Finding A Commercial Auto Insurance Company

Insurance Matters

Finding A Commercial Auto Insurance Company

(NAPS)—For many business owners, the road to success cannot be driven without company vehicles. They are a key component of the business’ continued operations and are essential to the company’s livelihood.

And just as you’d never consider going on a job without all the necessary tools of your trade, you should never consider driving your business vehicle without the right insurance coverage. But finding the right commercial auto insurance company can be a tricky proposition. There are lots of companies offering commercial auto coverage, so it’s important that you select one that meets the needs of your business.

Of all the factors you’ll want to take into account, the company’s experience with commercial auto insurance and claims service will have the biggest impact on you and your business. Here are some questions to ask yourself as you consider different commercial auto insurance companies:

                        Do they have experience with your business type? How long has the company offered commercial auto coverages? Do they understand the insurance needs that are unique to your line of work? A carrier with commercial auto expertise ensures that you’ll get the right coverage for your business.

                        Do they excel in customer service? You need 24/7 service that is fast, accurate and focused on your bottom line. You also need the convenience of being able to handle your insurance business

on nights and weekends, because you can’t count on having the time to deal with such matters during regular business hours.

                        Do they offer flexible, competitive products? Pay­ment options? Insurance rates can vary a great deal from company to company, so you’ll want to compare. You want flexibility in the types of coverages—and also payment options. Monthly bill plans can help small-business owners maintain necessary cash flow.

                        Do they have a demon­strated record of claims expe­rience? Keeping vehicle down-time to a minimum is vital to any business. Each minute a vehicle is out of commission affects your bot-tom line. Look for a company that’s known for efficient claims service and fast, fair resolution.

To learn more about commercial auto insurance or to find an independent agent, visit the Web site at progressiveagent.com. www.carlisleinsagency.com

Shedding Light On Car Insurance Savings

Carlisle Insurance Agency

Shedding Light On Car Insurance Savings

It can be easier than you think to put the brakes on high auto insurance rates – as an independent agency; Carlisle Insurance Agency can help! We can review your policy and possibly help you find a variety of illuminating ways to save money. Here are some things you may want to consider:

• Ask us to check several companies’ rates. This is the single most important thing you can do to get the best possible rate—and we can do it for you quickly and easily. The difference between the highest and lowest rate available to you from different companies could vary by hundreds of dollars.

• Reduce or drop physical damage coverage on an older car. Depending on your car’s age and where you live, comprehensive and collision coverage may not be worth keeping. We can give you advice on whether it makes sense to reduce or drop this coverage altogether.

• Raise your deductible. According to the Insurance Information Institute, raising your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision and comprehensive cost by 15 to 30 percent. In addition, because the average driver files a collision claim only once every ten years, odds are that over the lifetime of your car, a higher deductible will save you money. We can show you how raising your deductible will lower your premium.

• Look for discounts. Many insurance companies reduce premiums for certain driver traits or car features. For example: being a homeowner for more than three years, nonsmoker, nondrinker, students with good grades, senior citizens who have taken an approved defensive driving course, people who only drive for pleasure, cars kept in garages, antilock brakes, antitheft devices, air bags, etc. Ask us to check.

• Don’t assume having your car and home insured by the same company is the best option. Because auto insurance rates vary so much from company to company, it may make sense for you to have your car and home insured by separate companies. Let’s talk about it.

To learn more about all an independent agency can offer you, call Carlisle Insurance Agency at 740-286-5031 or visit www.carlisleinsagency.com or www.progressiveagent.com.

Michael Carlisle

Carlisle Insurance Agency

659 E. Main St. Suite A

Jackson, Oh 45640

Finding the Best Insurance Company

Time To Talk Insurance

This Months Topic: Finding the Best Insurance Company

The Truth
Any drivers, homeowners, or business owners who are looking for a new insurance company or a better price on their current policy should hopefully already know they have many choices to choose from. Today, there are many insurance companies in the marketplace, but not all insurance companies are alike. When deciding which insurance company will provide the best service if you have a claim take a look at the online rating resources available on the internet. The insurance companies that spend millions of dollars advertising are not usually the insurance companies rated the highest by the consumer rating authorities. In fact, from my many years and experiences in the insurance business some of the larger more publicized insurance carriers are very unfair when it comes to paying claims and providing even the basic insurance coverage’s.   
Often, the consumer may wonder what other types of things they can compare besides the price that is being offered. We will go over some other factors about insurance companies that can be looked at and compared to ensure the future policyholder will be satisfied with not only the price they are paying, but also with the insurer as a whole.

Customer Service
The first aspect of insurance companies we will discuss is their ability to provide excellent customer and claims service. Customer service doesn’t just include polite manners used over the phone, but it involves more than that. Any time a policyholder needs to deal with their insurer or agent, whether it is to ask a question, file a claim, or pay a bill, their experience interacting with a representative of the insurance company needs to be a positive and informative.

One way to evaluate an insurer’s or agents customer service abilities is by asking trusted family and friends about who they have used in the past and who they are currently using. Find out about their experiences, both positive and negative. Another way is to gather this type of information is by turning to a third party company that evaluates insurer’s customer claims service abilities. One such company that does an excellent job is JD Power and their findings can be found at Jdpower.com. They evaluate many aspects from claim service options to overall customer service. They give star ratings to each company and annually they determine which company provides the best customer service. It’s a great way to compare insurers using an unbiased reference.

Financial Strength
The next aspect to consider when comparing insurance providers is checking into their financial strength. Wouldn’t it be terrible if you went to file a claim, only to find the insurer doesn’t have any money to pay for the damages that were supposed to be covered according to your policy? You would be left paying for those repairs out of pocket even though you had every right to hand the costs over to your insurer. Knowing the financial strength of an insurer can help consumers to choose the best insurer for them according to the insurer’s ability to pay for what they’ve claimed they will pay.

Much like the customer service review, there are other companies who review the financial status of insurance companies. It would be very time consuming if consumers spent their time watching the quarterly earnings of each insurer they are considering, evaluating how much free cash flow and debt each insurer has accrued. Instead, consumers can turn to companies like AM Best to find these professional ratings and opinions. They are willing to share their findings to the public for free, so every consumer should take advantage while searching for their optimal insurance provider.

AM Best (ambest.com) gives their ratings in the form of letter grades, with pluses and minuses for added levels. They recommend a company who has earned a grade of a B+ or better. AM Best feels these insurance companies are financially secure, while those who receive lower grades are vulnerable to financial mishaps. After all, no one wants to be placed in the negative situation mentioned above when an insurer can’t provide their coverage.

Michael Carlislehttp://www.carlisleinsagency.com/