5 Safety Tips for Driving in the Winter

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Learn how to keep you and your loved ones safe while out on the roads this winter.

Car driving in snow

Brisk winter weather may bring joy to children hoping for a snow day, but it’s a little less inspiring for drivers looking at a difficult trip or commute. Regardless of what type of vehicle you drive, preparing for ice and snow can not only keep you comfortable but may even save your life.

Is your car or truck ready to take the winter head-on? Here are five tried-and-true tips to make sure winter won’t pose an issue for your driving safety:

Check Your Tire Pressure Regularly

Cold weather can and will affect your tires’ ability to hold air pressure, with every ten degrees of cold leaching out about a pound of pressure, if left unchecked. Thankfully, this is easy to do with a handheld pressure checker – available at most auto parts stores – or via an air pump at your nearest gas station.

If you drive a newer model year, you may even be able to check air pressure levels from inside the car, via the dashboard computer: consult your owner’s manual to check.

TIP: While you’re checking your air pressure, be sure that your tires have enough tread to grip the road. Slide a penny, head first, into the long grooves in your tire; if you’re able to see the top of Abraham Lincoln’s head unobscured, it’s time for new tires.

Make Sure Your Wiper Fluid is Topped Off

In warmer months, wipers are mainly used to keep rain from obscuring your view of the road. That means that you may develop a crack or leak in your wiper fluid tank without realizing it.

TIP: Don’t wait to find out the hard way during the first hard snow of the year: regularly check both your tank fluid level and sprayer to ensure both are in good working order.

Replace Tired Batteries Before Winter Hits

Batteries are an undeniable investment, but it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your vehicle’s power needs. Because motor oil becomes more viscous in colder temperatures, your motor has to work harder to start, which in turn demands more from your battery.

TIP: A battery that was on its last legs in the summer can leave you unexpectedly stranded in the winter. To prevent unpleasant surprises, be sure to replace any questionable or older car batteries in the fall before the snow starts.

Remember That Late is Better Than Injured

It may seem obvious, but give yourself more time to get to your destination when icy or snowy weather is expected. You will potentially need time to clear off snow from your vehicle or make a path in the driveway, and traffic will also factor in.

TIP: If you oversleep or can’t give yourself adequate prep time, make a habit of calling ahead to explain you’ll be late. Rushing leads to bad, hasty driving decisions and accidents on slick roads.

Drive Into Skids

If you live in an area where snow and ice accumulate, you’ll inevitably encounter icy roads or patches of black ice before spring comes around. If you find your car skidding in one of these situations, remember to take your feet off the pedals, and turn your vehicle into the direction of the skid, if it is safely possible.

TIP: Panic will often cause drivers to jerk the wheel in the opposite direction, or press the gas or brake pedals, but both of these reactions can actually reduce vehicular control.

Staying safe while driving in the winter is a balanced mix of ensuring your car is prepared to face the cold, and that your driving habits reflect potential winter weather problems. While it can be a challenging few months, getting through them safely will make that first windows-down springtime drive that much more rewarding.

5 Things to Consider to Help Lower Your Homeowners Insurance

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Homeowners insurance is critical for protecting your home and its contents in the event of damage. Learn 5 ways to keep costs down on a new or existing policy.

Person counting money

Much like paying for routine maintenance of a vehicle, your homeowner’s insurance policy is meant to do something very important: keep things running smoothly. In the case of insurance, that means if there’s a problem or damage to your home, you won’t need to put your life on hold and your finances in jeopardy attempting to right the wrongs.

Even though it’s a vital consideration, it’s only natural to want to keep the cost of homeownership as low as possible – but can your homeowner’s insurance policy cost be reduced? Of course, and here are the five ways that you can make it happen right now:

Take the Welcome Mat Away from Risk

Tree-trimming and pest control aren’t just services that make day-to-day life more pleasant, they also represent a financial interest in your home.

Without heavy limbs looming over the roof in the next heavy storm or snowfall, your roof, siding, and gutters aren’t under threat. When regular pest control monitors for termite presence, your foundation and beams aren’t at risk.

Furnishing receipts for these services, either presented proactively beforehand or after the fact as proof, may help lower your policy costs.

