Common Auto Insurance Mistakes to Avoid

Purchasing a quality auto insurance policy can be one of the most vital tasks for any motorist. Indeed, given the unpredictability of the roadways, ensuring that you, your vehicle, and your passengers are covered in the unfortunate event of an accident is essential. That said, the following is a closer look at some of the top mistakes people make when purchasing an auto insurance policy. 

Misunderstanding Coverage

Firstly, one of the top mistakes people make when purchasing auto insurance is not taking the time to understand their coverage. Whether this means you don’t possess benefits that you believe you do or vice versa, the bottom line is you may be paying for more or less coverage than you require. 

Failure to Compare Rates

Moreover, another of the common mistakes made when purchasing an auto insurance policy is failing to compare rates. Many foolishly assume that every company provides them with the lowest rates possible. This could not be further from the truth. By shopping around before you purchase your policy, you are ensuring that you receive the best coverage for the price. 

Sticking with the Bare Minimum

In addition, many people believe that the bare minimum is enough coverage for everyone. This is also not factual. In fact, many people have cars that would greatly benefit from purchasing a variety of coverage options. For instance, if you are in an area that has frequent issues with extreme weather, you may need to purchase emergency roadside assistance. Likewise, some cars are prone to certain issues (i.e. electrical issues) which would also make a service like emergency roadside assistance highly preferential. 

Overall, for those who live in Memphis, TN, Keltner Insurance is your go to for your insurance needs. Offering customized packages, competitive rates, and much more, shopping with Keltner Insurance in Memphis, TN is a step in the right direction with regards to quality auto protection. 

 

3 Things to Consider When Looking for Insurance in Tennessee

Homeowners and renters have one thing in common: they need to protect their belongings inside the home. Luckily, buying home insurance for homes in and around Memphis, TN can be done right from the comfort of your home. Keltner Insurance is a leading home insurance company in Tennessee. Before committing to your Keltner Insurance policy, there are a few things you will want to consider.

Home Location

The location of your home may impact your policy. If your home is in close proximity to a lake or large body of water, it may be more susceptible to disaster. Fortunately, most home insurance policies provide coverage for weather-related incidents, but it’s always important to check your policy. 

Payments

You will also want to consider how much money you want to spend on your policy. Most home insurance policies are billed in either monthly, quarterly, or every three months. Your Memphis, TN insurance representative will be able to walk you through the different home insurance and payment options. 

Home History

Whether you’ve lived in your house for years or are just moving in, you will also have to consider your home’s history when purchasing home insurance. Insurance policy information is all stored in what’s called the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange or CLUE. The CLUE data base has information about claims and policies dating back to the construction of the home itself. If there were prior claims filed, this may cause your rates to increase.

Take the time to do some research before buying your home insurance policy. If you have any questions, a licensed home insurance agent can help provide guidance pertaining to your specific scenario or policy. 

What Are Your Choices for Auto Insurance in Memphis?

Sometimes when you buy a car, your choices for auto insurance are made for you. If you lease or finance, the bank does everything possible to ensure that you’re protecting the property to the utmost degree, so you’ll be required to have comprehensive coverage to get the loan or lease. But if you buy a car with cash, you have the option for liability or a less inclusive policy. While the price may be right, the decision might be wrong. 

Keeping Insurance Simple 

Keltner Insurance has helped the people of Memphis, TN understand their options when choosing the right auto insurance policies, and we can do it for you too. If you live in this city, you need to be prepared for practically anything. Liability only helps the person you hit. It can leave the at-fault party without transportation for weeks or potentially months if the person can’t afford to fix their car or buy another one. Uninsured drivers, drivers with not enough coverage and hit-and-runs are typically not covered, meaning you’ll be responsible for fixing your own car if you can’t successfully track down the criminal driver or sue for money the driver might not have. 

Calling Keltner Insurance 

Most people are better off getting a better policy than they have now, so if you want to see what you’ll pay for more coverage, talk to us for more information. The people in Memphis, TN stay safe in part because of their responsible choices when it comes to being on the road. Setting a good example isn’t just good for you, it’s good for your family, friends, and neighbors. Give us a call today to see what your choices are and how to elevate your protection and security when on the road.

How Home Insurance Saves You Money

It’s important to know how home insurance in Memphis, TN can save you money. After all, you want home protection, and you also don’t want to spend a fortune on insurance premiums. Independent insurance agents at Keltner Insurance will be able to show you how to save money.

