Car Safety Tips

How do you measure up when it comes to auto safety? Remember safe driver discounts can help keep your auto insurance rates low. Take a look at the quick safety checklist below to avoid dangers on the road.

1. Drive within the speed limit.
2. Come to a complete stop at all intersections.
3. Slow down if there’s an accident or the weather is bad.
4. Always lock your car even when stepping out for a few minutes.
5. Always park in a well-lit area.
6. Always hide valuables including GPS, cell phone, and other items.
7. Never talk on a cell phone when driving.

These are just a few basic safety methods to remember when operating your vehicle. For more information and a free insurance quote visit our website today at www.kimberleyvassal.com

How An Umbrella Policy Works

“Umbrella liability insurance is so named because it acts like an umbrella, sitting on top of your auto and homeowners liability policies to provide extra protection.” For a free insurance quote visit our website today at www.kimberleyvassal.com

Umbrella Liability Insurance

Umbrella liability is relatively affordable, can be easily coordinated with your existing insurance policies and by no means is it just for the well to do. Umbrella liability insurance acts like an “umbrella”, sitting on top of your auto and homeowners liability policies to provide extra protection. A few examples of when umbrella coverage often comes into play:

• An auto accident in which you’re sued under your auto insurance policy.
• Your neighbor slips and falls on your property, and youre sued under your homeowners insurance.

Although your auto and homeowners policies have at least some liability insurance that would be used to settle legal claims. But what if a settlement  is $800,000 and you only have $300,000 of liability insurance? The insurer would pay its $300,000, but where are you going to get the other $500,000? Virtually everything you own would be fair game to pay off the debt. This is when umbrella liability insurance comes into great use. For more information contact a Kimberley Vassal Insurance agent today at www.kimberleyvassal.com.

Take the Auto Insurance Quiz

MSN.com recently posted an Auto Insurance Quiz. It allows you to tests your knowledge of auto insurance coverage before you are involved in an accident. Therefore, you will be more aware of whether or not you are properly protected in the event of an accident. To take the Auto Insurance Quiz click here. For more information or any other questions you may have concerning Auto Insurance visit our website at www.kimberleyvassal.com

Is Rental Car Insurance Necessary?

If you have ever rented an automobile than I’m sure you’re familiar with rental car insurance. Many people just say yes and tack on the added expense without thinking through the question. The fact is, few drivers need a special policy on a rental. Here’s a few ways to help you decide if you need rental car insurance.

1. Check with your automobile insurance policy, if you have one. While the policy might be written on that sedan parked in an airport parking lot miles away from your current vacation spot, the policy should cover your liability as a driver no matter where you roam.
2. Call your credit card company to see if it offers any coverage that would make rental car insurance unnecessary. Even if you don’t have auto insurance, with the right credit card, you still might be able to forgo the rental policy. Some credit card companies may not cover certain things, so make sure you are aware of the stipulations.
3. Consider buying a non-owned auto liability insurance policy rather than rental car insurance if you rent often and don’t have your own auto policy. This policy covers whether you’re driving a rented car or a friend’s vehicle and makes the most sense for drivers who don’t have their own cars.

These are just a few tips and may vary depending upon the renter. For more information and a free car insurance quote visit our website at www.kimberleyvassal.com.

Car Insurance Myths

Insurance policies can be very complicated. Since confusion can be costly you want to be knowledgeable about different polices. Below are three of the most common car insurance myths.

• Red cars are the most expensive to insure. Red will not cost you more green. Roughly 25% of drivers surveyed by Progressive Insurance believe car color is a factor in determining insurance rates — especially if a car is red. But insurance companies will likely not even ask about the color of your car when they’re calculating your quote.
• Thieves are more likely to steal new cars. It’s actually the other way around. Statistics indicate that thieves actually tend to steal older cars. The main reason is because older cars are easier to steal.
• If my car is totaled, my insurance will pay off what I owe on my loan or lease. When your car is totaled, your policy does not promise to pay off what you owe. It will pay you the actual cash value of your car, minus your deductible. Actual cash value is the amount your car was worth before the accident, factoring in depreciation. You are still responsible for any amount outstanding on the loan or car lease. The only way to cover the difference between the car’s cash value and the amount you owe on a loan is to purchase gap insurance.

