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School will be back before you know it! You need to start now, and get all of your activities planned for the summer. We’ve compiled a list of all your basic summer activities that you can’t miss out on! If you haven’t done these yet, you had better get started! It’s time to get the planner out and get scheduling, these are activities that you won’t want to miss! 

Camping: The most common activity that people think of in summer. Quality family time, bonfires, s’mores, what more could you ask for? Bring your tent, hammocks, and hiking shoes and get out in the fresh Michigan air! This is a great way to get away from the busy life, spend some time with those you love, and unplug from the screens. Make sure you know the rules and precautions for bonfires wherever you camp, you don’t want your camping trip to turn into a nightmare.

Water balloons: Much less expensive and LOADS of fun! It’s been very hot and humid lately too so this activity will be awesome for everyone. Fill up 500 water balloons and have a huge water balloon fight in the yard! Make sure you clean up as many of the balloons as you can when you’re finished, the less rubber that we leave in the environment, the better cleaner it is.

Splash Parks: These are also good for a hot day! Grab the sunscreen and go have fun at the park, playing and splashing around. The younger kids will love this and it’ll cool you off. This is going to get the kids some exercise while you can relax and enjoy the sunshine. Pack some snacks and make it an all-day adventure!

Theme Parks: These are fantastic for a slightly older family. You want to ride all the roller coasters and every water ride in the park! This makes for a thrilling and heart racing day! You’ll need lots of food to fuel yourself and TONS of water! Being outside all day with your heart pumping is going to wear you out, water is going to be necessary to keep you ready for your next ride!

Fairs: There’s probably a fair going on near you right now. It’s fair season in Michigan and they’ll be plentiful across the state. You can find some smaller rides, delicious food, and animal shows! Some fairs will also have photo booths and petting zoos so make sure you check out your local fair and get the details!

Festivals: There are hundreds of festivals going on in Michigan right now and each one is different! Visit this website to choose a festival that fits your family and go have a blast! Spend the day together and celebrate the things you love most!

http://www.mifun4u.com/events/category/festival-music/

Beaches: We have been overly blessed with Lakes in Michigan. It’d be a shame to miss out on going to the Lake for the summer. Pack a cooler, get the sunscreen and your sunglasses and head out to the beach near you! This makes for a relaxing day with the family to de-stress and get some vitamin D. Make sure to check out our Summer Swim Safety blog and review some basics to help have the best beach day possible! One beach that I would personally recommend is Duck Lake. It’s the most perfect beach to describe the Great Lakes; you won’t regret going!

Cook Out: Have some family and friends over and get together for yard games and a meal! It’ll be a good way to hang out with your loved ones while enjoying the fresh air from your own back yard. Get the yard games out and play some cornhole, horseshoes, or croquet! If you’re looking for something a little more intense and you have a large family, play some football, baseball or volleyball! These are great ways to grow as a family by practicing teamwork and communication.

Back to School Shopping: I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear but school is coming whether we like it or not! This is a good time to turn something that may be dreadful into quality family time. This is the perfect opportunity to keep up with your growing kids and get to know them better. Some people loathe back to school shopping, but this is an excellent time to work on knowing your children, building them up, and reestablishing a firm foundation of trust and respect. All this can be done with one simple shopping event and make sure to take some time and sit down for a good lunch together.

Keep us updated! We’d LOVE to hear more about what family activities you have planned for this summer or any that you’ve already done! Have a wonderful summer!

Independence Day Weekend

Summer is flying by! It’s the end of June and time to celebrate! We have a hot and humid week coming up for the birthday of America and it’s going to be perfect for cookouts and days on the lake. Some things we take seriously here in Michigan are cookouts, family time, and lake days. Let’s have a ton of fun this holiday week and remember to be safe while doing so! There will be lots of swimming, boating, backyard games (that may get slightly too intense), and of course, fireworks. These are the joys of summer but when done incorrectly, can cause trouble.

When on the lake, or near any body of water, make sure everyone knows the environment and is comfortable with swimming. Even if you’re on a boat with a life jacket, you’ll still need to know the basics of swimming so that in the event of an emergency, nobody panics. Make sure to know your area and if there’s any dangerous landscape or boats nearby. Keep an eye of everyone, it’s going to be hot and humid and if someone looks a little sick or pale then they need the appropriate treatment.

