Showing posts with label columbus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label columbus. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

How Modifying Your Car Affects Car Insurance

Columbus Auto InsuranceCustomers who are dissatisfied with some aspects of their newly purchased vehicles may be thinking of adding some customized features. While it's common to repaint a new vehicle, raise its suspension or enhance its engine, drivers should be aware that these modifications affect car insurance rates and coverage.

Columbus Auto Insurance rates are affected by any change to a vehicle regardless of how small it is. Changes  to the vehicle's features could lower or increase its value, subsequently affecting insurance premiums. Thus, drivers need to report all customizations to their insurance providers. Failing to do so could result in the rejection of future claims against losses related to the vehicle.

There are several factors insurance companies consider when it comes to vehicle customization that determine how premiums will be affected. A vehicle modification always increases the vehicle's value. After all, if the owner sold the vehicle after customizing it, he or she would attract higher prices than if it were sold prior to modifying it. Similarly, the increased values is reflected in insurance premiums, which always go up after a modification.

Vehicle modifications can also create extra risks for drivers, which will also result in higher premiums. Enhanced engines and suspensions, for example, improve a vehicle's ability to handle high speeds. This can make it more likely the driver will be involved in an accident. Thus, the more a driver enhances the vehicle’s engine, the higher the insurance premiums will be.

Vehicle customizations can also add to the visual appeal of a vehicle. While a vehicle owner may be proud to drive an attractive vehicle, the insurance company may classify it as a higher risk vehicle. Good looking vehicles attract car thieves more easily. Most insurance companies compensate for this risk by raising premiums even if the driver adds alarm systems or other security features to the vehicle.

Security features and other features that reduce risk may seem like they should lead to lower premiums, but the opposite is sometimes true. Some insurance companies consider all modifications enhancements to the car's value, including safety enhancements such as enhancing the brakes. For this reason, drivers should consult their insurance companies before customizing the vehicle in any manner as well as after having the vehicle modified.

We are experts on vehicle customization as well as on other car insurance concerns. Call a Gardiner Allen DeRoberts Insurance agent today at 614-221-1500 for a free car insurance quote on customized vehicles.

Friday, March 16, 2012

How to Budget for Insurance Premiums

MoneyIt would be nice if you didn't have to take your budget into consideration when buying insurance, but unfortunately most families must consider the amount of income they have versus the amount of bills they're already paying when they shop for insurance coverage. However, budgetary concerns should not ever prevent you from buying insurance; they should simply help you better design the policies that you purchase.

Step One: Obtain Rate Quotes If you are in the market for new insurance, your first objective is to obtain rate quotes. By obtaining several different rate quotes reflecting many different coverage options, limits, and deductibles you will get a broad view of the types of insurance considerations you must make and how they each affect your premiums.

Step Two: Adjust Coverage for Your Budget Once you've narrowed down the types of insurance options you can get, you must look at your budget and make adjustments so that the new insurance policies fit. Because insurance policy premiums are static, they are relatively easy to plan for, although you may need to adjust your disposable spending down in order to fit in the new premiums. It's important to note that having insurance is just as important as saving money because insurance policies protect the value of your assets and can often prevent your needing to access your savings to replace damaged property.

Step Three: Watch those Limits It's also important that you do not over insure. The premiums you pay are partially determined by the benefit limits you choose. When you choose a limit that exceeds the value of the asset you are insuring, then you are paying a premium for a benefit that you will not realize after an insurable incident, because the purpose of insurance is to make you whole after a loss, not to create a profit. If you are concerned about how inflation will affect the power of your insurance benefits, you can talk to your agent about special riders and annual reviews that can help you compensate for this.

When you are ready to start exploring your insurance options, make sure you give us a call at (866) 846-4488. No matter how tight your budget is, we can help you find and affordable Ohio auto insurance policy that provides the protection you and your family need.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Comparing Auto Policies and Rates - Ohio Auto Insurance

Ohio Auto InsuranceIf you’re looking for a new auto insurance policy, your first instinct may be to compare premiums in order to make sure that you get the best price on your policy. Comparing rates alone, however, does not give you an accurate indication of which policy is the most cost effective, reliable, and best suited to your coverage needs. You can use this list as a guide to comparing policies and to help narrow down your choices:

 

1. Make sure you have comparable coverage options

Take a close look at the coverage options for all the policies quotes you’ve received. Make sure they have comparable features as well as offer you the protection most important to you.

