How Do Tickets for Using a Cell Phone Impact Your Auto Insurance?

In the state of California, you can receive a ticket for talking, texting or using your cell phone while you are driving. While most drivers in the state are aware of this law, many people are unaware of how your auto insurance may be impacted if you use a cell phone while you are driving. At THINK Insurance & Financial Services, serving the greater Pomona, CA area, we want to help you better understand how using a cell phone can impact your auto insurance in California. Here is more information. 

Using a Cell Phone is Not a Moving Violation

In some states, using your cell phone while driving is a moving violation. This means that the violation will most likely impact your auto insurance rates. In the state of California, using your cell phone while driving is not considered a moving violation. 

Each Insurance Company Has Different Policies

While using your cell phone while driving is not a moving violation, insurance companies can see the violation. The way they decide to handle it is up to them. Some companies will only increase your rates for moving violations, while other companies can view you as more of a risk or liability due to the infraction. If you have received this type of ticket, there is no way to predict how it will impact your auto insurance in California. 

The way a cell phone ticket is handled varies from company to company in the state of California. The best way to keep yourself safe and prevent your insurance rates from increasing is to not use your cell phone while you are driving. Are you looking to purchase a new auto insurance policy in the greater Pomona, CA area? THINK Insurance & Financial Services can help you find the policy that is best for you. Visit our website now to obtain an estimate. 

What Affects Car Insurance Prices the Most?

Living in Pomona, CA, most people need a car. There are a lot of things that will help you determine what car you want and ultimately purchase, but too many people overlook insurance when they make these decisions. You can think of your premium as an extension of your car payment. Fortunately, THINK Insurance & Financial Services has this list of things that impact insurance rates. When you understand how prices are set, you have more control over how much you have to pay.

Financial Risk

Insurance, in general, is built on the concept of risk assessment. There are a lot of things that make a particular car policy higher or lower risk. Where you live, even down to the exact block in Pomona, CA, impacts risk (rate of accidents and theft are calculated). Your age, gender, and job all play a role in assessing your risk of causing an accident. Topping all of this is your credit score. It can be frustrating, but it plays a big role in determining your rates.

Not all of this is easily controlled. If you’re in an accident-prone neighborhood, you might have to look at other ways to keep your rates down. That’s where the second assessment comes into play.

The Car

The car itself has more say in the cost of your policy than anything else. Insuring a Lamborghini is more expensive than insuring a used Civic, even if you only purchase minimum liability. The vehicle’s safety rating, seating capacity, age and theft protection all add into these calculations. When you’re thinking about insurance, the most control you have over the rates is in your vehicle selection.

There are other things that will change your prices in Pomona, CA, but they hold less impact than financial risk and vehicle choice. Still, if you have any questions, you can always reach out to THINK Insurance & Financial Services.

Car Insurance and Your Teen Driver

Teenagers need to be added to the auto insurance policy in Pomona, CA once they are licensed. Even though it may cost more, if your teenager is going to be driving, they need to be added per the law. While you need to add them to the policy once they are licensed, the best time to begin the process with THINK Insurance & Financial Services is before they get their learner’s permit. This will help you understand the added costs. Adding a teen driver to the policy will usually be much cheaper than getting the teen his or her own policy.

If you are looking to save money on adding your teenage driver, try adding your teen driver as the primary driver for the cheapest car that is listed on the policy. Be sure to ask for any discounts that could help with the costs. Some companies offer discounts for students who earn good grades or for those who complete a defensive driving course. You may also be able to get a discount by bundling policies with the same insurance carrier.

It’s recommended that you get full coverage for the teen driver, which includes the minimum liability coverage in the state as well as comprehensive and collision damage. You may want to consider adding some more liability coverage because, if your teen gets into an accident, it’s the parents’ assets that will be at risk if there is a liability claim. If your teen is going to have his or her own car, choose one that doesn’t have a powerful engine and one that comes equipped with safety features. Models that are rated as sports models are usually more money to insure. If your teen is gong to be heading off to college and not taking the car, let your insurance company know and you may be able to save money.

Contact THINK Insurance & Financial Services, serving Pomona, CA, to get a quote on car insurance. 

 

What’s the Difference Between a Deductible and Out-of-Pocket?

For many people, the details that go into a health insurance plan seem to be made up of a foreign language. Between the confusing terminology and varying numbers or percentages, it is really difficult to understand what it all means. It makes it that much harder to choose the best insurance plan for you and your family. When you do some research and begin to have a solid grasp on the basics, then you can get more into the specifics. THINK Insurance & Financial Services in Pomona, CA will be able to assist you with a deeper dive into the particulars of each policy.

