When looking for cheap auto insurance for teens it is important to keep in mind several factors about driving and what insurance providers are looking for. You see, as a teenager, you don’t have any experience to show about your driving record or any kind of financial responsibility for that matter. If you’re paying too much for insurance than it is best to understand that all auto coverage providers are different from each other and many can offer specials if you know how to get them.
There are some techniques to get cheap auto insurance for teens who can use that really work well. When in this economy, it’s tough to be too savvy but sometimes you just have to because who can afford ridiculous premiums each month.
Here are a few tips that can help you obtain cheap auto insurance for teens:
- Have a good student record to show. Many institutions offer discounts for good students who get a 3.0 grade point average or better.
- Purchase an older vehicle. By having a new, fast, shiny and expensive car you will be charged higher monthly rates. The reason the do this is because it would cost them a lot more money to pay for damages from a new car than an old one.
- Use online resources to shop many providers. This is an invaluable technique where you only have to insert your information one time and then have handfuls of top-rated providers you can choose from.
It makes purchasing cheap auto insurance for teens much easier when you already have the layout and costs sitting right in from of you to compare from all of the providers. It sure beats sitting on the phone for hours or having to go sit at each insurance agents’ office just for one quote.
The best resource for cheap auto insurance is right here. Just fill in your basic info and press continue and you’ll have access to the lowest rates ever. All you have to do is => Click Here to begin saving on your insurance now.
http://www.selectinsuranceteam.com/selectinsuranceblog.html
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Reviewing your insurance coverage
When was the last time you sat down and really looked at your insurance policies - your car insurance, your home insurance and your personal liability insurance? If you are like most people, it's been years. More likely, you receive copies of your policy from your insurer and file them away somewhere and you never look at them again -- until or unless you need to file a claim. That's a big mistake. Instead, you should set aside some time to review all your policies. You just might find that there are opportunities to save some real money.
For example, did you know that discounts are offered to policyholders who have all their policies with one insurer? Take a look at your policies and see if you can consolidate with one carrier. Also, remember that you can generate substantial savings by changing your deductibles. Many people select a relatively low deductible for their car insurance --sometimes as little as $250. If you have a good driving history, you can increase that deductible to $1,000 and reduce your policy cost by 15 to 20 percent. Similarly, if you increase your homeowner's insurance deductible from $250 to $2,000 or slightly higher, you could see a premium decrease of 25 to 30 percent.
Besides the savings you could realize in premiums, you really do need to be reviewing your coverage to make sure it is still appropriate. For example, you may have taken out a personal excess liability (or umbrella) policy years and years ago and a $1 million coverage level may have seemed adequate at the time. However, maybe you have saved more and your net worth has increased and maybe now a $2 million policy is needed. These policies do not increase automatically so it is up to you to stay on top of the situation. Also, you should be aware that the addition of an extra $1 million of coverage on an umbrella is usually quite cheap. The first million in coverage is usually the most expensive.
Finally, if you have done any renovations to your home and have not updated your information with your insurer be sure to do so as soon as possible. It seems hard to believe but there have been several instances where people have substantially improved their homes (sometimes adding extra bedrooms and bathrooms) and forgot to inform their insurer. In those cases, if there is a loss, the new additions are not covered. The last thing you want to do is spend $50,000 or $100,000 on improvements and not be able to get reimbursed in the event of a loss
call me at 1-855-GET-SELECT for your free insurance review.
steve ludwig
president/ceo
select insurance group
saint peters, mo
For example, did you know that discounts are offered to policyholders who have all their policies with one insurer? Take a look at your policies and see if you can consolidate with one carrier. Also, remember that you can generate substantial savings by changing your deductibles. Many people select a relatively low deductible for their car insurance --sometimes as little as $250. If you have a good driving history, you can increase that deductible to $1,000 and reduce your policy cost by 15 to 20 percent. Similarly, if you increase your homeowner's insurance deductible from $250 to $2,000 or slightly higher, you could see a premium decrease of 25 to 30 percent.
Besides the savings you could realize in premiums, you really do need to be reviewing your coverage to make sure it is still appropriate. For example, you may have taken out a personal excess liability (or umbrella) policy years and years ago and a $1 million coverage level may have seemed adequate at the time. However, maybe you have saved more and your net worth has increased and maybe now a $2 million policy is needed. These policies do not increase automatically so it is up to you to stay on top of the situation. Also, you should be aware that the addition of an extra $1 million of coverage on an umbrella is usually quite cheap. The first million in coverage is usually the most expensive.
Finally, if you have done any renovations to your home and have not updated your information with your insurer be sure to do so as soon as possible. It seems hard to believe but there have been several instances where people have substantially improved their homes (sometimes adding extra bedrooms and bathrooms) and forgot to inform their insurer. In those cases, if there is a loss, the new additions are not covered. The last thing you want to do is spend $50,000 or $100,000 on improvements and not be able to get reimbursed in the event of a loss
call me at 1-855-GET-SELECT for your free insurance review.
steve ludwig
president/ceo
select insurance group
saint peters, mo
Sunday, April 24, 2011
My Car Has Hail Damage, Now What?
So your car got hit by hail now what do you do? If you've ever had your vehicle damaged by a hail you know it can be a very frustrating and expensive experience. Well if you have full coverage insurance on your car it doesn't have to be frustrating or expensive. Often people don't understand how to properly utilize there insurance coverage and are even afraid to claim the damage for fear that their rates will go up. This is a common fear but let me assure you a comprehensive claim such as hail damage doesn't not raise your rates. In fact, if you don't claim the damage and have it repaired you risk having any future claims being denied because of unrelated pre-existing damage.
The first thing you should do is call your insurance company and file a claim. Make sure you write your claim number down and it is always a good idea to ask the name of everyone you talk to and adjuster being assigned to your claim. The next step is the initial inspection or the "estimate." Some insurance companies will ask you to go out get three estimates and hen fax them in. If your insurance company asks you to jump through these hoops just politely say NO. Ask where you need to go to have "them," write "their," estimate. Thats it, do not waste your time driving around getting multiple estimates because in the end your insurance company is just going to use those estimates as a starting point and write their own anyway.
An estimate means just that. It is an estimate of how much money and what the insurance company thinks it will take to repair your car. It is very important that you clean your car before having it inspected because you wont get paid for dents the appraiser can't see. Secondly it is extremely important that you are as nice and as accommodating to the appraiser as you can be. It will do you no good to argue with or be rude to the person deciding how much money your going to get to have your car repaired.
Often times when there's a large storm event the insurance companies are overloaded with claims and the have to outsource to independent appraisal services to help write all the claims that are pouring in. This is commonly referred to as a catastrophe team or "cat team." Now I don't think I have to tell you that these very busy appraiser's are going to fly through your estimate as fast as they can and will probably miss a bunch of things. You may think your estimate looks a little low. In my line of work 90% of the estimates are written low. I've seen estimates for $1500 on a car that had over $6000 in damage. Don't worry that estimate is not the final word it is merely a starting point. Unfortunately many people choose to keep they're insurance money and never get their car fix. Some people even wait around til it hails again nearby and try to claim the un-repaired damage again. The insurance companies lose millions of dollars every year to fraudulent claims. It is impossible for them to keep track of every claim and they can't force you to get your car fixed. The only way the insurance companies can combat this is by writing their initial estimates a little on the lighter side. I've had many appraisers tell me that their company actually trains them to feel the customer out and if they think they probably wont have their car repaired to write the estimate for as little as possible. Obviously if you have a brand new BMW your going to get it fixed but if you a 1984 Toyota Corolla with 350,000 miles on it you are probably going to keep the money, right?
The next step is to find a company to repair your dents. If you have large dents with paint damage and broken windows you will probably need to find a full service body shop. If you have mostly quarter sized dents and the damage is just superficial then PDR is the best option. PDR, or paintless dent repair is a repair method in which the dents can be gently massaged out and the original factory finish is left undisturbed. A good PDR shop can make your car look exactly like it did before the hail damage. Most dent's half dollar sized or smaller can be removed fairly easily and quickly. In a perfect scenario your car could be repaired in as little as a few hours. Well, the world is not perfect and depending on your insurance company's original estimate it may take several days to get an appraiser to come back out and re-write their estimate. This process is known as a Supplement. Usually on the back page of your estimate there are instruction for filling a supplement. The insurance company knows that if a professional repair facility is doing the repair then they are going to catch all the dents that were missed and ask to be paid for every last little bolt or clip that has to be removed. This is standard procedure and most insurers actually have a supplement hot line that body shops can call to have an appraiser sent out to the shop.
Some insurance companies send an appraiser out right away while other companies can take 7-10 days. I won't get into which companies are the worst but I will say that Progressive and Safeco are top notch! (Select Insurance Group offers both companies and other top carriers!)This is not a paid endorsement it's just the painfully obvious truth. If I call Safeco they are at my shop the next morning every time even though their policy is within 48 hours. Progressive is almost as fast within 48 hours usually. Some of the other companies won't tell you when there coming and your at their mercy. This is usually the longest delay in the repair process but it is the most important. Often times we get twice as much money as the original estimate. This is very important because without this additional money you may get a shop to do a complete repair or worse you may have to pay money out of pocket.
