Author Archives: AgentInsure

Saving Money on Gasoline

Posted on by

Green Valley, Arizona is a great place to live. Many commute to the Tucson area for work, so they need to save money on gasoline. The Insurance Center of Green Valley offers some tips on how to save money on gasoline and gives a bit of advice that helps drivers to pay lower auto insurance premiums and still obtain superb auto insurance coverage.

Here are a few items to consider:

  1. Getting a Tune-up Increases Gas Mileage – The recommendation for a tune-up includes a full vehicle maintenance and safety check. Replacing spark plugs with new ones, changing the fuel and air filter, and adjusting engine idle speed does wonders for increasing gas mileage. Additionally, checking tire air pressure, wheel alignment, and taking unnecessary stuff out of the trunk that is excessive weight, all increase mileage. As part of a full maintenance check, be sure to review the auto insurance for proper coverage.
  2. The Use of Biofuels – Biofuels are a great way to use an alternative to gasoline, but using them needs careful consideration. It is important to understand the effects of using alternative fuels that may change the coverage for warranty repairs. Moreover, consider any potential mechanical failures from using biofuels that might cause an accident. Working with a qualified mechanic that understands these issues is important for saving money on gasoline and also for driving the vehicle in a safe manner.
  3. The Benefits of Driving a Bit Slower – It is amazing how something as simple as driving a little slower can decrease the chances of having an accident as save money on gas. Defensive driving does not mean driving so slow as to impede the flow of traffic. What it does mean is slowing down in bad weather conditions and always leaving plenty of room in front of the vehicle to come to an abrupt stop when needed.

Check in with the nice folks at the Insurance Center of Green Valley to make sure you have adequate auto insurance coverage and find out about the possibility of good driver discounts, offered by some insurance companies.

House Sitting? Three Ways You Can Protect Yourself

Posted on by

If you have been chosen to be a house sitter, then your friend, neighbor, or family member trusts you with one of their biggest investments. Although it seems like a fun endeavor, it can be a big responsibility. In addition to ensuring that their home remains intact once the family returns, you have to make sure you are safe during the process. The following are three safety tips you should use to protect both you and the home.

Safety Tip #1. Make sure the home is secure at all times.

Intruders are bold. They may try to break into the home while you are gone or while you are there. In order to reduce the chances of an intruder breaking in, you have to ensure that the alarm is armed at all times. With the alarm on, if an intruder is able to break a window or open a door, you’ll be notified immediately.

Safety Tip #2. Have a disaster readiness kit readily available.

There are many weather-related disasters that can happen while you are house sitting. The best way to increase your chances of surviving is to have an emergency readiness kit available. You should include extra batteries, battery-operated lights, blankets, and other emergency accessories inside your kit.

Safety Tip #3. Make sure you know what to do in any emergency situation.

Whether you are faced with an intruder or another type of disaster, what you do in the first few minutes can determine how safe you are. If you need to take a self-defense class before you start house sitting, do so to increase your chances of being better equipped in an emergency situation.

At Insurance Center of Green Valley, we want you to take every precaution necessary to make your house sitting uneventful. From traveling to your friend’s home to ensuring your home, we have you covered. You can take a look at our website to see what coverage options we offer your family.

Giving Back to the Tucson Community

Posted on by

Insurance Center of Green Valley encourages community involvement. There are plenty of ways to give back to the Tucson community to help those less fortunate. You can give money, donate things and blood, and volunteer to help.

Here are some ways to get involved in the Tucson community to make it a better place:

  • Give Food to Tucson Food Banks -Many organizations give food to those who cannot afford it. Two popular ones are the Community Food Bank and Food Pantries.
  • Donate Items – Habitat for Humanity accepts donations of building materials, furniture, and working appliances in good condition. You can also volunteer to help build homes. Donate clothing and other items to the Salvation Army or Goodwill.
  • Volunteer to Help The Homeless – Volunteer to help at any of the Tucson homeless shelters. Every other year about two hundred volunteers help conduct the Tucson Homeless Street Count. The next one is on January 26 and 27, 2016.
  • Donate Blood – The Red Cross has a blood donation center in Tucson.
  • Help Veterans – Volunteer at the Tucson Vet Center and if you are a Veteran, join Veterans Helping Veterans.
  • Adopt a Pet from an Animal Rescue – Your newest best friend is waiting for you to save them at Hope Animal Shelter, Pima Animal Care Center, and Animal Rescue Foundation.
  • Visit a Tucson Nursing Home – Over half the residents, never get any visitors.
  • Donate and/or Volunteer at Mobile Meals of Tucson
  • Donate to a Charity of Your Choice

It is a good idea to get insurance from an agency that cares about Tucson. Contact Insurance Center of Green Valley for all your insurance needs. The kind people, who work there, are ready to help you protect yourself and your loved ones.