Deductible vs. Out-of-Pocket Limit

At first glance, these two concepts may sound like the same thing. However, that is not entirely true. The deductible is the dollar amount that you will have to pay out of your own pocket before your insurance begins to kick in. Once you reach your deductible, insurance will start to help with the medical costs. The amount that your insurance company will pay after your deductible is met depends on the coinsurance set in your plan. It is usually a percentage. For example, if your coinsurance is 30%, then you will only be responsible for 30% of the remaining costs (after you have hit your deductible).

Your out-of-pocket limit is the total amount you will have to pay out of your own pocket up to a certain amount. This would include the coinsurance and copayments, if applicable, in addition to the deductible. Be aware that your insurance premiums do not count as part of your out-of-pocket costs.

It is also important to consider that you will most likely have a higher premium if your plan specifies a lower deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. If you think you might need a decent amount of medical care that could end up costing quite a bit, these plans would probably be the best option.

Contact THINK Insurance & Financial Services in Pomona, CA

For more information on deductibles and out-of-pocket limits, contact THINK Insurance & Financial Services in Pomona, CA. They will be able to answer any and all questions regarding your health insurance plan options and help you choose the right policy for you and your family.

How Does Auto Insurance Provide Peace of Mind?

If you’ve been wondering whether or not to buy auto insurance, you should know there are plenty of reasons to make this wise investment. And when approached the right way, you will come to see that auto insurance can serve as one of your most valuable assets. Here at THINK Insurance & Financial Services serving the Pomona, CA area, we have put together a list of ways purchasing auto insurance can provide great peace of mind. Let’s take a quick look at these reasons. 

You can Replace a Damaged Car

Depending on the type of coverage you purchase, you may be able to entirely replace a damaged car thanks to your auto insurance policy. To understand exactly how your policy works and the benefits that it can bring, it is important to speak with a qualified agent that works for your insurance carrier. 

You can Be in Compliance With the Law

In the state of California, it is mandated by law that you have auto insurance if you are the owner of a car. Purchasing a policy can provide great peace of mind because it allows you to rest easy knowing you are driving around by being in compliance with state law. 

You can Protect Your Assets

If you don’t have auto insurance and you are at fault in an accident, you will be held responsible for paying for any damages and injuries. If you don’t have the monetary means to pay for the damages and injuries, it is very possible you could be sued, meaning you could have to sell some of your assets. With insurance, you are protecting your assets. 

Contact THINK Insurance & Financial Services serving Pomona, CA for more information about the importance of buying an auto insurance policy. 

Taking a Road Trip? Here’s How to Stay Safe

There’s no question that hitting the open road can be an exciting time. However, long periods of time on the road can also lead to fatigue. If you want to make sure you remain alert and that you (and everyone else) on the road isn’t in danger, make sure to use the tips here.

Before you embark on your road trip, make sure you have all the essentials in place including car insurance from THINK Insurance & Financial Services and any other paperwork you may need.

Take Frequent Breaks

Regardless of if you are driving to Pomona, CA, or somewhere else, you should take frequent breaks. Take time to get out of the car, stretch your legs and move around. Just moving around can help you reenergize and get you ready for another bout behind the wheel.

Eat Food for Energy

You have heard the saying, “food is fuel,” well, it’s true. If you want to keep going, and going, and going and be able to remain alert, then you have to eat. Make sure you aren’t eating overly-sugary foods, such as soda and donuts, as this is only going to cause you to crash soon after eating.

Take Turns at the Wheel

If you are traveling alone, you may not have this option; however, if you are traveling with other people then you can take turns driving. This is a great way to make sure that no one gets too tired.

If you are planning a road trip in Pomona, CA, make sure to use the tips here to keep you and everyone else safe. You can speak with the staff at the THINK Insurance & Financial Services to learn about more tips that will help you stay safe.

Buying A Car That Won’t Increase Your Insurance

Are you looking to buy a new car in Pomona, CA and want to avoid paying too much for your insurance? That is understandable, and we at THINK Insurance & Financial Services can help. Here are tips for buying a car that won’t increase your car insurance rates.

Vehicle Value Is Crucial

The value of your vehicle will affect the insurance rate in a simple fashion: cars that are worth more require higher insurance rates. However, cars with very low values may also cost more to insure due to their more breakdown-prone nature. Try to strike a middle ground here.

Consider Vehicle Size

Do you want a huge beast of a vehicle to haul goods or work supplies? Then be prepared to pay a little more for your insurance. Large vehicles cost more to insure because they usually have lower safety ratings than smaller cars. Make sure to investigate which vehicle of this type has the best safety rating to avoid paying too much.

