, the dwelling and the personal property are insured:
a.on an open-perils basis with few exclusions
b.for fire and lightning and smoke only
c.against the broad form list of named perils✓
d.on an open-perils basis for the dwelling alone

The broad form runs both the building and the contents off the same list of named perils, so a loss is paid only if the insured can point to a peril on that list. The answer that puts open perils on the dwelling alone describes the HO-3, and the fire-and-lightning answer describes a much narrower basic form.

39. A covered dwelling loss under the HO-8 modified form is settled on the basis of:
a.repair cost using common construction materials✓
b.the original purchase price plus improvements
c.full replacement cost with no depreciation taken off
d.the home's market value on the day of the loss

The modified form exists for an older home whose replacement cost far exceeds its market value, and it pays the cost to repair or replace using common construction materials and methods rather than reproducing ornate original work. The full-replacement-cost answer describes the dwelling settlement on an HO-3, which is exactly what the modified form is designed to avoid.

40. Under an open-perils dwelling form, the burden of proof at claim time works this way:
a.the insured must name the peril that caused it
b.the insurer must point to an exclusion to deny✓
c.the insured must show the peril is on a list
d.the insurer may deny it without citing the policy

Open perils covers direct physical loss unless the cause is excluded, so the insured shows a loss occurred and the burden shifts to the insurer to identify the exclusion it relies on. The answer that makes the insured prove the peril is on a list states the named-perils rule, which is how contents are handled on an HO-3.

41. A home carries Coverage A of $280,000. A detached garage is destroyed and costs $34,000 to rebuild. On an unendorsed form, Coverage B pays at most:
a.$34,000
b.$56,000
c.$28,000✓
d.$14,000

Coverage B is provided at 10% of Coverage A, and 10% of $280,000 is $28,000, so the owner absorbs the remaining $6,000 of rebuilding cost. The $34,000 answer assumes other structures are paid up to their full rebuilding cost; the limit is a stated percentage, and it is an additional amount of insurance rather than a slice carved out of Coverage A.

42. Which of these is insured under Coverage B rather than under Coverage A?
a.a detached garage separated by clear space✓
b.a second-story addition on the dwelling
c.an attached garage that shares a house wall
d.a screened porch built onto the dwelling

Coverage B picks up structures set apart from the dwelling by clear space, or joined to it only by a fence, utility line or similar connection, so a free-standing garage, a storage shed or an in-ground pool belongs there. The attached-garage answer is wrong because a structure sharing a wall with the house is part of the dwelling and draws on Coverage A.

43. A homeowner rents a detached backyard cottage to a stranger who runs a salon there. Under Coverage B the cottage is:
a.covered in full up to the Coverage B limit
b.covered under Coverage A as part of the home
c.covered, but only for fire and lightning
d.not covered, as it is a business rental✓

Coverage B drops a structure that is rented to someone who is not a tenant of the dwelling, and it also drops any structure held for business use; a detached garage rented to a tenant of the home is the narrow exception. The answer paying the full Coverage B limit ignores both the rental and the business use, and the structure is detached, so Coverage A never reaches it.

44. A dwelling is written with Coverage A of $240,000. On an unendorsed Homeowners form, the Coverage C limit is:
a.$240,000
b.$120,000✓
c.$96,000
d.$24,000

Personal property is written at 50% of the dwelling limit on the standard form, so 50% of $240,000 gives $120,000 of Coverage C. The $24,000 answer applies the 10% figure that belongs to other structures, and the $240,000 answer would insure contents to the full value of the building.

45. The 50% relationship between Coverage C and Coverage A is best described as:
a.a default the insured may raise or lower✓
b.a percentage that applies only to tenant forms
c.a fixed limit that no endorsement can change
d.a cap the insurer sets after the loss occurs

The 50% figure is the amount built into the form, and a household with heavy furnishings can buy the limit up for extra premium while a sparsely furnished home can have it reduced by endorsement. The answer calling it unchangeable misreads a standard starting point as a hard cap, and the limit is set when the policy is written, not after a loss is reported.

46. Personal property usually kept at an insured's other residence, such as a vacation cabin, is limited to:
a.10% of Coverage A or $1,000, whichever is larger
b.10% of Coverage C or $1,000, whichever is more✓
c.50% of Coverage C, the same as at the home
d.$1,000 flat, with no percentage option used

Contents are covered anywhere in the world, but property usually located at a residence of an insured other than the residence premises is capped at the greater of 10% of Coverage C or $1,000. The version built on Coverage A uses the dwelling limit, which is not the base for contents, and the flat answer throws away the greater-of test that protects a large contents limit.