Embrace a One-Stop-Shop for Policies

Already have a life or auto insurance policy from a provider? Need to move from a renter’s insurance policy into a homeowners insurance policy? Save money by sticking with the same insurance provider for additional coverage, or taking out a new policy under an insurer you already work with.

Since the company is already familiar with you as a client, there are fewer unknown factors complicating your quote and coverage. Most major insurers also offer bundled discount rates, so be sure to ask your insurance agent what options are available for you.

Inventory Your Possessions – and Protect Them

When it comes to expensive belongings like jewelry, expensive artwork, and other items, their value may change and fluctuate over time. For electronics, depreciation will naturally factor in over time.

In both cases, it’s important to make sure your paid-for coverage level matches the actual value of the item(s) being insured in the home, if applicable. Installing and maintaining a home security system will also earn you a discount with some homeowners’ insurance providers; be sure to check with your insurance agent to see if yours does.

Steady and Reliable Wins the Race

Stability in one area of responsibility usually indicates stability in others, which is why providers like long-term clients who have good credit scores. Both of these considerations can help lower your insurance policy costs; positive marks in both columns point to minimal risk for an insurer.

If you’re anxious to switch companies or are working on your credit, this isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, but focusing on staying the course will benefit you in the long run.

Smart Home = Smart Move

Smart home devices like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and security camera systems allow homeowners to keep better tabs on their home and its belongings. That translates to a lower risk of damage and theft, which in turn can lower the cost of your insurance policy.

Check your policy carefully before changing it or installing expensive equipment; you’ll want to make sure the two are compatible and offer financial benefits before picking out gadgets.

In addition to these handy hacks for reducing homeowners insurance costs, don’t neglect your most important resource: your insurance agent. After learning about you and your insurance needs, they’ll be able to point you to any discounts you have missed, helping you get the most coverage for the lowest cost possible.

How to Obtain A License To Operate A Motorcycle

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Motorcycle Permit in Seattle, WashingtonWith spring on the horizon, some of you may be finding yourselves thinking about getting a motorcycle license. After all, motorcycles offer great fuel economy, easy parking, and a unique driving experience.

For most people, your motorcycle journey will begin with some rider safety and operation courses. Knowing how to safely operate a motorcycle and the unique laws that may apply to you are important.

Operating a motorcycle in most states will require you to have a driver’s license and some will require a motorcycle permit. This permit will involve you passing an exam for motorcycle operation and a rider’s skill test. For those under the age of 18, you’ll also likely need your parent’s consent.

To find a class, you can search for your local DMV on the web and look there for motorcycle safety courses. Most states have adopted the Motorcycle Safety Foundations curriculum. The classes will take around 15 hours to complete and at the end, you will possibly find an insurance carrier who will give you a discount for completing the course.

Other common questions regarding the operation of a motorcycle include:

Am I required to have insurance? Not all states require motorcycle operators have insurance. It is highly recommended that you do carry insurance to not only protect yourself financially but also to provide insurance protection to those you may injure while operating a motorcycle.

Do I have to wear a helmet? Many states do not require helmets for all riders, however, some are also age-dependent. To find out which states have motorcycle helmet laws, visit the iihs.org website.

My motorcycle doesn’t go very fast, do I still need a permit?  If a motorcycle’s speedometer is listed as less than 60 MPH then it is possible that you do not need a motorcycle permit to operate this. Check with your local Department of Licensing to find out more.

Having motorcycle insurance is recommended. Typically the cost of a motorcycle insurance policy isn’t as expensive as an automobile policy. There are many factors that determine the cost of motorcycle insurance: where you live, your driving record, your age, and marital status, what type of motorcycle you own, whether you own a home, even your credit score can all have an impact on how much you’ll pay for insurance. The best way to find out what your premium will be is to ask a licensed agent in our office to provide you with some quotes from several of the top insurance companies.

Get Your Motorcycle Insurance Quote Today

Our licensed staff is ready to help you get multiple quotes for your Motorcycle Insurance. Because we’re an independent insurance agent we can shop from multiple insurance companies to help you find the right coverage at the right price.