Tips to keep your motorcycle from being stolen

Prevent motorcycle theft

Prevent motorcycle theft

If you have a motorcycle, it’s important to keep it from being stolen. Let’s get to the point – motorcycles can be targets of theft because they are accessible. And your bike really matters to you, naturally, so you want to protect it. By taking a few simple steps you can protect your bike and prevent motorcycle theft. It just takes a little bit of time and a little bit of remembering!

Tips to prevent motorcycle theft

1. Lock the bike.

Okay, so first things first. When you arrive at your destination, you hop off the bike, right? But here’s the key – you need to turn off the ignition. Just that second that it takes to cut the ignition can prevent your bike from being stolen. After you cut the ignition, you need to lock up the bike too. You can lock the forks (disk brakes) of the bikes, and you can get brightly colored locks. That might help dissuade people from stealing the bike.

2. Lock multiple bikes together.

You might be traveling with a group, and if that’s the case lock the bikes together. It’s probably a bit more logistically difficult to steal multiple bikes that are locked together than a lone bike, right? So, coordinate with your friends and figure out how you are going to get the bikes locked together.

(And if you are on your own, you can lock the bike to an object that can’t be taken apart and can’t be moved – i.e., a light post.)

3. Get an anti-theft device.

You can also get a very loud alarm that will be very noisy if someone tries to mess with your bike. That way people will be alerted if there’s a motorcycle thief on the loose. Alarms can be helpful.

4. Check on your bike.

If you’re out at a public event, check on your bike from time to time. (Particularly right after you arrive.) Of course, you don’t want to be super paranoid about it, but still, it can’t hurt to have a quick look at the motorcycle every so often.

(Also, if possible, you can park the bike close to a security camera. You never know when camera footage could come in handy.)

5. Keep important motorcycle-related documents safe.

You probably want to be careful with the motorcycle’s title. That means stowing it safely in your house rather than leaving it in your saddlebag or in the bike’s compartment. The title is an important piece of paper, after all, and you don’t want anyone to get their hands on it.

And speaking of important pieces of paper, you should keep your insurance information and your motorcycle registration with you when you take your bike out. If something happens, you might need to show these things. Don’t lose track of them.

6. Distinguish your bike.

You can also customize your bike with a unique symbol. That way it looks distinctive. Also, it’s not a bad idea to take pictures of your bike (including your symbol) so that you can show them to the police if need be.

7. Take care when you’re selling the bike.

If you are selling your motorcycle, it’s important to be careful. When someone comes to test drive the bike, don’t give them the title until you’ve had the chance to do a background check and the payment has gone through. (And you should also check the buyer’s personal information against their ID.) You wouldn’t want someone to steal the bike just as you’re trying to sell it.

Keeping your motorcycle safe is important. By taking a few simple steps, you can prevent motorcycle theft and keep your bike from being stolen. And that’s not a bad plan, is it?

Along with preventing motorcycle theft, it’s important to get the right Atlanta motorcycle insurance. Our team would be happy to help you with that, or with helping you get insurance for a car you currently have or a new car. Get in touch with us by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us on LiveChat. We like to help people save money on their insurance and we like to make insurance easy.

8 tips for RV safety in Atlanta

RV safety

RV safety

There are a lot of different ways to vacation. Maybe you’re planning on taking an RV trip with your family. Packing up and taking a trip is a great way to spend time with your family and have some bonding time. But driving an RV is not the same as driving a regular car. It’s bigger than a car, and heavier, and taller. That means that you’ve got to take some extra care to stay safe. Here are a few quick tips for RV safety.

8 tips for RV safety in Atlanta.

1. Know the weight the RV can handle.

It’s important to know the weight capacity of the RV. How much weight can it handle? You don’t want to overload the vehicle. Be sure to take note of the weight capacity – and follow it. Yes, you might be tempted to pack the RV to the roof, but don’t overwhelm the vehicle. The RV can only take so much.

