Coverage Outside the USA

I have been asked the question if automobile and/or liability coverage is extended outside of the US. Most insurance companies will extend coverage in Canada and limited coverage (75 miles into Mexico). If you are traveling abroad, you most likely need to obtain coverage through a travel agent or Google auto or liability insurance in the area of the world you will be traveling in.

Baby Car Seat Questions

New parents can have a lot on their minds. Faced with the new responsibilities and tasks that typically come with parenthood, some new parents can feel overwhelmed when it comes to important things like car seat selection, installation and proper usage.

But fear not; you’re not alone. Many new parents have similar concerns and ask the same questions when it comes to car seats. With that in mind, we asked car seat manufacturer Safety 1st for their answers to some questions commonly asked by new parents:

Where is the safest place to install a car seat?

Typically, the center rear seat is the safest place for a car seat, according to Safety 1st. Car seats should never be placed in the front seat. If possible, use the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system to attach your car seat. LATCH is intended to make it easier to install a child seat properly without using vehicle safety belts. If your car does not have a LATCH connector for the middle seat, you can use the middle seat belt to properly secure the base. When installing, press down firmly on the car seat base and tighten the belt to make sure the base of the car seat moves no more than an inch from side to side. 

How can I make sure my child’s car seat is installed correctly?

Before you hit the road, check in with a local Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) to help ensure your child’s seat is installed correctly. You can find a CPST by visiting either a local police station, fire station or Safe Kids Chapter for guidance. Or, simply go to Seatcheck.org to find a child passenger safety seat inspection location near you.

How can I be sure my child is secure?

It’s very important to keep the harness snug on your child when in the car. Safety 1st suggests to test the snugness with the “pinch test.” If you pinch the harness straps at the shoulder and can gather material, it is too loose. Make sure to cinch it down.

When will my child be ready for a forward-facing car seat?

Children remain rear-facing until they’re 2 years old. The best practice is to keep children rear-facing as long as possible, up until they reach the maximum height and weight for the seat. Children are five times safer if they are rear-facing to age 2.

My older child hates using a booster seat. Is it really necessary?

If you have an older child, boosters can be extremely important as they help ensure that the car’s lap and shoulder belts are positioned in a way that can properly restrain them in the event of an accident. Many states require a child to be in a booster until 8 years old as they have been shown to help reduce the risk of serious injury by 45 percent.

How long can I keep a car seat?

Car seats expire. Check the expiration date to confirm the seat is safe for your child. You can typically find the expiration date on the back or the side of the car seat.

My neighbor gave us a hand-me-down car seat. How do I know if it is safe for my child?

Used car seats should be avoided unless you have detailed knowledge and documentation of their prior use. Safercar.gov provides a simple checklist to help you determine if a used car seat is safe. Has it been in a crash? Has it been recalled? Is it expired? For this reason, a used car seat should be avoided unless you are absolutely sure of its history.

Is it safe to use a car seat after it has been in a crash?

As mentioned above, once a car seat has been in a crash it should be discarded. Plastic can warp and materials can be damaged or structurally compromised.

How should I dispose of an old or damaged car seat?

To dispose of a car seat, check with your local waste management facility to see if they recycle number 5 plastic. Most importantly, please make sure the car seat is not used by another child. Safekids.org suggests that parents discard an expired or damaged car seat by covering it with a dark trash bag so that it cannot be pulled from the trash and reused.

What should I do to make sure the inside of my car is safe for my child?

Just as important as safeguarding your home, don’t forget about the car. It’s important to help eliminate projectiles; anything in the car that is not secured can become a possible projectile. That could be a child’s toy, wet nap container, or a water bottle. In a crash, objects take on greater weight due to crash forces. Also, make sure four-legged family members are properly restrained.

If you have additional questions regarding car seats and your child, consult the seat’s owner’s manual or visit Seatcheck.org to find a child passenger safety seat inspection location near you.

Stranded Motorist Survival Tips

You’re driving, not a care in the world, when your car breaks down or you get stuck some other way. No matter the cause, it’s an unnerving experience, especially if it happens on a busy highway. Do you know what to do if you find yourself stranded? Read on for some general tips that can help you stay safe if your car breaks down.

• Slow down and pull off the road: If you notice something is wrong with your vehicle while driving, ease your foot off the gas pedal, signal and carefully steer your vehicle toward the right shoulder. Put the car in park, engage the emergency brake and turn the steering wheel away from the road. That way, your car can’t roll into oncoming traffic.

• Be visible: Make sure you can be seen by other drivers. Turn on your hazard lights and if it’s dark, turn on the interior dome light as well. Roll down the driver’s side window and hang out a white cloth or piece of paper and roll the window back up to secure it in place. This alerts drivers that your vehicle is disabled. If you can safely do so, open the hood, a universal sign of car trouble.

•  Call for help: If you have a roadside assistance provider, call them. 

• Stay in your vehicle: Getting out of your car can put you in danger of being hit by oncoming traffic. Sitting in an immobile vehicle with traffic all around you is unnerving, but attempting to cross a freeway or busy street on foot is extremely risky. Of course, if your engine’s smoking or you see flames, get out! If you must leave your vehicle, always exit on the side away from traffic. 

