​Autumn is a great time of year to enjoy a ride on your motorcycle.
It’s also a great time to check out your insurance needs
Choosing the right insurance policy is much like choosing the right motorcycle. You want it to fit your needs and lifestyle, but at the same time be within your budget. Although most states require you to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage, other types of coverage are usually optional. Our insurance agents can tell you which laws apply in your state.
In order to find out what coverage is best for you; it is important to understand all the options available.
Call or stop by our office today for a no-obligation review of your motorcycle insurance needs.

It is not a hard task to determine whether you require comprehensive coverage for your car. However, before you make the decision to buy comprehensive coverage, you need to have a good understanding of how it works. Comprehensive coverage is intended to cover a variety of physical damage claims, such as windshield and body damage, vandalism, and contact with an animal. Here is some information about why you need comprehensive car insurance.
Do You Have a Loan on the Car?
Lenders usually require physical damage coverage on the cars they have financed to drivers. Comprehensive is usually a portion of such mandatory coverage.
When you sign the contract for a loan, you agree to protect the car against physical damage by buying both collision and comprehensive coverage. You can end up having to deal with expensive penalties if you fail to notify your lender about your insurance coverage. You should ask your auto insurance agent to add your lender as a loss payee for the car. Doing this will ensure your lender is immediately notified of the coverage in case an accident occurs.
What Is Your Level of Risk for Having a Comprehensive Claim?
If you have a high level of risk for having a comprehensive claim, you should get comprehensive auto insurance. Some factors that will put you at high risk of having a comprehensive claim include living in a tornado alley or packing your car under a half-dead tall tree every night. Indeed, any driver can benefit from this coverage. However, for some people it’s worth more than others.
You should take the time to evaluate your risks before deciding whether to get comprehensive car insurance. In general, one would file a comprehensive auto insurance claim for damage to your car caused by the following:

• Falling objects like a tree limb
• Explosions or fire
• Lightning, floods, or hail from tornadoes, thunderstorms or hurricanes
• Theft
• Vandalism and certain civil disobedience
• Hitting an animal

The higher the risk is for a comprehensive claim, the more you should consider getting the coverage.
What Is the Value of the Vehicle?
 If the value of your vehicle is high, this will help you decide whether it is worthwhile to pay for comprehensive auto insurance. If the vehicle isn’t worth much anymore, then coverage might not be worth the investment.
How Much Does Comprehensive Coverage Cost?
You will be happy to know that comprehensive coverage tends to be reasonably priced. As long as you are not considered a high-risk driver, comprehensive coverage is typically worth the price. Even an older car with minimal value is likely worth the replacement of a windshield from damage.
For more information about comprehensive coverage, don't hesitate to contact us.

School is in full swing, the leaves are changing color, and that pumpkin spice latte just isn’t enough to stave off the morning chill. It’s time to switch your HVAC system over to Heat. Check the following list to be sure your furnace is ready for the coming winter.
1. Turn on the thermostat.
Switch from cooling to heating and set the temperature a couple of degrees higher than the current room temperature. If you don’t hear the heat kick on within a minute, pull off the cover and make sure the wire connections are secure (if you feel comfortable doing so). If the connections are snug, make sure the power source to the HVAC system is turned on. If it’s still not working, you could check the furnace fan, blower or heat pump — but it likely makes better sense to call in a professional.
2. Change the air filters.
You probably have air filters behind a vent grill in the wall or ceiling, or a single filter in the HVAC system itself. Change these filters every few months. Or, if you have a permanent electrostatic filter, you can wash and reuse it. Cleaning or replacing your filters regularly keeps particles out of your HVAC system and can prolong its life. While you’re at it, change your humidifier filter and set the humidistat, if your HVAC includes a humidifier.
3. Cover the AC condenser.
Unless your HVAC is a heat pump (in which case, don’t cover it at all because it runs all year), cover the condenser to protect it from falling icicles. A large trash can lid secured with bungee cords works quite well for this function. You can also use a board to cover the fan — but don’t wrap it in a moisture-trapping plastic tarp.
4. Clean the heat exchanger.
The heat exchanger should be brushed and vacuumed out annually by a trained professional while the unit is disabled. While it’s being cleaned, your technician should look for cracks, which could lead to a dangerous carbon monoxide leak into your home.
5. Lubricate and clean the blower motor.
First check the owner’s manual to see if your motor is the kind that needs lubricating. If it does, turn off the power, open the cover and clean the caps covering the bearings. Then remove the caps and lubricate the bearings.
6. Test the igniter switch.
On an old system, you might have to relight the pilot. Newer systems have electronic ignitors. If the ignitor isn’t working, push the reset button. If that doesn’t do the trick, check your breaker. Still not working? Call in a professional.
7. Inspect the chimney and carbon monoxide detectors.
Chimneys can house carbon buildup or even small animals. A professional should inspect them periodically. Routinely test or replace carbon monoxide detectors as well, as they help protect you from the “silent killer.”
8. Your insurance policy also needs a check-up.
We can do it over the phone if you wish. Get a hot cup of cocoa, pull out your policy and call our agency. It’s that simple!

