Drivers in Fullerton, PA must adhere to the Pennsylvania’s state laws regarding auto insurance. Just as state laws require drivers to stop at stop signs, it also requires them requires them to maintain minimum levels of auto insurance. Below is a breakdown of who is required to maintain auto insurance in the State of Pennsylvania.

Drivers on Public Roads

Any drivers who take their vehicles on public roads are required to have auto insurance. The specific levels of insurance vary according to one’s license and the type of vehicle. For example, commercial vehicles are held to different standards than personal vehicles. For this reason, it is best to review insurance policies with an agent who is licensed to sell insurance in Pennsylvania. They will be familiar with the applicable laws.

Drivers on Private Roads

Vehicles that are only driven on private roads are not required to be insured, although it may still be wise to insure them. However, if a vehicle is ever driven on a public road, even if only for a tenth of a mile, they are required to be insured.

Passengers without Cars

Passengers do not need auto insurance, as long as they will not be driving a vehicle. In the event of an accident, the driver’s auto insurance should cover any medical expenses. If their coverage does not cover all of a passenger’s bills, then their own health insurance will provide additional coverage. This is why children, who are too young to drive, do not need to have an auto insurance policy.

Make Sure You Meet State Minimums

If you ever drive on public roads, make sure your insurance meets Pennsylvania’s state minimums. Contact one of our agents, and they will be happy to go over your current car insurance policy.

Every person in Pennsylvania who wants to buy a car should know that they are also going to need to buy auto insurance. Just like you should not buy a car without finding out the price and if there is a warranty, you should not buy an auto insurance policy without knowing what it will cost and what it covers. Independent insurance agents in Easton, PA can help you find the proper coverage with an affordable premium.

While you can get good rates and good insurance coverage from an agent who only represents one insurance company, that is not always the case. The companies that you see all of the time in television commercials spend millions of dollars in advertising. Like any other business, they have to charge enough to recoup those costs. In addition, every insurance company is different and they have their own rates.

If you do not get quotes from a number of different insurance companies before you buy an auto policy, you are running the risk of paying too much for a specific level of coverage. Independent insurance agents represent a number of different insurance companies and can get you the lowest quote for your car insurance.

Of course, your driving record and claims history will factor into the amount you will ultimately pay, but one insurer may not evaluate risk in the same way as another insurer. Some insurers give young drivers a break, while others penalize them for being under 25.

In addition to doing the shopping and comparing for you, your insurance agent is there to assist you in other ways. He or she can advise you on the proper type and amount of coverage you should have. When it comes time to renew, your agent might suggest switching to another insurance company because you can qualify for a lower premium. If you build a trusted relationship with your agent, your agent will always look out for your best interests.

If you own a car, it’s unavoidable, but but sorting through auto insurance policies can be a headache. Thankfully, those who live in Fullerton, PA, have plenty of resources at their disposal to find the perfect car insurance policy for their budget and lifestyle. These tips will help simplify the process.

1. Know your options.

Take stock of the amount of driving you do and the type of car you have, and investigate your coverage options either by doing a bit of online research or talking to your independent agent in person. It’s almost always a smart choice to purchase more than the minimum coverage to protect yourself, but that doesn’t mean you have to buy every coverage option out there.

2. Compare quotes.

You wouldn’t purchase a car without shopping around first, so don’t do it with your auto insurance. Once you have a good idea of the type of policy you’re looking for (and your budget), do a quick online search to compare quotes and read carefully to see how the different policies stack up. By taking your time on this side of the insurance-buying process, you’re more likely to get the best deal.

3. Read carefully.

You’ve done your research and found the perfect policy. Now, one of the best steps you can take is to read your policy carefully so you know exactly what is and isn’t covered and then make copies of your policy to keep in your car and at home in case an accident does happen. It’s also a good idea to know exactly who you need to contact to file a claim and the number of the insurance agent to contact in case you need help.

Other than thinking about the high price of gas, most people do not think about how many miles they drive in a day or a week. If you need to go to the grocery store in Bethlehem, PA, you get in your car and go. If you have to commute 100 miles each week to go to school, that is what you do. Even though you may not keep close track of how far you drive, you probably realize that the cost of owning and operating a vehicle goes up as you drive greater distances.

