Keeping your auto insurance policy updated is sometimes overlooked if people buy a new car, add a new driver or even move to a different state.  Neglecting your policy can cost you money if you are in an accident or the car is broken into or stolen.  Below are a few times in which you should make sure to update your auto insurance policy and ensure that you are fully protected.

• If you have a teen in the home who will be driving your car, they need to be added to the policy. While teen drivers may think they know all there is to know about driving, statistics prove otherwise. Teen drivers have the highest rate of accidents, and if you do not update your insurance, they may not be protected. Update your policy to ensure that your teen and car are fully protected.

• Different states have different laws and it is important to check with your agency regarding any necessary changes when you move. Depending on driving conditions, the type of driver you are, and other circumstances, insurance providers have different rates within different states.

• If you purchase a vehicle, whether new or used, you must alert your insurance company. While the price of the vehicle may be comparable to your old one, the premium might change based on the type of vehicle, age of the vehicle and even the trim level of the vehicle.

AIS Auto Insurance can help you with many of these circumstances.  If you are in need of a new policy or need to change your current AIS policy, please visit www.aisinsurance.com for more information.

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.

Be Prepared For the Road.

Summer is here, the kids are out of school, and the weather is beautiful.  What does that mean?  Road Trip!  Summer is an ideal time for vacationing.  With the price of air travel increasing, families are taking to the road to reach their summer-fun destination.  Your vehicle may be packed with bags, but have you remembered the safety essentials such as roadside emergency kits and quick repair tools?  One sure way to spoil a family vacation is by being unprepared when an unfortunate situation arises.

Before you hit the road this summer, ensure that you have the necessary items in your car to prepare you and your family for any issue that may arise while driving.  Here are some items to keep for your road trip preparation.

• Working spare tire and jack
• First aid kit
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Jumper cables
• Extra Oil
• US map or atlas book
• Tools (lug nut wrench, assorted screwdrivers, adjustable wrench or multitool)
• Can of fix-a-flat

Assemble these items in a small duffel bag to place in your trunk.  You may already have many of them in your home or garage.  If you don’t have a listed item, you can find it at an automotive supply store or other locations like Target or Wal-Mart.  Once your kit is assembled you are officially ready to start your summer road trip!

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.

One of the perks of owing a new vehicle is the warranty services that come along with it.  Most warranty services will include roadside assistance.  Roadside assistance can be beneficial if you need basic services while on the road.  If you get a flat tire and need help changing it, this is where your roadside assistance policy can help.  Also, typically included is limited towing service.  If your vehicle needs to be towed to a dealer, roadside assistance can make the arrangements for you.

If you don’t have a new car, but still would like the peace of mind that comes with having roadside assistance, you certainly add this service to your existing auto insurance coverage.  In most cases it will only cost you a few dollars extra per month, but it can be well worth it should you be in a situation where it is needed.    One tow could easily be more expensive than the yearly cost of adding roadside to your policy.

In some cases the roadside assistance plan that you add will be provided by a club such as the National Automobile Club.  Other perks of adding this coverage can include free maps, discounts on rental cars, travel links and more. 

If you need more information contact your insurance provider, or if you are in need of California auto insurance and would like to add this to your new policy, please contact an insurance professional at http://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.

Now that summer is almost here, many people will be starting to ride their motorcycles.  Before the bike comes out of the garage, it is important to make sure that it is insured properly.  Shopping for motorcycle insurance can be a daunting task.  You have to decide what kinds of coverages and limits you want to include. 

One way to find the best motorcycle insurance is to research many individual companies, receive quotes from each and determine which policy is right for you.  Many people don’t have the time to spend researching many different companies. 

Finding the right motorcycle insurance policy doesn’t have to be a highly time consuming event.  The Auto Insurance Specialists can help you with this problem.  Simply complete a quote request form and you will receive the rates of many top rated motorcycle insurance providers.  All you have to do is fill out one form with all of your information, and rate estimates comparing the same coverage are returned to you.  This system makes it fast and easy to get the best coverage at an affordable rate. 

If you plan to head out on your bike this summer and are looking for new motorcycle insurance, fill out a request form today and be protected once you hit the road.  Please fill out our free motorcycle insurance quote form to get started. https://www.aisinsurance.com/california-motorcycle-insurance-quote.

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 it comes to owning a new vehicle, there are two ways in which you can go about obtaining one.  You can buy it, or you can lease it.  Buying the vehicle means that you are purchasing it and once it is paid in full, you own it outright.  Leasing a vehicle essentially means that you are paying for the vehicle that you use.  So with a lease, you are not paying the full price just what you use during a set time period. 

When you buy a vehicle and don’t finance it, you must insure it, but only for state-mandated liability coverage.  Insuring the vehicle itself against collision or theft is up to you.  When you finance or lease a vehicle, since technically you don’t own it, you may be required to carry full or additional insurance to protect the dealer and the bank.  Dealers and banks can require that you carry more insurance to protect their property through the course of the lease or until the vehicle is paid off, in the event of damage or it being stolen. 