2. Do a pre-trip inspection.

The RV also needs to be ready for the trip. It’s important to do a pre-trip inspection of your vehicle to make sure that the RV can handle the hours on the road. (You don’t want to be stuck on the side of the road, right?) So, be sure to check over the following:

  • Tire pressure
  • Tire tread depth
  • Headlights
  • Taillights
  • Turn signals
  • Belts
  • Oil levels
  • High/Other towing equipment
  • Windshield wipers

Basically, make sure that your RV is all set and ready to roll! Even though your RV might do what you want it to under normal circumstances, it never hurts to make sure everything is working properly before you set off on your adventure.

3. Know the height of the vehicle.

You also need to know the height of your RV. Of course, an RV is a lot taller than a car, even if you’re used to driving something like a pick-up truck. Maybe it seems obvious, but remember – that RV is taller than one might think.

4. Be careful with your speed.

It’s also a good idea to slow down and take it easy with your speed. It’s especially crucial to be cautious when it gets dark or dusk starts falling. (And don’t forget to use your headlights appropriately when needed.) Maneuvering an RV can be much more challenging than driving a car, so drive at a safe, reasonable speed. (And slowing down is particularly important if you come to a curve in the road where it’s hard to see who’s coming.)

5. Don’t forget your seatbelt.

You also need to make sure everyone is buckled up safely. The seatbelt is a safety measure that can protect you should something happen. The RV is large and might seem indestructible, but wearing seatbelts is crucial. It just takes a second to click the seatbelt, and it’s a second that is well worth it.

6. Clear out food and trash.

After your trip, unpacking and cleaning might feel like the last thing you want to do. Still, take a second to clean out the RV. Take care of any leftover food. Get rid of the trash. You’ll thank yourself when you don’t have to deal with a messy RV later.

7. Store the RV safely.

Okay, so you can’t exactly park an RV anywhere. It’s not like you can just stick it in a driveway. When you pick a spot to store your RV, make sure that it’s safe and secure. Your RV is valuable, so you need to protect it. Besides, you’ll feel better knowing that you’ve got a nice, cozy place to stash your RV.

8. Know what to do if an accident happens.

Not that you want to think about getting into an accident, but it’s not a bad idea to know what to do if something happens. That way you won’t be as flustered or panicked. Here are three quick steps to remember:

  • Pull off the side of the road if possible
  • Call the police
  • Check that everyone’s okay

In the moment, remembering these three things can help you handle the situation.

RVs can be a lot of fun, but it’s important to stay safe. Even just a few simple things can help you as you embark on your trip. Don’t overlook the basics of RV safety and focus on having a relaxing, enjoyable trip.

And if you need RV insurance, we can help. Our team would be happy to help. Get started with your quotes for Atlanta RV insurance by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us. It’s important to make sure your RV is properly insured. (And we can also help with Atlanta home insurance, auto insurance, and renters insurance.)

7 reasons to do a review of your Atlanta car insurance policy

Atlanta car insurance policy

Atlanta car insurance policy

So, car insurance. Perhaps not your favorite two words to hear next to each other. You might not be too fond of paying your premium, and you might not want to look at your policy. But it’s important to review your Atlanta car insurance regularly. Before you groan and scoff (an understandable response), we can assure you that there are plenty of good reasons to do a review of your Atlanta car insurance policy on a regular basis. It could help you ensure that you’ve got the coverage that’s right for you – at the best possible rate.

7 reasons to do a review of your Atlanta car insurance policy.

1. Make sure you have enough coverage.

There’s a lot of risks associated with driving, and that’s why car insurance exists. When you review your Atlanta car insurance policy, check your coverage limits. Do you have high enough levels of coverage? Do you want to raise your levels of coverage? Don’t underestimate how expensive a car accident can be or how bad the fallout from a serious accident can be. Remember, your bodily injury liability coverage can cover the other driver’s medical expenses if you injure them in a car accident. Then property damage liability can cover the damage to the other driver’s car if you hit them. The point is that it’s important to make sure you have high enough limits of coverage.

2. Check your discounts.

When you do a review of your Atlanta car insurance, you can also take a look at the discounts being applied to your policy. Do you think you could qualify for any other discounts? Check and see if your situation has changed, allowing you to score some quick savings on your insurance. There are a few common car insurance discounts that people can get…

  • Safe driver
  • Low mileage
  • Multi-car discount
  • Good Student discount

Hey, if you’re going to be reviewing your policy, you may as well see if you can get some savings out of it by looking into discounts!

