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 Insurance policy is coverage that (among other things) provides an additional layer of liability protection over your auto policy, homeowner policy, rental property policy or even boat policy.  For example your auto policy says that in the event of an accident they agree to pay, for instance, up to $500,000 in damages for bodily injury.  With an umbrella policy the umbrella carrier will pay up to an additional $1,000,000 (or more) if needed. 

Do I need an Umbrella Policy?  How likely are you to be sued?   And for how much.  The answer to this question depends on the public’s perception of your wealth.  If you drive a very expensive car and live in a nice house, you may be mortgaged to the teeth and teetering on the edge of bankruptcy but the public’s perception is that you are wealthy.  In the event of an auto accident or other liability loss you are, because of this perception, more likely to be sued than someone who lives more modestly.  When you are sued, again because of perception, it will be for a lot of money.  Someone is going to have to pay for the loss and your defense.  This is where you will be glad you purchased that umbrella policy.

Remember, it is not what you have but what the public perceives you have that may raise the need for the additional liability insurance found in an umbrella.  For more information or a no-obligation quote, contact PoliSeek at 866-540-7335 or visit us online at PoliSeek.com.

Usage based car insurance also known as “pay as you drive” insurance, is different than a traditional policy in that you only pay for insurance based on the mileage you drive in a given year. A traditional policy considers your safety record (tickets/accidents) and then calculates your average driving distance to produce a price that you will have to pay on a semiannual basis. A drawback with traditional insurance is that based on the same driving record, a person who drives 5000 miles a year could, due to old information or an inaccurate mileage projection pay just as much as a person who drives 50,000 miles a year.

Pay as you drive insurance can help the person who drives a low number of miles in a year save a lot of money. All things being equal, the majority of state households could save a few hundred dollars per vehicle per year on a pay as you drive insurance plan (according to a report by the Brookings Institution).

How is my mileage determined?

To determine your rates insurance companies must take a reading of your odometer. They are currently using 3 different ways to calculate your mileage:

• Electronic monitoring of mileage

• Submission of maintenance records or

• Regular odometer checks by insurance company representatives

Is it right for you?

This type of insurance is best suited for low mileage drivers who accurately report the number of miles they drive to insurance companies. If you underestimate the number of miles you drive each year, you could pay higher rates compared to a traditional policy.

Other added benefits

Some environmental agencies are supporting the pay as you drive insurance policies because it is helping people to reduce how much they drive which in turn can help the environment. They are also predicting that it can reduce traffic congestion by 10-12%.

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.

When you own a home and purchase homeowners insurance, your policy will cover damage to the home and it will also protect your family if anyone is injured on your property or if you or your family happen to accidentally injure or damage other people or their property. But what if you decide to rent out your home, or perhaps you have purchased a rental property as an investment? Will your homeowner’s policy cover these two situations? Chances are your policy will not cover all of these situations.

Homeowners insurance typically covers owner-occupied structures, other structures, all your personal property, your personal liability and medical. When you rent out a home, the risk exposure to your home changes. Most owners who rent out their home will have minimal personal property left in the home, usually general appliances such as kitchen appliances, maybe a washer and dryer. Minimal furnishings mean minimal coverage needed. Therefore, coverage on your homeowner policy will offer more then what you may want to carry when you rent your home.

When you rent out your property, you will need to purchase a dwelling protection insurance policy. This form is often referred to as a fire policy, although it covers much more than fire. A dwelling protection insurance policy typically covers your rental unit (the dwelling), and may cover other structures on the property such as sheds, or the garage; the owner’s possessions (but not the tenant’s possessions), and lost rental income if the house is damaged and uninhabitable. Liability protection for the owner in case of injury or a lawsuit may be added to this policy. Your main interest as a landlord would be to ensure that you are covering your home and liability as the owner of the property.

When purchasing a dwelling fire insurance policy, it is important to read all the fine print, as coverage will vary. To get more information about a dwelling fire insurance policy and other insurance coverage, please call PoliSeek at 866-540-7335 or request information at 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.

Taking long rides on a motorcycle is one thing that draws people to own and ride these machines. While motorcycles allow you the freedom that some automobiles don’t, there are a few drawbacks. Unlike an automobile, you are limited in the amount of spare parts and items you can take with you on a long ride. Motorcycles don’t offer a place to keep a spare tire or other important parts in the event of a breakdown. If you do break down and need to be towed, it can cost you money that you didn’t intend to spend.

Towing insurance is a great protection that you may be able to add to your current motorcycle insurance policy and will aid you in the event a tow is needed. Such coverage, when added to your policy may cover you for up to 100 miles of towing. In most cases this can get you to a shop to have the repairs made to your bike. Not having this type of insurance can leave you stuck paying the entire cost. A 10 mile tow can be as much as $50 or more depending on the towing company. Having a motorcycle towing coverage can be much less expensive and will give you peace of mind.

To have a custom quote for motorcycle insurance motorcycle towing, please contact one of our qualified insurance representatives at 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.

The most important thing to remember when driving in the rain is to slow down. There are a lot of reasons for this such as the increase in stopping distance caused by wet and slippery roadways and the need to stop for unexpected obstacles such as that giant puddle that magically appears in front of you.

Turn on your headlights. In California it’s now the law that you turn on your headlights when driving with your windshield wipers operating.

