Auto Insurance

You probably get into your car every day without giving much thought to having an accident.  But with more traffic on the roads and more distracted drivers, it’s no surprise that auto accidents are continuing to rise.  If you get into a car accident and your car is deemed a total loss, will you know what to do?  Handling a total loss does not need to be confusing and as stressful if you know what to do and the basis of how a total loss is determined.  In fact, the more you know the faster you can get back on the road! With the soaring costs of auto parts and labor to fix damaged vehicles, [...]

Preparing for your son or daughter to go to college comes with many concerns so parents must formulate a plan of action to address certain responsibilities.  Being a college student means your child will now be living independently.  One of your biggest concerns for him/her may involve driving safely and how to handle the consequences of being involved in a car accident.  Before your son/daughter leaves for college, find out what college students should know if involved in an auto accident. Your college student has been enrolled in college for several months now and so far, has not been involved in any type of auto accidents, but THEN you get the phone call.  Your child [...]

At one time or another you have probably handed your car keys over to someone to drive your car. Whether your friend needed to run an errand while his car was in the shop or a relative had an emergency situation and asked to take your car for the day, you freely handed over the keys, but is that always a good idea? Loaning your car to a friend or relative is a kind gesture, but what happens when that person has an auto accident? Understand Your Coverage Before Loaning Your Car   Your friend asks if she can use your car for a few days until her car is repaired and you gladly agree. [...]

Owning and operating a vehicle means you must carry liability auto insurance on that vehicle, as mandated by the state of North Carolina. However, when you are looking for an affordable insurance premium, you may be surprised to find your insurance quote is higher than expected, only to find out the reason is due to your insurance score. Find out what an insurance score means and how it may affect your insurance rate.  Insurance Score  An Insurance Score is a score designed to predict the likelihood of future accidents or claims filed based upon your credit report. You may hear the terms “insurance” score and “credit” score used similarly since they both impact your insurance [...]

The state of North Carolina mandates all owners/operators of vehicles to have auto liability insurance, but what happens when your N.C. car insurance is canceled for non-payment? Not having car insurance, regardless of the reason, can be detrimental in many ways so finding out what you can do if your policy is canceled is monumental.      What a Canceled Policy Means If you receive notice that your insurance carrier is canceling your auto policy that means your policy is completely terminated at the stated date. When you initially sign on the dotted line for auto insurance, you are in a “binding” period for the first 2 months and your carrier can terminate your car insurance [...]

North Carolina requires that every owner/operator of a vehicle have auto insurance; however, that doesn’t always guarantee the protection that you think you have. First of all, just because the state mandates auto liability insurance doesn’t mean that every person on the road has insurance and second of all, having the minimum insurance requirements may not be enough protection when you need it the most. Find out how you can protect yourself from Uninsured motorist/Underinsured motorist drivers. N.C. Minimum Limits of Liability   The North Carolina minimum limits of liability auto insurance are 30/60/25 which can be explained quite easily. The 30 represents $30,000 of Bodily Injury Coverage available for 1 person suffering injury, while 60 [...]

In North Carolina, you are required by law to carry auto liability insurance on any vehicle that you own/operate, but what if your driving record is tarnished with a history of several accidents? While nobody can be turned down for auto insurance coverage, (exceptions apply) your insurance carrier CAN decide to turn your policy over to the North Carolina Reinsurance Facility (NCRF). If you fail to pay your insurance premium or no longer have a valid drivers license, you can be turned away for coverage. If you receive notification, you will need to know what it means when your N.C. auto liability insurance is ceded. How Does NCRF Operate? Developed in 1973, the North Carolina [...]

The holiday season is upon us once again and that typically means people are busier and traveling more. In fact, holidays are amongst the busiest travel times of the year because of either visits with friends and family or indulging in that much anticipated vacation. With an increase in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it is important to be aware of staying safe for the holidays. Some Key Safety Measures to Follow During the Holiday Season   Map your travel route and plan appropriately- Before you hit the road, make sure you have the directions available and anticipate the possibility of heavy traffic. Remember, many people are traveling during the holidays and [...]