•           Check tire pressure.  When not being used, tires can “leak” air making them soft and less responsive.  Fill your tires to the manufacturers recommended level for the best performance and safety.

•           Ensure all electronics and features are working properly.  Check brakes, clutch, lights and turning signals to be sure they are all in working order.

•           Warm up your bike. Before heading out, start your motorcycle and let it run for a few moments.  After it is warm, shut it off and check the oil.  If it is low, add more.

•           After the warm up, check for leaks around seals and hoses.

If you notice any problems, make sure they are addressed before you go for a ride.

The most important aspect of safety before you hit the road is making sure that your motorcycle insurance is up to date.  Many leave their bike uninsured while it is stored, so it is important to renew your policy to make sure you and those around you are protected while you ride.

If you are in need of motorcycle coverage, www.aisinsurance.com can provide you with a policy that fits your needs and budget. For more information please visit, www.aisinsurance.com/california-motorcycle-insurance.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Carrying an emergency kit with you in your car is something that used to be more commonly seen years ago.  Today, people rely heavily on cell phones and other communication devices to reach someone when in need of assistance.  However, these types of communication devices can’t be relied on all of the time.  If your car breaks down, you end up with a flat tire, or are involved in an accident, it may take a while for someone to get to your location depending on where the incident occurred.  Your phone may also end up damaged after an accident and become unusable. For your safety, protect yourself by carrying an appropriate car emergency kit.  Below are items that should be included:

•           Cell phone car charger

•           First-aid kit

•           Fire extinguisher

•           Warning lights, hazard triangles or flares

•           Tire gauge

•           Usable spare tire

•           Jumper cables

•           Flashlight

•           Disposable flash camera

•           Roadside-assistance number and other important family member phone numbers

•           Basic tool kit

•           Pen and paper

•           Ice scraper during winter months

•           Blanket to stay warm during winter months

•           Water and non-perishable food

While making sure that you have the above items in your car, review your insurance policy to be certain that you have the necessary coverage. Carry documentation of this with you as well.   If you have questions, contact your AIS representative today.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Why is liability coverage such an important component of a homeowners insurance policy?  Well, quite plainly because accidents happen.  Often an accident is not one person’s fault; however, if an accident does occur on your property, you may have to assume responsibility for it.  Consider, for example, if your neighbor slipped and fell on an uneven step entering your home and was injured.  Or, if your son is playing baseball in the backyard and hits the ball into a neighbor’s window?  These types of events are most likely where your liability coverage will come into play.  Liability may coverage also protects you when damage or injury is caused by your pet, such as your pet biting someone delivering a package to your door. This coverage can also travel with you, so if your dog bites someone away from your home, that may be covered as well.

For many, the liability coverage included in their homeowner insurance policy is sufficient, but others may choose to purchase additional coverage.  Below are some reasons why you may want to look into expanding your existing coverage:

-  You own a swimming pool

-  Social gatherings are held frequently at your home

-  You have lots of pets.  (If you have a dog that is considered to be an aggressive breed, you will want to pay close attention to whether or not you will be covered if your dog bites or injures someone.)

As with all types of insurance policies, there are exceptions to liability coverages.  All the limits and exclusions are specified in your policy and it is recommended you to review your policy to make sure that you have the coverage you need.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

However, if your home is for sale and you leave it vacant, this can pose some problems such as a higher probability of fire, theft, vandalism and other damages to your property.  Dwelling Fire policies may be your solution.  This type of insurance policy generally has liberal guidelines in regards to residency requirements.  In addition, they offer protection for your dwelling, other structures on your property and give you the flexibility to endorse additional coverage that you may need.   For more information about Dwelling Fire policies, please contact www.aisinsurance.com.

Why would you need an excluded driver endorsement?  A policy owner may wish to apply this endorsement on a named driver because of some of the following issues related to the driver:

• They have a suspended license.
• They have a DUI conviction.
• They are problematic drivers.

Other than a driver with a problematic history in the home, a policy owner may wish to exclude all drivers other than the primary driver(s) to reduce their premium.  While this may save the policy owner money, they will have to consider that if there is an emergency need for the car and the policy holder is not able to drive, and the excluded driver has to do so, they still will not be covered in the event of an accident.

For more information please see www.aisinsurance.com.

