Orlando, Fla. – Florida is the number three state with the most motor vehicle thefts, only trailing California and Texas. The Honda Accord and Civic, Toyota Camry, Ford F-150 truck, and Dodge Ram and Caravan are the most frequently stolen vehicles. Every 40 seconds in the U.S. a vehicle is stolen, says the FBI. The most popular cars have ranked high by thieves because some of their parts are interchangeable. Air bags, Xenon headlights, GPS systems, and even catalytic converters are sought after.

A good percentage of drivers lock their vehicle regularly and do not leave spare keys inside their automobile, according to surveys done by the National Insurance Crime Bureau NICB. But a third of drivers have left their car while it was running and many do not conceal valuables or park in lighted areas. Yet the most staggering findings were that none of the respondents knew insurance costs could go up after a vehicle is stolen. Drivers of stolen vehicles still must pay their deductible and any costs of buying a new automobile that would not be covered by the comprehensive coverage allotted by their auto insurance company. Theft coverage does apply to the entire vehicle being stolen as well as the individual auto parts.

Vehicle insurance for the most stolen car types can be affected because the likelihood that the vehicle will be stolen or damaged goes up. However, for most drivers, auto insurance companies will give discounts to the base rates on comprehensive coverage if the vehicle has anti-theft devices.

“Alarms, tracking systems, OnStar, and even GPS monitoring systems can help find your vehicle and equal discounts,” said Lee Rogers of the Florida Insurance Group. 

Other factors that play a big part on Orlando auto insurance rates include: age, gender, driving record and claims history, as well as vehicle usage and mileage. Throughout Central Florida, the Florida Insurance Group will shop around for an individual or family to find the best auto insurance policy. Online and over the phone, they excel at customer service to get clients a new policy or make a claim in the event of a theft or accident. 

For more information:

1-888-525-2210

www.floridainsurance.com

Even though driving without your seatbelt is a primary police pullover offense, many drivers are still not buckling up. In Central Florida, police have found that minorities use their seatbelt the least of all types of drivers. As a result, a Florida Minority Occupant Protection Task Force was formed and is holding outreach events in the community to get people to use their seatbelt.

The task force will also do observational studies on roadways in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties to focus on the problem. "Black and Hispanic drivers and occupants are dying at disproportionate rates because they are not using their seat belts," said Reggie Bell of the Titusville Fire Department and a task force member. "We have parents and grandparents getting in cars and not restraining children, and they are dying."

A staggering 55 percent of people in fatal car crashes did not use a seatbelt, reports the Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety. And deaths and injuries that happen due to lack of seatbelts cost close to $26 billion in medical care every year, says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The task force wants to reinforce that seatbelts are a lifesaver and parents must do everything they can to protect their children.

Seatbelts are a vital safety measure to protect you from the numerous fender benders and accidents that happen on the road every day. They can also help keep auto insurance costs down too. Seatbelts, car alarms, anti-lock brakes and other safety features can equal lower insurance premiums. And little to no accidents also equals more reasonable auto insurance premiums.

Drivers who violate seatbelt laws are entered into Florida databases and insurance companies do see the infractions. As driver performance worsens and tickets increase, a driver will start to feel the pain of higher auto insurance. The Florida Minority Occupant Protection Task Force plans to reach out to the community at schools, churches, and other centers to remind people how to properly use seatbelts. Seatbelts should never be across the stomach. The belt should be low and snug against the pelvis and the shoulder belt should rest across the chest and collarbone. Children less than 12 years old should be buckled into the appropriate car seat in the back passenger area and newborns should be in rear-facing car seats there too.

The Florida Insurance Group is based in Central Florida and knows how safety features can greatly affect your Orlando auto insurance costs and family’s livelihood. Over the phone or online they help individuals and families get the best possible auto insurance rates from many of the best auto insurance providers in business today.

For more information:

1-888-525-2210

www.floridainsurance.com

Many homeowners don’t know this fact – if you have moved out and are trying to sell your home, some home insurance policies might not cover a claim after two months of vacancy. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners cautioned that insurers are concerned because of the increased risk for break-ins and costly disasters. No one is there to call 911 or a repairman, so a small issue can become chaos, says NAIC.

Individuals and families will want to call their home insurance agent to know the fine print of their policy. The NAIC reported that some insurers would default the policy into a different type of coverage. Hard-to-sell properties and families who left the home for a different area for a new job make up the biggest part of the vacant home category. In Orlando, more than 13,260 homes were on the market throughout this past March and totaled an average of five months supply, reported the Orlando Regional Realtor Association.

