Buying a comprehensive auto insurance policy in Dallas – Fort Worth, Texas may provide peace of mind. Even though the basic rates may be a little high when compared to buying only the minimum coverage, the protection is better and you are less likely to face financial challenges when unexpected situations arise. Making a claim on your policy may or may not impact your premium, depending on the details of your plan and any promotions that you have applied.

Promotions

Applying discounts and promotions to your policy can help you keep the premium within a reasonable rate. Promotions are often provided for very specific situations, such as a student who has good grades getting a discount for their responsible behavior.

Some insurers may offer a forgiveness promotion so that your premium does not increase the first time you make a claim. Forgiveness programs may vary, so consider the situations that fall under the program before you assume that it will apply.

The Claim

Small claims, such as repairing a windshield after a tree branch fell on it, may not have a major impact on your premium. The reason is that the claim is related to a particular situation that did not cause major damage to your vehicle or the vehicle of another person.

Claims after an accident may result in a higher premium because of the possible cost of the situation. The exact impact of an accident may vary.

Making a claim does not automatically mean that your rates will increase, but it can have an impact on your auto policy. Contact Paragon Independent Insurance Agencies to talk to an independent agent for more information about your options and promotions that may be available.

Visiting a different city or state for a vacation or business trip may require a rental vehicle. The problem you may worry about is the insurance coverage for that car. Fortunately, you may be covered for auto rental under your Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas insurance policy.

Look at the Current Policy

Although some insurers will cover a rental vehicle, the amount of coverage and the options available to protect the vehicle and other drivers may vary. Renting a car does not necessarily mean that you have coverage under your current plan.

Look through your current policy to determine if you are covered. Each insurance provider will have a different policy regarding your ability to apply your current coverage to a rental vehicle. Never assume that you are covered.

Be Aware of Exceptions

When you are looking at your auto insurance plan, pay attention to the exceptions. You may be able to rent a vehicle and cover it under your current plan, but there may be exceptions about the location or the type of rental company that you may use. For example, you may be able to cover a rental vehicle in The Woodlands / Austin area, but might have an exception that prevents you from the same amount of coverage in the Amarillo / Waco area.

The clauses and exceptions help define your policy and tell you what is not allowed. Read through your exceptions and clauses to ensure that your coverage plan will protect a rental vehicle.

Renting a car while you are on vacation or a business trip does not necessarily mean that you need to purchase additional insurance. To learn more about rental coverage options, call us to speak to an independent agent today.

When you are trying to lower your auto insurance rates in Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas, you may worry about what affects your premium and what does not. Although your occupation may have a minor impact on your premium, it is not usually a direct correlation.

Credit Rating

The primary way that your occupation may impact your car insurance policy is through your credit rating. When you earn more money, you may have a better credit score because it is easier to keep up with your bills and you have a lower risk of defaulting on your loans. You may also have a greater amount of available credit, which results in a better credit rating.

Although your credit score is not the only factor that impacts your auto insurance rates, it does play a role in the premium that you are offered.

Driving History

The primary factor that impacts your insurance premium is not related to your occupation, it is related to your history of accidents and reckless driving behavior. If you have several tickets for speeding, then you may discover that you have a higher insurance premium when compared to a driver who has never received a speeding ticket.

Your driving history will have a greater impact on your insurance rates than your occupation because it is directly related to your vehicle and your risk of getting into an accident.

Your occupation may not have a great impact on your insurance rates because the primary concern for an insurer is whether you have a high risk of getting into an accident. While it may have a minor impact due to your credit rating, it is unlikely that you will see a change in your premium if you change jobs. Contact us to talk to an independent agent for more information today.

When you are looking at liability coverage in Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas for your car, it is important to recognize the difference between a single limit plan and a split limit plan. Auto insurance coverage provides the opportunity to select the plan that is most appropriate for personal concerns.

Split Limit

A split limit plan is a type of insurance coverage that splits up the liability protection into three basic categories: coverage for individual injuries, maximum injury protection and property damage. The policy will provide a certain amount of protection for every person involved in an accident, a maximum amount for total injury coverage and a set amount for damage to the vehicles. In most cases, the injury protection is the majority of the policy while the limit for property protection per accident is a lower amount.

Single Limit Plans

A single limit policy is a type of combined policy. Instead of splitting up the coverage into separate types of liability concerns, the policy has a maximum protection plan for each accident in a single amount. For example, if the total liability coverage is $100,000 per accident, then that amount will cover injuries and property damage.

The key difference is whether the protection plan is split into more than one category or if the policy only has a single amount that covers the entire accident.

Making the decision to split up your liability protection or keep it in a single amount is ultimately dependent on your goals and concerns. In both situations, you are protected from the cost of medical expenses and property damage, but the amount of protection may vary. To learn more about protecting your car, contact us to talk to an independent agent today.

When you want to obtain a low premium on your car insurance policy in Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas, it may be tempting to remove certain family members from your current policy. When a family member is excluded from the auto policy, it may help lower your premiums, but it is only appropriate if that individual is not driving the car.

Preventing Cancellation

If your concern is related to a cancellation because a family member got into an accident, the premium is too high to manage or another situation has arisen that is putting you at risk, you may wonder about excluding an individual from the policy.

Depending on the situation, excluding a family member might be appropriate. The only time it is appropriate to exclude an individual from your policy is when they are not driving the car. If they drive and live in the same house, then they must be under the current policy.

Lowering the Premium

As long as the individual is not driving the car, excluding them from the policy may result in a lower premium. It can have a dramatic impact on the premium if the individual is considered a high risk driver, but the impact may be limited if they are a good driver and have never been involved in an accident.

Although it may be tempting to remove a family member from a current auto insurance policy, it is not always possible. In many cases, it may be better to try finding a new insurance provider who offers more competitive prices. If you want to learn more about insurance options in Texas, contact us to talk to an independent agent today.