The value of good automobile insurance really doesn't become apparent until you really need it. Whether it's a minor fender bender or a more substantial accident, it pays to have insurance coverage you can count on.

As an independent insurance agency it's our job to represent you, the customer.  We can provide you with the individual coverage you require.  When it comes to protecting your auto, home, business and family, don't leave it up to chance.. being insured with the best certainly has its advantages.  That is just one of the reasons why the companies we represent have continually earned the highest ratings from A.M. Best, the leading independent insurance industry rating authority.

Factors influencing rates
If your current rates seem particularly high (or low), you might want to know why. Indeed, if your rates (or quotes) are high, altering your lifestyle or vehicle choice can have a big effect on the rates you pay.

While criteria may vary slightly from company to company, determining factors fall into four basic areas:

Another way to reduce your premium is to increase the amount you self-insure by increasing the deductible amounts on the property damage coverage for your vehicle. These deductible amounts on your comprehensive and collision coverages may be limited if you have the vehicle leased or financed, so check your financing contract before raising your deductibles too high.

The following shares major types of insurance coverages you should be familiar with. This section is intended as a general description of the definitions typically used in a personal auto policy. For specific definitions and coverages, you should always refer to your current policy or the policy you're considering.

Collision—The portion of the policy that pays for the damage to your car caused by a crash, regardless of responsibility. If another party is responsible for the damage to your car, the insurance carrier will pursue the other party on your behalf and collect payment for the repairs from the other party’s insurance carrier or the party directly. The maximum amount of collision protection is usually limited by the depreciated value of your car (which is not the same as the replacement cost). Collision insurance is usually required by a lending institution if the vehicle is financed or leased.

Comprehensive—The portion of the policy that pays for damage to the car caused by non-crash events such as theft, vandalism, acts of God, striking an animal, storms, etc.

Medical—This coverage pays the initial medical bills for you, members of your family and passengers in your car. If the cost of medical treatment exceeds the medical coverage limit, non-family passengers in your car can obtain compensation from your liability coverage, but you or your family members would not be covered by your own liability coverage. You or family members could look to other medical insurance for additional coverage. It also covers you and those in your household if you're a passenger in a car involved in an accident, or if you're a pedestrian struck by a car.

Liability—This coverage pays for bodily injury or property damage that you become legally responsible for as a result of driving your vehicle. Family members living with you who are listed with the insurance company as drivers on your policy and anyone driving your car with your permission will be covered by the liability coverage for injuries or property damage that you or they become legally responsible for while driving your vehicle. Your liability coverage will not pay for injuries to your own family members in the car, which will be covered by medical coverage described above.

Uninsured Motorist—This covers your property damage and personal injury in the event you're hit by an uninsured motorist. Also covers hit-and-run accidents. Required by many states.

Underinsured Motorist—This covers your property damage and personal injury caused by another party, when the amount of damage exceeds the other party’s liability limits. This coverage will pick up after the other party’s liability limit is exhausted.

Umbrella—If you also have homeowner’s liability coverage, you may want to consider a personal liability umbrella. The umbrella will pick up bodily injury or property damage amounts that you become legally responsible for, above the policy limit of the underlying personal auto policy, up to the umbrella limit. The premium for this additional coverage is typically only a fraction of the cost of the personal auto policy and also provides additional liability coverage above the liability limits of the underlying homeowner’s policy.

Gap Insurance—This coverage provides for the difference between the amount paid under collision or comprehensive coverage to cover a total loss and the amount to pay off the lease or finance contract balance on the vehicle. Many lease or finance contracts include this coverage, but if yours does not you should consider including the coverage on your auto policy. If the payoff amount on the vehicle is more than the payout under your comprehensive or collision coverage and you don’t have gap coverage, you will be responsible for the difference.

Other Optional Coverage—This can include emergency towing or repairs while on the road. Rental car reimbursement when your car is being repaired from a covered loss.

Discounts Available: