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​Insurance talk

Toy Vehicles Information

13/6/2020

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Unless you have a true recreational vehicle insurance package, you could be in for an unpleasant ordeal should you experience a loss with your RV. Your auto and homeowner's policies may not cover such items as appliances, plumbing or accessories. Without true Recreational Vehicle insurance, your emergency expenses incurred while traveling would undoubtedly come out of your own pocket. A typical travel trailer insurance policy from an auto carrier will include physical damage coverage only. Our A + rated motorhome insurance and travel trailer insurance companies provide coverages far above and beyond the modest coverage provided by your auto insurance company.


Why do you need insurance for your motorcycle?

You'll enjoy being out on the open road even more when you're not worried about the safety of yourself, your passengers or your investment. Here are a few things to consider: If you're in an accident or your motorcycle is stolen, it costs money, often a lot of money, to fix or replace it. If you or a passenger is injured in an accident, medical costs can be extremely expensive. If your motorcycle is responsible for damage or injury to others, you may be sued for much more than you're worth. Your motorcycle may be one of your most prized possessions. It deserves special protection.

Things to consider and questions to ask your agent

Your Independent Agent is an advocate for finding insurance that meets your specific needs. Here are a few things to consider as you prepare for the discussion: How much can I afford to pay if my motorcycle is in an accident, damaged or stolen? (Ask your agent what your cost savings would be if you raised your deductible.) What discounts and programs are available? (Ask about discounts for taking safety classes or having multiple policies. You may also save money if your motorcycle is stored in a garage or if you belong to a motorcycle association.) How much medical and liability coverage should I have? Does the insurance company have a good reputation for customer service? Is it known for paying claims fairly and promptly? What's the process for filing and settling a claim?


Tips for the cost-conscious rider

Many factors can play a role in determining what your insurance costs will be such as your age, your driving record, where you live and the type of motorcycle you own, or being a graduate of a rider-training course. Many companies offer discounts from 10 to 15 percent on motorcycle insurance for graduates of training courses, such as the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) rider course. Riders under the age of 25, usually considered a higher risk, may see some savings by taking this course. It's also a good idea for cyclists who have already had accidents. Maintaining a good driving record with no violations will also help reduce your premiums. In many northern states, riders may save money by buying a "lay-up" policy. With a lay-up policy, all coverage except comprehensive is suspended during winter months. Find out what discounts your insurance representative offers. Multibike discounts for those insuring more than one bike, organization discounts, if you're a member of a motorcycle association, and mature rider discounts for experienced riders, are just a few possibilities. Discounts can range anywhere from 10 percent to 20 percent, depending on the company and your state. Availability and qualifications for discounts vary from company to company and state to state. Keep in mind that the type, style (such as a sports bike vs. a cruiser) and age of the motorcycle, as well as the number of miles you drive a year and where you store your bike may also affect how much you pay for your premium.


Why do you need insurance for your boat or personal watercraft?

You'll enjoy the water ever more when you're not worried about the safety of yourself, your passengers or your investment. Here are a few things to consider: If you're in an accident or your watercraft is stolen, it costs money, often a lot of money, to fix or replace it. If you or any passengers are injured in an accident, medical costs can be extremely expensive. If your watercraft is responsible for damage or injury to others, you may be sued for much more than you're worth. Your watercraft also needs protection when it's on land. Accidents can happen while towing a watercraft.


