TOP 10 QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE BUYNG AUTO INSURANCE (Part 2 of 2)

The prior blog introduced 5 of the major questions you should ask your agent when you are buying auto insurance, courtesy of www.howstuffworks.com.  Enjoy your wheels and the remaining 5 questions you need to ask your agent:


5) What are the payment options?  Monthly using EFT is by far the easiest method and keeps you from having to worry about missed payments.  Many insurance companies frown on repetitive late payments and you risk having your coverage cancelled and you may not be allowed to get the policy back into effect.  Or, even worse, during the only day your policy was lapsed, you find yourself in a fender-bender --- and there is NO insurance coverage.  Don't be that guy!  Most companies offer discounts for electronic or payment for the full policy term.  Additional fees may be imposed for bills sent by mail.


4) What is the value on my vehicle?  In the event of loss, the "blue book" value is used for claim settlement.  There are online resources you may use to calculate the appropriate value which is typically the mid-point of the trade-in value vs the retail value.  Most companies will also take into consideration recent vehicle enhancements such as new tires or special vehicle features.  Be sure you are able to provide documentation on the enhancements to your adjuster for consideration.  Your adjuster will determine what is allowable under your policy contract, and most carriers provide fair settlements, so don't jump too quickly to an ambulance-chaser attorney, because that will delay the claims processing, and most likely, by the time you split the proceeds with your attorney, you will end up with less money than you would have directly from the carrier.  Let the normal claims process play out and work closely with your adjuster and engage your Trusted Choice agent as an advocate. If the settlement is unsatisfactory, then pursue a legal settlement.


3) How do I get claims service?  Good insurance carriers provide 24/7 claims service.  Many offer online access and claims process status reporting, and also smartphone access.  Your Trusted Choice agent will provide you with a handy checklist to follow to be sure you are protected and all pertinent data is available to settle your claim as quickly as possible.  A good idea is to take pictures of the scene before moving your vehicles.


2) Will Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Parts be used in a repair?  To save costs, many insurers use "generic" parts which are functional replacements for the damaged parts.  If you require the use of OEM parts, you will need to purchase an endorsement on your policy which will add a small amount to the cost of your insurance.  Ask your Trusted Choice agent for a quote so you can decide if you wish to have the coverage added to your policy.


1) Is there a local agent available?  Local Trusted Choice agents will spend the time with you to explain your coverages and provide more options for your consideration, and they will act as an advocate for you during the claims process.


We are your LOCAL Trusted Choice Advisors, SouthGroup-Gulf Coast http://www.southgroupgulfcoast.com ,  SALES AND SERVICE AGENTS: Angelyn Treutel Zeringue, Tammy Garfield, Tammy Hogue, Brittany Jones, Denise Russell, Melissa Moran, Alex Treutel, Anne Gillam, Ashlie Moody, Mark Strickland, and Whitney Zimmerman at SouthGroup Gulf Coast. You can reach us by snail-mail or in person: 412 Hwy 90, Suite 6, Bay St Louis MS 39520, email: info@southgropugulfcoast.com , phone: 228-466-4498 fax:888-415-8922,  FaceBook www.facebook.com/southgroup.gulfcoast, or Twitter www.twitter.com/atreutel !

We have 3 Gulf Coast locations to serve you - 2505 Pass Road - Biloxi, 5400 Indian Hill-Diamondhead, and 412 Hwy 90 Suite 6-Bay Saint Louis, MS. We write coverage in 40 different states and can assist you with Mississippi insurance, Louisiana insurance, and Alabama insurance and many other states.

Insurance is stressful, but we make saving easy.  We help you save money on insurance!

#southgroup   @stateauto  @libertymutual @TRV_insurance @safecoinsurance #savemoney  @progressive

Be Sure Your Insurance Protects You Agains The "Other Guy"!

Even though all but two states require minimum standards of liability vehicle, many motorists fail to obtain this important coverage before driving. Unfortunately, the insured driver usually ends up paying the most after an accident with one of these motorists. You might think that because your state requires auto insurance, most people have it. However, according to the Insurance Research Council, the number of uninsured drivers can reach 25 percent in some states. What can you do to protect yourself in the event you are involved in a collision with an uninsured vehicle?

If you are involved in an accident and the other driver does not have insurance, you may be entitled to recover under your own uninsured motorist coverage.  This is a provision in your insurance policy that protects you in case you are in an accident with someone who is uninsured.  Underinsured motorist coverage protects you in cases of serious accidents.  Even if the other driver has insurance, it may not be enough to reimburse you for the medical expenses you have incurred as a result of an accident.  Underinsured coverage provides another layer of protection for you when you are seriously injured.

The way it works is your insurance company pays your medical bills, and would essentially sue the uninsured/underinsured driver for the difference in costs. Some states require an uninsured motorist clause in any insurance policy sold, while others may require you to specifically ask for it to be added.