Do I Need an Independent Agent

Posted on by

You only think about insurance when you need to file a claim, but this is the time when an independent agent is such an asset. After an emergency, most people value information above all else. Anyone who has ever tried to file an insurance claim realizes that the cheapest insurance is rarely the best bargain, because the lines of communication are so inefficient. Filing any type of insurance clam involves the exchange of precise data, between the insured party, the insurer, and any third parties who provide services. After an automobile collision, someone has to communicate with the insurer and the auto body repair company. It can be timely and tedious, so this task is best left to an independent insurance agent. These ladies and gentlemen are specifically registered to provide insurance in a particular state, because state laws vary so greatly. Insurance laws are also far more complicated than may people realize.  An independent agent serves as a liaison between you and the insurer, providing comfort in your time of need. 

Better Safe Than Sorry

No amount of planning, can keep every tragedy at bay which is why you pay insurance premiums to begin with. An independent agent is so vital, because he or she is always at your beckoning. Trying to deal with automated services and electronic messaging systems complicates the process of filing a claim. You must first familiarize yourself with the process of filing a claim in your state, but an independent agent already knows the proper procedures. The Insurance Center of Green Valley helps to keep Arizona residents covered when they face an emergency. You depend on your insurance to repair your home, your automobile, and even provide health care. Independent agents specialize in communicating with the insurer, and any doctors or contractors.

 

 

Gifting a Car in Green Valley, AZ

Posted on by

Obviously, you care about someone a great deal if you’re giving them a gift of a vehicle that can easily can costly on your part. Although your heart may be in the place, there are a few factors you should consider prior to giving a car in Green Valley, AZ. 

Taxes

Your friend or loved one is responsible for any taxes that are required because of gifting taxes. You may want to take a few moments to evaluate the person’s financial situation to make sure he or she is able to afford this. 

Insurance

Insurance is a requirement for all vehicles. If the person you’re giving the car to isn’t able to afford the premium, you’ll need to be generous enough to pay for the first premium. If not, you could find yourself giving a holiday present that’s not of much use to the person. Before you even buy the car, you should evaluate what the price of coverage will be and determine if it would be reasonable for the person you’re giving the vehicle to. Even if you pay the first premium, the person may not be able to pay premiums after that. 

Title

In Arizona, a car must have a title. If you’re going to give the gift as a surprise, you’ll need to put it in your name first and then transfer the title. It’s more cost efficient to surprise the person at the lot, so it can go immediately in that person’s name. You’ll only need to pay one time for the title rather than once for the title and once for the transfer. 

If you’re considering purchasing a car as a gift this holiday season, contact the Insurance Center of Green Valley at 520-648-1150 today for a quote. 

How To Help At A Car Accident

Posted on by

Accidents happen every day throughout the roads of Arizona. If you’re driving and see an accident, you may want to pull over and help out. Not sure how? It’s easy and it can make the difference to help the victims before official help has the chance to make it on the scene.

The most obvious thing for you to do is call 911. This should be done once you have parked so as not to add to the accident that you are calling about. When the operator answers the call, speak in a calm voice and tell them everything that has happened. Be as specific as you can about where the accident has taken place. Identify the number of vehicles as well as anything else you think could be pertinent.

If the scene looks safe enough to get close to (the cars aren’t on fire), then park your car off on the side of the road and approach carefully. See if there are any victims in the car and let them know that help has been called.

The first thought may be to try and be a hero and rescue people out of the cars. If you can do so safely, then that’s wonderful. Otherwise, don’t move them and simply wait for an ambulance to arrive on the scene.

You should take a look at the cars and get them into park. Turn off the ignition if you are able to as well.

Once the police arrive, you will leave a statement. This can be a valuable way to help because the victims may not know what happened. Be specific and thorough.

One of our friendly independent agents at Insurance Center of Green Valley can help to provide you with peace of mind when you drive throughout Tucson. Call now and learn about quotes, coverage, and more.

 

 

 

Dealing With Your Insurance Company

Posted on by

Catalina Foothills, Arizona is a mild area that has lots of scenery for residents to enjoy. Take a day and hike through the surrounding landscape to enjoy nature in its fullest beauty. With so much to do you may feel that there is no time to care for your home and any insurance issues that you may be facing. Whether you have a broken window or some other claim to file, you will have to deal with your insurance company. And how you respond through the process can make a world of difference.