Things to consider and questions to ask your agent

Here are a few things to consider as you prepare for the discussion: How much can you afford to pay if your boat or personal watercraft is in an accident, damaged or stolen? Is my boat or watercraft covered for use year-round? What discounts and programs are available? How much medical insurance and liability coverage is enough? Do I have coverage if I need to have my boat towed in an emergency? What's the process for filing and settling a claim? Does the insurance company have a good reputation for customer service? Is it known for paying claims fairly and promptly? Home and auto insurance policies may provide limited coverage for personal watercraft. Talk to your insurance representative about coverage limits. You may want to consider purchasing a personal watercraft policy to protect yourself and your water vehicle in the event of an accident. The personal watercraft policy covers: bodily injury property damage guest passenger liability medical payments theft Liability limits start at $15,000 and can be increased to $300,000. Typical policies include deductibles of $250 for property damage, $500 for theft and $1,000 for medical payments. Additional coverage can also be purchased for trailers and other accessories. You should talk to your insurance representative about the type of coverage that would best suit your needs.

source: www.universalinsagency.com

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5 Things To Teach Your Teen About Auto Insurance And Life

14/4/2020

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5-things-to-teach-your-teen-about-auto-insurance-and-life.html
How can a parent help their teen realize being responsible can save boatloads of money
especially in Auto Insurance. This bit of advice can set your child up for a successful start to
accumulating money for good things like a down payment on a home instead of high cost insurance
due to mistakes made by youthful indiscretion. At the end of this article is a link to visually show your
child the difference over a lifetime including Mortgages, Car Loans and Credit Cards.
This does not even include the effect of higher Insurance cost on Home and Auto.
What they need to see is without the insurance cost even in the calculation that
Excellent credit was $406,367 over a life span and bad credit was $788,875.
Add another $50,000 at least to difference in Insurance over a lifetime I would guess.

1. Live by commitments, not by feelings.

Let's look at a sober minded parentally coached new driver that committed to some agreements
for the privilege of driving either a car their parent owns thus insures or maybe just helps pay for.
He or she takes advice compared to one that knows it all
and thinks they can speed, text while driving and break the rules.
Help your teen know what they do can change your life as a parent that is legally responsible in many ways for their actions.

A policy in Worcester, Mass for a driver with less than 3 years but has 5 points will cost
an easy $5000 to $6000 a year until those points drop and the driver goes over 3 years and then 6 years with many companies.

2. Seeking wisdom—skill in everyday living. Knowing how to make good decisions.
 
If that young person lets their insurance lapse that is a black mark because the Insurance carriers see that as irresponsible
thus they think this person is more likely to get in an accident, maybe be fraudulent or act in other foolish ways.
It would be a great help to help your young adult know they are judged on the way they handle their lives. This is from credit,
to how they drive, to their grades. A good student is given credit on their policy if under 6 years driving by most companies
either on their parents policy or their own.



3. Choices are yours to make and results are yours to experience.

Do you see how irresponsibility makes it a tougher go? EVERYTHING costs more!
Your car loan, your mortgage, your insurance.

The young adult that pay attention, resists speeding, has the patience to stop at stop signs etc
will see their insurance rates head down more and more over the years. On the other hand
the example of the person that keeps getting tickets, accidents and cancellation notices is just going to
continue to pay through the nose. They are proving themselves to be less responsible.




4. Keep your promises.

Before handing over the keys talk about some agreements.
Talk about how peer pressure is really just a test of your backbone and resolve.
When family identity is strong peer pressure is weak. Remember ...teenagers do
not rebel against authority they rebel against a lack of relationship.

5. Character is the basis of all leadership.

Good driving habits, obeying laws that are there for the safety of all,
paying your bills and handling money responsibly shows character.
A leader will carry the knowledge that good decisions are better for his or
her life. Giving in to any peer that pressures you to do anything that could
result in paying for years to come or your whole life is where the leader is
separated from the follower. See the Lifetime Cost To Debt Tool.
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Can I Buy A Car Or Insurance With My Learner's Permit?

12/2/2020

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We thought this was a great question to share.
Can I buy car insurance with my learner's permit? Because I want to buy a car and I haven't got my driver license yet.


  ANSWER: You can own and insure a car in Mass but you must have a person to
List besides yourself as a licensed Mass Driver. Not all companies will allow but we have one that will allow this.
Let me know if you want a quote.
I will need the person’s license number  who you will list as the licensed driver.
 You will notice once you inform the Insurance Agency or Company that you have obtained
 a Driver's License the insurance premium will go up. This is because you are not a listed driver on the policy until you
 get your license. The experienced person you listed as the licensed driver was rated but now you as the new driver will be rated.

