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Four Questions To Get The Right Auto Insurance

January 29, 2010

Using the right tool for a job is key to success in any profession. Experts say the same principle applies when selecting an auto insurance policy. Having the right type of policy can help ensure that you, your employees and your business are all protected in the unfortunate event that one of your vehicles is involved in an accident.

If you’re a business owner and you or your employees use a vehicle for business-related deliveries or to carry certain materials to and from a job site, you may need a commercial auto insurance policy that’s tailored to more closely suit the needs—and risks—of a business vehicle operator.

Here are some questions that can help you determine if you might need a commercial auto policy instead of a personal auto policy, courtesy of Texas Insurance Pro.

• Do you need more liability coverage than your personal auto policy provides? Generally, a commercial auto policy provides higher limits of liability, but less or no coverage in areas that are typically not associated with commercial auto risks.

• Do you need special coverage for situations associated with con-ducting business? Commercial auto policies also usually offer certain coverages—such as hired and non-owned auto coverage and coverage for towing a trailer for business use—that are not available with personal auto policies.

• Do you need to list any employees as drivers? You can do this with a commercial auto insurance policy.

• Do you use your vehicle for business purposes? If you use your vehicle for things like pizza or newspaper delivery, catering, door-to-door consulting service, landscaping or snowplowing service, logging business, day care/church retreat van service and/or farm-to-market delivery, you might need a commercial auto policy.

TXINSURANCEPRO.COM  is an independent insurance agency – trained, licensed insurance professionals who offer personal service and advice. We can help match you with the type of policy that best suits your needs and those of your company.

To learn more about all an independent agency offers, TXINSURANCEPRO.COM or give us a call.

Written by dberry · Filed Under Auto 

Choosing TX Car Insurance Coverage

January 28, 2010

Texans have many choices when it comes to coverage options and the necessity of the level of protection is dependent on each individual’s needs. First and foremost, motorists in the Lone Star State should be certain to be in compliance with the state’s Financial Responsibility law at all times. Financial responsibility is defined as an individual’s ability to pay for any bodily injury or property damage that they cause as a result of a traffic accident; the majority of individuals choose to comply by purchasing a car insurance policy. Motorists who choose to buy a policy must carry proof which will need to be shown if asked by a law enforcement officer, are involved in an accident, at the time of registering or renewing vehicle’s registration, when obtaining or renewing a driver’s license or when getting a vehicle inspected.

Current Texas auto insurance law requires motorists to purchase liability limits in the amount of $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for bodily injuries to two or more people and $25,000 for property damage per accident; consumers will commonly see this abbreviated as 25/50/25. Higher limits may be purchased for an additional premium and may be worthwhile in order to avoid future financial hardships. Although twenty-five thousand dollars may sound like a lot of money on paper, with the high costs of medical care, this amount can be easily exhausted if the injured party happens to suffer serious injuries; if costs of medical care exceeds this amount, the other party may be able to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for the difference not covered by the policy’s limit.

Additional Texas Auto Insurance Options
A common addition to policies is Comprehensive and Collision coverage which pays for physical damage that is incurred by the policyholder’s automobile due to collision, fire, hail, vandalism, striking an animal, upset of vehicle among other perils; this will also cover theft. In most cases a deductible applies to this coverage which would need to be chosen at the time of purchase; the amount chosen would have to be paid at the time of a loss or will be subtracted from the compensation that the insurer is paying the insured if the automobile is declared a total loss or unrecovered. If a vehicle is being financed, it is very likely that the lender will require the borrower to maintain this protection throughout the term of the loan.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) is a valuable type of protection which pays expenses for bodily injury and property damage up to the policy’s limits sustained by the insured, family members, passengers and others driving the covered automobile with permission of the owner if they are struck by an uninsured motorist, a driver who is underinsured or if victims of a hit a run. The bodily injury portion will pay for lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, disfigurement, medical bills and permanent or partial disability resulting from the incident. The property damage portion will pay for repairs to the insured vehicle, the cost for a rental automobile and damages to items in the vehicle owned by the policyholder; an automatic deductible of $250 would need to be paid first by the insured towards repairs before coverage kicks in. Insurers must offer this coverage and it is up to the motorist whether to purchase it; if unwanted the consumer must reject it in writing.

