Personal Automobile Policy
Why buy insurance?
What is auto insurance and how does it work?
Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an
accident. It is a contract where you pay a rate — commonly referred to
as the ‘premium’ — and the insurance company covers losses listed in
your policy.
Do I have to have auto insurance?
In every state but New Hampshire and Wisconsin, if you own or drive a
vehicle, you must have Liability insurance coverage. If you lease a car
or have a car loan, you’ll probably need Comprehensive and Collision
coverage as required by your loan agreement. Your independent agent
can tell you exactly what your state requires.
Besides legal or loan requirements, why should I buy auto insurance?
The average new car costs close to $30,000, while some cost over
$50,000. The relatively small insurance premium you pay covers you for
much higher losses; without insurance you’re liable for every penny.
Plus, insurance companies are a big help in getting your damaged vehicle
repaired.
Can I get insurance without a U.S. driver’s license?
Some companies will insure you without it while others won’t. In New
York, we cannot insure a driver without a valid NY driver license.
Where to buy
Why buy auto insurance from a local independent agent?
An independent agent has the ability to find you the most suitable
coverage or the best rate by shopping with multiple insurance carriers
(as oppose to a captive agent like State Farm or Allstate who only sells
insurance for that particular company). An independent agent is a good
resource who can help you understand your insurance needs, can help
manage your policy by making updates when your life changes and who
can assist you with all insurance related matters.
What should I consider when shopping for insurance?
A few things to think about:
What to buy
How much coverage do I need?
Coverage is based on your individual situation.
What is a deductible?
A deductible is the amount of money you agree to pay out-of-pocket for
damage from an accident before the insurance company pays. For
example, if you have Comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible
and your new car is stolen, the insurance company pays for the value
of your car minus that $500. Going with a higher deductible lowers your
premium, but increases what you pay out-of-pocket in case of a claim.
Coverage Issues
Does my policy cover my family members/members of my household?
Any member of your household listed on your policy will be covered by,
hence rated as a driver in, the policy. If you do not want a member of
your household to be covered on your policy, in most case that family
member must have his/her own insurance coverage.
Am I covered by my auto policy if I am driving in Mexico or outside the
United States?
Most insurers in Texas cover some infrequent automobile usage in
Mexico. You should consult with your independent agent to determine if
your policy includes any Mexico coverage. If you need Mexico coverage,
your independent agent can offer you a separate policy.
Does my insurance cover me when I am driving as part of my job?
It depends on the kind of job you have as well as the type of vehicle. It is
possible that you need a commercial auto policy instead of a personal
auto policy to insure your job or small business.
Why buy insurance?
What is auto insurance and how does it work?
Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an
accident. It is a contract where you pay a rate — commonly referred to
as the ‘premium’ — and the insurance company covers losses listed in
your policy.
Do I have to have auto insurance?
In every state but New Hampshire and Wisconsin, if you own or drive a
vehicle, you must have Liability insurance coverage. If you lease a car
or have a car loan, you’ll probably need Comprehensive and Collision
coverage as required by your loan agreement. Your independent agent
can tell you exactly what your state requires.
Besides legal or loan requirements, why should I buy auto insurance?
The average new car costs close to $30,000, while some cost over
$50,000. The relatively small insurance premium you pay covers you for
much higher losses; without insurance you’re liable for every penny.
Plus, insurance companies are a big help in getting your damaged vehicle
repaired.
Can I get insurance without a U.S. driver’s license?
Some companies will insure you without it while others won’t. In New
York, we cannot insure a driver without a valid NY driver license.
Where to buy
Why buy auto insurance from a local independent agent?
An independent agent has the ability to find you the most suitable
coverage or the best rate by shopping with multiple insurance carriers
(as oppose to a captive agent like State Farm or Allstate who only sells
insurance for that particular company). An independent agent is a good
resource who can help you understand your insurance needs, can help
manage your policy by making updates when your life changes and who
can assist you with all insurance related matters.
What should I consider when shopping for insurance?
A few things to think about:
 | Rates: Does the insurer offer a lower rate for the same | |
| coverage? | ||
| Payment Options: Are they flexible? Does the company offer | |
| discounts for a particular payment method? | ||
| Service: Does the company offer 24/7 bilingual customer and | |
| claims reporting service? | ||
| Claims: Do they have responsive claims service that can save | |
| you time and stress if there’s an accident? | ||
| Financial Strength: Is the company stable, with a proven track | |
| record? |
What to buy
How much coverage do I need?
Coverage is based on your individual situation.
| Pick a deductible you can pay out-of-pocket in case of an | |
| accident. | ||
| If you finance or lease a car, you may need Comprehensive and | |
| Collision along with Liability coverage. | ||
| How much in personal assets do you need to protect? You may | |
| need liability limits higher than your state requires. | ||
| Do any drivers live in your house but never drive your vehicles? | |
| In many cases, you can exclude them from coverage on your policy to lower your rate if these drivers have their own policies. |
What is a deductible?