For more information and a free car insurance quote visit our website at www.kimberleyvassal.com

Winter Weather Driving

Over the next few days weather forecasters are calling for snow and ice. Winter driving can be very dangerous and life threatening. Here are a few great tips to prepare yourself and others for winter weather driving.

AAA recommends the following winter driving tips:

• Avoid driving while you’re fatigued. Getting the proper amount of rest before taking on winter weather tasks reduces driving risks.
• Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
• Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
• Never mix radial tires with other tire types.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
• If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather.
• Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand).
• Always look and steer where you want to go.
• Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle.

Video: Winter Driving Tips

Below is a short video explaining some important tips and techniques about driving in winter weather. For more information and a free car insurance quote visit our website at www.kimberleyvassal.com

Tips and Techniques: Driving in Snow and Ice

Winter is approaching us. Therefore, Kimberley Vassal Insurance would like to remind you of some helpful tips and techniques for driving in winter weather. The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all. If you are unable to avoid driving, here are some helpful Tips and Techniques to take into consideration. Don’t go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination. Below are some more helpful tips and techniques for driving in winter weather. For more information contact a Kimberley Vassal Insurance Agent today at www.kimberleyvassal.com

Driving safely on icy roads

1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
6. Don’t use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
8. Don’t pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you’re likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
9. Don’t assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

Some Advice If You Are Involved In an Accident

If you drive a car, chances are you will be involved in some kind of accident in your driving career. Although none of us plan on being involved in an accident, odds are you will. It is important to prepare for an accident, here are seven simples rules that I recently read about in an article.

1) Stay calm – This is the most important thing to remember when an accident occurs. This will be a very stressful time, and for you to collect the data you need about the accident, and ensure your safety, you need to remain calm.

2) Keep the conversation simple – Be sure to check on the other driver and see if they are ok, but be very careful about too much conversation. NEVER admit guilt, even if you were completely at fault. The determination of guilt is better left to an officer of the law, and admitting anything at the scene won’t solve anything and can actually put you in a very bad position legally.

3) Contact the authorities – Even in a minor accident it is important to contact the police immediately. This ensures that an accident report is filled out, something the insurance companies need later to process any claims.

4) Gather whatever witness you can – Most accidents occur in well traveled areas, usually during times of reasonable traffic levels so there should be a witness or two that saw what happened. Some people will be hesitant to come forward, but once asked directly they will usually relay their observations on the accident to the police. In the event of a major accident, with any type of injury these witnesses become critical if a court appearance is required and can be your salvation.

5) Exchange contact information – Now that you have the basics covered, spend a little time exchanging contact information with the other driver. You will need at a minimum: their name and address, their drivers license number, their insurance companies name, and hopefully a phone number to reach them. Most current police reports will also contain this information, but it is a good idea to try and gather it directly as well.

6) Take good notes – By now you should be waiting for the police to arrive and you should take a minute to go over what happened in your head. Make notes about which way you were heading on the road, your approximate speed, any obstructions, and the general road conditions. Avoid discussing this with the other driver, and never directly engage them in a debate about the accident.

7) Contact your Insurance Company – Even if the accident was minor, contact your insurance agent as soon as you get home. The sooner they are aware of the accident the better. They will ask you for the particulars of the accident and any information you may have about the other driver and their insurance. Give them the information you collected at the scene. They will also ask if there were any injuries and if anyone was taken to the hospital. Answer all of their questions honestly.

For more information or questions contact a Kimberley Vassal Insurance Agent today by visiting our website at www.kimberleyvassal.com