Nov 24

Insurance pays for all your Black Friday Purchases

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Nov 14

The Insurance Shop Offers Tips to Help you Save on Auto Insurance

Purchasing the auto insurance that is right for you can be confusing, especially for first-time buyers. By learning the basics on how to get the most for your money, you can save on your auto insurance and feel confident you have adequate coverage. The Insurance Shop and Travelers, a leading provider of auto and homeowners insurance, offer these tips to lead you in the right direction when you purchase your car insurance.

  • Be a safe driver. Drivers with good driving records can save as much as 60 percent over drivers who cause accidents.
  • Enroll in a driving class. Drivers who complete a state-approved defensive driving course, or drivers under the age of 21 who take a driver training course, could qualify for savings.
  • Buy a car that includes safety features such as anti-lock brakes, alarms or other security features, airbags, and automatic seat belts.
  • Choose a higher deductible (what you pay before your insurance policy kicks in), which can mean paying less for your policy.
  • Eliminate unnecessary coverages. If you drive an older car with little cash value, consider eliminating “collision” or “comprehensive” coverage, which pays for damage to or theft of your car.
  • Insure more than one car with the same company, and you may be eligible for savings.
  • Insure your car and home with the same company. You could save money if you have more than one type of policy with the same insurance company (for example, an auto policy and a homeowner’s policy). The more good business you give the company, the more valuable you are as a customer.
  • Look for low-mileage discounts if you car pool or do not put a lot of miles on your car annually.
  • Check for student discounts such as a good student credit for maintaining a B average, or if a driver in your household is living away at school and not driving as much.
  • Buy a safer car that will cost less to repair and less to insure. Check crash-test reports, repair records and manufacturer recalls of any car you are considering.  A consumer protection magazine can be very useful or check car sites on the Internet.

Nov 13

Safe Winter Driving Tips!

Snow storms and icy conditions present a particular set of driving hazards.  Preparing your vehicle for the winter and knowing how to react in severe conditions or if stranded are the keys to safe winter driving.

When driving under adverse winter conditions:

  • Take care pulling out of streets blocked by mountains of snow.  It’s often difficult to see who or what is coming.
  • Back your car into the driveway so you have better vision when pulling out.
  • Be aware of joggers on the street.  Often sidewalks are impassable and die-hard joggers venture onto the street for a clearer path.  Unfortunately, they may not see icy spots or other hazards hidden below the slush.
  • When waiting to make a left-hand turn, keep wheels pointed straight ahead.  If wheels are turned to the left in anticipation of making the turn and you’re rear-ended, your car will be pushed into the path of oncoming traffic, which could result in a head-on collision.
  • If your car does not have anti-lock brakes and you start skidding on the ice, try not to slam on your brakes.  Gently pump your brakes to maintain better control and prevent your wheels from locking.
  • If your car does have anti-lock brakes, slam on your brakes when skidding on the ice.  Pumping your brakes prevents the anti-lock system from taking over.

Sep 17

Got a Mobile Business?

We write insurance for the following types of mobile businesses…

  • Bookmobiles
  • Food trucks
  • Mobile medical units
  • Mobile repair units
  • Roadside service
  • And MORE!!

Aug 06

Personal Lines Products

Wondering if we can write a policy for you?  Here’s a sample list of some of the insurance policies we write…

  • Dwellings:
    • 1-4 Unit dwellings
    • Owner or rental occupancies
    • Secondary or seasonal
    • Coastal properties
    • Homes with day care
  • In-Home Business
  • Inland Marine:
    • Coverage for jewelry, furs, fine art, musical instruments, cameras, silver, stamps and collectibles.
    • Contents in mini-storage available for household goods.
  • Log Homes
  • Manufactured Homes:
    • Single and double wide manufactured and modular homes.
    • Owner occupied, seasonal, tenant, light commercial and rental units.
  • Motorcycle / Recreational Vehicles:
    • Motorcycles, all terrain vehicles (ATV’s), utility vehicles and golf carts.
  • Personal Umbrella / Excess Liability:
    • Personal umbrella written over primary auto, home, rental properties, watercraft and recreational vehicles.
    • Excess liability written over primary umbrella, automobile, motorcycle, comprehensive personal liability or premise liability.
  • Snowmobile:
    • Coverage for snowmobiles used for personal use off of public streets, roads or highways.
  • Watercraft:
    • Package or liability only policies for any size, age or value watercraft.  Boat types include runabouts, high performance, houseboats, pontoons and yachts.
    • Package or liability only policies for personal watercraft (PWC) such as Jet-Ski, Sea-Doo and Wave Runner.

