Arizona Insurance Blog

Many of us at Bennett and Porter like to hit the road. We visit Sedona. Go camping near Pinetop. Hike parts of the Grand Canyon. And frequently take trips to Southern California. Sometimes, a good road trip is exactly what the doctor ordered. But how often do you take a road trip and see cars stranded on the freeway.

Having good auto insurance is important. When your car breaks down or the windshield cracks, your insurance is going to cover the costs. That’s why you have insurance. But experiencing car trouble close to home is a lot different than breaking down 300 miles away.

So the best auto insurance for a road trip is the auto insurance you don’t have to use. With the summer winding down, you probably have just enough time for one more road trip. When preparing to take off, be sure to follow these standard inspection steps:

-Check the tires. Keeping your tires at the right pressure can help prevent blowouts. (Which is actually important when driving around your city. The last thing you want to do is call your insurance company to help you find a towing service.) Additionally, your tire treads are important to watch. Did you know the State of Arizona requires your tread to be at least 1/32 of an inch deep?

-Check the windshield wipers. An associate of ours took a trip to Utah in early May. For us, the weather was already warm. But this associate entered the Salt Lake Valley in the middle of the night and ran into a snow storm. Unfortunately, she hadn’t checked her windshield wipers. Turning them on smudged wet snow across the whole windshield. Yes, you live in Arizona, but that doesn’t mean you can neglect your wipers.

-Check the oil. As someone who takes good care of your possessions, you routinely get your oil changed. But check it before you leave on your trip…just in case. And be sure to take extra oil with you. In one incident, a client of ours got an oil leak 45 miles away from home. Rather than calling a tow truck, she filled up her car with extra oil and was able to make it to the auto care center near her home. This saved her from making an auto insurance claim as the leak was a simple, inexpensive fix.

-Check the A/C. This is not something most of us know how to do. But if you haven’t had your AC checked in a while, stop somewhere and get it looked at. Because we live in Arizona, we know how important a powerful AC system is.

If you’ve taken a road trip before, this might all sound like information you already knew. But there are a few things that your auto insurance won’t cover if you find yourself without, like: water, food, sunscreen, or a hat. So in addition to checking your car before your road trip, don’t forget to stock your car with emergency items that will keep you protected from the elements.

You’ve only got a few weeks of summer left. If you’re looking for something to do, consider a road trip. Just be sure to check the expiration date on your auto insurance card (so it’s up to date), properly maintain your card, and be ready for anything to happen.

Enjoy your trip!

Are you sure you’re ready for this? A teenager who can now drive? With gas prices skyrocketing and the added costs to your insurance, you may be dreading that sweet 16 birthday. On the other hand, those who have teen drivers enjoy sending their children to the store for milk and appreciate not having to pick up their child from a party on a Saturday night.

Teenagers will only be around for a few more years. So why not learn to appreciate the new milestones your children are reaching. Here are some ideas for preparing your teens to drive…so you don’t break the bank while helping them move into that new stage of life:

Encourage Good Grades. Did you know that a lot of insurance companies will over good student discounts on insurance rates? You want your children to get good grades anyway. Here is one more incentive for them to keep their grades up. Perhaps you can have them pay the additional insurance costs if their grades slip.

Choose a Car with Lower Insurance Rates. Sure, every kid would love to be driving to school in a sports car. But it’s not realistic on your budget. Besides the cost of the car, certain vehicles will cost you more to insure. Your insurance company should be able to tell you which vehicles are cost effective.

Let Them Drive the Family Car. Even if you don’t buy a vehicle for your child, you still need to get them insured if they plan on driving. Insuring your child on existing vehicles is a heck of a lot cheaper than purchasing a new one. Of course, then you have to battle for possession of the family car.

Avoid Driving Incidents at All Costs. Does your student realize what happens to your insurance rates when they get a ticket or have an accident? Talk to them about it. You may consider having them pay their own insurance costs if they violate traffic laws. And be sure to have a heartfelt discussion about NOT texting in the car.

Call an Insurance Agent in Advance. Finding the best insurance policy for your teen driver can take some time and some shopping around. Before your child turns 16, we strongly encourage you to start looking for the best car insurance options for your child.

At Bennett and Porter, we do the shopping for you. If you have a child quickly approaching that magic age, give us a call. We can find discounts and better rates for your student. We can help you choose a car that will bring in a lower insurance rate. And we let you know what to expect if the unexpected happens.