If you are in the market for a new vehicle, you will want to consider all of your options before buying or leasing.  It is important to check the dealer requirements and the cost of a policy if you decide to lease or finance a vehicle. 

For a free quote on protecting your financed or leased vehicle with auto insurance, please contact an AIS Insurance representative.

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.

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How many of us have stopped to think if we should take on the extra rental car insurance at the time of rental?  Many people don’t want to spend the extra money, but also want to be covered in the event of an accident with the rental car.  This leads to the question: “Does my current policy give me complete coverage in the event of an accident in a rental car?”  While the answer can be different for owners of different auto insurance policies, there are some general items you should take into account when whether deciding to purchase the extra rental car insurance. 

If you have full coverage on your car, there is a good chance that your current policy can cover you in a rental car.  Before you decide not to take the extra coverage from the rental car agency, read the fine print in your rental contract.  Some companies have very strict rules about how they operate and deal with your insurance company in the event of an accident.  In the long run, it still may be cheaper to purchase the extra insurance from the car agency.  Most rental companies have information online about how their insurance policies work and the services that they offer.

For those who may carry coverage such as personal injury and liability coverage, these do not cover damage, so when renting a car, the damage to the rental in an accident would not be covered.  If this is your situation, you will want to purchase the extra insurance provided by the car rental agency to ensure that you don’t have to pay for the full damage and labor of fixing the car.

Even if you do have collision coverage, you should know that it excludes things like diminution of value (the reduced value of a vehicle after repair) and loss of use (the lost rental value of the vehicle while being repaired), while the coverage you can purchase from the rental agency does include these items.

Before renting a car, it is best to check the details of your policy and the policies of the rental company you choose.  For more information about auto insurance products, (link to http://www.aisinsurance.com/california-auto-insurance) please contact a specialist at 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.

After many years of selling California auto insurance, we have fielded numerous questions about auto insurance “myths” associated with them.  Below is a list of our favorite “myths” and what they actually mean.

I recently paid my insurance premium and purchased a new car.  This means that I am covered.  This is true up until a certain point.  You typically have a certain amount of time under the terms of your policy to notify your carrier of a new or replacement vehicle.  If you have purchased a car that is very different from your current model, your premiums could be significantly different.  It is always a good idea to contact your agent or carrier immediately to advise them of your new vehicle.

I’ve never been in an auto accident so I don’t need insurance.  While most are lucky enough to not have been in an auto accident, it is still imperative that you protect yourself, people in your vehicle and others sharing the road.  It is also illegal in all states to drive without auto insurance.

While these are our favorites, there are many myths about auto insurance.  If you have specific questions please contact a representative at AIS Auto Insurance(Link to homepage).

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.

Many people assume that the reason it is called gap insurance is because it covers the difference between what you owe on your car and what the insurance will pay for in the event that you get into an accident and the car is totaled.  The word “gap” actually stands for “guaranteed auto protection”.  If you don’t already have gap insurance with your current policy, it might be something to think about adding, especially if you have recently purchased a new vehicle or are currently leasing a vehicle. 

When you drive a car off the lot it automatically depreciates.  If you pay $25,000 for the vehicle and you have an accident one month later, you probably have only made one payment.  If the car is determined to be totaled, you are at a loss because the insurance company will only pay you the market value of your vehicle.  So if your $25,000 vehicle depreciated by 20%, you would only receive $20,000 from the insurance company.  That leaves $5000 left that is uncovered.  If you took out a loan to pay for the vehicle, you are still responsible to pay off the loan, which means you will be paying for a car that you can’t drive.  Gap coverage can help cover the difference, but it frequently excludes things like “rollover” balances from trade-ins and is often capped at a percentage of the vehicle value, so make sure you understand all of the terms and conditions. 

As you can see, gap insurance is essential when purchasing or leasing a new vehicle.  For more information about gap insurance and free quotes, please contact a representative at our California auto insurance(link to www.aisinsurance.com) agency.

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.

A recent study has shown that because of the down economy, many people are letting their auto insurance lapse because they can’t afford the premiums.  This means that you are more likely to get into an accident with someone who cannot cover the damage of your vehicle, or worse yet, your medical expenses. 

According to the Insurance Research Council, California ranks 7th on the list of most uninsured drivers.  As much as 18% of people are not paying, and that percentage goes up in large urban areas.  That means that 1 in 5 drivers are on the road, uninsured, and that number is expected to rise.

What does that mean for you, the consumer?  It means that if you get into an accident, then there is a 1 in 5 chance that the other person involved will not have coverage to pay for the damage to your car or your medical bills.

Now more than ever, you need to make sure that you are protected in the event that you are in an accident with an uninsured motorist.  Review your policy to see what your coverage is.  If you don’t already have uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist UM/UIM coverage, now is a good time to look into it.

If you have any questions about insurance you can always contact us at www.aisinsurance.com or call 888-772-4247

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.