47. Coverage D pays fair rental value instead of additional living expense when:
a.a rented part of the home is unfit to use✓
b.the loss comes from a peril that is excluded
c.the insured picks the larger of two amounts
d.the insured's own family moves to a motel

Loss of use has two halves: additional living expense keeps the insured's own household at its normal standard of living, while fair rental value replaces the rent lost on a portion of the premises held for rental, less any expenses that stop. The motel answer describes the additional living expense side, and neither half responds when the underlying peril is excluded.

48. A fire makes a home unlivable. Coverage A is $310,000 and the HO-3 provides loss of use at 30% of Coverage A. The most payable under Coverage D is:
a.$31,000
b.$93,000✓
c.$62,000
d.$155,000

Coverage D on an owner-occupied form is written at 30% of the dwelling limit, and 30% of $310,000 is $93,000. The $31,000 answer applies the 10% figure that belongs to other structures, and the $155,000 answer applies the 50% contents relationship to the wrong coverage.

49. On an HO-4, the Coverage D limit is stated as a percentage of:
a.Coverage A, at 10% of the dwelling limit
b.Coverage A, at 30% of the dwelling limit
c.Coverage C, at 50% of the contents limit
d.Coverage C, at 30% of the contents limit✓

A tenant has no dwelling limit to work from, so loss of use on the tenants form is pegged to contents at 30% of Coverage C. The answer using 50% of Coverage C is the unit-owners relationship, and both answers built on Coverage A assume a dwelling limit the tenants form does not carry.

50. A unit-owner carries Coverage C of $60,000 on an HO-6. The loss of use limit on that form is:
a.$5,000
b.$60,000
c.$18,000
d.$30,000✓

The unit-owners form writes Coverage D at 50% of Coverage C, so 50% of $60,000 gives $30,000 for additional living expense and fair rental value combined. The $18,000 answer applies the 30% relationship used on the tenants form, and $5,000 is the small built-in building-property limit, not a loss of use figure.

51. A family displaced by a covered fire pays $2,600 a month for a hotel while their normal monthly living cost is $1,700. Additional living expense pays about:
a.$4,300 a month, the two added
b.$900 a month, the rise in cost✓
c.$1,700 a month, the usual cost
d.$2,600 a month, the hotel bill

Additional living expense reimburses the increase in living costs needed to keep the household at its normal standard, so $2,600 minus $1,700 leaves $900 a month. Paying the whole hotel bill would hand the family the grocery and utility money they were already spending anyway, which is more than indemnity allows.

52. Which of these is a named peril insured against on a broad form Homeowners policy?
a.rust on an outdoor metal railing
b.gradual seepage from a supply pipe
c.settling of the foundation footing
d.weight of ice, snow, or sleet✓

Weight of ice, snow or sleet sits on the broad list alongside fire, windstorm, explosion, riot, aircraft, vehicles, smoke, vandalism, theft, falling objects, freezing and volcanic eruption. Seepage that continues over a period of time, settling and rust are all maintenance conditions the form treats as the owner's problem rather than sudden accidental losses.

53. Vandalism or malicious mischief is a named peril, but that coverage is suspended when:
a.the insured has filed a vandalism claim in the past
b.the police make no arrest for the damage
c.the dwelling has been vacant past a set period✓
d.the damage is done by a tenant of the insured

The form withdraws the vandalism peril once the dwelling has stood vacant for more than the stated number of consecutive days immediately before the loss, because an empty house is a far easier target. Whether the police make an arrest has nothing to do with coverage, and a prior claim does not remove a peril from the policy.

54. A homeowner leaves for the winter, shuts the heat off, and the pipes burst. The freezing loss is covered only if the insured:
a.carries a higher limit on the dwelling
b.shut the water off and drained the system✓
c.had the pipes inspected before leaving home
d.told the insurer about the trip in advance

Freezing of plumbing, heating or sprinkler systems is excluded while the dwelling is vacant, unoccupied or under construction unless the insured used reasonable care either to maintain heat in the building or to shut off the water supply and drain the system. With the heat deliberately off, draining is the only route left, so notifying the insurer or buying a larger limit changes nothing.

55. One house has a supply line burst and flood a kitchen; another has a pipe that dripped inside a wall for two years. On a broad form:
a.both losses are covered as water damage
b.neither loss is covered by a water peril
c.the burst is covered and the slow leak is not✓
d.the slow leak is covered but the burst is not paid

The peril is accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam, and the word that decides these two claims is sudden: a line that lets go without warning qualifies, while constant or repeated seepage over a period of time is treated as a maintenance failure and excluded. Reading both as covered water damage ignores the sudden-and-accidental requirement built into the peril.

