Influencing your car insurance rates

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Insurance companies have a basic rate they charge for automobile insurance.  The State of Texas requires basic liability coverage, and you may want comprehensive and collision if you have a newer car or are still paying off your vehicle.  While they are some basic rates, there are several things in your life that can affect how much you will pay. VersatileInsurance Planners in San Antonio, TX can help you put yourself in the best light and get you the coverage you need.

Where you live, or where you drive the most, is one of the major factors in determining insurance rates. Your credit score is also very important and is often the biggest factor in determining how much of a discount you qualify for.  The age of the primary driver is also a major consideration. Teenagers cost more because they have more accidents.

A driving record can also have an influence on how much your insurance will cost. Speeding tickets or moving violations will make you seem like a greater risk so your premiums will cost more. Some offer discounts if you have not had an accident in several years.

The type of car you drive will also affect your rates, as well as the value. Some cars are stolen more often than others. Whether the car is used for business is another factor. Some other factors include your occupation, whether you are a parent, and whether you are a homeowner. Whether you have a garage or park on the street, is yet another consideration.

Visit or call Versatile Insurance Planners of San Antonio, TX today to find out how you can get the best car insurance for your situation. You may also use our online tool to help you get an idea of what the insurance will cost.

 

Insurance Needs for The Small Business Owner

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As a small business owner in Salma, TX, you may be wondering exactly what your insurance needs are. Versatile Insurance Planners is happy to help. We understand the individual needs of the small business owner and look for new ways to provide insurance coverage for you.

General Liability and Property Insurance from Versatile Insurance Planners

The minimum coverage you would want to consider as a small business owner would be General Liability and Property Insurance. This is the basic insurance to make sure that you are protected from liability should an accident take place on your property. This policy will also protect you if significant damage is sustained to your property.

Worker’s Compensation Insurance

Depending on how many people you employ, you may be required by law to carry worker’s compensation insurance. This type of insurance will protect your employees in the event that they are injured at work. This will provide for medical expenses and provide payments while the employee is out of work. In addition to this, it protects you as the employer if an employee sues you for injuries sustained on the job.

Equipment and Automobile Insurance

If you use any type of equipment or use vehicles in the execution of your business, then you will need to protect these investments as well. Equipment is usually a massive investment in your business. You do not want to risk losing this equipment in the event of an accident or through wear and tear. Equipment insurance will cover these items. If your employees are required to drive in order to do their job, then they and the vehicles they drive will need to be insured. This is both for your protection as well as the protection of anyone who may be involved in an accident with one of your employees.

Please call us today at Versatile Insurance Planners serving Salma, TX and the surrounding areas to discuss your policy.

The Benefits of Having a Home Security System

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Home security systems are designed to protect your home and your belongings. They work around the clock, whether you are at home or away. At Versatile Insurance Planners, the agents can help residents living in the San Antonio, TX area discover the benefits of having a home security system installed in their home.

A Deterrent for Burglars

Many home security systems offer small signs for the yard or stickers for windows that will alert potential burglars that the home has an active security system. Many won’t take the risk and will leave the property alone. 

Notifies the Authorities If An Alert is Triggered

Home security systems that are monitored by a third-party monitoring center will notify the authorities if an alert is triggered. This is true for both break-ins and fire or smoke alarms. Although some systems notify the owner first, some will automatically send an alert to local emergency response teams.

Discounts on Insurance Premiums

Many insurance companies realize the benefits of having a home security system and will offer discounted premiums to homeowners and renters who purchase and maintain a system. The additional security can save lives if the family is at home and a fire breaks out, or someone tries to break into the home. This dramatically reduces the risk of loss in terms of both life and property.

If you live in the San Antonio, TX area and are interested in learning the benefits of having a home security system installed in your home, call the agents at Versatile Insurance Planners today. We will schedule an appointment with you to go over your existing policy and find out if having a home security system will help to save you money.

 

 

Does Motorcycle Insurance Cover Damage Associated with Wear and Tear?

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Insurance on your motorcycle and knowing what type of coverage you need is essential. You can have about any amount of coverage you want, but that does not change what that coverage takes care of. For those that live in the San Antonio, TX area, the agents with Versatile Insurance Planners can help you to find the coverage you need and want.

