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Understanding the Different Car Insurance Policies for New Vehicles

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Purchasing a new vehicle is an exciting milestone, but it also comes with the responsibility of obtaining car insurance. Auto insurance gives financial protection in the event of an accident and is also required by law in most states. 

With so many coverage options available, it can be overwhelming to navigate the world of car insurance. This article will break down the different coverage types and guide you in choosing the right policy for your new car.

Understanding the Basics of Auto Insurance

Before diving into the various coverage types, it is helpful to understand the essential components of an auto insurance policy. A typical policy consists of six main categories:

  • Liability Coverage
  • Collision Coverage
  • Comprehensive Coverage
  • Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Medical Payments (MedPay) Coverage
  • Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
  • Optional Add-Ons

Let’s discuss each of these categories in more detail.

Liability Coverage

Liability coverage is the foundation of any auto insurance policy. It is required by law in most states and protects you from financial losses if you are found at fault in an accident. Liability coverage is divided into two parts:

  • Bodily Injury Liability: It covers medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering for the other party involved in the accident.
  • Property Damage Liability: Covers damage to another person’s property, such as their car, home, or other structures.

When selecting liability coverage, you will need to choose the limits for each category. Higher limits provide more protection but also come with higher premiums.

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage is an optional add-on that covers damage to your car resulting from a crash with another vehicle or object. This coverage is vital for new car owners since it protects your investment. 

If you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, your lender may call for collision coverage as part of your auto insurance policy.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage is another optional add-on that covers damage to your vehicle resulting from incidents other than collisions. This includes theft, vandalism, fire, natural disasters, and more. 

Like collision coverage, lenders often require comprehensive coverage for financed or leased vehicles.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Medical Payments (MedPay) Coverage

PIP and MedPay are optional coverages that provide financial protection for medical expenses, lost wages, and other accident-related costs for you and your passengers, regardless of who is at fault. While not required in all states, some states have “no-fault” insurance laws that mandate PIP coverage.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage protects you if you are involved in an accident with a driver who does not have insurance. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage comes into play when the at-fault driver has insufficient insurance to cover your damages. 

Although not required in all states, UM and UIM coverage can provide valuable peace of mind in the event of an accident.

Optional Add-Ons

There are several optional add-ons available to enhance your auto insurance policy. Some popular options include:

  • Rental Reimbursement: Covers the cost of a rental car while your own vehicle is being fixed after a covered accident.
  • Emergency Roadside Assistance: Provides assistance for flat tires, dead batteries, and other roadside emergencies.
  • Gap Insurance: This covers the difference between the amount you owe on your car loan and the car’s actual cash value in the event of a total loss.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Coverage for Your New Car

Now that you better understand the different coverage types, you can make an informed decision about the best auto insurance policy for your new car. To do this, consider the following factors:

  • Your state’s minimum insurance requirements.
  • The value of your vehicle and whether you have a loan or lease.
  • Your personal financial situation and how much you can afford to pay for insurance.
  • The likelihood of accidents, theft, or other damage to your car based on your driving habits, location, and other factors.
  • The deductible amount you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before your insurance kicks in.
  • The level of customer service and claims handling provided by the insurance company.
  • Any additional coverage options and endorsements that may be beneficial for your specific situation, such as roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, or gap insurance.

If you’re looking for car insurance in Conyers, GA, feel free to reach out to us at The Tabb Insurance Agency. We provide a range of insurance policies for both personal and business requirements, such as vehicle insurance. Get in touch with us for a complimentary estimate today.

Understanding the Details of Commercial Car Insurance

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You might need to obtain commercial car insurance coverage if you own a business that depends on vehicles for its operations. Additionally, you may need commercial coverage if you use your personal vehicle for job-related activities other than commuting to work, running errands, or going on road trips.

The sections below show more about how commercial car insurance works and how it can benefit your company.

Overview of Commercial Car Insurance

Despite sharing many characteristics with personal auto insurance, commercial auto insurance is created expressly for automobiles used for or by a business. This can apply to both personal vehicles and those you purchase for a company you operate.

Commercial auto insurance may provide both liability coverage and collision coverage for company vehicles and their drivers. If you are in an accident, the former helps cover the other driver’s repair costs and medical expenses. The latter pays for any damages or medical costs you or your vehicle may incur in the event of an accident.