 

2. Ensure you’re comparing similar limits and deductibles

Policy premiums will vary based on how you set limits and deductibles. It would not be a fair comparison putting a policy with high deductibles and low limits up against one with low deductibles and high limits. So when you do your comparison shopping you’ll need to be sure the deductibles and limits on each policy, for each coverage option, are similar.

 

3. Investigate your carrier’s A.M. Best Rating

Your policy is only as good as the insurance company that writes it. When comparing two different policy quotes from two different companies, don’t just focus on price, deductibles and coverages. You’ll want to investigate the 2 carriers A.M. Best rating to make sure they are equal in terms of financial stability.

 

4. Look for a good fit for your lifestyle

If you like to do business online, check to be sure you can contact customer service and make payments on a carrier’s website. If you prefer to talk on the phone, make sure there will be a customer service representative available to answer the phone when it fits into your schedule. Also, check out the different payment options available to you (automatic draft, check, the credit cards you carry, etc.) and choose the carrier that has the options that will fit your lifestyle.

 

5. And, finally, comparing the rates

Now that you’ve made sure  you have several similar policy quotes from different insurers, it’s time to actually compare the rates. Be sure to check out all of the premium types, the annual, semi-annual, quarterly and monthly, so you’ll have a good idea of the differences.
Once you’ve compared, investigated, and narrowed down your choices, you should finally come up with the policy that meets most, if not all, of your needs. Call us at 614-221-1500 for a free Ohio Auto Insurance quote.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

What you Need to Know About Home Insurance

Columbus Home InsuranceWe all hear about home insurance on a daily basis. Even though we hear many stories about the importance of home owner’s coverage, how much does the average consumer know about their homeowner’s policy? A recent study shows consumers know more about the contents of their breakfast cereal than their home insurance. Taking that into consideration, let’s take a look at the basics of homeowner’s coverage.

 

Who needs home insurance?

Any homeowner that doesn’t want the financial burden of replacing a home that has been devastated by fire, hurricane, tornado, or other insurable event, needs home insurance. If you have a mortgage on your home, you’re required to have a home insurance policy because the enormous financial responsibility of replacing your home lies with your lender. If you do not have a mortgage, then no one can force you to have home insurance; without this important coverage, or an enormous bank account, you will not have protection against the financial loss that a natural or man-made disaster can cause.
Imagine having to tap into your savings as well as possibly facing tax or early withdrawal penalties in order to rebuild and refurnish a home lost to fire. While you may have the funds to do so, do you really want to risk the feeling of security your savings brings? Instead, with a home insurance policy, you can look to your insurance carrier to cover the costs over your deductible and below your policy limits.

 

What does home insurance cover?

You will have to look at your individual policy to find out the details of your coverage, but your homeowner’s insurance covers many different scenarios. In general, some of the coverages you can expect with your policy include:
  • Loss of the main structure.
  • Loss of use.
  • Loss of outer buildings.
  • Loss of contents/ personal possessions.
  • Liability coverage.
  • Damages to the outer building, contents or main structure.
There are many different classes of home insurance as well as several coverage options to choose from. If you live in a townhouse or condo, you will only have coverage that focuses on the internal walls and contents rather than exterior areas.

 

What does my home insurance NOT cover?

Depending on the choices you make when purchasing coverage, your specific policy may not cover certain events that your friends, neighbors’ and family members’ policies do. You can rest assured that no home insurance policy will cover things like:
  • Flood damage.
  • Mold removal or damage.
  • Bed bugs.
  • Everyday wear and tear.
  • Acts of war.
Again, it is important not to over-generalize coverage restrictions. To find out what your policy does and does not cover, you should read your actual policy pages or call your agent to review your current coverage.

 

What are policy limits?

