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If you’ve ever cringed when you’ve opened your auto insurance bill, you’re probably not alone. Depending on your family’s cars and drivers, those policies can get pricey. But if you haven’t taken advantage of discount options, you may be paying more than you have to. We’ve listed a few of the most common discounts below; give us a call to find out even more!

Bundling discounts: Perhaps one of the best discounts you can get is pretty simple, because you likely need at least a couple personal insurance policies. By adding homeowners or renters insurance (to just name two) to your auto policy, you can save a good chunk on that premium.

Defensive/Safe Driver discounts: Has it been years since you’ve had an accident or a ticket? Or have you recently taken a defensive driving course? If so, you may qualify for a special discount awarded to the best drivers. Score!

Safety Equipment discount: By purchasing a car with safety and security features like airbags or a security system, you can save some bucks every month. Even some after-market products can help you get a discount.

Good Student discount: Are you a college student and paying big bucks for insurance because of your age? Good news; being an excellent student can actually help you shave some money off your auto policy. That’s something worth getting an A+ for!

Military discount: Are you currently serving our country? If so, thank you! And be sure to mention this to your agent to see if they offer a discount for military members.

Multiple Car discounts: Got a whole family to insure? Good news; you can save some money doing it. Lucky for you, most companies offer discounts when covering multiple cars. Finally, something that’s cheaper with a bigger family!

Payment Method discount: Some companies will give you a discount for setting up automatic payments or paying the policy in full. Talk to your agent to see if this applies to you.

There’s a few to get you thinking. What’s the best discount you’ve gotten on auto insurance?

 

Originally posted 2012-09-19 03:45:03.

We loved this “classic” Christmas tale. We’re sure you will too!

Source: Unknown (with apologies to Clement Moore)

‘Twas the night before Christmas (12:01 a.m. 12/25) and all through the house (single family, joisted masonry, e.c.3, terr. 44, pc5), not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse (thorough pride of ownership and excellent maintenance).

The (flame-retardant) stockings were hung by the (contractor-installed) chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there (in spite of deadbolt locks and central station alarm system).

The children (ages 4, 8, 14, & 16) were all nestled snug in their beds (check MVR on 16-year-old) while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.

Ma in her kerchief (scheduled heirloom) and I in my cap (no slave to fashion) had just settled down for a long winter’s nap. (Check employment; is insured sleeping all day?)

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter (check into condition of premises, housekeeping, etc.), I jumped out of bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash, threw back the curtains and tore open the sash (intentional destructive act, no coverage; also, appears insured only wearing a cap in front of uncovered window).

When what to my wondrous eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. (check if sleigh is rated business use and corporate owned.) With a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. (Notify life underwriting, order medical on 600-year-old driver).

More rapid than eagles (check MVR for speeding violations) his coursers they came and he whistled and shouted and called them by name (possible aggressive driver).

Now Dasher (turbo equipped?), now Dancer (classic?), now Prancer (check occupation), now Vixen (definitely check occupation), on Comet (possible muscle deer), on Cupid (check credit score), on Donner (4×4) and Blitzen (possible drinking problem?).

To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall (check for structural damage; also look into height exposures), now dash away, dash away, dash away all (old man climbing walls either in great shape or overly medicated).

So up to the housetop his coursers they flew, with a sleigh full of toys and Saint Nicholas, too. (Check for possible retail delivery classification of autos). And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. (Check for shingle damage; also classification of operations–roofing is a prohibited class).

As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney he came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur (scheduled items) from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. (Part-time job as firefighter?)

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back. (Check to see if insured has safety committee; check lifting training). His eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how merry, his cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry (order updated medical report, possible drinking, drug abuse, Rosacea, or Hepatitis).

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth (ineligible for nonsmoker discount) and the smoke encircled his head like a wreath (check batteries in smoke detectors to make sure operational).

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly elf (overweight for height) and I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself. A wink of his eye and a nod of his head soon gave me reason I had nothing to dread (Stranger enters past alarm and insured not worried? Sounds suspicious.)

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stocking, then turned with a jerk (review workplace for ergonomic compliance).

And laying his finger aside of his nose (obscene gesture?), and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. (Check operations, chimney sweeps are prohibited classification, look into GL PD deductible.)

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like the down of a thistle (not likely with fat man and sleigh full of toys. Check GVW for proper classification, light/service/local seems unlikely).

And I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” (Check hours of operation; 24-hour service operations prohibited. Also check into seasonal nature of business.)

Originally posted 2012-12-24 14:03:20.