• Wait for help to arrive: Avoid the temptation to try to fix your car by yourself. Play it safe and wait for emergency personnel to arrive.

Every break down comes with its own unique set of circumstances. Just remember to stay calm and exercise caution.

How soon do I need to let my insurance company know I have a new vehicle?

This is an interesting question and varies by insurance company.

Most insurance companies, please check with yours, automatically cover your new vehicle for between 14 to 30 days. That means your coverage starts as soon as you "sign on the dotted line", whether you notify your insurance company or not. But there is a catch. If you only have liability coverage on your old car, you will only get liability coverage on the new car. The car dealership and/or lien holder will require you to have full coverage, ie collision and comprehensive. That is why you should notify your current auto insurance carrier, either by calling your agent and their 1-800 number to make sure you have full coverage.

Also, some companies, like mine, offer some type of new car replacement coverage. With my company, in the event of your car being totaled during the first 3 years, they will cut you a check for the full replacement cost of a current year version of your vehicle with no depreciation, less your deductible. This coverage is only available if you own your car, not lease it. The cost ranges from about $8 to $15 per vehicle every 6 months. For example, one of my clients had this coverage on her car when it was totaled and instead of getting a check for $44,000 on her 2014 Audi, she got a check for $75,000 which was the replacement cost for a 2016 Audi.

Do I really need uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage?

I hear this question every week at my agency and in my opinion, the answer is YES. Let me explain why.

Lets suppose you are driving down the street,and by mistake, run a red light and are at fault for the accident, You have smashed into other car and cause serious death or injuries to other people in that car.The Bodily Injury coverage on your auto policy will pay for those deaths or injuries, up to the limits on your policy. Let's say you have $100,000/$300,000 liability limits. That means your auto policy will pay up to $100,000 worth of injuries per person  and up to a total liability payout of $300,000 per accident.

Now lets suppose the opposite situation. You are driving down the road and someone runs a red light and hits your car. Your medical injury bills total $100,000 but the other driver
only carries State Minimum Coverage of $15,000/ $30,000. What do you do now? You have $85,000 of medical bill that the other person's insurance will not pay and if the other person is driving with State Minimum Coverage, do you think they have the assets to cover your bills if you sue them for the balance? Probably not.

This is where having Uninsured and Underinsured coverage on your own auto policy is a blessing for you. This coverage will help pay your medical bills, to your policy limits, if the other driver is at fault and either does not have auto insurance or does not have enough coverage to pay your medical bills. Uninsured and Underinsured coverage on your policy is not required by AZ State Law and is not very expensive. But it could mean the difference between paying your medical bills or you having to sell some of your assets to help pay your bills.

Is Jewelry Protected on Renters, Condo or Home Insurance?

Just because you don't own your own home doesn't mean that you don't have nice stuff. If you own expensive jewelry, whether it's a diamond engagement ring or a family heirloom, you may have wondered whether renters insurance covers it.

When it comes to your belongings, it's important to understand what types of risks your renters insurance protects against and how much coverage it provides. In some cases, you may decide that it's worth putting extra protection in place. Here are some things to consider.

Personal Property Limits on Renter's, Condo or Home

Insurance policies typically come with limits for each type of coverage. For instance, your renters insurance policy may provide $50,000 in coverage for your belongings (described in most policies as personal property). However, renters insurance policies usually include sub-limits for certain types of items, such as jewelry.

That means that while you may have up to $50,000 in coverage to help pay to replace your belongings if they are stolen, for instance, you may find that your policy provides only $1,000 in coverage for theft of jewelry. Some insurers may set a "group" coverage limit for an entire category of valuables — for example, a maximum of $2,500 for all of your jewelry.

In either case, the coverage provided by a standard renters insurance policy may or may not be enough to cover what you actually paid for your jewelry or what it's worth on the current market.

For this reason, it's important to document how much your jewelry is worth so that you can make sure you have enough coverage in place. Documents like receipts and appraisals are good ways to track the value of your belongings, the Insurance Information Institute says. Such records may come in handy in the event that you need to file an insurance claim.

The question is not whether or not you will have a chip in your windshield, the question is when!

Glass claims here in Arizona are as common as scorpions. With our dusty and rocking environment, the question is not whether or not you will have a chip in your windshield, the question is when!

Most insurance companies give you the option of picking your own glass company. My suggestion, is that if you have a chip or crack in your windshield, contact your agent. They will help you determine the best place to get it fixed. Here are some suggestions to help you.

• Refrain from using "car wash" glass companies. You want to deal with a glass company that will back your repair with a 100% guarantee and will be there if you need them. 

• If you are offered a cash incentive to use a glass company, than buyer beware. There is usually a reason they have to offer you a cash incentive to use their services.

• All glass companies are not created equal. You want to pick a glass company that does a complete job, such as replacing the rubber molding, not just putting a new windshield. Replacing the rubber molding the glass fits into helps make a more complete seal and eliminating wind noises.

• I always like referrals from such sources as Angie's List, Yelp (4 star reviews) and personal friends. Hint, you can also ask your agent where they get their windshields repaired.