Frequently Ask Questions: Auto Insurance

Most states require drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance. Liability insurance provides coverage for other drivers if you're at fault in an accident that causes injury or property damage to others. The amount of coverage you carry beyond liability is contingent on several factors:

• • The value of your car and other assets

• • How often you drive

• • How you use your vehicle (e.g., mostly driving to work, etc.)

• • Do you regularly transport passengers? How many?

It's not inconceivable that the liability portion of your homeowner's policy could hit its payout limits in the event of a serious claim against you. This is especially true if you were sued by someone claiming you caused their loss or injury. If you lost the suit, the award could easily exceed the payout limits of your normal homeowner's policy, potentially devastating your finances.

This is when a Personal Umbrella Insurance Policy would be extremely useful. Personal Umbrella Insurance supplements your existing auto insurance policy and begins paying when you reach the standard policy's payout limits.

That's easy! We make the comparisons for you! We work with numerous vehicle insurance providers to find the right coverage in the right amounts to fit your lifestyle and budget. Our large number of insurance partners enables us to provide high-quality personal vehicle insurance at competitive rates.

A deductible is a dollar amount you're responsible for paying in the event of a covered claim. Deductibles are agreed upon in the terms of the policy on the Declarations Page. After you file a covered claim, you're obligated to pay the portion that's up to the amount of the deductible. For example, if your claim is worth $3,600 and your deductible is $500, insurance will pay $3,100 of the claim. You pay $500. If the covered loss was valued at $475, you would be responsible for the full amount, with no insurance payment.

Deductible payments do not accumulate across multiple claims. For example, if you file a claim in January, you would owe the $500 deductible. If you filed another claim in March, you would again be responsible for $500. In the $475 example above, your payment of the full claim has no impact on the deductible you'll owe on your next claim: $500.

Generally speaking, the higher your deductible amount, the less you pay in premium. The lower the deductible amount, the more you pay in premium. It's important to select a deductible amount you reasonably believe you can pay. Keep in mind, too, that if you have more than one claim in a short period of time, you'll have to pay that deductible amount for each separate claim.

There are many measures drivers can take to lower rates. For example, the vehicle's make, model, and age have a significant impact on rates. An individual who drives a Corvette will pay significantly more for insurance than a person who drives a Corolla. Likewise, an individual driving a 2007 Corvette will pay lower premiums than one who drives a 2017 Corvette with the same features, and so on. Before you buy a new or used vehicle, call us first. We'll give you comparison quotes for the various makes, models, and model years you're considering.

Drivers can also lower their rates by purchasing multi-coverages with the same insurance provider. For example, a driver who buys both his car and home owner's insurance from the same provider will typically pay less on both policies than if he purchased auto insurance alone. Most providers will also lower premium rates if multiple drivers and/or cars are covered in the same household.

Maintaining a safe driving record is another effective way to lower premiums. Most providers will reward drivers with lower premiums for going a certain number of years without having an accident.

You can also slightly lower your premium by paying an entire six-month coverage period at once instead of paying it monthly.

You can also raise your deductible amount. The more you choose to pay out of pocket for a future claim, the less you will pay in premium.

Getting older-especially in the absence of serious accident or citation-will also automatically reduce your rates over time.

Beyond these most common ways to lower car insurance rates, many providers also offer various company-specific discounts. To find out what unique discounts your provider might offer, give them a call.

How do I find the best Auto insurance and lowest possible rates for me?

We can help you with that. We shop our various partner providers to help find you the most-comprehensive coverage possible at the lowest possible rates. What are your insurance needs? Talk to us about it, and we'll help you find maximum coverages at minimum prices.

You might have heard the old saying that "past is prelude to future." In the insurance business, this axiom is taken seriously. How many accidents have you been involved in while behind the wheel? How many speeding tickets or other traffic citations have you had? Have you ever had a DUI or DWI? How many comprehensive claims have you averaged per year in your driving career?

Auto insurance companies use such information to establish your driving and claims patterns over time. From those patterns, providers make statistical predictions on how likely you are to be involved in an accident, get a citation, make a comprehensive claim, etc. Companies are legally permitted to base auto insurance rates on these predictions.

Please note, however, that providers are also limited regarding how long they can cite any single accident, traffic violation, etc., as a reason to increase your rates or keep them high.

You can pay your premium via cash, check, money order, or any major credit or debit card. Please note that, if you pay with cash, you'll need to come by our offices in person to do so, which presents a decided inconvenience.

If you pay via check or money order, these can be mailed to us.

If you pay with a credit or debit card, you can opt for an automatic draft to be charged to your card every month. As us about this option, and we'll be glad to get you set up.

Your coverage begins upon the issuance of a valid proof of insurance coverage card. We will mail this card to you, but you can also access it online.

Is a payment receipt for a policy a valid substitute for a proof of insurance card?

No. Your proof of insurance card contains all the details of your policy not provided by a receipt. These include your confirmation number, policy number, your vehicle's VIN, and other information. Most providers allow you to access this information online, too.

Extremely. We take your privacy very seriously. We never sell your information to third parties, and we use cutting-edge security protocols to keep your data protected.

1) Multi-car

2) Multi-policy

3) Multi-driver

4) Safe driver

Please note that some discounts are provider-specific. Ask your provider what discounts might be available to you.

Many factors can cause your Auto Insurance rates to change:

1) Normal market fluctuations, influences, and variances

2) You had an accident that was your fault

3) You've been involved in several accidents within the last few years, even if some weren't your fault

4) You've had a recent traffic citation

5) You recently added a driver to your policy

6) You've gone several years without an accident or traffic citation

This largely depends on your personal finances. How much can you afford to pay out of pocket on any given insurance claim? Is the amount $250, $500, $1000, or more? How much monthly premium can you afford? To answer these questions, you must closely review your income against your outgoing bills.

The higher your deductible, the less in premium you will pay. It's critical to choose a deductible amount that balances your coverage needs with the amounts you can pay out of pocket and in premium.

Does the kind of car I drive influence my Auto insurance rates?

Yes. A vehicle's make, model, and age all have a significant impact on insurance premiums. An individual insuring a Dodge Viper will pay far less than a person who drives a Honda Civic. Likewise, an individual driving a 2002 Civic will pay lower premiums than one who drives a comparable 2017 Civic. Generally, the more a car is worth, the costlier it is to insure. However, other factors can also impact insurance costs, including engine power, overall size, number of seats, and other factors.

Full coverage means that, in the event of an accident, your policy reimburses your losses, as well as the losses of other drivers if you're at fault (this part is called liability insurance). Full coverage also includes comprehensive coverage, which reimburses you for things like theft, road damage (e.g., you hit a deer), weather-related events, and others.

Generally, the insurance policy of the vehicle's owner covers you if you drive someone else's car with permission. In the event of an accident, your own personal auto coverage may kick in, depending on your individual coverages. However, the vehicle owner's insurance will always provide the first, if any, line of coverage.

This depends on your individual policy and coverages. However, most policies include an allowance for other drivers who operate your vehicle with appropriate permission.

Generally, no. In most cases, a single accident won't cause your coverage to be terminated. However, if you are found criminally negligent for an accident and/or cause serious injury, loss of life, and/or severe amounts of property damage, your coverage could be terminated for a single accident.