3. See if there are any coverages you want to add.

When you’re reviewing your policy, see if there are any potential coverages you want to add to your policy. You might have the option to add coverages that could be helpful later on.

4. Think about bundling.

When you have to insure both a home and a car, you might want to consider bundling your home and auto insurance. That means you get both coverages from the same carrier. This might help you save money because a lot of carriers offer a multi-line discount, and that could help you save a bit of money on your insurance. Evaluating your car insurance policy gives you the chance to consider whether it’s time to bundle and whether that’s the right move for you. There are plenty of benefits to bundling, not the least of which is the convenience factor of only having to deal with one insurance carrier.

5. Check your deductible.

Your deductible is the amount you agree to pay if you have a claim (and then the insurance company pays the rest according to the policy’s limits). Looking over your insurance gives you the chance to remind yourself of your deductible and ask yourself if it’s still right for you. There’s often a relationship between deductible and premium – if you choose a higher deductible, you could see a lower premium. So, if you’re in a position where you could raise your deductible, you could get lower rates. However, you don’t want to raise your deductible so high that it would be a huge burden to pay if you ever face a claim. There needs to be a balance.

6. Evaluate if your coverage still suits your needs.

Things change from year to year – and even month to month. So, when you review your Atlanta car insurance, you have to make sure your coverage still suits your specific situation. Think about where you’re at now and make sure your insurance is just right. (And hey, this is also a great time to make sure you’re familiar with what your policy does and doesn’t cover. It never hurts to refresh your memory and give your policy a once-over.)

7. See if you can save money.

Evaluating your car insurance policy is also a great time to get car insurance quotes and see what other options are out there. By getting multiple quotes, you could save money on your insurance and see what kind of rates are available to you. It can’t hurt to check and see if there’s coverage that’s better suited to your needs – or less expensive. You never know – you could find that you could get the same coverage you have now at a lower rate. And wouldn’t that be great?

The thing is that you don’t have to get car insurance quotes on your own. Our team can help you get the coverage you need. Atlanta car insurance is a big deal, and you might feel stressed out just thinking about it. But we like to make insurance easy. To get started with Atlanta car insurance quotes, fill out your online form, give us a call, or message us on LiveChat.

Tips for having an auto roadside emergency kit

Tips for having an auto roadside emergency kit

Tips for having an auto roadside emergency kit

You never know what might happen on Atlanta roads. Cars, unfortunately, are not infallible, and they can break down and refuse to cooperate. When that happens, it’s probably going to be a less painful experience if you have a car emergency kit stashed in your trunk. You never know when your car could refuse to start, get overheated, or start making an ominous “click-click-putter-cough” sound that necessitates pulling over. To avoid a total disaster, a little preparation can go a long way. Here are some tips about putting together an auto roadside emergency kit.

Tips for your roadside emergency kit.

1. Include the car-related items.

Well, first and foremost, having car-related items in the back of the car can come in handy. Your car emergency kit should include…

  • Jumper cables
  • Flares
  • Motor oil (2 quarts)
  • Antifreeze (1 gallon)
  • Washer fluid
  • Ice scraper – yes, Atlanta is hot, but it’s a handy thing to have.
  • Fuses
  • Tire inflator and tire pressure gauge

These things are simple, but they can make a big difference. For example, having some jumper cables can spare you the hassle of having to wait for a tow truck if your car won’t start because your battery is dead. Conversely, you can help out a friend if their car won’t start if you have cables in your car. (Then you’d be their hero!)

2. Have items for you and your family.

There are also items that can make a breakdown much more comfortable for all involved. Think about including the following…

  • Non-perishable food (i.e. snack bars)
  • Water
  • A blanket
  • First-aid kit
    • Bandages
    • Gauze
    • Gloves
    • Tape
    • Wipes
    • Scissors

You never know when one of the kids is going to get a boo-boo and need some first-aid, or when the car isn’t starting and snacks are an immediate necessity.