Medical Payments and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) are also an option for motorists and are very similar; both pay for medical and funeral expenses for the insured, family members and passengers as a result of an accident regardless of who is at fault. The difference between the two is that PIP offers the same compensation as Medical Payments plus 80% of lost income and the cost to hire a caregiver for an injured individual; also, according to the Texas Department of Insurance an insurer must offer at least $2,500 in Personal Injury Protection which must also be rejected in writing if it is unwanted by the consumer.

Additional coverage which may be helpful and may not cost very much is Towing and Labor and Rental Reimbursement. Towing and labor will pay for the cost of a tow if a vehicle is inoperable and also for roadside assistance such as changing a tire. Rental will pay for the cost to rent a car for a set daily amount and number of days if the insured’s vehicle has been stolen or is being repaired and covered under the policy. Aside from the required liability limits, all other options are dependent on the needs of drivers; since each individual’s situation is unique, they would need to take time to determine what types of coverage will best benefit them and compare rates to see whether the desired protection is affordable.

Written by dberry · Filed Under Auto 

Texas Car Insurance

January 25, 2010

Over the past few years, several Texas auto insurance companies raised their rates to offset the number of accidents claimed by drivers.  Even if you have a good record, you may not have the cheapest rates.  Even after the state of Texas implemented the Texas Sure data base, car insurance in Dallas continues to increase.  As of November 2009, the TDI reports that a many as 25% of the drivers in Dallas County remain uninsured.  Shopping for auto insurance in Texas can be difficult if you’re not prepared.  So we prepared this simple overview.  So the next time you get at quote you will get a good Texas car insurance quote.

Texas Car Insurance Requirements

Drivers in Texas must be able to prove financial responsibility for any accidents they cause. According to the state department of insurance, up to 25% of Texas drivers on the road at any time are uninsured. In an effort to decrease that number, state lawmakers have made it mandatory to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance.

Establishing Financial Responsibility

Most drivers in Texas can prove their financial responsibility quickly and easily by purchasing an auto liability policy. It’s not your only option, however. The following is a list of all the ways you can officially establish financial responsibility with the state:

  • Get vehicle liability coverage through a state-licensed insurance provider.
  • File a surety bond with your county clerk. The bond must include two people, both of whom own real property in Texas.
  • Make a deposit of $55,000 in cash or securities to the county comptroller.
  • Make a deposit of $55,000 in cash or cashier’s check to the county judge.
  • Certify with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) that you are self-insured. This option is only available if you own more than 25 cars, so it’s typically used by dealers.

Texas Liability Insurance Requirements for Private Passenger Vehicles

The minimum state requirements for liability coverage are 25/50/25. That means you are covered for the following amounts:

  • $25,000 bodily injury coverage for one person in a single accident
  • $50,000 bodily injury coverage total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage coverage per accident

Be sure to keep your insurance card in your vehicle at all times. If asked, you should be prepared to show it to law enforcement. You’ll also need it to register your car or apply for a driver’s license―and, of course, if you’re ever in an accident.

The coverage amounts listed above are only minimums; there is no maximum. Depending on your financial situation and the condition of your car, it is often smart to increase coverage amounts or purchase additional insurance to protect you and your passengers. Educate yourself about the various types of insurance coverage to make sure you get the policy that will work best for you.

Proof of Insurance and Financial Responsibility

To make insurance tracking easier, Texas lawmakers teamed up with TxDOT―and several other state agencies―to create TexasSure, a program to verify insurance electronically.

Texas Sure Insurance Verification Program

This verification program requires state insurance agencies to electronically submit insurance information directly to TxDOT. Once in the system, the information is accessible by all TxDOT departments, as well as law enforcement.

As long as you maintain the required minimum of coverage on your vehicle, no further action on your part is required. You’ll only hear from TxDOT if your insurance lapses or is canceled for some reason, or if there’s a discrepancy in your records.

If you get a notice from TxDOT about your insurance, you’ll need to respond by sending proof that you do have the required insurance, or resolve the discrepancy.

