How to Save Money on Your Auto Insurance

Posted under Auto Insurance.

We are always searching for ways to help our clients save money on their auto insurance. Saving money on your auto insurance is a relatively quick way to lower the cost of operating your auto, and can be accomplished with a quick phone call to our Agency.

Whether you are getting a new quote for auto insurance or considering changing your existing auto coverage, we would encourage you to consider the following coverage options. Whether you are getting a new quote for auto insurance or considering changing your existing auto coverage, we would encourage you to consider the following coverage options.

There are many ways to lower your auto insurance costs without eliminating needed coverage. Here are a few ideas to consider:

  • Use an independent agent to provide a quote. We are an independent and have access to many markets that provide competitive premiums on car insurance.
  • Many insurers offer discounts if you have some of the following features on your auto insurance:
    • Anti-lock brakes
    • Airbags (driver/passenger, driver/passenger/rear seat, side impact, etc.)
    • Automatic seat belts
    • Anti-theft device (active or passive)
    • Daytime running lights
  • Multi-vehicle discount (if you have more than one vehicle on the policy).
  • You can receive discounts if you combine your home and auto with the same carrier.
  • Good student discount.
  • Good driver discounts.
  • Consider raising your collision and comprehensive deductibles if your vehicles are older.
  • Customer loyalty- if you stay with a company for a period of time, you can receive discounts each year.
  • Drive safely and don’t get tickets.
  • Consider insurance when making your car purchase. Some vehicles are more expensive to insure.

(not all these are available in every state)

As your independent agent, we are here to help you find the best possible combination of price and coverage on auto insurance as well as home, RV, watercraft and business insurance. As a leading Kansas City Independent Agency, we offer a broad selection of insurance policies, companies and financial services. We are licensed in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska and are not limited to placing your insurance with just one carrier.

How Distracted Driving Is Like Driving Drunk

Posted under Uncategorized.

Driving distractions are an increasing occurrence due to the growing use of hand-held devices. Driving is a skill that requires your full attention to safely control your vehicle and respond to events happening on the roads around you. Any event or thing that prevents you from operating your car safely is considered a distraction. For example, driving while using a hand-held device increases the likelihood of a car accident by 400%.

While using cell phones behind the wheel is one of the most talked about driving distractions, it’s not the only one out there. There are many other things that we do behind the wheel that you may be surprised to find are considered driving distractions!

If you do need to report a claim, we are ready to help you! We offer a complete range of personal auto and home insurance products.

While the list could be endless, the main types of driving distractions are:

  • Texting
  • Reading a book
  • Using a cell phone
  • Eating or drinking
  • Smoking and dealing with lighting up
  • Grooming
  • Reading maps
  • Using a navigation system
  • Talking to passengers
  • Watching a video
  • Adjusting a radio

Driver distractions are the leading cause of most vehicle crashes and near-crashes. According to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), 80% of crashes and 65% of near-crashes involve some form of driver distraction. The distraction occurred within three seconds prior to the vehicle crash!

When you are driving, the condition of the roadway you are on and the behavior of other drivers can change abruptly leaving you little or no time to react. When you are driving, follow these rules:

  • Stay focused.
  • Pay attention.
  • Expect the unexpected.

Fifteen minutes could save you time, but a thorough review of your auto history will allow us to bring you the best value for your money. We are locally owned and operated out of Overland Park, Kansas and are strongly represented in all areas of the Kansas City metropolitan area including not only Kansas City, but also Olathe, Leawood, Lenexa & Shawnee.

Tell us more about the kind of vehicles you want to insure, and we’ll be in touch soon. Get a quote now.

Cyber Liability Trends for 2014

Posted under Commercial Insurance, Homeowner’s Insurance, News and Announcements.

