Month: September 2018

What Are The Auto Insurance Requirements For New Drivers In Huntington, TX

Posted on by AgentInsure

If you’re a new driver in Huntington, TX, you’re still learning about various state requirements linked to vehicle ownership. Here’s a brief overview of the state’s legal expectations for new drivers.

Minimum Texas Auto Insurance Requirements

Texas drivers have one legal requirement to fulfill: financial responsibility. This is met with a policy that includes liability coverage. In case of an accident, this covers:

  • The medical expenses of the driver
  • The medical expenses of the driver operating the other vehicle.
  • Car repairs or replacement.
  • Car rental for the other vehicle’s driver.
  • Funeral expenses.
  • Lost wages and other compensation.

Each policy varies in the dollar amount it covers.

Minimum Requirements For new Drivers

There are no special requirements for new drivers in the state of Texas aside from financial responsibility. Since most new drivers are teens and young adults, it’s common that insurance providers like Integra Insurance Services allow parents to add new drivers to their policies. students living away from home during the school year can also remain on their parents’ policy.

When young drivers are added to their family’s auto insurance policy:

  • The premium will likely increase.
  • The deductible limit will also be readjusted.
  • The young driver will get a separate premium rate if they own a car in their name.
  • If the new driver does not own a car, the premium rate on the most expensive family car will increase.

It’s generally true that auto insurance for new drivers is much more costly than coverage for seasoned drivers. If parents choose to save money by not naming their young adult drivers on their policy, they are likely to pay a penalty equal to the rate of a new driver’s premium. Still, adding a new driver to an existing policy is usually cheaper than taking out individual coverage.

Contact your friendly Integra Insurance Services agent to buy your first auto insurance policy as a new driver. You can also ask about adding a young driver to an existing policy.

 

When Should You File a Home Insurance Claim?

Posted on by AgentInsure

Deciding on when to file a home insurance claim in Huntington, TX can be tricky business. Sometimes claims on your insurance can cause premiums to go up and filing a claim isn’t always in your best interest.

Don’t file a claim if the repair you want to be covered won’t exceed your deductible. For example, if you have a $1,000 deductible and someone breaks into your house and takes your iPad, it will cost less to replace your iPad then it would for you to pay the deductible. If you go through insurance you will have a theft claim on your report and you didn’t even save any money. Pay for the repairs on your own if the cost of the repairs is relativity minor compared to your deductible. For example, if your repair or claim is going to only cost a few hundred dollars more than your deductible, you are better off not filing a claim and paying out of pocket. If you have filed claims in recent years, be careful about filing new ones. The number of claims you file can negatively impact rates. Think about the costs of the claim in this instance as well. If the claim is related to a maintenance issue you should have fixed earlier, such as replacing a rotting fence or repairing a damaged roof, you should think twice. If the claim is related to an event your insurance company doesn’t cover, then not only will you not get money, but you will also have a claim on your record for no reason.

If you aren’t sure if you should file a claim or if something is covered, ask your agent at Integra Insurance Services and contact a contractor to see what the costs of repairs will be.

Of course, you should file a claim if the event in Huntington, TX is covered by your insurance and the amount of repairs exceeds the deductible. If you haven’t filed a claim in years, you shouldn’t be penalized for using insurance the way it’s supposed to be used.

Contact Integra Insurance Services to receive a quote on homeowners insurance.