A deductible is the amount of money you agree to pay out-of-pocket for
damage from an accident before the insurance company pays. For
example, if you have Comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible
and your new car is stolen, the insurance company pays for the value
of your car minus that $500. Going with a higher deductible lowers your
premium, but increases what you pay out-of-pocket in case of a claim.
Coverage Issues
Does my policy cover my family members/members of my household?
Any member of your household listed on your policy will be covered by,
hence rated as a driver in, the policy. If you do not want a member of
your household to be covered on your policy, in most case that family
member must have his/her own insurance coverage.
Am I covered by my auto policy if I am driving in Mexico or outside the
United States?
Most insurers in Texas cover some infrequent automobile usage in
Mexico. You should consult with your independent agent to determine if
your policy includes any Mexico coverage. If you need Mexico coverage,
your independent agent can offer you a separate policy.
Does my insurance cover me when I am driving as part of my job?
It depends on the kind of job you have as well as the type of vehicle. It is
possible that you need a commercial auto policy instead of a personal
auto policy to insure your job or small business.
 |  |  |  |  |  |
MY Insurance Agency
The materials on this website are meant to
be informative in nature. Due to the ever
changing and varying state laws, and the fact
some insurers offer coverage in slightly
different forms from the Insurance Services
Office (ISO) standard forms, we cannot
guarantee the accuracy of the materials on
this page.
be informative in nature. Due to the ever
changing and varying state laws, and the fact
some insurers offer coverage in slightly
different forms from the Insurance Services
Office (ISO) standard forms, we cannot
guarantee the accuracy of the materials on
this page.
(Continued from left column)
Rate and billing questions
What could affect my rate?
Some examples of what can impact your rate are:
your driving and violation history; your age, gender
and marital status; the age and type of your car;
where you live; how much coverage you buy; and
your credit and prior insurance history.
If I have an accident, will my rate go up? Will I lose
my insurance?
That depends on the insurer and who is at fault.
Some insurers would non-renew drivers with
accidents and moving violations. Other insurance
companies will renew your policy or take you on
as a new customer even with a past accident or
violations. However, you may be surcharged for
the blemished driving record to compensate for the
higher risk.
How can I lower my insurance rate?
Here are some simple ways:
Do I get an auto insurance discount if I own ahome?
Many auto insurers offer homeowners discounts.
Why do many auto insurers use credit history to
set rates?
Some insurers have found that they can use
insurance scores, calculated from your credit
history, as a way to offer consumers lower rates
since they are useful in predicting an individual’s
likelihood of having an accident.
Can I get a rate quote without a Social Security
number?
Yes. Insurers use your Social Security number to
pull your credit history, but in some cases it can be
done with just your name and address. We can
still offer you a quote to purchase a policy with or
without your credit history.
Does the government regulate insurance rates?
Every state regulates rates charged by insurers
that offer insurance in their state. They are
required to file their rates and other information
based on each state’s laws.
Rate and billing questions
What could affect my rate?
Some examples of what can impact your rate are:
your driving and violation history; your age, gender
and marital status; the age and type of your car;
where you live; how much coverage you buy; and
your credit and prior insurance history.
If I have an accident, will my rate go up? Will I lose
my insurance?
That depends on the insurer and who is at fault.
Some insurers would non-renew drivers with
accidents and moving violations. Other insurance
companies will renew your policy or take you on
as a new customer even with a past accident or
violations. However, you may be surcharged for
the blemished driving record to compensate for the
higher risk.
How can I lower my insurance rate?
Here are some simple ways:
| Clean driving: Avoid accidents and traffic | |
| violations. | ||
| Increase your deductibles: The higher the | |
| deductible, the lower the premium. | ||
| Check your discounts: Make sure you’re | |
| getting everything you qualify for. | ||
| Pay your bills on time: Good credit history | |
| may help keep your insurance rate low. | ||
| Buy only the coverage you need. |
Do I get an auto insurance discount if I own a
Many auto insurers offer homeowners discounts.
Why do many auto insurers use credit history to
set rates?
Some insurers have found that they can use
insurance scores, calculated from your credit
history, as a way to offer consumers lower rates
since they are useful in predicting an individual’s
likelihood of having an accident.
Can I get a rate quote without a Social Security
number?
Yes. Insurers use your Social Security number to
pull your credit history, but in some cases it can be
done with just your name and address. We can
still offer you a quote to purchase a policy with or
without your credit history.
Does the government regulate insurance rates?
Every state regulates rates charged by insurers
that offer insurance in their state. They are
required to file their rates and other information
based on each state’s laws.
Continue on right column ...