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June 2, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Car Breakdown Safety

Breaking down on a busy road can be dangerous and every year people are hurt or even killed while repairing their cars or waiting for assistance. Follow these simple guidelines to prevent such roadside risks. Spokespersons: Lon Anderson, American Automobile Association; Sgt. Greg Vanleer, Virginia State Police.

See Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go1_BWXFSac

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “Car Breakdown Safety” iihs.org website. Accessed June 2, 2014. http://www2.iii.org/video/car-breakdown-safety.html

© Copyright 2014 intouch Business, Inc. All rights reserved. Certain names and articles used with permission of owners. Trade names mentioned herein are owned by third parties.

Filed Under: Car, Personal, Theme 10

May 16, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Are You Protected?

UmbrellaWith everyone looking to save money nowadays and getting an insurance quote on the Internet as easy as pie, why should you still be concerned? Easy – there’s a lot of agents out there who have not had the experience to help ensure you have all the coverage you need – or don’t.
Here are three tips to make sure you get what you deserve:

  1. Most insurance providers give breaks to policy holders who maintain more than one type of insurance. For instance, if you have both your car and home insured with one carrier, you may save up to 15% on your annual premiums. Sometimes, this can save you a bundle and still provide the utmost in both types of insurance coverage.
  2. Do you have more than one car in your family? Does one of them belong to a young driver who is being charged more due to their age and lack of driving experience? There are ways to place that young person’s information on your policy to allow for exactly the same coverage but at a significantly different premium.
  3. Let us check over your insurance policies to ensure you have optimal coverage. We first check to see they contain the correct information, then we compare the same details with the other companies we represent to see if you can do any better with your coverage and your premium. There’s no charge or obligation.

Call us for more information and to get the lowest auto and homeowners insurance rates through the many fine companies we represent.

 

© Copyright 2014 intouch Business, Inc. All rights reserved. Certain names and articles used with permission of owners. Trade names mentioned herein are owned by third parties.

 

Filed Under: Car, Theme 1

May 16, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Theme 3: Do You Really Need Car Rental Insurance? ARTICLE 2

UNSURE ABOUT THIS ONE

Article 2

Should You Pay for Rent-A-Car Insurance? You Might Already Be Covered.

With so many options at the car rental counter, it may be tempting to buy whatever insurance protection is available, but many travelers don’t realize they’re more than likely duplicating coverage they already have.

Not only does a driver’s insurance policy protect against theft or damages to a rental vehicle, but often so does a major credit card used to pay the rental fee.

The best thing to do is to call your insurance agent and credit card company in advance. Just because you’ve used a gold or platinum card in the past, don’t assume that it still offers the same protection plans — the cards’ insurance benefits can change. “More often, these prestigious cards are starting to change the advantages they offer to their cardholders, and often times the cardholders are unaware,” said Carolyn Gorman, vice president of the Insurance Information Institute in New York. “You could be driving uninsured and not even know it, until you get into a bad accident and have no insurance to cover you. It’s a dangerous, scary thing.”

If you’re not insured through a policy or credit card, the long list of available options can seem intimidating. “This is just a classic way for these companies to make more money,” said Greg Daugherty, an executive editor at Consumer Reports magazine.

Car rental agreements vary from company to company, but these are a few plans most state laws require them to offer. This is not technically an insurance product, but instead shifts liability for collision damage from the person renting the car to the car rental company. This also covers for “loss of use,” or time a damaged car can’t be rented because it is being repaired. Waivers, however, can become void if the accident was caused by driving illegally.

Liability insurance, which provides protection for up to $1 million, most drivers would already have this coverage under their own car insurance.

Personal accident insurance covers medical and ambulance bills for the driver and passengers in the event of an accident. Personal effects coverage is not always included in regular insurance plans. This protects against theft of items in the vehicle, such as laptops, golf clubs or cash. It may be more cost effective, however, to purchase a floating policy under home or renters insurance, so that valuable items are fully protected at home as well as on vacation.

For those who don’t own a car but are frequent car renters or borrowers, another option for avoiding repetitive insurance fees is non-owner liability policies. There are also limits or special insurance requirements for driving outside of the U.S.

The most important thing to do, said Gorman, is plan ahead.

