2020 | Boizelle Insurance Partnership - Page 7
Benefits of Having Erie Auto Insurance
We’re no longer living in an age where owning a car is not a necessity. As Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it”. Thankfully, our cars are able to get us from Point A to Point B with relative ease. By purchasing your auto insurance through ERIE, you’ll get a number of amazing benefits that will give you the peace of mind you deserve, so you can live your life the way you want to.
Multi-Policy Discount: When you bundle your home and auto insurance with Erie, you may be eligible for the multi-policy discount. This discount does not only apply to combining your home and auto coverage. For example, if you renting a home or if you own a condo instead of a home, you can combine one of these policies with your auto insurance.
ERIE Rate Lock: This feature can be added to your auto policy at any time. It gives you the opportunity to pay the same rate for your auto insurance every year. If you’re involved in an accident, your rate will not increase until you make certain changes to your policy. For example, your rate can change if you add a new car to your policy, add another driver like a son or daughter, or if you change your address.
ERIE Auto Plus: With this endorsement, you can cover all of the vehicles listed on your auto policy for up to $35 per policy. For every year you don’t file a claim, your deductible will decrease by $100 each year up to a maximum amount of $500.
Pets: We all love our furry friends! And we all dread the idea of them getting hurt. If your pet is injured in a covered auto accident, Erie will cover the costs of vet bills up to $500 per pet (maximum of 2 pets for a total limit of $1,000).
YourTurn: Are you a competitive person? Are you ready to put your safe-driving skills to the test? When you and other drivers in your family sign up to use ERIE’s YourTurn Phone App, you’ll be able to track and keep records of your family members’ scores, latest locations, trip details and streaks. Let the games begin!
New Auto Security: With ERIE’s New Auto Security endorsement, you have the opportunity to have your new vehicle (or 2015 vehicle that’s “new” to them) replaced without worry of depreciation. If your vehicle is deemed a total loss and you had a lease or a loan still on the vehicle, Erie will cover the difference between the actual cash value of the vehicle and what was still owed on the lease/loan. This is known as gap coverage on your auto policy.
Rental Cars: If you file a claim for a covered accident or loss, ERIE can offer Transportation Expense Coverage. This coverage is meant to cover you for the duration you don’t have access to your damaged vehicle.
Full Payment Discount: If you are able to pay your auto insurance premium in full up front, ERIE has a discount available for you.
Roadside Service: If you’re ever in a situation where your vehicle breaks down and you’re stranded, for around $5 per vehicle, you can add this coverage. This coverage gives you that added peace of mind knowing ERIE will save the day should something unexpected happen.
55+ Driving Discount: For all of your years of safe driving, ERIE wants to reward you. Call us to discuss this offer with one of our agents today.
Reduced Usage Discount: If you plan to store your vehicle for 90 consecutive days or more, ERIE can offer you a discount in most states (Not available in Kentucky).
Accident Prevention Course: Refreshing your driving skills if you’re 55 years old or older may make you eligible for a discount on your auto insurance policy.
Call us at 301-948-2010 to discuss your auto insurance coverage today! Also, be sure to follow us on our Facebook and Instagram pages! Just search Boizelle Insurance Partnership on Facebook and follow @boizelleinsurance on Instagram! We’re here for you!
Read moreHave Some Fun at Home During the Quarantine!
We are living in uncertain times. With the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus, families all over the country have been told to practice safe social-distancing and quarantine. Although these actions have been deemed necessary by world leaders, it still leaves us wondering when our lives can and will return to some semblance of normalcy. It is not uncommon – in these times – to feel down or depressed. So, it’s important to surround yourself with those you love. If you live alone, do the best you can to reach out to a friend or a loved one. If you know an elder who struggles to move around or who lives alone, consider bringing them groceries. We may not be able to have physical human contact right now, which is oh so important to our mental health and overall well-being, but we can take advantage of our technological advances. Pick up the phone and call someone, schedule a zoom meeting with your friends, FaceTime your grandparents, WhatsApp your in-laws. We can all do more to stay connected to each other.
