Six Questions To Ask Before Buying Car Insurance
Do you ever shop around for car insurance? Do you interview potential agents to make sure you are getting the best car insurance policy for the best value? No matter what your driving record is, you should take the time to interview several car insurance agents before making a final decision.
Here are six important questions that you should ask a car insurance agent before buying insurance:
1. What discounts do you offer? Ask about safe driver discounts, good student discounts and multiple car discounts. How does one qualify?
2. What factors will impact my premium? Understand the different factors that can effect your premium before you buy car insurance.
3. How convenient is it to report a claim? Find an agent that has 24/7 claim reporting. Your insurance agent should be available when you need them, not matter what time of day or night.
4. Are there convenient payment options? Your agent should offer different payment options that are convenient to you.
5. Do you have an office? It’s nice to be able to speak with your insurance agent face-to-face if you want to. If your agent is only available on-line or on the phone, you may be sacrificing some service benefits.
6. Do you insure property other than cars? It is more convenient for one agency to hold all of your policies and there maybe discounts available to you if your agents insures your car and your home.
Purchasing car insurance is a huge decision and you should take the time to ask each potential agent these important questions. Look for a company that has a good reputation and has longevity in the industry. Contact Insurance Doctor if you are looking for car insurance. We can talk to you on the phone or come into one of our convenient locations.
- Published in Automobile Insurance
The Importance of Proper Air Pressure In Your Car’s Tires
At Insurance Doctor, we believe that proper maintenance of your vehicle can reduce the number of vehicle accidents on the road and prolong the life of your vehicle. One important thing to remember is to keep the correct air pressure in your tires. It is an important part of vehicle maintenance and can actually be as important as a regular tune-up. Tires with the proper air pressure can save you money on the road.
Benefits of Proper Air Pressure in Your Tires:
Your tires will wear longer
Improved gas mileage
Better handling and performance while driving
Reduced occurrence of accidents
It’s easy to forget about checking your tires especially when they don’t look low. However, tires lose pressure slowly over a period of time through the process of permeation. A good rule to remember is to think about refilling the air in your tires when you refill the fuel in your tank. It is a good idea to check the air pressure in your tires every other time you stop to fill up at the gas station or about every two weeks. Have the air pressure checked when you have your tires rotated. Don’t forget the spare tire. You will want to make sure it is has proper air pressure in it if you ever need to use it.
- Published in Road Safety
Why Choose Insurance Doctor?
- Convenient access to 40 different insurance companies and programs to provide the best prices and pay plans
- 16 Local offices with convenient + SATURDAY hours
- Fast, free and accurate quotes.
- Easy payment options: call, come in or mail payments
- Convenient Electronic draft payments to save money
- Security with NSD protection
- Save money with a lower down payment
- Security knowing we will contact client if policy is cancelling for any reason
- Save client future hassles with a single hit to credit for quote
- Save time by starting a policy over the phone
- Save time by getting a policy started in 15 minutes or less
- Convenient filing of SR22/FR44 to DMV electronically
- Electronic communication of policy information to customers
- Security of working with friendly, knowledgeable agents-most with professional designations in the insurance industry
- Security of knowing we’ve been in business for 25 years
- Bi-lingual agents, and ability to insure clients with foreign drivers’ license
- Convenient 6 or 12 month policies; paid in full or on a pay plan
- Convenient website to access policy information
- Convenient website to receive a quote online and get coverage immediately with internet sales manager 24/7
- Security of no hidden fees. Fees are only charged for things that happen during servicing a policy-not to just write a policy or take a payment.
- Convenient communication with an agent: phone call, email, text or fax us!
- Customer referral awards that could earn you up to $100
- Published in Insurance Doctor
Combining Your Insurance Plans Can Save You Money
If you have been looking for additional ways to save money, look no further than your car insurance policy. Most people do not review their automobile policy annually. In many cases, it pays to review your automobile policy periodically to look for additional discounts.
Some key ways to save money on your car insurance include:
Maintain a good driving record
Cover all of your vehicles on the same automobile insurance policy
Take a defensive driving course
Install a car alarm in your car
Pay for your car insurance premium in one payment
Drive a car with anti-lock brakes and/or air-bags
Another way to save money that you may not have thought of is to combine your insurance plans with one company. For instance, get your automobile and home owner’s insurance from the same insurance company. This can possibly offer some additional savings. Insurance Doctor offers multiple insurance options:
Automobile Insurance
Motorcycle Insurance
Homeowner’s Insurance
Renter’s Insurance
Call Insurance Doctor if you have any questions about saving money on insurance. We can provide quotes for both your vehicle and home insurance needs.
A Different Approach
At Insurance Doctor, we take a different approach to car insurance. Our goal is to make make finding car insurance easy and affordable for you. That’s what we’ve been doing for twenty five years.
Here are a few ways we make a difference:
We can help up get the discounts you deserve. Being a good driver can qualify you for additional discounts. We can help you find and get those discounts.
Pay on your own terms. Pay by cash or credit card. Pay in monthly payments by direct bill or EFT. The choice is yours.
If your driving record is less than stellar, it’s alright, we can still help you. We only review the last three years of your driving record. Most companies review the last five years.
Our 24 hour claim service makes us available when you need us.
We work around your schedule. We are available days and evenings, on-line and on the phone.
