Should You Drop Comprehensive and Collision from Your Auto Insurance? Chandler AZ Agent Weighs In

Comprehensive and collision are usually the two most expensive coverages you carry on your Chandler AZ auto insurance policy, so removing them from your policy might sound like a good idea. Before you decide to drop these physical damage coverages completely, take a look at a few factors and decide if it is the right decision for you.

Do you have a teenage driver on your policy?

One of the reasons auto insurance in Chandler AZ is more expensive for young drivers is because they have less experience behind the wheel. If you have a teenage driver in your household, you might want to keep your comprehensive and collision coverages in case your young driver’s inexperience causes damage to your vehicle. The peace of mind of knowing that the damage is covered is worth the price of having the insurance in place.

Are you making payments on your car?

If you are making payments to a bank or other financial institution for your vehicle, they will probably require that you keep comprehensive and collision insurance on your policy so their interest in the vehicle is protected. Although you will need to keep the coverage, you might be able to raise your deductible to reduce the cost of your policy. Contact your bank and ask them what the highest deductible is that they allow. There are several deductible amounts available, so as long as you have a lower deductible than your bank requires they should be satisfied.

What is your car worth?

Owners of older vehicles with lower values don’t see as much benefit from physical damage coverage as do owners of vehicles with higher values. This is because minor damages can cost just as much to fix as it would to replace your car. If your vehicle has a low value, now might be the time to consider removing these coverages from your policy.

Do you rent vehicles on vacation?

If you rent a car while you are away on vacation, your comprehensive and collision insurance coverages may cover any damage to your rental vehicle. If you do a lot of traveling, having these coverages on your policy can save you quite a bit of money since you wouldn’t need to purchase the rental car company’s physical damage insurance. Car rental companies usually charge around $20 per day for physical damage insurance, but if you have this covered on your auto insurance policy you might be able to say no to this extra expense. Make sure it is covered under your policy before you decline the coverage, because there are some situations when your policy won’t be able to cover rental vehicles.

It can be a difficult decision to make when you are deciding whether to carry specific coverages on your insurance policy. If you have any questions about whether you should carry comprehensive and collision coverages on your auto policy, please contact any one of our AZ insurance agents and let them help you figure out what is in your best interest or stop by my office anytime and I will be happy to help you in any way that I can. Be sure to ask about getting a discount on your auto insurance by packaging it with a Home Insurance policy.

What To Look For In Auto Insurance Chandler AZ Policies

As many people have found it can be hard to locate the proper vehicle insurance for them. This is when you should know more about what to look for in the auto insurance Chandler AZ to guarantee you are selecting the proper plan for your needs. Some of the items for you to look for includes the amount of money you have to pay each month for the premium. Something else you should look for is the coverage limits to guarantee it is within the proper limits you are required to have for your vehicles loans or even the law. Another aspect for you to consider is the amount you want to have on your deductible limits. Finally you should figure out which company you are using and how reputable the company is. 

The first thing you should look for is the amount of money you can afford on your monthly premium. When you know this information it is rather easy for you to know if you can afford to pay the bills or not. Without this type of information you may end up paying quite a bit more then what you want to or can even afford. With this information it is rather easy for you to have the proper payment and know you can easily afford to pay the bills. 

Something else to look for is the different types of coverage limits you can find. When you know about the coverage limits you can easily find out if they are going to be acceptable for your needs or not. Now you may not realize this, but some of your loan companies will have some type of requirements on what you should have coverage wise. However, the companies may have a dedication to giving you the proper coverage for the state laws. So you need to find this out as well. 

Another aspect to look at is what kind of deductibles you need to have. By knowing about this, it will be easy for you to have the knowledge on how much you have to pay before your Chandler AZ insurance coverage will start to pick up any payments. Without this type of information you can easily pay more for your insurance, but have a lower deductible payment, but you could also have the opposite if you are safe driver and end up getting the lower premium for a higher deductible. 

Finally you should look at the different types of companies you can deal with. When you are able to find this out you can find out more information about the company and know if they will be working for your needs. Without this type of information you can easily select a company you have never heard of and be disappointed in the type of work they are doing for you. 

Getting to enjoy your vehicle all the time can be a good thing. The problem you may have is not knowing about what you should look for in the auto insurance Chandler AZ to ensure you are selecting the proper plan. By knowing about what you should look for in these policies, it will be easy for you to have the proper policy for your needs.

If you have questions about a new Home insurance policy in the Chandler AZ area you should call:

Prepare for Fire Season by Evaluation your Chandler AZ Home Insurance Policy

The 2012 Arizona wildfire season has already started, and the U.S. Forest Service estimates that the 2012 season could be as bad as the historic 2011 fire season.  The 2012 National Seasonal Assessment predicts an "above normal significant fire potential" for the Arizona mountains, with a normal significant fire potential predicted for other parts of Arizona.  As of May 16, the Gladiator Fire had already destroyed four structures and threatened almost 400 more. 