The next issue is "deductibles." You have a contract with your insurance company that you will pay the first $500, $1000, or whatever your deductible is, towards the repair of your vehicle. This money is always deducted out of the check your insurance company gives you and they leave it up to you to pay it or find a company that will fix it for less. Essentially any company that repairs your vehicle without requiring you to pay a deductible is giving you a "discount." This is completely legal and in fact most PDR companies will not require you to pay your deductible. Make sure you get any promises made to you in writing. I also suggest you get an estimated length of repair time. At my shop we always provide a customer with a written quote of the exact amount due for the repair or we give the customer a guarantee in writing that we will complete the repair for the negotiated amount the insurance company issues payment for. If we file a supplement it is expressed that we earned that money in addition to the original estimate. It is very important that you have written proof that you as the customer will not have to pay more than "x" amount of dollars when your car repair is completed. If a shop is unwilling to put their promises in writing then you need to find a new shop.
Once you find your repair shop or PDR company it is important that you know where the shop is and meet the owner or manager. I know this sound's weird but a large majority of our customers never come to my shop and meet me. Often they are approached by one of my sales personnel and they let them pick the car up and then deliver back to them when it is finished without ever coming to my shop. This is great for me but it is extremely scary to think how easily people just hand over their keys and insurance checks. I always recommend to my salesmen that they suggest to their customer that they at least come out to our shop so they know where their car will be. It is also a good idea to ask for references. Often times we have repaired other cars in the neighborhood and have satisfied customers just down the street. Also you should check out a companies website if they don't have one or it is poorly put together that may be an indicator that the company doesn't pay much attention to detail. For a company to not have a website today is almost inexcusable! You may also call the local better business bureau (Select insurance group is an A+ Accredited Business with the BBB). Even if a company is not a member the BBB will still field complaints and keep files on companies that receive complaints. Also check with your insurer. The will have files on companies that have had complaints or are suspected of fraudulent activities.
In conclusion PDR is definitely a great alternative to traditional body repair, and with a little research and due diligence the average person can navigate the claims process and find a great shop to repair their car for little or no money out of pocket!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2633180
The first thing you should do is call your insurance company and file a claim. Make sure you write your claim number down and it is always a good idea to ask the name of everyone you talk to and adjuster being assigned to your claim. The next step is the initial inspection or the "estimate." Some insurance companies will ask you to go out get three estimates and hen fax them in. If your insurance company asks you to jump through these hoops just politely say NO. Ask where you need to go to have "them," write "their," estimate. Thats it, do not waste your time driving around getting multiple estimates because in the end your insurance company is just going to use those estimates as a starting point and write their own anyway.
An estimate means just that. It is an estimate of how much money and what the insurance company thinks it will take to repair your car. It is very important that you clean your car before having it inspected because you wont get paid for dents the appraiser can't see. Secondly it is extremely important that you are as nice and as accommodating to the appraiser as you can be. It will do you no good to argue with or be rude to the person deciding how much money your going to get to have your car repaired.
Often times when there's a large storm event the insurance companies are overloaded with claims and the have to outsource to independent appraisal services to help write all the claims that are pouring in. This is commonly referred to as a catastrophe team or "cat team." Now I don't think I have to tell you that these very busy appraiser's are going to fly through your estimate as fast as they can and will probably miss a bunch of things. You may think your estimate looks a little low. In my line of work 90% of the estimates are written low. I've seen estimates for $1500 on a car that had over $6000 in damage. Don't worry that estimate is not the final word it is merely a starting point. Unfortunately many people choose to keep they're insurance money and never get their car fix. Some people even wait around til it hails again nearby and try to claim the un-repaired damage again. The insurance companies lose millions of dollars every year to fraudulent claims. It is impossible for them to keep track of every claim and they can't force you to get your car fixed. The only way the insurance companies can combat this is by writing their initial estimates a little on the lighter side. I've had many appraisers tell me that their company actually trains them to feel the customer out and if they think they probably wont have their car repaired to write the estimate for as little as possible. Obviously if you have a brand new BMW your going to get it fixed but if you a 1984 Toyota Corolla with 350,000 miles on it you are probably going to keep the money, right?
The next step is to find a company to repair your dents. If you have large dents with paint damage and broken windows you will probably need to find a full service body shop. If you have mostly quarter sized dents and the damage is just superficial then PDR is the best option. PDR, or paintless dent repair is a repair method in which the dents can be gently massaged out and the original factory finish is left undisturbed. A good PDR shop can make your car look exactly like it did before the hail damage. Most dent's half dollar sized or smaller can be removed fairly easily and quickly. In a perfect scenario your car could be repaired in as little as a few hours. Well, the world is not perfect and depending on your insurance company's original estimate it may take several days to get an appraiser to come back out and re-write their estimate. This process is known as a Supplement. Usually on the back page of your estimate there are instruction for filling a supplement. The insurance company knows that if a professional repair facility is doing the repair then they are going to catch all the dents that were missed and ask to be paid for every last little bolt or clip that has to be removed. This is standard procedure and most insurers actually have a supplement hot line that body shops can call to have an appraiser sent out to the shop.
Some insurance companies send an appraiser out right away while other companies can take 7-10 days. I won't get into which companies are the worst but I will say that Progressive and Safeco are top notch! (Select Insurance Group offers both companies and other top carriers!)This is not a paid endorsement it's just the painfully obvious truth. If I call Safeco they are at my shop the next morning every time even though their policy is within 48 hours. Progressive is almost as fast within 48 hours usually. Some of the other companies won't tell you when there coming and your at their mercy. This is usually the longest delay in the repair process but it is the most important. Often times we get twice as much money as the original estimate. This is very important because without this additional money you may get a shop to do a complete repair or worse you may have to pay money out of pocket.
The next issue is "deductibles." You have a contract with your insurance company that you will pay the first $500, $1000, or whatever your deductible is, towards the repair of your vehicle. This money is always deducted out of the check your insurance company gives you and they leave it up to you to pay it or find a company that will fix it for less. Essentially any company that repairs your vehicle without requiring you to pay a deductible is giving you a "discount." This is completely legal and in fact most PDR companies will not require you to pay your deductible. Make sure you get any promises made to you in writing. I also suggest you get an estimated length of repair time. At my shop we always provide a customer with a written quote of the exact amount due for the repair or we give the customer a guarantee in writing that we will complete the repair for the negotiated amount the insurance company issues payment for. If we file a supplement it is expressed that we earned that money in addition to the original estimate. It is very important that you have written proof that you as the customer will not have to pay more than "x" amount of dollars when your car repair is completed. If a shop is unwilling to put their promises in writing then you need to find a new shop.
Once you find your repair shop or PDR company it is important that you know where the shop is and meet the owner or manager. I know this sound's weird but a large majority of our customers never come to my shop and meet me. Often they are approached by one of my sales personnel and they let them pick the car up and then deliver back to them when it is finished without ever coming to my shop. This is great for me but it is extremely scary to think how easily people just hand over their keys and insurance checks. I always recommend to my salesmen that they suggest to their customer that they at least come out to our shop so they know where their car will be. It is also a good idea to ask for references. Often times we have repaired other cars in the neighborhood and have satisfied customers just down the street. Also you should check out a companies website if they don't have one or it is poorly put together that may be an indicator that the company doesn't pay much attention to detail. For a company to not have a website today is almost inexcusable! You may also call the local better business bureau (Select insurance group is an A+ Accredited Business with the BBB). Even if a company is not a member the BBB will still field complaints and keep files on companies that receive complaints. Also check with your insurer. The will have files on companies that have had complaints or are suspected of fraudulent activities.
In conclusion PDR is definitely a great alternative to traditional body repair, and with a little research and due diligence the average person can navigate the claims process and find a great shop to repair their car for little or no money out of pocket!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2633180
Preventing And Dealing With Auto Hail Damage
Hail storms may seem harmless, but one little hailstone can dent your car or break your windshield, mirrors and headlights. The worst part is that unless you have comprehensive coverage, your auto insurance won’t help you with auto hail damage.
The average hail storm lasts about five minutes, but according to the National Weather Services, the damage left behind adds up to $1 billion every year.
Hail is formed when raindrops pass through currents of freezing air and turn into small blocks of ice. Most of the time they measure only a fraction of an inch but they can also reach the destructive size of a grapefruit or softball.
To prevent hail damage, the Better Business Bureau recommends taking the following precautions:
1 – Park your car in a garage or under a roof before the storm begins.
2 – If you have to leave it outside, cover your car with a thick blanket to minimize the impact of hail.
3 – If driving, look for a covered safe place and wait for the storm to pass.
