Category Archives: Car Insurance
Don't Reject the Medical Payments Coverage!
Money-saving gurus everywhere these days tell you how to save money on your car insurance. They recommend you reject certain coverages to save money. Before you cut back, you should understand what you are giving up. One coverage often targeted is Medical Payments. Don’t reject the medical payments coverage and leave yourself open to an expensive bill just to save a few dollars!
What is Medical Payments Coverage?
Medical payments coverage is offered as part of a personal automobile insurance policy. Currently, the most popular limit offered is $10,000. Some carriers still offer up to $100,000 for a nominal amount. The cost can be as little as $8 dollars for a six month period.
What does Medical Payments cover? Medical bills for you and any other human occupants of your vehicle in the event of an accident due to bodily injury.
This could be very handy if you or your passengers don’t have health insurance. Another benefit could be that your paying your injured passenger’s medical bills could head off them filing a lawsuit against you. And there’s more…
The aspect of the coverage that most people are not aware of is that it covers you if you are injured by a motor vehicle while you are a pedestrian. You don’t even need to be in your vehicle. Let’s say you are walking down the street and you are struck by a car. This coverage would pay, along with any other coverage that might apply.
We had a customer who, unfortunately, lost his life a few years ago while on a business trip out of state. He was riding a bicycle and was hit by a car. His wife, among other things, collected the full amount of $100,000 from the medical payments portion of their policy.
So don’t reject the medical payments coverage until you do some research or call us for an explanation of the coverage. We can help you understand what you may be giving up. Then, you can make an informed decision.
Posted: Cynthia
Categories: Car Insurance, Cars, Home Insurance, Insurance, Liability Insurance, New Jersey, New York, New York Insurance, Personal Insurance, Pound Ridge NY, Renters Insurance, Safety
What is Off Premises Theft Coverage?
What do you do if your car is broken into and your briefcase, dry cleaning and your favorite guitar are stolen? Can you claim it under your auto insurance? No! You need Off Premises Theft Coverage!
It’s On Your Homeowner’s Insurance
Your personal property is not covered under your car’s insurance policy. One way to cover your belongings is with the Off Premises Theft endorsement.
Off Premises Theft coverage can be added to your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. It will cover you for theft of your belongings that are TEMPORARILY away from your home. Examples of this would be property in your vehicle or at a vacation condo or hotel. Let’s say you are on vacation and your camera is stolen from your hotel room. Off Premises Theft could pay for this loss, less your homeowner’s insurance deductible. The limit of coverage is usually 10 percent of the personal property limit on the home policy.
You Need To Ask Your Agent
You will want to ask your insurance agent about the cost to add this endorsement. The endorsement may already be part of your policy. If you would never consider making such a claim, you may be able to remove it and lower your premium.
Avalon Agency is an independent insurance agency serving the tri-state area for over 50 years. Please visit us at www.avalonagency.com or call us at 914-234-5678 for a quote!
Posted: Cynthia
Categories: Car Insurance, Connecticut, Home Insurance, Insurance, New Jersey, New York, New York Insurance, Personal Insurance, Pound Ridge NY, Renters Insurance, Uncategorized
Renting a Car for Your Vacation!
Vacation season is in full swing and you may be in the process of planning an annual getaway. While you look for ways to maximize your budget, don’t leave one important decision to the last minute: renting a car for your vacation.
Rental Car Damage Waivers
“Deciding whether to buy ‘damage waivers’ or insurance at the rental car counter can be a confusing experience,” said Rick Crawley of the Progressive Group of Insurance Companies. “Optional rental car insurance can cost between $7 and $25 per day, depending on the rental car company, vehicle make and model and type of waiver. Those daily charges can significantly add to the cost of your rental.”
Helpful tips for renting a car
You may want to follow these three tips to help you decide whether or not you should buy the coverage:
1. Consult with an independent insurance agency like Avalon Agency Insurance. We can review your policies and find out if the coverage you have on your personal vehicle provides protection for you in a rental car.
2. Check with your credit card company. Some credit card companies provide coverage at no charge if you use their card for the rental. Some restrictions may apply so be sure to ask for a description of the exact coverage provided.
3. Take your personal auto insurance policy and details of your coverage with you to the rental car counter. You may be asked questions about your coverage that these documents can help answer. If you’re in doubt, you’ll have your agent’s name and phone number readily available. “We want people to have the information they need to make more informed decisions about car insurance,” said Crawley.
Knowing whether you need to buy additional coverage can save you money and give you peace of mind. Then, you can enjoy your vacation. Don’t start off your trip questioning your decisions. Take control by talking with your independent agent or broker and knowing the answers to those inevitable questions.
Hopefully, these tips for renting a car for your vacation will help you enjoy yourself a lot more!
