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The Full Coverage Newsletter #2

By July 14, 2022July 21st, 2022blog, Insurance,
Summer is officially here!
 
The sun is shining, kids are out of school, and pets are sunning themselves outside. It’s a time for family vacations, fun memories, pool days, and margaritas (or a cold beer!).
In this issue, we will be touching on why insurance premiums increase, the seriousness of email phishing scams, and our new list of different ways you can contact us!

Let’s get into it!

Did Your Auto Premium Increase?
Here’s why!

 

If you’ve ever wondered why your auto insurance premium differs from what your family and friends pay, it’s because auto insurance policies are not one-size-fits-all. Factors like your personal driving history, how often you drive, and where you live can all affect the cost of your auto policy.

Let’s take a look at these factors:
 

Your Personal Information and Driving History

Personal information such as your age, gender, marital status and whether or not you own a home can all play a part in auto insurance costs:

  • Driving record and credit history—Your driving record and credit history are two of the biggest factors insurers consider when determining your premium. Safe drivers with good credit tend to pay less on their auto insurance premiums. While any accidents or infractions in your driving history will cause an increase to your premium, the effects of past incidents will gradually decrease over time.
  • Age—Individuals who are under the age of 25 have a higher risk for accidents and driving infractions than older drivers, which can lead to higher insurance rates.
  • Gender—Your gender can also be a contributing factor to the cost of your car insurance premium. Statistically, single men under the age of 25 have a greater risk of being involved in accidents and driving infractions than their female counterparts.
  • Marital status—Being married or owning a home shows a sense of responsibility and stability. This can lead insurers to believe you are more likely to be a cautious driver and not skip any payments, resulting in lower rates on your auto insurance premium.

 

Your Vehicle

There are a few factors about your vehicle that may affect your premium costs:

  • Safety ratings—Every year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tests and rates new vehicle models on safety performance and crash test safety results. If your vehicle has a below average safety rating, you will most likely have to pay more for your premium.
  • Cost for maintenance and repairs—Vehicles that are seen as unreliable, or expensive to repair and maintain tend to have higher premium rates.
  • Make and model—Vehicles that are described as dangerous or luxurious often have higher auto insurance premiums, as they are more susceptible to theft, damage and occupant injury. If your vehicle is at higher risk of vandalism and theft, installing an anti-theft device or tracker can lower your premium. Although it’s an initial expense, it could save you more money in the long run. 

 

Your Location

Whether you live in an urban or rural area can make a huge difference in your auto insurance costs. Typically, living in more urban areas will cause your premium to increase since locations that are more densely populated tend to have greater instances of theft, vandalism and car crashes.

Where you park or store your vehicle can also affect your premium. Vehicles that are parked in garages are at a lower risk of damage and theft compared to those parked on the street.

Your Policy

The way you and your broker craft your insurance policy determines your premium costs. The following are policy items that have the greatest impact on the amount you pay:

  • Limit: Your policy limit is the max amount that your insurance will pay in the event of a covered incident.
  • Deductible: Your deductible is the amount you pay in order for your insurance coverage to kick in to help cover a loss, damage or medical expense.

Additional coverage: You may decide to add additional coverage to your auto policy that may not be required by your state. With this increase in coverage, there will be a higher premium cost.

5 Ways To Save!

1. Check insurance prices BEFORE you purchase your new vehicle. We can give you a quote!

2. Let us shop for you! We have multiple carriers and can find you the best policy.

3. Pay your bills on time. This helps you improve your credit score which in turn could lower your premium.

4. Be a safe driver! Take a defensive driving course or install a tracking device to prove that you are being safe.

5. Consider alternative insurance options such as usage-based or mileage-based discounts.

Don’t Fall For These Scams!

Every day, more than 3 BILLION phishing emails are sent out worldwide. These emails are tactics used by scammers to trick you into giving up sensitive information about you.

Here are 8 tips to avoid email phishing email scams:

1. Verify the sender’s email address– Scammers may pretend to be your bank, a colleague, or even a family member. Check any previous conversations with the sender or your address book to verify the email address.

2. Look for spelling errors– Various spelling or grammatical errors within an email can indicate fraudulent activity.

3. Never give our sensitive information– Most legitimate companies will AVOID asking for personal information via email.

4. Be wary of urgent messages- People are more likely to give up sensitive information when pressured by a sense of urgency.

5. Call to verify requests– If you’re skeptical of any requests made in an email, call the source directly to verify.

6. Avoid opening unsolicited attachments– Attachments can be embedded with malware–if opened, malware can steal sensitive information by gaining access to your computer or network.

7. Verify hyperlinks– Before opening a hyperlink, hover over the link text with your mouse to verify the linked web address.

8. Contact IT or security teams– If unsure of an email’s validity, report it to the business’ security team to have them check for fraudulent activity.

Here are some extra tips (free of charge!) to help keep yourself safe online:

  • Block unwanted calls
  • Register your number on the DO NOT CALL Registry
  • Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers. If you do, hang up immediately.
  • Never provide your personal or financial information in response to a request you didn’t expect.
  • Resist the pressure to act immediately based on a call or text, a legitimate business would give you plenty of time to comply.
  • Talk to someone you trust to give you a second opinion before acting.

 

There Are MULTIPLE Ways to Contact Us!

Not sure if you’ll be able to call during business hours? Or maybe you had a quick question and couldn’t get to your phone?
We know you’re busy and we want to make it easy for you to get a hold of us. 

Here are some other great options:

Text

740-590-7311 or 937-382-5545

Email

service@bickleinsurance.com

Website

www.bickleinsurance.com/contact/

 

Have questions? We have answers! Contact us by any of the options above! 

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