Auto Insurance

Make it simple-Car insurance

    Have you tried to read your insurance policy and just given up? It can be very confusing! But I am going to try to simplify it for you. Over the next several weeks I will attempt to simplify each type of insurance, begining with Car insurance:

    Every policy should have a Declarations Page. 

This page “declares” who you are, what cars you have insured, your coverage choices and how much you are paying for this policy period.

    There are 2 types of coverage on your auto policy: Coverage that protects the other party and coverage that protects you.

Coverage that protects the other party:

Bodily Injury Liability: protects you from having to pay medical costs, lost income and funeral expenses of other people involved in an accident that is your fault.

Property Damage Liability: Protects you from paying for the repair or replacement of the other person’s car.

            There is no deductible for liability coverage. You have many amount options for this coverage. The state minimum in Texas is $30,000/$60,000/$30,000. This means you are covered for $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident and $30,000 for property damage. I would suggest liability in higher limits than the state minimum. If you cause an accident and the liability claim is 75,000, if you have state minimum coverage, you will pay the additional $15,000 out of pocket. It is not expensive to increase your liability limits. Ask your agent to explain your options.

Coverage that protects you:

Uninsured/Underinsured Bodily Injury: covers your injuries (or death) in case the responsible party has little or no insurance. It also covers those riding in your car.

Uninsured/Underinsured Damage: covers damage to your car or property in case the responsible party has little or no insurance.  There is a state mandated $250 deductible in Texas for Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage.

Medical payments: covers medical or funeral expenses if you or anyone in your vehicle are injured in an accident.

Personal Injury payments: covers medical or funeral expenses and possible lost wages if you or anyone in your vehicle are injured in an accident.

Collision Coverage: pays for damage to your car if you hit another car or something else (like a tree or a building).  You must pay a deductible. Deductible amounts determine the cost of this coverage. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium.

Comprehensive Coverage: (also called Other than Collision) pays for damage to your car if something other than a collision occurs. This could be fire, theft, hit by an

Animal (yes, the animal hit your car!) The same type of deductible rules apply to Comprehensive as they do to Collision. They are two different deductibles though.

Optional Coverages that protect your car:

            Towing: pays for towing and some basic roadside assistance, depending on the carrier and towing option you choose.

            Rental Reimbursement: pays for the cost of renting a car while yours is being repaired after an accident.

            Loan/Lease Gap Insurance: pays the difference between what you owe and the total value of your car if it is totaled in a claim. This is only valid if you have a new car (less than 3 years old).

So there you go. There are many factors in Car insurance, but they don't have to overwhelm you. If you have any questions, please contact your agent. That is what they are there for. If they cannot answer your questions, please contact us. 

   If you have questions about your home, auto and commercial insurance, please call Brockman Premier Insurance at 877-987-8683 or email us at brian@brockmanpremier.com.
Please visit our website for more insurance tips and information.

Uninsured Motorist coverage

What is Uninsured Motorist and Why Do You Need It?

   Have you ever come out of a store to find your parked car has been hit while you were inside? Did they leave a note with all of their information so you can file a claim on their insurance? Doubtful, right? That is why you need Uninsured Motorist coverage.
   If you are ever in an accident (or your car is) and it is the other party's fault, Uninsured motorist coverage will cover you and your car if they don't have insurance (or you don't know who "they" are) or if they don't have enough insurance to coverage your damages (Underinsured motorist coverage)
   Uninsured Motorist coverage limits looks like your Liability coverage limits. There is an amount for each person, an amount total for the accident and an amount for property damage. It generally looks something like; $50,000/$100,000/$50,000. So that would be $50,000 for each person, $100,000 for the total accident and $50,000 in property damage.
   Uninsured and Underinsured are categorized together on a policy. You have the same limits for both. The $250 deductible is mandatory in the state of Texas. Uninsured motorist claims do not generally count against you in your insurance history.
   Uninsured Motorist coverage will add to your auto policy premium. It is not mandatory in Texas, but it is a good coverage to have. Reports show 1 in 6 drivers in Texas are uninsured. That makes it risky to drive without Uninsured coverage.

   If you have questions about your home, auto and commercial insurance, please call Brockman Premier Insurance at 877-987-8683 or email us at brian@brockmanpremier.com.
Please visit our website for more insurance tips and information.

Loan/Lease Gap Insurance

How Can You Cover the Gap?

   You just bought your dream car 6 months ago. You have been very careful. No one is allowed to eat or drink in your car. You stop fully at every stop sign. You stay a full car length behind every car you drive behind. But it doesn't matter because one day someone else doesn't stop at the stop sign. 
   Your dream car is totaled. And then you find out that not only is your car gone, but the insurance isn't going to cover the total amount you owe on your loan. Now what? 

Want a better scenario?
   When you buy a new car, many carriers (and dealerships!) offer an optional coverage;  
Loan or Lease Gap coverage. With this coverage, if you have a total loss, you would be covered for the difference in the your now totaled cars value and what you owe. So one way you can decide if it is worth the premium, is to ask yourself if you can pay that difference out of pocket?

Where can you get Loan Gap coverage?
   When you buy a brand new car, the dealership will usually offer you this coverage. Before you take it, call your insurance agent. (You need to call them anyway to add your new car!) They should offer the Gap coverage to you, but if they don't, ask about it. It is usually inexpensive to add this optional coverage. I just added the coverage to a policy yesterday and it only added $17 annually. That is a great price to save you possibly thousands down the road. Most carriers I know offer this coverage on cars less than 2 years old. 

What about Lease Gap coverage?
   If you are leasing a car, ask if your contract includes this coverage. Many do, which would be very convenient! If not, most carriers offer the coverage on lease cars also. Keep in mind, this coverage only applies in the case of a total loss.  As always, it is up to you whether or not you add optional coverage. Take a look at the premium vs. the gap and decide which one you can live with.

If you have any questions about your home, auto or business insurance, 
email Brockman Premier Insurance or call 877-987-8683 
Be sure to visit our website!

   

Motorcycle Insurance coverage

Make sure you are covered                         before you hit the road!

   There are some great Motorcycle trips to take. Here in Texas, I know there more roads through our state than even the most avid motorcycle enthusiast is able to conquer. Whether you are a weekender or the Ride Captain, all Motorcycle riders have two things in common. They need to be safe and they need to be covered in case something goes wrong.
   Motorcycle insurance is similar to auto insurance. The types of coverage are basically the same. You need Liability, Property damage, Uninsured motorist (Yes! you need this one!), Collision and Comprehensive coverage. You can add a few extras on a motorcycle policy such as custom parts and equipment coverage, specialized Roadside assistance and Trip interruption coverage. Trip interruption is a great coverage for you extended motorcycle trip takers. This will pay for your lodging, food and transportation if you get stranded on your trip. 
   Many carriers offer a discount if you have taken a Motorcycle Safety Course. This is a good idea whether you break on your insurance or not. Check out the Motorcycle Safety Foundation for a course. Statistics show 49% of Motorcycle crashes are the result of a bike colliding with another vehicle. Of the riders killed in a two vehicle accident, 35% were due to the excessive speeding by the biker.  Texas has historically had the highest annual number of motorcycle deaths, with as much as 37% being alcohol related.  
Please be smarter!

   Bikers claim riding is one of the most freeing ways to enjoy the countryside. Make sure you are safe and covered so that you can truly enjoy your time out there on the road. 

If you have questions or need a quote, please contact Brockman Premier Insurance.

Local 214-592-0859

Toll Free: 877-987-8683

Visit us at www.wekeepuinsured.com