When lighting fireworks, make sure everyone stays 100 ft. away from the fireworks and never light them while holding them. Keep water nearby in case of an emergency. When you’re finished with the fireworks, soak them in water to ensure that no fire will break out. When lighting fireworks, wear eye protection and no loose fitted clothing. An astray firework could head for your eye or get caught on your sleeve, better to be safe than sorry! Fireworks are a blast and highly encouraged for Independence Day celebrations but you need to be cautious when using them because they are explosives.

It’s going to be HOT out there this week! We’re talking humid and 95 degrees. You’ll need lots and lots of water, especially if you’re drinking other beverages as well. Staying hydrated is key to a fun holiday. Keep an eye on yourself and those around you to make sure nobody is showing signs of heat exhaustion. Some common signs include profuse sweating, weakness, muscle cramps, headache, and nausea. If someone is suffering from heat exhaustion it needs to be taken care of as soon as possible or else it could develop into heat stroke. Heat stroke is a serious medical condition that needs immediate attention. You’ll know that someone is close to heat stroke when they have the symptom of profuse sweating and it stops. Once the profuse sweating stops, that means they’re on their way to a heat stroke and need to be taken to a doctor as this is a medical emergency.

One good way to ensure that you, and those around you, don’t suffer from heat exhaustion is to take sun breaks. If you’re starting to feel ill, go relax in a cool place, drink some cold water, and loosen any tight clothing so your body can appropriately cool itself. If possible, take a cool shower, get in the pool/lake, or put a wet cloth on your forehead or the back of your neck. The important thing to remember is that it’s easier to stop heat exhaustion while it’s early than it is to let your body overheat and develop into something dangerous.

 Before Independence Day, brush up on your American flag protocol! It’s that time of year and it’s important to fly our flag with honor, make sure you’re doing it correctly: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/sharon-schweitzer/honoring-the-stars-stripe_b_10134868.html

Have a wonderful holiday and remember your safety tips! What are your plans for the 4^th of July? We want to know!

Kid’s Food Basket – Volunteer & Donor Appreciation Day 2018

Kid’s Food Basket is one of the greatest charities in all of West Michigan. Here at Alliance, we support Kid’s Food Basket because they’ve supported us in the past. Today they hosted Volunteer & Donor Appreciation Day and it was spectacular! Not only is this event fun filled and exciting, but it’s also a great chance to get to know the workers and the minds behind Kid’s Food Basket. They have games, they have food, and live music. This event will knock your socks off AND you’ll get to hand out with some of the most innovative and creative people behind the idea. What a wonderful afternoon spent together with Kid’s Food Basket. We love them and appreciate their work in the community, and they turn around and appreciate us too. It only goes to show the character, kindness, and humbleness of the organization as a whole.

Kid’s Food Basket works diligently to ensure as many children as possible have a well-balanced meal. They want to make sure all children are able to be their best every day. Currently they are serving 45 schools, and over 8,000 children daily, across west Michigan. Unfortunately, there’s still 27 schools on the wait list.

To help get these schools off of the wait list we can donate and volunteer as much as possible! One way to help, is by requesting a quote online, through our website’s “Quote’s for a Cause” and we’ll donate $10 per quote.

You can also go to their website and donate or schedule a time to volunteer at a Kid’s Food Basket location in Grand Rapids, Muskegon, or Holland.

Quotes for a Cause – http://www.allins.com/quotes-for-a-cause/

Kid’s Food Basket – https://www.kidsfoodbasket.org/

Here are some of the photos of Alliance employees having a blast at Volunteer & Donor Appreciation Day 2018! Enjoy!

 

 

10 Insurance Terms that Everyone Needs to Know

 Insurance Terms Explained

Not everyone speaks the insurance language, so it can be difficult to work with your agent when they say things that don’t make sense. To your agent, they’ve been training and specialized in this area so it’s no big deal, but to the average person insurance can be tricky and confusing. Some people are just starting their own policies and have never gotten insurance before, some people have been given bad explanations of insurance terms. In an effort to make life easier for those people, we’ve put together a small list of insurance terms that are fairly common in the insurance world.