Obviously, your cost of fuel will be more if you drive 20,000 miles in a year instead of only 10,000 miles per year. Your tires will wear out faster and you will have to replace them with new ones. Maintenance and repair costs will also rise proportionately as you increase the number of miles you drive.

What you might not realize is that auto insurance companies pay close attention to how far you drive. They normally do not care if you drive 1,000 miles in a week to take a vacation or drive 20 miles each day to go to school. Generally speaking, your insurance cost is affected by the total amount of miles you drive in a year.

Insurance companies are not worried about how much you spend on gas or how many times you will have to change your oil. They are only concerned about mileage because it can increase your risk of being in an accident or suffering some type of loss. If your car is parked in the driveway and not being driven, there is a much lower chance of you filing a claim for a loss.

While miles driven is not as important as your driving record in determining your premium for auto insurance, it is a factor. If your circumstances change and you will only be driving half as many miles as you did the previous year, notify your independent agent. You may be able to get a reduction in your insurance cost.

If you have been hurt in an auto accident, you may be wondering about how the medical end of the auto insurance claim will work. This is actually a question that only your insurance agent can actually answer since every policy is different. Since your policy is created based on the needs you explained to the agent at the time you signed up for your policy.

If you were hurt in an accident that was the fault of another person, your medical coverage will usually be handled by the responsible person’s insurance policy. In the event that you were injured by another person who did not have liability insurance, or a person who did not have adequate liability insurance to cover all your medical bills, then your insurance agent may advise you to file a claim with your own insurance company for the medical damages.

If you were hurt in an accident that was your own fault, medical coverage can usually be covered by your own policy if you have comprehensive coverage. This is the type of coverage that handles medical bills incurred by you in the event that another person is not responsible.

When you need medical care it is important that you seek it out as soon as possible. Of course it is important to file your auto insurance claim quickly as well, but don’t delay any necessary medical care. Call your insurance agent and ask him about what type of medical coverage that you have in your car insurance policy.

Never get caught without the auto coverage you need. You can call our independent agents or get live comparative quotes online in just minutes for free!

It’s not uncommon for motorists to be involved in accidents involving only their own vehicle. In Pennsylvania alone, there were approximately 759 single vehicle fatalities in 2012 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, most single-car accidents in Bethlehem, PA and the surrounding area are relatively minor, with no injuries and equally minor cosmetic or nonexistent damage to the car itself.

No matter how minor the accident, you should report it to your insurance agent as soon as possible. It’s also important to take written notes as well as pictures (if possible) of the accident scene, as memories can fade and having concrete evidence could be a big help during the claims process.

One reason to report car accident to insurance straight away is to take advantage of your collision insurance coverage and its ability to cover the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle. However, if the estimated cost of damage is lower than the deductible, then you may be better off paying for the repairs out of your own pocket.

Another reason is that most auto insurance policies feature a clause requiring the insured to report any and all accidents, but such clauses are often hard to enforce. Local, county and state law enforcement officials may also require you to submit a collision report for accidents with either bodily injury or a set amount of property damage to any one person’s vehicle or other property. This information may be passed on to your insurer depending on the circumstances.

The longer you wait to report a car accident to your insurer, the less likely you’ll be compensated for any damages. As your independent agent, we can help you report collisions and other events involving your vehicle quickly and accurately. We can also help you realize big savings on the latest auto insurance plans available.

You got into a car accident and incurred injuries and medical bills. Now that you’re patched up, you’re wondering what aspects of your car insurance actually covered the bills. If you get into an accident with someone who holds insurance, their liability coverage takes care of your injuries and medical bills, although it doesn’t cover additional expenses while you’re out of work. Personal injury coverage, on the other hand, is an addition to your automobile insurance policy that you get specifically to cover medical bills, costs associated with personal injury, and lost wages. Personal injury coverage includes all of this under one policy rider, instead of requiring you to pay separately for personal injury and medical bill coverage. 17 states require automobile insurance to include personal injury coverage as part of the state minimum insurance.

Some advantages to adding personal injury coverage to your automobile insurance include protection against uninsured drivers, dealing with an inability to work due to an accident, and covering any gaps in medical bill payments from the other driver’s insurance. Other related items that this coverage pays for includes childcare costs, maintenance services, and medical travel expenses. Having the peace of mind that an accident isn’t going to turn your life upside down due to your missing work makes this coverage worth it.