56. A landslide shifts the ground under a house and cracks the foundation. Under Section I the loss is:
a.excluded under earth movement✓
b.excluded as a water damage loss
c.covered as a falling-object loss
d.covered under the collapse peril

The earth movement exclusion sweeps in earthquake, landslide, mudflow, sinkhole collapse and the settling or shifting of the ground, which is why quake coverage has to be bought back separately. Calling it a water damage loss picks the wrong exclusion, and the falling-object peril is about something striking the building from outside, not the ground moving beneath it.

57. Heavy rain overloads a public sewer and water backs up into a basement. On an unendorsed Homeowners policy the damage is:
a.excluded, and no endorsement can cover it
b.covered because rain fell in a storm
c.excluded without a back-up endorsement✓
d.covered as accidental discharge of water

The water damage exclusion covers three ideas at once: flood and surface water, water below the surface of the ground, and water that backs up through sewers or drains, so the unendorsed policy pays nothing here. A water back-up endorsement can be added for a stated limit, which is why treating the loss as permanently uninsurable is wrong.

58. Fire destroys most of an older home and the current code requires the rest be rebuilt to new standards. That extra cost is:
a.treated as an additional living expense
b.paid under the other structures limit
c.excluded by the ordinance or law rule✓
d.paid in full under the Coverage A limit

Section I excludes the increased cost of construction, demolition and repair that comes from enforcing a building ordinance or law, so the dwelling limit responds to the fire damage but not to the upgrade the code demands. Other structures covers detached buildings, and loss of use pays living costs, so neither reaches a code-driven construction cost.

59. An off-premises transformer fails, a freezer thaws, and the food spoils. On a standard form the food loss is:
a.covered as an additional living expense
b.not covered, since food is excluded property
c.covered, since the freezer sits on site
d.not covered, as the failure was off site✓

The power failure exclusion applies when the failure of power or another utility service takes place away from the residence premises; had the failure happened on the premises and led to a covered peril there, the ensuing loss would be paid. Food is ordinary personal property and is not excluded, so the answer blaming the property type identifies the wrong reason.

60. After a small kitchen fire, the owner leaves the roof open to rain for weeks and the damage spreads. The added damage is:
a.excluded, since rain is not a peril
b.covered as ensuing water damage
c.covered as a spread of the original fire
d.excluded under the neglect exclusion✓

Neglect means the insured's failure to use all reasonable means to save and preserve property at and after the time of a loss, and it is a Section I exclusion, so the damage that spreads while the building sits open is not paid even though the original fire is covered. Calling the later damage an ensuing water loss ignores that the insured's own inaction let it in.

61. A city condemns and demolishes a house for a zoning violation. On a Homeowners policy this loss is:
a.excluded as governmental action✓
b.covered under the ordinance rule
c.covered as a collapse of the building
d.excluded as neglect by the owner

Governmental action means the destruction, confiscation or seizure of property by order of a public authority, and it is one of the standard Section I exclusions, so a demolition ordered by the municipality is not an insured loss. The collapse answer describes an abrupt structural failure from a listed cause, not a deliberate teardown carried out under a public order.

62. Which of these is excluded from Coverage C on a Homeowners policy?
a.a riding mower used at the home
b.a motorcycle with plates✓
c.a bicycle stored in the shed
d.a laptop taken to a coffee shop

Coverage C leaves out motor vehicles and their equipment, along with aircraft, animals, and the property of roomers and boarders, because those exposures belong on an auto or specialty policy. A riding mower is not treated as an excluded motor vehicle when it is used to service the residence and is not licensed for road use, and a bicycle is ordinary personal property.

63. A homeowner rents a spare bedroom to an unrelated boarder. The boarder's furniture and clothes are:
a.covered up to 10% of the Coverage C limit
b.covered for the theft and fire perils only
c.not covered, as they belong to a roomer✓
d.covered up to the full Coverage C limit

Coverage C insures property owned or used by an insured and by household residents related to the insured, and it specifically excludes property of roomers and boarders who are not related, along with property in an apartment regularly rented to others. The boarder needs a tenants policy of his own, so answers paying any part of Coverage C for his goods are wrong.

64. A dwelling would cost $400,000 to replace and carries Coverage A of $340,000. A covered fire causes $50,000 of repair cost, whose depreciated value is $38,000. The policy pays:
a.$50,000✓
b.$38,000
c.$44,000
d.$42,500

The dwelling settles at replacement cost with no deduction for depreciation when the amount of insurance is at least 80% of full replacement cost, and $340,000 divided by $400,000 is 85%. That clears the test, so the full $50,000 repair cost is paid. The $38,000 answer is the actual cash value, which is how contents rather than the dwelling would settle.