Buy As New As You Can

Older cars will cost more to insure because they are more prone to breakdowns than newer cars. So try to find a car that is as new as possible and which fits into your personal budget. It may cost a little more initially, but it will save you a bundle on your insurance premiums.

Limit The Car’s Power

One odd thing about high-performance vehicles is that they often cost more to insure than cars with lower powered engines. Why is that? High-powered engines are more expensive to repair and may be prone to the kinds of breakdowns that are difficult to perform. So don’t buy a car with high horsepower unless you need it.

These tips will help anyone in Pomona, CA avoid paying too much for insurance when buying a car. If you need any more help here, please don’t hesitate to contact us at THINK Insurance & Financial Services today.

Can You Have Multipel Cars on One Policy?

Auto insurance can be very difficult to understand if you do not know the basics. Having some basic information on your side can help make any insurance process easier. For those in the Pomona, CA area, the agents with THINK Insurance & Financial Services can help you find the right policy for you.

One question that is often asked is if you can have more than one car on a single policy. The answer is a bit complicated. You can have more than one car on a policy, but this means having coverage that is unique to each car and each driver. So though they may be on the same policy being paid by the same person, in many ways, they have their own policy that is unique to the car that is being insured.

In many ways this can be hard to understand, but in all reality, it simply means that they are on the same policy but that each car has coverage that is specific and unique to the car and to the driver. You can have as many cars as you want on a policy but they have to belong to people that live in your home and are related to you, someone that is your dependent, or you have to have your name on the title of the car.

These are all factors that enable you to add someone to your auto insurance policy. If you live in the Pomona, CA area, it might be beneficial to talk with the agents at THINK Insurance & Financial Services to learn more about multi-car policies, how you go about getting them, and any discounts that may be associated with having more than one car on a single named policy.

New California road laws for 2017

If you drive in Pomona, CA, there are some new traffic laws that you’re going to want to be aware of. Fortunately, none of them have a major impact on insurance law, so you don’t need to call your people at THINK Insurance & Financial Services to get a new policy just yet. Here’s what you need to know:

The GPS Defense

For a time, it was possible to contest a ticket for using your phone while driving by claiming that you were actually using your GPS. The new law is going into effect on the argument that you don’t actually need to hold the phone to use GPS. The safest way to do GPS now is hands-free, mounting it on the dashboard and checking directions at stoplights or listening to audio directions. And you’re only allowed to use one finger at a time when using your phone for GPS.

Your Phone Cannot Obstruct Your Windshield

Speaking of phone mounts, make sure that yours does not obstruct your windshield.

Bikers Splitting Lanes

You often see bikers going in-between lanes in order to get ahead of slow traffic. The legality of this has always been questionable with few states having clear laws on the matter, leaving it up to the discretion of the officer and the judge, really. California is the first state to officially declare this legal, but with certain provisions for what counts as safe lane-splitting. For instance, a biker is not allowed to go 50-60 mph when traffic is at a standstill.

Child Seats

Any child under two absolutely must ride in a rear-facing child seat, unless they’re more than forty inches tall, and weigh over forty pounds.

Driving in Pomona, CA presents some dangers, but stay up on the laws and THINK Insurance & Financial Services will take care of the rest.

 

How You Can Make Auto Insurance Work for You

In Pomona, CA, you’re faced with some driving situations everyday. From congestion to clear roads, there are so many ways you can get from one place to another. But auto insurance is not likely what you’re thinking about when you’re out, and it’s one of the main reasons why people fail to get the right coverage for themselves. THINK Insurance & Financial Services wants you to know how it works in the real world, so you can make better decisions about the amount of coverage you get. 

When Is Liability Right?

Liability is the cheapest option you can get, and it tempts many people who are on a budget to take the deal. The problem with this is it just takes one accident to financially cripple people. Liability doesn’t cover any of your repair costs, and that could mean that you no longer have a car to get around. Deductibles can also be incredibly high when you have this option. Liability is only recommended if you have a car that is extremely inexpensive where you know that you can get another car rather quickly if it does happen to become totaled. The public transportation in Pomona, CA leaves something to be desired, so you may not want to rely on that if something does happen. 

Having the Right Partner

THINK Insurance & Financial Services wants you to get the most out of your auto insurance, and that means thinking through every scenario. From a thief taking your things to being involved in a hit and run, there are ways that insurance can keep you from having to experience a devastating event. Talk to us if you’re looking for a quote, or if have questions about the type of car you have. Your rates are determined by a variety of different factors, and your price may be more reasonable than you think. Find out more when you call us today.