Affordable Insurance

Fact #1: Your credit impacts your insurance rates Believe it or not, your credit impacts your insurance rates. Insurance providers have found that certain credit characteristics for an individual are useful to predict of how likely it is that the individual will have an insurance claim.  Other variables taken into consideration may include age, driving record, claims history, place of residence, the type of car and the average miles driven, among others. Do what you can to improve your credit, be sure to monitor your credit report on a regular basis, and contact the credit bureau to clear up any errors.

Fact #2: Brand loyalty can cost you If your mindset about automobile insurance is “set it and forget it,” you might want to reconsider. Years ago, insurance companies evaluated a short list of factors when calculating your premiums. Today, that list has grown causing insurance rates to differ dramatically from provider to provider. Affordable Insurance offices, located through out Georgia, rate multiple companies at once ensuring that our customers are getting the best rate!

Instead of allowing your policy to automatically renew, comparison shop once a year to ensure you’re getting the best auto insurance rates.  If you’re worried that lower rates mean less coverage or poor service, don’t be. Today, there are plenty of insurance companies that offer affordable premiums, well-rounded coverage and excellent customer service. Some companies, such as GuideOne and many others Affordable Insurance represents, offer great protection and save the money associated with commercials and pass those savings on to the customer.

Fact #3: Stopping payment? You’ll pay in the long run If you think switching car insurance companies is as easy as stopping payment, think again. Sure, your policy will cancel, but your existing insurance company could report you to the credit bureaus for non-payment, damaging your credit score in the process. What’s more, your insurance history will reflect a cancellation which may cause a new provider to decline your application or charge you higher premiums in the future. Instead, be sure to complete the necessary paperwork with your existing provider, such as a policy cancellation form, and time it right by starting your new policy on the date your old policy ends.

Fact #4: Your car insurance company can cancel or non-renew at any time Your insurance company can cancel your policy at any time if you violate one or more of its guidelines during your policy period. Same goes for non-renewal. Things such as failing to pay your premium on time, losing your driver’s license due to suspension or revocation, submitting too many at-fault claims, or misrepresenting your driving history or past insurance claims could all be reasons for cancellation or non-renewal.

Fact #5: You could save money by paying your car insurance premium in full You might be surprised to learn most car insurance companies charge an administrative fee to break up your premium payments into installments, such as paying every six months, every three months or every month. The more you divvy up your payments in installments, the more these “convenience fees” add up, and your once-cheap car insurance can now cost substantially more. There may also be charges for the method of installment payment you choose, such as automatic bill pay or pay-by-phone.

Ask your Affordable Insurance Representative if you qualify for: the home owners disount, the paperless discount, safe driver discount, senior driving discount, multi-policy discount, direct repair shop discount, and the transfer discount.  You may also exclude chiropractor and punitive damages with some companies for more savings depending on your coverage needs.  Allow us to help pick the policy that is best suited for your coverage needs.  Send us a quote request online or call us (706) 297-0009 to ensure you are not paying to much!

It is very important for Georgians to carry adequate insurance coverage for their vehicles. To protect yourself properly it is important to understand what coverage you have. Affordable Insurance agents are dedicated to helping Georgia motorists find the lowest quotes for car insurance policies from well known companies they can feel comfortable doing business with.

Georgia Minimum Car Insurance Requirements

Because of the increase in motorists on its roadways and the increased chance of its residents being involved in a collision, Georgia’s minimum car insurance requirements are higher than many other states. The minimum liability coverage is set at 25/50/25 for bodily injury and property damage.

•    Bodily Injury Liability- Bodily injury liability covers the medical expenses of the driver and passengers of the other vehicle. If you obtain only the minimum required coverage the insurance company will pay a maximum of $25,000 for a single person and a maximum of $50,000 for all persons for a single incident.

•    Property Damage Liability- Property damage liability covers repairs to public and private property such as road signs and homes as well as the other party’s vehicle. Minimum coverage will allow for a maximum payout of $25,000 per incident.

Full Coverage

With the ever-increasing costs of medical expenses and repairs, it is advisable that Georgians obtain better-than-minimum coverage for their vehicles. The state of Georgia also advises its motorists to obtain some type of Comprehensive and Collision coverage to pay for damages to their vehicle if they are found to be the at-fault party or if their vehicle is damaged by acts of nature such as hail or wildlife.