Deductible: A deductible is the amount that you pay before your insurance company will pay out. For example, your vehicle has thousands of dollars in damage and your deductible is $100. You pay the first $100 and then your insurance company pays for the rest.

Replacement Cost: This means that replacement of damaged materials will be done with the same exact materials. This is for home policies and this will guarantee that if anything happens to your home, everything gets replaced exactly as it was before.

Actual Cash Value (ACV): This is the replacement cost minus depreciation.

Underwriting: This is a term that we use often and it’s not common knowledge. An Underwriter is a position at a company, similar to being an agent or an adjuster. An Underwriter’s job is to dissect the insurance policies and make sure all requirements are met for their company and that the policies are written with the correct coverage. When there is a question in regards to what is eligible with one of our companies, an Underwriter is the person who determines that.

PLPD: This stands for Personal Liability and Property Damage. This is liability only and is the minimum requirement by the state of MI. This coverage will not cover your vehicle in the event of an accident, it will only cover the liability.

No Fault: All auto insurance in the state of Michigan is No Fault Insurance. It’s a state law, not an option. So it isn’t an optional coverage that you can add to your policy, it’s our only option. What No Fault means is that when there’s an accident, everyone is responsible for their own vehicles. So regardless of which driver got a ticket for the accident, if your vehicle is damaged, then you will need to contact your own insurance company. So if your vehicle is totaled in an accident and you have liability only on your policy, then there won’t be any coverage for your vehicle.

Full Coverage: There are many different ways that someone can have “full coverage”. It can be just comprehensive and collision (many different kinds of collision), or it can include rental car coverage and roadside assistance in addition to that. It can also include higher liability limits and an umbrella policy. So full coverage is a very vague term and when asking for “full coverage” you should always make sure you know exactly which coverages you do and don’t have. You can also have full coverage with deductibles that are high enough that you would almost never use the coverage. If someone tells you that you have full coverage, you’ll always want to verify with them what exactly those coverages are.

Comprehensive: Comprehensive is also known as “other than collision” and that’s exactly what it is. Comprehensive is coverage for if your vehicle has damage from fire, theft, vandalism, water damage, natural disasters, falling objects, glass damage, and for hitting an animal. This is particularly useful for windshields and when you hit a deer. Comprehensive is the cheaper coverage to add to your policy and it covers a wide range of perils.

Collision: This is coverage for when the vehicle “collides” with another object. There are 3 different types of collision. Limited Collision is when the damages to your vehicle are only covered if you were not at fault for the accident. Standard Collision covers the damages to your vehicle, no matter who was at fault, and you must pay the deductible amount prior to the insurance company paying out on the damages. Broad Form Collision covers the damages to your vehicle, no matter who was at fault, and you only pay the deductible if you were considered at fault for the accident. Again, if you don’t have any kind of collision on your vehicle, then the damages to your vehicle with not be covered in an accident.

Premium: Your premium is the cost of the policy. When looking at your premium, be sure to check the length of the policy period (usually 6 months or 12 months). We all know about payments and how those work, but it’s difficult to process the thought of “earned premium” with insurance. Earned Premium is when you have had insurance for a period of time (even if you didn’t file any claims) and now you have to pay for that coverage.

 

With these insurance terms explained, you’ll be better prepared for your future conversations with your insurance agent. You’ll be able to make better informed decisions when choosing your coverages and deductibles and instead of asking what the agent thinks is best for you, you can decide what coverages you want for yourself! If you have any questions about these definitions or any other terms you’d like explained, just give us a call!

Memorial Weekend 2018

Summer is here and we have a 3 day weekend! Most of us will start attending grad parties and having bonfires. It’s busy season, that’s for sure. We’re all anxious to get outside and get going. Activities that we have been waiting all winter for, and chores that we need to get done in warm weather, can now be done.

We’ve had some crazy weather here in Michigan this year and Monday is supposed to be a lovely day. We’re looking at sunny and 85 all weekend so get to the beach for the first time this year! At least go for a walk or sit on the porch and just enjoy the fresh air and the sunshine. This weekend should be relaxing and exciting, don’t do anything that brings stress or anxiety to your life. Use this as a calm way of welcoming spring (and not too far from summer). Spend time with family, watch fireworks, grill out, and go for a swim! This weekend will be the start to a great summer and we want to get off on the right foot!

