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[Q] I occasionally travel with one or two bicycles on my vehicle. If the bikes fell off the car, would they be covered by my insurance? What if the bikes damage other vehicles while they're bouncing down the road?

[A] We know that an accident isn't the type of adventure you're hoping for when you head out for a bike ride. Fortunately, the liability portion of your auto insurance will likely cover damage and injury your bikes cause to other vehicles -- or other people -- if the bikes fall off your vehicle. Because your homeowners or renters policy protects your personal property wherever it may be -- in a hotel in Colorado, at home or on a bike trail in South America -- it will cover damage to the bicycles themselves. Of course, the cause of the loss must be an insured peril as listed on your policy. See your policy for details.

[Q] I have an antique quilt that, besides being a family heirloom, is worth quite a bit. What is the best way to make sure that it's covered in case of a loss? Would an appraisal help?

[A] You may need to add a Scheduled Personal Property (SPP) endorsement to your homeowners or renters policy. Here's why: Certain items -- such as antiques, fine art or other collectibles for which age, history, scarcity or condition contributes substantially to their value -- have limited coverage under basic home policies. If your quilt is historically significant and could fetch a high price at auction, an SPP endorsement would provide the coverage it needs. An appraisal may be required.

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