Uninsured Motorist (U/M)

Uninsured/Underinsured motorist protection is also recommended by the state of Georgia because of the chance of other motorists failing to maintain adequate insurance coverage. UM protection will help cover damages to your vehicle if the other motorist does not have adequate insurance protection.

Gap Coverage

Another type of coverage offered by many Georgia car insurance companies is Gap coverage. In the event that your vehicle is totaled in an accident, insurance companies will pay a maximum of the Kelly Blue book Value to the insured party. Unfortunately, this does not always cover the total loan value of the vehicle. Gap coverage helps to fill the gap between the Blue Book value and the actual loan value owed.

Georgians, on average, pay less for their auto insurance premiums than many other states. Independent agencies such as Affordable Insurance Agency wants to help Georgia motorist pay the lowest price possible for their auto insurance policies. Shopping rates for insurance customers puts the pressure on insurance companies to keep their rates as low as possible to earn your business. Affordable Insurance Agency searches our partner companies for cheap car insurance quotes for each of our customers, allowing them to choose the best insurance policy for their vehicles at an affordable price. And getting the quotes is easy. Simply call Affordable Insurance Agency directly to talk to one of our agents today or simply fill out the online quote request located on the home page.   Georgia car insurance quotes. It’s quick, it’s easy, and best of all it’s free!

	In this day and age there are plenty of “direct writer” insurance companies out there such as Geico and Progressive with catchy commercials that grab our attention. These companiess “cut out the middle-man” by selling direct to you, rather than through an agent. However, while you may think you are saving money by going direct, that typically isn’t the case. By dealing direct, you take on a level of risk that you may not realize even exists! You may be setting yourself up for potential lawsuits and loss of property without even knowing it!Why have a local Affordable Insurance agent? The insurance agent is actually your legal representative – your agent – to the insurance company. The agent is licensed by your state and carries with them the fiduciary responsibility to be your advocate. They must put your interests first over and above their own, or the insurance company. Even though the agent is paid by the insurance company, they work for you. An independent agent at Affordable Insurance Agency has plenty to offer: Affordable Insurance Agents have the ability to quickly check prices and coverages with dozens – and depending on the product- hundreds – of different insurance companies. Why spend 15 minutes to get one quote? Call your local Affordable Insurance Agent and in 15 minutes get a quote from multiple companies saving you time! Since rates vary widely a local independent agent can very likely get you a better deal than you can get for yourself. Affordable Insurance Agents can even get you insurance from a ‘direct writer’ like you could get for yourself. Affordable Insurance agents are a one-stop-shop for all of your insurance needs. An Affordable Insurance agent doesn’t sell just auto insurance. Our agents sell homeowners, renters, health and life insurance, business insurance etc. Use our experience and guidance – at no cost to yourself – to handle all of your insurance in one place. Affordable Insurance has agencies throughout Northeast Georgia. Our home office is located in Toccoa, Georgia. Although we represent clients in the states of Georgia and South Carolina we pride ourselves on the relationships we form with our customers. Unlike a phone representative who is paid by the hour and likely has hardly any training to help you make the correct decisions, our agents understand how valuable your business is to our success. Insurance is a complicated subject. Its an insurance agent’s business to understand it, and communicate it to you so you understand it as well. In almost all cases an ordinary consumer will benefit from having someone who deals with this subject for a living advise them on a 50+ page contract. If there are any hidden surprises, a licensed agent is the one equipped to know where they are. Even if you understand insurance thoroughly you can get tripped up: The industry is regulated on a state-by-state basis. Move from one state to another and you’ll find that the coverages may look the same at first glance, but on closer examination things work a bit differently (very differently, in some states). Coverages don’t just vary from state to state … they vary from company to company within the same state. Many companies use what are known as ‘manuscript’ policy forms (form = contract in insurance jargon). These forms don’t necessarily use industry-standard wording and may contain altered provisions that materially affect you in some way… some unknown way if you don’t have an expert advisor who is already familiar with a particular policy’s quirks. The above is the good news with regard to what an Affordable Insurance agent can do for you. What about the bad news? Even the bad news has some good news inside of it for the consumer: If an agent makes a mistake (such as selling you an insurance policy that is supposed to meet your needs but doesn’t), that agent may well be liable to you for malpractice; something known in the industry as Errors & Omissions. Your insurance agent has an Errors & Omissions insurance policy, just like a surgeon has a malpractice insurance policy. Your lawyer can file suit against the agent – and their malpractice insurance – to recover damages you suffer as a result of a failure to act properly in your interests. Its no fun to think about for the agent or the consumer, but as unpleasant as it is for all concerned, this is a layer of protection that a consumer enjoys when working with an Affordable Insurance agent. What problem do you create when you go direct? You have no licensed, regulated insured agent acting on your behalf. You are now taking full responsibility for your coverage decisions, and for any mistakes you may make. No more safety net. Your local Affordable Insurance agent has had the proper training to ensure you get the proper coverage that will protect your assets. Why risk going direct and having the risk of loss without the proper coverage? There is nothing wrong with direct-writer insurance companies. However, if you deal with an Affordable Insurance agent, there are certain services and protections you are going to get that a direct-writer insurance company simply do not provide. Take a few minutes to fill out our quote forms for a quote over the web, or call us at 706-297-0009 for a quote over the phone. We appreciate the chance to earn your business.

