How to lower insurance costs for teen drivers

Back to school time can mean a lot of things for your family. Back to routines, clubs, sports, homework - so much to do! My kids are still pretty young with my oldest just starting first grade this year and the next in line will start preschool soon. I've got a long time in calendar years to plan but as I hear and have seen so far - time flies with kiddos so the dreaded day the kids get behind the wheel will be here before I know it!

"Only 10 years until I can drive!"

At the agency we're frequently asked when it comes time to add a new teen driver how to keep the cost down. Here are a few ways that can help lessen the impact on the budget:

1. Add them to your policy as soon as they become licensed. They could purchase their own policy if they own their own car but if they can be added to the household it will help them get multi-car/multi-policy discounts, longevity, and credit discounts.

2. Teach your teen safety. Teach your teen to always wear a seatbelt; stay away from the distractions such as switching through music, talking or texting, eating, smoking or putting on make up. They need to be an aware and defensive driver. The more supervised driving your teen does, the more they'll be prepared for driving alone.

3. Don't buy the flashy sports car. The car your teen drives will factor into the price of insurance. An older, reliable, small to mid-size car is usually the least expensive to insure and fix. If you have a few makes and models in mind, your agent should be able to quote them and see what would make the most sense. Even if you don't plan on adding a car to your policy or buying something for them to driver regularly though, they still need to be listed on your policy as an occasional/possible driver. This could be a lower way to cover them, especially if you have a vehicle that doesn't require physical damage coverage that they will be driving.

4. Good grades matter. Academic performance's impact on rates is a great way to save money and encourage good grades. An "A/B" average can save up to 30% depending on the insurance company. It doesn't hurt when making those graduation goals for college either!

5. Education pays off. If your teen goes above and beyond the training required by the state and attends a defensive driving course, there could be additional discounts on the insurance policy as well. Of course there is additional cost for the training but ultimately it's worth your teen's safety!

Those are some of the ways to save, a few other things that can help you as you train your safe teen driver would be to check out some of the new programs available through the insurance companies offering monitoring devices which would be installed in the vehicle. These devices all work differently but they can track safe driving, notify you of excessive speeds or reckless driving, so you can use it as a tool to help teach them safer habits. Some of the devices can even monitor where the teen is driving and when which may really help them make good choices if they know you will know everywhere they've been!

Besides these ways to save money, we know safety is the top concern for you as a parent of a new teen driver - see below for a fact sheet on Driving Distractions (good for anyone to review - not just teens):

Coloring Contest

After-School Safety Tips for Parents and Kids

After-School Safety Tips for Parents and Kids

 I saw a few younger kids "walking" home from school the other day, barely pausing before running across the street in front of on coming traffic which they seemed oblivious to. 

As the school year comes to a close, it may be a good time to review these tips again and make sure the kids aren't forgetting to keep this stuff in mind! They will be out and about and possibly staying home alone soon over the summer so it will be important to keep talking about these things with the kids! 

Those tips, of course, are:

• Walk with a buddy
• Stay in well-lit areas
• Never accept a ride with strangers
• Once home, lock the door and don’t let anyone in

However, Dr. Michele Borba, author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions, urges you not to overestimate your kids’ safety smarts. Kids under 10, for example, may not grasp the concept of crossing a street safely, she says.

She suggests teaching them: “Stop. Left. Right. Left.” Meaning that children should, “stop at the curb, look left, right, then left again before crossing, and keep looking as they cross.”

Another thing kids need to know, says Borba, is how to ask for help. Have kids practice saying, “I need help,” out loud and instruct them to “find a uniformed employee, a police officer or a woman, preferably with a child,” when they need assistance, she says.

Once home, kids will likely use the Internet, so be sure to discuss digital safety too.

Staying Safe Online

Internet safety advocate Sue Scheff, author of Wit's End and Google Bomb, says that, “we need to put parental controls/security measures on computers and cell phones. Unfortunately, these aren’t guarantees, so having a cyber-smart child is your best defense.” 

Teach kids about the dangers of sharing personal information, such as their home address and phone number, online. And about using social media responsibly.

While online, it’s best for kids – and adults – to converse and connect only with people they truly know and trust, to keep their social accounts private and to still be cautious even then. After all, photos and information that go online today will still be there years later, when kids apply for college scholarships and jobs.

Above all, stay involved in your kids’ digital lives. Let them know you’re there for them, always – to talk, not to judge or punish, says Scheff. “Many kids fear having their Internet removed if they tell their parents they are being bullied online,” she says.

So keep the lines of communication open to help keep everyone safe, both in and outside of your home.

