6 Elements that determine your Car Insurance Premiums

Car insurance rates are carefully thought-out calculations, believe it or not, they aren't arbitrary numbers made up by auto insurance providers.

Using your personal information and company claim data, car insurance companies use their own algorithms to make a calculation on how much you could cost the insurer. The riskier you appear, the more you will pay for car insurance. The safer you seem, the less you'll pay.

At GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross,  we want to give you five elements that affect and determine your car insurance premiums:

1. Driving experience:

Inexperienced drivers pose more risk. Anyone who hasn't driven a car is automatically a higher risk to car insurance companies, whether you're 16 or 50 years of age.

Teens are the biggest category of inexperienced drivers and also pay the most because their age and inexperience are a double whammy. A 40-year-old getting a license is thought to be more mature and conservative than a 16-year old behind the wheel and receives a lower rate.

The more years you have under your belt, the better. Even better for your wallet is if you have been licensed for many years and have a clean driving record. That combo will get you better rates, plus discounts for being a good driver.

2. Vehicle type:

Car insurance providers often develop vehicle safety ratings by collecting a large amount of data from customer claims and analyzing industry safety reports, and they offer discounts to customers who drive safer vehicles.

The opposite can apply for dangerous, flashy rides. Some insurers increase premiums for cars more susceptible to damage, occupant injury, or theft, and they lower rates for those that fare better than the norm on those measures.

3. How often, and how far, you drive: 

Insurers also want to know why you're driving your car. A vehicle used to commute to school or work poses more of a risk than the car you only take out of the garage once a week. Personal use of a vehicle costs less than business use, since those using their car for business purposes have a higher chance of being in an accident due to increase driving time.

People who use their car for business and long-distance commuting normally pay more than those who drive less. The more miles you drive in a year, the higher the chances of a crash - regardless of how safe a driver you are.

4. Where you live:

Generally, due to higher rates of vandalism, theft, and crashes, urban drivers pay more for car insurance than do those in small towns or rural areas.

5. Your driving record:

How safe of a driver you are is really important to your car insurance company because your behavior on the road directly affects your risk to an insurer. Drivers with a clean driver's history qualify for better rates and also are eligible for a good/safe driver discount.

Drivers who cause crashes generally must pay more than those who have gone crash-free for several years.

6. Your credit history:

It has been shown certain credit information can be predictive of future insurance claims. Where applicable, many insurance companies use credit history to help determine the cost of car insurance. Maintaining good credit can have a positive impact on the cost of your car insurance.

Your credit rating and history may also affect how an insurance company allows you to pay for your policy. Since statistics have shown that customers with low credit scores are more likely to miss a payment, insurers may ask you to pay a large percentage of the policy up front. Customers with very poor credit scores may be required to pay the entire 6 or 12 month premium upfront in order for the policy to be issued.

Remember that a car insurance policy may help protect your wallet, your vehicle and even offer peace of mind. Contact us for more Information, At GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross, we can help you choose the coverage that's right for your needs.

For more Information contact us: (706) 884-5006 or (770) 969-5666

Please visit us: www.go-guardian.com

All that you need to know about Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners insurance provides financial protection against disasters. A standard policy insures the home itself and the things you keep in it.

Homeowners insurance covers both damage to your property and your liability or legal responsibility for any injuries and property damage you or members of your family cause to other people. This includes damage caused by household pets.

At GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross, we give you the information that you need to know about Homeowners Insurance:

Most standard homeowners insurance policies include four essential types of coverage:

1. Coverage for the structure of your home:

Your homeowners policy pays to repair or rebuild your home if it is damaged or destroyed by fire, hurricane, hail, lightning or other disasters listed in your policy. It will not pay for damage caused by a flood, earthquake or routine wear and tear. When purchasing coverage for the structure of your home, remember this simple guideline: Purchase enough coverage to rebuild your home.