Get a free quote from Insurance Doctor. Let us save you time and money.
- Published in Automobile Insurance, Insurance Doctor
Road Trip! Tips For Traveling Long Distance
Summer vacation is just around the corner and you might be planning a long distance car trip. If so, Insurance Doctor wants to make sure you are safe on the road and ready for your long distance trip.
Here are ten tips to help you plan and prepare for your road trip:
1. Make sure you have the contact information for your car insurance company in case you need to contact them while on your trip.
2. Service your car.
3. Check your spare tire and make sure your car jack works properly.
4. Make sure you have a road emergency kit with jumper cables.
5. Have a spare set of car keys.
6. Have a road map or atlas to back up your electronic GPS system.
7. Check local events and landmarks along your destination route that you may want to stop and see.
8. Check for possible discounts on travel through on-line discount sites and auto memberships. Make reservations ahead of time.
9. Don’t forget the charger for your cell phone.
10. Try to avoid driving in rush hour traffic in unfamiliar cities.
- Published in Automobile Insurance, Road Safety
“Click It or Ticket” Seat Belt Campaign
You have all heard the saying “Click it or Ticket”. The campaign to force drivers to wear their seat belt has taken a new aggressive approach. The fact is wearing your seat belts saves lives. Law enforcement officers are enforcing safety belt laws and handing out tickets to those people not wearing them. At Insurance Doctor, we strongly encourage all drivers to wear a safety belt when driving.
It’s hard to believe that drivers this day and time don’t wear safety belts, but it happens. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that in a recent study 18 percent of drivers still refuse to wear a seat belt – that’s a total of 48 million drivers. Most of these offenders fall into three categories: young male drivers, drivers in rural areas and drivers of pick-up trucks. The NHTSA also points out that wearing your seat belt increases your chances of surviving an accident by 45 percent.
Click It or Ticket is the most successful nationwide seat belt enforcement campaign ever. Thanks to this program, seat belt usage has climbed to an all time high rate of 85 percent. All throughout the country, the message is clear: wear your seat belt or pay the fine.
- Published in Road Safety
Factors That Determine Your Car Insurance Rates
How do insurance companies determine your insurance premiums? In addition to your driving record, there are other factors taken into consideration when doing the math to figure out what your insurance premium will be.
Five Factors Used To Determine Car Insurance Premiums:
1. What type of vehicle do you own? The model, year, and value of your car can have an impact on your insurance premium. Cars that are more expensive to repair will be more expensive to insure.
2. What is your age, sex and marital status? Statistics show that older drivers, female drivers and married drivers tend to have better driving records. Because of this, these drivers usually have lower premiums.
3. Is your vehicle used for work or pleasure? Using your vehicle for work will probably increase your premium.
4. What is your prior insurance coverage? If you are a new driver or if you do not have insurance coverage, you will incur higher rates.
5. Where do you live? States with high population density tend to have more accidents, and therefore, charge higher insurance premiums. Also, the type of insurance system in the state can affect insurance rates.
If you are shopping around for car insurance, contact Insurance Doctor. We can provide a free insurance quote either on-line or over the phone.
- Published in Auto Insurance Premiums
Tips For The Driver with a Bad Driving Record
OK, so your driving record is less than stellar. You have a speeding ticket or two and your insurance has gone up. Don’t despair. Even if you must accept a policy with higher rates for now, you can work on improving your driving so that you can qualify for discounts on your auto policy in the future.
Here are a few tips to get you back on the right track:
- Stop speeding. Speeding tickets are the number one reason drivers wind up with poor driving records. Observe local speed limits at all times.
- Take a defensive driving course. This can possibly lower your insurance rates and make you a better, more educated motorist.
- Allow yourself plenty of time to reach your destination. Leave yourself enough time to arrive even if you encounter highway delays.
- Don’t let yourself become aggravated by other drivers; don’t fall victim to road rage. When you stay calm you can better cope with unexpected traffic and other drivers.
- Keep your vehicle up to date on inspections and in good working order. This will help you to avoid fines.
- Maintain a safe following distance behind other vehicles on the road. This can help prevent fender-benders that can hurt your driving record.
Call Insurance Doctor if you have questions about your driving record and insurance. We can work to find you the lowest possible rate for your automobile insurance.
- Published in Automobile Insurance
Tips For Getting Better Gas Mileage
With the price of fuel going up day by day, every little thing that you can do to improve your gas mileage will help. At Insurance Doctor we have some good ideas on how you can get a little better gas mileage on your car.
Keep your engine tuned up. A well tuned motor gets better gas mileage.
Keep your tires properly inflated. Under inflated tires cause more resistance to the road and impact your gas mileage.
Change the oil in your car regularly. Also use a good quality engine oil that has a friction reducing oil additive.
Take out items that you are storing in your trunk or in your car. Reducing the weight in your vehicle will improve your gas mileage.
Use the cruise control on your vehicle whenever you can.
Don’t speed. The faster you go, the less mileage you get on your vehicle.
Keep your windows closed if at all possible. Leaving your windows down reduces your gas mileage when compared to running the air conditioning.
Avoid stop and go traffic by taking another route or try to travel during less congested times.
Remove accessories from your car that you are not using such as the luggage rack or ski rack. These items lower the aerodynamics of your vehicle.
- Published in Automobile Insurance