65. A home has a replacement cost of $300,000 and Coverage A of $210,000. A covered loss costs $30,000 to repair and has an actual cash value of $18,000. Before the deductible, the settlement is:
a.$18,000
b.$30,000
c.$21,000
d.$26,250✓

Because $210,000 is only 70% of replacement cost, the insured falls under the 80% requirement and the policy pays the greater of actual cash value or the proportion the limit bears to 80% of replacement cost. Eighty percent of $300,000 is $240,000, and $210,000 divided by $240,000 is 0.875, so 0.875 times $30,000 gives $26,250, which beats the $18,000 actual cash value.

66. A six-year-old sofa would cost $2,400 to replace and has depreciated by half. On an unendorsed Homeowners form the contents claim settles at:
a.$2,400, the replacement cost
b.$1,200, the actual cash value✓
c.$1,800, three quarters of the new cost
d.$2,400 with no deductible due

Personal property settles at actual cash value on the unendorsed form, which is replacement cost minus depreciation, so $2,400 less half its value leaves $1,200. Paying the full $2,400 is what a personal property replacement cost endorsement would buy, and the deductible still comes off whichever settlement basis applies.

67. A windstorm causes $8,400 of covered damage to a dwelling and the Section I deductible is $1,500. The insurer pays:
a.$1,500
b.$6,900✓
c.$8,400
d.$9,900

The deductible is retained by the insured and comes off the amount otherwise payable for a Section I loss, so $8,400 minus $1,500 leaves $6,900. The $9,900 answer adds the deductible instead of subtracting it, and paying the full $8,400 would ignore the retention the insured accepted in exchange for a lower premium.

68. A burglar takes $600 in cash and $4,000 of jewelry from an insured home. On a standard unendorsed homeowners form, before any deductible, how much is payable for these two items?
a.$1,500
b.$4,600
c.$1,700✓
d.$4,200

On a standard unendorsed form the special limit for money and coins is $200 and the limit for theft of jewelry, watches and furs is $1,500, so the payment is $200 + $1,500 = $1,700 before any deductible. The $4,600 figure ignores both special limits and simply pays the full loss. The $4,200 figure caps the cash but forgets that stolen jewelry carries its own $1,500 cap.

69. Thieves take a firearm collection worth $6,000 from an insured's home. The unendorsed homeowners policy carries a $60,000 Coverage C limit. What is the most it pays for the guns?
a.$6,000
b.$1,500
c.$2,500✓
d.$60,000

Theft of firearms and related equipment is subject to a $2,500 special limit on a standard unendorsed form, so the large Coverage C limit does not help and the policy pays $2,500 toward the $6,000 collection. The $1,500 figure is the theft limit for jewelry, watches and furs, not firearms. Paying the full $6,000 ignores the special limit entirely.

70. A theft loss includes a sterling silver flatware service valued at $9,000. On a standard unendorsed homeowners form, the amount payable for the silverware is:
a.$5,000
b.$9,000
c.$1,500
d.$2,500✓

Theft of silverware, goldware and pewterware carries a $2,500 special limit on the standard form, so $2,500 of the $9,000 loss is paid. The $1,500 figure belongs to theft of jewelry, watches and furs. Paying the full $9,000 would ignore the class limit, which is why owners of a large service schedule it separately.

71. Two rings worth $2,000 each are stolen in one burglary. Under the special limit for theft of jewelry, watches and furs, the unendorsed policy pays:
a.$3,000, being two $1,500 caps
b.$1,500 for each of the rings
c.$1,500 for the pair of rings✓
d.$4,000, the full value lost

A Coverage C special limit caps the whole class of property in one loss, not each article, so a single $1,500 limit applies to all jewelry taken in the burglary and the pair brings $1,500. Treating the cap as per item would produce $3,000, and paying $4,000 ignores the special limit. Scheduling each ring is the way to insure them for full value.

72. On a standard unendorsed homeowners form, the special limit that applies to securities, deeds, manuscripts and similar valuable papers is:
a.$500
b.$2,500
c.$1,500✓
d.$200

Securities, accounts, deeds, evidences of debt, manuscripts, tickets and stamps share a $1,500 special limit on the standard form, and that limit applies to loss by any covered peril rather than theft alone. The $200 figure is the limit for money and coins. The $2,500 figure is the theft limit for firearms or for silverware and goldware.

73. A homeowner's small sailboat, its trailer and its outboard motor are damaged by a covered peril. Under Coverage C on an unendorsed form, the most payable for the boat, trailer and equipment together is:
a.$1,000
b.$2,500
c.$1,500✓
d.$5,000

Watercraft, together with their trailers, furnishings, equipment and outboard motors, share one $1,500 special limit under Coverage C on the standard form. That single limit covers the boat and everything that goes with it, so a real boat needs its own watercraft policy. The $2,500 figure belongs to firearms, silverware or business property, not watercraft.