4 – If there’s nowhere to go, stop your car. The impact will be stronger if your car is in motion.
5 – After the storm, assess the damage and call your insurance company.
Damage to sheet metal can cost thousands of dollars to repair and replacing a broken windshield can add up to hundreds of dollars. Don’t expect a check from your insurance company unless you’ve purchased comprehensive coverage, the kind that also covers other types of weather-related damage, theft and vandalism.
If you are covered, you have the right to get your car repaired to the condition it was in before the hail damaged it. There are two ways to accomplish this: the traditional method of body repair – hammering and painting – or paintless dent repair.
steve ludwig
president/ceo
select insurance group
1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353)
The average hail storm lasts about five minutes, but according to the National Weather Services, the damage left behind adds up to $1 billion every year.
Hail is formed when raindrops pass through currents of freezing air and turn into small blocks of ice. Most of the time they measure only a fraction of an inch but they can also reach the destructive size of a grapefruit or softball.
To prevent hail damage, the Better Business Bureau recommends taking the following precautions:
1 – Park your car in a garage or under a roof before the storm begins.
2 – If you have to leave it outside, cover your car with a thick blanket to minimize the impact of hail.
3 – If driving, look for a covered safe place and wait for the storm to pass.
4 – If there’s nowhere to go, stop your car. The impact will be stronger if your car is in motion.
5 – After the storm, assess the damage and call your insurance company.
Damage to sheet metal can cost thousands of dollars to repair and replacing a broken windshield can add up to hundreds of dollars. Don’t expect a check from your insurance company unless you’ve purchased comprehensive coverage, the kind that also covers other types of weather-related damage, theft and vandalism.
If you are covered, you have the right to get your car repaired to the condition it was in before the hail damaged it. There are two ways to accomplish this: the traditional method of body repair – hammering and painting – or paintless dent repair.
steve ludwig
president/ceo
select insurance group
1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353)
wind and hail insurance
When selecting adequate insurance for your home, consider such perils as natural disasters (like what has happened in the St. Louis, MO area this past week). In case you purchase property in an area that is prone to tornados or floods, it is vitally important to have sufficient coverage to protect a home or real estate investment from considerable damage. Wind and Hail Insurance will cover the cost of rebuilding your home in case tornado damages the building. This coverage will protect you against wind, wind gusts, hail, rain, tornadoes, or cyclones caused by a hurricane. These disasters may result in direct physical loss or damage to property. Hailstorms may not result in the catastrophic damage often associated with windstorms or fire, but are still likely to result in significant damage to the roof of the building.
If your property is located in one of the coastal counties, your policy may exclude coverage for wind and hail damage. In this case, to be protected, you will need to obtain Wind and Hail coverage separately from something like the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA), or special insurance pool. Your property will have to pass a windstorm inspection and can qualify for association coverage only in case it meets certain windstorm-resistant building standards.
Make sure your Homeowners or Commercial Property coverage is current and that it will pay the full replacement cost of your property should the property be damaged by windstorm or hail. Consult with a real estate or insurance professional to choose the best option available. Learn what your policy's limits are. Remember that you may have to purchase separate policies to cover wind, hail, and flood damages. Homeowners can purchase Wind and Hail Insurance with a deductible based on a percentage of possible damages, which will increase as the amount of damages increases, or with a fixed "all peril" deductible, which is considered to be the best option in case of considerable loss.
Note that there are certain ways that can help reduce damage in the event of wind and hail. Such areas as the roof, the windows, and the doors of your home can be improved to help mitigate losses in the event of a hurricane and prevent a structure from being penetrated by the wind, water, sand etc. For instance, it is very important to keep the doors and windows sealed shut and keep the roof intact. The condition and materials of the roof covering and proper angling of the roof can considerably improve the impact resistance.
Get your quote here. It's free, simple, fast and imposes no obligations upon you.
Steve Ludwig
President/CEO
Select insurance Group
1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353)
If your property is located in one of the coastal counties, your policy may exclude coverage for wind and hail damage. In this case, to be protected, you will need to obtain Wind and Hail coverage separately from something like the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA), or special insurance pool. Your property will have to pass a windstorm inspection and can qualify for association coverage only in case it meets certain windstorm-resistant building standards.
Make sure your Homeowners or Commercial Property coverage is current and that it will pay the full replacement cost of your property should the property be damaged by windstorm or hail. Consult with a real estate or insurance professional to choose the best option available. Learn what your policy's limits are. Remember that you may have to purchase separate policies to cover wind, hail, and flood damages. Homeowners can purchase Wind and Hail Insurance with a deductible based on a percentage of possible damages, which will increase as the amount of damages increases, or with a fixed "all peril" deductible, which is considered to be the best option in case of considerable loss.
Note that there are certain ways that can help reduce damage in the event of wind and hail. Such areas as the roof, the windows, and the doors of your home can be improved to help mitigate losses in the event of a hurricane and prevent a structure from being penetrated by the wind, water, sand etc. For instance, it is very important to keep the doors and windows sealed shut and keep the roof intact. The condition and materials of the roof covering and proper angling of the roof can considerably improve the impact resistance.
Get your quote here. It's free, simple, fast and imposes no obligations upon you.
Steve Ludwig
President/CEO
Select insurance Group
1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353)
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Get Your Tornado Insurance Settlement Check Fast
With more tornadoes hitting the St. Louis area after last weekend's deadly twisters, that killed 45 and left hundreds of homes damaged and destroyed, it's important to have your ducks in a row to get your tornado insurance claim check issued quickly should disaster strike. After you shake off the daze and dust from the destruction, what do you do to get your cash fast and get on the road to repair and recovery?
1. Take a sigh of relief.
Unlike the well-publicized problems people had making claims after some recent notable hurricanes, for the most part a standard homeowner's policy covers tornadoes as straight-up wind damage. (Unless the tornado pushed water onto/into your home, but that's a different case).
2. Contact your insurer immediately.
Let them know ASAP that you are going to make a claim and give a rough estimate of the damage. Go into as much detail as you can so they know how to prioritize your claim. Different states have different statutes of limitations for making a claim, so don't dawdle.
3. Document document document.
Take photos of all the destruction. Gather up all the receipts you have and inventory the damaged property. Note the item, when you bought it, how much it cost and how much you estimate it would cost to replace it. Call your credit card company for records if you don't have the cost on hand. If you have to stay in a hotel or eat out at restaurants while your house is under repair, keep those receipts as the insurer will reimburse you.
* DID YOU KNOW...
Even spoiled food is eligible for coverage, usually up to $300-$500.
4. Get detailed estimates for repairs.
Contact licensed contractors and get several estimates for permanent repairs. Call me at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) for a list of licensed repair contractors.
5. Give your insurance agent a detailed description.
Use the info above to help file your claim.
6. Make temporary repairs.
Cover up broken windows, and shore up/cover damaged roofs and walls as needed to prevent further damage.
BEWARE!
Watch out for hustlers preying on those prying themselves out the wreckage. They may try to rush you into overpaying for temporary repairs. In other instances homeowners have been pressured into making big deposits for repairs, only for the "contractor" to disappear and never be heard from again. Don't let panic freak you out of doing your normal due diligence.
7. Wait for the check to arrive.
Claims are usually processed in the order of severity. An obliterated house will take precedent over one that is just missing a few shingles.
8. If your claim seems stuck in nowhere-land, escalate.
Standard Consumerist customer service escalation tactics apply. Be polite and professional but persistent. Write down who you talked to and when. Ask for supervisors. If the delay is inordinate and unwarranted, you always have the executive customer service and EECB routes. For egregious cases, consider filing a complaint with your state's insurance commissioner to get things moving along.
9. Make a donation.
However bad you have it after a disaster, there's always someone else in even greater need. Consider giving money to the Red Cross or another relief charity. Karma has a funny way of coming around.
Call me at 636-410-6219 Ext 1 for questions or suggestions.
Steve Ludwig
President/CEO
Select Insurance Group
1. Take a sigh of relief.
Unlike the well-publicized problems people had making claims after some recent notable hurricanes, for the most part a standard homeowner's policy covers tornadoes as straight-up wind damage. (Unless the tornado pushed water onto/into your home, but that's a different case).
2. Contact your insurer immediately.
Let them know ASAP that you are going to make a claim and give a rough estimate of the damage. Go into as much detail as you can so they know how to prioritize your claim. Different states have different statutes of limitations for making a claim, so don't dawdle.
3. Document document document.
Take photos of all the destruction. Gather up all the receipts you have and inventory the damaged property. Note the item, when you bought it, how much it cost and how much you estimate it would cost to replace it. Call your credit card company for records if you don't have the cost on hand. If you have to stay in a hotel or eat out at restaurants while your house is under repair, keep those receipts as the insurer will reimburse you.
* DID YOU KNOW...
Even spoiled food is eligible for coverage, usually up to $300-$500.