2. Coverage for your personal belongings:

Your furniture, clothes, sports equipment and other personal items are covered if they are stolen or destroyed by fire, hurricane or other insured disasters. The coverage is generally 50 to 70 percent of the insurance on the structure of your home. The best way to determine if this is enough coverage is to conduct a home inventory.

Expensive items like jewelry, art, collectibles and silverware are covered, but there are usually dollar limits if they are stolen. To insure these items to their full value, purchase a special personal property endorsement or floater and insure the item for its officially appraised value.

3. Liability protection:

Liability covers you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that you or family members cause to other people. It also pays for damage caused by your pets. 

The liability portion of your policy pays for both the cost of defending you in court and any court awards—up to the limit stated in your policy documents.

Your policy also provides no-fault medical coverage, so if a friend or neighbor is injured in your home, he or she can simply submit medical bills to your insurance company. This way, expenses are paid without a liability claim being filed against you. It does not, however, pay the medical bills for your own family or your pet.

4. Additional living expenses if you are temporarily unable to live in your home because of an insured disaster:

Additional living expenses pay the additional costs of living away from home if you cannot live there due to damage from an insured disaster. It covers hotel bills, restaurant meals and other costs, over and above your usual living expenses, incurred while your home is being rebuilt.

Remember that a Home insurance policy may help protect your wallet, your House and even offer peace of mind. Contact us for more Information, At GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross we can help you to find the best Renters or Homeowners Insurance!For more Information contact us: (706) 884-5006 or (770) 969-5666

Please visit us: www.go-guardian.com

How to choose the right Car Insurance for College Students

For many teens, heading off to college is an exciting time, it means living on their own, making new friends, and dealing with adult situations, one such situation is making sure your car insurance is the right option. 

It is possible to get a good car insurance plan if you're a college student. You just have to know how to look and what to look for. Far beyond simply signing up for the plan that is the cheapest, you may find and make the most out of specific discounts that you may not have even known about until now. Not only is it important to get car insurance at the right price, but it's also a good idea to find the right plan to meet your needs. 

At GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross, we give some tips for college students to consider before choosing the right car insurance:

1. Think about how much driving you will be doing:

Whether you're going to college or commuting, you may want to increase your coverage or decrease it. If you're leaving your car parked at parents' home while you live on campus, you may be able to save them a few extra dollars. According to the Insurance Information Institute, if your college is at least 100 miles away from home, your parents may qualify for the "resident student" discount. This discount could lower your car insurance bill by as much as 30 percent per month.

On the other hand, going to college may cause you to reconsider your coverage choices. If your daily commute is going to get longer, now may be the best time to revisit your coverage limits to make sure you're well-insured in case of an accident.

Collision coverage may be a good idea if you'll be driving to and from class, for example. It may help pay to repair your car if it's damaged in an accident with another vehicle or object.

2. Check Out the Campus Security:

If you're taking your car to school, think about where it will be parked. If it's most often parked outside, for example, consider comprehensive coverage. It may help pay to replace your car if it's stolen or repair it if it's damaged by things like hail or vandalism.

It's always a good idea to research local crime statistics before taking up temporary residence. This gives you a good idea of what to expect, as well as how to prepare for life in your new surroundings. If you're going away to college and bringing your car to a location with a higher crime rate, talk to a car insurance agency about protection that covers you in the event of theft. It may also be a good time to purchase an anti-theft device for your car. Doing so may not only cut back on the likelihood of your stuff being stolen, but it might also land you a discount.

3. Good grades benefits:

Those who know about the savings offered to teenage drivers with good grades will be happy to find out that the discount doesn't stop when you graduate high school. Most insurance companies continue to offer good grade benefits to students up to age 25. If you continue to get good grades in your higher education studies, you could still see a discount on your car insurance bill.

There isn’t a one perfect car insurance recommendation for college students. Each student has his or her own individual needs, which in turn can affect the amount of coverage needed and the dollar amount of the premium.

Remember that a car insurance policy may help protect your wallet, your vehicle and even offer peace of mind. Contact us for more Information, At GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross, we can help you choose the coverage that's right for your needs.

