by Administrator
13. December 2012 05:37
There are many ways for older drivers to save significant dollars on their auto insurance. But, if you buy your policy online or over the phone there is a good chance that you won’t be told about them. Buying insurance through an independent insurance agent is no more expensive than buying a policy online or over the phone, but an independent agent will take the time to talk with you and uncover the discounts you qualify for as well as the discounts you can easily obtain. The following are a few tips you should keep in mind when thinking of acquiring a new Killeen Insurance policy.
1. If you are 50 or older check with your agent to see if you qualify for a mature driver’s discount. Most insurance companies give them, but not all do so automatically. In addition, different carriers may have an age other than 50 when the discount kicks in. The average mature driver discount is 5 to 10 percent, so that can be quite helpful.
2. Defensive Driving Course: These courses are given in a classroom setting or online. They are usually eight hours long and successful completion can earn you a discount of up to 10 percent for as long as three years. The cost is generally $10 to $30.
3. Folks who have retired and no longer commute to and from work often are eligible for a discount due to decreased mileage driven. The fewer miles driven, the lower the risk of having to file an insurance claim. The amount of the discount is determined by your state so check with your agent if you have retired.
4. Multi-policy discount: When you place your homeowners or renters insurance with the same company that provides your automobile insurance you will usually get a discount, known as a multiple policy discount, on both policies. The discounts vary by insurance carrier, but it is certainly worthwhile to discuss with your insurance agent.
5. Military discounts are frequently available to consumers who are on active duty, have retired from the armed forces or are a member of the National Guard or Reserves. If this applies to you, ask your agent if you are entitled to a discount on your automobile policy.
6. Safe drivers who are accident free for a set period of time may qualify for a safe driver discount. Make sure to ask your agent about this potential money-saving discount.
7. PIP Discount: Some insurance companies offer a discount on Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage if a specified amount of miles driven each year is completed by a driver over a certain age.
While you can expect to see your rates fall when you are in your fifties they will start to rise when you hit your sixties. Getting every discount you can as soon as you can will help keep your rates manageable. Contact an agent at Shawn Camp Insurance today for more information.
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Tags: killeen, texas, tx, auto, car, insurance, seniors, defensive driving, policy, multi-policy, military, safety
by Administrator
20. August 2012 11:32
While insurance is one of the most important protections you can provide your family with, it's not exactly fun to shop for. When shopping for cars, gadgets, clothes, shoes and other retail items, you cast a hopeful eye to the future and look forward to a time when you get to use the item that you're shopping for; but when shopping for insurance you must consider the worst possible events that could occur and purchase protection against the financial damages they will cause, all the while hoping that they never come to pass.
If you want to make the process of shopping for insurance a little easier and faster, here are a few tips:
- Have all your information. Depending on the type of insurance policy you’re shopping for, you may need varying types of information. For example, when shopping for home insurance you'll need to know the value of your contents, the rebuilding costs for your home and what kind of anti-theft and disaster response systems you have in place. When shopping for health insurance, you'll need to know your medications weight height and so on. Call your agent and ask what specific information you should have ready when you met with her.
- Know what you want to protect. When you apply for insurance the goal is to create financial protection against certain types of losses. If you don't know, however, what you want to protect then it will be difficult to get the appropriate coverage.
- Have a budget. When designing an insurance policy, not only must you consider all the property you want to protect and the events you want to protect the property from, but also what you can afford to pay for the insurance. These two pieces of information go hand in hand.
- Have an agent. Not only is it potentially dangerous to shop for insurance without an agent helping you understand the various coverage options, limits, and exclusions involved but it's also inefficient. Agents can quickly compare costs for equivalent policies and can design insurance coverage with as few gaps as you can afford.
We’re here to help you get the policy design that you and your family need most. When you're ready to start shopping for Killeen home, auto, or business insurance or to conduct a review of your current policies, give us a call at Shawn Camp Insurance today.
by Administrator
4. October 2011 12:17
Occasionally you may feel as if your entire working life is defined by a single event each year—vacation. Taking a vacation is one way of reminding you of the reason for working so hard all year round, but you should plan in such a way that you get the most value for your money.
It’s simple to forget about rental car insurance when budgeting for your vacation. So if you don’t want to arrive home from your holiday with a car repair costs that competes with the cost of a holiday abroad, consider purchasing rental car insurance or at least finding out whether you already have adequate protection from other sources.
Will your current car policy cover it?
First things first, contact your insurance agent. They can tell you what coverages you have for rental cars on your current auto policy. You need to be sure to have something to protect yourself in the event of an accident, theft, and vandalism. This coverage should include protection for damage to the car, as well as also property damage and bodily injury.
Will your credit card cover it?
Secondly, check with your credit card company. Many credit cards offer special protections for their clients when they use the credit card to pay for their rental car fees, check if yours does. When you do, make sure to ask about any special restrictions in order to obtain the insurance coverage.
Will you be the only one driving?
Lastly, you need to make sure that the other drivers have the same coverages, because your personal insurance and credit card protection might not extend to other individuals who are not named on your credit card or auto insurance policy.
By managing the advantages offered by both your credit card and your auto insurance policy, you could avoid the expense of rental car insurance. But if there are any gaps in the coverages you get between the credit card and auto policy, make sure you try to fill it with the insurance offered by the rental car company. This way you can spend your vacation relaxing and enjoying yourself rather than fretting about possible damages and expenses.
Call us to talk about your car policy or get a free car insurance quote in Texas by calling (254) 547-2381.
by Administrator
4. September 2011 12:21
It can be challenging to deal with all of your different insurance policies and assets that you have between your business and personal life. From business insurance to home insurance, life insurance to auto insurance for your personal and business vehicles the perfect balance of personal and business coverage can be hard to manage. Although a lot of these complex insurance arrangements cannot be simplified, the one involving your business and personal car insurance can be.
When you buy a business auto policy to cover your company car you can choose the Drive-Other-Car endorsement to cover your driving activities with a personal vehicle rather than buying a separate policy for personal use.
What is included in this endorsement?
The coverage provided under this endorsement is similar to that of conventional, personal auto insurance but only one bill payment is necessary—to your business auto policy. This makes paperwork easier for you and lessens the risk of one of your policies being interrupted due to nonpayment. The Drive-Other-Car endorsement can also be used to provide coverage to employees who are provided with a company car to take home.
The Drive-Other-Car endorsement can also provide bodily injury and property damage liability coverage as well as uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Whatever limits and deductibles you choose for the business auto insurance policy are extended to the endorsement.
Critical Factors to Consider
The Drive-Other-Car endorsement does not just cover you when you drive personal vehicles, it can also cover claims resulting from accidents that occur while you, or a covered employee, are driving a rental vehicle or a friend’s car. That helps to make this extremely flexible endorsement extremely comprehensive.
This endorsement can cover other drivers in the employee or business owner’s household too—but you must read your policy before you assume that this is the case. If your policy does cover household members then they will be protected whether driving a rental car, borrowed car or their own personal vehicle. However, this does not mean that they are covered under the business portion of your policy if they use your company vehicle.
In order to qualify for this endorsement, the business vehicle you use and insure must be owned by your business and not by you, a spouse or a member of your family. When looking for ways to buy insurance policies that protect you against financial risks and simplify your life, additional endorsements like the Drive-Other-Car endorsement are important and valuable tools to consider.
Contact us at (800) 212-2641 for a free company car insurance quote or visit our office.