Comprehensive Coverage is part of your “Physical Damage” or “Damage to your Auto” coverage.  It is sometimes called “Other Than Collision” coverage.  Simply put it covers “Damage to Your Auto” – “Other Than Collision” and is “Comprehensive”.  By that I mean that Comprehensive Coverage is an example of “all risk” coverage in that everything not excluded is covered.  It typically covers, subject to a deductible, nonmoving losses such as fire, theft and vandalism.  The policy may contain a list of loss types which are defined as not collision.  These then are specifically comprehensive losses.  This list is not, however exhaustive.  Remember that all losses not otherwise excluded are covered.  Some interesting provisions in the coverage are:

1.  Collision with an animal is covered under comprehensive

2.  Windshield damage is covered under comprehensive and may be free from your deductible if the windshield can be repaired instead of replaced

If any time you have concerns or questions about Comprehensive Insurance, please contact our team of PoliSeek licensed representative to assist.  They can be reached at 866-540-7335 or by visiting poliseek.com.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

While your driving record is a major factor (and in some states the major factor) in the rate you pay for auto insurance, it is certainly not the only factor. Because auto insurance (and most other insurance) rates are derived by dividing clients into groups and charging some groups higher rates than others, some factors which you may have not suspected can have a big impact on your auto insurance rate. The three that immediately come to mind are:

• Turning 25 years old. Most carriers have surcharged “young driver” rates which are significantly higher than those charged to more mature drivers. These surcharges diminish over time and are often insignificant by age 25.

• Getting married. Experience shows that married drivers have (on average) fewer accidents than single drivers and so therefore pay a lower rate.

• Relocation. Where you live and where you operate your automobile still has a major impact on your auto insurance rates. If you move from the mid-west to New Jersey and nothing else changes, be prepared for a significant rate increase. Why – New Jersey drivers have a much greater accident frequency than other states. Claims cost is therefore much greater…and so are premiums.

While these are factors that will impact your rate, one does not usually consider them in making the decision to relocate or to get married and your age is not within your control. Other factors that may impact your rate is number of miles driven, use of the vehicle, make and model of the vehicle and other drivers in your household.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

While your driving record is a major factor (and in some states the major factor) in the rate you pay for auto insurance, it is certainly not the only factor. Because Auto Insurance (and most other insurance) rates are derived by dividing customers into groups and charging some groups higher rates than others (a process known as rating classification), some factors which you may have not suspected can have a big impact on your auto insurance rate. The three that immediately come to mind are:

• Turning 25 years old. Most carriers have surcharged “young driver” rates which are significantly higher than those charged to more mature drivers. These surcharges diminish over time and decrease significantly by age 25, although age does affect the rate beyond that.

• Getting married. Experience shows that married drivers have (on average) fewer accidents than single drivers and therefore pay a lower rate.

• Relocation. Where you live and where you operate your automobile still has a major impact on your auto insurance rates. If you move from the mid-west to New Jersey and nothing else changes, be prepared for a significant rate increase. Why? New Jersey drivers have a much greater accident frequency than other states. Claims cost is therefore much greater…and so are premiums.

While these are factors that will impact your rate, one does not usually consider them in making the decision to relocate or to get married and your age is not within your control. Other factors that may impact your rate is number of miles driven, use of the vehicle, make and model of the vehicle and other drivers in your household.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

An Umbrella Policy is a policy which is specifically designed to provide additional liability coverage when you have exhausted the limits of your traditional policies. If you are like most of us you carry several lines of insurance to protect your personal assets. These make include auto insurance, homeowner or renters insurance and perhaps even RV or boat insurance. Each of these policies offers coverage for described property and also provides some liability coverage in the event you injure another or damage their property. Within the liability coverage each of these policies also has a limit, which is a maximum amount payable per loss. If this limit is inadequate to pay for the total loss, you are personally responsible for the balance. A solution to this “underinsurance” problem is to purchase an Umbrella policy. As its name implies, this policy provides an “umbrella” of liability protection over each and all of these other policies. If the limit of your “underlying” auto policy, or homeowner policy or boat coverage is inadequate to pay all the damages in a given loss, the umbrella policy steps in and pays its limit of top of such underlyer.

