Category Archives: Insurance
No NY Insurance? No NY License Plates. It's that simple.
We’ve had a couple of our customers in the last week get caught up because of this rule. Both recently moved out of state and we did our best to explain to them that you cannot have New York State license plates unless you have at least the minimum New York State liability insurance coverage for the registration attached to those plates.
I was asked by one customer how the average New Yorker would know this information if they are not told by their insurance representative (something we do regularly, and did do in both of these situations). Unfortunately, it’s hard to answer that question without seeming unfeeling or rude. But the answer is simply that, having registered the vehicle in the state, you are required to be aware of the rules, someone else telling you not withstanding. I am subject to them myself.
I would say we explain this to someone at least 10 times in any given week. The response is always the same. It’s black and white. No insurance, no plates. Keep the plates and cancel the insurance and you get fined and a suspension letter from DMV for your license and that registration.
In the two instances I refer to, both customers moved out of state. We told them AND emailed them what needed to be done. We can’t come to their homes and take the plates from them forcibly. They chose, instead to keep the NY plates, but wrote insurance coverage in their new states of residence. The first asked us to cancel her policy which we did, at her earnest request, only now to find out she held onto her plates and now she has the nasty DMV Suspension letter. The fact that she HAS now turned in her plates should render the situation moot and clear it up, but it’s no fun to receive that letter. The second wrote coverage in the new state, but the current NYS coverage is still in force. So having not turned in their plates, they is still paying for two policies. Nobody wants to do that either. Now those plates need to be mailed back to New York and, once that is done, the coverage can be canceled.
Here’s a link to the New York State DMV page explaining what you need to do about your license plates.
We at our agency are going to look for a way to make sure our insureds are even more informed on this subject in the future. Even though we feel we do a good job of explaining the issue, we still end up being the ones blamed in the end. I think it’s the result of an unpleasant societal shift of blame by a majority of the populace. Perhaps we will add a new notice to be given to all of our customers, regardless of the status of their auto coverage. We will come up with something, I’m sure of that. In the meantime, remember: No insurance, No plates. Plates & No Insurance? Nasty notice or overpaying.
Happy Halloween (almost!)
Avalon Agency Window
We’re looking forward to Halloween! Here in town, children come and trick-or-treat at the local businesses. We bought over 2000 Dum Dum lollipops and can’t wait to greet all the witches and super heroes that come to our door.
Posted: Cynthia
Categories: Cars, Connecticut, Home Insurance, Insurance, New York Insurance, NY Business Insurance, Personal Insurance
Tips for Saving your Water Damaged Items
Hurricane Irene and her tropcial storm chasers ran through the northeast recently, leaving a lot of damage in their wake.
Check out these tips from FEMA about how to salvage water-damaged photos and other items.
Here’s another handy link, with info on salvaging your clothing items.
From what we hear, FEMA is offering low interest loans to those who have flood damage and whose insurance is not covering that damage. If you need to file a claim, go to their web site at www.fema.gov and fill out the application. You may need to file a claim with your insurance company and obtain a declination of coverage as well.
Row, row, row your Boat Insurance
When you think about Boat Insurance, what’s the first type of loss that comes to mind?
Sinking, of course. And this happens, probably more often than people realize. I was once told by an Ocean Marine guy at one of my companies that one cargo ship goes down, on average, every day somewhere in the world. I also have a close friend whose 28 foot Thompson sank AT THE DOCK. And this occurred because of a faulty .75 cent hose clamp.
The sea is a wild and wooly place. In February of 2010, a friend from our local firehouse was on board the S.V. Concordia when a sudden vertical wind blast capsized this beautiful ship. Luckily all those on board survived, but not before having to spend 40 hours in life boats. Click the picture for the story. It’s quite the tale.
After the recent hurricane blew through our area, we happened to head down to Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, Connecticut in search of a car show. The show had been cancelled, but we did get some pictures of these boats, on land, that had suffered from some other perils that many boat owners might not take into consideration.
Pretty obvious. This is a total loss by fire here. Boat fires can happen on land or on the water. We can’t know where this one occurred.
I think the wind got hold of this sailboat, and not in the positive, life affirming way its owner was planning on.
We’ve insured some of our customers boats for many years, with no incident. However, some of the claims we have seen include a dinghy floating out to sea, a $150,000 boat washed away by a storm and found later on the shoreline of an island, and something as simple as a sea tow.
These crafts often are a big investment, financially. They can also be a very important part of a lifestyle and the source of much enjoyment for their owners. When things go awry, I want to be able to tell someone they are covered. Hey, that’s what I do. I insure boats. 🙂
