Self-Driving Car? Someday … but Not Today

13 Essential Auto Insurance Tips for Human Drivers

As drivers, we humans can make bad decisions and cause accidents. Consider how easy it is to 
drive while distracted. And we drive in a world full of perils — damaged and congested roads, 
flooded streets, fallen branches … the list is endless.

If you find yourself in an auto accident or if your car is damaged, regardless of the cause, a rock-solid auto insurance policy will minimize the resulting inconvenience and expense to you. 

Here are 13 tips for rock-star coverage. Review them with your Trusted Choice® Independent 
Insurance Agent to ensure your policy is up to speed:

1. Remember that your business is your auto insurer’s business. Report any intended 
   business use of your personal vehicle to avoid a potential denial of your claim.
2. Ignore state law. Wait a second … let us explain: Purchasing only the minimum amount 
   of insurance as required by state law is dangerous and that minimum often will not be 
   sufficient to pay the high costs of a lawsuit filed against you should you cause an 
   accident that hurts someone or damages their property.
3. Like your car but love your financial security: Stock up on liability limits and medical 
   payments. It’s true that your lender may require you to have at least some insurance on 
   your car and to keep your loan, you must comply. However, don’t forget that your 
   financial security is considerably more important than your car, and you can protect it
   with liability and medical payments insurance. If you’re buying on a budget, consider 
   raising your physical damage deductibles (if your lender allows) and putting the 
   premium savings towards higher limits of liability, medical payments, and toward
   uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
4. We repeat: Buy uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Why? Because placing 
   your financial fate in the hands of others is dangerous, especially when it comes to auto 
   accidents. According to the Insurance Research Council, in 2015, 13% of drivers in the 
   U.S. had no insurance at all. And in some states like Florida, the number of uninsured 
   drivers exceed 25%! And we ask, do you trust a reckless driver to drive wreck-lessly?
5. Make sure you have an umbrella policy that adequately covers your auto insurance 
   policy. Contact your Trusted Choice® Independent Insurance Agent to discuss options 
   that may exponentially increase your liability insurance protection for a little additional 
   cost.
6. Make sure your auto policy will pay for your alternative ride. If your car is damaged in 
   an accident and requires time in the shop, you’ll need an alternative ride. Make sure 
   your policy will cover the cost to get you where you (still) need to go.
7. Raise your collision and comprehensive deductibles (often collectively called “physical 
   damage”) to lower costs. This one has been a tried and true cost savings tip since the 
   dawning of auto insurance.
8. Is your car old and paid for? Get an estimate on its actual value and weigh that against 
   the cost of your physical damage insurance. And if you can drop physical damage 
   coverage to save some bucks, (once again) put the cost savings into higher limits of 
   liability, medical payments, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and an umbrella 
   policy.
9. Always ask about insurer discounts. Have excellent credit? Have a child who recently 
   completed a safe-driving course? Can you purchase another type of insurance — such as 
   homeowners insurance — possibly from the same insurer? Auto insurers often offer 
   discounts for these and other factors.
10. Choose an insurer that offers “telematics” or “usage-based insurance” technology. It’s 
    estimated that by 2020, 70% of all auto insurers will offer such app-based or device-based options that collect data on your driving habits and could save you money.
11. Follow the easy rules to avoid accidents. For example, would you drive with your eyes 
    closed? Of course not. But typing that text or any other activity that distracts you is the 
    equivalent of doing just that. According to enddd.org (“End Distracted Driving”), at least 
    15% of crashes are distraction-related and more than 58% of teen crashes are 
    attributable to driver distraction. Keep your eyes on the road.
12. Use the tools on your phone to help you avoid the temptation to talk or text. For example, your iPhone can be easily programmed to not disturb you while driving.
13. Purchase the damage waiver if you rent a car. The cost of the waiver makes it easy to 
    say “no, thanks” to the guy at the counter, but not having it could wreck your finances if 
    you wreck the rental. Contact your Trusted Choice® Independent Insurance Agent to 
    learn more about possible limitations in your auto policy if your accident takes place in a 
    rental car.

Follow our 13 lucky tips, and you’ll be an auto insurance rock star!

Okay, maybe “rock star” is a stretch … but using this list to review your auto policy with your 
Trusted Choice® Independent Insurance Agent will put you on the fast track to avoiding 
financial devastation resulting from an auto accident.

Held Insurance Agency is a Trusted Choice Independent Insurance Agency. Located in Mount Prospect, IL, and services all of Illinois and Wisconsin. We can help you evaluate what policy fits your needs. Contact us to learn more or request a quote.

Content provided by Trusted Choice.