It is important to follow the rules:
The holder of a Learner's Permit may operate a motor vehicle upon any way when accompanied by an operator duly licensed by his state of residence,
is 21 years of age or over, who has had at least one year of driving experience and who is occupying a seat beside the driver.
  • A Permit holder who is under the age of 18 may not operate a motor vehicle between the hours of 12:00 a.m. (midnight) and 5:00 a.m. unless
  •  accompanied by his parent or legal guardian, who must be a licensed operator with at least one year of driving experience and whose license or right to operate is not revoked or suspended.
  • The holder of a Learner's Permit may not operate in another state if it is in violation of that state's law.
  • The holder of a motorcycle Learner's Permit (Class M) may not carry passengers and may not operate after sunset or before sunrise.
  • The holder of a Learner's Permit must be in physical possession of the Permit when operating a motor vehicle

    (Source:https://www.universalinsagency.com/blog/can-i-buy-a-car-or-insurance-with-my-learners-permit.aspx)​

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Whose Stuff Is Not Covered Under Home Insurance Policy

24/1/2020

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Beware of coverage loopholes like whose property is NOT covered under your Homeowners Policy.
Are Domestic Partners and their "stuff" Covered under a Homeowners Policy?

   Let's look at who is considered an insured on your homeowners Insurance Policy?  
   If a couple has been living together at least a year then one of our companies allows
   the  Domestic Partner Endorsement on for free but your agent has to be aware of this to
   even let you know about it. You should let your agent know if you have a domestic partner.
   It is your responsibility to read your policy and know
   who is considered an insured.

  If you are living with a significant other then ask if there is an endorsement called Domestic Partner
  Endorsement. You would not want your significant other's cloths, furniture,  jewelry (careful about how much jewelry is covered without scheduling it!), computer, TV etc
  not to be covered if there was theft, fire and other perils...would you? 


It is very clear in homeowners policy language whose stuff is covered.
From A Mass Homeowners Policy:
DEFINITIONS
A. In this policy, "you" and "your" refer to the "named
insured" shown in the Declarations and the spouse
if a resident of the same household. "We", "us"
and "our" refer to the Company providing this insurance.

5. "Insured" means:
a. You and residents of your household who are:
(1) Your relatives; or
(2) Other persons under the age of 21 and
in the care of any person named above;
b. A student enrolled in school full time, as
defined by the school, who was a resident
of your household before moving out to attend
school, provided the student is under
the age of:
(1) 24 and your relative; or
(2) 21 and in your care or the care of a
person described in a.(1) above; or
C. Coverage C – Personal Property
1. Covered Property
We cover personal property owned or used by
an "insured" while it is anywhere in the world.
After a loss and at your request, we will cover
personal property owned by:
a. Others while the property is on the part of
the "residence premises" occupied by an
"insured"; or
b. A guest or a "residence employee", while
the property is in any residence occupied by
an "insured".

Every company may be different so read your policy.
The easiest way to look up what you want to know is get your policy in PDF
format on your computer and search the document by control F.
Then type in the word you are wanting to know more about or the coverage
you want to know about.


Call us at Universal Insurance Agency and let us help with your coverage on Home, Auto and Business
0 Comments

Water Exclusions On Most Homeowner Policies

4/1/2020

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Did you know about these Typical WATER
Exclusions in most Homeowner Insurance Policies?


 (1) Flood, surface water, waves, tidal water,
overflow of a body of water, or spray from
any of these, whether or not driven by wind;

  (2) Water which backs up through sewers or
drains or which overflows from a sump;
 (ask about an endorsement that can be added)

  (3) Water below the surface of the ground,
  including water which exerts pressure on or
  seeps or leaks through a building, sidewalk,
  driveway, foundation, swimming pool or
  other structure.

