Information Archives - Liss Insurance Agency

Tips To Ensure Your ATV Is Properly Covered


Tips To Ensure Your ATV Is Properly Covered (NAPS)—When it comes to your all-terrain vehicle (ATV), it pays to keep your feet on the ground when it comes to insuring it. You may think it’s covered by your home-owners policy, Read more

RV insurance: Don’t hit the road without it


RV insurance: Don’t hit the road without it (October 2008) If you bought a tractor trailer, you wouldn’t add it to your car insurance policy. It’s a specialized vehicle and needs special coverages and claims handling. So why do more than Read more

Five Steps to Get Ready for Bike Season


Get ready for bike season in five simple steps There’s nothing like cruising down the open road on your motorcycle – the wind in your hair and a few bugs in your teeth. Before you hit the highways and byways this Read more

Service Centers Help Save Time and Money


Time is money: Save both Saving 5 cents a gallon on gas is great. But, if you have to drive 20 minutes to get to the station, is it really a savings? If a deal costs you valuable time, it’s Read more

Seven Shopping Strategies For New Car Buyers


Seven Shopping Strategies For New Car Buyers New car shopping can be a lot of fun, especially if you’re a car enthusiast. But others can find the experience stressful and tedious. Either way, there’s a lot to think about. According Read more

Shedding Light On Car Insurance Savings


Shedding Light On Car Insurance Savings It can be easier than you think to put the brakes on high auto insurance rates – as an independent agency, <Agency name> can help! We can review your policy and possibly help you Read more

Motorcycle Insurance 101: The Essentials


Motorcycle Insurance 101: The Essentials     (NAPS)—A motorcycle is a significant investment. Before you get your motor running and head out on the highway this season, you owe it to yourself to make sure your insurance is up-to-date and you’re properly Read more

Keep Your Cool While On The Road


Keep Your Cool While On The Road (NAPS)—With so many people on the road during peak vacation months, it may be a good time to brush up on what you should do in the event you’re involved in a crash. Here Read more

No Slip-Sliding Away: How To Stay On The Road


No Slip-Sliding Away: How To Stay On The Road (NAPS)—One thing is easy to foretell: Unpredictable weather can cause reduced visibility and hazardous driving conditions that make it challenging for even the most experienced drivers. Fortunately, there are ways to Read more

Eight Tips For The Road Ahead


Eight Tips For The Road Ahead Be Safe, Be Smart On A Long-Distance Road Trip Whether you’re traveling alone, with a buddy or with your spouse and a car full of kids, there are few things more “American” than the long-distance Read more

Do you need optional insurance when you’re renting a car?

by Edward Pevnick in Information

Do you need optional insurance when you’re renting a car? (April 2008)

You’re standing at the car rental counter waiting to start your vacation when you’re asked a tricky question. Do you want to buy damage waivers, also known as car rental insurance? How will you answer?

“Knowing if you need to buy rental insurance can save you money and give you peace of mind,” says Rick Crawley with Progressive. “Optional insurance could nearly double the cost of the rental. Do your homework and know before you go.”

Here are some pointers:

• Review your policy with your independent insurance agent. Your agent can evaluate your personal car insurance policy to find out if you are covered in a vacation rental car.

• Check with your credit card company. Some credit cards provide coverage at no charge if you use their card to pay for the rental. However, some restrictions may apply. Be sure to ask for an exact description of what’s covered.

• Take your insurance policy “Declarations Page” with you to the rental counter. You may be asked a question that these papers can answer. If you’re not sure of an answer, you’ll have your agent’s name and phone number readily available.

“Generally, if you have comprehensive, collision and liability coverages on your personal car insurance policy, there’s a good chance you’ll be covered in a rental car,” says Crawley. “Check with your agent to be sure. If you are covered, you would be liable only for the deductible on comprehensive and collision coverages, just like your personal vehicle.”


An Independent Approach To Car Insurance

by Edward Pevnick in Information

An Independent Approach To Car Insurance

(NAPS)—Many consumers are finding they can drive down the cost of car insurance—and the time it takes to select the right policy— by contacting an independent insurance agent or broker.

Because they represent many different insurance companies, independent agents have the flexibility to review rates and coverage from competing carriers and get you the best deal. Plus, they can offer affordable protection for your home, business and other assets. So rather than spending hours gathering quotes from various companies, you can get it done with one simple call or visit to your independent agent or broker.