Be sure to drive cautiously this weekend, there will a lot of people on the road, traveling for the weekend, and a lot of extra alcohol out and about. Anytime that there’s more vehicles than usual on the road, the risk of an accident increases. You’ll want to drive carefully and take your time, don’t be rushed and anxious on a three day weekend!

People will be getting out the recreational vehicles this weekend and all of their summer toys. Make sure you have these insured and ready to go in event of an accident!

Make sure you brush up on tips and tricks from previous blogs!

Travel trips for a holiday weekend: http://www.allins.com/blog/3-tips-for-travel-on-labor-day-weekend.aspx

Swim Safety: http://www.allins.com/blog/summer-swim-safety.aspx

Boating Safety: http://www.allins.com/blog/5-boating-safety-tips-for-memorial-weekend.aspx

And our Grilling and Firework Safety: http://www.allins.com/blog/independence-day-family-fun-and-fireworks.aspx

 It’s never too early to start your summer bucket list! Time is going to fly and in order to get everything done that you want to do, you’ll need to plan ahead. Get started on your bucket list so you can put those events on the calendar and work around them! What fun things do you have planned for this summer? Share with us!

 Before Memorial Day, brush up on your American flag protocol! It’s that time of year and it’s important to fly our flag with honor, make sure you’re doing it correctly: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/sharon-schweitzer/honoring-the-stars-stripe_b_10134868.html

 Let’s remember to honor those who have served our country and show our respect to them every day, especially this weekend. Make sure you thank all veterans and active duty military. Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend! Share your Memorial weekend plans with us!

Mother’s Day Gift Guide and Ideas

We all love our mother’s but for some reason, we can never find good gifts for them on mother’s day. It ends up being a last minute scramble for something nice on Saturday afternoon. Prepare early this year with our gift guide for Mother’s Day. This way there’s no panic or stress involved and we can all enjoy a day to celebrate our mothers and the sacrifices they’ve made for us.

Mother’s Day also celebrates the influence of mother’s in society. So someone doesn’t have to be a mother in order to be celebrated. This day is just a time to be thankful for all people who have a maternal influence toward you. Show them your appreciation with these gifts!

 Flowers: these are never a bad idea. Flowers are a great way to show your love and appreciation for someone without going overboard. Simple and lovely, these will brighten her day for sure!

Jewelry: She’ll be able to wear it all the time and she’ll remember you every time she sees it. Plus, she can brag to her friends when they ask her where she got it!

Breakfast in bed: don’t wake her up early! This is just a peaceful surprise and who doesn’t love food that they didn’t have to make themselves? Chances are, your mother has fed you more breakfasts than you could possibly make up for. This will be a wonderful way to make it up to her.

Family trip: Many mom’s want to spend Mother’s Day with their family! Some quality time, hanging out with the people she loves most. This is fun for everyone! Some ideas for this weekend in the Grand Rapids area are tulip time, the zoo, or going to see a movie.

Spa day: Let her relax and give her some peace. A spa day is necessary every now and then but a mom usually doesn’t have time for this because they’re busy taking care of you! Give her a spa day at home or send her to a salon to get pampered!

Nail salon gift card: She can have some lovely, spring colored nails and go relax for a half hour at the salon. Whether it’s a pedicure or a manicure, she’ll love it.

A day to herself: some mom’s need peace and quiet. They love their families with all their hearts but occasionally they need some alone time. She can watch movies, read a book, take care of things she’s been wanting to do but hasn’t had time for, or she can be lazy all day if she wants! This day will be all for her, whatever she wants to do.

A personalized gift: Similar to the jewelry idea, this is something she can see and always be reminded of your appreciation for her. You can get her anything and get it personalized for her. Some popular choices are pottery and paintings.

 

Spend time with all of the motherly influences in your life, not just on Mother’s Day either. Our mom’s give us everything they have and it’s great to show them the appreciation that they deserve. This means your mom, step mom, grandma, aunts, your friend’s moms, and everyone else that has encouraged you and helped you grow. Our mothers are special so we have to make sure we treat them that way.