One advantage of purchasing commercial auto insurance for your business is that your premiums are frequently tax deductible. To potentially lower your yearly tax liability, you can deduct them as a business expense.

Tax deductions for personal auto insurance rates are uncommon unless you use the car for business. You may not be able to subtract the entire premium amount even then. 

Common Coverage of Commercial Car Insurance

  • Delivery vans or trucks
  • Work vans
  • Dump trucks
  • Vehicles used in construction, such as forklifts
  • Food trailers and trucks
  • Service utility trucks
  • Box trucks
  • Company vehicles

Benefits of Commercial Car Insurance

Some cases that are unique to a business and its requirements are covered by commercial car insurance. For instance, you could require non-owned vehicle coverage as part of your policy if you have employees who use company cars or trucks. 

If you are self-employed and exclusively use your vehicle for business, you must have a commercial policy that covers it.

Commercial auto insurance might provide liability and accident damage protection. The limits of your liability coverage may be more than what you typically receive from a personal insurance policy.

This is helpful if you’re worried that your business will be sued after an accident involving you or one of your employees.

Commercial auto insurance may also cover other benefits besides liability and collision insurance. The following are some of these further advantages:

  • Accident-related personal injury claims or medical expenses
  • Theft, vandalism, falling objects, or weather-related damage
  • Uninsured or underinsured drivers’ damages
  • Costs associated with renting a temporary replacement vehicle for your business 
  • Rental cars for clients or staff
  • Cars owned by employees and used for work

The contents of commercial cars might be covered by your insurance. For instance, if you were to run a contracting business and transport tools or supplies in your work vehicles and the supplies inside the van were stolen, your commercial auto insurance policy might give compensation. 

Conclusion

If your company needs commercial car insurance, do your homework on the available possibilities before choosing one. Ask your current insurer if they also provide business insurance if you already have personal auto insurance. 

You might be able to get a deal on business insurance as an existing client. Additionally, if you’re occupied with running your everyday business operations, having all of your insurance in one location may be simpler than dealing with various insurers.

Get your commercial auto insurance in Conyers from The Tabb Insurance Agency. We offer different insurance plans and high-quality service in Conyers, Georgia, for your personal and business needs. Call us now to get started.

Car Insurance 101: A Beginner’s Guide for New Drivers

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Auto insurance is something that every driver needs. But for new drivers, who are just starting in the world of driving, it can be a confusing and overwhelming topic. This guide will give you the basics of car insurance to make an informed decision when it comes time to purchase a policy.

What Is Car Insurance?

Car insurance is a type of insurance that helps protect you financially if your car is damaged or stolen. It also provides liability coverage if you are involved in an accident that results in injuries to others.

There are various types of car insurance available. The coverage you choose will depend on several factors, including your driving record, the kind of car you drive, and your personal needs and preferences.

The most basic type of car insurance is liability insurance, which provides coverage for damages you may cause to others in an accident. This type of insurance is required in most states.

What Are the Coverages of Car Insurance?

There are various car insurance policies available, and you can choose the one that best suits your needs. Some policies will cover you for damage to your car, while others will cover you for the cost of repairs.

Here are some coverages you should familiarize yourself with.

1. Vehicular Accidents

This coverage will pay for the cost of repairs to your car if it is damaged in an accident. It will also cover the cost of medical bills if you or a passenger is injured in an accident.

2. Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is insurance that protects you if you’re in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your damages. This coverage is optional in most states, but it’s a good idea to have it if you can afford it.

If you’re in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, your motorist coverage will pay for your damages up to your policy limit. If you don’t have this coverage, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for any damages that exceed the other driver’s liability limit.

3. Collision Insurance

Collision insurance is a type of car insurance that pays for damage to your car if it’s in an accident. It covers damage from collisions with other vehicles and objects, regardless of who is at fault.

If you have collision insurance and your car is in an accident, your insurance company will pay for the repairs up to the amount specified in your policy. If the cost of repairs exceeds your policy limit, you’ll have to pay the difference out of pocket.

4. Bodily Injury Liability

This coverage protects you if you are found responsible for injuring someone else in an accident. It will help to pay for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

5. Property Damage Liability

Property damage liability coverage protects you if you are found responsible for damaging someone else’s property in an accident. This could include their car, home, or other personal belongings.