4. Get detailed estimates for repairs.
Contact licensed contractors and get several estimates for permanent repairs. Call me at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) for a list of licensed repair contractors.
5. Give your insurance agent a detailed description.
Use the info above to help file your claim.
6. Make temporary repairs.
Cover up broken windows, and shore up/cover damaged roofs and walls as needed to prevent further damage.
BEWARE!
Watch out for hustlers preying on those prying themselves out the wreckage. They may try to rush you into overpaying for temporary repairs. In other instances homeowners have been pressured into making big deposits for repairs, only for the "contractor" to disappear and never be heard from again. Don't let panic freak you out of doing your normal due diligence.
7. Wait for the check to arrive.
Claims are usually processed in the order of severity. An obliterated house will take precedent over one that is just missing a few shingles.
8. If your claim seems stuck in nowhere-land, escalate.
Standard Consumerist customer service escalation tactics apply. Be polite and professional but persistent. Write down who you talked to and when. Ask for supervisors. If the delay is inordinate and unwarranted, you always have the executive customer service and EECB routes. For egregious cases, consider filing a complaint with your state's insurance commissioner to get things moving along.
9. Make a donation.
However bad you have it after a disaster, there's always someone else in even greater need. Consider giving money to the Red Cross or another relief charity. Karma has a funny way of coming around.
Call me at 636-410-6219 Ext 1 for questions or suggestions.
Steve Ludwig
President/CEO
Select Insurance Group
Devastation Across St. Louis Area In Wake of Tornado
http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-devastation-across-metro-st-louis-in-wake-of-tornado-20110423,0,2472855.story
The story above is yet another reason why it is so important to make sure you have a quality homeowners insurance company. Select Insurance Group only works with Top-Rated Homeowners Insurance Companies like Safeco, Travelers, The Hartford, and Farmers.
In this era of customers looking strictly at price regardless of coverage and service, it is important to remember how well a company performs when you need it most.
Please call me at 636-410-6219 Ext 1 to discuss your homeowners insurance policy.
Steve Ludwig
President/CEO
Select Insurance Group
Saint Peters, MO
The story above is yet another reason why it is so important to make sure you have a quality homeowners insurance company. Select Insurance Group only works with Top-Rated Homeowners Insurance Companies like Safeco, Travelers, The Hartford, and Farmers.
In this era of customers looking strictly at price regardless of coverage and service, it is important to remember how well a company performs when you need it most.
Please call me at 636-410-6219 Ext 1 to discuss your homeowners insurance policy.
Steve Ludwig
President/CEO
Select Insurance Group
Saint Peters, MO
Friday, April 22, 2011
Common Business Insurance Mistakes
Do not make this common mistake with business insurance:
Business owners are busy people. If their business is growing, it seems like there are never enough hours in day. One common mistake business owners tend to make is forgetting to have their insurance coverage grow with the rest of their business.
Often, a new business start up may opt for a B.O.P (Business Owners Policy) which easily protects against the risk exposure of an initial start up company. It may be that you even raised coverage a bit as things went along. As you probably know, a BOP usually covers liability and property and may have other coverage added on to it. For most start ups and small business, it’s a great way to get coverage value from a lower premium than separate policies.
However, as your business grows, it is possible to outgrow the original coverage you put into place.
For example, are your general liability limits keeping place with your growth in revenue and business assets. How about your property limits? One area that is often missed is the technology growth and expenditures that can easily be missed or under insured. Suppose your business started with you a phone and a computer. Now, you have 2 offices, two phone systems, and a number of computers, faxes, office furnishings and much more. Have you checked to make sure your limits will meet the requirements should you need to replace some or all of this? Has your income grown as a result? Is the liability coverage enough?
Working together with your licensed insurance professional to insure you are protected as you grow your business is important. Make your insurance professional an advisor and keep them appraised. Even if you occasionally call in and talk to a support person, it is your licensed professional who best can advise you on your commercial insurance needs.
contact me at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) for advise on your Commercial Business
Steve Ludwig
President/CEO
Select Insurance Group
st. Peters, mo
Business owners are busy people. If their business is growing, it seems like there are never enough hours in day. One common mistake business owners tend to make is forgetting to have their insurance coverage grow with the rest of their business.
Often, a new business start up may opt for a B.O.P (Business Owners Policy) which easily protects against the risk exposure of an initial start up company. It may be that you even raised coverage a bit as things went along. As you probably know, a BOP usually covers liability and property and may have other coverage added on to it. For most start ups and small business, it’s a great way to get coverage value from a lower premium than separate policies.
However, as your business grows, it is possible to outgrow the original coverage you put into place.
For example, are your general liability limits keeping place with your growth in revenue and business assets. How about your property limits? One area that is often missed is the technology growth and expenditures that can easily be missed or under insured. Suppose your business started with you a phone and a computer. Now, you have 2 offices, two phone systems, and a number of computers, faxes, office furnishings and much more. Have you checked to make sure your limits will meet the requirements should you need to replace some or all of this? Has your income grown as a result? Is the liability coverage enough?
Working together with your licensed insurance professional to insure you are protected as you grow your business is important. Make your insurance professional an advisor and keep them appraised. Even if you occasionally call in and talk to a support person, it is your licensed professional who best can advise you on your commercial insurance needs.
contact me at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) for advise on your Commercial Business
Steve Ludwig
President/CEO
Select Insurance Group
st. Peters, mo
Part Time Business Insurance
Does my part time business need insurance?
A recent survey showed that up to one in ten households operate some type of home based business from their home. Many of these same small, part time business owners have not put some sort of part time business insurance in place. In fact, many of these part time business owners mistakenly think their personal insurance will protect them.
Home based business owners are at risk for serious financial losses in the event of theft, accident, damage or perceived damage to a client, natural disaster, vehicle accident or other types of loss or damage. Most homeowners policies won’t cover business related losses. If you‚ are operating from home, not only can you be risking business property, but personal property which won’t be covered with a business incident.
One possibility is a business rider added to your homeowners policy. If you are writing or just using a phone and computer for your part time business a rider may be all that is needed. However, if you are manufacturing or perhaps doing some type of repair work for a client in your basement, garage or even den, there is a good chance you need more commercial insurance coverage. If you hire an employee, you must have workers compensation insurance.
The risk of not having appropriate coverage is formidable. If you have started a small, part time business, contact a licensed commercial insurance professional. Work with them to determine what insurance is needed. Typically, you need some type of general liability insurance coverage, business property insurance, and if you have employees, workers compensation.
Don’t risk all you have worked for up until now by avoiding or neglecting this important component of being a business owner. As an experienced, licensed insurance professional, I will guide you to what coverage is needed today, and more important, how to protect the future as you grow your business.
Steve Ludwig
President/CEO
Select Insurance Group
Saint Peters, Missouri
A recent survey showed that up to one in ten households operate some type of home based business from their home. Many of these same small, part time business owners have not put some sort of part time business insurance in place. In fact, many of these part time business owners mistakenly think their personal insurance will protect them.
Home based business owners are at risk for serious financial losses in the event of theft, accident, damage or perceived damage to a client, natural disaster, vehicle accident or other types of loss or damage. Most homeowners policies won’t cover business related losses. If you‚ are operating from home, not only can you be risking business property, but personal property which won’t be covered with a business incident.
One possibility is a business rider added to your homeowners policy. If you are writing or just using a phone and computer for your part time business a rider may be all that is needed. However, if you are manufacturing or perhaps doing some type of repair work for a client in your basement, garage or even den, there is a good chance you need more commercial insurance coverage. If you hire an employee, you must have workers compensation insurance.
The risk of not having appropriate coverage is formidable. If you have started a small, part time business, contact a licensed commercial insurance professional. Work with them to determine what insurance is needed. Typically, you need some type of general liability insurance coverage, business property insurance, and if you have employees, workers compensation.
Don’t risk all you have worked for up until now by avoiding or neglecting this important component of being a business owner. As an experienced, licensed insurance professional, I will guide you to what coverage is needed today, and more important, how to protect the future as you grow your business.
Steve Ludwig
President/CEO
Select Insurance Group
Saint Peters, Missouri
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Quick Auto Insurance Quotes
Many motorists take renewal quotes offered to them by their existing auto insurance companies without questioning it at all. They may assume that it will take ages to go through alternative insurers, get quotes and compare them. Furthermore, they may conclude that there would not be much point as rates would be similar anyway. They could be getting it all wrong because they can get quotes real quick on the internet and there could be considerable difference in prices.
Understandably you might not have much free time to spare and when you do checking auto insurance quotes might not be on top of your list. However, we all spend a lot of time online these days and it would not hurt to see what you could save on car insurance. You probably come across many adverts trying to sell vehicle insurance even though you are not looking for them.
You could find all the major auto insurance providers on one website with all their offers and terms nicely laid out. Pick the ones that appeal to you most and get your quotes. You should not have much concern on switching to any of them since they are all prime companies. You should make the most of highly competitive insurance industry.
Quite a few families have several cars in the household that makes savings even larger. You probably know which gas station is the cheapest to fill your gas tank. You have an auto repair garage in your telephone notebook that would not charge you over the odds for regular maintenance. These are the things that took time and effort to find. Are you not glad that you did find them?
In the same way you need to keep checking until you find a decent insurer that fully satisfies your needs. You would be pleased with your efforts when you see much lower insurance premiums. More to the point, you would be truly satisfied when that company makes no fuss about paying if you ever have a claim.
Understandably you might not have much free time to spare and when you do checking auto insurance quotes might not be on top of your list. However, we all spend a lot of time online these days and it would not hurt to see what you could save on car insurance. You probably come across many adverts trying to sell vehicle insurance even though you are not looking for them.
You could find all the major auto insurance providers on one website with all their offers and terms nicely laid out. Pick the ones that appeal to you most and get your quotes. You should not have much concern on switching to any of them since they are all prime companies. You should make the most of highly competitive insurance industry.
Quite a few families have several cars in the household that makes savings even larger. You probably know which gas station is the cheapest to fill your gas tank. You have an auto repair garage in your telephone notebook that would not charge you over the odds for regular maintenance. These are the things that took time and effort to find. Are you not glad that you did find them?
In the same way you need to keep checking until you find a decent insurer that fully satisfies your needs. You would be pleased with your efforts when you see much lower insurance premiums. More to the point, you would be truly satisfied when that company makes no fuss about paying if you ever have a claim.
Would Getting Auto Insurance Quotes Affect Your Credit Score?
These days the importance of credit score is highlighted even more. While providing auto insurance quotes credit rating is one of the key factors in determining applicants’ risk profile. Everyone seems to be interested in your credit worthiness. Mortgage companies, landlords, employers and insurers regularly check credit history of their applicants.
According to many auto insurance companies motorists with better credit ratings are less likely to make a claim. Although there are still few insurers that do not check credit history, most do ask for insurance credit score. Their calculation is not necessarily the same as standard credit check. Therefore, someone with perfect creditworthiness might receive a low insurance rating.
Currently it is almost an undisputed fact that credit habits tell a lot about applicants’ likelihood of making a claim. Insurance providers would naturally use every tool available to predict the profitability of your custom. Several studies have proved a direct link between claims and credit.
Some people might see that an insurance company enquired about their credit rating. They might assume that is the reason for the drop in their rating. This assumption would not be true as this would be considered a soft pull and would not affect your score. Nearly all of the credit checks that are not related to a credit application are considered soft pull.
When you apply for a loan, credit card or mortgage you would have a hard pull on your credit history. The purpose and indications of these two credit enquiries are completely different. The soft enquiry provides valuable information about your credit habits not necessarily needs. But hard pull offers insight to current need of credit.
In conclusion, there is not really much you could do about it. If you want a decent savings on your car insurance you need to compare different quotes. When you do that they will go ahead and check your insurance rating. Simply you could tell them to knock themselves out. It is unlikely that it will hurt you in anyway.
Contact me at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) for your FREE auto insurance quote
Steve Ludwig
select insurance group
president/ceo
According to many auto insurance companies motorists with better credit ratings are less likely to make a claim. Although there are still few insurers that do not check credit history, most do ask for insurance credit score. Their calculation is not necessarily the same as standard credit check. Therefore, someone with perfect creditworthiness might receive a low insurance rating.
Currently it is almost an undisputed fact that credit habits tell a lot about applicants’ likelihood of making a claim. Insurance providers would naturally use every tool available to predict the profitability of your custom. Several studies have proved a direct link between claims and credit.
Some people might see that an insurance company enquired about their credit rating. They might assume that is the reason for the drop in their rating. This assumption would not be true as this would be considered a soft pull and would not affect your score. Nearly all of the credit checks that are not related to a credit application are considered soft pull.
When you apply for a loan, credit card or mortgage you would have a hard pull on your credit history. The purpose and indications of these two credit enquiries are completely different. The soft enquiry provides valuable information about your credit habits not necessarily needs. But hard pull offers insight to current need of credit.
In conclusion, there is not really much you could do about it. If you want a decent savings on your car insurance you need to compare different quotes. When you do that they will go ahead and check your insurance rating. Simply you could tell them to knock themselves out. It is unlikely that it will hurt you in anyway.
Contact me at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) for your FREE auto insurance quote
Steve Ludwig
select insurance group
president/ceo
Delivering Pizzas? You may need Drive Commercial Auto
Do you or your teenager earn a little extra spending money using your car - maybe delivering pizzas or other products? Many people don't realize that their Personal Auto policy won't cover vehicles when they're used to earn money, including making deliveries.
Be sure to check with your agent or broker to see whether you need a Commercial Auto policy to get the protection you need.
call me at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) for your FREE auto insurance consultation.
Steve Ludwig
Select Insurance Group
President/CEO
Be sure to check with your agent or broker to see whether you need a Commercial Auto policy to get the protection you need.
call me at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) for your FREE auto insurance consultation.
Steve Ludwig
Select Insurance Group
President/CEO
Gold’s Price Surge May Mean Your Jewelry Is Under-Insured
Gold prices have skyrocketed over the last decade, which means your jewelry may be under-insured if you haven’t had it appraised recently.
During a recent survey, 428 married women and found that more than half of them either had never had their engagement rings appraised or hadn’t done so in the prior 10 years. That could be a costly oversight if they lose or damage a piece, given that gold now sells for close to $1,500 an ounce, or more than six times the roughly $240 an ounce it brought 10 years ago, says the metals site, kitco.com.
Owners should take their pieces to a reputable jeweler for an updated appraisal, and should check their policies to see what their coverage limit is. He has seen some instances where the existing coverage wasn’t enough to pay for the full replacement cost of a piece of jewelry. So my question to you is: If you got married 20 years ago,is that limit still adequate?
The Insurance Information Institute, an industry group, says a homeowner’s insurance policy typically covers the theft of jewelry up to a set limit — $1,500 is standard — but usually doesn’t cover damage to the item, or loss. You can purchase additional protection at extra cost, by having the item “scheduled,” or itemized, on the policy. The extra coverage, often called a “floater,” also adds protection for damage or loss–including, say, accidentally washing your ring down the kitchen drain.
Scheduling the item on your homeowner’s policy or buying a specialty policy both require that you have the piece evaluated, or appraised. It’s a good idea to have jewelry inspected periodically anyway, to make sure clasps or prongs aren’t damaged, perhaps putting a gem at risk.
Have you recently had your jewelry appraised? Did you need to increase insurance coverage as a result? Call me for a free homeowners insurance consultation at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353)
Steve Ludwig
President/CEO
Select Insurance Group
During a recent survey, 428 married women and found that more than half of them either had never had their engagement rings appraised or hadn’t done so in the prior 10 years. That could be a costly oversight if they lose or damage a piece, given that gold now sells for close to $1,500 an ounce, or more than six times the roughly $240 an ounce it brought 10 years ago, says the metals site, kitco.com.
Owners should take their pieces to a reputable jeweler for an updated appraisal, and should check their policies to see what their coverage limit is. He has seen some instances where the existing coverage wasn’t enough to pay for the full replacement cost of a piece of jewelry. So my question to you is: If you got married 20 years ago,is that limit still adequate?
The Insurance Information Institute, an industry group, says a homeowner’s insurance policy typically covers the theft of jewelry up to a set limit — $1,500 is standard — but usually doesn’t cover damage to the item, or loss. You can purchase additional protection at extra cost, by having the item “scheduled,” or itemized, on the policy. The extra coverage, often called a “floater,” also adds protection for damage or loss–including, say, accidentally washing your ring down the kitchen drain.
Scheduling the item on your homeowner’s policy or buying a specialty policy both require that you have the piece evaluated, or appraised. It’s a good idea to have jewelry inspected periodically anyway, to make sure clasps or prongs aren’t damaged, perhaps putting a gem at risk.
Have you recently had your jewelry appraised? Did you need to increase insurance coverage as a result? Call me for a free homeowners insurance consultation at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353)
Steve Ludwig
President/CEO
Select Insurance Group
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Making sure your rental properties are properly insured
Rental property insurance, or landlord insurance, is your key "risk management" tactic, but it is not foolproof. You cannot completely eliminate risk from this or any other investment strategy. Your single goal is to manage – and minimize – your exposure to risk and hence potential lawsuits.
And if you're looking for low cost landlord insurance, forget it! This is one area where you get what you pay for. Of course you can and should price shop, but your primary goal is to get the coverage you need to fully protect yourself, not to save pennies.
Things to watch out for...
Fire insurance or "HO-2". This covers exactly what you're seeing... FIRE. No wind, hail, vandalism, theft, destruction, etc. FIRE is ALL. So many people do not realize you can get a landlord policy that will cover all the "non-coverage" points I have mentioned above AND add loss of rent. So if a person skips out on rent, you will have coverage to keep your income rolling in until you find a new/better renter for your property.