Example: A race to the railroad crossing finished in a tie. The collision caused the derailment of the train locomotive which slid down an embankment and into a river. The cost to extract and repair the locomotive was over $1,000,000 and the driver of the automobile (who was miraculously unharmed) was held responsible. The driver’s auto policy paid its property damage limit of $100,000 and the umbrella stepped in and paid the balance. Without the umbrella coverage the driver could have lost all that he owned in an attempt to pay the damages.

An umbrella policy may also provide coverage (subject to a deductible called an SIR) not provided in the underlying policies such as worldwide auto liability coverage or coverage for libel and slander. If you are interested in more information or to obtain this valuable coverage please call us at 866-540-7335.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

This is an amount of money which must be paid by the insured in the event of loss, prior to the insurer paying ay sums. The purpose of a deductible is to eliminate small claims and the administrative cost of handling them. The estimate is that it cost between $300.00 and $400.00 to handle the administrative cost of even the simplest auto claim. This is only the cost of assigning the adjustor, handling and processing the paperwork, and reporting the information to the appropriate sources. This has nothing to do with the amount paid for the claim but merely the internal cost to handle the claim. The purpose of the deductible is to eliminate as many of small claims as possible and their inherent cost. In its simplest form this is how it works.

Driver “A” backed his car into a post at the local high school parking lot. No one was hurt and the post was undamaged. If the cost to repair the damage to his automobile is less than his collision deductible, then driver “A” has no claim and will have to absorb the cost of repair himself. If the repair cost exceeds the deductible then driver “A” will have to pay the deductible and the balance will be paid by his collision insurer. Logically then, the higher the deductible, the fewer claims get reported and so the lower the premium. Deciding what deductible to carry is a bit of a balancing act. You must balance the savings of a lower premium against the higher cost to you in the event you have a loss.

If you have questions regarding this or any other insurance matter, please give us a call at 866-540-7335.

Rental Car Insurance, often referred to as Rental Reimbursement coverage, provides payment on a reimbursement basis, for the rental of a car in the event your automobile suffers a covered loss. That means that if you are in an accident and your car is damaged it will pay for the rental of an automobile while your car is repaired. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• You must carry collision and comprehensive coverage to purchase Rental Car Insurance

• It pays on a reimbursement basis, but most of the major rental agencies will bill your insurance directly.

• It pays only as a result of accident, not for your rental car on vacation

• The coverage has a per day and number of days limit, like $30 per day for 30 days maximum

• If the accident was the other guy’s fault, your rental car will be paid for as part of the property damage settlement by his insurance company

• The coverage is relatively inexpensive

• It covers only the rental of the car, not damage waiver or other add on charges

So the question is: if your car is damaged and has to go in the shop, how much of an inconvenience will that be? Do you have alternative means of transportation? If not, how much of a financial hardship will it be for you to pay $30 per day to rent a car?

If you have addition questions about this or other auto insurance coverage, or to add this coverage to your policy, please call PoliSeek at 866-540-7335. We are standing by to help in any way we can!

Traffic tickets can end up costing you more than a fine and points on your license. They can also raise your insurance rates and potentially cost you hundreds of dollars every year. However, the precise effects traffic tickets will have on your insurance rates will vary.

Usually, a single, minor, traffic ticket will not seriously impact your insurance rates. Getting two or more in a three year period is another story, however. When you accumulate traffic tickets, your insurance company considers you a higher risk to insure and they raise your rates accordingly. Because your traffic tickets paint a picture of what kind of insurance risk you are, more severe tickets (such as drunk or reckless driving) result in higher increases in your insurance payments.

The good news is, these increases do not take effect right away, and are not permanent. Your insurance company will typically only raise your rates for traffic tickets when they review your driving record and see your traffic violations. Typically, this only happens once per year and/or when your policy gets renewed. After that, your rates will be adjusted back down after three years.

In the meantime, if you want to keep your insurance rates low, you must keep traffic tickets off of your record. The easiest way would be to drive safely. But, if you do get a ticket, you should check what deferment options (such as traffic school) are offered by your state to keep the traffic ticket off of your record.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Purchasing a new car is often a joyous occasion. You are excited to sign the paperwork and drive your new vehicle off the lot, but, before you do, keep in mind the legal ramifications of your actions. You are legally required to carry automobile insurance. Additionally, it is dangerous and costly to drive without it. We often get asked “am I automatically covered when I drive off the dealership lot with a new car?” The answer is may be no, as the process is not always automatic.