When you purchase comprehension or collision coverage, up to $1000 of added parts to your vehicle is sometimes  covered by the standard policy.  Anything above $1000 is generally not covered, and coverage for some items is specifically excluded.  So if you plan to add parts or features to your car, you should consider adding special equipment coverage if you want to recover the cost should you be involved in an accident or there is a theft.  If you don’t add this special coverage and your car is totaled, you will not be reimbursed for the added equipment.

Below is list of items that can often be covered under special equipment coverage:

• Custom paint work.
• Anti-theft systems not installed by the vehicle manufacturer.
• Special tires and wheels.
• Custom interior modifications (leather seats or racing seats, not installed by the auto manufacturer.
• TV’s, radios and other electronic devices that are permanently installed in the vehicle.

Here is a list of items that typically will not be covered under special equipment coverage:

• Radar detectors.
• TV’s, radios and other electronics that are not permanently installed in the vehicle.
• CD’s, tapes and the cases that are used as storage.

For more information about special equipment coverage please contact and AIS representative today or see www.aisinsurance.com.

While this is the case in the state of California, you should always review your insurance policy to be certain.  This information is usually contained in a section titled “Duties After an Accident or Loss”.  For example, if your vehicle is stolen you typically have a duty to file a police report immediately and contact your insurance company within 30 days.

To make filing a claim a bit less stressful, it is a good idea to gather information just after the accident.  Make notes and take pictures if possible.  Also, if there are medical complications, it is important to save all of the documentation.

For more information please see www.aisinsurance.com

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

With this decision comes more responsibility.  This responsibility in part relates to homeowners insurance.  Many buying a home for the first time will have just come from a rental situation where if they had insurance, all they had to do was have insurance to cover the contents.  With a home purchase, the owner is now responsible for insuring the structure as well as the grounds the structure is on.

It is important for first time homeowners to consider insurance before buying a home.  Premiums very based on a number of factors.  Older homes may be more susceptible to fire, while newer homes have more modern materials making them more fire proof.  Also, the difference between living in the country or the city can have an effect on the price of insurance.  Homes in rural areas can be more expensive to insure because they can be farther away from fire protection services.

While these are just a few things to consider before buying your first home, more research should be done by the purchaser to determine what insurance hazards there are with a prospective home.  If you are considering a home, you should talk to a qualified insurance representative to help ask the right questions to make sure you are getting the best insurance advice.

For more information about California Homeowners insurance, please see www.aisinsurance.com/california-homeowners-insurance.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

When traveling, it is important to have a few basic survival items in your vehicle while you wait for help.  Always have bottled water, snacks, blankets, road flares and jumper cables in your car.  Keep these items in a kit in your trunk, so if you need them, they are easily accessible.  Now that many people have cell phones, it is also a good idea to equip your kit with a phone charger that is either solar powered or crank power.  If you breakdown and lose power, you may not be able to plug your phone into the cigarette lighter to charge it.

To supplement your kit, you should also consider purchasing roadside assistance insurance.  This type of insurance will be beneficial if you break down.  This service typically covers minor mechanical work, towing, tire changes, jump starts and fuel delivery.

Adding roadside assistance coverage to your current policy can be an affordable way to make sure that help is only a phone call way.  For more information on California roadside assistance coverage, please see http://www.aisinsurance.com/california-roadside-assistance.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

The two main types of policies are term life insurance and permanent life insurance.  A difference between the two has to do with the length of time the policy is active.  Term life insurance will only “pay out” if you die during a certain period, such as between the ages of 60-75.  If you should live past the expiration date of the policy and then you die, your family would get nothing.  A permanent life insurance policy can cover you for the duration of your life.  It can pay death benefits at any time, and there is no expiration date, as long as the policy is active.

Another difference between the two policies is the cost.  A term life insurance policy can be much more affordable to get into, but the premium can go up over time.  A permanent life insurance policy premium will stay relatively the same over the years.

When choosing a policy it is important to talk to your insurance carrier about your specific needs.  They can help you to assess what is best for you, based on what you want to pay and how much money you intend to leave for your family.  The bottom line is that no one should go without a life insurance policy.  Term life or permanent policies are ways to protect your family if something should happen.  For more information, please visit www.aisinsurance.com.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.