 

Take your pets RVing

 

Do you travel with your dog or cat when RVing? Is your pet more than a companion? Is he or she a member of your family? You’re not alone. Most of the 8 million RVers, according to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, bring pets along on trips.

If this includes you, great news! Pet injury coverage from Progressive protects your furry four-legged friends in the event of an accident.

In the past, RV insurance policies cover the people … but not the pets … inside RVs. Not any more. Progressive offers free pet injury coverage with collision and comprehensive coverage and pays up to $500 if your dog or cat is hurt or dies because of a crash, fire or flood.

“RVing is more fun when the entire family, including pets, is along for the ride,” said Cathy Pelfrey of Progressive. “This coverage gives pet owners something no other RV insurer offers – peace of mind from knowing that their dogs and cats are protected, too.”

Progressive was the first insurer to introduce pet injury protection to its car insurance customers.

 

 

Auto Insurance Made Easy

 

Understanding insurance can often be like trying to learn a foreign language. Many find it confusing and intimidating.

Fortunately, there’s help. Here is a quick reference designed to help you understand some of the most common kinds of coverages. The reference was put together by The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies.

Liability covers bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD). This covers your legal liability, up to the dollar limits you select, for damages caused to others in a covered vehicle accident. In most states today, liability insurance is mandatory.

Under BI/PD, your insurance company pays for damages to an injured person and for property damage that you are legally obligated to pay as a result of an accident. If your policy covers you in the event you’re sued after an accident, your insurance company will pay for a lawyer to defend you.

Liability limits generally appear as three numbers, for example, 25/50/25 or 100/300/100. The first number refers to the maximum amount, in thousands, that your insurance company is obligated to pay for bodily injury per person. The second number is the maxi-mum that would be paid out for bodily injury per claim and the third number represents the maxi-mum amount your insurance company is obligated to pay for property damage you cause.

Collision. When you buy collision coverage, your insurance company pays for damages if your vehicle collides with another vehicle or object. Collision coverage involves a deductible amount you select when you purchase your policy. This amount is what you are required to pay before your insurance company starts picking up the tab. Remember, the deductible amount is the amount you need to pay in the event of a claim.

Comprehensive covers dam-age caused by events other than a car collision—such as fire, theft, vandalism, hail or flood. It also covers damage caused by your vehicle colliding with an animal. And if your car is stolen, it will cover the cost of a rental, subject to a daily limit. Like collision coverage, a deductible usually applies.

Medical Coverage. Depending on the state in which you live, you may have available to you Medical Payments coverage or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. While these both work differently, they provide coverage for medical care provided to you as a result of a car accident.

Did You Know?

Liability insurance is for bodily injury and property damage. This covers your legal liability, up to the dollar limits you select, for damages caused to others in a covered vehicle accident. In most states today, liability insurance is mandatory.

An independent insurance agent can help you determine the price, coverage and service that best meets your needs.