Summer 2018 Bucket List

Spring is FINALLY here and Michigan is excited! After the tough winter we had, it’s obvious we’re all pretty pumped about the warmer weather. We’ve been dreaming of outdoor activities for months now and it’s time to get those on our calendars! In order to keep you from getting overwhelmed with your options for this Spring/Summer, we’ve put together a list of activities for the ultimate summer!

Hiking: Pick a trail! There’s plenty of options for this activity in Michigan. Google hiking trails near you and I’m sure you’ll have tons of choices! Make a day of it and take your time enjoying the fresh air. Take a camera and capture the scenery!

Hammocking: An up and coming “activity” that doesn’t involve much effort at all. Take your hammock anywhere and just relax. Bring a book to read or just take a nap! It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you’re having fun and enjoying nature.

Tie-dying: More fun than you think! This is an activity that I always do outside so that I don’t get any unwanted dye in the house. Do this outside to enjoy the weather and let your new creations dry faster in the outdoors! Now you’ll have something unique and stylish to wear for your other summer activities!

Tubing: Who doesn’t like floating down a river with your family and friends? This is a no-effort, time consuming activity. Plan for a whole day in the sun! Bring food, drinks, and A LOT of sunscreen. It’ll feel nice and cool in the water but the sun will be very direct. You don’t want to get heat stroke so sunscreen and drinking water will be necessary!

Kayaking: This activity is pretty similar to the Tubing (see above). The only difference is that this one involves a little more effort and will go faster. You have the option of just sitting back and floating down the river, OR you can paddle and move a lot faster. This is more of an arm/back work out and is still an absolute blast! Strap a cooler on your kayak and make a day of it. This is a great way to have fun in the outdoors and get some exercise at the same time.

Paddle boarding: I’ve only done this once but it was so fun! Make sure you’re prepared to fall into the water because any change in balance could have you in the lake. This is more often done on a lake in the open water and is more active.

Bonfire: Everyone loves a good bonfire! Make some s’mores, stay up late, and tell some wild stories. A bonfire is one of the most classic summertime activities and they never get old.

Meteor shower: There’s usually at least 1 big meteor shower every summer and they are spectacular! These are typically in August and can be seen from anywhere. It’s best to have a more rural area to watch from, if you’re in town the lights will make it more difficult to see the stars. Usually if you just watch the news, they’ll tell you when this is what the best times are to go outside and watch this happening. Otherwise, you can google it and find a TON of info. Meteor showers are amazing and they’re worth it to stay up late for. You might lose a little bit of sleep, but you won’t regret it!

Picnic: Eating food, enjoying fresh air, and catching rays all sound like a good time to me! Let’s have more picnics this summer. We eat 3 meals a day, at least one of them can be outside! Using your lunch break as some time to get some air will make for a more peaceful rest of your work day. You don’t have to go too far, wherever there’s a lush spot of grass there can be a picnic!

Camping (the real kind): We’re talking tents, campfires, hammocks, and coolers. Spend the night in the great outdoors and eat some delicious fire food while you’re there. Camping is a great way to get some peace and quiet while appreciating nature. Camping is good for your soul and will rejuvenate you.  

Visit one of the Great Lakes: We’re so blessed to have access to the largest bodies of fresh water. We need to take advantage of them and go and see them! Swim or just lay on the beach. These lakes are so beautiful you could just spend all day gazing at them. There’s endless options and so many opportunities! I encourage you to spend a day at the lake this summer, do it for yourself.

 JUST A REMINDER – now that spring is upon us, more parties and gatherings are going to be held in our backyards. Graduation parties, open houses, weddings, receptions, and other large get-togethers may get out of hand. It’s always a good idea to get an insurance policy for those types of situations. They’re usually pretty cheap and it’ll keep you covered in the event of an accident. ALSO – be sure to call your insurance company when you update your home or vehicles. If you’re updating your home, there’s discount opportunities for those new features, make sure you call to keep your insurance up to date and get all possible discounts.