This type of car insurance coverage can also help you in the event you are victim to a hit and run collision. In most cases, the insurance company will treat the other driver as uninsured and compensate you accordingly.

In some states UM/UIM insurance is mandatory, in Mississippi it is not. Even if it is not required, this coverage can help make you financially whole following a collision with an uninsured motorist.
Knowledgeable, LOCAL, independent insurance agents at SouthGroup are always available to answer any questions you may have about uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. We can help identify this and any other car insurance coverage options you may need. We will also locate you a variety of quotes from a number of providers, ensuring the policy you choose offers the best coverage at the most affordable rates. Contact an agent near you to find out more about this important coverage.


We are your LOCAL Trusted Choice Advisors, SouthGroup-Gulf Coast http://www.southgroupgulfcoast.com ,  SALES AND SERVICE AGENTS: Angelyn Treutel Zeringue, Tammy Garfield, Tammy Hogue, Brittany Jones, Denise Russell, Melissa Moran, Alex Treutel, Anne Gillam, Ashlie Moody, Mark Strickland, and Whitney Zimmerman at SouthGroup Gulf Coast. You can reach us by snail-mail or in person: 412 Hwy 90, Suite 6, Bay St Louis MS 39520, email: info@southgropugulfcoast.com , phone: 228-466-4498 fax:888-415-8922,  FaceBook www.facebook.com/southgroup.gulfcoast, or Twitter www.twitter.com/atreutel !

We have 3 Gulf Coast locations to serve you - 2505 Pass Road - Biloxi, 5400 Indian Hill-Diamondhead, and 412 Hwy 90 Suite 6-Bay Saint Louis, MS. We write coverage in 40 different states and can assist you with Mississippi insurance, Louisiana insurance, and Alabama insurance and many other states.

Insurance is stressful, but we make saving easy.  We help you save money on insurance!

#southgroup   @stateauto  @libertymutual @TRV_insurance @safecoinsurance @progressive #savemoney @atreutel

Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

Every state, including Mississippi, requires drivers to carry a minimum standard of liability coverage. We all know that not everyone on the road has this mandatory coverage, however. In the Magnolia State, more people ignore this statute than in any other region. Some reports, according to the Wall Street Journal, indicate as many as 28 percent of Mississippi motorists are uninsured. That’s more than double the national average and indicates two in six drivers on the road do not carry insurance.

When you are involved in a collision with an uninsured motorist, this type of coverage can significantly help. Even though the other driver may be at fault, this coverage can help pay for treating your injuries and can sometimes even help repair your damaged vehicle. Without insurance, the other driver may still be responsible for these costs, but securing their payment would involve attorney fees and taking them to court.

More commonly, this type of insurance can help even if the other driver has insurance. Unfortunately, Mississippi’s minimum standards of liability coverage have not been updated in decades. What may have been sufficient coverage 20 years ago is no longer adequate to cover the rising cost of medical care.  These days, if a motorist only carries the bare minimum to meet state regulations, chances are very likely that he or she is underinsured. If you are involved in a collision with an underinsured driver, their policy is typically not nearly enough to cover the cost of you or your passengers’ injuries, not to mention any damages. By carrying this type of coverage yourself, you can avoid the added expense of such accidents.

Everyone can benefit from carrying uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, but it can especially protect drivers in Mississippi where driving without insurance is so common. Just how much coverage you need depends on a few details. The limits for this coverage can range from $25,000 up to $1 million. Some insurance providers require the amount to be equal to your bodily injury liability limit, while others have fewer restrictions.

Our agents can answer any questions you may have about your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. We will help identify your auto insurance needs, suggest coverage options, and also assist you in finding a number of quotes from a variety of providers with which to compare. Contact a SouthGroup member agent near you to find out how you can obtain the best auto insurance coverage at the most affordable rates.




Your Trusted Choice Insurance Agent, SouthGroup Insurance Gulf Coast wants you to know you can call on us with your questions or concerns seeking more helpful advice or answers to your pressing insurance questions. A full insurance review is always your best bet to make sure you have all of the adequate coverage for your personal insurance needs. Remember, we offer a personalized insurance review to anyone who is interested at no charge – just visit any one of our 3 convenient coastal locations!

We are your LOCAL Trusted Choice Advisors, SouthGroup-Gulf Coast http://www.southgroupgulfcoast.com ,  SALES AND SERVICE AGENTS: Angelyn Treutel Zeringue, Tammy Garfield, Tammy Hogue, Brittany Jones, Denise Russell, Melissa Moran, Alex Treutel, Anne Gillam, Ashlie Moody, Mark Strickland, and Whitney Zimmerman at SouthGroup Gulf Coast. You can reach us by snail-mail or in person: 412 Hwy 90, Suite 6, Bay St Louis MS 39520, email: info@southgropugulfcoast.com , phone: 228-466-4498 fax:888-415-8922,  FaceBook www.facebook.com/southgroup.gulfcoast, or Twitter www.twitter.com/atreutel !