Cyber Liability continues to be a major issue for businesses in 2014. In today’s data-driven social media world, businesses of all sizes have had a cyber-attack or data breach. Statistics show 39% of all cyber incidents affect businesses with fewer than 100 employees. With the recent Target breach, many individuals and businesses are considering cyber or identity theft insurance. Here are a few examples:

  • Human errors and systems glitches caused nearly two-thirds of data breaches globally in 2012, while malicious or criminal attacks are the most costly everywhere at an average of $157 per compromised record.2013 Cost of a Data Breach: Global Analysis, Ponemon Institute and Symantec, June 2013considering cyber or identity theft insurance. Here are a few examples:
  • Worldwide, approximately 1.1 million identities were exposed per breach, mainly owing to the large number of identities breached through hacking attacks. More than 232.4 million identities were exposed overall during 2011. Deliberate breaches mainly targeted customer-related information, primarily because it can be used for fraud. A Chronology of Data Breaches, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, 2012

Some Items to Consider for 2014

  • With more companies beginning to store information on the “cloud” there will be more universal breaches causing greater losses.
  • Cyber Liability insurance is a real option providing value added coverage and services.
  • Industries most exposed are; healthcare, medical, retail, financial institutions, technology and hospitality,
  • Cyber recovery costs are rising, even with new technology.
  • Individual states will be beefing up mandatory reporting laws and imposing fines for lack of reporting.
  • New technologies will allow cyber-attacks to come through smart phones and tablets.
  • Small businesses may be the most prone, as they have the least protection.

Cyber liability coverage (for data breaches) has evolved from just insurance for information technology companies to coverage that nearly every kind of business should have – if they don’t already. From retailers, banks, contractors, distributors, restaurants and medical offices, many businesses are unaware of the severe data breach exposure they face. In short, any business not making an effort to protect personal private information is seriously out of step with the emerging landscape of privacy law. We can provide your firm with the right combination of pricing and coverage.

As a leading Kansas City Independent Agency, we offer a broad selection of insurance policies, companies and financial services. We are licensed in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska and are not limited to placing your insurance with just one carrier.

Allied Insurance: A Good Partner for Your Insurance Needs

Posted under Auto Insurance, Commercial Insurance, Homeowner’s Insurance.

When you insure your belongings with Allied Insurance, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ve made the right choice. PlatinumOne Insurance Agency is a full service insurance agency representing individuals, families and businesses in the Kansas City area. We have the flexibility to choose the insurance company that best serves your individual needs. Having choices is our advantage and it benefits our customers. We may choose Allied for a number of reasons, including:

  • Cost savings discounts
  • Allied coverage form
  • Full year auto coverage
  • ID theft protection
  • Quality customer service

Allied offers a number of unique products that help us provide the best possible combination of coverage, price and service.

  • Complete line of power sports insurance: Boats, RV, ATV, motorcycles and more
  • The Allied extras for insurance: A single deductible – pay just one deductible for a covered claim when both your home and auto are affected by the same event.
  • Bonus airbag replacement – If your airbag deploys accidentally, we’ll pay to get you a new one.
  • Bonus emergency lockout coverage – We’ll cover locksmith charges if you’re locked out of your home or car.

Allied offers insurance for almost all business and industries. Today, thousands of companies large and small choose Allied for protection from fire, accidents, natural disasters, theft and other threats. Allied Insurance cares about the safety of your employees and customers. They offer convenient, user-friendly online safety training and other loss control resources to help lower your risk of accidents and unfortunate incidents at your business.

We partner with companies that not only offer competitive pricing, but also bring the value added services our client’s desire.

How Important Is It To Insure Your Vacant Home?

Posted under Uncategorized.

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Under most insurance policies, when a property has been vacant for more than 60 consecutive days before a loss or damage occurs, there is NO COVERAGE for vandalism and other losses. PlatinumOne Insurance Agency, offers options that can help protect your property whether you own a vacant home, condo or other eligible residential property. Do you need a quote on your Home Insurance? Call us today.

Criminals watch your home and know when your home is vacant or when you are on vacation.  Vacant homes also create a liability risk if children play in or around your home and you are not there to provide proper maintenance.

If you leave your home vacant, there are some insurance issues to consider:

  1. Most homeowner’s policies exclude vacant property.
  2. Call us today to arrange proper coverage for your vacant home.
  3. Consider adding security and additional lighting to make it look like someone is living in the home.
  4. Make arrangements to have the lawn and the outside of your home maintained while you are away.

Your policy may exclude losses for vacant property if you don’t endorse coverage. Call our office  if you are thinking of leaving your home vacant for any long period of time to determine what you need to do to ensure you are protected in the event of a burglary or unexpected incident. At PlatinumOne Insurance Agency, we take the risk out of buying insurance.