Check your tires, and wiper blades. Wiper blades will dry out and crack after a long hot summer. If you can’t see it you can’t stop for it. Badly worn tires have little or no traction on wet roadways.

Be prepared with an alternative route for your commute. Due to flooding or accident(s) your regular route may be severely impaired.

Don’t try and cross that puddle if you are unsure. Don’t be the first one to try. Don’t try to cross fast moving water.

Give extra space for large vehicles. It is going to take longer and more space for that 18 wheeler to stop. Give him some room.

If the rain becomes severe and you can’t see, turn on your hazard flashers, pull over and stop. Wait until you can see clearly before proceeding.

Last remember that rainy day driving takes a higher level of concentration that normal driving. Don’t allow yourself to become distracted by your cell phone or other electronic device.

The most important factor in determining your auto insurance rate is your driving record. How many tickets have you had in the last three years? How many accidents have you been involved in – also in the last three years? Were the accidents your fault? What about major violations going back 10 (or more) years? These would be for drunk driving, reckless driving or other similar serious offences.

The next factor is your age or years of driving experience (in CA). The rate is fairly high until you reach 25 (or 9 years experience) and then pretty many levels out until age 70 or so when it goes back up.

Your gender is a factor that tends to modify the rate. In the early years men are usually involved in more accidents than women. That explains why the rate for teen-age boys is much higher than for teen age girls.  Your marital status is also a factor. Married people get in fewer accidents than single people. As our society changes to be more inclusive in the definition of marriage, this factor is also changing.

Another factor is the use of your vehicle and the miles driven. Common use classifications are commute, business and pleasure. Vehicles driven during the work day are rated for business. Commute means driven back and forth to work or school. Pleasure simply means not commute and not business.

Other factors which may affect your rate are:

• The state in which you reside. Insurance (and accident frequency) vary widely by state.

• The address where your vehicle is kept. This is called the garaging address and is determined by zip code. Depending on state, this could be a primary or a secondary factor.

• The type of vehicle you are driving. There are typically surcharges for sports cars, 4X4 pickups, and unusual (hard/expensive to repair) vehicles. These surcharges generally impact your collision and comprehensive (“other than collision”) coverage.

• Year/make/model of your vehicle. The more expensive the vehicle (cost new) the more expensive the rate.

Finally, in some states your credit score may affect your rate. This controversial factor is not used in all states (i.e. not in CA).  If you should have any questions, please contact a PoliSeek licensed agent at 866-540-7335. We are here to assist!

If you are driving a motorcycle on the road, you must have motorcycle insurance. This insurance coverage protects you in the event you are in an accident and you get hurt or you damage your motorcycle. For those that have recreational motorcycles that are not ridden on public roads and meant for off-road use only, you still may wish to consider motorcycle coverage. While it is not required by law, the benefits of having motorcycle coverage can far outweigh its modest cost.

When you purchase motorcycle insurance for your recreational bike, you are ensuring that you protect yourself while having fun. Benefits include:

Motorcycle repair, if it is damaged
Medical compensation, if you are injured
Theft protection

If you decide not to cover your recreational motorcycle and you get hurt, or damage your bike, you will be left with the full cost of replacement or medical bills. Motorcycle insurance is relatively inexpensive and can save you a lot of money in the long run if you end up hurting yourself, someone else or your bike.  For more information on motorcycle insurance and other insurance products, please contact Poliseek today.

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.

In today’s insurance market place many carriers are offering multi-policy discounts. Their reasoning for making this offer is the long proven fact that the more lines of coverage (types of policies) a company has with a client, the longer that client are going to stay with them (and pay premium). There are advantages to the client as well, however.

The first and most obvious is, of course, money. These discounts can be significant. A carrier may offer up to a 15% discount on their auto insurance if the policyholder also has a homeowner’s insurance policy with them. If that client had four cars and two teenage sons, this discount could be substantial, and in fact could be sufficient to pay the entire homeowner premium.

There are two other reasons that come to mind immediately. One has to do with coverage. If there is a dispute regarding coverage between the homeowner carrier and the auto carrier, it becomes academic if they are both the same company.

The other has to do with one’s relationship with the carrier. In the event that luck turns bad and there are several losses, the carrier may be more reluctant to cancel or non-renew the policy, if carrying multiple lines of coverage.

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.

If the time has come for you to sell your recreational vehicle, you may have found that selling it on your own can be a difficult task. You may not have the resources or knowledge to put your RV in front of people who are looking to buy. When you’ve had little luck selling on your own, you may turn to an RV consignment dealer. These dealers have the time and knowledge to put your RV in front of those who are looking for it. They have the networks and the resources to promote your RV more successfully than most people can do on their own.

When you have an RV consignment company sell for you, there may be some risk associated that you may not be aware of. Most RV insurance policies will not cover damage that can happen while your RV is on the consignment lot. If it is damaged by weather, during a test drive or even vandalism, you will have little recourse.

If you are planning on selling your RV in this way, you should consider purchasing RV consignment insurance. This added protection will give you peace-of-mind, while you are waiting to sell your RV. If something should happen to it, the coverage be very helpful.

If you need to purchase RV consignment coverage, do not hesitate to contact Poliseek RV. We can offer you a great policy at an affordable rate. Contact one of our sales representatives today 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.