Suppose you are stopped at a traffic signal waiting for it to turn green and someone behind you is not paying attention and plows into the back of your car. If the damage is more than just a tiny scratch to your bumper, like most people, you will call your independent agent who will then report the accident to your insurance company.

Assuming you have an auto policy that provides collision coverage, you can file a claim with your car insurance company so you can get your car repaired as quickly as possible. Your insurance premium will not go up for a single accident that is not your fault. Your insurers in Laurel, Maryland can then turn around and seek reimbursement from the other driver’s auto insurance company. In addition, if you had a deductible and had to pay the first $500 of repair costs out of your pocket, your insurance company will probably get your money back and send you a check for those out-of-pocket expenses.

Now if you file one or two claims over a five year period, your premium will probably not go up. It is not so much the size of the claim that can cause your premium to go up, but rather the frequency of claims filed over a given period of time. The number of claims you file plays a much bigger role in the rate you will pay on your auto policy.

Deciding to file a claim for a little ding to your paint when you already filed two similar types of claims in the past year is probably not a good idea if you don’t want to risk an increase in your premium. While your coverage is there to be used, insurance companies take note of "accident prone" drivers, even if they are not at fault.

We get many questions about the effect of filing a claim will affect your auto insurance premium. As your independent agent, we have some knowledge of how filing claims with the insurance companies we represent can impact your rates. Give us a call and an independent agent will be happy to share his or her thoughts on when you should or should not file a claim.

If you have been insured with an auto insurance policy for any length of time in Laurel, Maryland, then you know that all licensed drivers have to be insured on an auto policy. The other driver will be required to be on your policy unless they have a policy of their own. If you need to add an additional driver to your coverage, then here are some things that you can expect your premium to do.

What Affects Your Premium if You Add a Driver to Your Policy?

· Adding a new driver to your policy will affect your premium. The big factor to consider is what the other driver’s record is like. If they have a lot of claims or moving violations, then your premium will go a lot higher than if their record was clean.

· If the other driver is under the age of 25, then you can expect to see a rise in your premium. After they turn 25 you can expect to see to see your premium decrease.

· Of course if the other person has a car that is has to be added, you may see a multi-car discount added to your policy. If the other person pays their part of the premium, then you may even see yourself paying less because of their car being added.

· Adding a new driver to your policy may mean that your coverage limits will have to increase. If there is an accident, you will want them to be protected from financial loss. Higher limits may mean a higher premium. In some states it means a lower premium for having the higher limits.

If you have questions that you need to have answer about your policy, you then need to contact your independent agent today. As your agent we can help answer all of your questions. It is important that you call us today so we can give you specific details about your policy today.

Many people treat there dogs just like a member of the family and take them everywhere they go. Normally, your dog is well behaved and just likes to look out the window as you are driving around your Washington D.C. neighborhood. But, for some reason, something got into your dog one day and he decided to tear up your expensive leather seats.

If the damage is severe enough and you have comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance policy, you can file a claim for the money it will cost you to have those leather seats repaired or replaced. As long as the damage was not caused intentionally, you will receive money, once you have paid your deductible, to cover any additional costs to repair or replace your car seats.

Comprehensive insurance coverage is for damage that is caused by anything other than a collision. It covers many different possibilities. For instance, it will cover you if someone keys your car or if you accidentally spill a bucket of paint on your leather seats. It will not cover intentional acts that you commit that damages your car. You can not get paid for four brand new seats if you take a knife and hack them up yourself.

Your dog, no matter how well-trained he or she happens to be, is still an animal. Unless it can specifically be shown that you encouraged and commanded your dog to tear up and make a mess of your car seats, it is assumed to be, to use a technical term, an accidental chewing.

If you would like to find out more about what comprehensive coverage does and does not cover, give us a call. An independent agent will be happy to share some useful information that may come in handy in the future.

Most kids who are in college are on their parents’ insurance policies, because it’s cheaper that way. If you live in the same house, you won’t have a problem staying insured. If you don’t live with your parents, though, you may have more of a struggle staying on their insurance. Of course, that depends on whether the car you’re driving is yours entirely, or whether it’s a car that belongs to your parents. The best way to get information about student coverage is to talk to us.