3. Don’t forget other handy items.

And then there are the miscellaneous items that can be extremely useful. Things that might make you go, “You know what I need right now…” when you’re in a predicament.

Here are a few more things to throw into your emergency roadside kit:

  • Flashlight and batteries
  • Pocket knife
  • Rags/Paper towel
  • Tools
    • Different screwdrivers
    • Pliers
    • Wrench

4. Customize your roadside kit.

You can make adjustments to your kit as needed so that it’s suited to you and your family’s needs. You have to consider what you would need in the event of a breakdown or an emergency when you’re putting together your kit. So, feel free to add things as needed. (And yes, it might seem like you’re toting around a lot of stuff with you on the off-chance that you’ll need it. But think of the benefits of being prepared. If it’s just a minor issue, you can take care of it on your own and get back on your way.)

5. Show everyone the contents of the emergency kit – and how to use them.

Well, first of all, it’s important that you’re familiar with your roadside emergency kit and it’s contents…meaning that you know how it all works and would be comfortable using it in a pinch. (For example…jumper cables.) Learn how to use all of these items safely.

Then you can make sure that your family knows what’s stored in the emergency kit. Imagine if someone took the car out, got stuck on the side of the road, and needed a flashlight. Thinking they don’t have a flashlight, they stumble around in the dark. And then get home only to have you tell them that there was a flashlight (and batteries) in the car the entire time.

Anyways, make sure everyone knows how to safely use these items, and make sure that the kids know not to get into the things they shouldn’t.

So, we’ve established that a roadside emergency kit could come in very handy if something happened – like if you broke down on the side of the road. But something that could also come in handy in the event of an accident or incident involving your car is Atlanta car insurance. Our team can help you get the coverage you need to protect yourself from the risks involved with car-ownership and driving. Get in touch with us by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us on LiveChat.

What to know about your insurance if you’re going through a divorce

Divorce and insurance

Divorce and insurance

If you’re going through a divorce, the last thing you want to deal with is more stress. And for a lot of people, insurance is synonymous with stress. You’re already going through enough, and maybe you just want to know what to expect through. What should you know about your home insurance and car insurance if you’re getting divorced? We’ll explain.

What to know divorce and insurance.

Where to start?

It can be hard to know where to start when it comes to your insurance situation when you’re going through a divorce. What should you do insurance-wise? You might not know where to start when it comes to your insurance situation when you’re going through a divorce. What should you do insurance-wise? You might not know where to begin. Here are a few tips for handling your insurance:

  • Take a look at all of the insurance policies that you and your spouse had.
  • Figure out the policies that you’ll need and make notes of the changes you need to make.
  • Take some time to handle health insurance for your whole family.
  • Determine if you’ll need any additional coverage.

So, take it step by step. Review your policies and remind yourself of what coverages you have and take some notes.

Home insurance.

When it comes to home insurance, this is (of course) the policy that protects the structure of your house. But what happens if one of you is moving out, leaving the other with the house? The spouse who remains will likely want to change the policy so that it only lists their name. So, that’s something that needs to happen. Another thing that needs to happen is a review of the insurance policy. Some things to look at…

  • Is the structure of the home insured for its replacement cost value?
  • Likewise, are your belongings insured for their replacement cost value and not their actual cash value.
  • Is your deductible set where you want it?
  • Have you bundled your home and auto insurance?
  • Does your coverage still fit your needs? (Have you gained any valuables, etc.?)

Anyways, it’s important to make sure that the coverage for your house still fits.

Auto insurance.

You’ll also have to handle your car insurance. It’s essential to keep the proper coverage for your vehicle, of course, as it’s what protects your car from damage and protects you from the fallout of damage that you could cause to someone else’s car…or someone. Anyways, you’ll need to make the appropriate adjustments to the policy. If you are not going to be living in the same household, you may need to get separate car insurance policies. As a part of the divorce, you’ll need to take your spouse off of your car insurance policy. You also may want to consider other coverages, such as rental reimbursement, towing, or roadside assistance, as you review your car insurance policy.

Health and life insurance.

