Auto Insurance in Bremerton, Washington

Four Auto Insurance Terms You Should Know– Part 1

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Auto Insurance in Bremerton, WashingtonThere are many ways you can purchase auto insurance for your vehicle. Calling a local independent insurance agency can offer you some additional benefits and personalized service as well as help you select the right coverage for your situation. It’s important to understand your coverage options since you’ll want the right coverage in the event of a claim.

Once you understand each coverage, you can have better knowledge of what options best suit your situation. Opening a discussion with one of our agents can help and we are here to provide you with professional insurance advice, guidance, and knowledge.

Let’s break down the four most common auto insurance coverages.

State minimum liability coverage: (Bodily Injury & Property Damage)

State minimum liability coverage is actually two coverages. It will pay towards bodily injury claims and property damage claims.

Every driver is required to purchase state minimum liability insurance unless you live in New Hampshire.

This typically is the least expensive auto insurance policy but it also provides you with the least amount of insurance coverage.

State minimum liability coverage will provide insurance coverage if you are involved in an at-fault car accident that results in injuring someone or causing property damage. It covers the injured person’s medical bills related to the auto insurance accident, up to your policy limits. It will also pay for repairs to the damaged property. Liability limits vary by state. If your at-fault accident causes more damage than your liability limit, you would be held accountable for the remaining balance. That’s why it is important to purchase limits higher than a state-minimum liability when you can.

If your vehicle is damaged or you are also injured in the accident, state minimum liability coverage will not provide you with any protection. It is purely for those you cause damage or injury to. You would be required to pay out-of-pocket for your medical bills & repairing your vehicle.

Comprehensive coverage:

This coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it is vandalized, damaged from a fire, stolen, collides with an animal, or is damaged by hail, a fallen tree, wind, floods, lightning, or other inclement weather.

If you are financing or leasing a vehicle, it will be required by your lender to have this coverage on your auto insurance policy.

Do you need this coverage? If you own your vehicle, it is up to you. If you value what your car is worth & prefer not to pay out-of-pocket for any damage that could occur in the event you get into an accident, you will benefit from having this coverage added to your auto insurance policy.

Collision coverage:

This coverage can pay towards repair damage (or replacement) for your vehicle if you collide with another vehicle, a guardrail, fence, or any other object.

If you have taken out a loan or are leasing a vehicle, it will be required to have collision coverage.

Do you need this coverage? If you own your vehicle, it is up to you. If you are found at fault for an accident & your vehicle is damaged, you would have to pay out-of-pocket for repairs to your vehicle if you do not have collision coverage. If you prefer to not have this financial liability, it may be worth adding collision coverage to your auto insurance policy. If your vehicle is valuable, you may also want to consider this coverage.

Talk to an agent in our office about these different auto insurance coverage options. We can provide you with quotes from many insurance carriers & help you find the best policy for your needs & budget. There are additional car insurance coverages you can add on top of liability, comprehensive & collision coverage. These coverages include Medical payments, Uninsured/Underinsured motorist, Roadside assistance, Custom parts & equipment, and many more. We’ll discuss in detail these coverage options in Part 2. Get a free car insurance quote by calling or emailing us.

How to be a safer driver in H&K Insurance in Bremerton, Washington

It’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month – Facts & Tips

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How to be a safer driver in H&K Insurance in Bremerton, WashingtonAccording to National Safety Council (NSC) driving has become more dangerous in the last two years. Motor vehicle accidents are up 9% from 2020 and 18% from 2019. Car accidents where drivers collided with other vehicles or fixed objects were the two most common types of accidents. Distracted driving has played an unfortunate role in this rise in accidents.

What are the most common distractions when driving?

Using your cell phone

National Safety Council states roughly 26% of car accidents involve cell phone use.

How to be a safer driver

Assess how you use a cell phone when you are in a vehicle. It is not against the law to talk on a cell phone while driving. However, it is imperative to pay attention to your driving behavior when you are talking on a cell phone.

Ask yourself the following questions to determine if you put yourself or others at risk while using a cell phone:

  1. Are you able to concentrate not only on the road but on other drivers or pedestrians while talking on the phone?
  2. Are you holding a phone when you drive? If you are going to use a cell phone, it is best to be hands-free.
  3. Do you ever text and drive? How can you avoid doing this when driving?
  4. If you have children or teenagers, are you setting a good or bad example of using a cell phone while driving?
  5. Are you using your cell phone for GPS directions? Where is your phone located when you are using GPS? Do you have a holding device for your cell phone so you can easily see directions & the road?
  6. Are you using your cell phone to play music? Can you control your music settings through your car? Are you changing songs while driving or do you already have a playlist formed before you hit the road?

Consider answering all these questions to determine how safe of a driver you are on the road. Any of the following scenarios can put you at risk. Look to find ways to avoid them at all costs to help prevent an accident.

Other common distractions:

  • Talking to passengers
  • Grooming
  • Dazing off
  • Trying to control children or pets in the back seat
  • Eating or drinking

It’s important to evaluate your driving and determine if you catch yourself driving distracted. If you are a safe driver, we can help you find affordable car insurance; carriers that reward safe drivers with better rates. Call our agency for multiple car insurance quotes. We represent the top auto insurance carriers and can help you find custom coverage that suits your needs. We will also shop for all discounts that can apply to you.

You may even want to consider participating in a telematics program, which offers a car insurance discount, but also evaluates your driving habits. Contact us for more information.

Temporary Insurance Policies in Bremerton, WA

Scenarios That Warrant Short-Term or Temporary Insurance

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Temporary Insurance Policies in Bremerton, WAWhile our agency does not specialize in short-term insurance policies, there are a few scenarios that can warrant the need for short-term insurance policies. Let’s take a closer look at a few of these.

Traveling to Mexico:

If you’re driving into Mexico it is likely that your existing auto insurance policy excludes travel to Mexico. You’ll want to find an agency that offers Mexico Auto Coverage. Your typical coverages are available to cover your vehicle and can include roadside assistance. Talk to an agent about what might be the best fit for you if you’re traveling to and from Mexico.

Renting A Vehicle

If you plan to rent a vehicle as a temporary replacement while on vacation, your existing auto coverage should transfer to the rental vehicle. However, items like loss of use are not covered and could cause you to accrue some out-of-pocket expenses should you be found at fault for an accident that removes the vehicle from the rental fleet. Talk to an agent before you rent a vehicle and ensure your existing coverage will transfer to the temporary replacement. You can always purchase the rental agency’s coverage as a primary coverage as well.

Vacation or Travel Insurance

If you’re going on vacation you might want to consider travel insurance if your plans get interrupted. Things like sickness, injury, and lost luggage can be covered with a simple policy. You can even find coverage for “cancel for any reason” which could help with some unusual circumstances for having to cancel a trip. Be sure to ask your agent about the coverage details so you fully understand your coverage.

Wedding & Special Event

If you are planning on hosting a special event such as a wedding, bar mitzvah, baby shower, charity auction, Easter egg hunt, or even a cocktail party, you should consider special event insurance. Getting a one-day (multi-day also available) special event insurance policy is an easy chore.

Even if you don’t serve alcohol at your party, by inviting guests and children onto your property you have a liability that needs to be protected. Consider trip and fall accidents, food poisoning, or even a dog bite. Many things can happen during an event that should be planned for.

As an independent insurance agency, we not only represent a variety of great insurance carriers but we can help you plan for these temporary insurance policies. Purchasing a policy can be as simple as a quick phone call with your travel or plan details and we can provide you with a quote.