Should Adult Children be on Your Auto Insurance Policy?

In today’s economic climate, more adult children are either returning home to live with their parents or delaying their own journey into independent living. This is often a financially convenient situation and one that more families are becoming comfortable with. Yet, this does bring up an interesting dilemma: Should adult children be on your auto insurance policy? As your insurance representative at Versatile Insurance Planners serving San Antonio, TX, will tell you, the answer depends.

Should Adult Children Be On Your Auto Insurance Policy?

There are situations where you should have your adult child on your auto insurance policy and situations when it doesn’t make sense. If your adult child is living at home, whether they never left or they’ve returned, chances are they will be driving the family vehicle at least some of the time. You and your adult child will save money by adding them to your policy, even if you add their own vehicle to your family policy.

When an Adult Child Shouldn’t Be On Your Auto Policy

If your adult child is no longer living with you, has their own vehicle, and is financially independent, there’s no reason to add them to your policy. If they drive your vehicle while visiting and something happens, your own policy will cover it. In fact, some insurance companies actually insist that people with different residences have their own policies. You can discuss your circumstances with your insurance representative at Versatile Insurance Planners serving San Antonio, TX to learn the specifics in your case.

You may feel like you want to support your adult child a little longer by adding them to your auto insurance policy. And that’s fine, as long as they reside with you. Remember, you don’t have to add them if they already have their own policy. Contact us to learn more.

Auto insurance add-ons you may want to get

Basic auto insurance only provides liability coverage. If you need to protect your vehicle when it is damaged, you will add collision and comprehensive coverage. Beyond that, our team at Versatile Insurance Planners in San Antonio, TX, can help you customize your policy so that it provides exactly what you need. 

Gap coverage

If you have a car loan and a newer vehicle, if your vehicle is damaged, the insurance that you have on it may not be enough to cover the amount that you owe on the car. Having gap insurance will ensure you get enough money for your vehicle to pay off what is owed. 

Roadside service

Roadside service offers services similar to those provided by the automobile club. It provides towing if you have a breakdown or an accident. If you get a flat tire, they will come out and change the tire for you. If you get into your vehicle and it won’t start, it provides a jump start. It provides peace of mind when you are out on the road. 

Rental car 

If you have an accident or your vehicle is damaged by something beyond your control, you will need a vehicle to go about your routine activities. If you have this coverage while your vehicle is out of commission, it will pay for a rental car. 

Full glass

If you have comprehensive coverage, it includes glass coverage, but there is a deductible. With full glass coverage, there is no deductible; insurance pays for the full repair. 

If you live in San Antonio, TX or the surrounding area, you can count on our team at Versatile Insurance Planners for all your insurance needs. Give us a call to schedule an appointment to discuss your auto insurance. 

What’s the Difference Between Comprehensive and Collision Coverage?

Comprehensive coverage and collision coverage are the two main auto insurance coverages that help protect against vehicle damage. They’re often purchased together within an auto policy but offer protection in different situations.

Collision Coverage for Collisions with Other Vehicles

Collision coverage typically covers damage that your vehicle sustains in a multi-vehicle accident. For example, if you’re driving down one of the main roads in San Antonio, TX, and are in an accident, this coverage would likely apply.

In the event of an accident, collision coverage may pay for the damage. Payment is subject to your deductible, and the maximum payment from this coverage is normally the value of your vehicle.

Comprehensive Coverage for Non-Collision Events

Comprehensive insurance provides protection against a range of non-collision incidents. These might include as theft, vandalism, fire, natural disasters, and animal strikes. 

If your vehicle is broken into while in downtown San Antonio, this coverage would probably cover the damage. It’s also likely to cover damage if you hit an armadillo, your vehicle sustains hail damage, or in any number of other situations.

Like collision coverage, comprehensive coverage will pay for repairs up to the value of your vehicle. However, you still must pay your deductible first.

Choosing the Right Coverage

In most cases, we at Versatile Insurance Planners recommend that drivers get comprehensive and collision coverage. Protecting your vehicle against damage is important, as it requires protecting against the different events that can cause damage- both collisions and other incidents.

For help finding auto insurance with comprehensive coverage and collision coverage, contact one of our insurance agents here at Versatile Insurance Planners.

Why liability coverage is required by law

Every driver in San Antonio, TX, must possess liability coverage to operate a vehicle legally. This necessity is rooted in the driver’s legal responsibility for any damage caused by negligence. Versatile Insurance Planners help you understand the mechanics of liability coverage and how it can protect your finances after accidents.

