INSURANCE TIPS

For most Consumers, the short answer is YES!  You don’t need to know a lot about insurance.  That’s the Insurance Agents job.  There are a few things you should keep in mind. 

An insurance policy is a contract (a legally binding agreement). Insurance companies are not in business to pay claims.  They must pay claims to be in business.  To an insurance company, a claim is an expense, and, like all well-run businesses, controlling and minimizing expenses is a priority. 

The true cost of insurance can only be determined after a loss. In any profession, there are different levels of skill.  Determining competency is difficult before any work is done.  The skill and competency of an Insurance Agent can only be evaluated after a loss.  Here are a few steps you should consider. 

1) Is the individual you are talking to an Insurance Agent licensed in your state? 

2) Ask for their license number. 

3) Does the Insurance Agent have Professional Liability Insurance? 

4) Ask for a Certificate of Insurance. 

5) Is the Insurance Agent working for you? 

As each answer is given, make a quick note next to the question.  Also, date and provide a time for the conversation. 

If you are satisfied with the above, you can start by clearly stating you are seeking advice. 

From here, the Professional Insurance Agent will take over and earn your trust and confidence.

ABOUT YOU: 

• Date of Birth 

• Sex 

•Marital Status 

• Contact Phone Number 

• Email address 

WHERE YOU LIVE: 

• Home Address (City, State, Zip Code) 

• Who lives with you

• For all who reside in your household: 

• Name, 

• Date-of-Birth 

• Relationship 

WHAT CARS YOU WANT INSURED:

• Vin

• Make

• Driver’s License Number

• Social Security Number

COVERAGES: We recommend you start with the coverages you already have.  You’ll find this information on your Declarations (DEC) page. You are looking for a price comparison with the coverages you currently have.  If you’re talked into changing coverages at this stage of shopping, you won’t have a comparison.  A COMPARISON is what you want! 

Is the coverage you currently have the right coverage?  Remember, ‘The true cost of insurance can only be determined after a loss.’  You need to talk with an Independent Agent.  An Independent Agents can offer a variety of insurance company policies.  Some Agents will tell you they are independent.  Well, they aren’t necessarily lying because they can be independent business owners.  Like a franchise owner.  They are independent businesses, but by agreement, they can only sell one product. 

Carrying auto insurance is one of the most fundamental aspects of responsible car ownership. If you’re under insured, you could incur significant out-of-pocket costs for any automotive claims — but if you’re over insured, you’ll needlessly spend hundreds or even thousands of unnecessary dollars each year on insurance premiums. Fortunately, your insurance agent will help you determine the right balance, which hinges on several factors:

1. The minimum coverage required by your state. Every state stipulates a minimum amount that drivers are required to purchase, typically ranging between $15,000 to $50,000 in bodily injury liability and $5,000 to $25,000 in property damage liability per accident. Your agent will use this minimum required “auto rate” as their starting point.

2. Your location. Your zip code tells your insurance agent how likely, statistically speaking, you are to be a victim of car theft or involved in fender benders. Metropolitan motorists are more apt to file a claim than their suburban counterparts, making them more expensive to insure.

3. Your driving record and driving habits. To incentivize motorists to drive safely, insurance companies often offer discounts to drivers who have gone a year or more without filing a claim. (This is why younger, more inexperienced drivers are more costly to cover than their older, more seasoned counterparts.) Insurance companies also sometimes offer other discounts for lifestyle habits like a short daily commute.

4. The type of vehicle you drive. The adage “don’t judge a book by its cover” is not applicable to car insurance. Sports cars and convertibles are typically more expensive to insure than sedans because, statistically, their owners tend to get more tickets and file more claims.

It may be tempting to stop here, but minimum auto insurance coverage often does not provide the coverage you’ll want if you are involved in an accident or file a claim. You’ll want to focus on value (the coverage your policy provides when you need it) versus the price of purchase. You may also want to consider:

Gap insurance. If your vehicle is totaled, your insurance provider will reimburse you for the Kelly Blue Book value of its worth – but if you’re still making payments, you may have a gap between your car’s value and what you owe. Gap insurance ensures that you will not need to continue making payments on a vehicle that’s deemed totaled by your insurance adjuster.

Rental car reimbursement. If you’re involved in an accident, your selected body shop could need your car for several weeks, or even longer, to complete repairs, which may leave you in need of a car rental. If you don’t have access to a second vehicle, you may want to consider rental car reimbursement coverage as part of your automotive policy.


The bottom line is there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to selecting car insurance, so you’ll want to work with an agent who takes the time to get to know you and your insurance needs before suggesting insurance coverage and working with you to draft a policy.

Many assume the policy they have includes all the discounts they are entitled to which is not true. Let us shop for you and we will ensure to look for your savings. 

On average, there are more than 1,600 insurance companies doing business in each state, which makes it difficult and time-consuming to select the right provider for your needs – until now.

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