  If you study your homeowners policy you will find the following comforting words.
  Direct loss by fire, explosion or theft resulting
  from water damage is covered.**  Yeah!!!

 Do not blame your agent for the way the Homeowners policy is written.
​

The Us Government is in full cooperation on the issue of excluding Flood Coverage
on Homeowners Policies. A great site to learn more is https://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/

The point is people may not realize what is and is not covered when it comes to water and 
I believe it is better to research if your policy has an endorsement for some of the water issues
or if you do not have the coverage.
You,the insured, are ultimately responsible to read your policy (but how many take the time until it is too late?)

Exclusions are usually found on around page 115 or so. If you download your policy as a PDF
you will easily find any search term by Control F within the PDF of your Homeowners Policy.
Knowledge is power so keep your policies on your computer.

Ask your agent about a Flood Policy from  FEMA if you worry that some of the above exclusions could
cause serious financial hardship.

For more insight into Homeowner Policy Exclusions follow our other blog titles to come.
Author- Diane Goselin- Massachusetts Licensed Insurance Agent




Tags: water exclusion on homeowners policy, exclusion, exclusions, homeowners policy, home policy, insurance, massachusetts, mass, home insurance quote
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Are Disasters Like Hurricanes Covered By Home Insurance?

20/12/2019

0 Comments

 
0 Comments

5 Things To Teach Your Teen About Auto Insurance And Life

13/12/2019

0 Comments

 
How can a parent help their teen realize being responsible can save boatloads of money
especially in Auto Insurance. This bit of advice can set your child up for a successful start to
accumulating money for good things like a down payment on a home instead of high cost insurance
due to mistakes made by youthful indiscretion. At the end of this article is a link to visually show your
child the difference over a lifetime including Mortgages, Car Loans and Credit Cards.
This does not even include the effect of higher Insurance cost on Home and Auto.
What they need to see is without the insurance cost even in the calculation that
Excellent credit was $406,367 over a life span and bad credit was $788,875.
Add another $50,000 at least to difference in Insurance over a lifetime I would guess.

1. Live by commitments, not by feelings.

Let's look at a sober minded parentally coached new driver that committed to some agreements
for the privilege of driving either a car their parent owns thus insures or maybe just helps pay for.
He or she takes advice compared to one that knows it all
and thinks they can speed, text while driving and break the rules.
Help your teen know what they do can change your life as a parent that is legally responsible in many ways for their actions.

A policy in Worcester, Mass for a driver with less than 3 years but has 5 points will cost
an easy $5000 to $6000 a year until those points drop and the driver goes over 3 years and then 6 years with many companies.

2. Seeking wisdom—skill in everyday living. Knowing how to make good decisions.
 
If that young person lets their insurance lapse that is a black mark because the Insurance carriers see that as irresponsible
thus they think this person is more likely to get in an accident, maybe be fraudulent or act in other foolish ways.
It would be a great help to help your young adult know they are judged on the way they handle their lives. This is from credit,
to how they drive, to their grades. A good student is given credit on their policy if under 6 years driving by most companies
either on their parents policy or their own.



3. Choi
ces are yours to make and results are yours to experience.

Do you see how irresponsibility makes it a tougher go? EVERYTHING costs more!
Your car loan, your mortgage, your insurance.

The young adult that pay attention, resists speeding, has the patience to stop at stop signs etc
will see their insurance rates head down more and more over the years. On the other hand
the example of the person that keeps getting tickets, accidents and cancellation notices is just going to
continue to pay through the nose. They are proving themselves to be less responsible.




4. Keep your promises.

Before handing over the keys talk about some agreements.
Talk about how peer pressure is really just a test of your backbone and resolve.
When family identity is strong peer pressure is weak. Remember ...teenagers do
not rebel against authority they rebel against a lack of relationship.

5. Character is the basis of all leadership.

Good driving habits, obeying laws that are there for the safety of all,
paying your bills and handling money responsibly shows character.
A leader will carry the knowledge that good decisions are better for his or
her life. Giving in to any peer that pressures you to do anything that could
result in paying for years to come or your whole life is where the leader is
separated from the follower. See the Lifetime Cost To Debt Tool.
0 Comments

Buying Online vs. Agent?                                      Having An Agent Has So Many Benefits.