Help on Repairs

One of the first things you need to know about home insurance is that it can help you with making the various home repairs. Whether your home is damaged from thunderstorms, snow, or fire, you will be able to call and file an insurance claim. As long as the claim is approved, the insurance company will take care of the majority of repairs, if not all of them.

Legal Fees

Homeowners often deal with lawsuits where people get injured on the property. For example, if a sales person comes to your door and slips on ice on the way up, they could sue you because of their injuries. This could end up costing you a significant amount of money in legal fees if you don’t have home insurance.

Overall Peace of Mind

A significant amount of peace of mind can be provided when you have a comprehensive home insurance policy. This way, whether you experience storm damage, a break-in, or something else, you know that you can call the insurance company and have them take care of virtually everything.

You never know when something is going to happen. It could be a natural disaster or a simple accident. However, you need to have financial protection in place, and that’s what an insurance policy does.

Learn more about home insurance in Memphis, TN by contacting Keltner Insurance. One of our independent insurance agents will be ready to help you by answering questions, getting quotes, and walking you through the process.

Keeping Your Home Safe: How Home Insurance Works in Memphis

Home insurance isn’t just another bill that you have to pay, but many people don’t see it that way. When most days are filled with nothing but routine, it can start to feel as though it will always be that way. But small and large disasters do happen, and you are not immune from their terrible effects. It would probably be helpful if you were able to think more about the benefits of home insurance rather than the upfront costs, and Keltner Insurance wants to convince you for more reasons than one.

Keeping Memphis, TN from Harm 

Home insurance can’t prevent bad weather or greedy criminals, but it most certainly can mitigate the effects of them. When you have a street that looks as though each and every neighbor is doing their part of caring for their property, it’s a very powerful thing. Not only will that street be more likely to get higher prices when it comes to home evaluation, but it also tells people that the homeowners are keeping an eye out for what’s going on. That can scare off people who may see the opportunity to take what isn’t theirs, or from causing vandalism just for the sake of causing havoc. Home insurance is what makes it easy to get those repairs done quickly.

Getting the Right People on Your Side 

Keltner Insurance has agents that are here for you if you’re looking to keep your home safe. If you have questions or concerns about your property, then now is the time to look into getting a policy that will do more when you need it the most. If you’re in Memphis, TN, then give us a call today for more information on how we can help.

Holiday Lighting Safety Tips

It is the holiday season in Memphis, TN. What a wonderful time of year to gather with friends and family and adorn your home with all the sights and sounds of the holidays.  However, amid all the excitement, don’t forget to use good safety practices when decorating. For peace of mind knowing that your home is safe from electrical fires, use these tips when hanging the holiday lights.

Outdoor Lighting Safety Tips

People in Memphis, TN love to decorate their homes with lights. But before you start, check the cords for damage.  If they are damaged, do not use them.  Any extension cords used should be labeled for outdoor use.  Make sure that your plugs have circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).  You can purchase portable ones if your home does not have GFCI protected circuits.

Fasten outdoor lights securely to protect them from wind damage.  But be careful not to pierce the cord as it will damage its insulation.  Avoid decorating near power lines and make sure that lights and cords are not resting in standing water.

Indoor Lighting Safety Tips

Indoor lighting should meet similar safety requirements as outdoor lighting.  They should be purchased from a reputable source and inspected for damage before use.  Incandescent lights should have no more than three strands strung together.

Before you begin to decorate inside with lights, check to see how many outlets are available for use and plan accordingly.  Do not overload your outlets with lights and other electrical decorations as this can cause a fire.  Turn your lights off when you are away from home or going to sleep for the night.

By following these simple safety tips, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your home is well-protected against disastrous holiday electrical fires.

Mistakes first time home buyers make

Buying a home can be a fun, exciting, and scary experience whether you are buying a home in Memphis, TN or somewhere across the states there are many tips that would be good to know. Keltner Insurance has come up with mistakes to avoid for first time home buyers.

One tip is not coming up with a budget and knowing what you can and cannot afford. The bank might say what you are approved of, but that can be different from what you can actually afford. Make a list of monthly expenses to be sure how much you can actually afford. Don’t look at homes that are outside your price range or you will end up lusting over something you cannot afford.

The next mistake would be skipping the mortgage qualification process. Always get pre-approved for a loan before placing an offer on a home because it if you have poor credit or unstable income it can deny you.  Also failing to consider the additional expenses can really put a burden on the new homeowners. There are additional expenses on top of the monthly payments such as property taxes, insurance, and repairs. Even find out if there is a homeowner’s association fee. Next, being too picky is a big mistake. Everyone has a new home wish list, but don’t be so inflexible that you just continue to rent because nothing is perfect. There might be things you have to compromise on to find a good home.