Renters Insurance

Posted under Uncategorized.

If you are a renter, then you need to read this article. Typically, the owner of the building is responsible for any loss to the building. The building owner or landlord is not responsible for your personal belongings. PlatinumOne Insurance Agency can also provide you with the option of quoting your renters and auto.

Kansas Renters insurance is a homeowner’s policy for non-homeowners. It covers loss of your personal property, such as clothes, furniture, computers etc. It covers losses due to theft, fire, wind and many other events that might cause damage to your personal property. A renter’s policy can also pick up coverage for your temporary living expenses while repairs are made if your rented home is damaged. If you think about it, the cost to replace your clothing, furniture, stereo, pots and pans, linens, sporting goods and computer could be a lot of money.

You can also design the renter’s policy to provide liability coverage, should you cause injury to a third party. In some cases landlords require such coverage. PlatinumOne Insurance Agency has access to many different insurers who offer this coverage. The quoting process takes very little time.

A renter’s policy can go a long way toward protecting you financially if you suffer misfortune. Best of all, you don’t have to own your home to qualify for protection. Kansas Renters insurance is very affordable, and can be designed to meet your individual needs.

It’s Time to Winterize Your Home

Posted under Uncategorized.

iStock_000016395160XSmall-150x150Winter has hit us hard. It time to shop for new winter clothes, time to consider how to protect your home from the winter conditions that are fast approaching. PlatinumOne Insurance Agency offers these ideas for your review. With temperatures falling and meteorologists predicting a colder than normal winter, the easiest and most cost efficient way to keep your home’s heat inside, while keeping your heating bill respectable, is to add fresh insulation to your attic, ceilings, basement, and walls.

Good Time For An Insurance Check Up

Let PlatinumOne Insurance Agency can provide you with an insurance check-up to make sure you have the best possible coverage. We have access to a number of different markets and can save you even more if you combine your home and auto together.

Prepare For Winter

Have an emergency kit ready; an emergency kit is simply a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.  Include the following: water, flash lights and batteries, first aid kit, whistles to signal for help, basic tools, manual can opener, small supply of food, radio, candles, lighter, blankets and rope.

The following is a checklist for what homeowners ought to be doing when prepping for the cold season. Stick to it, and you’re sure to have a warmer and more relaxed winter experience (scraping and digging out your car notwithstanding).

  • Reverse ceiling fan rotation
  • Inspect your furnace and replace filters
  • Insulate water pipes
  • Turn off all outside water and sprinklers
  • Clean wood stoves and chimney’s
  • Install window insulators
  • Store summer tools and prep winter ones
  • Get a programmable thermostat
  • Make sure you caulk or repair and replace any siding that is failing
  • Stock up on emergency supplies
  • It’s always wise to provide an outside air supply for combustion appliances like gas stoves and furnaces. You may need a professional to check this for you
  • Make sure your recreation vehicles get the same care as your home
  • Seal cracks in windows, doors, foundations, and ducts
  • Replace batteries in smoke detectors
  • Clean gutters
  • Add insulation where needed
  • Check for leaks in gutters, windows and roofs
  • Cut shrubs away from your home

 

PlatinumOne Insurance Agency will make sure you are protected against winter claims, with the right combination of insurance coverage and pricing. We offer competitive home and auto premiums and broad coverage for your home and business. Contact us today for a quote.

2014 Personal Insurance Guide

Posted under Commercial Insurance, Homeowner’s Insurance, Life Insurance, Safety, Uncategorized.

When was the last time you reviewed your insurance coverage? The start of a New Year is a great time to review your personal insurance. Most of us know that major life events can make it necessary to update our personal insurance coverage. But did you know that even subtle changes can have an impact on your financial needs and plans?  Call PlatinumOne Insurance Agency, and we can help you find the right combination of coverage and price.