74. A homeowner runs a side business from the house and keeps $7,000 of stock and equipment there. Under Coverage C on a standard unendorsed form, business property on the residence premises is limited to:
a.$500 for that property
b.$7,000, the full amount
c.$2,500 for that property✓
d.$1,500 for that property

Business property on the residence premises carries a $2,500 special limit on the standard form, so $4,500 of the $7,000 exposure is uninsured. The $1,500 figure is the jewelry-theft and watercraft limit, and $500 is the credit card and forgery amount. A home business of this size belongs on a business owners policy or an endorsement.

75. A house fire destroys $9,000 of silverware. How does the $2,500 special limit for silverware apply to this loss?
a.It is voided once a fire report is filed
b.It is a theft limit, so Coverage C applies✓
c.It applies to any peril, so $2,500 is paid
d.It applies, but doubles for fire losses

The $2,500 special limit on silverware, goldware and pewterware is written for loss by theft, so a fire loss is settled under the ordinary Coverage C limit instead of the sublimit. The answer applying $2,500 to any peril confuses a theft sublimit with a class limit that runs across all perils. No special limit doubles because the peril happened to be fire.

76. Which class of property is subject to the $200 special limit under Coverage C on a standard unendorsed homeowners form?
a.Firearms and related equipment
b.Money, coins, bullion and bank notes✓
c.Silverware and goldware flatware
d.Deeds and manuscripts kept at home

Money, bank notes, bullion, coins, medals and similar items carry the lowest special limit on the standard form, $200, and it applies to loss by any covered peril. Deeds and manuscripts sit in the $1,500 class, while firearms and silverware each carry $2,500 for theft. Cash kept at home is therefore very lightly insured.

77. A fire destroys three ornamental trees worth $1,200 each on an insured's lot. Coverage A is $300,000. Under the trees, shrubs and other plants additional coverage, the policy pays:
a.$15,000 in total
b.$1,500 in total✓
c.$3,600 in total
d.$500 in total

This additional coverage is limited to 5% of the Coverage A limit in any one loss, here 5% of $300,000 = $15,000, but no more than $500 for any one tree, shrub or plant. Three trees at $500 each comes to $1,500, well under the $15,000 ceiling. The $15,000 answer applies only the aggregate cap, and $3,600 ignores the per-item cap.

78. A fire department bills an insured $900 for responding to a fire at the covered dwelling. Under the fire department service charge additional coverage, the policy pays:
a.$500, with no deductible✓
b.$450, half of the charge
c.$900, less the deductible
d.$0, as this is excluded

The fire department service charge additional coverage pays up to $500 for a charge the insured becomes liable for when a department is called to save covered property, and no deductible applies to it. A $900 bill therefore brings $500 rather than the full amount. The answer that subtracts a deductible misreads how this additional coverage is written.

79. An insured's credit card is used fraudulently and a forged check clears the account. The homeowners additional coverage for credit card, fund transfer, forgery and counterfeit money pays up to:
a.$1,000 with a deductible
b.$200 with a deductible
c.$2,500 with no deductible
d.$500 with no deductible✓

This additional coverage pays up to $500 for the insured's legal obligation from unauthorized use of a credit or fund transfer card, forgery of a check, and acceptance of counterfeit paper currency, and no deductible applies. The $1,000 figure is the loss assessment amount. The $2,500 figure belongs to firearms, silverware or business property.

80. A condominium association charges each unit owner a $4,300 assessment after a covered loss to the commonly owned property. Under the loss assessment additional coverage on a standard unendorsed form, the policy pays:
a.$1,000 of the assessment✓
b.$2,500 of the assessment
c.$4,300, the full amount
d.$500 of the assessment

Loss assessment is an additional coverage with a standard limit of $1,000 for the insured's share of an assessment charged by the association after a loss to property owned collectively, so the owner keeps $3,300 of the $4,300 charge. The full-payment answer treats loss assessment as if it shared the Coverage A limit. A higher amount can be bought by endorsement.

81. An insured rents out an apartment in the covered dwelling and a covered fire destroys the appliances and carpeting supplied to the tenant. The landlord's furnishings additional coverage pays up to:
a.$5,000 for those items
b.$1,000 for those items
c.$2,500 for those items✓
d.$500 for those items

The landlord's furnishings additional coverage insures appliances, carpeting and other household furnishings in an apartment on the residence premises that is rented or held for rental, up to $2,500. The $1,000 answer is the loss assessment limit and $500 is the credit card and forgery amount. Theft of those furnishings is outside this additional coverage.

