Great Ways to Make the Most of Your Pro Auto Insurance

Regardless of your driving history or how often you drive, brace for an increase in your pro auto insurance premium when you receive your renewal statement this year. With the significant increase in medical bills from injuries and car repair costs, among other factors, even the top auto insurance companies have planned for premium hikes in 2023. Here are some suggestions for getting the most out of your pro auto insurance, even with the expected increase in premiums.

1. Look at Other Types of Insurance

One of the best ways to make the most of your pro auto insurance is to couple it with other types of insurance. For example, if you use your car for business, consider getting small business health insurance as well. This will cover you or other personnel in case of bodily injuries as a result of an accident. Other types of insurance include life, health, and long-term disability insurance.

2. Check Your Transmission

Although it may seem absurd, cars can be compared to the human body. If you don’t take care of yourself after becoming ill, your condition worsens and affects other body parts. Similarly, when your car’s transmission is experiencing problems, ignoring them will just make them worse. It can also affect other components such as the suspension and driveshaft of the car. If your transmission is found to be faulty when you try to make a claim, you’ll likely not get compensated. By having your transmission checked at an auto body shop, you’ll be making the most of your pro auto insurance.

Transmission failure can be caused by a number of reasons, with the most common being shifting while still in motion. This primarily applies to automatic transmissions, which function differently from manual transmissions. A manual transmission uses a clutch that disengages shifting gears while a car is still in motion, eliminating the need to stop before changing gears.

In contrast, automatic transmissions operate in a linear manner. If the gears are changed while the car is in motion, the internal gear teeth will grind. Grinding damages gears, which ultimately damages the transmission. This may also negatively affect the suspension and drive shaft.

3. Repair Your Car’s Roof

Your car’s roof is almost as valuable as your home’s roof. If yours has been damaged by bad weather or an unfortunate accident, you may be wondering if it can be fixed. The good news is that your local panel-beating shop can restore your damaged automobile roof to its original condition using the proper tools and techniques. They may even help you with your insurance claim and provide an accident replacement vehicle. Damage to your car’s roof can be as a result of a number of causes. Hailstorms and extreme weather are the most common. The former can severely dent and damage the windscreen, boot, bonnet, and your car’s roof.

While hail damage is reversible, it can be expensive to repair if the damage to your car’s windows and paintwork is extensive. Hailstorms rarely only damage one car, so if your car needs hail damage repair, you’ll need to insist that your insurance company give your car priority as they’re likely going to be dealing with multiple claims from your neighborhood. Note that comprehensive car insurance is often required to cover hailstone damage, so if you reside in a region where extreme weather is common, it’s a wise investment. To make the most of your pro auto insurance, ask your provider for a list of its preferred repair shops for roofing services.

4. Clean Out Your Car

Dust, pet allergens, food crumbs, coffee stains, soda spills, dirt, and other harmful particles tend to accumulate in car interiors. In addition to the unsightly appearance, the accumulated bacteria and dirt can produce an unpleasant odor and create a favorable environment for the spread of diseases. Getting your car detailed will keep surfaces such as the dashboard, sound system, entertainment console, and leather seats free of harmful bacteria. To ensure your car’s interiors are sanitized thoroughly, special chemicals made for detailing car interiors are employed. Doing this prevents bacteria from harming your family’s health.

A car’s carpets are crucial components. They make your car rides much more comfortable and luxurious. However, given that you’re constantly stepping on your carpets with shoes, they tend to gather a lot of dirt and bacteria. Who knows what kind of microorganisms your shoes may have accumulated over time? When carpets go for a long time without being cleaned, the fibers could get damaged. Regularly cleaning your car’s carpet keeps it in good shape. When performing extensive cleaning that involves tasks such as removing carpets, consider hiring a hauling service.

5. Look at New Cars

A great way to make the most of your pro auto insurance is to find out if your provider offers new car replacement insurance. If your automobile is totaled in an accident, new car replacement insurance will cover the cost of purchasing a new vehicle of the same make and model. Insurance companies base payments on the full price of the car minus your deductible. They don’t factor in depreciation. Although new car replacement coverage offers several benefits, it’s not for everyone. It’s generally ideal for drivers of new or expensive vehicles. Most insurance companies require that you obtain new car replacement insurance within six to 18 months of purchasing your new vehicle to enjoy the benefits. In the event of a total loss, you’ll receive enough money to purchase a new car of the same make and model from a car dealership.

Say you purchased a $35,000 brand-new car. After a few months, its value depreciates to around $31,000 and you get into an accident that causes total damage. With a new car replacement coverage, you’ll get a payout that matches the value of the car when it was new ($35,000) instead of its current worth ($31,000). Say you purchased a $35,000 brand-new car. After a few months, its value depreciates to around $31,000 and you get into an accident that causes total damage.

With a new car replacement coverage, you’ll get a payout that matches the value of the car when it was new ($35,000) instead of its current worth ($31,000). However, note that new car replacement insurance comes with its own set of restrictions and requirements. For example, most insurance providers ask for full car insurance coverage as a prerequisite. Each provider will also have a varying window of time after buying a new automobile during which you can get the new car replacement insurance.