Are you or some loved one serving in our military? See how well you do in this quiz designed for insurance subjects that affect the ones who protect us.
www.insureuonline.org/quiz_military.htm

BEYOND THUNDER DUMB: WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES...
More than 80% of lightning fatalities are men who did not seek shelter from an approaching storm, but instead kept on fishing, boating, golfing, biking, or working outdoors. Be prepared by recognizing danger and knowing what to do and what not to do. If you can hear thunder, even a distant rumble, lightning is close enough to strike you. Immediately seek shelter in a substantial building or a metal-topped vehicle.
Our agency is a great place to seek shelter during a thunderstorm. We will be glad to review your insurance needs as the storm passes.

When you get into an accident that seems relatively minor, you may end up surprised when your insurance company declares your vehicle totaled. Also known as declaring a total loss, this decision relies on different information than you might expect. Understanding the total loss formula will give you some insight into what might happen the next time an accident damages your vehicle.
The Total Loss Formula

• As with most other insurance decisions, the adjuster handling your case uses a formula to determine if the car is repairable or a total loss. Even minor car repairs are expensive, so older cars with lower values are often less expensive to replace than repair. A repaired vehicle often doesn't function quite the same or offer the same safety benefits either.
• By declaring a total loss, the insurance company can reimburse you with the money to buy a replacement vehicle rather than spending more to cover the repairs. When the car insurance company declares a vehicle as totaled, they usually must pay you its fair market value on the day of the accident. Remember, this is the car’s depreciated cash value at the time of the loss.

What Happens to Totaled Cars?

• You can't keep a car that the car insurance company declares as a total loss. In exchange for the reimbursement of its value, the insurance company becomes the legal owner of the damaged vehicle. They sell these cars to salvage yards to recoup a little of their cost.
• Salvage yards generally break these cars down into salable parts and recycle the rest, but cars with limited damage may undergo repairs and end up resold as running vehicles again. This means you may see your old totaled car driving around again one day, but it's highly unlikely.

Can I Dispute a Declaration of Total Loss?

• When you get into a minor collision but have a car with a very low market value, even a badly dented bumper could tip your car into a total loss. If you want to keep your vehicle, you can try disputing the declaration.
• Hire a private vehicle appraiser to make their own assessment of your vehicle's condition and value to back up your claim. If the auto insurance company disagrees, you can argue the case in litigation, but must prove the vehicle costs less to repair than to replace to win the claim.

Getting compensated an adequate value of a totaled car should help you find a reasonable replacement. If you're concerned, talk to our insurance agency about how the insurance companies handle declarations of total loss before you get into an accident.

​As Hurricane Sally bears down on the Southeast and much of our state faces inclement weather, it is a good time to ensure you and your family are informed and prepared in the event of a storm. September and October are the busiest times for hurricanes each year.
Please take a moment and review the Storm Checklist below for important tips.
Preparing for a Storm:

• Stay informed. There are several apps for your smart phone that will keep you up to date with weather alerts, but a battery-operated radio is ideal in case of power outages.
• Secure outside items that could be blown around by wind. Items such as grills, patio furniture, trash cans, trampolines, and toys should be tied down or brought indoors.
• Turn your refrigerator and freezers to the lowest setting. This should help keep food colder and help it to last longer in case of a power outage.
• Unplug expensive electronics to guard against lightning and power surge.
• Review your safety plans. Make sure your family knows where you will meet and how you will stay safe during the storm.

During a Severe Storm:
Our state is susceptible to thunderstorms as well as tornadoes and hurricanes. And, every thunderstorm contains lightning, which kills more people each year than other storms. Lightning is the third largest cause of storm deaths in America. Thunderstorms can also cause high winds and heavy rains. The following tips will assist you and your family in staying safe during a thunderstorm:

• Avoid areas that have standing water
• Avoid windows and electrical equipment
• Be on the lookout for flash flooding while traveling
• Bring pets inside
• Pay attention to downed power lines and falling trees
• Secure loose objects
• Stay away from bodies of water
• Stay off the roads

During a Tornado:
Tornadoes are one of the deadliest natural disasters that occur in our state. Their winds alone can destroy homes, uproot trees, and down powerlines. It’s important to understand the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. Consider the following tips to stay safe during a tornado:

• Avoid windows and doors
• Keep a battery-operated radio nearby for updates
• Seek shelter in a basement
• Stay away from overpasses
• Stay off the roads
• Remember that a “watch” means a tornado is possible and a “warning means a tornado has been spotted and shelter should be taken immediately.

Now is a great time for our agency to complete a no-obligation review of your current coverages. We are great at finding coverage gaps and additional discounts for which you may be eligible.