82. Coverage A is $250,000 and a rebuild after a covered fire must meet a newer building code, raising the cost. The ordinance or law additional coverage on a standard form provides up to:
a.$12,500, being 5% of A
b.$25,000, being 10% of A✓
c.$250,000, the full limit
d.$2,500, a flat sublimit

Ordinance or law is an additional coverage of up to 10% of the Coverage A limit for the increased cost of construction needed to meet a code when repairing covered damage, and 10% of $250,000 is $25,000. The 5% figure is the trees, shrubs and plants aggregate. The $2,500 figure is a Coverage C special limit, not a rebuilding allowance.

83. An insured moves furniture out of the house to protect it from an approaching covered peril. Under the property removed additional coverage, the removed property is insured against:
a.direct loss from any cause for 90 days
b.named perils only, while off premises
c.theft only, for a period of 30 days
d.direct loss from any cause for 30 days✓

Property removed from the premises because it is endangered by a covered peril is insured against direct loss from any cause for 30 days while removed, an unusually broad grant. The 90-day answer stretches the period, and limiting the coverage to theft or to named perils understates it. This coverage does not increase the limit on the removed property.

84. How does a Section I additional coverage differ from the limits shown for Coverage A through Coverage D?
a.It applies only after the Coverage A limit is exhausted
b.It is a limit the insured selects when the policy is written
c.It replaces the Coverage C limit whenever a theft occurs
d.It carries a stated amount set by the form for one named expense✓

Additional coverages are grants the form supplies for specific expenses, each with its own stated dollar amount or percentage, rather than limits the insured picks on the declarations. The answer describing a limit the insured selects describes Coverage A through Coverage D. Nothing requires the Coverage A limit to be used up first before one applies.

85. After a covered storm the insured pays a contractor to tarp the roof so rain cannot enter. Which additional coverage responds to that cost?
a.Debris removal of the damaged roof material
b.Ordinance or law compliance for the repair
c.Loss assessment charged for the repair work
d.Reasonable repairs made to protect the property✓

The reasonable repairs additional coverage pays the necessary cost of measures taken solely to protect covered property from further damage after a covered loss, which is exactly what tarping an opened roof does. Debris removal pays to haul away wreckage rather than to prevent more damage. This coverage does not increase the limit on the damaged property.

86. Debris removal under a standard homeowners policy pays the cost of:
a.demolishing an undamaged structure the insured dislikes
b.removing debris of covered property after a covered loss✓
c.removing household trash on a scheduled weekly basis
d.clearing a neighbor's lot of debris blown from the home

Debris removal pays the reasonable expense of removing the debris of covered property when a covered peril causes the loss, and that expense is included in the limit applying to the damaged property. Routine trash collection and voluntary demolition of an undamaged building are maintenance decisions, not losses. The coverage follows the insured's own covered property.

87. The collapse additional coverage on a standard homeowners form applies when a building collapses from:
a.wear and tear the insured has known about for years
b.cracking or bulging that has not yet caused a collapse
c.a specified cause such as hidden decay or vermin damage✓
d.any cause at all, including gradual settling of walls

Collapse is an additional coverage that responds to an abrupt falling in of a building caused by one of the causes the form lists, such as hidden decay, hidden insect or vermin damage, or the weight of contents, equipment or people. Settling, cracking, bulging and expansion are specifically not a collapse, and long-known wear is not a listed cause.

88. On a standard homeowners policy, the minimum limit normally written for Coverage E personal liability is:
a.$1,000,000 in aggregate
b.$100,000 per person hurt
c.$100,000 per occurrence✓
d.$25,000 per occurrence

Coverage E carries a standard minimum of $100,000 for each occurrence, and higher limits can be purchased for a modest premium. It is an occurrence limit covering all damages from one event, so the per-person answer misreads the structure. Coverage F, medical payments to others, is the Section II coverage written on a per-person basis.

89. An insured with a $100,000 Coverage E limit is held liable for $100,000 of damages, and the insurer spends $30,000 defending the suit. The insurer's total outlay is:
a.$130,000✓
b.$70,000
c.$100,000
d.$30,000

Coverage E pays damages the insured is legally liable for up to the limit, and defense is provided at the insurer's expense in addition to that limit, so $100,000 of damages plus $30,000 of defense costs comes to $130,000. The $100,000 answer treats defense as if it eroded the limit, which is how a defense-inside-the-limits policy works, not a homeowners form.

90. A neighbor's child is hurt on the insured's trampoline and runs up $2,600 of medical bills. The standard minimum Coverage F limit pays:
a.$1,000 for that child✓
b.$500 for that child
c.$2,600 for that child
d.$100,000 for that child

Coverage F medical payments to others is written per person with a standard minimum of $1,000, so $1,000 of the $2,600 is paid and the balance is not a Coverage F matter. The $100,000 figure is the Coverage E personal liability limit, which responds only if the insured is legally liable. No fault has to be shown to trigger Coverage F.