Penalties for Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility

Having no proof of insurance doesn’t just make for awkward moments between you and law enforcement. Whether you don’t respond to a notice from TxDOT, or you really don’t have insurance for any reason, the result is suspension of your driver’s license and registration.

Upon suspension of your privileges, you have 20 days to decide whether to appeal or not. If you do appeal, you’ll need to contact TxDOT at the address or phone number on your suspension notice. An appeal can stop suspension procedures until the matter is resolved.

A second suspension for lack of insurance will probably end up with your car being impounded for 180 days. Plus, the state will charge you a $15 fee for each day your vehicle is in impoundment.

Reinstating Registration and Driver’s License

You can lift your suspension by doing the following:

  • Provide proof of current liability coverage.
  • Pay reinstatement fees from $175 to $350.

Written by dberry · Filed Under Auto 

Avoid Home Damage from Frozen Pipes

January 13, 2010

Home Insurance policies available in the state of Texas cover damage to your home from freezing. Read more

Written by dberry · Filed Under Home 

Tips for North Texas to Save money on your Auto Insurance and Home Insurance

January 2, 2010

Saving money on your auto insurance and home insurance can seem to be a difficult task. Many websites state that they can help you save money on your auto insurance, but you quickly realize that they’re just a site trying to sell your information to another company. Be careful when you shop your car insurance because identity theft is prevalent in today’s society. So instead of going to a website that sends your information to a bunch of different agents, you can start here and get a quote right away.

Most auto insurance and home insurance companies offer discounts for seatbelts, safety features like airbags, and anti log brakes. Everyone knows that if you insure your auto insurance and home insurance in a package, you can lower your insurance rates.

As an insurance agent, we can offer a few additional tips to lower your auto and home insurance payment. The bottom line is that it pays to know what discounts to ask for when you’re shopping for auto insurance and home insurance. The following tips will help you better shop your auto insurance and home insurance:

  1. Always look for package deals first. Some companies offer multi-policy discounts or account credits which can lower your rate by as much a 30%. Texas Auto Insurance and Home Insurance companies want more account business to balance their portfolios.
  2. Don’t wait until the last minute. When you receive your renewal statement in the mail, start shopping then. Now companies are giving discounts if you shop early and make your decision at least a week or two ahead of time. If you wait until the last minute, that could cost you 10% on your rates.
  3. Carry more than the state minimum coverage. Auto insurance companies are now giving discounts and lower rates for having higher limits before your switch your insurance. 
  4. Consider Increasing your Deductible. If your deductible is $250, raising it to $500 could decrease your premiums. Also many Texas auto insurance companies are now offering “decreasing” or “diminishing” deductible options as an addition to their standard auto insurance policy. So if you have a good driving record with a $500 diminishing deductible, odds are that your first auto insurance claim will have a lower deductible than you expect.
  5. Keep up with your home maintenance. Typically, our home insurance increases as our homes get older. Did you know that if you’ve had your roof replaced because of a hail storm you may get a discount on your home insurance? By keeping up with the plumbing, electrical, air conditioning and roofing, you may save money on your home insurance by reporting these things.

Our website is different than other websites. We save you money on your car insurance and home insurance because we are actually insurance agents and we represent many Texas Insurance companies. It pays to shop your auto insurance and home insurance with an independent agent that will look for the packages that will give you the lowest rates. Also by going directly to the company, we cut out the hassle of making and receiving a bunch of phone calls. Once we enter your information, we get several auto insurance quotes and several home insurance quotes instantly.

All of our auto insurance carriers are A-rated Texas Auto Insurance companies. Those companies include Safeco, Progressive, The Hartford, Travelers and more.

We also represent many home owners insurance companies as well. Since you can choose from The Hartford, Travelers, ASI Lloyds, and Kemper for your home insurance you can be sure that you’re getting the best deal with the least amount of hassle.

So the next time and auto insurance company or home insurance company tells you that they can give you the lowest rate, ask them home many companies they represent. If they only have one or two auto insurance or home insurance companies, and they don’t ask you about your home renovations then they might not be giving you the best rates on your auto or home insurance. If that is the case, call us at 214-717-4326 or click here, and we will shop your auto insurance and home insurance and find the best package for you.

Written by dberry · Filed Under Auto, Home