What to know before you shop for a car

April 2015

What to know before you shop for a car

What “options” are you legally required to buy?

Confused about what is and isn’t required when buying or leasing a vehicle? Ohio law requires drivers to meet financial responsibility requirements, which can be done by purchasing liability insurance. In addition, when leasing or financing a vehicle, those contracts require you to have physical damage insurance coverage.  

Beyond that, here are answers to common questions asked about dealer options.* 

Is my “new” car automatically covered by my current auto insurance policy?

Usually yes, but the length of time coverage is provided on a newly acquired auto (typically 4 to 14 days**) varies based on the types of coverage and whether the vehicle is a replacement or additional vehicle. To be safe, call us about your policy.

A newly acquired auto will receive the broadest coverage provided for vehicles already on the policy. However, if your current policy does not have Collision or Other Than Collision coverage, the automatic extension of these coverages to the new auto is usually limited to 4 days.** Though not legally required, you may want to take your insurance policy or ID card with you.

What about loan/lease GAP insurance?

In an accident, your auto policy pays you the current market value of the car, but you could still owe much more to the finance company. That gap, or amount you still owe, is covered by loan lease Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP) insurance. Though not legally required, some new car leases have GAP coverage built into the contract. Ask the dealer if you have the option of deleting the coverage from the lease and purchasing it as an endorsement to your existing auto insurance. Doing so could save you a few dollars to a couple hundred dollars. We can get you estimates now.

Is an extended warranty mandatory?

No, and you don’t have to buy an extended warranty before you leave the dealer. A warranty may not be necessary for you, so call us. But if you are intent on getting a warranty, know that purchasing from the dealer is not your only option.  

What about credit life and disability?

Credit life and disability policies sold by auto dealers are not required. They protect the lender if you cannot make monthly payments due to death or disability. You are insuring the unpaid balance of the loan. If that’s all you need, the dealer’s policy will suffice. However, it may be wiser to use that money to increase coverage on your own life or disability policy instead of tying it to the lease or purchase of a vehicle.

Our advice

Before you car shop, call us. We’ll help you get prepared and informed so you don’t end up paying extra for something you neither want nor need.

*    Many of these same principles apply for purchasing a boat, RV, travel trailer or motorcycle.

** Information from Insurance Services Office, Personal Auto Policy, 2005 edition.

Know your rights

Joe’s family was excited to leave the auto dealer with a new car. But there was a problem.

The salesman said the dealer wouldn’t allow any vehicle to leave the lot without proof that it was insured. What was Joe to do?

The salesman said Joe could buy coverage from a licensed insurance agent at the dealer and take the car home that night. Joe signed up right there, despite higher rates. He thought he had no choice.

Did he? After taking the car home, Joe called his independent insurance agent and found out he was covered by his current policy. It covered the newly purchased car for 14 days, so he did not need to purchase the dealer’s insurance policy. Joe also has a right to cancel that new policy at any time. 

The moral of the story is to talk to your agent and know your rights. If you’re thinking of car shopping, call us to get the facts and estimates on coverage. Whether you are financing or paying cash, we can help.

This information brought to you by MVP Insurance Agency, a proud member of Professional Independent Agents Association of Ohio, Inc. 

Financing a car? Beware...

My brother came in today excited about the deal he got on a pre-owned Kia today. Good mileage, nice clean SUV for a good price. He handed me the envelope they sent him home with to make the changes to his car insurance policy and I saw caught the only problem. There was a whole page contract for the purchase of GAP Insurance. Don't get me wrong, GAP Insurance is an important coverage because it pays the difference between the loan value and the value of the car if you have a total loss. It can be important if the value of the car drops faster than your balance owed. The problem is the cost that was wrapped up in the loan amount at the time of the sale - $795!! That would cover him for 75 months however buying GAP coverage through his car insurance policy was only $13 a year, basically a 90% savings! Some companies the rate can be as much as $30 a year but even that is a huge savings compared to what the company was charging through the dealership. The good news for my bro was at the bottom of the contract it gave an option to cancel within 30 days to get a full refund. Before he even left my office I helped him prepare the signed cancellation request for the $795 refund and we processed his policy change to include the Gap Protection with his car insurance.

Potholes everywhere!

Drivers, Local Authorities Deal with Tough Winter’s Potholes

Trusted Choice^® survey shows about 50% of U.S. car owners report vehicle pothole damage.

Johnstown, OH March 17, 2015— Poor road conditions have cost consumers and the insurance industry at least $27 billion over a five year period, according to a 2014 survey commissioned by Trusted Choice^® and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”). The survey also reveals that from 2009 to 2014 half of car owners experienced damage to their vehicles as a result of potholes. As millions of Americans encounter potholes as the rough winter wraps, Trusted Choice^® urges drivers to be cautious now and as repairs continue.