91. The insured's own resident daughter breaks her arm on the stairs at home and needs $3,000 of treatment. Under Coverage F, the homeowners policy pays:
a.$1,000, the per-person limit
b.$500, half the stated limit
c.nothing, as she resides there✓
d.$3,000, as no fault is needed

Medical payments to others is written for people outside the household; it excludes bodily injury to the named insured, the resident spouse and other residents of the household, so a resident daughter brings nothing. Her care is a health insurance matter instead. The answer paying $1,000 forgets that the residency test comes before the no-fault feature.

92. A 19-year-old foster child living with and cared for by the named insured injures a visitor. Under Section II, this young person is:
a.an insured only if named on the policy
b.not an insured, being over 18 years old
c.an insured, being under 21 in their care✓
d.not an insured, having no blood relation

Section II defines an insured to include the named insured and resident spouse, resident relatives, and any other person under 21 who is in the care of an insured, which covers a foster child living in the household. Blood relationship is not required for that group. Nobody has to be listed by name on the declarations to qualify as an insured.

93. A friend walks the insured's dog with permission and the dog bites a passerby. Under Section II of the homeowners policy, the friend is treated as:
a.a stranger with no standing to be covered
b.an insured for that use of the animal✓
c.a claimant the policy will defend against
d.an insured for all of his own activities

Section II extends the definition of an insured to a person legally responsible for an animal owned by an insured while that person is using it with permission, so the friend walking the dog is an insured for that use. He is not an insured for his own unrelated activities. He is not a claimant either, since the bitten passerby is the one making the claim.

94. Immediately after a guest is hurt on the premises, the insured pays $300 for first aid at the scene. Under the Section II additional coverages, that expense is:
a.excluded, being a voluntary payment made
b.covered only when the insured is at fault
c.charged against the Coverage F limit first
d.covered as a Section II additional coverage✓

First aid expenses an insured incurs for others after a covered bodily injury are one of the Section II additional coverages, paid in addition to the Coverage E and Coverage F limits rather than out of them. The answer charging the payment against Coverage F confuses an additional coverage with the medical payments limit. First aid to an insured is not covered.

95. An insured who repairs computers for pay in the garage is sued by a customer whose machine caught fire and burned her desk. Section II of the homeowners policy:
a.excludes it only if a permit was needed
b.excludes the claim as a business pursuit✓
c.covers the claim up to the $1,000 limit
d.covers the claim under Coverage E in full

Section II excludes bodily injury and property damage arising out of an insured's business pursuits, so a paid repair operation run from the home needs a separate commercial liability policy or an endorsement. The $1,000 answer confuses this with damage to property of others, an additional coverage that itself excludes damage arising out of a business.

96. A licensed architect works from home and is sued for a design error on a client's building. Under Section II of the homeowners policy, the claim is:
a.excluded only above $100,000 of loss
b.covered once a suit is actually filed
c.excluded, as a professional service✓
d.covered by Coverage E as an occurrence

Section II excludes bodily injury and property damage arising out of the rendering or failure to render professional services, so a design error belongs on a professional liability policy. The answer treating it as an ordinary occurrence ignores that exclusion. The exclusion is a subject-matter bar, not a dollar threshold that bites above the Coverage E limit.

97. Which of these Section II claims is excluded on a standard homeowners policy?
a.The insured's dog bites a child at the park
b.A car the insured drives injures a cyclist✓
c.A guest slips on ice on the insured's walk
d.A ladder the insured drops injures a helper

Section II excludes bodily injury and property damage arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of motor vehicles, most watercraft and aircraft, because those exposures belong on an auto, boat or aviation policy. A dog bite away from home, a fall on the premises and a dropped-tool injury are ordinary occurrences the homeowners form is written to cover.

98. During an argument the insured deliberately punches a neighbor and breaks his jaw, and the neighbor sues. Section II will:
a.deny it only if a conviction follows
b.deny it as expected or intended harm✓
c.pay under Coverage F medical payments
d.pay the damages but not the defense

Section II excludes bodily injury and property damage expected or intended by an insured, so a deliberate punch brings neither damages nor a defense; insuring intentional harm would defeat the fortuity insurance requires. A criminal conviction is not needed for the exclusion to apply, and Coverage F does not step in where the injury was intended.

99. The insured's 9-year-old son breaks a neighbor's $1,400 laptop while playing, and nobody claims the boy was negligent. The homeowners policy pays:
a.$500, a goodwill sublimit
b.$1,000, regardless of fault✓
c.nothing, as fault is absent
d.$1,400, the full loss shown

Damage to property of others is a Section II additional coverage that pays up to $1,000 per occurrence for property damage caused by an insured, at replacement cost and whether or not the insured is legally liable, so $1,000 of the $1,400 is paid. The answer paying nothing applies a liability test this additional coverage deliberately leaves out.