As an independent agent, we can look at several companies that offer you coverage in the Washington DC area. That way, you can compare one company to another and see which one will provide you with the most benefit and will give you the best option for staying insured. Your age will be a factor, but most college students are still in the age bracket where they can stay on their parents’ insurance policy. Be honest about your needs and goals, and let us find you a policy that will work for everyone involved.

The easiest way to stay insured on your parents’ auto insurance is to drive a car that they own and allow them to insure that car with you as an occasional or part-time driver. If the car isn’t in your parents’ names (whether or not your name is on it), you may find that it’s much harder to insure it on their policy. That will be even more of a consideration if you’re going to school away from home and not living with them, because that means the car will be somewhere else, as well. Most insurance companies don’t care for that arrangement, and that’s something you’ll need to carefully consider.

Sometimes you find yourself in a difficult situation, where you need to rent a vehicle on short notice. You may also need to borrow a vehicle that belongs to a friend or family member at some point. In either scenario, you may wonder if you’re covered under your insurance policy. Most policies that are issued for people in Washington DC won’t cover them when they drive other people’s cars, and not all policies cover them in rental cars, either. It often depends on the extent of the policy.

In order to determine if your coverage will protect you, come see us or give us a call. As an independent agent we work with a lot of companies, and we can find one that will provide you with the kind of coverage you need. We can also help you if you already have a policy with us and just have a question about it. No matter whose car you’re thinking of using, that person’s insurance will often cover what’s called an "occasional driver." That would be someone like you, who only borrowed the car for a little bit and doesn’t really drive it often.

Despite the fact that the other person’s auto policy will probably protect you, and that you can get insurance through the rental car company for a high price, it’s much better to know specifically what your policy covers. That way you don’t have to worry at all about whether you’ll be protected in the event of an accident. Even something as simple as getting pulled over for a minor traffic infraction can turn into a big deal if you don’t have insurance or you aren’t covered on the car you’re driving. Don’t take the chance. Just get in touch with us and make sure what kind of coverage you have so you can enjoy your drive.

Just like all of the states, if you live in our nation’s capitol, you are required to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance. Washington DC is a no-fault District which means that you must carry both liability insurance for damage you may cause to another person or vehicle and also carry uninsured motorist coverage in case you are injured or your property is damaged by another driver who does not have insurance.

Under the Washington DC Compulsory No-Fault Motor Vehicle Act, drivers must maintain minimum auto liability insurance of 25/50/10. In other words, you must have $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage in case you injure the driver of another vehicle and a total of $50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for all other individuals who may also require medical attention. In addition, the minimum requirements are $10,000 for any property damage that you may cause.

Because Washington DC auto insurance is no-fault and not like some other states where auto liability insurance is based on tort law and the at-fault driver bears the financial burden, drivers are also required to carry uninsured motorist liability coverage. This coverage protects you, the driver, in the event you get into an accident with an uninsured driver.

Uninsured bodily injury liability coverage minimums are $25,000 for a single person injured in an accident by a driver with no insurance and $50,000 for all people who may be injured by the uninsured driver in that same accident. Uninsured property damage liability is $5,000.

A large number of our clients buy policies that exceed the mandatory minimum requirements. The most popular liability policy is 100/300/50. It does not raise your premiums by too much and you will have much better coverage. If you would like to find out what coverage is best for you, give us a call and talk with an independent agent who can fill you in on all the details.

If you are a car owner, you know there are a lot of things you have to think about. One of the most difficult to have to handle is dealing with a stolen car. Instead of dealing with the repercussions of that, it is generally easier to work at preventing the auto theft from occurring in the first place. Follow these tips and you will be less likely to deal with a car robbery in the Laurel, Maryland area.

• Keep your car locked. It may seem like common sense advice, but keeping your doors locked will prevent a lot of robberies from occurring in the first place.
• Make sure you arm your car alarm. Even though many people do ignore them, a thief is less likely to pursue a car that is beeping at full volume than one that does not.
• Choose a car that is less flashy. The flashiest cares are the ones most often targeted for theft. It is possible to have a very nice car that will not garner as much attention from thieves, just use common sense.
• Do not park off by yourself. If you park out in the middle of nowhere you are more likely to be targeted by thieves.
• Bring your car in your garage at night. If you have garage space anyway, it makes sense to use it.
• If you are working late, try to park close to the front of the lot. More thefts occur in the early dusk hours than anytime.