“The snow, ice and freezing rain during the rough winter months left their mark on our roads in Johnstown, Ohio and across the country,” says Alison Speck of the MVP Insurance Agency in Johnstown, a Trusted Choice^® agency. “Severe potholes have led to accidents which may impact insurance rates, as premiums are determined by past claims, accidents and driving violations. Potholes and poor road conditions aren’t just an inconvenience, they are an expensive and dangerous result of harsh winters.”

The pothole survey also found that 31% of car owners who reported pothole damage to their vehicles filed a claim with their insurance company. A surprising 65% of respondents who needed repairs said they (or a third party) paid out of pocket for the vehicle to be fixed. Only about 3% said local authorities stepped in to foot the bill. For about 40% of respondents, that bill was more than $500.

“This survey highlights how widespread the pothole problem is on our roadways and that the costs are enormous to both the insurance industry and to consumers,” adds Speck “And now, local authorities are struggling to keep up with the extensive road repairs.”

While motorists in the Midwest, Northeast and North Central regions of the country reported the most pothole damage, surprisingly the numbers were not that different even in the Southern and Western regions which typically experience milder winters.

“Drivers rely on their auto insurance coverage and their own pocketbooks to deal with unexpected expenses,” continues Speck. “A Trusted Choice^® independent insurance agent can help you select the coverage that best suits you and your vehicle by helping you evaluate your insurance needs and risks.”

 

Trusted Choice^® independent agents offer the following tips to motorists to help avoid costly damage from potholes and stay safe as they hit the roads after a tough winter:

Pothole safety tips:

• Keep an eye on traffic patterns. A number of cars that slows down or move quickly to other lanes may be a sign of major potholes or road damage ahead.
• Avoid the urge to swerve out of the way of a pothole at the last minute. You may swerve into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Risking damage to your car is wiser than risking the loss of your life or that of another person.  
• Report potholes to your state or local transportation department. Some states and localities have pothole hotlines. Motorists who think their state or local government will pay for damage to their cars may be out of luck. Laws in this area vary by jurisdiction and, even where such remedies are available, conditions may apply such as a requirement that the jurisdiction had notice of the pothole.
• If you hit a pothole and suspect damage, pull over as soon as it is safe. If you notice damage, record details and specific damage—just as you would in the event of a collision with another motorist—in case you need to file an insurance claim.
• Check in at least annually with your independent insurance agent to ensure that you have the right coverage.

 

MVP Insurance Agency is a local Trusted Choice^® agency that represents multiple insurance companies, so it offers you a variety of personal and business coverage choices and can customize an insurance plan to meet your specialized needs. This firm adheres to a pledge of performance, committing them to providing excellent customer service. You can visit MVP Insurance Agency online at www.themvpagency.com or call it at 740-966-3180.

The pothole survey was conducted for Trusted Choice^® and the Big “I” by MFour Mobile Research, Inc. using MFour’s Surveys on the Go^® Smartphone Application Panel which includes Apple and Android mobile device users. MFour is an independent research company headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. Interviews of a nationally representative sample of 2,565 U.S. car owners were conducted in June 2014 and weighted by age and gender to represent the general U.S. population over age 18. More information about MFour can be obtained at www.mfour.com.

Are you ready for the snow to melt?

Maintaining your sump pump for when you need it most

When a severe storm hits, homeowners may experience excess water in their basements, or the lower levels of their home. A sump pump can help protect your property by controlling water and keeping your home dry.

Sump pumps are used primarily in the northern United States. They are typically found in the lowest part of a house, such as a basement. A sump pump is usually installed by a professional in a specially constructed sump pit. The sump pump’s primary job is to pump water outside and away from the home.

Once installed, it is important to consider the following maintenance tips to help ensure your sump pump is ready when you need it.*

• Check the pump at least once a year to make sure it is still in good working condition.
  • Is the sump pump plugged in? 
  • Is the power cord in good shape?
  • Is the drain hose connected properly?
  • Is there any debris in the area that could clog the pump and prevent it from working properly?
• Occasionally, pour water into the sump pit to test if the sump pump starts up automatically and quickly drains the water.
• Since sump pumps run on electricity, consider installing a battery backup so your sump pump will not fail, even in the event of a power outage.
• If your sump pump is not working properly, contact a professional.

Most homeowners policies do not cover water in the basement. If you own a sump pump, consider obtaining optional coverage for water backup or sump discharge or overflow.