One way to control the cost of your premiums is to adjust your policy limits. Policy limits are the maximum amount your insurer will pay toward damages caused by an insurable incident. In home insurance policies, there may be several different limits set for different coverages. For instance, your contents may have a limit of $50,000 while your structure is insured up to $150,000.
While lower limits create a lower premium, they also expose you to additional risk. If your actual damages exceed the amount of your limits, you must pay the difference out-of-pocket. On the other hand, if you choose limits that exceed the actual value of your contents or rebuilding costs, then you will not be paid that excess if you suffer a total loss because the goal of insurance is to make you whole, not to give a profit.

 

What are deductibles?

Another way to control your policy premiums is by agreeing to take on a higher percentage of the financial burden of an insurable loss. You do this through having a deductible. The deductible is the amount that you must pay out of your own pocket for damages. Any financial liability above your deductible, but below the policy limits, is the responsibility of the insurance company. 
For example; during a hurricane, let’s say your roof is damaged. The insurance company assesses the damage, says that they will cover your roof claim, and the total of the damages is $5,000. If your deductible is $1,000, you are responsible for paying $1,000 toward the repair while your insurer pays the remaining $4,000, provided that does not exceed your limit. Homeowner’s policies will, at times, have more than one deductible depending on your regions specific risk.
While home insurance may technically be an optional policy for some, the reality is that few investments will have such affordable protection against a loss. Not only can home insurance help protect your future financial goals; it can also give your family the means to regain comfort quickly after a disaster. Call us at 614-221-1500 for a free Columbus home insurance quote.

JG

Monday, November 14, 2011

Protect your vehicle - Don’t be at the mercy of bandits and burglars

Whether you are out shopping, attending an outdoor event or visiting friends anyone can break into your vehicle and take whatever valuables they find inside.

Protect your vehicleGenerally people are sure to lock their car doors and close their windows when they are no longer in the safety of their own neighborhood, and thereby stopping access to potential car thieves. But as soon as they get home, to their white-picket fences filled with neighbors that they trust, all their safety habits fly out the window. They leave their doors unlocked, leave windows rolled down low enough to twist an arm through, and use their automobile like it’s another room of their home.

You should never underestimate the safety of your surrounding environments, whether you live in a secure access apartment block, a condo in the heart of the city or on a farm in the middle of nowhere. Crime is possible everywhere you go, even the most sheltered areas could be susceptible to criminal activity.

Your vehicle is one of the most exposed places to store expensive belongings like MP3 players, laptops, shoes and other items. It is the last place you should leave open to the mercy of thugs and thieves.

Hot Tips:
  • It doesn’t matter how secure you think it might be, you should always strive keep your automobile locked and remove any unnecessary expensive items.
  • If you are unable to extract your valuables, you can just as easily put them in your trunk. While a single-minded burglar could still get into your trunk, it’s unlikely they will risk it if they don’t know if there’s anything in there worth stealing. Rest assured a passing pilferer will take advantage if valuable items are in plain view inside a car.
  • Tinted windows can help reduce visibility but its best not to take the risk, just bring those items into your house with you each evening.
You never know what could be lying in wait around the corner. That’s why buying Columbus auto insurance is so important. The more you can do to prevent these disastrous events from happening, the cheaper your premiums and the less worry for you to replace your lost valuable items. Call us today to discuss your options at (614) 221-1500.

Monday, October 24, 2011

How to Shop for a Safer Car

Columbus auto insuranceThe internet has become one of our main sources of information and it is great for consumers who are interested in learning about keeping their family safe. However, at times, it can be overwhelming to try and figure out which sources to listen to and which to disregard.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, is an independent, non-profit group that researches data that can help reduce highway accidents, injuries and crash deaths. The group is funded by auto insurers and provides a good educational materials and videos to better educate consumers.

Today, I am going to discuss one of their videos, Shopping for a Safer Car. This video gives an overview of all the safety features that you should look for when you go to buy a new automobile.

Size and Weight

Large, heavy vehicles offer more protection in crash because they have more structure with which to absorb the crash energy around you.  With that in mind, extra-large vehicle offer little additional protection and can actually cause more harm to other vehicles when involved in a crash. Finding a happy medium in terms of size and weight will keep your family safe while not increasing the potential damage you could cause others.

Structure and Restraint Systems

Automobiles with a strong safety cage and crumple zones are safer for you and your family. Automobiles with lap belts in addition to side and front airbags will do more to protect your body from injury.  It is also good to consider adjustable head restraints for whiplash prevention...

Continue reading "How to Shop for a Safer Car" or contact us at 614-221-1500 to learn more about Columbus auto insurance.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Columbus Auto Insurance - Ohio

What is Auto Insurance?


Auto Insurance Columbus, OhioOhio Auto insurance protects the policyholder against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between the policyholder and the insurance company. The policyholder agrees to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay his or her losses as defined in your policy.

Auto insurance provides typically three types of coverage:
  • Property coverage pays for damage to or theft of the car.
  • Liability coverage pays for your legal responsibility to others for property damage or bodily injury.
  • Medical coverage pays for the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses.
An auto insurance policy is comprised of six different kinds of coverage. Most states require you to buy some, but not all, of these coverages. If you're financing a car, your lender may also have requirements.

Most auto policies are for six months or a year. Your insurance company should notify you by mail when it's time to renew the policy and to pay your premium.

Columbus, Ohio


Columbus, Ohio - Auto InsuranceColumbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cincinnati and Cleveland. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city in the United States of America. It is the county seat of Franklin County, yet the city has expanded and annexed portions of adjoining Delaware County and Fairfield County. Named for explorer Christopher Columbus, the city was founded in 1812 at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers, and assumed the functions of state capital in 1816. The city has a diverse economy based on education, government, insurance, banking, fashion, defense, aviation, food, clothes, logistics, steel, energy, medical research, health care, hospitality, retail, and technology. Modern Columbus has emerged as a technologically sophisticated city. It is home to the world's largest private research and development foundation, the Battelle Memorial Institute; CAS, or Chemical Abstracts Service, the world's largest clearinghouse of chemical information; NetJets, the world's largest fractional ownership jet aircraft fleet; and The Ohio State University, the nation's largest campus.

In 2009, BusinessWeek named the city as the best place in the country to raise a family. Forbes Magazine in 2008 ranked the city as the no. 1 up-and-coming tech city in the nation, and the city was ranked a top ten city by Relocate America in 2010. In 2007, fDi Magazine ranked the city no. 3 in the U.S. for cities of the future, and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium was rated no. 1 in 2009 by USA Travel Guide.

In 2008, MarketWatch named Columbus as the 7th best place to do business in the nation. In 2011, the city had five corporations named to the U.S. Fortune 500 list including Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, American Electric Power, Limited Brands, Momentive Specialty Chemicals, and Big Lots. Major foreign corporations operating or with divisions in the city include Germany-based Siemens and Roxane Laboratories, Finland-based Vaisala, Japan-based Techneglas, Inc., Tomasco Mulciber Inc., and A Y Manufacturing, as well as Switzerland-based ABB Group and Mettler Toledo.

The population of the city was 787,033 at the 2010 census. Although Columbus is the most populous city in Ohio, this is due to the city's relatively large territory (over 212 square miles (550 km2)), and not due to a high density rate. This explains why the Columbus metropolitan area has a relatively small population, and is smaller than both the Cleveland and Cincinnati metro areas. In 2008, Columbus was the 16th largest city in the United States, with 754,885 residents, but has only the 32nd largest metropolitan area, and the third most populous state capital in the U.S. 2008 estimates indicate that roughly 116,000 of the city's residents are foreign-born, accounting for 82% of the new residents between 2000-2006. According to the U.S. Census, the metropolitan area has a population of 1,773,120, and the Combined Statistical Area (which also includes Marion and Chillicothe) has a population of 2,031,229. Columbus is located within 550 miles (890 km) of half of the population of the United States.

(Source: Wikipedia.org)

Gardiner Allen DeRoberts Insurance

Gardiner Insurance began operations in 1928 and Insurance Associates, founded by Bruce Allen, was formed in 1949. Gardiner Allen DeRoberts Insurance specializes in Columbus auto insurance as well as home, car, business insurance and employee benefits in Upper Arlington, Grand View, Ohio. Contact us at (614) 221-1500 for a free Ohio auto insurance quote.