To learn more about all that your independent agency can offer you, contact us at Avalon Agency at 914-234-5678
Posted: Cynthia
Categories: Car Insurance, Cars, Connecticut, Home Insurance, Insurance, New York, New York Insurance, Renters Insurance, Safety, Summer, Uncategorized
Make Your Vehicle Safe from Car Theft
A car is stolen in the US every 43 seconds. Professional thieves can break into and then drive away with your car in less than two minutes. You can take steps to make your vehicle safe from car theft.
The Statistics
About 240 per 100,000 registered motorists will be a victim of auto theft in the course of a year. Keeping your vehicle safe is everyone’s responsibility. The police, government officials, insurers, vehicle manufacturers and other citizens work together in a cooperative effort to prevent auto theft and fraud. There are a number of easy steps you can take to protect your property as well.
Tips
Some of these steps are simple, while others require a little more effort. For starters, never leave your car running while unattended. Always turn off the engine and roll up the windows, even when leaving your car for a short time.
Do not leave your keys in the car! Nearly 20% of cars stolen still have the keys in the ignition. Using removable or hidden radios, stereos and CD players is good idea for protecting your audio system (as well as discrete placement of speakers).
To lessen the chance of thieves seeing your car as an easy mark, keep your valuables hidden. Do not leave your GPS out on your dashboard. Parking in well lit and busy areas is another way to deter thieves. Locking your car and garage can be another factor in keeping your property safe.
A Bit Much
Park in well-lit Areas
This definitely makes a point.
Another option is to cover your garage windows, thus keeping prying eyes from seeing your vehicles and other valuables. This can also make it more difficult for criminals to see if you are or are not home.
Installing and having alarm systems and anti-theft devices (such as ignition cut-off switches, fuel cut-off devices, steering wheel locks and hood locks) slows a thief down and decreases the chance of theft.
Talk to your Insurance Agent
Many insurers offer a discount, ranging from 5% to 25%, on comprehensive coverage to policy holders who have these equipped. Making your car easy to identify by either etching your car’s VIN onto the windows and under the hood and trunk lid of your car, or by using a dye or electric marker can be very helpful if your vehicle is stolen. There are lists available of the most frequently stolen vehicles that you can check before you purchase a car as well.
It is also important to keep your documents safe by never leaving your vehicles title in your car’s glove compartment. If you are stopped, the police officer will ask you for license and registration, so you need to keep the registration in the car when you are driving. But thieves can use the title to sell your car or to impersonate you if they are stopped by the police. So it is important to keep a copy of your car’s VIN, license plate number, insurance identification and vehicle registration in safe place as well. If your vehicle is stolen you will need the information to complete police and insurance reports.
All of this may seem like a lot of extra effort. But compared to the aggravation of having your car or property stolen, it’s well worth the trouble to make your vehicle safe from car theft.
Call us for an automobile insurance quote today!
Avalon Agency Insurance Pound Ridge, NY All Lines of Insurance for New York, Connecticut and New Jersey
Posted: Cynthia
Categories: Car Insurance, Cars, Connecticut, Home Insurance, Insurance, Motorcycle Insurance, New Jersey, New York, New York Insurance, Personal Insurance, Safety, Summer
Watch Out for that Summer Heat!
Summer is finally here! What’s better than a day at the beach, the park, or outside anywhere under the sun? Not much! Just watch out for that Summer Heat!
And, as long as you take precautions, you won’t have to worry about heat related illnesses. According to the National Safety Council, those most at risk for heat cramps, exhaustion or heat stroke are:
- Infants and young children
- Elderly people
- Pets
- Individuals with heart or circulatory problems or other long-term illness
- People who work outdoors
- Athletes and people who like to exercise – especially beginners
- Individuals taking medications that alter sweat production
- Alcoholics and drug abusers
Check out this article by the NSC. It’s full of great information describing how to recognize different heat-related illnesses and what to do if someone is suffering from one of them. This information can keep you, your loved ones, and even your pets safe this summer!
Enjoy the summer and call us for quotes for your home, auto, or boat.
Posted: Cynthia
Categories: Car Insurance, Cars, Connecticut, Insurance, Liability Insurance, New York, New York Insurance, Personal Insurance, Pound Ridge NY, Safety, Summer
Spring Cleaning & Insurance Review Time
Did that recent, brief, breath of warm weather inspire your annual Spring cleaning urge? We think it’s also a great time for an insurance review. (more…)
Posted: Cynthia
Categories: Car Insurance, Cars, Home Insurance, Insurance, New York, New York Insurance, Personal Insurance, Pound Ridge NY, Safety
Is AutoPay Right For You?
Making your payments automatically sounds like a great idea, or is it? (more…)
Posted: Cynthia
Categories: Car Insurance, Connecticut, Home Insurance, Insurance, New York, New York Insurance, Personal Insurance
A Rocket Scientist's Invention may end Texting & Driving
After the death of his business associate, Scott Tibbitts made it his mission to make a difference, and try to save lives. (more…)
Posted: Cynthia
Categories: Car Insurance, Cars, Insurance, New York, New York Insurance, Personal Insurance, Safety
