Tuesday, May 17, 2016

If I plan to drive in Mexico, do I need to buy Mexican auto insurance?

With my agency located in Arizona, I get this question asked to me frequently. My answer is always YES. Here are a few facts that support my answer.

  • Most American auto insurance companies will cover you and your car within 75 miles of the US / Mexican border.
  • To my knowledge, the Mexican government does not recognize any American insurance companies.
  • If you have an accident in Mexico, you are considered guilty (at fault) until proven innocent.
  • You can be thrown in jail and your vehicle impounded and sold.
Mexican auto insurance can be purchased at many US insurance companies and also at the border with Mexico. An example of full coverage (liability, property damage, collision, travelers aid, interpreter, and lawyer if needed is about $55 for a 4 day stay. A small price to pay for peace of mind.

Also, if you have a lien on your vehicle, some lien holders will not allow you to take your vehicle into Mexico. Please check with them before you plan a trip.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

What do I need to know BEFORE I purchase insurance?

Purchasing insurance for your car, motorcycle or ATV is not only the law but also a task you should go into with a little bit of insurance knowledge. Our hope is to give you the tools to make the right decision for your individual needs and requirements.

Determining what company you choose to purchase your insurance from is the first step. Many people want the cheapest insurance possible. However, it is more important for you to get the right coverage rather than the cheapest insurance. What you should be concerned with are a combination of low cost, coverage designed for your specific needs, do you have an 800# or a real local agent, customer service, claims service and will your insurance company be there when you need them.

At The Harris Agency, we want you understand your coverage. That is why we try to examine and explain each of the coverage you currently have to make sure it fits your real needs. We have compiled a list of some of the coverage with an easy to understand description of these coverage; the more you are informed about your insurance needs, the smarter decision you can make.

Your Auto, Motorcycle, ATV insurance is required by law and by your lien holder on your vehicles. In AZ, state law requires you to have both BI (bodily Injury – coverage if you are at fault for an accident and your cause injuries to others) and PD (property damage – coverage if you are at fault for an accident and cause damage to others property). Arizona requires BI coverage of $15,000/$30,000 and PD coverage of $10,000. We recommend that the PD coverage be at least $25,000, which usually only costs less than $5.00 more every 6 months

UM/UN (Uninsured and Underinsured coverage) is not legally required but helps cover you if you are involved in an accident where the other party is at fault but does not have any or enough coverage to pay for your medical injuries. 

Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle (subject to a deductible) and Comprehensive coverage pays for glass repairs/replacement, theft, and vandalism to your vehicle (subject to a deductible, except if you have full glass coverage for your auto glass).


Your Home, Condo or Landlord property is the largest purchase you will ever make in your lifetime. Our hope is to give you the tools to make the right decision for your individual needs and requirements. Be sure your property insurance policy includes enough coverage to replace your property if totally destroyed (replacement cost), enough liability coverage to protect your assets in case of a law suit judgment due to a liability claim ($300,000 minimum if you have a pool), enough insurance to cover your personal property (clothing, furniture, jewelry, electronics), and a deductible you can handle if you do file a claim (coinsurance).


As a Renter, your insurance needs are different than a property owner’s needs. When you rent an apartment, condo or home, you are not insuring the property. Your only concerns are for your personal property (clothing, furniture, jewelry, electronics), liability coverage ($100,000 required by most apartment complexes), and a deductible you can handle if you file a claim (“coinsurance”). Most apartments require you to name them as “an additional insured” on your policy. That way, they receive  a copy of your policy with any policy changes. 

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Friday, April 29, 2016

Personal Property Spreadsheet

Quick..... You have just gone out to dinner when you get a call from a neighbor, your home is on fire or someone has just broken into your home. Do you know what property is in your home? Most people have no idea what is in their home, what the model/serial numbers are or even the estimated value of all their personal property.

In order to assist my clients, I have created a spreadsheet to help you track, by room, of what personal property you have, when you purchased it, what the model and serial numbers are, and the estimated value. Just respond to this blog and I will send you this valuable spreadsheet.

Here are my recommendations on how to use this spreadsheet. Pick one room per week and fill out as much information on that room as you can. Next week, pick out another room until you have completed your entire home. I would then take pictures of your major possessions like artwork, jewelry, and valuable objects. Next, keep a copy of this spreadsheet in your computer, print a copy and place it and the pictures in a safe place and download the spreadsheet onto a flash drive and give it to someone you trust/or place it in a safe.

By doing the above process, you will be able to update the inventory list every few years without have to do the entire process over again.

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Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Properties policies in the name of a trust

If you have either a home, condo or landlord policy insured in a trust, you need to make sure that the trust is named on the policy as an "additional insured". Like yourself, the trust needs to be named on your policy for the insurance protection.

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Monday, April 25, 2016

What to do if you are involved in an auto accident.


I often receive calls from my clients that have just been involved in a car accident and they do not know what to do. So I have enclosed some suggestions if you are ever in this situation. Remember, your cell phone takes great pictures and is always handy.