Take a virtual trip at home
With travel restrictions in place and our own fears of contracting COVID-19, perhaps it’s time to try another way to see your favorite vacation destination. At least, until things return to normal. The Internet is an extremely effective and powerful tool that we have today. It allows us to see places all over the world we never even imagined. We can even see Antarctica if we wanted to! Okay, okay…you probably don’t want to imagine yourself in such a cold place. Maybe something far warmer, with the sun beaming down upon you. The Caribbean? Pretty much anything is possible with the Internet.
What to eat and drink while we’re all stuck at home
If you need some help deciding what to cook at home during quarantine, there are several tools you can use for some inspiration. YouTube videos are a great way to find recipes you enjoy. You can follow along with your favorite dishes and create something truly spectacular for yourself or your loved ones! While you’re in the kitchen making pasta and meatballs, why not turn on a little Frank Sinatra to really brighten the mood?
Wine Happy Hour
Since you’re away from your friends, why not buy a bottle of a wine and create a zoom meeting where you can interact with your friends? If you’re like me, you can talk about how much you miss baseball or going out to the movies. Sitting in your seat at the ballpark with a sausage and peppers sandwich on a toasted hoagie roll with mustard…an ice-coke to wash it all down! And don’t forget the chili dogs, nachos and peanuts! Who else misses Nationals’ baseball? **tear**
What to watch at home during quarantine
If there’s ever been a legitimate excuse to binge-watch your favorite shows, now’s the time! If you’re a comic-book or superhero enthusiast like me, Arrow and The Flash are great! If you have the STARZ channel, you can still watch Spartacus if you rent of buy the seasons or episodes. Unfortunately, it’s no longer on Netflix. Tiger King has proven to be an extremely popular choice!
Play with your pets
Our Frenchie has never been happier! Usually, we need to wake up and leave for work in the morning. Because we’re all working from home right now, she’s the happiest dog in the world!
How to stay in shape during quarantine
Gyms have been said to be some of the most risky places to be right now. Typically, germs are everywhere because as people are exercising, they sweat. And…yeah. It can get pretty nasty! When gyms finally open again, I think everyone is going to see cleansing wipes at every workout station around. Could that become the new normal? Going back to YouTube, it’s a wonderful source to find workout videos that you can follow along to. I know that a lot of people like to use weights when they work out. If you don’t have access to them right now, buy some gallons of milk and do some lifting exercises. Stretch bands and yoga are also really great! You can find step-by-step yoga instructional videos on YouTube that you can follow along to. If you’re having a hard day, you can also find videos with a focus on meditation to help you bring your mind back to a sense of tranquility and peace. My wife and I like to light candles or burn incense to create a more relaxing atmosphere. It’s almost like being in a spa!
Reward your children for completing chores
As I was researching information for this blog, I came across a fantastic idea! Since we’re all at home, perhaps it’s a good idea assign certain tasks to your children during the quarantine. To make it more fun, have a family movie night, but create a movie theater atmosphere where you have popcorn and candy. Make movie tickets that your kids can buy with the money they earned from doing their chores. It’s a great learning experience where your kids can learn the value of completing a job well and getting rewarded for it!
Remember, you’re not alone in this. Let’s all stay connected to each other!
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How to Choose a Deductible for Your Auto Insurance
How to Choose a Deductible for Your Auto Insurance
Not all auto insurance policies are alike. In fact, one of the most important decisions you will make before committing to an auto insurance policy is choosing your deductible. When you have an auto accident, your deductible would be the amount of money that you would pay out of pocket before your insurance policy kicks in.
Here’s an example of how your deductible would work pertaining to your auto insurance. You’re involved in an accident. You then go to your favorite collision repair shop to get an estimate of what the cost would be to repair your vehicle and restore it back to its original state. The people at the repair shop tell you it’s going to cost $3,500 to repair it. Now, let’s say that you have a deductible of $500. Before any repairs will be made by the repair shop, you would be responsible for paying the first $500 of the full cost of repairs. Your insurance policy would then cover the rest. It’s important to note that your deductible only applies to repairs made to your own vehicle.
It is not uncommon for people to typically choose a deductible between $100 and $1,000. Depending on the state, deductibles could range from as low as $100 to as high as $10,000. Our agents can break down your options in simple terms so you can choose deductible that fits your budget.
Some insurance carriers offer something called a diminishing deductible. Erie Insurance is one of those companies. This is a great endorsement that can be added to your policy. For every year of safe driving, your deductible could be lowered by as much as $100 per year of driving without filing a claim on your auto insurance policy. If you keep a consistent track record of no accidents, your deductible to be diminished to nothing. That’s right! Zero!