6. Repair Your Car’s AC

Most vehicle system failures are covered by car insurance. However, some car owners wind up footing the bill for AC repairs that their insurance could otherwise pay for. A broken AC is typically covered by pro auto insurance, but only if it’s caused by impact damage, such as that caused by a flying object landing on your condenser. Your claim for AC service will be rejected if the failure of your AC is a result of wear and tear. Most air conditioning claims involve damage to your system that isn’t apparent until you try to use it. Unless you notice visible exterior damage to your vehicle or an oily leak, you’ll need to have a mechanic diagnose your car.

If the mechanic determines that you have a refrigerant leak caused by ageing seals, a worn-out compressor, or an electrical problem, you can’t file a claim. However, you may be eligible for a warranty claim. Some insurance providers offer extended warranties that cover mechanical failures of vehicle systems such as the AC.

Check whether you’re eligible for a warranty claim with your agent as they may have included this coverage in your policy. You have a valid insurance claim if the mechanic determines that any of your AC components have impact damage. Relay everything your mechanic tells you when speaking with the insurance company.

Next, schedule an inspection with the insurance provider’s auto damage adjuster. The adjuster can meet you at your residence, office, or at the repair facility where the car was diagnosed, or they may arrange for you to come in for an inspection at their facility. Having the inspection done at the repair facility where the AC problem was initially identified is recommended. This option allows you to have the mechanic who examined your vehicle personally describe the damage to the insurance adjuster.

7. Repair Your Car’s Heating

Did you know your vehicle’s heating system capability to keep you warm during the cold months is a by-product of the system trying to keep the engine cool? The air that enters the cabin serves two purposes. So, if your heater core is acting up, it’s not good for the engine. The reason your car’s heating system is not working will affect how much it will cost to fix. Common causes of a faulty heating system include a faulty thermostat, which will cost you between $140 and $300 to replace, low coolant or antifreeze, which costs between $10 and $50 for supplies, or a faulty blower motor resistor, which costs about $340 and $400 to replace. Car repair insurance can cover the cost of the appropriate heating service.

You can add car repair insurance, often known as mechanical breakdown insurance, to your current pro auto insurance policy to cover repairs that aren’t accident-related. It functions as an auto warranty and can pay for services like fixing engine parts or a blown alternator, heating service, or brake replacement. However, not all auto repair insurance policies are created equal – coverage may vary according to your insurer. Keep in mind that not all insurance companies offer car repair insurance, so be sure to check with your agent.

8. Buy a Trailer

A utility trailer can be quite costly, and often, the cargo it hauls isn’t inexpensive either. So, it’s perfectly understandable if you’re wondering how to get insurance for your trailer. Consult your specific insurance provider to determine if your pro auto insurance covers your trailer.

Utility trailers are typically excluded from standard auto insurance coverage. However, you probably don’t need to get separate coverage for your trailer, unlike other types of trailers like RVs. Instead, you can have your provider extend your current insurance to include your utility trailer.

Some people haul sports vehicles like jet skis or motorcycles using their utility trailers. Typically, these vehicles need to have their own insurance coverage, which sometimes covers the trailer. However, the utility trailer is only covered if an accident occurs. Including your trailer in auto insurance coverage is a smart move. If you get into an accident while transporting merchandise, it can cover damage to the trailer. Depending on how much you take out your trailer on the road, you can qualify for seasonal discounts.

9. Repave Your Driveway

You may be wondering if it’s time to repave your driveway through a reputable asphalt company. Consider repaving if more than 30% of the asphalt needs repair and there are significant cracks (more than two inches deep and a quarter-inch wide) on the surface. An uneven foundation also indicates that it’s time to repave your driveway. Additionally, if an accident occurs on your driveway, repaving it reduces the chances of your pro auto insurance claim being rejected based on negligence.

The months of summer and spring are great for hot paving since they usually have higher temperatures of 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and sometimes even higher, which is ideal for this job. Although asphalt can still be poured at temperatures as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the results may not be ideal. On the other hand, warm weather is ideal for paving. Weather variables such as wind and precipitation should also be taken into account. Strong gusts of wind can cool the asphalt prematurely. This can be especially problematic if the ambient temperature is on the lower end of 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

10. Repair Any Damaged Items

Your pro auto insurance coverage should cover repairs to damaged car components. In the case of windshield repair, the extent and cause of the damage determine which coverage and deductible apply. Windshield replacement and repair are typically covered under comprehensive coverage, but if the damage was caused by an accident, your collision coverage will likely pay for it. The deductible for each coverage must be met before the insurer pays its share. A modest or no deductible may apply to claims made under specific auto glass coverage provided by some insurance companies. In addition to windshield replacement and chip or crack repairs, insurance for auto glass may also cover other windows on your automobile.

With the expected increase in insurance premiums this year, knowing how to make the most of your pro auto insurance will keep you ahead of the competition. For help with your pro auto insurance, give us a call today.