13/12/2019

0 Comments

 
Is buying online VS agent better or riskier?

If you are not well versed in auto or home insurance it is possible to make a big mistake
inadvertently when buying insurance online without a local agent. I can't tell you how
many people came into the agency with a policy they bought online and
we pointed out a very dangerous coverage mistake.

Imagine if you thought you chose $100,000 for damage to someone else's property and
what you really chose on the drop down menu was $10,000. These people did not realize
this is an important coverage because it has the high
probability of being used.

This coverage pays to fix what you hit. ( Example- you drive into a guardrail, it is icy and your car slides into a house etc.)
You think you have plenty of time to take a left hand turn
and did not mean to cut some car coming straight ahead. That car hits you and you get pushed into another vehicle.
One vehicle is a van that carried expensive frozen inventory. Because of the accident, the refrigeration was shut off. The other is
 a $75,000 Mercedes which hit a light pole in this mess of an accident. If those vehicles ending being totaled you could easily be over $100,000.
Yes, the city or town wants their light pole fixed too and you caused the Mercedes to hit it.

Another coverage that I see overlooked is because the insured did not realize they need to choose Substitute Transportation to
replace their car while their vehicle is being fixed.
Yes...you need that coverage if you would be inconvenienced without a car for a week or 2 while your car is being fixed.
The substitute transportation coverage cost approximately $6-$8 extra a month. (more or less depending on the town or age and experience of driver)

The best 2 stories I have this past year is that I noticed 2 clients that were charged with accidents that were easily not their fault. I asked
 if they received the surcharge notice with the form they needed to 
fight the points if they feel they have a could case. We called the Merit Rating Board requesting another one be sent to them.
They filled it out and sent their $50 and received their date for a hearing.
Bottom line is both customers won and had a lot of money refunded from the prior year plus their policy went down in the current term.

Agents have eyes to see what you may miss. Call us today for a free quote. Really think hard about Buying Online VS Agent.
 An good agent can be your best decision because he or she watches out for you.
0 Comments

Tips For Negotiating A Total Loss Car Accident

13/12/2019

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Total Loss Car Accident?

If you totaled your car then here are some helpful tips to negotiate the Actual Cash Value of your vehicle.
Actual Cash Value vs Replacement Cost 
The actual cash value is usually not going to be  what it costs to replace a car. So maybe you had a major accident and the car is totaled,
 the price tag to buy a new car will always be more than what your totaled car was worth at the time of the accident.
 Instead of choosing the actual cash value option on a policy if the policy has that endorsement, choose coverage that provides for replacement value.
This is why it is important for you to read your paperwork and do your homework when purchasing a policy. When the policy comes in there are explanations of extras you can buy
like Replacement Cost but there is a price and many people are not willing to pay it.