Whenever you’re involved in an accident, it’s important to remember to get the other party’s insurance information. If you are deemed not responsible for the damage to the vehicles involved, you should file the claim through the other party’s insurance company. And, you will not be responsible for paying your deductible under your own auto policy.
The more money you commit to pay upfront (your deductible), the less your auto insurance premium typically is. If you’re not sure which deductible to choose, don’t worry. One of our agents can guide you through the process.
Before choosing a deductible, you should consider the following:
- Your budget – What amount am I comfortable paying out of my own pocket if I have an at-fault accident?
- Your comfort with risk management – Because I have an excellent driving history, am I comfortable choosing a higher deductible for my auto policy vs. choosing a lower deductible and having to pay a higher premium?
- Drive time: Do you drive a lot? How much time do you typically spend behind the wheel? Do you normally have long commutes? What kinds of areas are you driving in? If you constantly drive in higher-risk, you may have a greater risk of accidents.
- Your Vehicle’s Value: Someone who drives a brand new luxury sedan is going to pay more for their insurance than someone who drives a vehicle that is ten years old. The more expensive the car, the more it costs to insure.
Life is unpredictable. It’s important to be prepared for the unexpected. One way to make sure you’re ready if a problem strikes is to have money set aside for emergencies. That way, you won’t panic or have to scramble for cash.
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New Year’s Resolutions for 2020
As each new year begins, all of us take some time to reflect. We reflect on our goals, our accomplishments, and how our lives have changed. Perhaps you had a goal to go the gym three times a week. Or maybe, you told yourself you were going to travel more. Whatever the case may be, we all have different goals, different needs, and it’s up to us as individuals to have the discipline and tenacity to stay focused on what we need to do to make our lives better for ourselves and our families.
All of us may have resolutions that we set for ourselves as individuals, but how much thought have you given to creating a better life for your loved ones? Let’s talk about how paying attention to your insurance needs can make your life a whole lot easier and more enjoyable, so that you can live each day with the peace of mind you deserve.
- Take an Inventory – This can seem like a grueling, overwhelming task, but if you organize your thoughts and plan a step-by-step course of action, you may find this process to be therapeutic and, maybe, even fun. Inventories can serve more than one purpose, too. In addition to finding out the value of your possessions like jewelry, an inventory can help you in the case of a disaster that brings on an expensive claim. Knowing the value of your possessions can help you avoid getting the short end of the stick when it comes to reimbursement for your belongings. Also, it’s important to understand that most insurance policies have limits on how much they will pay out for jewelry. Our experienced agents are here to help you!
- Stock Your Car – Don’t forget to put an emergency kit in each one of your vehicles. Good emergency kits will include jumper cables, flares, emergency blankets, a first-aid kit, and other items. Non-perishable snacks like nuts or trail mix are good to keep in your car in case you’re ever left stranded.
- Update Your Life Insurance – Have you made any additions to your family? Perhaps you’ve stopped smoking or your commitment and consistency with going to the gym has made you lose weight. It’s time to update your life insurance policy.
- Make sure you have sufficient limits of liability for your auto policy – If you’re ever involved in an at-fault accident, it’s possible that your current coverages are not adequate enough to cover costs of property damage or possible injuries that either you or other parties sustained. Call us to discuss your limits of liability for your auto insurance.
- Obtain an umbrella policy – If you’re involved in an auto collision and your policy limits are not enough to cover damages, an umbrella policy can kick in to cover the remaining costs. Call us to find out how an umbrella policy can benefit you!
- Decrease your distractions – We know this can be a broad one, but to keep things simple for you, we’re referring to kitchen safety here. It’s important to remain focused when you’re in the kitchen cooking. Hazards are everywhere. Everything from sharp knives to boiling water to having your oven on, try not to take your attention away from the task at hand. Forgetting that your oven is on can not only burn your dinner, but it presents a possible fire hazard that could result in a costly claim.
- Put your phone down while you’re behind the wheel – As we kick off the new “roaring 20’s”, let’s remember that all of us have hopes and dreams and goals we want to accomplish. Let’s all give ourselves and each other the opportunity to pursue those aspirations by getting home safely.