There's a school of thought that says you can encourage good behavior by acknowledging people for doing something right. With that in mind, we present some coverages (areas of protection) that many insurance companies include in standard automobile and homeowners or renters policies that you may not be aware of. These coverages could benefit you if any of the disasters they protect against happen to you.

Let's begin with a mandatory disclaimer: policies and coverages vary with each company, and often by state. To find out what coverages exist in your policy, read the fine print or speak to your insurance agent.

Just to be on the safe side, we'll also give you a quick rundown of common coverages you may think you have, but probably don't.

What You Don't Know Could Hertz You
If you've ever rented a car, you're well aware that the rental car company wants to sell you insurance. "It seems like they want you to sign off in 14 different places," says Mary Ann Avnet, an insurance company marketing manager. "You may not need their insurance, particularly if you have an auto policy that has comprehensive and collision coverage. However, bear in mind that, just like with your own car, if someone hits the rental car you'll be responsible for paying the deductible. That could run you $500. You might not have budgeted that into your vacation plans."

"Another potential problem to consider is loss-of-use," says Tom Schneider, head of an Ohio-based insurance agency. "If you wreck the rental car and it takes one week for the car to be repaired, the rental company loses use of that car and the income it would provide them (commonly called loss-of-use). Some insurance companies will pay to repair the rental car and for loss-of-use. Some won't, and then you'll be responsible for the rental cost of a car you're not using."

"It's advisable to call your agent before you rent a car, especially if you're going out of state or out of the country. Some companies provide international coverage and some don't," says Schneider. "In addition, your agent may tell you that you're covered for everything but loss-of-use. Then you have to determine what your comfort level is. Rental companies can charge from $7.00 - $21.00 a day for loss-of-use insurance. If the car is unusable they can charge $40.00 a day and up for loss-of-use of the car." You'll have to determine whether you'd rather pay the lower insurance cost up front, or take the chance that you might end up paying the higher loss-of-use cost in a worst-case scenario.

"If you don't have an auto policy, buy the coverage from the rental company," advises Madelyn Flannagan, a research and development executive from the Independent Insurance Agents of America (IIAA). "If you have only liability insurance on your car, and no physical damage, comprehensive, or collision coverages, you should pay for those coverages as part of your rental agreement."

If your rental car is stolen and your belongings are stolen with it, your belongings are not covered by auto insurance. Belongings are covered by homeowners or renters insurance. If you don't have homeowners or renters insurance, your stolen items will not be covered.

Home is Where the Insurance is
Most homeowners insurance policies contain some coverages that you may not be aware of, but that may come in handy in the event of an emergency or catastrophe. Again, homeowners policies vary from company to company, and state to state. Different companies may call coverages by different names, however the general categories described below should be recognizable. The limits (maximum amount of coverage provided by the policy) covered can also vary. The amounts quoted below are averages. Read the fine print and/or speak to your insurance agent to confirm what coverages and limits are in your policy.

• Additional Living Expenses: In the event that your home is uninhabitable due to damage covered by your policy, many insurance companies will pay for you to live somewhere else until your home can be made habitable or other arrangements can be made. The company may also pay for you to live elsewhere if your neighbor's house is damaged and that causes a threat to your home, or if civil authority deems your house unlivable due, for example, to evacuation caused by flood or fumes. Two weeks is the typical length of time covered.

• Rental Reimbursal: If your home is uninhabitable and contains rental property, some companies will cover the rental income you will lose.

• Lock Replacement: Some policies will pay to have your locks replaced if your keys are lost or stolen. Coverage limit: $500.

• Tree Removal: Many companies will cover tree removal if a tree falls down due to wind, hail, ice or snow, as long as it hits the house or other buildings on your property. The tree doesn't have to damage the building, but it does have to block the driveway, entrance, exit, or touch the building in some way. This coverage is subject to the policy deductible and it doesn't have to be your tree. Your insurance will remove your neighbor's tree if it falls on your building. Coverage limit: up to $1000.

• Service Charge: If you have to call the fire department to your house and there is a service charge most companies will pay it. No deductible will be applied. Coverage limit: up to $500.

• Landscaping: If your trees, shrubs, lawn, or ornamental flowers are damaged by a vehicle, fire, lightening, or theft, most companies will pay for replacement. Coverage limit: usually a percentage of what your house is insured for (often 5%).

• Grave Markers: Most companies will pay to repair or replace the marker, as long as the marker is not on your property. This includes markers in a mausoleum. Coverage limit: up to $5,000.

• Your Kids: Most policies contain liability coverage if your child causes damage to someone else's property. For example if they are mowing someone else's lawn or throw a ball through a window. As long as you claim responsibility for the child and the damage was not caused by an intentional act. Intentional acts of destruction are always excluded.

• Unauthorized Use of Credit or Debit Card, Electronic Fraud, Forged Checks, Acceptance of Counterfeit Money: Insurance companies will often replace funds, or pay for services in an attempt to retrieve funds, and/or clear your credit history. If another financial institution (such as the bank or credit card company) replaces the lost funds, the insurance company does not pay. No deductible will be applied. Coverage limit: up to $500.

• Electronic Data Restoration: This relatively new coverage pays for the costs of recovering or reconstructing personal data records, such as tax returns, checking account information, and even Christmas card lists. This is not business coverage.

• Business Property: Many policies will provide limited coverage for business property in the home.

• Libel, Slander, False Arrest: These coverages have been standard in homeowners and renters policies for some time. But in the age of chat rooms, message boards, and cyber-slander lawsuits, insurance companies are beginning to look at expanding them. Check with your agent to see if you're covered.

What! I'm Not Covered?
While it's a nice surprise to find out that your insurance company will pay to have your house locks changed when your purse is stolen, it isn't much fun to find out that your Aunt Gussie's silverware is gone and you're not covered for it.

"A lot of people think they have coverage for their possessions but may not realize that the coverage doesn't go as deep as they thought," says Schneider. "In our office, we call those the "What! I'm not covered limits?'"

Here are some coverages to be aware of in your policy. The limits quoted are averages and vary from company to company, and state to state.

• $200 for cash, bank notes, gold, silver, platinum, coins and metals. (This doesn't include silverware, goldware, or utensils.)

• $2,500 for loss, by theft, of: silverware, gold-plated-ware and pewter-ware. The key word is theft. If the items are lost due to fire, the limit does not apply.

• $1,000 on securities, deeds, letters of credit, manuscripts, passports, tickets, stamps, and mortgage papers or other evidence of debt papers.

• $1,000 on watercraft, trailers, equipment, and motors.

• $1,000 on trailers not used to carry watercraft, lawnmowers, or other equipment.

• $1,000 for loss by theft of: jewelry, watches, furs, precious and semi-precious stones.

• $2,000 for loss by theft of firearms.

• $2,500 for property on the premises used for business purposes.

• · $250 for property off the premises used for business purposes.

The good news is that once you know what your insurance policy really covers, you can decide if you want to purchase additional insurance or not. "When in doubt, ask your agent. That's what we're here for," says Schneider.