“The worst is when you are standing at the counter, with a line behind you, and you feel pressured to buy it all because you don’t have a sense of what kind of coverage you need and what you don’t,” she said.

Filed Under: Car, Theme 3

May 16, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Teenagers and Safe Cars

If your teenager has just gotten a driver’s license, it may be hard to imagine handing over the keys to your brand new car, but that may be the smartest vehicle to choose.

The first years teenagers spend as drivers are very risky. In fact, teen drivers have the highest death rates of any age group. In 1997 alone, more than 5,700 teenagers died in motor vehicle crashes, and many more were left severely and permanently injured by crashes.

While getting a driver’s license is an exciting rite-of-passage for teens, it can be enough to make a parent frantic. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) say there is something worried parents can do to protect their teens—choose a safe vehicle.

  • Avoid vehicles that encourage reckless driving. Teen drivers not only lack experience, but may also lack maturity. As a result, speeding and reckless driving are common. Sports cars and other vehicles with high performance features, such as turbocharging, are likely to encourage speeding. Choosing a vehicle with a more sedate image will reduce the chances your teen will be in a speed-related crash.
  • Don’t let your teen drive an unstable vehicle. Sport utility vehicles, especially the smaller ones, are inherently less stable than cars because of their higher centers of gravity. Abrupt steering maneuvers—the kind that can occur when teens are fooling around or over-correcting a driver error—can cause rollovers where a more stable car would, at worst, skid or spin out.
  • Pick a vehicle that offers good crash protection. Teenagers should drive vehicles that offer state-of-the-art protection in case they do crash.
  • Don’t let your teen drive a small vehicle. Small vehicles offer much less protection in crashes than larger ones. However, this doesn’t mean you should put your child in the largest vehicle you can find. Many mid- and full-size cars offer more than adequate crash protection. Check out the safety ratings for mid-size and larger cars.
  • Avoid older vehicles. Most of today’s cars are better designed for crash protection than cars of six to ten years ago. For example, a newer, mid-size car with airbags would be a better choice than an older, larger car without airbags. Before you make a final choice on the car your teenager will drive, consult the U.S. Department of Transportationor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “Teenagers and Safe Cars,” iii.org website. Accessed May 23, 2014.

© Copyright 2014 intouch Business, Inc. All rights reserved. Certain names and articles used with permission of owners. Trade names mentioned herein are owned by third parties.

Filed Under: Car, Theme 2

May 16, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Driving in Snow and Ice

The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is to try not to drive at all. Don’t go out until the snow plows have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.

If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared, and that you know how to handle road conditions.

A great tip is to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you’re familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner’s manual for tips specific to your vehicle.

Here’s how to drive safely on icy roads. 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. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists. Keep your lights and windshield clean. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.

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.

Don’t assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads. If your rear wheels skid you can take your foot off the accelerator. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.

If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.

If your front wheels skid, first take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don’t try to steer immediately. As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in “drive” or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

If you get stuck, do not spin your wheels as this will only dig you in deeper. Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way. Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out. Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you’re in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.

More Tips

Sources: National Safety Council, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Washington State Government Information & Services

Filed Under: Car

May 16, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Parent Program to teach Teens how to Drive

UNSURE ABOUT THIS ONE

Parents Play the Most Important Role in their Teens’ learning-to-drive Process

Alive at 25® Parent Program Online

To properly prepare teens to drive, parents must have a clear understanding of the risks they face. That’s why the National Safety Council developed Alive at 25® Parent Program. The 2-hour online program identify those risks, and help parents reinforce good driving skills and decision-making to them become safe and responsible drivers.

Parents will learn to:

Get involved in training their teens to drive safely and responsibly. Encourage the parent/teen partnership from learning to drive through independent driving. Offer practical solutions to reduce the risks and hazards teen drivers face and help their teens to understand the need for defensive driver training. Examine how to approach Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws, and those related to safety belts, speeding, and alcohol and drugs. Provide an example of an effective parent/teen driver contract and discuss the importance of using the contract to manage teens’ driving experience.

This highly interactive program provides an overview of the importance of graduated driving laws, relevant facts and statistics, and strategies to help keep teenage drivers safe. The useful bookmark feature allows parents to interrupt then continue the course as their schedules allow. Also includes a resource center, with printable materials.