Dealing With Your Insurance Company

  • Before filing a claim on your homeowners insurance policy, think through of whether or not it needs to be filed. If the repair is easy enough, then it might be able to be fixed though other means.
  • Return all the paperwork in a timely manner. If your agent has to ask repeatedly for things to be returned, then payment and closure of the claim can take a long time to complete.
  • Be flexible if your insurance company wants to inspect the property before the claim can be filed. The company will want to make sure that the damaged area is repaired the right way.
  • If you have broken windows that need replacement, be willing to open your home so the repairs can be completed.

Dealing with your insurance company does not have to be a painful experience. By being flexible and easy to work with, you can save yourself a lot of delays. If you have any questions about the process of insurance, then contact your local agent today. We can help get you a policy that meets your needs and answer any questions that you have.

Car Insurance Agents for Learners Permit Holders in Green Valley, Arizona

Posted on by

You’re ready to get your driver’s license in Green Valley, Arizona. There’s plenty of natural beauty in this area. However, you need a car to see the stunning desert and absolutely amazing geological features, as walking in the sun is not the wisest choice.

The first step in this process is picking up your learner’s permit. A learner’s permit shows that you passed the written portion of the test required to pick up a license in Arizona. You have the option to start the practical side of the test once you’ve gotten behind the wheel practice. The only catch is, are you properly covered by car insurance when you get in the car?

Some car insurance policies allow another driver to add permit holders to the insurance without much of a hassle. These policies cover the person driving, as long as they are supervised by the adult who is the policy holder. The exact terms of the car insurance varies, so it’s important to know if you’re legal to drive in Arizona.

You may need another policy holder to add you onto the policy as a named driver. If this is your first time getting a license, and you are a teenager, this adds significant cost to the policy in many cases. Let our agents help you figure out the best option for a learners permit driver seeking proper insurance. It’s trickier than simply setting up a new auto insurance policy, so our expert advice helps guide you on the right path. We even have a free online quotes tool so you can look at comparative quotes from different companies, allowing you to choose the option that works best for you.

3 Ways to Light Up Your Home This Halloween

Posted on by

On October 31, kids will swarm neighborhoods throughout Green Valley, AZ in search of candy. If you have a home in the area, get ready for them to run up your driveway, down your driveway and across your yard in every direction. In addition to buying plenty of candy to hand out, you should also prepare by making sure your home will be well illuminated this Halloween.

Light Up Your Home

Simply making sure there is lighting around your front yard and doorway will help reduce the risk of someone getting hurt. While kids may still not look where they’re running, making sure everywhere they go will help them avoid obstacles on your property. It will also help deter any unscrupulous individuals who would steal something from your home on Halloween night.

To light up your home for Halloween, simply:

  • turn on your home’s porch light and garage light
  • set up jack-o-lanterns so they illuminate walkways
  • string themes lights on trees in your yard

Insure Your Home

Along with lighting up your home, you should also make sure it’s fully insured. After all, lights will only reduce the risk of an accident and deter thieves. They won’t guarantee no one gets hurt and nothing gets stolen.

There are two coverages in particular that you should ask your insurance agent to check. Liability coverage may provide you with protection if someone is injured on your property, and personal property coverage may protect you if something is stolen.

If you don’t have an agent who can help you assess your home insurance policy’s coverages, contact us at the Insurance Center of Green Valley. You can easily reach us through our website, and our independent insurance agents can help you no matter what company your policy’s carrier is.

 

Does Getting Married Really Influence Insurance Rates?

Posted on by

As children get older, they often dream of getting married. One thing they fail to think about, though, is whether or not getting married will cause their insurance rates to decrease or increase. Truth be known, it can go either way, and it’s solely based on the former driving records that both spouses have. As you can imagine, the cleaner the driving record, the lower the rates will be. Here’s a closer look at how getting married will affect your auto rates and what you can do to keep your rates as low as possible. 

Ask about discounts

For starters, you should ask your insurance provider about any discounts they give for getting married. In addition, ask about multi-car policy discounts. You may find that you are able to slash your rates in half with these two discounts alone. 

Take a look at both driving histories

What does your spouse’s driving record look like? Are there DUIs? Speeding tickets? Accidents? If there are, this is most definitely going to cause your rates to increase if you combine your policy with your spouse’s. To avoid enduring an increase in your rates because of your spouse’s poor driving history, you’ll want to delay combining your policies for as long as possible. 

Be accident free

The best move to make when it comes to keeping your auto insurance rates low is for both you and your spouse to avoid getting in accidents as well as avoid getting speeding tickets. One ticket can cause your rates to increase considerably, and it can sometimes take two to three years or longer for a ticket to be removed from your driving record. 

To learn more about getting married and auto insurance premiums, visit the Insurance Center of Green Valley today.