For more Information contact us: (706) 884-5006 or (770) 969-5666

Please visit us: www.go-guardian.com

5 Tips to Keep your Home safe while on Vacation

After you have planned your itinerary, you need to consider how to best protect your home while on vacation. Of course you never leave expecting that something bad will happen, but take precautions before you leave. A little extra vigilance will help keep your property and belongings safer while you're gone.

At GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross, we give you five tips to help you protect your home while on Vacation:

1. If it looks like there are still people at home, you are much less likely to be robbed. Do everything you can to make it look like there is activity both inside and outside the house. This would be an excellent time to have some lawn or exterior work done. You may need to make arrangements with whoever is doing the work, either paying them a deposit ahead of time, or arranging to pay the balance at a later date.

2. To help create the illusion that the residence is still occupied, invest in timers that turn on the interior lights for a few hours every evening. 

You could also consider having some lights or motion sensors put in. A battery operated push light in the window can be a great idea. Better yet, connect some outside and inside lights to motion sensors. This way, if anyone gets too close, the lights will come on automatically.

3. An easy, low tech way to make sure that your place is covered is by asking a trusted friend, neighbor or family member. Have them go over to your home several times a week just to check on everything. You could also have them collect mail and take the trash cans out and/or bring them back in. In some cases, the local police department is able to help with a few of these tasks. This is not a replacement for a trusted friend or neighbor. However, having a police officer do a ‘vacation check’ a few times while you are away is still an additional level of security.

4. Installing a home security system is a good way to ramp up security around the old homestead and make your house safer whether you're around or not. There is no better way to secure your home while you are away on vacation than a home alarm system. With the technology available, at minimum you will be able to have a system with a control panel, door and window sensors, motion sensors, glass break sensors and often times these features can be monitored using your cell phone. 

5. Take the final trip through the house before you leave. Check to make sure that all windows and doors are closed and locked, that there is no water running and that all unnecessary appliances are off. If you are leaving your home vacant for a long period of time, you may need to purchase special vacant home insurance. Talk to your insurance agency you're planning on being more than a few weeks away.

Remember that a Home insurance policy may help protect your wallet, your House and even offer peace of mind. Contact us for more Information, At GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross we can help you to find the best Renters or Homeowners Insurance!For more Information contact us: (706) 884-5006 or (770) 969-5666

Please visit us: www.go-guardian.com

Tips for finding the right Car Insurance Company

When you are looking for the right Car Insurance company, setting your priorities, checking reputations and financial standings, comparing quotes, shopping for the best car insurance company for your needs might be a difficult and daunting task but at GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross,  we give you three tips to help you whit that important decision: 

1. Compare different Car Insurance Quotes:

- First and foremost, never look at just one or two car insurance companies; always get and compare at least three quotes.

- Talk with family members and friends about their car insurance providers.

- Look for auto insurance companies that offer discounts and good-driver rewards programs.

- Ask about bundling insurance policies also known as “multi-line coverage," some companies provide discounts for purchasing two or more lines of coverage.

- Check out the companies' social media accounts.

2. Check for Reputation:

Once you've found a few compatible car insurance companies, do some investigative work and check out the companies' reputation.

Check with your state’s Department of Insurance website and make sure the company is licensed to sell auto insurance in your state.

3. Consider working with an Agent or Broker:

The difference between car insurance agents and car insurance brokers is that, generally, agents work with one company while brokers work with several companies.

So, while an agent can help you get the best coverage and rates from his or her particular company, a broker can shop around and help you find the best coverage and rates from a number of companies. 

Remember that a car insurance policy may help protect your wallet, your vehicle and even offer peace of mind. Contact us for more Information, At GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross, we can help you choose the coverage that's right for your needs.

For more Information contact us: (706) 884-5006 or (770) 969-5666

Please visit us: www.go-guardian.com

What happens after your Car gets totaled in an Accident?