Minimum Liability Coverage in Texas

  • Property Damage Coverage: $25,000
  • Bodily Injuries Coverage (Per Person): $30,000
  • Total Bodily Injuries Coverage (Per Accident): $60,000

Versatile Insurance Planners ensures all our insurance policies adhere to Texas’ liability coverage limits. High-cover option policies are also available.

Why is Liability Coverage Essential?

The after-effects of car accidents can majorly impact your finances, with huge sums spent on vehicle repairs and medical treatment for the injured. Liability coverage safeguards the driver from bearing these costs directly. Instead, insurance claims and injury lawsuit costs are covered by your insurance provider, minimizing individual financial responsibility.

Contact Versatile Insurance Planners Today!

Interested in learning more about auto insurance in San Antonio, TX? Contact Versatile Insurance Planners today. Our knowledgeable team can assist with all your auto insurance queries and help customize a plan according to your needs.

Why Add Roadside Assistance to Your Auto Insurance?

When tooling around San Antonio, TX, you count on your auto insurance to provide the coverage you need in case of an accident. Did you know that auto insurance can also cover small items, such as flat tires and running out of gas? Adding roadside assistance covers these matters; you don’t need to join AAA to get it!

Adding Roadside Assistance to an Auto Policy

At Versatile Insurance Planners, we can help you add roadside assistance to your auto policy. Roadside assistance covers the cost of a tow truck in cases of a collision or other accident, plus when the insured experiences a vehicle breakdown that comprehensive and collision coverage does not cover. If you experience a flat tire, phone the toll-free roadside assistance number, and a local tow service will dispatch a truck to your location to either change your tire or tow your vehicle to a nearby tire service center.

Small Premium Increase, Big Coverage

Roadside assistance coverage costs little to add to an auto policy but provides an extensive service. No matter what causes your vehicle to break down, phoning the service will send help to your location. Across the USA, wherever you travel, your vehicle remains covered.

Contact Us for Roadside Assistance Coverage

If you live in San Antonio, TX, contact Versatile Insurance Planners to add roadside assistance to your auto policy. No matter how advanced automotive technology becomes, roadside assistance still provides personal service when you need it to solve big and small problems, such as flat tires or locking your keys in your car.

Auto Insurance Options

When it comes to auto insurance, our agents at Versatile Insurance Planners serving the San Antonio, TX area are on it. This is because you can lose your license if you are driving without at least an auto liability insurance policy in the state of Texas, but what other types of auto insurance coverage options are available?

Types of Auto Insurance Coverage Options

Auto Liability Insurance

Auto liability insurance coverage will protect you if you are involved in an accident that you cause and someone is injured, or their vehicle is damaged. This type of coverage will help pay for their medical bills and repair or replace their vehicle.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

You never know when you’re going to have an accident with someone who has no insurance or very little. This is why it’s so important to have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. This type of policy will help you repair your vehicle and help pay for your medical bills if you’re involved in a crash that is caused by someone who does not have the right amount of insurance.

Comprehensive and Collision Insurance

No one knows what the future has in store for us. You could wake up tomorrow and see that a tornado or hurricane has completely destroyed your vehicle. Your vehicle can also catch fire or be damaged by an act of vandalism. Comprehensive coverage will help you repair or replace your vehicle if any of these incidents occur or if your vehicle is stolen.

Collision insurance coverage is imperative to have because you never know when you’re going to collide with another vehicle or an inanimate object.

A lender may require both of these types of insurance coverage options if you had to borrow the money to purchase your vehicle.

Contact Versatile Insurance Planners

Our experienced and trustworthy auto insurance agents at Versatile Insurance Planners serving the San Antonio, TX area are ready to assist you with all of your auto insurance needs. Call today for an appointment!

Common Myths about Auto Insurance

Driving a vehicle requires that you have auto insurance. If you’re new to driving, you may be confused by misconceptions you’ve heard about auto coverage. Before purchasing a policy, you need to separate auto insurance facts from myths you may have heard from fellow drivers. That’s what Versatile Insurance Planners in San Antonio, TX has done with this article.

Myth: If a friend crashes your vehicle, his insurer will cover the damage.

Auto insurance follows the car, not the driver. If you loan your car to a friend, and he has an accident, your insurer is responsible for damages. For this reason, it’s best to limit the times you loan your vehicle and only to safe drivers.

Myth: Red vehicles are more expensive to insure.

The color of your vehicle has no bearing on insurance costs. However, Your insurance company will take your car’s make, model, and year into account when considering your premium, age, driving experience, and lifestyle.

Myth: Minimum auto coverage is enough.

Minimum auto coverage may satisfy the legal requirements for driving in your state, but it won’t cover your injuries or damage to your vehicle if you’re involved in an accident. If you’ve taken out a loan for your car, your lender may require more than minimum liability coverage. We also recommend purchasing more than minimum liability coverage to protect your assets from serious auto accidents you may cause.