100. A guest is injured at the insured's home and hires a lawyer. Under the Section II duties after a loss, the insured must:
a.pay the medical bills and seek repayment
b.admit liability in writing to the claimant
c.give notice and forward every legal paper✓
d.settle directly with the injured guest first

Section II requires the insured to give written notice of the occurrence, to promptly forward every notice, demand or legal paper received, to cooperate with the insurer and to help secure evidence and witnesses. Settling on his own or admitting liability voluntarily is what the duties forbid, because it prejudices the insurer's defense of the claim.

101. Compared with an owner-occupied homeowners form, the Section II liability coverage in a tenant HO-4 or a unit-owner HO-6 policy is:
a.capped at half the Coverage C amount
b.absent, being the landlord's obligation
c.the same, and it applies away from home✓
d.narrowed to the rented or owned unit only

Section II is written the same way in the tenant and unit-owner forms as in the owner-occupied forms: Coverage E personal liability and Coverage F medical payments follow the insured's personal activities rather than sticking to the premises. The answer handing the liability duty to the landlord confuses building property coverage with personal liability.

Last reviewed: · editorial process

PrepPass team · Verified against California CDI · How we review

What's on the California Personal Lines Broker-Agent License?

The California Personal Lines Broker-Agent License is administered by the California Department of Insurance (CDI). The topic weights below are a PrepPass estimate, not figures published by the California Department of Insurance (CDI).

Questions
90 questions
Time limit
135 minutes
Passing score
60%

Every figure above, with the document it came from and the date we read it →

Topic blueprint

  • 22%
    Personal Auto Policy
  • 20%
    Homeowners Policy (HO)
  • 18%
    California Insurance Code & Ethics
  • 10%
    Property Insurance Fundamentals
  • 8%
    Dwelling Policy (DP)
  • 8%
    Endorsements & Optional Coverages
  • 7%
    General Insurance Principles
  • 7%
    California-Specific Rules
PrepPass team · Verified against California Department of Insurance (CDI) · How we review

How hard is the exam?

Moderate. The California Personal Lines exam is 90 questions, 135 minutes, 60% to pass — an entry-level subset of P&C focused on personal auto + dwelling/homeowners.

Recommended study hours
60-100 hours (only the 12-hour ethics course is required for prelicensing — AB 943, 2026)
First-attempt pass rate
45% on the first attempt (n = 1,015) — California Department of Insurance, 2025. Note the direction: Personal Lines is the LOWEST first-attempt rate in CDI’s table, 12 points below Property / Casualty — the opposite of the “narrower scope makes it more passable” line this page used to carry. It was 39% (n = 729) in 2024.Source: California Department of Insurance — 2025 Annual Report of the Commissioner (PDF), “LSD Licensing Examination First-Time Pass Rates”
Where to focus first
Personal Auto (largest single area) and California-Specific Rules — together about 30% of exam.

Fees and salaries are approximate and change over time. The pass rate above is quoted from the source linked beside it, for the period that source covers — where we have not checked a source, we say so and give no number.

Frequently asked questions

How many California Personal Lines practice questions?+

474 original practice questions across all 9 topics of the California Department of Insurance Personal Lines Broker-Agent license exam, with California Insurance Code citations on 158 of them.

Is the Personal Lines practice test free?+

Yes, completely free. No signup, no credit card. Unlimited practice rounds and a full-length timed mock exam included.

What's the difference between Personal Lines and the full P&C license?+

Personal Lines is restricted to personal auto + residential property (no commercial property, no workers' comp). It's the entry-level P&C license: a 90-question / 135-minute exam (vs 150 questions / 195 minutes for full P&C). As of 2026 (AB 943), both require only the 12-hour ethics course for prelicensing.

Are these real CDI exam questions?+

No. All questions are original prose authored from the California Insurance Code, Title 10 CCR, Civil Code, Vehicle Code, and standard ISO Personal Lines form concepts. We never copy from real exams or paid prep providers.

What's the passing score for the Personal Lines exam?+

60% on the real CDI exam, which is 90 questions over 135 minutes at a PSI testing center.

Is the California Personal Lines exam offered in Spanish, Chinese, or Vietnamese?+

Yes — AB 451 (Stats. 2023, ch. 136) legally requires CDI to offer producer license exams in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Tagalog.

Can I upgrade from Personal Lines to the full P&C license later?+

Yes. As of 2026 (AB 943) no additional prelicensing hours are required — you simply add the line of authority and sit for the full P&C exam at any time.

Is there a study guide for the Personal Lines Insurance Producer?+

Yes. PrepPass sells Personal Lines Insurance Producer — Complete Study Guide (2026), a PDF + EPUB download, $19.99 one-time; the practice on this page stays free without it. See the study guide →

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