No matter how much money people have or what kind of occupation they do, the need for liability insurance can’t be overestimated. People who own homes and drive routinely take on potential risks that could result in very costly legal judgments against them. Homeowners and auto owners are liable for injuries or damages caused by driving or some home condition that might cause property loss for one or more people. And homes and autos are just two types of property for which their owners are held liable for losses others incur as a result of their use. Fortunately, an umbrella insurance policy is an affordable way to protect against costly legal settlements and court judgments.

Umbrella Insurance Offers Broad Liability Coverage

An umbrella insurance policy will cover the costs up to policy limits that auto insurance, homeowners insurance, commercial insurance, professional liability and others don’t due to coverage limits. The policies are affordable because of the underlying insurance coverages that handle the majority of claims people encounter. A minor car accident or damage caused by using of a home, such as a child sending a baseball through a neighbor’s picture window while playing, will be covered by auto insurance and homeowners insurance. The same goes for professional liability insurance policies, such as errors and omissions for financial advisors, insurance agents, attorneys and other professionals. But when those policies reach their coverage limits and there is a large balance owed, an umbrella insurance policy would cover those costs with many policies starting offering a minimum $1 million for very reasonable rates.

Auto Liability Easily Exceeded

Whenever driving, there is a potential to wind up liable for very costly injuries and damages to others, particularly in larger cities where there are more people and vehicles. Those who carry state minimum liability limits in Nevada and elsewhere easily can exceed their liability coverage. But an umbrella insurance policy would cover those costs as well as the legal costs of dealing with potential lawsuits and prevent a possible bankruptcy or other financial disaster.

Have you ever been at fault in an auto accident and though you might be sued?

Originally posted 2014-05-09 20:51:22.

Have you weighed your health care options and come up more confused than ever? We get it; health insurance plans, deductibles, savings accounts, pre-existing conditions . . . It all sounds like jargon after a while, and confusing jargon at that. If you’re looking into health savings account, you’re on track to saving health care costs. Here we’ve listed the primary benefits of an HSA so you can make an unconfused decision.

1.Opposed to an flexible spending account, an HSA doesn’t lock you in to a set contribution amount. That means you can adjust your contribution a monthly basis, depending on your current medical forecast. Additionally, there is no “use-it-or-lose-it” rule with an HSA, meaning your unused funds will roll over into the next year.

2.HSAs are completely tax-free. You may be accustomed to 401k and other accounts that are “tax-deferred,” but if you follow the guidelines on your HSA and use the funds only for qualifying medical expenses, you’ll never actually pay taxes on the contribution.

3.Your employer contributions aren’t taxed either. Ever gotten a raise and then quickly calculated how much you’ll actually see after taxes and deductions? When an employer contributes to your HSA, you get the full amount – no “net” to speak of.

4.Your office visit payments actually go somewhere. With a coordinating high-deductible PPO, you won’t be paying office co-pays that don’t contribute to your yearly deductible or out-of-pocket maximum. That means you get credit for any payments you make.

5.With growing confusion in the health care industry, HSAs are likely to gain popularity. Many otherwise uninsured individuals will likely enroll in qualifying high-deductible PPOs in order to avoid a penalty. This makes them eligible for an HSA – which, if they’ve been listening to us at all, they’ll enroll in immediately!

Got specific questions on spending accounts? Let us know below!

Originally posted 2013-02-10 02:26:24.

Most of us are guilty of using a cell phone while driving at some time or another, and some much more often than others. But every year, more than one million accidents are caused by drivers using cell phones. Texting while driving rightfully is banned in 41 states due to the potential for distraction leading to an accident. And a dozen states have banned using cell phones altogether while most others have some sort of laws limiting the use of cell phones by drivers. Hands-free only cell phone usage by drives is a popular one.

More Than A Quarter of All Accidents Involve Cell Phone Use

Although most states ban texting while driving, a new study shows that talking while driving is more dangerous. Texting while driving accounts for far less accidents than simply talking on a cell phone while driving, according to the National Safety Council.  About 26 percent of all accidents involve at least one driver using a cell phone. But only 5 percent of accidents occur when a driver is texting. While still a significant percentage that represents thousands of accidents and likely deaths, the toll from texting is much less than that of talking on a cell phone.

Rising Accident Rates Involving Cell Phones

About 1.3 million accidents in the United States during 2013 involved using a cell phones while driving, according to the National Safety Council. That amount is about 1 percent more than during 2012 and is part of a trend of more accidents involving drivers using cell phones. And with cellular plans becoming more affordable and service more reliable, more people are using cell phones. So the percentages likely will continue to rise until states either crack down more on cell phone usage by drivers or more motorists learn better ways to manage their cell phone usage while driving. Have you ever been distracted when using a cell phone while driving and almost cause an accident?

Originally posted 2014-03-28 17:27:01.