Myth: Older drivers pay more for auto coverage.

On the contrary, older, more experienced drivers are often eligible for insurance discounts, especially if they’re retired and have good driving records.

Myth: Your auto insurer can drop you at any time.

Unless you’ve committed fraud or stopped paying for your policy, your insurer can’t cancel your coverage before its term ends.

Contact Versatile Insurance Planners in San Antonio, TX for quality auto coverage you can trust.

Get More Miles Out of Your Car With These Maintenance Tips

Everyone wants to get more mileage out of their gas these days. Did you know that your car maintenance habits can greatly impact your mileage? Here at Versatile Insurance Planners, serving San Antonio, TX, and the surrounding areas, we want to help you make the most of vehicle ownership. Keep reading to learn more. 

Stay Up To Date On Oil Changes

Keeping your oil changed regularly will have a significant impact on gas mileage. When your oil is changed regularly, every part of your engine will run more efficiently. An efficiently running engine will use less gas daily. 

Keep Tires Properly Inflated

The air pressure in your tires can also significantly impact your gas mileage. When properly inflated to the recommended PSI, tires can carry the vehicle’s weight more evenly. Over time, this will be reflected in the gas mileage. 

Address Engine Problems Quickly 

If your vehicle is experiencing any engine problems, you should have these issues looked at quickly. Allowing an engine problem to go unrepaired will make the engine work harder and harder over time. This will ultimately use more and more gas to take you the same distance. 

Keep Out Clutter 

Keeping your car cleaned out can also affect gas mileage. If you allow a lot of clutter to build up in your vehicle, bed, or truck, the additional weight will affect gas mileage. Keep your vehicle clean to save on gas. 

To learn about auto insurance, please get in touch with us at Versatile Insurance Planners serving San Antonio, TX, and the surrounding areas. We will be happy to answer your questions today. 

The difference between collision and comprehensive insurance

Regarding car insurance, there are two main types of coverage: collision and comprehensive. Collision insurance covers damage to your car when you hit another object, like a tree or another vehicle. Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car from other sources, like vandalism, theft, or a natural disaster.

Both types of insurance are important for protecting your car, but they offer different levels of protection. Here’s a look at the difference between the two types of coverage and when you might want to choose one over the other.

One significant difference between collision and comprehensive insurance is that collision coverage only covers damage caused by a collision with another object. At the same time, comprehensive insurance also covers damage from other sources. For example, if your car is damaged in a fire or stolen by a thief, you typically file a claim with your comprehensive insurer to cover the repairs or replacement.

Additionally, collision insurance typically costs more than comprehensive coverage, as it provides more extensive protection. However, if you are involved in an accident and your car is declared a total loss, your comprehensive coverage may help cover the cost of replacing your vehicle.

Ultimately, choosing between collision and comprehensive insurance will depend on your needs and driving habits. If you are primarily concerned with protecting your car from damage caused by collisions, then collision coverage is a good option. On the other hand, if you also want to be protected from damages from natural disasters and theft, comprehensive insurance may be a better choice.

Call us at Versatile Insurance Planners today if you have any questions about your coverage. We proudly serve the San Antonio, TX area.

Does Auto Insurance Cover Vehicle Damage Caused By a Flood?

Having the right insurance policies in place can help to cover you in case the unexpected happens. While no one wants a flood to happen, floods can happen for several reasons. If a flood occurs in your town, you may wonder if your auto insurance policy covers vehicle damage caused by a flood. Versatile Insurance Planners, serving the greater San Antonio, TX area, wants to help you understand the answer to this question. 

Does Auto Insurance Cover Vehicle Damage Caused By a Flood?

Your auto insurance policy may cover vehicle damage caused by a flood. A comprehensive insurance policy is key to ensuring flood damage will be covered. If you only have minimum insurance, your automobile is not covered by damage, including flooding. If you carry comprehensive insurance, your vehicle will be covered. 

What Else Should I Know? 

If a flood damages your car, there is a good chance that your car will be totaled. Flooding can cause a lot of damage to your vehicle, including damage to the engine and damage to the interior of your car. Flooding can also cause a car to rust or can lead to mold growth in the vehicle. As such, if your car was involved in a flood, you may want to think about the value of your vehicle, as there is a good chance the car will be totaled. 

The best way to ensure that your vehicle is fully protected from unexpected events, including flooding, is to have the right insurance policies in place. Here at Versatile Insurance Planners, serving the greater San Antonio, TX area, we can work with you to ensure you have the right policies in place. Call us today to discuss your auto insurance needs.