I would also advise you require & build an adequate renters insurance (HO-4)plan into the property ( that way you will know coverage is in force).
While adequate rental property insurance is your first line of defense, it should represent only one pillar of your overarching risk management strategy. Other ways to manage your risk include:
Manage your income property activity as a real estate LLC.
Eliminate hazardous conditions on the property as soon as you become aware of them (loose steps, loose hand rails, perpetually icy walkways, etc.).
Hire out any repairs that could result in injury if not done properly (repairing steps on a fire escape, electrical work, structural repair, etc.).
Do not let tenants make any substantial repairs for you.
Make sure contractors are licensed, bonded and insured (liability & workman's comp.).
Carefully conduct rental credit checks on tenants to reduce the chance that you'll get stuck with a bad apple.
Do not give tenants your home address – get a P.O. box.
But again, your first line of defense is to have good landlord insurance protection to cover yourself against extensive property damage and lawsuits.
I have worked with hundreds of landlords and insured even more properties. Call me at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353). Let me put my experience to work for you. I will make sure you are PROPERLY insured.
And if you're looking for low cost landlord insurance, forget it! This is one area where you get what you pay for. Of course you can and should price shop, but your primary goal is to get the coverage you need to fully protect yourself, not to save pennies.
Things to watch out for...
Fire insurance or "HO-2". This covers exactly what you're seeing... FIRE. No wind, hail, vandalism, theft, destruction, etc. FIRE is ALL. So many people do not realize you can get a landlord policy that will cover all the "non-coverage" points I have mentioned above AND add loss of rent. So if a person skips out on rent, you will have coverage to keep your income rolling in until you find a new/better renter for your property.
I would also advise you require & build an adequate renters insurance (HO-4)plan into the property ( that way you will know coverage is in force).
While adequate rental property insurance is your first line of defense, it should represent only one pillar of your overarching risk management strategy. Other ways to manage your risk include:
Manage your income property activity as a real estate LLC.
Eliminate hazardous conditions on the property as soon as you become aware of them (loose steps, loose hand rails, perpetually icy walkways, etc.).
Hire out any repairs that could result in injury if not done properly (repairing steps on a fire escape, electrical work, structural repair, etc.).
Do not let tenants make any substantial repairs for you.
Make sure contractors are licensed, bonded and insured (liability & workman's comp.).
Carefully conduct rental credit checks on tenants to reduce the chance that you'll get stuck with a bad apple.
Do not give tenants your home address – get a P.O. box.
But again, your first line of defense is to have good landlord insurance protection to cover yourself against extensive property damage and lawsuits.
I have worked with hundreds of landlords and insured even more properties. Call me at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353). Let me put my experience to work for you. I will make sure you are PROPERLY insured.
Independent Agent "broker" vs Captive agent.
Some people think it doesn't really matter where they buy their insurance. But this misconception could be costing them money, service and protection. Buying insurance isn't like buying bread or milk. Insurance is an important safety net for your family, your home, your car or your business. Don't treat the purchase lightly!
There is a difference in where you buy your protection. Many people don't realize there are three sources for insurance:
Captive agents, who can sell you the insurance of only one company.
Telephone representatives, who can offer you the insurance of one company and only on the telephone.
Independent insurance agents, who represent an average of eight insurance companies and research with these firms to find you the best combination of price, coverage and service.
Here are some important points about purchasing insurance from an independent insurance agent:
Unlike other agents, an independent insurance agent is not tied to one insurance company. You don’t need to change agencies as your insurance and service needs change.
An independent insurance agent treats you like a person, not a number. You can develop a personal relationship with your independent insurance agent. Can you do that with a voice on the phone? Your independent insurance agent has strong customer and community ties.
An independent insurance agent offers one-stop shopping. Dealing with a direct response company or a captive agent limits you to the plans available through only one company. An independent insurance agent offers many plans through many companies, giving the consumer the potential for the broadest range of coverage at a competitive price. One call puts you in touch with someone who can do the comparison shopping for you.
An independent insurance agent provides personalized claims service. When you purchase insurance from a direct response company or a captive agent, who is going to assist you in the event of a claim? Your independent insurance agent is there for you when you need help. Your agent can contact the insurance company and get the claim process rolling, help you fill out claim forms, advise you on the progress of your claim, and work closely with the insurance company to make sure you get a prompt and fair settlement of a valid claim.
There is a difference in where you buy your protection. Many people don't realize there are three sources for insurance:
Captive agents, who can sell you the insurance of only one company.
Telephone representatives, who can offer you the insurance of one company and only on the telephone.
Independent insurance agents, who represent an average of eight insurance companies and research with these firms to find you the best combination of price, coverage and service.
Here are some important points about purchasing insurance from an independent insurance agent:
Unlike other agents, an independent insurance agent is not tied to one insurance company. You don’t need to change agencies as your insurance and service needs change.
An independent insurance agent treats you like a person, not a number. You can develop a personal relationship with your independent insurance agent. Can you do that with a voice on the phone? Your independent insurance agent has strong customer and community ties.
An independent insurance agent offers one-stop shopping. Dealing with a direct response company or a captive agent limits you to the plans available through only one company. An independent insurance agent offers many plans through many companies, giving the consumer the potential for the broadest range of coverage at a competitive price. One call puts you in touch with someone who can do the comparison shopping for you.
An independent insurance agent provides personalized claims service. When you purchase insurance from a direct response company or a captive agent, who is going to assist you in the event of a claim? Your independent insurance agent is there for you when you need help. Your agent can contact the insurance company and get the claim process rolling, help you fill out claim forms, advise you on the progress of your claim, and work closely with the insurance company to make sure you get a prompt and fair settlement of a valid claim.
Information on Motorcycle Insurance Companies
What seems to be the case nowadays is that people would choose just about any out of the many motorcycle insurance companies out there to cover their insurance needs as if they were just picking out a random color from the rainbow. Now, while this saves them time, it most normally ends up costing them a lot of money which they would have been able to save had they just taken the time to look through some motorcycle insurance companies to see the different options available.
One of the many things you will have to consider is how well these motorcycle insurance companies work with and for their customers. You will want to make sure that you are getting what you pay for. Now, while it is true that you can change motorcycle insurance companies, it would be best to pick out one that you are comfortable with in order to save you the time and paperwork to find a new one.
One good way to find out which motorcycle insurance companies are reputable is by checking them out online. It is normal to find information about a specific company off the Internet. People who have had bad experiences about a company tend to tell other people about it as a means to warn others about shady motorcycle insurance companies, and as a means of getting back at the companies for their poor services. A good rule to remember is that bad news tends to travel faster than good news.
If you happen to stumble upon some motorcycle insurance companies which offer good rates and do not have very many complaints from their clients, then chances are that they are a decent company who treats their clients well and does their job right. Just make sure that these reviews are legitimate. You can always go to a forum to ask around.
You will also want to make certain that you are getting the best cover possible from what you are paying. Many motorcycle insurance companies advertise very low rates, but there are also many people out there who find out the hard way that the insurance company can sneak out of this deal somehow. The aim is to get as much cover as you can for the best price.
It is important to deal with proper motorcycle insurance companies to get the best price and coverage possible. While it may take a bit of time and effort on your part, something like this is guaranteed to be worth it in the long run.
Select Insurance Group shops every motorcycle insurance carrier and can help you compare the companies against one another. In addition, we have solid relationships with our carriers, have the knowledge, and can help point you in the right direction. Call us at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) or visit www.selectinsuranceteam.com for your FREE motorcycle consultation.
One of the many things you will have to consider is how well these motorcycle insurance companies work with and for their customers. You will want to make sure that you are getting what you pay for. Now, while it is true that you can change motorcycle insurance companies, it would be best to pick out one that you are comfortable with in order to save you the time and paperwork to find a new one.
One good way to find out which motorcycle insurance companies are reputable is by checking them out online. It is normal to find information about a specific company off the Internet. People who have had bad experiences about a company tend to tell other people about it as a means to warn others about shady motorcycle insurance companies, and as a means of getting back at the companies for their poor services. A good rule to remember is that bad news tends to travel faster than good news.
If you happen to stumble upon some motorcycle insurance companies which offer good rates and do not have very many complaints from their clients, then chances are that they are a decent company who treats their clients well and does their job right. Just make sure that these reviews are legitimate. You can always go to a forum to ask around.
You will also want to make certain that you are getting the best cover possible from what you are paying. Many motorcycle insurance companies advertise very low rates, but there are also many people out there who find out the hard way that the insurance company can sneak out of this deal somehow. The aim is to get as much cover as you can for the best price.
It is important to deal with proper motorcycle insurance companies to get the best price and coverage possible. While it may take a bit of time and effort on your part, something like this is guaranteed to be worth it in the long run.