Insurance “To Do” List

  • Review my insurance to make sure I have the right coverage
  • Take the time to read my insurance policies
  • Consider increasing my umbrella coverage
  • Check my credit score
  • Get a quote for earthquake insurance
  • Consider an alarm system
  • Clean my gutters
  • Have I replaced all the batteries in my smoke detectors?
  • Does my independent agent have all my correct information, including new phone number, address, and newly purchased property?
  • Consider increasing my auto deductibles on my older vehicles
  • Make sure I have identity theft insurance
  • Combine my auto and home insurance to save money
  • Complete a home inventory to ensure my property values are correct
  • Do I have enough life insurance?
  • Do I need life insurance for my spouse?
  • Have there been any of the following changes in my life situations?
    • Bought  a new car or sold a car
    • Changed your marital status
    • Bought a boat, RV or ATV
    • Change of address
    • Welcomed a new baby into the family
    • Major inheritance
    • Have a new teen driver in the family
    • New purchase of guns, jewelry or art
    • Child headed off to college
    • Child over the age of 26
    • Purchased second home
    • Plan foreign travel
    • Started a home based business
    • Retirement
    • I now drive my personal car for work

Please call PlatinumOne Insurance Agency today if you need to make any changes in your insurance program.

 

Be Safe While Driving Your Motorcycle

Posted under Auto Insurance, Commercial Insurance, Homeowner’s Insurance, Safety.

Many of us love to ride the highways on our motorcycles. Taking a ride with family and friends on a fresh crisp weekend is pure joy.  But as we all know, safety must be a primary concern. Here are a few tips from PlatinumOne Insurance Agency:

  • Have an annual insurance review. We can help you find the right combination of coverage and price, and we provide outstanding customer service.
  • Wear a Helmet. A motorcycle rider not wearing a helmet is 40 percent more likely to sustain a fatal head injury in a crash than a rider with a helmet.  A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study reports that, “Helmets saved 1,483 motorcyclists lives in 2009, and 732 more could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets.”  Buy a full-face helmet for the best protection for your head and eyes.
  • Wear other protective gear as well; heavy leather or synthetic gloves, long pants and jacket, and over-the-ankle leather boots.  Leathers can keep you warm and protected.
  • More than 90 percent of riders involved in accidents haven’t taken a formal motorcycle driving course. Get to know your bike’s capabilities, like how it performs on a curve or slick roads, and you’ll become a much safer rider. Errors like over-braking, driving too fast and under-cornering are major factors in most solo mishaps.
  • Driving impaired is more deadly for cyclers than other drivers. In fact, more than half of all motorcycle deaths occur when the rider has been drinking.
  • Service your bike to make sure it is working correctly.

Have a great time on your bike, be safe and call us with any questions.

 

Keep your Home and Person Safe This Holiday

Posted under Homeowner’s Insurance, Life Insurance, Safety.

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Black Friday is over and that means we are in the middle of the Holiday Season. During the next 30 days, we will all be busy shopping, eating out and traveling. PlatinumOne Insurance Agency can help make sure all your new gifts are properly insured, call us today. This is especially true if you have purchased jewelry, guns or art. It is best to call us to make sure it is properly covered under your homeowners insurance policy

Please keep these safety tips in mind, so that you can enjoy the season without incident:

Shopping Safety Tips

  • Always be aware of your surroundings.
  • Put your shopping bags in your trunk.
  • NEVER leave car doors unlocked or windows open.
  • ALWAYS park in lighted areas. Do NOT park in remote areas.
  • Shop with a friend.
  • Keep receipts in your wallet or purse.
  • Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
  • As you return to your car, make sure to keep your car key in your hand.
  • If you make expensive purchases like jewelry or guns, call our office as we may need to add these to your policy.

Christmas Tree Safety (provided by the NFPA)

  • Make sure the tree is at least four feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.
  • Make sure the tree is not blocking any exit or door.
  • Add water to the tree stand daily.
  • Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
  • Only used approved lights.
  • Connect no more than three strands of mini string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs
  • Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.

Home Safety Tips

If you are planning to vacation during the holiday, here are few ideas to consider:

  • Get a security system.
  • Trim landscaping that is too close to your house.
  • Don’t advertise your vacation on social media.
  • Cancel mail and other deliveries.
  • Leave lights on when gone.
  • Have a neighbor check on your home.
  • Always lock your garden sheds and garages.
  • Use a variable light timer to activate lights inside your home.
  • Lock all doors and windows.
  • If you gone, arrange for your lawn to be mowed.
  • Have adequate exterior lighting

Have a safe and happy holiday season. We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you in 2014.