As you can see, there are many ways you can go about reducing your risk of car robbery. Adding full insurance coverage that protects in case of theft is another great way that you can protect yourself. Talk to us about the options available and we can do a live quote comparison and find you the best possible price on your insurance as well.

Accident forgiveness – This is something that most Laurel, Maryland drivers probably think sounds like a good idea. However, do you understand exactly what it entails and how it can help you when it comes time to make a claim on your auto insurance?

When you are in an accident, the costs pile up. If you are at-fault, you may have to pay for a traffic citation and you have to pay for your car repairs or insurance deductible and if you have any medical costs you will pay those too. However one cost that you face that will come back to haunt you time and again is that of increased insurance premiums.

This is where accident forgiveness starts to play a part on your insurance. This is something offered by many different insurance companies. Even if they do not advertise it, it is often available for those who ask. The idea is that the insurance company will forgive you for an infrequent accident by not raising your premiums. This can make a big difference in the price you pay for the long-run.

Something to keep in mind is that accident forgiveness only applies to that particular company. If you move to another insurer, you will likely have the accident factored into determining the premium.

If accident forgiveness is something that you think may benefit you, contact an independent agent to talk about it. Working with an independent agent is the best way to make certain you are getting all the insurance you need and not paying more than you need to for the coverage. We can help you determine if accident forgiveness is right for you and help tailor the perfect auto insurance policy for you in or around Laurel, Maryland.

Your auto insurance policy was put together in order to give you the protection you need in order to drive a car. As life changes there is a need for you to be able to make changes to your auto policy. Residents living in Laurel Maryland should know that they can make changes to their auto by knowing some simple facts.

The Best Time to Make Changes to Your Auto Policy

• One of the best times to make a change to your auto policy is when you are changing to another auto policy. When people make the move to change insurance companies they change because they find a better rate. Some people have been able to save hundreds every year and end up raising or lowering their limits to accommodate the price.
• Another time people make changes to their policy is when the cost gets too expensive. Some people think that by lowering their coverage limits they will save some money. In some cases the price is lower but in some states the higher the limits the cheaper the policy.
• A final time people make changes to their policy is when there is a need too. For instance, if you are trying to buy a Umbrella policy, then you may have to raise your limits in order to meet the requirements of the desired policy.

If you have any questions about making changes to your auto policy, then you need to speak with your independent agent. They can answer all your questions and even help make recommendations that will help make your policy better for you. Take the time today and have your insurance policy reviewed today. You just may find that the changes you make will enhance your policy.

Maryland and most other states across the United States require proof of insurance in order to register your vehicle and all vehicles are registered required. If you reside in Laurel, Maryland and you own a vehicle that is either inoperable or being stored for any number of reasons, you will at least want to insure your vehicle against possible theft, vandalism, and fire to protect your investment.

If the inoperable or stored vehicle is not being driven it will still need to be registered with that state of Maryland and full coverage will need to stay intact if there is a lien on the vehicle. This full coverage insurance policy will remain in effect until the lien is paid in full, whether the vehicle is being driven or not.

If you have full ownership rights to the vehicle and there is no lien, then it is possible to take your information to the DMV of Maryland for special coverage for stored vehicles. If you let your coverage lapse on your stored vehicle, and have not taken the appropriate steps to obtain the right coverage, then your independent agent may have to notify the MVA of this cancelation. This generally means that you can be fined and receive points against your driving record. Some states require the agent to notify the DMV and they have no choice in the matter. If they do not take this step the company could be presented with a heavy fine.

If this state requests from you proof of policy you must have signed a certification. This is only issued by a state approved independent agent. Policies for stored or inoperable vehicles in this state is not expensive, and it will offer you the protection you need on your investment, the car is registered and you have remained within the boundaries of Maryland motor vehicle laws through the help of your independent agent.