There are several steps homeowners can take to prevent fire damage to their property, including using fire resistant materials, providing a firebreak, and creating a defensible space around structures.  If the worst does happen, homeowners also need to be sure that they are adequately insured to cover a catastrophic loss of their homes.  The Insurance Information Institute lists four key questions homeowners should ask to insure adequate coverage in case of a disaster:

1. Is my insurance coverage enough to rebuild my home at today's costs?
Insuring your home for its value may not be enough to rebuild your home at the price of current construction. Adequate coverage should include a replacement cost policy that will pay for the replacement of damaged property with comparable materials. Arizona homeowners might also want to consider an extended replacement policy that will pay an additional 20% above policy limits if a disaster--such as a widespread wildfire--raises the cost of materials and labor. Other options include inflation or ordinance riders which help cover the impact of inflation or new ordinances on construction costs.
2. Is my insurance coverage enough to replace all of my possessions?
Most homeowners insurance policies cover possessions at a rate of 50-70% of the amount of insurance on the structure of this home. A home inventory is the best way to determine if this is enough coverage to replace your personal possessions if they are lost to a fire or other disaster. You can ensure your personal possessions by either a cash value or replacement cost policy. Cash value policies cover the cost of replacing your property after depreciation. Replacement cost policies cover the replacement cost of your possessions at today's prices.  Your insurance agent can help you determine whether a cash or replacement policy is the best option for you. 
3. Will my insurance cover my extra expenses if my home is destroyed?
If your home is destroyed in a wildfire or other disaster, there will be additional expenses beyond replacing your home and possessions. Coverage for additional living expenses would pay for the extra cost of living away from home and includes expenses such as hotel bills and restaurant meals.  It could also cover lost rental income if you rent out a portion of your property. 
4. Will my homeowners insurance adequately protect my assets?
This question isn't directly related to disaster planning but it is still an important factor in evaluating your homeowners insurance needs.  Liability damage protects you against claims made for bodily injury or property damage caused by you, a family member, or a pet.  Liability damage covers court costs as well as any costs incurred in a court judgment up to the limits of your policy. Additional coverage beyond your policy limits is available in the form of an excess liability or umbrella policy.

Wise preparation for fire season should include making sure your home is adequately insured. Your insurance agent can help you evaluate your Chandler home insurance needs.

Have questions about your Insurance Policy, contact any one of our great Arizona insurance agents.

How to Head-off Potential Claims on your Chandler Home Insurance Policy

Now that you’ve purchased your Chandler AZ Home Insurance, it’s time to think about steps you can take to prevent, or lessen, future claims.

Here are some tips that might help in keeping the claims adjuster away.

• Buy enough coverage: Find out what it would cost to rebuild your house in your area. Want to keep the same look to the house? Ask a builder for an estimate on the cost to rebuild. Don’t skimp on coverage, and forget about paying that little extra for that piece of mind for insuring your home and belongings.
• Bring on the fire department: Ask your local fire station to come by your house and do a fire safety inspection---and include your kids when they come to your house. Spotting fire hazards and fixing them will certainly pay off in the long run.
• Insure that Picasso: Okay, maybe you don’t have a Picasso hanging in your entryway, but you might have a few, so-called luxury items like jewelry and an heirloom desk sitting in the den. Make sure you have the ‘rider’ for coverage, if needed.
• Water...water: Everywhere. If only you would’ve changed that leaky hose on the washing machine before you left on vacation. Do a survey of your in-house connections. Sprinkler system? Make sure the automatic timer is working correctly and not ‘hanging up’ for hours on that station by your basement window. 
• Accidents waiting to happen: Walkways and steps invite all sorts of potential for liability claims from strangers or friends coming to your property. Make sure step rails and decking are in good repair. 
• Wind and hail: It’s not uncommon, or rare, for a major onslaught of wind and hail to hit parts of Arizona. Heed warnings by battening down patio furniture, or screen doors…and even keep tree limbs trimmed back. 

It makes good sense to review your homeowner’s insurance coverage with your Arizona insurance agent at least once a year.

Should you have questions about your Chandler Home Insurance policy contact:

Not All Insurances Policies are Created Equal: Chandler AZ Homeowners Insurance Is Different

We have a tendency to buy our insurance policy as we buy most things in life, and that is by shopping around for the lowest price or best deal. After all, half of what the policy says is a mystery to us, and we just want to make sure that we are”covered.” We also want to make sure that we do not look too ignorant in the presence of the insurance company representatives. But, how covered are we? The insurance policies are written for a reason; it is to protect the company and the people who have put their faith in that company. You would be shocked by the number of people who are denied assistance because it is not spelled out in their policy.

A woman once explained her flood insurance. With a straight face and very seriously, the woman said that if the water came into the house from above, she was not covered. However if the water came in from the ground things were different; she was covered. There was a flood that year, and her house was flooded, Thank goodness the water falling from above (the rain) entered the house through the garage door making her covered. Now suppose this same person had a water heater in the attic and it went bad. Let's make it worse and have the water fall on her new computer. Where does she go for help? Nowhere. She has to figure out how to deal with it.

No one wants to be caught off guard, that is why Arizona Homeowners Insurance is the best place to start when you want real protection. Chandler Arizona Homeowners Insurance works for your best interests. They allow you to speak with them, ask questions, and then they go to work for you to find the best package and most complete coverage possible. Yes, they try to save you some money by bundling, but more importantly they help to make sure that you are fully covered no matter what happens.

This is very important for people living in Arizona where a multi-year drought has made cities like Tucson and Phoenix , hotbeds for wildfires. Just last year the Wallow fire in Arizona destroyed hundreds of business and homes. Some people were fully covered and, while they were saddened by their loss, they still had hope. Some people, on the other hand, found out that they were under-insured which meant that they had to find other means to cover what their insurance did not.

How do you really know how insured you are? Ask the Arizona Homeowners Insurance agents, they will be able to tell you. The truth might be shocking, but there is an old saying that is quoted quite often and that is, “You get what you pay for;” it is so true. If you are going to pay insurance why not go to the pros and have them help you, so that, in case of a disaster, you know there is a silver lining no matter how black the cloud.

We all make mistakes along the road of life, however, one of the worst mistakes we can make is to fall for insurance companies that look like they offer the world and then are only too happy to point out the clause in the policy that states “it is not covered.”

If you have questions about what is covered on your Chandler AZ Home Insurance policy please give our insurance agents in Chandler Arizona a call!