Having a recreational vehicle is a wonderful thing. It gives you a chance to have some real fun in the outdoors! Whether you’re on the lake in your family boat or riding backwoods trails on your bike or ATV, these are all summer activities that we enjoy and participate it. The only part of these hobbies that isn’t exciting, is that they’re dangerous. We need to make sure that your outdoor, summertime toys are protected and also that you have liability for those as well.

Now that all of the recreational vehicles are coming out of storage it’s time to just remind everyone of some basic safety tips when driving!

1. Always look twice in both directions before moving forwards. There may be a smaller vehicle, like a motorcycle, that you didn’t see the first time. A quick glance in each direction isn’t going to cut it in the summer.

2. Give people with trailers, campers, and mobile homes more room to make wide turns. Those vehicles need a lot of space and it’s better for everyone if we just give them some additional room to safely make the turns they need to.

3. Give people with trailers, campers, and mobile homes more stopping distance. Those vehicles are also very heavy and will need more time to reach a full stop. All other vehicles need to be prepared for that.

4. Wear a helmet. If you’re riding any vehicle that doesn’t have a complete exterior surrounding all drivers and passengers then a helmet is a good idea. It may not be the law to wear a helmet, but it’s always good to protect your head. These accidents are often fatal and wearing a helmet can prevent that.

5. When riding/driving recreational vehicles on trails, it’s important to have a flag on your vehicle so people can see you from a distance and through the woods. This way, when vehicles come from other directions or crossing trails, they’ll see you better. Also make sure your headlights are on.

6. When riding/driving recreational vehicles on trails, make sure you’re aware of all of the ways and rules of participating in those activities. You’ll need your helmet for sure. You’ll need to know how to use the number system when there’s multiple people in your group so the other traffic can prepare for the other members of your party. The number system is just clearly displaying (using your left hand) how many vehicles are behind you in your group. This will keep all opposing traffic prepared for what’s coming.

7. Always know your surroundings. When riding on trails, it’s important to know the lay of the land. You don’t want to get lost and you don’t want to get hurt. Many trails look the same so getting lost is easy. Keep a map with you and make sure you’re aware of what checkpoint you’re at (or closest to). You’ll also need to now this in case of an emergency. It will take an ambulance a long time to get back on those trails so knowing the nearest check point can easily cut that time in half.

We’re all stoked for summer so let’s make sure we all cooperate and follow these rules together! It will make the warm weather and late nights much more enjoyable when we feel a little safer. Make sure you get all of your recreational vehicles insured before driving them, for your safety and the vehicle itself. If you would like a quote, contact any personal lines agent at our agency! Our contact info can be found here http://www.allins.com/content/employees.aspx

Enjoy your weekend and drive safe!

2018 Dan Fulwider Award for Community Involvement

 

Ryan and Amara Kyes have always had a heart for the community. They do their best to help everyone they know and spread joy. They give back in every way possible and they’ve now passed on that dedication to their daughter’s as well. The Kyes family are the perfect example of the giving and caring that this world needs.

Dan Fulwider was a man of selflessness and giving spirit. He has since passed, and now has an annual award for $2500 (to be given to a charity of the recipients choice) for someone who has shown a passion and dedication for community service. The recipient will also be recognized at the 2018 Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention in Washington, D.C.

We are proud to announce that Alliance Financial & Insurance Agency has won the 2018 Dan Fulwider Award for Community Involvement, and will be donating the $2,500 to Kid’s Food Basket!

The Kyes family have a passion for Kid’s Food Basket. Before Ryan adopted his four eldest daughters, they were often fed by Kid’s Food Basket. They weren’t able to always find food in their home in downtown Grand Rapids so Kid’s Food Basket was a huge blessing to them.

Once they were adopted by Ryan and Amara Kyes, they felt blessed by what they had so they decided to start volunteering to give back all of the blessings that they had received. Little did they know, they were packing the same brown paper bag’s full of food that they had once been receiving. Phalesha Kyes has even gone to help deliver the brown paper sack dinners herself. 

 The Kyes family have always been huge supporters in the Lowell/Grand Rapids area. Alliance has generously been sending employees to volunteer at Kid’s Food Basket and will continue to do so in order to give back to the organization that once gave so much to their daughters, before they were able to adopt them.