“Be honest about your situation, because while an extra policy might cost more, it could save you money down the road should there be an accident or damage to the home,” said NAIC President Jane Cline.

An Orlando home insurance agent will search for a company that will give an endorsement for coverage for an unoccupied property for a set period of time. Depending on what timeline is needed, this can be purchased for a few months to a year.

Some people who are tired of listing their home on the market might decide to become a landlord and rent out their property. It’s important to call your home insurance agent here too as the insurance policy will need to get modified. Landlord policies are higher by about 10 to 25 percent, and can also vary if your home will be a long-term or seasonal rental. Landlord insurance policies include:

• the home and other structures

• possessions such as a washer and dryer left on the property

• lost income should the home become uninhabitable

• liability protection

The Florida Insurance Group helps individuals and families with all the facets of their home insurance policies in Orlando. They will go the extra step to make sure you understand how the fine print can vary depending on what you do with the home and give you all the important information to make an educated decision. To learn more, click on http://www.floridainsurance.com or call 1-888-525-2210. 

A condo or townhome can be a rewarding piece of real estate to have in Orlando. Many owners enjoy that they do not have to mow the lawn or repaint the exterior every few years. Because all of these things are typically covered in the homeowner’s association dues, you do not have to be concerned about these time-intensive tasks. Same goes for homeowner’s insurance. In a condo, co-op, and townhomes, typically a master policy covers insurance for common areas like the roof, exterior walls, and patios should any physical damage happen. 

But owners still need a policy for personal possessions and liability protection. This type of insurance policy is obtained through an Orlando home insurance agent and will cover:

• Personal possessions

• Living expenses if you become a victim of fire, theft, or specific disasters

• Structural improvements to the condo

Sometimes it is unclear what is covered by the condo association, so read over the association’s bylaws or have your insurance agent help you with any questions. Many condo associations only cover the blank walls, floor and ceiling, so any improvements done to the kitchen, bathroom, and even flooring deserve insurance protection. Be sure to also ask the home insurance agent what the company’s policy is on water damage. Imagine if the dishwasher backed up and ruined expensive wood flooring. Asking your insurance expert ahead of time about sewer and drain issues can save you a lot of stress should this type of water damage occur.

And speaking of water, if your property merits flood insurance, the insurance agent will help you obtain it through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program. Some homeowners who are not in a flood zone like to get flood insurance too for peace of mind, and this will be cheaper to get when not in a designated floodplain.

Homeowners who have certain expensive items, like jewelry, collectibles, or electronics will want to get advice from their insurance agent to see if a separate policy is best for these types of items. True stories abound where an expensive diamond ring wasn’t properly covered under the home insurance policy and should theft or damage occur, the individual was only able to get a percentage of the actual money needed to replace it.

Condo and townhome owners can also qualify for home insurance discounts. Monitored smoke and fire alarms can lower a deductible, for example. A home insurance agent will give you choices on deductibles and coverage for replacement cost of your contents. In Orlando, the Florida Insurance Group has helped individuals and families with their home insurance needs for more than 20 years. They are known for getting their clients high-quality insurance at a great value and have access to many of the best insurance companies in business today.

For more information:

1-888-525-2210

www.floridainsurance.com

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has released new car seat guidelines for kids. The biggest change is that they recommend keeping a kid in a car seat for as many months or years possible as long as the child still is within the manufacturer’s requirements. The NHTSA also advises to keep children in the back seat until 13 years old.

Child seats have been the issue of recalls this year, so the NHTSA has set up a website where all manufacturers can be found to register the child seat and receive any defect or recall notices. Child restraints saved approximately 8,959 kids from 1975 to 2008, says the NHTSA. But there is still a lot of work to be done as auto accidents remain the leading cause of death for kids three to 14 years old.

Beyond auto accidents, children are vulnerable to heat strokes and hyperthermia, kidnapping, getting trapped in a moving vehicle, and being injured from vehicle accessories, says the organization Kids and Cars. The Washington Post had a Pulitzer-prize winning article in 2010 about “Fatal Distraction – Kids, Cars and Hyperthermia” that showed how one man’s absent-mindedness irrevocably changed his family.

“Accidents can happen right in your own garage or driveway,” warns the Kids and Cars website. The organization provides tips for parents and drivers to remember that protecting kids should be the number one priority.