Don’t get caught without the level of homeowner’s insurance coverage you need. Instead, easily compare quotes online though Keltner Insurance serving Memphis, TN.      

What questions should you ask about a new home insurance policy?

One of the most important things for home owners in Memphis, TN to know is that their home is protected in the event of anything bad happening.Whether your home is destroyed by a storm, fire, or robbed int he middle of the night, the agents at Keltner Insurance know how to find a policy that will protect you.  If you’re looking for a new home owner’s policy, make sure you consider these questions before you commit.

  1. Do I have enough coverage?  Remember that after a major disaster, the costs to rebuild and replace your possessions will increase.  In subdivisions, rebuilding often costs more than the house originally cost to build, thanks largely to the expense of hiring separate contractors for every job.  Make sure you have enough coverage to get back on your feet.
  2. What other expenses are covered?  Besides the cost of rebuilding, does your policy cover the costs of temporary housing?  What about the cost to remove debris?  Make sure your policy will cover all of your recovery expenses.
  3. Do you need replacement cost insurance?  Some policies will only give you he market value of the items you need to replace. Finding used replacement items, however, can be hard to do after a disaster.  If you don’t have enough money in savings to make up the difference and buy new clothes, appliances, and more, then consider buying replacement coverage.  This rider will provide funds to replace everything inside the home that was lost.

If you’re thinking about buying a new home insurance policy, or if you just want to see if you can save money on your existing policy, call the agents at Keltner Insurance.  They have years of experience helping Memphis, TN residents find the policies that are right for them and their budget

Memphis, TN Autumns and What They Mean for Home Insurance

If you live in Memphis, TN, you probably do not have to deal with the harsh temperature changes that many of your neighbors up north experience every year. However, there are seasonal changes that could potentially affect your home and home insurance, and it would certainly behoove you to be aware of them. As such, it would be very helpful to go through your home insurance policy this time of year, as it will remind you of things you should pay attention to in order to avoid uninsured damages.

You will want to make sure that you get rid of any dead vegetation on your property. It could increase the risk of fires if the weather is dry, and it could clog up the gutters and cause water backup issues in your drainage systems if the weather is rainy. Also, insects and animals are going to be seeking refuge from the cold in indoor spaces, which could include your home. You should keep this in mind and do what you can to keep the pests out of your home. You should also make sure that you are prepared for the winter and that the heating systems are efficient; if they are not, you could end up wasting a great deal of money. You should also make sure that the home is well insulated and that the windows and doors are sealed well, so that heat does not escape. Make sure that your pipes are in good working order as well, so that the damage itself doesn’t cause you money, and you do not lose heat that way.

If you want to know about what the autumns of Memphis, TN mean to you in terms of home insurance, you should feel free to contact the professionals at Keltner Insurance for all of the information you need. The agents at Keltner Insurance will be willing to answer any questions you may have and give you all of the help you need.

Is An Uber Driver Covered Under A Commercial Insurance Policy?

Uber is technically a "ride sharing service," and not a taxi cab company. People pick you up in their own personal vehicles, and overall it’s not that different from asking a group of friends "Hey if you know anybody who’s going to be driving to the grocery store tonight, I need a ride." So how are Uber drivers covered when it comes to insurance? Do they provide it for themselves? And if so, does a standard auto policy cover it, or do they need to seek out some kind of commercial policy?

An important point regarding Uber drivers, and indeed many taxi drivers, is that they are not actually employees of the company, rather, they work as private contractors. One way of putting it is that they work with Uber in a limited partnership capacity. Uber brings the driver their customers, and in exchange, the driver splits the revenue with the company.

Put simply, if a driver has a policy from, say, Keltner Insurance, then that typically covers their own vehicle, while Uber’s commercial policy covers other aspects of the business. Oftentimes, a personal policy will cover an Uber driver’s interests, but you can’t take this for granted, as many policies have exclusions related to driving for hire. If you’re thinking of driving for Uber or Lyft, you’ll want to talk to your provider about it, first.

Uber carries a commercial policy that covers up to $1 million in excess liability per incident, but this is intended to supplement, not replace, the driver’s personal policy. In any event, if you’re thinking of driving for Uber or Lyft, make sure to talk it over with your provider before picking up your first fare.