Health insurance should be addressed in the final divorce decree. It should be made perfectly clear who’s paying for what, particularly if there are children involved – it needs to be perfectly clear as to who will provide coverage. (Typically whoever had the coverage for the kids before the divorce will carry on with providing it.) You also may want to establish who will be paying for medical expenses that aren’t reimbursed.

As far as life insurance goes, it’s important to review these policies to be sure that they’re still doing what you need them to do. It may be necessary to change beneficiaries. If you depend on your ex-spouse’s income for living expenses, you’ll need to make sure you’re still named as a beneficiary. (But check with an attorney before making changes to your beneficiaries.) The divorce decree should also explain who’s going to carry life insurance, how much, the beneficiaries, and the accrued cash values.

Pro tip: Don’t forget to close all joint accounts – this can help you avoid credit snafus later on.

Divorce is, of course, something that is emotional and stressful, and insurance is probably the last thing you want to deal with. Take things one day at a time, one policy at a time. And let us know if you need help getting your insurance quotes. If you give us a call, message us, or fill out our online form, we’d be happy to help.

Does it cost more to insure a new car?

insure a new car

Buying a new car

If you are thinking about buying a new car, you might wonder if you have to worry about your car insurance rates. That new car might be very tempting and very shiny, but how much is it going to cost to insure? You’re already going to be paying a lot of money for the vehicle, after all, and you’re a bit apprehensive about what those insurance rates are going to look like. Does a new car cost more to insure? Well, insurance rates are complicated, but here are a few things that you can keep in mind.

Read more

6 tips for Atlanta college student car insurance

Atlanta college student car insurance

Atlanta college student car insurance

If you’re a college student, you’re probably discovering a lot of freedom – and a lot of responsibilities. Along with being able to eat pizza at 3 a.m., you have to take care of grown-up things – one of which is car insurance. Sure, being in college and being independent is great and all, but maybe you wish you weren’t quite so independent when it comes to getting your auto insurance. Where do you even start? It might seem overwhelming, but here are a few tips for getting Atlanta college student car insurance.

6 tips for Atlanta college student car insurance.

1. Drive safe.

We know, we know – you’ve heard it a million times. Don’t speed, don’t text and drive, try not to hit things, and all that good stuff. But these things have consequences that go beyond just getting a ticket and/or having to pay a hefty fine. You may end up paying quite a bit more for your car insurance. If you drive safe and keep a clean driving record, it can put you in a better insurance situation. That’s how being a safe driver can pay off – you can get lower insurance premiums.

2. Ask about college student car insurance discounts.

Okay, if you’re a student, funds might be a little tight. School is expensive, room and board is expensive, food is expensive. And insurance for young drivers is typically pretty expensive. However, you may be eligible for college student car insurance discounts. Here are a few discounts you may want to look into.

Good Student: A student who makes good grades may qualify for a Good Student Discount. You’ll probably have to provide some proof of said good grades – i.e. a transcript.

Away at School: If you’re attending school a certain distance away from home – for example, 100 miles – and you don’t bring a car, you might get an away-at-school discount. That could come in handy, so check with your parents if you’re still on their policy and see if that’s something that could help you out.

Bundling: If you have a car and an apartment, you may want to think about bundling your car insurance and your renters insurance. (All this means is you’re getting both coverages from the same insurance company.)

Pay-in-full: In the long run, you may be able to save money by paying for your policy upfront. Yes, it’s a big payment, but it could be less expensive than paying in installments if you get a pay-in-full discount. Just something to consider – of course, you have to do what’s best for your budget.

These are just a few car insurance discounts you can qualify for as a college student. Don’t forget to ask about your discounts and what savings you could be eligible for.

3. Understand what coverages you need.

First thing to know about car insurance – there are a lot of different coverages out there and they all do different things. Of course, they all protect you, just in different ways. It can help to have a working knowledge of these coverages so you’re prepared when you get the car insurance you need. Here are the basic coverages you should know about.

Bodily injury liability – It’s really important to have bodily injury liability coverage because it can cover the other driver’s medical expenses and lost wages if they’re injured in an accident in which you’re at fault.

Property damage – Can cover repairs to the other driver’s car (or other property you happen to damage) if you’re at fault in an accident.