The biggest things to look out for include:

• never leave keys in reach of kids

• make sure all passengers have left the car after the driver parks

• make sure children stay away from moving vehicles

• having a backup detection device or other monitoring features to prevent back overs or front overs

• if a child is inside a locked vehicle and looks hot or sick call 911

Auto insurance providers can also help parents go through safety checklists to make sure the entire family is safeguarded. Items to go over include:

• Proper child seats

• Child safety locks

• Internal trunk release mechanisms

• Car alarm

• Safer power window switches

• Rearview camera systems

• Proper age appropriate harnesses and seatbelts

• Adequate bodily injury coverage

The Orlando auto insurance company The Florida Insurance Group has helped families and drivers make their vehicle safe and have the right coverage to uphold the family’s safety and livelihood. For more than 20 years they have assisted Orlando residents in obtaining the highest quality insurance at the best value.

For more information:

1-888-525-2210

www.floridainsurance.com

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit http://www.floridainsurance.com

Do not play Russian roulette with your homeowner’s insurance policy by having inadequate liability coverage. From neighborhood kids breaking a leg while playing football in the yard, to friends falling down the stairs, a dog biting the gardener, or babysitter having her iPod stolen from her car in the driveway, there are countless scenarios that a homeowner must consider.

An Orlando home insurance company can help individuals and families find the right liability coverage should an accident occur at your home. More injuries occur at home than at work, in car crashes, and public places, the National Safety Council reports. One in 23 people were disabled for one day or more because of a home injury or accident they showed. The NSC estimates that the total economic cost of home injuries equals $182.3 billion.

The liability portion of a homeowner’s policy covers against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that you, family members, or pets cause to others. Liability limits are typically around $100,000, but extra coverage can be purchased. Umbrella or excess liability policies will provide broader coverage. Coverage E will help to defend individuals in court against claims and pay the claims of others if you are found to be liable for their injury.

In contrast, Coverage F makes payments to individuals when the insured is not necessarily “at fault” for an accident. For example, if a neighbor’s daughter breaks her arm while jumping off the porch stairs, Coverage F would provide reimbursements for medical expenses up to the coverage limit. It’s important to note that in a homeowner’s policy, only individuals not insured on the policy, also known as third-party coverage, are given reimbursements. Medical, surgical, X-ray, ambulance and hospital, as well as dental expenses, are eligible for payment. Coverage E would only kick in if the neighbor ended up suing with a claim that the stairs needed repair, or were slippery, because the accident was your fault.

A good homeowner’s insurance agent will go over the coverage types and recommend the most extensive coverage you can afford to lessen your exposure to big losses. Without adequate coverage, you and your family’s assets could be at risk. Any retirement accounts, stocks, checking and savings, and personal property could be at stake without a liability policy protection.

To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit http://www.floridainsurance.com

Do not play Russian roulette with your homeowner’s insurance policy by having inadequate liability coverage. From neighborhood kids breaking a leg while playing football in the yard, to friends falling down the stairs, a dog biting the gardener, or babysitter having her iPod stolen from her car in the driveway, there are countless scenarios that a homeowner must consider.

An Orlando home insurance company can help individuals and families find the right liability coverage should an accident occur at your home. More injuries occur at home than at work, in car crashes, and public places, the National Safety Council reports. One in 23 people were disabled for one day or more because of a home injury or accident they showed. The NSC estimates that the total economic cost of home injuries equals $182.3 billion.

The liability portion of a homeowner’s policy covers against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that you, family members, or pets cause to others. Liability limits are typically around $100,000, but extra coverage can be purchased. Umbrella or excess liability policies will provide broader coverage. Coverage E will help to defend individuals in court against claims and pay the claims of others if you are found to be liable for their injury.

In contrast, Coverage F makes payments to individuals when the insured is not necessarily “at fault” for an accident. For example, if a neighbor’s daughter breaks her arm while jumping off the porch stairs, Coverage F would provide reimbursements for medical expenses up to the coverage limit. It’s important to note that in a homeowner’s policy, only individuals not insured on the policy, also known as third-party coverage, are given reimbursements. Medical, surgical, X-ray, ambulance and hospital, as well as dental expenses, are eligible for payment. Coverage E would only kick in if the neighbor ended up suing with a claim that the stairs needed repair, or were slippery, because the accident was your fault.

A good homeowner’s insurance agent will go over the coverage types and recommend the most extensive coverage you can afford to lessen your exposure to big losses. Without adequate coverage, you and your family’s assets could be at risk. Any retirement accounts, stocks, checking and savings, and personal property could be at stake without a liability policy protection.

To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit http://www.floridainsurance.com

Sinkholes have become major insurance concerns in Florida over the last couple of years. Between 2006 and 2010, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation found that sinkhole claims quadrupled. Sinkholes could cost the state close to $2 billion in 2011, so homeowners will see rate increases and stiffer policy requirements.