If you’re thinking of contacting an independent agent, here are a few things to consider:

What’s your lifestyle? Many factors determine auto insurance rates, not just vehicle year, make and model. Companies also look at information about you. If you’ve recently moved, gotten married, had a birthday or experienced a similar life milestone, mention this to your independent agent or broker. You may be eligible to save money on your car insurance.

Sweet 16 doesn’t have to be sour. Having a new teenage driver usually means the auto insurance bill will go up, but there are ways to save. An independent agent or broker can find them for you.

How old is your car? You don’t always need the same level of physical damage coverage on older cars as on newer ones. If you drive an older car, your independent agent or broker can advise you what level of coverage  makes the most sense. If you want to keep your physical dam-age coverage, consider raising your deductible—that could save you money each year, too.

Save money on the fun stuff. If you have a motorcycle, boat, RV or other “toy,” you might save money by having it covered by the same company that insures your car. Talk to your independent agent or broker about it.

You may also want to consider separating your homeowner’s policy from your car insurance policy. Bundling your homeowner’s policy with your car insurance doesn’t always save you money. It may, but have your independent agent look at separating the policies— the discount you may have gotten for keeping them together may be outweighed by the lower price another company might have for your car insurance.

 


Are All Insurance Agents The Same?

by Edward Pevnick in Information

Are All Insurance Agents The Same?

(NAPS)—To get the best deal on insurance, many people consult an insurance agent or broker. But did you know that there are different kinds of insurance agents and brokers—and the one you choose can make a big difference in the type of service you get and the choices you’re offered?

Here’s the difference:

Captive agents and brokers. Captive agents work with a specific insurance company, and as part of their business agreement with that company, they can offer only that company’s insurance products. They may also be required to sell other products from that company, such as annuities and investment plans.

Independent agents and brokers. Independent agents and brokers can offer products from many insurance companies. This helps them better serve your interests, as they can review multiple options to find a policy and rate that’s right for you. Insurance rates vary from company to company. Independent agents can put together a customized insurance plan.

If you’re ready to contact an independent agent to talk about saving money on car insurance, here are a few things to consider:

Has your life situation changed recently? Many factors determine auto insurance rates, not just vehicle year, make, model, body type and engine size. If you’ve recently moved, gotten married, had a birthday or experienced a similar life milestone, mention this to an independent agent or broker. You may be eligible to save money on your car insurance.

Is your car getting older? You don’t always need the same level of physical damage coverage on older cars as on newer ones. If you drive an older car, an independent agent or broker can advise you on what level of cover-age makes the most sense. Raising your deductible could save you money each year, too.

Do you have another type of vehicle that also needs coverage? If you have a motorcycle, boat, RV or other “toy,” you might save money by having it covered by the same company that insures your car. Talk to an independent agent or broker about it.

Another plus to working with an independent agent or broker is their ability to offer guidance for all your insurance needs—auto, home, life, business and more. They can customize a package of policies just for you.

 


Get Your Finances In Gear For The New Year

by Edward Pevnick in Information

Get Your Finances In Gear For The New Year

(NAPS)—This time of year, thoughts turn to year-end financial matters: paying holiday bills, preparing your tax return and more. It’s also a great time to review the general state of your finances to see if you need to make any changes in the coming year.

Many people don’t consider the importance of insurance in an overall financial plan. But the fact is, no matter how hard you work to build wealth, failure to purchase adequate insurance can be your undoing. On the other hand, pay-ing for coverage you don’t need can also sap your budget. Finding the right balance can be a challenge.

That’s why now is a good time to sit down with an independent insurance agent and review your needs. Think of an insurance agent as a vital information source, one that can help think through an individual situation and can put together a package of policies, coverage and price that meets specific needs.

An independent agent can ask the right questions to help better determine the kind of insurance needed. Because an independent agent can check prices from many different companies, he or she can help get the maximum coverage at reasonable cost.

Here are just a few of the questions to ask an independent agent as you consider an overall financial plan:

  • What type of policy is right for me? This depends on factors such as budget, the amount of coverage needed and the level of service you want from an insurance company. Finding the appropriate level of coverage is important. You don’t want to overpay for coverage not needed, but you also want to keep in mind that the worst experience is to have a claim, then discover there’s not enough coverage.
  • How do rates from different companies compare? Independent agents are licensed to represent multiple insurance companies, so they can shop multiple companies to get the coverage you need at an attractive price.
  • Are there other ways to save? As a person’s situation evolves—he or she gets married, has kids, buys a new car—check in with an independent agent. Companies offer various discounts for such life changes, and this information could help the agent find additional savings.