It’s an easy way to raise funds for your school or PTO/PTA with NO administration on your part! Just post a link on your website that will take participants to the Alive at 25® Parent Program Online course. For every individual who enrolls in the course (using a special referral code), your school or organization will receive $5!

We make it simple to start and maintenance free:

 

-No program administration

-No start-up fees

-No operating costs

-No donations to solicit and nothing to sell

-Cancel the program at any time

-We’ll even help with the marketing

 

To get started:

Complete this short online form or call (800) 621-7619

Download a PDF of FAQs on how it works

Filed Under: Car, Theme 2

May 16, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

At the Scene of an Accident

Knowing what to do if you are involved in an accident can save lives and also make the claims process easier.

  1. Stop your car and find out if anyone is injured.
  2. Call the police or highway patrol. Tell them how many people were hurt and the types of injuries. The police will notify the nearest medical unit.
  3. Cover injured people with a blanket to keep them warm.
  4. Try to protect the accident scene. Take reasonable steps to protect your car from further damage, such as setting up flares, getting the car off the road and calling a tow truck.
  5. Ask the investigating officer where you can obtain a copy of the police report. You will probably need it when you submit your claim to your insurance company.
  6. If necessary, have the car towed to a repair shop. But remember, your insurance company probably will want to have an adjuster inspect it and appraise the damage before you order repair work done.
  7. Make notes. Keep a pad and pencil in your glove compartment. Write down:
    • the names and addresses of all drivers and passengers involved in the accident
    • license plate numbers
    • the make and model of each car
    • driver’s license numbers
    • insurance identifications
    • the names and addresses of witnesses
    • the names and badge numbers of police officers or other emergency personnel.
  8. If you run into an unattended vehicle or object, try to find the owner. If you can’t, leave a note containing your name, address and phone number. Record the details of the accident.

 

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “At the Scene of an Accident,” iii.org website. Accessed May 23, 2014. 

© Copyright 2014 intouch Business, Inc. All rights reserved. Certain names and articles used with permission of owners. Trade names mentioned herein are owned by third parties.

Filed Under: Car, Theme 1

May 16, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

If you can save money on your auto insurance, why should you still be concerned?

Obtaining competitive insurance quotes on the Internet really isn’t that difficult, and as all the advertising would tell you, you can “save money in minutes,” just by shopping around.

Why should you still be concerned?

Fact is the cost of purchasing insurance is just one of the many factors you need to take into account. Look out! There are a lot of insurance agents out there who have not had the experience to help ensure you are properly covered, and as insurance professionals, we know that the most important factor is ensuring you have the right type and amount of coverage to protect you and your family

Here are three valuable insights to make sure you get the coverage you really need, and potentially, save money at the same time:

INSIGHT # 1: Did you know that you could save money if you insurance both your home and your auto with the same carrier?

Most insurance providers give breaks to policyholders who maintain more than one type of insurance. For instance, if you have both your car and home insured with one carrier, you may save up to 15% on your annual premiums. Sometimes, this can save you a bundle and still provide the utmost in both types of insurance coverage.

INSIGHT #2: Do you have more than one car in your family?

If you do, and one of them belongs to a young driver who is being charged more due to their age and lack of driving experience, there are ways to place that young person’s information on your policy to allow for exactly the same coverage but at a significantly different premium.

INSIGHT #3: Is all the information on your policy correct?

If just one piece of information on your policy is erroneous, it could make the difference between you being both adequately covered and saving money. At no cost or obligation we will thoroughly review your insurance policies to ensure you have optimal coverage. We check to ensure they contain the correct information, then we compare the same details with the other companies we represent to see if you can do any better with your coverage and your premium.


We urge to you to call us for more information. Not only could we get you the lowest auto and homeowners insurance rates through the many fine companies we represent, but we will also ensure you are properly covered with the right type and amount of coverage you need.

Filed Under: Car

May 16, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Safety Recalls

  • The recall information provided below includes vehicle and equipment campaigns from 1966 to present. The campaigns include motor vehicle products which contained a safety-related defect or did not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards.
FILE A COMPLAINTReport a safety related defect with your vehicle, child seat, tire, or vehicle equipment.