New optional sinkhole coverage is now available because of the amount of claims and losses that have beset the area. Sinkholes have been given a more concrete definition by the state and insurers now classify sinkholes as settlement or systematic weakening of the earth resulting from movement or raveling of soils, sediments or rock material into subterranean voids created by the effect of water on limestone or similar rock formation.

Homeowners that want this type of policy will add the optional sinkhole loss endorsement to their base policy. Damage to the foundation and contents are covered in the structure that could be affected by the sinkhole activity. And deductible amounts equal from one to 10 percent of the dwelling limits. It is important to know that damage to your home from other earth movements or settlements will not be covered under this policy.

In Orlando, there are 192 known sinkholes. An experienced insurance agent will research that the coverage you are requesting is what you really need to purchase. With sinkhole insurance, most insurers require an inspection to see the condition of the property, construction type, pool, home interior and surrounding area to prove there is a need for coverage. It is recommended to review insurance policies regularly if a homeowner does improvements or has increased rebuilding costs that could affect this special policy.

Standard homeowners insurance policies do account for ground catastrophe collapses that would make a property condemned and uninhabitable. Florida law mandates that four conditions be met to qualify as a catastrophic ground cover collapse:

• an abrupt collapse of the ground cover

• a depression in the ground cover clearly visible to the naked eye

• structural damage to the building and its foundation

• the structure is condemned and ordered to be vacant by the local government agency responsible for issuing condemnation orders

Studies show that 59 percent of homes are underinsured by an estimated 22 percent. It definitely pays to call a knowledgeable Orlando home insurance agent to protect your biggest asset and investment from disaster.

To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit http://www.floridainsurance.com

Realizing that one’s car has been stolen or is a total loss following a collision can be devastating on its own.

“What can be even more disheartening is when it is learned that more is owed to the lender on the vehicle than what insurance will provide as reimbursement,” said Lee Rogers of Florida Insurance in Orlando. “There is where car gap insurance can come in handy.”

What is Car Gap Insurance?

Car gap insurance is one of the many “extras” in automobile insurance that is not required by the state. As the name implies, cap gap insurance covers the difference between what standard insurance will pay when an automobile is lost or damaged beyond repair, and what is owed to the lender.

This type of insurance coverage is typically most beneficial for those leasing vehicles, those who have put down a low down payment when buying a car and for those with vehicles that have particularly high depreciation rates.

Here’s a hypothetical situation for how car gap insurance would come in handy. Say a new car is purchased for $30,000 and then 12 months later is totaled in an accident. Due to depreciation, traditional insurance says the vehicle is only worth $23,000. Depending what the down payment was, the purchaser could find themselves on the hook for several thousand dollars unless they have car gap insurance.

“Depreciation of a new vehicle is particularly important to keep in mind when considering insurance coverage,” Rogers said. “Most new vehicles lose up to 20 percent of their value 12 months after being driven off the lot.”

It is always better to purchase gap insurance sooner than later, but many car insurance companies allow policyholders to purchase gap coverage in the months following the purchase of a new vehicle.

There can be a cap on the amount of coverage that insurance companies will pay out in gap coverage.

The cost of gap coverage depends on the particular insurance provider but some calculate it as a single-digit percentage of a given premium.

Car gap insurance cannot only bring peace of a mind to a policy-holder but it can save thousands in out-of-pocket costs should a vehicle be totaled or stolen.

To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit http://www.floridainsurance.com

Individuals or couples who sell a home, retire, or have children away at college should take a comprehensive look at their home and auto insurance. These big life changes can equal huge savings for consumers, but often times these events are so grand that minor things such as insurance coverage get ignored.

First, when a home is sold, depending on what property is bought or rented next can make a big difference. As a consumer, you will want to find an agent that can go over the premium differences in square footage, location, construction style and age of the property, and what personal property will be transferred to the new residence.

Then, when retiring, consumers can save on auto insurance since without the daily commute to work, an individual is reclassified as less of a liability. When someone is at home more of the day, it also presents less risk and thus home insurance policies can come down too.

“Every year it’s good to check in with you agent to ensure that your deductibles are adequate and your premium is affordable,” said Lee Rogers of www.floridainsurance.com, who specializes in Orlando home and automobile insurance. “We’ll also inquire about any life events that can lessen your payments.”

And when kids go to college without taking a car, be sure to remove them from an umbrella policy or parents will be paying for something that’s not being used. This can save a policyholder quite a bit of money since teenage drivers and their vehicles are more of a risk.

“We’ve been in business for more than 18 years and know people are busy with their careers and lives,” said Rogers. “It takes only a few minutes to review your status and see what opportunities there are to save you money.”

To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit http://www.floridainsurance.com