6. Comprehensive Coverage

This coverage will help to pay for the repairs to your car if it is damaged by something other than an accident. This could include damage from a hail storm, theft, or vandalism.

Final Thoughts

There are various car insurance policies and coverages available for all types of drivers, and you can choose the one that best suits your needs. You should consult a reliable auto insurance company to help you decide on the extent of coverage you need.

If you need car insurance in Conyers, GA, don’t hesitate to contact us at The Tabb Insurance Agency. Our team offers various insurance plans for your personal and business needs, including auto insurance. Message us for a free quote today.

How to Make a Car Emergency Kit

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Whether it’s a flat tire or a run-in with a winter storm, a vehicle emergency can really catch you off guard. The first step you should take in creating a road emergency plan is to give your insurance agent a call. Many insurance carriers offer roadside assistance services as a policy add-on, if it is not already part of your auto coverage. Often, available roadside assistance services will include towing, battery jump-start, flat tire change, fuel delivery, lockout service, and winching service. Your agent will be able to tell you if you can benefit from your auto insurance carrier’s roadside assistance coverage or assist you with adding it to your policy.

There is no such thing as being too safe, and you should still consider creating a car emergency kit in case your roadside assistance is delayed or unavailable for some reason. Here are some items you may want to include in your own kit.

Tools to Fix Your Vehicle

Say you get a flat tire. Perhaps your cell phone has died and you don’t have a car charger or you’re in an area with no cell service. In this case, you will not be able to contact roadside assistance, and it’ll be up to you to get out of the emergency situation. You can be prepared for this possibility by having a car emergency kit that includes items such as a properly inflated spare tire, tripod jack, and wheel wrench. It’s always a good idea to include jumper cables in your kit as well, and don’t forget a reflective vest and reflective triangles that will make you visible to passing cars as you walk around your vehicle making repairs.

Supplies to Prepare for Anything

Speaking of dying cell phones, your emergency kit should definitely include a car cell phone charger or even a portable charger. The latter, also called a power bank, is a device you “power up” at home and can use anywhere to charge your cell phone. These power banks can hold charge for several months if fully charged once and kept at room temperature. This may be an issue if you park your vehicle outdoors, but you can rectify the problem by regularly recharging your power bank and placing it back in your vehicle for storage. Consider also including a basic first aid kit, flashlight with replacement batteries, water bottles, and nonperishable, high-energy foods such as protein bars and nuts.

Emergency Phone Numbers

Even if your cell phone dies, a passerby may pull over and have a phone you can use. If this happens, you’ll want to be able to access phone numbers for your roadside assistance service, insurance agent, or an emergency contact. Have these numbers typed or written on paper that you can keep in your glove box instead of keeping them only on your cell phone.

Cold Weather Specific Items

If you live in an area with lots of cold weather, it’s a good idea to take this into account when putting together your emergency kit. A shovel and ice scraper are useful tools to have, cat litter helps provide tire traction, and you’ll likely need warm clothing and blankets if you are stuck for a period of time.

What Else Can You Do?

Practicing responsible car care is the best way to ensure your vehicle won’t get into any emergency situations. Unexpected situations do arise, but some emergencies can be prevented. Keep up with your vehicle’s maintenance and always keep a full gas tank. And remember – be sure to check with your agent first and foremost to find out about securing roadside assistance through your auto insurance carrier.

What to Do If Your Car Is Stolen

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Remain Calm

If you believe your car has been stolen, your immediate response is likely to completely freak out. This is understandable, but there is a chance you could be mistaken. It is possible that your car was towed or even that your teenager took it without asking. Make a few calls to local towing companies to see if your car is with them. If you determine that your car was, in fact, stolen, you must still remain calm so you can follow the correct procedures.

Call the Police

This is your first step once you know your vehicle was taken. To report your car as stolen, you will need to provide facts that the police can use to identify your car. This information includes a detailed description of the vehicle including make, model and year, color, and any unique features such as bumper stickers or dents. You will also want to have your license plate number and vehicle identification number (VIN) on hand to provide to police. If you don’t know these off the top of your head, consider keeping a note of them in your wallet or cell phone. It’s especially important to contact police right off the bat, since many carriers will not honor a claim unless a police report is filed first.