Motorcycle insurance covers damage from wrecks, injury, and more. Motorcycle insurance does not, however, cover normal wear and tear. There is a reason for this. For starters, it is not possible for insurance companies to include things like wear and tear because everyone uses their motorcycles differently. Wear and tear for each and every driver is going to be different and is going to happen even if the bike is not driven. Insurance is in place to help recover from accidents rather than to cover the normal wear and tear of a bike.

Since your insurance is not going to cover wear and tear, it is always a good idea to have regular maintenance done on your bike to help protect it. Your insurance does include things like damages from wrecks, your medical bills in the event on an accident, and even the medical costs of the other drivers as well as associated deductibles. This is going to help make sure that when you are on the road, everyone is covered and safe.

For those that live in the San Antonio, TX area, the agents with Versatile Insurance Planners can help you determine what type and amount of coverage you need to help protect you and your bike and keep it on the road and running for a more extended period. Contact our office to speak with an agent and get a quote.

Does Flood Insurance Cover Damages From A Sewer Accident?

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If you are the victim of a sewer mishap, whether it be a result of issues in the home or issues stemming from the system running through the neighborhood, you can have substantial damages to your home. This type of accident requires serious mitigation and cleanup, in addition, there may be significant repairs and replacement to avoid health hazards for you and your family. Does the average flood insurance policy cover sewer accident repair and replacement cost?

Sewer Accident Repairs And Replacement

If you have a sewer accident that affects your home or property, you can expect to be out of pocket unless you purchase water/sewer backup coverage. The only instance your regular flood insurance will cover a sewer backup or water backup from utilities is if it is caused directly by a flood from a body of water or heavy rain. If you are concerned with incurring this type of damage, you should research your options and find out how to obtain water/sewer backup coverage in addition to your regular homeowners and flood insurance. 

A Trusted Provider Of Insurance Products

If you are looking for top-quality insurance products to protect your investments, then you should do business with an insurance agency that has an established reputation for quality and customer service. If you live in or near the San Antonio, TX area, you can count on Versatile Insurance Planners to work with you to get you the insurance coverage you need to protect your possessions. We are committed to providing personalized service and complete coverage. 

Don’t take risks with your home or property. Get the insurance you need from Versatile Insurance Planners serving the residents in and around the San Antonio, TX area. Having the right insurance products will give you security and peace of mind. 

What to do with your vehicle after an accident

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You have had a crash while driving your vehicle. Fortunately, everyone seems to be unhurt, and you have exchanged all the information you need with the other driver. Now comes the question of what to do with your vehicle. Versatile Insurance Planners, serving San Antonio, TX, strongly advises that you take your vehicle to a body shop immediately to have it evaluated, preferably by having it towed.

To be prepared for such emergencies, you should have a membership with an auto club such as AAA. The annual fee will likely pay for itself the first time you have to have your vehicle towed to a garage or body shop.

You may be reluctant to take your car to the shop immediately after an accident, especially if it seems to have just sustained a scratch or a minor dent. However, the kinetic energy that a car crash creates can cause a lot of hidden damage to your vehicle. The frame or undercarriage may have become so compromised that taking it on the road can cause a catastrophe at the next sudden stop or bump on a pothole. If the initial crash does not hurt you, this kind of accident just might. At the very least, the damage to your car may be exacerbated, increasing the cost of repairing it.

A trained and experienced body shop technician can evaluate your vehicle and tell you what needs to be done to get it back into a drivable condition and, most importantly, how much it will cost. While this process is happening, you can get into a rental car and be on your way.

If you have any questions concerning car crashes or about auto insurance in general, contact Versatile Insurance Planners, serving San Antonio, TX.

 

Does an At-Home Business Need Commercial Insurance?

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A lot of business owners who operate their companies out of the comfort of their own homes fail to realize the importance of commercial business insurance. They think because they don’t have an actual brick-and-mortar business location that is deemed as a commercial space that commercial insurance isn’t needed. It’s extremely imperative, though, for home-based business owners to understand why investing in commercial insurance in San Antonio, TX is a smart choice. Versatile Insurance Planners has put together a list of the top three reasons home-based business owners should buy commercial insurance.

Coverage for Vehicles

If a home-based business owner uses his or her car for business-related purposes, there’s a good chance that commercial insurance will be of the utmost value. This especially applies if the business owner transports clients in the vehicle. If an accident was to occur and the insurance company discovers business activities were taking place in the car, this could hinder a payout. With commercial insurance, though, there’s no need to fret. 

