What To Avoid When Buying Auto Insurance

June 17th, 2016 — Martinson Agency LLC — Chaska, MN

Americans sure have been in a car-buying mood lately. Just last year, consumers bought a whopping 17.5 million new automobiles, according to vehicle valuation firm Kelley Blue Book. And in February, the trend has continued, with new-vehicle sales up approximately 8% versus 12 months ago.

Wherever new or used cars are bought, auto insurance invariably follows. After all, when an accident happens, where else can you go to pay for the expensive repairs that so often occur?

The problem is that because auto insurance is mandated, people will buy it merely to satisfy the requirement, not as a smart investment. As a result, hasty decisions are often made – decisions that could put them in hot water when they have to make a claim.

If an auto insurance purchase is in your future, here are three things you should be sure to avoid when shopping for a policy:

Purchasing The Cheapest Option

We all want to get the best deal possible as a consumer. But as is typically the case, you often get what you pay for. In other words, if there is an auto insurance policy that’s really cheap, there’s a good chance that the coverage it provides is really meager. All too frequently, policyholders wind up learning this the hard way after filing a claim, only to learn that their policy amount is insufficient for the damage that occurred.

Fail to Research

Reams of information are literally at our fingertips, thanks to the Internet, online search engines and quote comparison websites. But these outlets go to waste if you don’t take advantage of them. The Insurance Information Institute has several tips on what to look for both in a policy and an insurance provider.

Choosing The Wrong Policy

As previously mentioned, in an attempt to save money, consumers will often buy auto insurance that’s the least expensive or only the amount that they’re required by law to have. While this may save them in the short run, it will be a different story should they ever have to file a claim. For instance, if a policyholder’s car is stolen and only liability coverage is in place, that person will have to go about replacing the stolen automobile out of pocket.

It really does pay to be a conscientious consumer when you’re in the market to buy auto insurance. Get in touch with your local agent at the Martinson Agency, who can help you navigate the selection process to ensure you get the right type and amount of coverage for your needs.

Don’t leave your insurance to luck! Call today us today!

Phone: (952) 314-4400

Email: jphagen@aibme.com

Keep Your Car Going Strong

May 25th, 2016 — Martinson Agency LLC — Chaska, MN

The car is arguably our most used possession. It’s what gets us to the corner store, to the workplace and to the far reaches of the country on those annual family road trips. In order to keep it our most reliable possession, it’s important to give it some tender loving care – beyond having the oil changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

The following are five things that you probably aren’t doing to keep your vehicle going strong:

Check Tire Pressure Regularly

When it’s cold outside, you’re probably pretty good about keeping tabs on your tires, understanding that cold air causes the pressure to diminish. But the winter isn’t the only time you should be doing a visual check; it ought to be done monthly, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association, simply because tire quality and pressurization varies, largely depending on how often you drive and the kind of roads you frequent. Ensure that each is at the proper PSI level to improve mileage and evenness of tread wear.

Rotate Your Tires

Speaking of evenness, there’s little to speak of when you don’t rotate your tires. You’ve probably already heard that you should rotate your tires every so many miles. Are you actually doing it? You really should start if not because it can not only lengthen the life of your tires, it can also make your daily commute go much more smoothly – in the literal sense of the term. Whether it’s moving the back wheels to the front wheels or diagonally across from the other, aim to get this completed after compiling 5,000 to 8,000 miles.

Clean Your Headlights

Mother Nature has its own natural cleanser in rain, but it takes more than a heavy shower to keep your headlights shining as brilliantly as they did when you first took your car out for an evening stroll.  Because most headlights are made out of polycarbonate, generic glass cleaner or soapy water are both safe to use and effective, according to Popular Mechanics magazine.

Schedule A Tune-Up

Due to time constraints, many of us don’t address potential car problems until they present themselves, often first manifested via the dreaded “check engine” light. By this point, however, what was a pending issue is now a full-fledged one, as the typical check engine repair costs an average of $387, according to data from CarMD. To stay one step ahead, take your car in for a tune-up on a quarterly basis to a trusted auto body shop. The professionals there should be able to diagnose whatever issues may be boiling just below the surface.

Clean Battery’s Terminals

Your car doesn’t get very far without its battery – something you’ve no doubt realized on those bitterly cold days when the engine won’t turn over. In part due to the variations in temperature, the terminals over time become encrusted with a white powdery residue that can diminish connectivity. To prevent this from happening, take a peek under the hood now and then to see if the residue has developed. If so, remove the cables from the terminals and get rid of the crusted corrosion with a wire brush.

Don’t leave your insurance to luck! Call today us today!

Phone: (952) 314-4400

Email: jphagen@aibme.com