Contact Your Insurance Agent

After filing a report with the police, it is time to file a claim with your insurance. Only a comprehensive auto insurance policy offers coverage in the case of theft, but even if you do not have this policy it is a good idea to notify your insurance agent about the incident. By notifying insurance, you may still be able protect yourself against any damage that occurs to persons or property while the vehicle is in possession of the thief or thieves. You will want to have at hand the same vehicle information you provided to the police, as well as items such as the title, a list of the location of all keys to the vehicle, a list of any personal property that was in the vehicle, the police report number, and contact information for your finance or leasing company. You provide the information, and your agent will take care of the rest.

Final Steps

After taking the initial steps to report the theft to police and involve your insurance agent, you will want to tie up any loose ends by notifying other parties that have an interest in your vehicle. Your agent will likely take care of this, but you can also place a call to your finance or leasing company. Report the theft to the DMV as well.

You should continue working with your insurance agent to see about rental vehicle coverage, but the only thing to do once all these steps have been completed is to wait. Your car may be recovered, but unfortunately there is a chance it may not be. Your agent will be there by your side throughout the process, whatever happens.

Teens and Distracted Driving

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Starting to drive is one of the most exciting experiences for teenagers, but it can also be one of the most dangerous. According to the CDC, teenagers are the most likely age group to get into a traffic accident. Teens are more likely to speed and less likely to wear seatbelts than older drivers. They are also much more likely to become distracted while driving, resulting in a much higher potential for injury-causing or even fatal accidents. What are the most common distractions facing teen drivers, and what can be done?

Cell Phone Usage

Perhaps the most obvious cause of teen distracted driving is the use of cell phones while on the road. Cell phone use while driving is illegal in some states, but many people–especially teenagers–still engage in it. Both talking on the phone and texting are dangerous for the teen driver, and many teens will even open and use social media apps while driving. Distracted driving causes 15% of all injury-causing accidents, so as the most susceptible to distracted driving, teens should be made highly aware of the potential consequences of their actions.  

Talking on the phone can cause mental distraction and manual distraction, and even hands-free conversation methods can cause distraction. Texting while driving is much more dangerous, as it causes mental, manual, and visual distraction. Taking your mind off the road is never good, but focusing your mind, hands, and eyes elsewhere is an incredibly dangerous combination. When you are distracted in these ways, reactions to potential dangers are much slower or may be completely missed.

Other Distractions

Cell phones are a serious distraction for teen drivers, but they are not the only source. Anything that takes your hands off of the wheel and mind or eyes off of the road can cause an accident. This includes activities such as eating, changing the music, applying makeup, and interacting with passengers. This last is perhaps the most dangerous of all. Studies have found that teenagers’ chances of a crash increase significantly with each additional passenger in the vehicle. This is especially true if the fellow passengers are teen peers.

Solutions

It is important for parents to share the dangers of distracted driving with their teenage children, but it is even more important for adults to model responsible driving behavior. Teens will not heed warnings against phone usage or other risky activities if they regularly see their parents engaging in these behaviors.

There are also some mobile apps that will prevent cell phone usage while a car is in motion or when manually enabled before driving. These apps can be a good way to help teens become accustomed to leaving their phone alone while driving, so that in the future they can practice self control on their own.

Be Prepared

Educating teens about distracted driving and helping them find ways to combat these dangers can greatly help reduce teenage traffic accidents. However, we cannot control everyone on the road, and even the safest drivers can experience a collision. Make sure you and your family is covered in the event of a car accident with the right auto insurance.

How to Handle a Parking Lot Accident

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Parking lots are considered one of the most dangerous places to drive for a reason. With limited visibility, crowded spaces, and mediocre signage, parking lots are hot spots for fender benders on a daily basis. When an accident happens in a parking lot, there are typically three characters who have an important role to play in resolving the wreck quickly and calmly: the driver, the victim, and the witness. Here, we break down what you should do in this situation according to your role:

If You Are the Driver

As the offending driver, there are several scenarios you can find yourself in here. The number one thing to remember is, no matter what, don’t drive off! You may be panicking and thinking you can get away with it, but hit-and-runs are pretty serious offenses in most states, and parking lot surveillance cameras are more common than you’d think.