RECALLS

  • Search for a Recall
    The search engine allows you to retrieve information by a specific product or a NHTSA recall number.
  • Vehicle, Tire and Child Restraint Recall Alerts via E-mail
    Receive e-mail alerts for recalls pertaining to your vehicle, tire and/or child restraint.
  • Vehicle, Tire and Child Restraint Recalls via RSS
    Have the latest vehicle, tire and/or child restraint recalls automatically delivered to your personalized homepage.
  • Child Restraint Recalls
    Child Restraint recalls from May 2004 to date, by manufacturer.
  • baby safety seat
  • Monthly Vehicle Recall Reports 
    Links to Monthly Vehicle Recall Reports for the past 6 months.

OTHER INFORMATION

  • Recall Database List and Download
    Flat file of all vehicle, equipment and tire safety recall campaigns.

CONSUMER INFORMATION

  • Investigation and Recall Process Booklet
    The purpose of this booklet is to answer the most commonly asked questions about complaints, investigations, and recalls, and to inform consumers of their rights and responsibilities when a vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment is recalled.
  • What is a Safety Recall?
    What does it mean when a manufacturer initiates a safety recall involving vehicles or items of motor vehicle equipment?
  • Child Restraint Registration
    Registration form for your child’s continued safety.
  • NOTE: It is important to register your child restraint with the manufacturer to ensure you will be notified in case of a safety recall.

MANUFACTURER INFORMATION

  • Safety Recall Compendium (pdf)
    A recall program guide in pdf format for the manufacturer preparing to conduct a safety recall.
  • Recall and Quarterly Guides
    Guide for vehicle or equipment manufacturers to use in filing a Defect or Noncompliance Information Report and quarterly recall status reports. The forms are available for downloading and can either be used as a model for the report or simply printed, completed and submitted to the agency.
    front of car

 

Filed Under: Car

May 14, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Top 10 Safety Tips for Parents of Teens

The best way to keep young drivers safe is to start with a well-maintained, properly equipped vehicle. To guide you in that task, we’ve created 10 of the best tips that will assist in letting your teens make smarter decisions, and help parents protect themselves.

1. Re-tire the car with new tires and make sure they’re properly inflated. If the tires have miles on them, be certain to check the remaining tread depth. Underinflated new tires perform almost as poorly as bald tires. Make sure your tires are inflated per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

2. Make sure the brakes work properly. This involves more than checking the thickness of brake pads. If the old fluid is black or contains flecks of rubber or rust, a professional rebuild is required. Ask a pro to make sure the brake discs, brake lines and antilock braking system are in top condition.

3. Steer the right path.
Take your student’s car to a professional to make sure the steering and suspension systems are in good shape. Worn bushings or ball joints will quickly wear out those new tires and the car will steer imprecisely.

4. It’s impossible to avoid hazards if you can’t see. The windshields of older cars are frequently pitted by sand and salt and may become opaque in some lighting. What does the windshield on your student’s car look like? Depending on its condition, investing in a new one may be a smart move.

5. If your student’s car doesn’t have a built-in GPS-based navigation system, invest in a portable model. Typically, these may be mounted to the windshield or dash. Such satellite-based GPS devices are relatively inexpensive and increase safety.

6. Drinking and driving while intoxicated are common among underage high school. Additionally, a DUI conviction means a suspended license, so remind your student they’ll be stuck riding the bus.

7. Protect yourself & get adequate insurance coverage. Keep in mind that in many states, you’ll be held financially responsible for your minor children if the minor is involved in an accident while driving your car.

8. Be prepared.
Put together an emergency roadside kit. At the minimum, fill a backpack with a flashlight, road flares, a reflective triangle, a space blanket, radiator stop-leak, a fire extinguisher, aerosol tire inflator, duct tape and a pair of old sneakers.

9. A disturbing trend is teens loaning out their car. Keep in mind that if an accident occurs with another child at the wheel, you could be sued. Let your student know that if they loan out the car one time, he or she will be bicycling for the rest of the term.

10. Many college students must rent or borrow a trailer to get all their stuff to school. Safe trailer towing requires the proper hardware and a skilled driver. Some makers of SUVs require brakes on the trailer if the gross weight of the trailer — the trailer and all the stuff inside — exceeds 1,000 pounds.

Filed Under: Car, Theme 2

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