Select Insurance Group shops every motorcycle insurance carrier and can help you compare the companies against one another. In addition, we have solid relationships with our carriers, have the knowledge, and can help point you in the right direction. Call us at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) or visit www.selectinsuranceteam.com for your FREE motorcycle consultation.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Tough Guy or Tightwad? motorcycles and gas prices
With gas prices on the rise, commuters once again are looking at motorcycles and scooters as a money saving alternative to the automobile. Observers predict gas will hit $4 by spring 2011 with it potentially reaching $5 by 2012 (Some Cities in Europe already pay over $6 per gallon).
Contributors to this run up in price could include: growing demand in developing countries such as India and China, the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and our countries continuing love of the SUV.
Gas-guzzlers are already feeling the pinch. Prices are hovering in the mid-three-dollar range right now, the most expensive they’ve been in a December for several years. Usually, gas gets cheaper in the winter months, but prices have been rising since September of this year.
Last time gas approached $4 a gallon, consumers flocked to scooters and small displacement motorcycles in droves. The Honda Rebel and the Suzuki GZ250 (both 250cc street legal motorcycles) are lightweight with a low seat height which makes them very easy to drive. At over 80 mpg, they are sure to decrease your monthly commute expense.
If you’re looking for even better gas mileage, or you don’t like the idea of shifting gears. a scooter may be just the ticket. At over 100 mpg, the Honda Metropolitan and Honda Ruckus are one of the best values around and they start at just over $2,000. If a long range commuter that you can ride two up down the freeway is your calling, then you might want to check out the Suzuki Burgman, available in both 400cc and 650cc models. The Suzuki Burgman offers a very respectable 38 mpg. Besides the ease of operation and great gas mileage, scooters are a lot of fun to ride.
My suggestion is to take advantage of the Motorcycle Saftey Foundation Basic Rider's Class. Without prior riding experience, it’s imperative to your safety and the safety of other motorists to get your initial instruction from the experts. The Motor Vehicle Safety Foundation offers a Basic Riders Class in cities and towns all over the US. Simply do a search by state and you will find several locations.
If your goal is to get your license to drive a motorcycle, this course will help you to achieve that goal. Start by getting your written permit, which costs about $30. The Basic Rider’s class is a three-day, 14 hour course that costs approximately $275. Upon successful completion of the course, you will leave with your license.
Benefits of the Basic Rider’s Course:
In addition to receiving expert riding instruction in a controlled, safe location, the Basic Rider’s Course has several benefits:
The rider leaves with improved skills and becomes a more defensive and observant rider.
The BR course, in most states, will save you a portion of your motorcycle-endorsement test.
Many insurance companies will discount, about 10% on motorcycle premiums every year, to students who have successfully completed a BR course.
Some motorcycle distributors and brand-sponsored clubs will even reimburse all or part of your Basic Rider course tuition.
So, for anyone who wants to follow their dream and become a motorcyclist, whether you be "Tough Guy", "Tough Girl" "Tightwad", or something in between, be safe, be practical, take a safety course, and enjoy the gas savings as a fill-it-up-and-forget-it commuter
Call me to discuss Motorcycle/Scooter insurance at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353). Rates starting at under 99$ a year! Special rates for safety course students and experienced riders.
Contributors to this run up in price could include: growing demand in developing countries such as India and China, the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and our countries continuing love of the SUV.
Gas-guzzlers are already feeling the pinch. Prices are hovering in the mid-three-dollar range right now, the most expensive they’ve been in a December for several years. Usually, gas gets cheaper in the winter months, but prices have been rising since September of this year.
Last time gas approached $4 a gallon, consumers flocked to scooters and small displacement motorcycles in droves. The Honda Rebel and the Suzuki GZ250 (both 250cc street legal motorcycles) are lightweight with a low seat height which makes them very easy to drive. At over 80 mpg, they are sure to decrease your monthly commute expense.
If you’re looking for even better gas mileage, or you don’t like the idea of shifting gears. a scooter may be just the ticket. At over 100 mpg, the Honda Metropolitan and Honda Ruckus are one of the best values around and they start at just over $2,000. If a long range commuter that you can ride two up down the freeway is your calling, then you might want to check out the Suzuki Burgman, available in both 400cc and 650cc models. The Suzuki Burgman offers a very respectable 38 mpg. Besides the ease of operation and great gas mileage, scooters are a lot of fun to ride.
My suggestion is to take advantage of the Motorcycle Saftey Foundation Basic Rider's Class. Without prior riding experience, it’s imperative to your safety and the safety of other motorists to get your initial instruction from the experts. The Motor Vehicle Safety Foundation offers a Basic Riders Class in cities and towns all over the US. Simply do a search by state and you will find several locations.
If your goal is to get your license to drive a motorcycle, this course will help you to achieve that goal. Start by getting your written permit, which costs about $30. The Basic Rider’s class is a three-day, 14 hour course that costs approximately $275. Upon successful completion of the course, you will leave with your license.
Benefits of the Basic Rider’s Course:
In addition to receiving expert riding instruction in a controlled, safe location, the Basic Rider’s Course has several benefits:
The rider leaves with improved skills and becomes a more defensive and observant rider.
The BR course, in most states, will save you a portion of your motorcycle-endorsement test.
Many insurance companies will discount, about 10% on motorcycle premiums every year, to students who have successfully completed a BR course.
Some motorcycle distributors and brand-sponsored clubs will even reimburse all or part of your Basic Rider course tuition.
So, for anyone who wants to follow their dream and become a motorcyclist, whether you be "Tough Guy", "Tough Girl" "Tightwad", or something in between, be safe, be practical, take a safety course, and enjoy the gas savings as a fill-it-up-and-forget-it commuter
Call me to discuss Motorcycle/Scooter insurance at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353). Rates starting at under 99$ a year! Special rates for safety course students and experienced riders.
Marriage+Car Insurance=Lower Rates !
In this day and age, every single penny matters and whenever you are getting married and you are looking to gain some discounts on your car insurance, you have to know some of the steps and some of the guidelines. Your age is one of those guidelines – if you are under 25, you most likely will get a discount on your car insurance if you get married.
The reason for this is because the insurance companies believe that if you are married, you will be less likely to be a reckless driver. While you might not be ready to get married when you are under 25 years of age, just remember that there are big discounts in there on car insurance.
Let’s say that you do get married and you are under the age of 25 but both you and your spouse have a really bad driving record. Well, that is something that can definitely hinder a lot of the discounts that you can get as your driving record does follow you around.
However, if you have a bad driving record and your spouse has a good one, you can definitely get on their insurance as a secondary driver and that – alone will let have all sorts of discounts and will certainly ensure that you are saving a ton of money.
Finally, you want to make sure that you are working with a broker as well, that way you can ensure that you are getting the best deal out there and not being stuck filling the quotas for your good-neighbor captive agent!
Call me at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) for more money-saving tips!
The reason for this is because the insurance companies believe that if you are married, you will be less likely to be a reckless driver. While you might not be ready to get married when you are under 25 years of age, just remember that there are big discounts in there on car insurance.
Let’s say that you do get married and you are under the age of 25 but both you and your spouse have a really bad driving record. Well, that is something that can definitely hinder a lot of the discounts that you can get as your driving record does follow you around.
However, if you have a bad driving record and your spouse has a good one, you can definitely get on their insurance as a secondary driver and that – alone will let have all sorts of discounts and will certainly ensure that you are saving a ton of money.
Finally, you want to make sure that you are working with a broker as well, that way you can ensure that you are getting the best deal out there and not being stuck filling the quotas for your good-neighbor captive agent!
Call me at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) for more money-saving tips!
Boat Owners Insurance 101
With summer fast approaching, people are gearing up for another great boating season. Boats are coming out of storage, fresh coats of paint are being added, and equipment is being replaced. One aspect of boat ownership that should not be neglected is boat owners insurance. Too many times, people don’t have the right amount of coverage and are left paying more than they would otherwise have to when something happens to their boat.
Your boat is a significant investment and therefore, you’ll want to protect it with the boat owners insurance that is right for you. Insurance for boats comes in many different options and when purchasing coverage, or renewing your current coverage, you should think about what is important to you. With the help of your insurance provider, you can make the right decision and find a policy that is affordable and comprehensive. Some coverages that you may want to look into include the following:
• Total Loss Replacement
Replaces total losses with the latest model (new-for-old) or, if not available, a comparable model. Available on new personal watercraft purchased within the preceding 13 months. Once the coverage is purchased, it can remain in place through the 10th model year. For personal watercraft 5 model years old or less at the time of a total loss, the insurance company will replace the personal watercraft with the latest model, or if not available, a comparable model. For personal watercraft older than 5 model years at the time of a total loss, the insurance company will pay the purchase price.
• Uninsured Personal Watercraft Coverage
Uninsured Personal Watercraft Bodily Injury Coverage pays for medical treatment, wage loss, and other damages sustained as a result of a personal watercraft accident where the liable boater does not have liability coverage.