1. Stay calm - Determine the extent of injuries or damage. If needed, obtain medical assistance.

2. Call the police to file an accident report - Do not leave the scene of the accident unless your safety is at risk.

3.TAKE PICTURES! Use your cell phone to take pictures of the position of all the vehicles involved and all vehicle damages.

4. Limit any discussion of the accident - Talk only to the police and your insurance agent or company. Most insurance companies have an after hours claims number you can call. If you do talk to the other drivers, do not admit fault at the scene or at any time. Let the insurance adjuster determine who was at fault.

5. Get the facts and essential details at the scene - Information you need to collect includes:

date, location and time of the accident;
name, address, email and phone number of the other parties;
license plate numbers on all vehicles;
drivers license number of all drivers;
insurance company name, policy numbers and effective dates of all drivers;
names, addresses, and phone numbers of all witnesses.
take pictures of damage to all vehicles and positions of all vehicles.


Hope you don't ever need this info but if you do, I hope it is helpful.

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Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Insurance 101

Purchasing insurance for your car, motorcycle or ATV is not only the law but also a task you should go into with a little bit of insurance knowledge. Our hope is to give you the tools to make the right decision for your individual needs and requirements.

Determining what company you choose to purchase your insurance from is the first step. Many people want the cheapest insurance possible. However, it is more important for you to get the right coverage rather than the cheapest insurance. What you should be concerned with are a combination of cost, coverage designed for your specific needs, customer service (can I reach my agent or company 24 hours a day), claims service and will your insurance company be there when you need them most.

We want you understand your coverage. That is why we try to examine and explain each of the coverage you currently have to make sure it fits your real needs. We have compiled a list of some of the coverage with an easy to understand description of these coverages; the more you are informed about your insurance needs, the smarter decision you can make.

Your Auto, Motorcycle, ATV insurance is required by law and by your lien holder on your vehicles. State law requires you to have both BI (bodily Injury – coverage if you are at fault for an accident and your cause injuries or death to others) and PD (property damage – coverage if you are at fault for an accident and cause damage to others property). Arizona requires BI coverage of $15,000/$30,000 and PD coverage of $10,000. We recommend that the PD coverage be at least $25,000, which usually only costs about $5.00 more every 6 months.

UM/UN (Uninsured and Underinsured coverage) is not legally required but helps cover you if you are involved in an accident where the other party is at fault but does not have any or enough coverage to pay for your medical injuries. Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle (subject to a deductible) and Comprehensive coverage pays for glass repairs/replacement, theft, and vandalism to your vehicle (subject to a deductible, except if you have full glass coverage for your auto glass)

Your Home, Condo or Landlord property is the largest purchase you will ever make in your lifetime. Our hope is to give you the tools to make the right decision for your individual needs and requirements. Be sure your property insurance policy includes enough coverage to replace your property if totally destroyed (replacement cost), enough liability coverage to protect your assets in case of a law suit judgment due to a liability claim ($300,000 minimum if you have a pool), enough insurance to cover your personal property (clothing, furniture, jewelry, electronics), and a deductible you can handle if you do file a claim (coinsurance). A list of all of your household possessions is a need to have. That would include description, model and serial numbers, when and how much you paid for it. We have created a simple spreadsheet for this process, available upon request.


As a Renter, your insurance needs are different than a property owner’s needs. When you rent an apartment, condo or home, you are not insuring the property. Your only concerns are for your personal property (clothing, furniture, jewelry, electronics), liability coverage ($100,000 required by most apartment complexes), and a deductible you can handle if you file a claim (“coinsurance”). Most apartments require you to name them as “an additional insured” on your policy. That way, they receive   a copy of your policy with any policy changes. A list of all of your household possessions is a need to have. That would include description, model and serial numbers, when and how much you paid for it. We have created a simple spreadsheet for this process, available upon request.

Hope this helps. Please let us know if you need additional information.

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Monday, April 18, 2016

Six reasons you do not need life insurance

I know it's not sexy or comfortable to talk about, but it is the most important thing you can do for your loved ones to help provide a secure future for them, if you are not around.

Although my job is to sell insurance of all kinds, here are the main reasons we ask every customer about life insurance.

It's the most important insurance you can buy. You cannot be replaced. We can replace your auto, your home, but not your life. There are two major types of life insurance, Term (least expensive) which lasts for a specific time (usually 10-30 years) that only offers a death benefit and Permanent (more expensive) but offers a cash value and a death benefit. Which is best for you? Only by talking to a life insurance specialist can you know for sure. Personally, I like a combination of both which allows you to get the best bang for your buck, but again, every case is unique.


Here are six reasons why you do not need life insurance.

1. You are never going to die.

2. You are going to inherit a fortune.

3. You are going to win the lottery.

4. Your children are going to support you.

5. You are never going to retire.

6. The government will take care of you and your family.

Just in case you do not believe these six reasons, please contact me. We would like to discuss your family's future with you.

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