Why You Should Review Your Auto Insurance Policy
You've probably had auto insurance in Altoona, PA, or another town for many, many years. Paying your monthly premium is automatic by now. But there is a good reason to review your auto insurance policy at least on an annual basis to make sure that your information and your coverage is up to date. And while you can save money by doing that, it's important not just because of the savings.
Keep Your Information Updated
Your insurance company wants to keep you as a customer, but they don't necessarily want to work too hard for it. Therefore, you can't expect them to call you every so often to make sure you haven't moved, changed your driving habits, or added an additional driver to your family. The problem is that if you don't tell them these things, then they might reject a claim if you have one.
It's probably a good idea to review all your insurance policies (not just auto) at the same time as doing your taxes and reviewing your credit report. Your address, vehicle information, driver's license number, and driving habits should always stay up to date. And if you buy a new car or let someone else drive yours, then you need to let your insurance company know right away.
Review Your Coverage
It may seem boring but it's really important to carefully evaluate your exact coverage amounts. At the very least, your coverage limits must match the requirements of the state you live in. But the minimum is not always good enough. If your expensive vehicle gets totaled in a crash, you may end up getting only a small amount of its value due to your coverage limitations.
On the other hand, it's quite possible that your car isn't even worth the amount of your deductible. And while you'll have to carry uninsured motorist coverage, you can drop collision and comprehensive coverage to save money on your monthly premiums. In that case, you should know that you'll have to pay for all of the necessary repairs out of your own pocket.
Consider Getting the Rental Car Option
Most auto insurance policies include an option to pay for a car rental. You should carefully consider what would be the best choice for you. On the one hand you might like to save money and avoid paying for unnecessary rental coverage. If you own multiple vehicles and can do without one of them, then you probably don't need to worry about rental coverage.
On the other hand, if you have only one car or only one car that can seat every family member, then rental coverage makes sense. In order to figure out the amount you need per day to rent a car, you can just get a quick quote from a local car rental place. Your insurance doesn't need to cover all of it, but even $20 a day can really add up, considering your car might be in the shop for weeks.
Do You Need Roadside Assistance?
When it comes to roadside assistance, you'll have to ask yourself similar questions. If you have additional vehicles and drivers, then you might be able to get a family member to help you out with changing a flat tire or jump-starting your battery. On the other hand, if you're not mechanically inclined and have older vehicles, calling roadside assistance can be a real lifesaver.
Whether roadside assistance is helpful or not also depends on where you live. If you're in the middle of nowhere, it will take some time to get help from anyone. All in all, it's important to adjust your auto insurance in Altoona, PA, or wherever you live to get the coverage you need.