Collision coverage – Can cover repairs to your car if you are in an accident or you hit something, like a fence.

Comprehensive coverage – Can cover repairs to your car if it’s damaged by something other than an accident, like fire, falling objects, animal strike, and vandalism. (It can also cover theft.)

Rental reimbursement – Can help cover the cost of renting a car if your car is in the shop due to an accident.

Medical payments – Can help cover your medical bills and those of your passengers if you’re injured in an accident.

These are some of the coverages you can consider as part of your car insurance plan. Well, to be honest, you’re required to have some of them. The State of Georgia requires you to have $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 of bodily injury liability per occurrence, and $25,000 of property damage liability. And if you have a car payment, your lender may require you to carry collision and comprehensive coverage. Anyways, make sure that you have the coverage you need and that you have high enough coverage limits to truly protect you.

4. Think about bundling your car insurance and renters insurance.

Something you might want to think about is bundling your renters insurance and your car insurance, which we mentioned earlier. Yes, this could indeed help you save money, but it also gives you the convenience of being able to deal with only one insurance carrier. Look into bundling and see if this seems like a good strategy for your situation. That way you could set yourself up to save money and un-complicate your insurance.

5. Resist the impulse to procrastinate.

True, insurance isn’t something that most people enjoy having to deal with. And that means that you might have the urge to procrastinate when it comes to getting your car insurance taken care of. But – not to nag or anything – you might want to be proactive and not wait until the last minute to get college student car insurance. If you give yourself time, you spare yourself a headache, for starters. But you also give yourself more time to look into various insurance options so you can choose the one that suits your needs and situation (and perhaps budget).

6. Get multiple quotes for Atlanta college student car insurance.

Getting multiple quotes for your college student car insurance might seem like a lot of work, but it can pay off to keep your options open and compare different quotes. You don’t have to do that all on your own, though – our team can help you with that. We can help you get multiple quotes. In fact, our team of agents are pretty good at that, if we say so ourselves.

Here’s how it works.

1. You reach out to us over the phone, with our online form, or through LiveChat. If you need to email or text, we can do that, too.

2. We have a quick talk about your insurance situation.

3. We’ll get you some car insurance quotes.

4. We go over your quotes with you.

5. We’ll be here to handle any issues or questions that come up.

So, that’s what you need to know about college student car insurance! Insurance might seem intimidating and scary, but we like to make insurance as easy as possible. Our team can help you through the process of getting car insurance – get started with your quotes by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us on LiveChat.

What’s happening with Georgia HB 113 about distracted driving?

HB 113

HB 113

Georgia passed a broad distracted driving law a few years ago in an effort to reduce distracted driving. The law prohibits drivers from handling their phones (i.e. texting or holding the phone) behind the wheel. The 2018 distracted driving law meant that Georgia joined several other states in their missions to target this issue. But there is a new bill on the horizon that has revealed that this issue is not cut and dry – HB 113. There are different opinions on the matter.

What is HB 113?

A State House of Representative Committee recently backpedaled a proposal that would have affected the fines for distracted driving. The original HB 113 (sponsored by Rep. John Carson) would have made the fines increase. The maximum fine for a first offense would have risen to $100 from $50, and the fine for a second offense would have gone to $200. A third offense would have meant a fine of $300.

However, what actually happened was a little different. The committee okayed a substitute bill, sponsored by Rep. Alan Powell. The fine for distracted driving would be between $25 and $100 according to the judge’s decision, no matter how many previous distracted driving citations the driver had. The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee also added a stipulation that forbids drivers under the age of 18 from using electronics while driving.

What happened with HB 113.

Georgia lawmakers appear to disagree on how to prevent and reduce instances of distracted driving, though safety professionals have said that distracted driving has fueled a rise in traffic deaths.

Rep. John Carson, who sponsored the original version of HB 113, believes that higher fines are needed to dissuade drivers from using electronics behind the wheel. Carson’s proposal of steeper fines for distracted driving was met with approval from police, hospitals, insurance, and traffic safety groups, as well as those who have lost loved ones in distracted driving accidents.