It also doesn’t matter who was at fault for the accident. If you have personal injury protection, it covers you no matter what the accident situation was. Not all states offer personal injury protection specifically, but you can also find it under the name auto medical payments coverage.

Because recreational vehicles require special expertise, it is important that they are repaired at an authorized facility. If you bring your recreational vehicle to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, you might have to transport your vehicle out of the state in order to have it serviced by qualified professionals. Keep these tips in mind if you need to contact your insurance company for help moving your vehicle to another state.

How Your Recreational Vehicle Policy Works

If you are in an accident, you will need to move your recreational vehicle to a repair shop so that an appraiser can complete an estimate on the cost of the damages. Because recreational vehicle require special expertise to repair, many insurance companies will assist with cost of transporting your vehicle to a manufacturer, even if it is out of state. However, it is important to keep in mind that your insurance company might settle for a qualified facility that is closest to the scene of the accident.

How an Independent Agent Can Help

An independent auto insurance agent can help you determine which insurance companies will provide the best coverage for your recreational vehicle in the case of an accident. Though it’s overlooked, the transportation fees of moving your vehicle to the manufacturer is an expense that can really add up. Also, if your recreational vehicle was manufactured in another state, yet your insurance company will only reimburse you to move it to the closest qualified facility, you might still be left to pay the tab if you have a preference for taking your vehicle to the manufacturer.

An independent agent can help you determine which companies will meet your preferences and provide the best coverage for moving your vehicle in the case of an accident. Contact us today to find the best policy for your recreational vehicle.

If you are visiting Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for an extended period of time, you might be interested in purchasing a vehicle just for your trip and then reselling it before you leave. While you can certainly find good deals on used cars, finding insurance might be a trickier proposition. Before you purchase a car for your vacation, keep the following points in mind.

Insuring a Car if You Are From Another State

If you are visiting Pennsylvania from another state, there are some challenges you will face in insuring a vehicle that you buy just for your vacation. First, you will need to register your vehicle locally before you can operate it. Second, you might have difficulty finding an insurance agent that will allow you to insure the vehicle without a valid state license.

Additionally, when you are purchasing insurance to drive in the Bethlehem areas, you will need to make sure that the insurance policy that you do purchase is compliant with Pennsylvania insurance laws. The downside is that the insurance laws in Pennsylvania might be more expensive to comply with than the requirements in your home state.

Insuring a Car if You Are an International Tourist

If you are a driver from another country, insuring a vehicle that you purchase in the United States will be especially difficult. Most insurance companies will require that you have a valid driver’s licence from within the United States before your insurance application can be processed. If you are from another country, it is important to recieve advice from an independent agent who can help you locate the insurance companies that will work with tourists from out of the country.

How an Independent Agent Can Help

Despite the pitfalls of purchasing an auto for your vacation, there might be reasons that you would prefer to obtain your own vehicle rather than rent a car. If you contact us, we can make obtaining insurance during your vacation a smoother process by helping you determine the best course of action for insurance for your vehicle.

Teaching a driver with a learner’s permit in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to drive will require insurance for that individual. If you want them to drive your car, then you will also need to add the individual to your policy. Fortunately, it is not hard to add a driver to your auto insurance policy.

Evaluate the Situation

Even though it is possible to add an individual to any auto policy, it may not be necessary if you are only taking the individual out for a one-time excursion. A driver who is not actively operating the car on a regular basis will still be covered under your policy if you take him or her out once.

If you plan to teach the individual to drive from the foundation, then you will want to add him or her to your policy, even if you do not live in the same house. Any individual who drives your car regularly must be added to the existing coverage plan.

Contact the Insurer

The only way to add a learner driver to your current insurance plan is by informing your insurer about the situation. Tell your insurer that you want to add the individual to your plan and then provide any details that are requested. The insurer will need to know the name, age and other details before they can provide coverage.

It is possible to add a new driver to your current policy if you are planning to teach the person how to drive. You should expect your premium to increase, though the exact rate will vary between insurers. When your insurance plan is no longer appropriate or when you cannot add a new driver to the plan, working with an independent agent can help. Contact us to talk to an agent for more details.