A car is considered totaled when the cost of repair the auto exceeds the value of the car. Some states have laws that define a totaled vehicle by specific limits. In other cases, the insurer determines whether a vehicle is considered a total loss.

At GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross, we give you some important information to take in mind when your car is totaled in an accident:

1. Collision coverage and comprehensive coverage help pay to replace a totaled vehicle. These two coverages are typically required on your car insurance policy if you're leasing or financing your vehicle. If your vehicle is totaled and you don't have comprehensive or collision coverage, you may have to pay out of pocket to buy a replacement vehicle.

2. To determine your car's worth at the time of the accident, insurers typically use a number of factors to figure your car's actual cash value including its age, condition, mileage and resale value, plus the selling price of similar vehicles in your area.

3. If you're involved in a car accident, there are a few basic steps to follow before and after your vehicle is considered totaled:

- Contact your Insurance agent and initiate an insurance claim.

- Get the damaged vehicle inspected at an auto body shop. The shop will provide a repair estimate, including both parts and labor.

- Your insurer will determine whether the vehicle is a total loss, based on repair costs.

- Your insurer will cut you a check for the actual cash value of the totaled vehicle, minus your deductible on your comprehensive or collision coverage.

Remember that a car insurance policy may help protect your wallet, your vehicle and even offer peace of mind. Contact us for more Information, At GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross, we can help you choose the coverage that's right for your needs.

For more Information contact us: (706) 884-5006 or (770) 969-5666

Please visit us: www.go-guardian.com

5 Types of Insurance you need to protect your Business

When you own a business, you are exposed to certain risks and you have a lot to protect, so the right insurance coverage for your business can be important to your continued success. Luckily, there are a variety of coverages to choose from when it comes to protecting your business.

At GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross, we give you five types of Insurance that could help protect your business:

1. Business Liability Insurance Coverage:

No matter how careful you are, you may find yourself in a variety of situations that could result in a lawsuit against your business, so it's a good idea to be prepared.There are three types of business liability coverage:

- General liability coverage: This type of coverage protects you in case you are sued because of accidents, injuries or claims of negligence. For example, if someone is injured on the premises of your business and files a lawsuit against you, this type of coverage may help cover some of the related costs.

- Product liability coverage: If your company manufactures or sells a product, this type of coverage may come in handy. It protects you in case your product is defective and causes injury or damage.

- Professional liability coverage: Businesses that provide services often purchase this type of coverage, which protects against errors and negligence.

2. Small Business Property Insurance Coverage:

The most obvious reason to purchase small business insurance is to protect your tangible investment, from your merchandise to the tools you use to make your business work. 

The property coverage in a business insurance policy can help protect the physical property of your business against certain causes. This coverage may protect the actual building in which your business is housed, as well as inventory, equipment, furnishings and other property you have there. It may also cover other costs, such as equipment breakdowns or the cost of removing debris after a covered loss.

3. Insurance Coverage relating to Employees:

Depending on the number of employees you have, as well as other factors, there may be additional insurance considerations. Employment practices liability coverage, for example, helps protect you in case a former employee files a groundless claim against your company.

All states except Texas require businesses with a certain minimum number of employees (3-5) to have workers compensation coverage, which may help protect them in the event that an employee is injured on the job.

4. Data Compromise Insurance Coverage:

Data compromise coverage, or data breach coverage, is another way to protect your business. This type of coverage helps protect against any associated legal or other costs in the event that personal data of employees or customers is stolen or accidentally released by your company.

5. Insurance Coverage for Business Cars:

Just like your personal car, your business vehicle needs to be protected. Business car coverage is available to help protect your company against liability arising from accidents in your company's vehicle, as well as other features, depending on the policy.

Remember that a Business insurance policy may help protect your wallet, your Business and even offer peace of mind. Contact us for more Information, At GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross, we can help you choose the coverage that's right for your needs.

For more Information contact us: (706) 884-5006 or (770) 969-5666

Please visit us: www.go-guardian.com