For future reference replacement cost in many cases, not only is payment provided to purchase a new car, but additional expenses like sales tax,
title and transfer fees may also be included, although you may have to ask for these expenses to be included or covered.
Replacement value car insurance is certainly much more expensive than accepting actual cash value coverage.
However, for many people, the added premium is well worth it when they consider the expense of replacing their vehicle.
the Actual Cash Value Determined?One of the ways the value of an asset is determined is to calculate or decide what the replacement cost of a car would be, then deduct an appropriate amount for the age and wear of the car.
By definition in court cases, the replacement cost is described as "the entire cost of complete repair or replacement of an asset--taking no deductions for depreciation."
 This indicates clearly that the replacement cost is higher than Actual Cash Value. So the replacement cost is calculated, then deductions are made to arrive at the actual cash value of an asset such as a car.
Sometimes this definition favors the insured, and sometimes the insurer. For example, imagine a car with an estimated value of $14,000 is destroyed in a tornado.
The insurer has defined the actual cash value as the cost of replacing the car minus deductions for age.
Replacing the car often costs more than the car it is worth at the time, particularly if it had high mileage or a great deal of wear.
The cost of new cars goes up over the years, and cars always depreciate over time.
If the replacement cost is higher than the car is worth on the market--say it costs $23,000 to replace with a brand new car, then the insurer
ends up with a higher settlement using the replacement cost method to determine actual cash value.
.
Tips To Negotiate the Actual Cash Value of Your CarThese are some tips for helping Policy Owners to figure out how to use knowledge of the system for a reasonable offer from an insurer.
The below was offered at carsdirect.com
  1.    
  2. Figure out how your insurer defines actual cash value. Part of the problem in negotiating a good actual cash value for a vehicle is that each insurer uses their own proprietary methods to get what they give you as ACV. In order to provide your own counter-estimate, you'll want to know as much as possible about how they came to their figures.
  3. Use online car valuation sites to get a good actual cash value estimate.Online car value sites provide solid, well defined, and commonly recognized value estimates for nearly any vehicle on the American roadway. Take a look at sites like the Kelley Blue Book company site to get what many would consider a fair resale price for your vehicle.
  4. Look for local examples in classifieds or elsewhere. Another way to provide solid valuation evidence is to look for ongoing deals from local dealerships for used cars similar to yours. You can use the sale prices offered by the dealerships as an indication of actual cash value for your vehicle.
  5. Include information on features and other value conditions. Low mileage, excellent interior and exterior condition, and handy features should be pointed out to your insurer as "value points." Make sure they know about features that you have added to your vehicle after purchase, such as enhanced sound systems, that may add value.
  6. Stay involved. Negotiating actual cash value, just like a lot of other insurance documentation, is mostly just the process of communicating and staying in touch with the insurer to eventually wrangle out a deal. Those who give up easy will find themselves settling for the lowest possible value and partial payouts from insurers who are slow to comply with their responsibilities in the event of a claim.
  7. Find out about actual cash value. The term itself just refers to how much a vehicle is worth in sale, but it's the way actual cash value is used that leads to some problems with negotiating a fair deal when you need to collect from an Auto Insurance Company after a total loss.





http://www.carsdirect.com/car-insurance/tips-for-negotiating-the-actual-cash-value-ff-your-car
0 Comments

O valor do seguro dos carros mais roubados de São Paulo

13/12/2019

0 Comments

 
Source & credits: www.exame.abril.com.br

São Paulo – Um plano de seguro para o mesmo carro, a mesma pessoa e o mesmo endereço pode ser até três vezes mais caro entre diferentes seguradoras. É o que mostrou um levantamento feito pela plataforma de comparação de seguros Compara, levando em consideração as opções oferecidas para os dez carros mais roubados de São Paulo.
A maior diferença aconteceu com o Fiat Toro, o 10º da lista dos mais roubados: o seguro mais barato foi cotado em 4.050 reais, enquanto a oferta mais cara estava em 12.554, preço 210% maior. As simulações foram feitas considerando o mesmo perfil – masculino, solteiro, 30 anos – e também um mesmo endereço dentro da cidade. As cotações foram feitas em cinco seguradoras diferentes para os 10 carros da lista.

 ranking dos carros foi baseado na lista de veículos mais roubados em 2018, feita pela Superintendência de Seguros Privados (Susep), órgão responsável pela regulação do setor. No ano passado, o carro mais roubado na cidade de São Paulo foi o Chevrolet Onix, seguido pelo Hyundai HB20 e o Voyage, da Volkswagen.
O Fiat Siena, com diferença de preços de até 161% entre a seguradora mais barata e a mais cara, e o Gol, com diferença de 151%, também ficaram entre os modelos com maior variação de preços nas opções de seguro.

LEIA MAIS: https://exame.abril.com.br/seu-dinheiro/valor-de-seguro-de-carros-pode-variar-200-de-uma-seguradora-para-a-outra/
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