But Powell believes that the fines are too much, which is why he supported the substitute bill. He expressed concern that the proposed fines in HB 113 would be too difficult for some people to pay. He believes that because people follow Georgia’s seatbelt law though the fine is only $15, the distracted driving fines do not need to be so high. (Powell’s version of the bill also gets rid of additional fines that could be added on for the Georgia Trauma Trust Fund.)

HB 113 and teen drivers.

The substitute bill also added a measure that would prevent teen drivers (those under age 18) from using electronics while driving. This was part of Georgia’s anti-texting law until the distracted driving law passed in 2018. (Essentially, this measure would add that restriction back for teen drivers.) Carson is in favor of this measure, but he pointed out in an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article that this could also prove to be a point of division among lawmakers and could even threaten the bill’s chances.

The revised bill from Powell was approved by a vote of 7-4.

Get car insurance quotes.

If you need quotes for Atlanta car insurance, we can help with that. Get started with your quotes by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us on LiveChat.

Source:

https://www.ajc.com/news/state–regional-govt–politics/panel-revises-georgia-distracted-driving-bill-reduce-proposed-fines/fmopuyyOh7H3XT6TjMjDgN/

What is property damage liability insurance?

Property damage liability

Property damage liability

If you’re a driver, you need to have the proper insurance. It’s really important that you have the right insurance to legally hit the roads in Georgia, and one of the coverages that you’ll need is property damage liability coverage. What’s that, you ask? Property damage liability is the coverage that can help you if you’re responsible for, well, damaging someone’s property. We’ll explain more about this coverage, including what it does, what it doesn’t do, and how much of it you need to have.

What is property damage liability?

Property damage liability is the coverage that can help repair the other driver’s car if you’re at fault in an accident. (For example, if you rear-end someone and cause $1,500 of damage to their car.) In that way, it helps you cover your legal obligation to the other driver. It can also help you out if you accidentally take out a fence or mailbox or something. Oh, and it can help you cover legal expenses if you get sued. Pretty cool, huh?

Am I required to have property damage liability?

Yes. Most states require drivers to carry property damage liability insurance, and Georgia is no exception. In Georgia, drivers have to carry $25,000 of property damage liability at least. It’s really important that you carry the limits of insurance required by the state. Not doing so can be a big problem.

(Now, while we’re on the topic of Georgia car insurance requirements, we’ll touch briefly on another coverage that the state mandates that drivers carry: bodily injury liability. This is the coverage that can help cover the costs of the other driver’s medical bills and lost wages. Georgia says that drivers have to carry $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person and $50,000 of bodily injury liability per occurrence.)

Anyway, that means that the minimum limits of insurance in Georgia are $25,000/$50,000/$25,000. (The first number is the per person bodily injury liability limit, the second number is the per occurrence bodily injury liability limit, and the last number is the property damage liability limit.) Keep in mind that you might want to have higher limits of coverage – the state limits might not be high enough to cover the fallout from a serious accident.

What about my car?

When it comes to insurance coverages, things can get complicated.

You might wonder how your own car would get repaired in the event of an accident in which you’re at fault. Property damage liability can help repair the other driver’s car, but what about your own vehicle? You need your car to get yourself where you need to go.

The thing is that your property damage liability doesn’t cover your car – it’ll only take care of the other driver’s car. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost. There’s a different coverage that can help – collision coverage.

Collision coverage can help you repair your car following an accident – or if you run into something like a fence. That’s how you can get your car back on the road after an accident, even if you’re technically at fault. So, if you’ve got collision coverage, you can hopefully get your car insurance take care of the repair bill (minus your deductible).

Okay, so you might now wonder this – are you required to have collision coverage? It’s a good question. If you have a lender and a car payment, they may require you to carry collision coverage and its buddy, comprehensive coverage. Anyways, it’s really important that you carry the necessary coverage, both as mandated by the state and by your lender. And, as we always say, it’s important to read your car insurance policy.

So, that’s the scoop on how property damage liability works. Like we said, it’s important to have the right car insurance. If you’re looking for Atlanta car insurance quotes, we can help. Get started with your quotes by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us on LiveChat. Our team would be happy to get your some quotes for the auto insurance you need.