• Actual Cash Value
The Actual Cash Value option is the most economical choice when it comes to insuring a personal watercraft. The Actual Cash Value is determined by the market value, age and condition of the personal watercraft at the time of the loss.
• Disappearing Deductibles
This coverage is included at no extra charge along with Total Loss Replacement and Agreed Value. Disappearing Deductibles provides a reduction of 25% in Comprehensive and Collision deductibles for each claim-free renewal period. When the fourth consecutive claim-free renewal period is reached, your deductible diminishes to $0. If a Comprehensive or Collision claim is paid, deductibles are reset to the selected level
• On-Water Towing and Labor
Pays for towing and labor costs on a reimbursement basis up to $1,000 per occurrence. You choose from the three available limit options: $300, $500 or $1,000. The labor coverage applies when it is performed at the time and place of disablement, while the personal watercraft is in the water.
• Agreed Value Coverage
In the event of a total loss, our expanded Agreed Value guarantee pays you the amount originally spent for the watercraft or the appraised value, with no deduction for depreciation and no deductible.
Each of these will meet a specific need and should be explored fully with your insurance provider. For detailed information go to www.selectinsuranceteam.com or contact one of our qualified representatives at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) for more information.
Your boat is a significant investment and therefore, you’ll want to protect it with the boat owners insurance that is right for you. Insurance for boats comes in many different options and when purchasing coverage, or renewing your current coverage, you should think about what is important to you. With the help of your insurance provider, you can make the right decision and find a policy that is affordable and comprehensive. Some coverages that you may want to look into include the following:
• Total Loss Replacement
Replaces total losses with the latest model (new-for-old) or, if not available, a comparable model. Available on new personal watercraft purchased within the preceding 13 months. Once the coverage is purchased, it can remain in place through the 10th model year. For personal watercraft 5 model years old or less at the time of a total loss, the insurance company will replace the personal watercraft with the latest model, or if not available, a comparable model. For personal watercraft older than 5 model years at the time of a total loss, the insurance company will pay the purchase price.
• Uninsured Personal Watercraft Coverage
Uninsured Personal Watercraft Bodily Injury Coverage pays for medical treatment, wage loss, and other damages sustained as a result of a personal watercraft accident where the liable boater does not have liability coverage.
• Actual Cash Value
The Actual Cash Value option is the most economical choice when it comes to insuring a personal watercraft. The Actual Cash Value is determined by the market value, age and condition of the personal watercraft at the time of the loss.
• Disappearing Deductibles
This coverage is included at no extra charge along with Total Loss Replacement and Agreed Value. Disappearing Deductibles provides a reduction of 25% in Comprehensive and Collision deductibles for each claim-free renewal period. When the fourth consecutive claim-free renewal period is reached, your deductible diminishes to $0. If a Comprehensive or Collision claim is paid, deductibles are reset to the selected level
• On-Water Towing and Labor
Pays for towing and labor costs on a reimbursement basis up to $1,000 per occurrence. You choose from the three available limit options: $300, $500 or $1,000. The labor coverage applies when it is performed at the time and place of disablement, while the personal watercraft is in the water.
• Agreed Value Coverage
In the event of a total loss, our expanded Agreed Value guarantee pays you the amount originally spent for the watercraft or the appraised value, with no deduction for depreciation and no deductible.
Each of these will meet a specific need and should be explored fully with your insurance provider. For detailed information go to www.selectinsuranceteam.com or contact one of our qualified representatives at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) for more information.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Why Auto Insurance Costs Vary By Zip Code?
When auto insurance companies are setting rates they should be charging just premiums based on many factors they take into account. Insurance works on the theory of collective pool of money to pay for the damages few motorists suffer. Nonetheless, everyone does not contribute the same amount into the pool to be eligible for the benefits.
Location is one of the main determining factors in deciding how much each driver should pay. Insurers collects mass amount of statistics and make countless permutations to make sure that they make money from their business while remain fair to their premium payers. While they categorize these statistics location becomes the obvious one.
When they can make money charging reasonable rates in some areas in others they might require double the amount to be profitable. Probably profitability of insurance business is the fairest method of coming up with insurance costs for each area. In essence each area becomes a separate pool of insurance in the theory.
Clear patterns might help individuals to understand why the charges are different. For example densely populated areas like metropolitans have high rates of accidents, theft and other car crimes. And therefore insurance providers have to pay out more claims. It is only fair that people in these areas pay higher premiums to meet the pay-out amounts rather than expecting a peaceful small town folks contributing to their pool of insurance.
Principle of insurance employs probabilities of a loss happening. It is true that you might not have accidents or your car might not be damaged in most dangerous roads and neighborhoods but that is not necessarily the point. By merely being there you attract the risk element and get charged the risk premium.
The best motorist could do is to find out what is the average auto insurance costs in their area and compare that with theirs. This will allow them to determine if they are paying too much for their insurance or not. Simply you need to work within the limitations of your geographic location and make the most of it by adopting and adjusting your vehicle specifications, parking arrangements and so on.
call us at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) to learn more!
Location is one of the main determining factors in deciding how much each driver should pay. Insurers collects mass amount of statistics and make countless permutations to make sure that they make money from their business while remain fair to their premium payers. While they categorize these statistics location becomes the obvious one.
When they can make money charging reasonable rates in some areas in others they might require double the amount to be profitable. Probably profitability of insurance business is the fairest method of coming up with insurance costs for each area. In essence each area becomes a separate pool of insurance in the theory.
Clear patterns might help individuals to understand why the charges are different. For example densely populated areas like metropolitans have high rates of accidents, theft and other car crimes. And therefore insurance providers have to pay out more claims. It is only fair that people in these areas pay higher premiums to meet the pay-out amounts rather than expecting a peaceful small town folks contributing to their pool of insurance.
Principle of insurance employs probabilities of a loss happening. It is true that you might not have accidents or your car might not be damaged in most dangerous roads and neighborhoods but that is not necessarily the point. By merely being there you attract the risk element and get charged the risk premium.
The best motorist could do is to find out what is the average auto insurance costs in their area and compare that with theirs. This will allow them to determine if they are paying too much for their insurance or not. Simply you need to work within the limitations of your geographic location and make the most of it by adopting and adjusting your vehicle specifications, parking arrangements and so on.
call us at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) to learn more!
Are the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes Always the Best Choice?
Naturally nobody could blame you for wanting the cheapest auto insurance quotes especially when the going is tough as it is. Depending on your preferences the answer to this question could be different. Hopefully there will be one or two tips in this article for you as to how to choose your insurance company.
Certainly there are many cases in which the cheapest quotes could provide a solution. For example, they would be much better than not having any insurance. Many motorists would want the bare minimum coverage and absolute lowest prices because of their financial situation.
We can not rule out that money plays an important factor in your choices but we need to keep in mind the promise of insurance. It is not like any other products that you see, like and buy off the shelf. It is a promise to pay the claims when you suffer an unfortunate accident. For that reason you need to trust the company behind the promise.
Ideal solution to this dilemma is to get several quotes from competing auto insurance companies and line up your options. If you have a few companies at the low end of the price list, then you could comfortably pick one of them.
You have a problem when you have most of the companies piled up at a price range and one company comes considerably lower than anyone else. Unless that is a highly reputable company you would be better off dumping that choice. The rule of averages work pretty well in most cases and it makes much more sense to get rid of the highest and lowest quotes from your list.
It is worth mentioning that insurance companies are well regulated and you would be safe with most of them. But common sense should prevail all the time and the quotes should make sense. After all you are buying auto insurance for peace of mind. It is important that you feel comfortable with the insurer because it offers reliable security and fairly priced quote
Call us at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) to discuss auto insurance companies and options.
Certainly there are many cases in which the cheapest quotes could provide a solution. For example, they would be much better than not having any insurance. Many motorists would want the bare minimum coverage and absolute lowest prices because of their financial situation.
We can not rule out that money plays an important factor in your choices but we need to keep in mind the promise of insurance. It is not like any other products that you see, like and buy off the shelf. It is a promise to pay the claims when you suffer an unfortunate accident. For that reason you need to trust the company behind the promise.
Ideal solution to this dilemma is to get several quotes from competing auto insurance companies and line up your options. If you have a few companies at the low end of the price list, then you could comfortably pick one of them.
You have a problem when you have most of the companies piled up at a price range and one company comes considerably lower than anyone else. Unless that is a highly reputable company you would be better off dumping that choice. The rule of averages work pretty well in most cases and it makes much more sense to get rid of the highest and lowest quotes from your list.
It is worth mentioning that insurance companies are well regulated and you would be safe with most of them. But common sense should prevail all the time and the quotes should make sense. After all you are buying auto insurance for peace of mind. It is important that you feel comfortable with the insurer because it offers reliable security and fairly priced quote
Call us at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) to discuss auto insurance companies and options.
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