We have 3 Gulf Coast locations to serve you - 2505 Pass Road - Biloxi, 5400 Indian Hill-Diamondhead, and 412 Hwy 90 Suite 6-Bay Saint Louis, MS. We write coverage in 40 different states and can assist you with Mississippi insurance, Louisiana insurance, and Alabama insurance and many other states.

Insurance is stressful, but we make saving easy.  We help you save money on insurance!

#southgroup   @stateauto  @libertymutual @TRV_insurance @safecoinsurance @progressive #savemoney @atreutel

I don't need uninsured motorist coverage! Or do I ?????

Is mandatory auto liability insurance working?  The way liability insurance is supposed to work is that if you are in a car accident, the person who crashed into you should pay for your medical and property damages, which would be paid by their auto insurance company.  But, in some cases, especially if they are not carrying a proper level of coverage, the damages you have could end up costing a lot more than their liability insurance limits cover.  Minimum limits are NOT sufficient to protect you and your assets from the damage you may cause.

Another problem is that not everyone complies with the law. Even though you cannot afford to be without coverage, some may think that auto insurance is too high — especially in tough economic times. The Insurance Research Council estimated that roughly one out of every eight drivers is driving uninsured in 2014. That's about 13 percent of the U.S. population.

Because of this, it is prudent to include uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UI) coverages on your auto policy. UM will pay for your injuries when someone without car insurance causes an accident or when you're struck by a hit-and-run driver. UI will kick in when someone else causes an accident, but has insufficient limits to cover all your costs. UM/UI also pays for lost wages if you have to stay home from work due to your injury.

If you have UM/UI coverage, and you are in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist, your UM/UI coverage will pay for health care expenses, such as your deductible, before your health insurance kicks in.  This will be quite helpful since most people today have high health insurance deductibles.

But, your health insurance will not pay for lost wages if you miss work, or for pain and suffering resulting from the crash. Lost wages and pain and suffering are paid for by the at-fault driver's liability insurance. If the other driver doesn't have liability insurance, or has coverages that are too low, you're out of luck — unless you have UM/UIM coverage or want to pursue the matter in court.

Lawsuits are always costly. First, you must hire an attorney. Second, since uninsured drivers usually don’t have proper coverage, because they cannot afford the car insurance rates, it is unlikely that they can pay for your medical treatments or pain and suffering, even if you win the case.

Because the coverage is so important, Mississippi just passed a law to require extra attention to the topic, if a consumer is considering not taking the valuable UM/UI coverage.  A special disclosure form is required to be provided, and the consumer must sign to indicate that they understand the coverage is available and valuable, and that they are freely choosing to not have the insurance coverage.  So, if there is a lawsuit, and the consumer has freely chosen to decline the UM/UI coverage, the court will not reach a verdict favorable to them.

Bottom line, you need to have UM/UI coverage, for your auto and motorcycle and other toys.  Motorcycles, in particular, are victims of many unintended hit-and-runs, and without UM/UI coverage, they will be left suffering in the ditch after being clipped by a speeding vehicle.  Don’t let this be you!

Your Trusted Choice Insurance Agent, SouthGroup Insurance Gulf Coast wants you to know you can call on us with your questions or concerns seeking more helpful advice or answers to your pressing insurance questions. A full insurance review is always your best bet to make sure you have all of the adequate coverage for your personal insurance needs. Remember, we offer a personalized insurance review to anyone who is interested at no charge – just visit any one of our 3 convenient coastal locations!

We are your LOCAL Trusted Choice Advisors, SouthGroup-Gulf Coast http://www.southgroupgulfcoast.com ,  SALES AND SERVICE AGENTS: Angelyn Treutel Zeringue, Tammy Garfield, Tammy Hogue, Brittany Jones, Denise Russell, Melissa Moran, Alex Treutel, Anne Gillam, Ashlie Moody, Mark Strickland, and Whitney Zimmerman at SouthGroup Gulf Coast. You can reach us by snail-mail or in person: 412 Hwy 90, Suite 6, Bay St Louis MS 39520, email: info@southgropugulfcoast.com , phone: 228-466-4498 fax:888-415-8922,  FaceBook www.facebook.com/southgroup.gulfcoast, or Twitter www.twitter.com/atreutel !

We have 3 Gulf Coast locations to serve you - 2505 Pass Road - Biloxi, 5400 Indian Hill-Diamondhead, and 412 Hwy 90 Suite 6-Bay Saint Louis, MS. We write coverage in 40 different states and can assist you with Mississippi insurance, Louisiana insurance, and Alabama insurance and many other states.

Insurance is stressful, but we make saving easy.  We help you save money on insurance!

#southgroup   @stateauto  @libertymutual @TRV_insurance @safecoinsurance @progressive #savemoney @atreutel