If you are currently insured, you should contact your insurer to find out the specifics of your policy. Many automotive insurance plans have some type of automatic coverage provision in place and they may give you a period of time to add a new car after purchase, however it is up to you to be a knowledgeable consumer and know the specifics of your agreement. You are still responsible for adding the new car within the parameters of your policy, as well as any additional costs that may be associated with your new car make or model. If you hear the phrases “grace period” or “30 days of free insurance” understand that only what is in the written, signed agreement is enforceable by law and you should find out the exact parameters meant by these phrases according to your policy provider. If you have already purchased a new vehicle and have not contacted your current insurance provider, please do so as soon as possible to make sure you are fully covered.

Contact PoliSeek to learn more about low cost automobile policies. If your auto insurance policy is through PoliSeek, we make it easy for you to add a new vehicle to your account.

Finding the right automobile insurance policy can help keep the process of buying a new vehicle enjoyable. Let PoliSeek help you find the right coverage at the right price for you!

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Non-accident related vehicle damage can occur at any time. It could be malicious, for example the keying of a car resulting in scratched paint or the slashing of tires, or it could be an act of nature like a falling tree branch cracking a windshield. Knowing that things happen beyond your control (and often when you aren’t even in your car) is the first step in preparing for them. The question that is often asked of insurers is “what type of auto insurance covers vandalism and damage to my car?” The answer is comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage encompasses a wide range of non-accident related vehicle damage sources. This may cover damage from theft, vandalism, natural disasters, damage by animals, and more. Additionally, comprehensive coverage policies may allow for windshield replacement due to a covered cause of loss in some states. When researching non-accident related vehicle damage coverage, you should ask if your state includes windshield replacement under comprehension coverage. It is also good to ask about any specific worries you may have about natural disasters that are more likely to occur in your area such as hurricanes in the Southeast United States.

There are many types of auto insurance coverage to choose from. It is very important to understand the different types of coverage in order to make sure you select the right coverage and are properly protected. The following is a list of the main types of auto insurance coverage available in addition to comprehensive coverage: collision coverage, property damage liability, bodily injury liability, personal injury protection (PIP – available in “no-fault” states), and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. There is also ancillary coverage like rental reimbursement and towing and labor.

PoliSeek has extensive information about all of these types of insurance and can help you find the right policy for you. Policies with comprehensive coverage are available. No matter whether you are concerned with vandalism or natural disasters, PoliSeek would like to help you find the right coverage plan, whether it be comprehensive coverage or another policy.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

What is the difference between Roadside Assistance Coverage and Mechanical Breakdown Protection?  Many drivers, whether those with a car, truck, or motor home, are not familiar with the differences between these two options for specialized coverage.  Even savvy drivers may not realize that one includes the other.  

What Is Roadside Assistance Coverage?

Roadside Assistance Coverage is the policy that allows you peace of mind when you and your family travel.  Roadside emergencies can happen anywhere and to anyone and Roadside Assistance Coverage allows you to depart on your vacation knowing that if emergencies come up, you are covered.  Policies with a good amount of coverage will include 24 hour emergency road service.  Minor mechanical work, towing, tire changes, jump starts, and fuel delivery should all be available to you in your time of need.  Households with multiple family members who drive should look into covering all members on their policy.

Coverage is also available for drivers with motorcycles, buses, motor homes, trucks, or RVs.  Additional information about Roadside Assistance for RVers is available on the PoliSeek website.  

What Is Mechanical Breakdown Protection?

Mechanical Breakdown Protection is coverage, available in four different levels, which may offer an extra level of protection over your vehicle’s warranty.  The four levels of coverage are Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze ranging from the most inclusive to the least.  Read more on our recent blog post: Mechanical Breakdown Protection. 

Do I Need To Carry Both On My Vehicle?

Carrying Roadside Assistance Coverage is not only a smart move, but relatively easy and affordable as well.  Knowing that 24-hour Roadside Assistance is included in Mechanical Breakdown Protection may be an added incentive to upgrade to one of the four Mechanical Breakdown Protection policies.  Breakdowns and accidents come without warning and it almost goes without saying that you would be more at ease knowing you have some level of coverage.  If you are looking for the most coverage, look into the Platinum level of Mechanical Breakdown Protection.

PoliSeek has details on the four levels of Mechanical Breakdown Protection coverage and can help you find the right policy for you.  Policies with coverage of roadside assistance are also available.  No matter whether you have an old or new car, or a larger vehicle, PoliSeek would like to help you benefit from being protected and covered in the future.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.