The Insurance Family Blog

Garage operations have hybrid coverage needs:  there’s a blur and overlap between the general liability for the operations and the automobile liability exposures. A general liability policy does not provide enough coverage and a commercial auto policy provides too much. Fortunately there is a way to properly handle this need.

Back in 2010, legislation was proposed that would reward car insurance consumers for maintaining continuous coverage with discounts to their premiums, no matter who they had their coverage with.  That legislation failed to pass. 

If you are beginning to shop around for your child’s first car insurance policy, you’re probably already aware that it’s not unusual for student drivers to pay higher premiums. Young adults and students aged 15-24 are statistically considered a high risk group, especially young males, who almost always pay even higher costs. That said, there are some things you and your child can do to mitigate costs.

In a recent nationwide survey, industry experts have revealed some intriguing statistics about what Americans think might increase safety on our roads.  The majority of us think that the teen demographic poses the most danger on the road.  As a result, 60 percent of road users support a national law that would set the minimum standards for a graduated driver’s licensing program, which would hopefully also have an impact on car insurance premiums. Here are a few more findings from the survey:

Uninsured motorist insurance is a topic that raises a lot of questions. In California, almost one in every three drivers is uninsured or inadequately insured. An uninsured or underinsured motorist causes almost one in every two collisions. In addition to not being properly insured, uninsured motorists tend to drive unsafe cars, neglect maintenance and are found to be the least careful drivers on the road.

Nothing against these popular car manufacturers, but the statistics show that Californian’s favor these car brands just as much as car thieves do! The Honda Accord, Honda Civic and Toyota Camry car models have topped the California state lists of the most popular stolen vehicles in 2010 according to data that was published recently by the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

At Sutherland-Scherff, we are all for giving Californians the best premium rate possible on their car insurance. The premium for car insurance is calculated based on a host of factors, including age, gender, occupation, driving history, vehicle type and primary location of the vehicle. Based on individual circumstances the premium can vary, but we always strive to give our customers the best possible car insurance premium.

When considering taking out a business or “commercial” auto insurance policy, there are some basic things that business owners need to know. Being armed with this knowledge will aid business owners in getting the best California commercial auto insurance deal, while being fully protected with the right amount of coverage. While many Californians think that business auto insurance is just like personal auto coverage, there are differences everyone should understand when evaluating their options. The more you know as a business owner, the more you can compare each policy, and so you can make an informed commercial auto insurance choice.

In California, no matter what size the business, there tends to be a crossover between business use of a vehicle and personal use of a vehicle. It all depends on the time of day! While at work, a vehicle will be used for business. But what about after work or on the weekend? Californians love a road trip to the beach, and it is no secret that there will be a number of business vehicles at the local beach parking lot each weekend. A high proportion of vehicles are used for both business and pleasure. Ensuring that the vehicle and driver are covered for both types of use can be of concern, but with the right auto insurance company, staying protected is not a problem.

Purchasing a vehicle for a business in California tends to involve a weigh up of price versus features and value. The price of the vehicle, along with the kinds of features it has will also affect your commercial auto insurance premium. This cost will linger every year when a business renews its commercial auto insurance.  Factors such as the vehicle’s age, usage type and class will also have an effect on the commercial auto insurance premium. Having the knowledge about how a commercial insurance premium is calculated will allow a business owner to evaluate the most cost effective option for his or her company.