Coverage for the Hard Times

Even the most successful home-based businesses sometimes struggle from time to time. When the hard times hit, it can be beneficial to have commercial insurance. Take for example that a client is injured on the business owner’s home property when coming to a consultation. Without commercial insurance, this could leave the business owner facing a huge financial burden.

Coverage for Business Income

Depending on the exact type of commercial insurance policy invested in, a home-based business owner may be able to take advantage of business income coverage. This means if the business owner is injured and cannot tend to business activities, he or she can tap into the insurance policy to receive financial compensation for a set period or up to a predetermined amount.

Want to learn more about commercial insurance for home-based businesses? Contact Versatile Insurance Planners today serving the San Antonio, TX area.

Is There Such a Thing As Liability Home Insurance?

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Home insurance is something that we all have to have on our homes if we have a mortgage or other types of loans out against the value of the home. This means that home insurance also comes in a wide range of sizes and a wide range of policy types that fit each home. For those that live in the San Antonio, TX area, the agents with Versatile Insurance Planners can help you find your perfect home insurance policy.

There are virtually thousands of different types of home insurance policies to choose from. This means that there are also thousands of different coverage types and different levels of coverage. There is no such thing as a liability only policy when it comes to home insurance. There is, however, a base amount of insurance that a home must be insured for. This base number is factored based on the amount of the loan that you have out on the house. This means if you have a $200,000 loan on the home, you have to have at least $200,000 home insurance.

Though you only have to have the home covered for the amount of your loan, it is always best to have your home covered for the value of the house rather than just the amount of the loan. If your home is destroyed and you only have it insured for the amount of the loan, you are going to have no money to buy another home or rebuild. It is always best to make sure you have your home assessed and covered for its full value and for the value of the contents of the house as well to make sure you can both rebuild or buy another home, as well as purchase the contents of your home again.

For those that live in the San Antonio, TX area, the agents with Versatile Insurance Planners can help.
 

Does Motorcycle Insurance Cover Other Drivers?

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Motorcycle insurance is something that is both required and necessary, and it covers a great range of things. For starters, it covers the cost of your medical bills if there is an accident. Motorcycle insurance also covers the cost of the other drivers up to a point. For those that live in the San Antonio, TX area, the agents with Versatile Insurance Planners can help you to get the coverage you need quickly.

Much like car insurance, motorcycle insurance is required to cover a certain liability amount. This amount differs from state to state, and it is going to help to cover the cost of the bills of other drivers if they are in an accident with you. This will cover medical bills, replacement or repairs of a vehicle, and court fees should the other person take you to court. Your insurance is also going to cover the cost of their deductible so that they can get started with healing before they are required to spend a great deal paying off fees and bills.

Motorcycle insurance is required by almost every state to make sure that you can cover liability for another driver or vehicle should you be at fault in an accident. For those that live in the San Antonio, TX area, the agents with Versatile Insurance Planners can help you find the motorcycle policy that is going to work best for you and your particular needs. Contact our offices to speak with an agent and learn more about the benefits of a motorcycle insurance policy. We can help you get a quote and get started.

Is Flood Insurance Always Necessary If You Live Near Water?

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In San Antonio, TX, the agents of Versatile Insurance Planners are often asked if flood insurance is needed if a home is located near water. The answer is yes and no. There are several factors that go into answering that type of question. Is the home near a floodplain? Are drainage capabilities what they should be? If you own a home near any type of body of water, be it a lake, river, or stream, you should know the answers to all of these questions before you make your decision to purchase flood insurance.

Living Near Water Doesn’t Mean You Will Need Flood Insurance

Just because a home is located near the water doesn’t make it a major flood risk. Many homes that are located within a floodplain never experience a flood, but it’s a good idea to have the insurance in place. If your home is near water but not in a designated floodplain, the risk of your home being flooded is minimal. Floodplains change over time and areas that may not have been included in the past may have been added to the area as different factors change. It’s important to be aware of these changes so you can adjust your coverage accordingly.

Better To Be Safe Than Sorry

Floods can occur whether you live in a floodplain or not. Most homeowners are on the side of caution, especially if they live in areas prone to hurricanes or tropical storms. In this case, it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

San Antonio, TX residents who are concerned about whether or not they need flood insurance can call the agents of Versatile Insurance Planners. They can look over your existing policy and the location of your home and give you the information you need so that you can make the best possible decision. Contact our offices to get a quote and find out more about a policy.