If the car was parked, go inside the establishment and try to track down the driver. The best way to do this is to get a customer service representative to describe the victim’s car and make an announcement over the intercom. If the driver doesn’t appear, it’s time to take all the matters into your own hands. If the damage to the car is as minor as a scratch or small dent, write a note that includes your name, number, and explanation of the accident and secure it onto the other driver’s car. If the damage is more extensive, call the police to come document the accident in the parking lot. This professional documentation helps police track down the other driver, and it can protect you in the long run when it’s time to file an insurance claim.

If You’re the Victim

If your car is the one that got hit, it is important to contact your auto insurance agent as soon as you can. The faster an accident is reported, the more accurate the claim will be. If the other driver is still at the scene, make sure you write down their name, phone number, driver’s license number, address, and insurance company.

Whether the other driver is still there or not, record evidence of the accident. Take pictures of the damage and look for witnesses in the parking lot. Before you leave, go into the store and ask the manager if he or she has any security camera footage you can check. If the other driver left, this last step can help you and the police track them down!

If You’re a Witness

As a witness, you may feel like you aren’t involved in the accident, but you actually play a very important role here. If you see a parking lot accident happen, you should provide assistance to the victim and driver. If the offending driver drove away, then help the other driver document the damage. Also provide them with your contact information so the police or insurance company can contact you later if needed. Having a witness on hand can really help the victim later on. It isn’t against the law to turn your head and not help out, but it is the right thing to do and a generally accepted social rule to stop and help if you witness an accident.

How to Teach Your Teen to Drive in Wet Conditions

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Every driver’s safety hinges upon their skill behind the wheel. If it is your first time training a teenager on how to drive in the rain, it’s a good idea to teach them everything they need to be aware of both before and during the driving session. Many of these are things that experienced drivers do on autopilot every time it rains, so it may be easy to forget to teach a young driver.

We’ve put together some important points for you to include in your training, so your teen doesn’t have any unpleasant surprises when he or she hits the road in the rain.

Before Hitting the Road: Know What to Check For

How Are the Tires?

  • The car you have your teen driving probably has tires that are in good condition, but teach them how to measure a tire’s tread using a gauge anyway. When they’re out on their own, they need to know that a worn down tire doesn’t have enough tread depth to evacuate standing water from between the road surface and the tire. They should know how to tell when it’s time for a replacement.
  • Also teach them how to check the pressure. Tires that have too much or too little pressure can lead to reduced traction, early tread wear, or tire failure.

How is Your Visibility?

  • Show your teen how to check the quality of their windshield wipers. If they leave streaks across the windshield, they are probably old and worn down. Good windshield wipers are critical for being able to see clearly in heavy rain.
  • Make sure your teen understands how important it is to run their headlights in the rain. Many experienced drivers still don’t abide by this rule of the road! Being seen by other cars is arguably one of the most important parts of driving in the rain. Show your teen how the daytime running lights, while useful, don’t activate the rear tail lights. Without rear tail lights, it can be difficult for other drivers to see your teen’s car in heavy rain, and their chances of getting struck from behind are increased.

On the Road: Things to Always Keep in Mind

  • Slow down! Driving slower in the rain is crucial, especially when it hasn’t been raining for very long and the fresh water is mixing with slippery “road sludge.” A wet, slick road surface offers less grip compared to a dry surface, and braking distances can double.
  • Teach your teen to use the air conditioner to keep their windshield from fogging up. The A/C dehumidifies the car and keeps the windows clear. If the A/C doesn’t work, tell them to crack the back windows to allow air to circulate.
  • Make sure your teen understands how longer braking distances can really put them in danger driving in town or on the interstate. They should know to keep a further distance from the vehicle in front of them, so they have plenty of time to stop if traffic suddenly slows down.
  • Teenagers can be nervous and use jerky movements while driving. This will improve over time, but make sure your teen knows that smooth steering inputs are paramount, especially in the rain. Jerky or rushed steering can cause loss of control on a slick road. Show them how important it is to always look far ahead and anticipate every action they’ll take on their journey.

Everyone was a new driver once, but it is evident by the amount of needless accidents that not everyone was properly taught. Rainy weather is one of the most dangerous conditions to drive in, but making sure that your teen is prepared and confident will give you both peace of mind and decrease their likelihood of getting in an accident. If your teen hasn’t started driving yet, make sure they’re prepared to legally hit the road with car insurance!