Jul 24

Water Back-Up – Am I Covered?

How do I get coverage?  What’s the cost?  Common coverages and features.  Not so common Features.  What’s covered and what’s not?  Find the answers and information here – Water BackUp

Jul 23

Summer Camping – A Guide for parents of young campers

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Jul 22

Four Questions To Get The Right Auto Insurance

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 The Insurance Shop:

 

• 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 conducting 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.

 

The Insurance Shop 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, visit progressiveagent.com or give us a call.

Jul 21

Seven Strategies for New Car Buyers

New car shopping can be a lot of fun, especially if you’re a car enthusiast. But others can find the experience stressful and tedious. Either way, there’s a lot to think about. According to a survey of car shoppers, overall purchase price is the most important factor when shopping for a new car (46 percent), followed by make and model (31 percent).

 

Safety and performance come in a distant third, tied at seven percent. But whether you’re turned on or turned off by the dizzying array of car choices, trim options, “expert” reviews, incentives and other deals, it definitely pays to approach car buying strategically.

 

So if you’re in the market for a new vehicle and you find yourself having trouble keeping a clear head, just keep these strategies, courtesy of The Insurance Shop, in mind:

 

1. Decide how much money you can spend and what type of vehicle best suits your needs. Just looking for the basic transport capability of a small or medium sedan? Or do you need the hauling capacity of a van or SUV? Something practical? Something sporty? Something in between?

2. Research crash tests and accident data available from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

3. Shop around for financing. If you can, apply for and get approval for a loan from a bank, credit union or other financier before you even visit the dealership. Being a “cash buyer” gives you an advantage when you do finally meet with the dealership’s financing person.

4. Test drive the car. Try to drive in conditions that will be similar to those under which you’ll drive every day.

5. Check pricing for your desired make and model at two or three dealerships and use that information to help you negotiate the best deal.

6. Get a firm quote, in writing. This should include not only the cost of the car, but any fees and the sales tax.

7. Inspect your new car carefully before driving off the lot. Make sure all the options you’ve ordered are included and that the body and paint are free of scratches or dents.

 

Finally, it’s important to consider the cost of auto insurance, although it seems that few people realize that what they pay for insurance can add significantly to the vehicle’s total cost.

 

Wise car buyers know to shop around for insurance and find out how costs compare. They also know to visit an independent insurance agency – like . We can check with several companies to find the best combination of coverage and price.

 

To get a Progressive quote with The Insurance Shop, visit progressiveagent.com or call us.

Jul 18

Three Tips To Help Your Vacation Get Off To A Worry-Free Start

With vacation season in full swing, you may be in the process of planning an annual getaway. While most people spend lots of time looking for ways to maximize their budget, one costly decision is often left to the last minute—whether to buy the optional insurance offered by a rental car company.

 

“Deciding whether to buy ‘damage waivers’ or insurance at the rental car counter can be a confusing experience—especially if you don’t know if you’re already covered by your personal auto insurance policy,” 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.”

 

Follow these three tips, courtesy of The Insurance Shop, to help you decide whether or not you should buy the coverage:

 

1. Consult with an independent insurance agency – like The Insurance Shop. As licensed insurance professionals, independent insurance agents and brokers can review and evaluate your policies to 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 to charge the cost of the rental. However, some restrictions may apply so be sure to ask for a description of the exact coverages provided.

3. Take your personal auto insurance policy and details of your coverages with you to the rental car counter. You may be asked a question that these papers can help answer—or, 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 so 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.”

 

To learn more about all your independent agency can offer you, contact The Insurance Shop or visit progressiveagent.com.