This is Part Two of our post, Advertised Insurance Features.
Roadside Assistance
Few things leave you more vulnerable than a flat tire or a breakdown on the side of the road. For some drivers, these experiences can be downright scary. Liberty Mutual caters to this need by advertising its optional Roadside Assistance coverage, which provides help for things like dead batteries and lock-outs any time of the day or night. Here at the Andreotti Agency, we typically recommend Roadside Assistance to customers who want peace of mind knowing they or the other drivers on their policies have access to help when they need it most. Though Liberty Mutual is the primary advertiser of this coverage, nearly all insurance companies offer it as an add-on.
Safe Driving Bonus Check
Allstate advertises many different features, one of which is the exclusive Safe Driving Bonus Check. The commercials usually show drivers practicing safe behavior behind the wheel and talking about what they plan to do with their Safe Driving Bonus Checks. So what are these checks?
Put simply; the check is a reimbursement of up to five percent of the premiums paid for car insurance at the conclusion of each six-month policy period. For a $500 policy, that equates to about $25. To qualify, drivers must enroll in the Your Choice Auto Program. Allstate charges extra for enrollment and also requires the drivers have a good driving record and good credit. Then, drivers must remain accident-free for the duration of each policy or else risk forfeiting the bonus. Drivers who successfully qualify for a bonus can elect to apply as a credit toward future premiums or receive a personal check (so long as the bonus exceeds the payment threshold).
While the Safe Driving Bonus Check can provide a small reward for safe driving, several other insurance companies also offer benefits of their own. From safe driving discounts to gradually diminishing premiums and deductibles, an agent here at the Andreotti Agency can help you determine which insurer’s safe driving program is right for you.
Name Your Price Tool
The Name Your Price Tool may be the first thing you think of when you think about Progressive. After all, Flo has been selling drivers on it for years in the company’s witty commercials. It works by quoting a price for insurance coverage and then allowing drivers to lower that price by making adjustments to various types of coverage and limits. The problem is when a user reduces or eliminates coverage that he or she needs, whether knowingly or unknowingly. Without the help of a real agent, it can be difficult for some drivers to assess actual risk vulnerabilities accurately.
Instead of reducing coverage to achieve a better price, let your independent agent shop and compare rates from multiple insurers on your behalf – all while leaving the coverage you need most intact.
New Car Replacement
Finally, we wrap things up with New Car Replacement, a feature advertised by Liberty Mutual. Since insurance settlements for totaled vehicles are usually less than what was paid for the car, you might find yourself digging deeper into your pockets to purchase a replacement. With New Car Replacement coverage, the insurance company pays to replace your totaled vehicle with another one just like it.
To be eligible for New Car Replacement from Liberty Mutual, a vehicle must be less than a year old and have fewer than 15,000 miles on it. However, some other insurance companies extend new car protection much longer. In the case of Travelers Insurance, for example, you can get replacement coverage for up to five years of ownership. A few companies offer replacement coverage for used cars, too, in some cases replacing the vehicle with one that is a full year newer.
As we come to the end of this two-part post, we hope you better understand the fine print behind some of the most frequently advertised insurance features and can make a more informed decision as to whether they may be right for you. Contact an agent here at the Andreotti Agency for more information or to explore options for any of the coverages and discounts mentioned in this post.