 

 

Watch Phalesha’s story at https://www.kidsfoodbasket.org/videos/

You can also watch her tell her speech from the Annual Feast for Kids on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/allianceins.agency/

Her speech really gives a lot of insight as to just how generous the Kyes family is and the importance of Kid’s Food Basket. Check it out today!

Alliance has been so honored and humbled, to have received this award and we’re looking forward to using this reward to help Kid’s Food Basket give as many sack suppers as they can!

New to Insurance? We’ve got you.

You never had to drive before and now you’re getting started. What do we do first? You’ll need a valid driver’s license. When you get a quote on auto insurance you’ll need your driver’s license number, your address, and you VIN for your vehicle. Putting a quote together for your first time will involve quite a bit of information so expect to answer quite a few questions and be prepared for the conversation to take a couple minutes. 

In Michigan, our auto insurance is the most expensive out of every state. The reason for this is due to our unlimited medical, it drives the rates up and up so that we can pay for other people’s medical expenses for their whole lives. Because of this, every detail of our lives can impact our rates. You’ll need your address, your prior insurance, your career information, your vehicle information, and probably more questions will follow that.

It’s not wise to compare your rates to anyone else. You might think “they have the same year vehicle, they’re my age, and they live on my street, why are they paying so much less than me?!” but you never know how long that person has been insured, what their health insurance covers, or their family situation. Every single detail matters. No one will have the same rates as you because it’s all individualized. Not everyone is eligible for the same discounts and not everyone will have the same coverages as you will. They may say that they have “full coverage” but there’s a multitude of ways that someone can have full coverage on a vehicle.

It’s important to always talk to your agent about this. If you’re having trouble understanding why your rates are so high, just ask. If you want to see what it would cost to change your coverages (there are many ways of doing so) then your agent can quote that for you as well. Doing some research on the internet isn’t a bad idea but you’ll want to make sure you’re looking at Michigan because, like I said before, Michigan is dramatically different than all other states when it comes to insurance. Something else to consider, you’ll want to make sure you’re looking at credible sources (.com, .net, .org, and .gov). The most accurate and most efficient thing to do would probably be to speak to a trustworthy insurance agent. If you’re in need of a trustworthy agent, just give us a call!

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

When do I need to be added to a policy?

You’ll need to be added as soon as you’re a licensed driver.

What if I’m licensed but I don’t own a vehicle?

If you don’t own a vehicle, you’ll still need to be listed so that you can be covered as a rider in a vehicle with someone else. If you’re injured while riding in a vehicle, regardless of who owns the vehicle, you’ll need to have your own insurance to cover your injuries.

Whose policy do I go on?

 If there are multiple drivers in the household, it’s usually best to have everyone and every vehicle on the same policy. Most carriers will want to make sure the whole household is listed and eligible so it’s pretty convenient to just put everyone together. If you live with other drivers and don’t want them to be on your policy, just make sure that you’re able to provide a declarations page for any driver’s not listed on your policy.

I just got my license and now my insurance is not affordable, why is this so expensive?

 Your very first insurance policy will be more expensive than usual. Insurance carriers like to see that you’ve been insured consistently for at least 6 months prior to starting the policy, so if you don’t have the 6 months of prior insurance then your rates will be more expensive. After your first 6 months they should go down.

My child just turned 16 and is getting their license, what do we need to do?

Your 16 year old is getting their license, how exciting! Adding someone to your policy is not difficult or time consuming. You’ll want to be aware that the driving record and age of the new driver can affect your insurance rate. The younger the driver is, the higher the cost. If the new driver has a ticket, accident, or claim within the last 3-5 years then that could also increase your rates. Sometimes adding a young driver can increase your rates quite a bit. This is usually a good time to rerun your rates, there are carriers that rate cheaper for younger drivers than others. If you’re with a captive agency and you need to add a youthful driver, check independent agencies to see if you’re still getting the best rate.

Someone is moving in with me, do I add them to my policy or ask them to get their own?

 Well this depends on the situation. They’re driving record and age can affect your premium so you’ll want to be aware of that. You can always call your agent and quote adding them to your policy and compare that to a quote for just them. That can give you an idea of price differences and then you’ll just have to decide what you’d want to do personally.

 

If you have any other questions or if you’d like an insurance quote, give us a call!

616-897-1515