Is there a more exciting time to be a teen than earning your own driver’s license? Options Insurance Agency would like to share the joys of driving with all our Hershey, PA teen drivers this year. While insurance may not be the first thing on your mind when you’re eager to get behind the wheel, it should be! That’s why we’ve assembled this quick and easy guide to first-time driver’s auto insurance.

It’s The Law!

Even teens are required to have an insurance policy on their vehicle once they start driving alone. Every driver is required by PA law to carry a certain minimum coverage for bodily injury and property damage. This type of policy, known as liability insurance, typically only covers cases where you are found at fault for an accident. You may want to consider additional coverage for cases when you aren’t at fault, but the other driver is not insured or does not have adequate coverage. There are other options available too, so make sure you discuss your individual concerns with your insurance agent!

Be Responsible!

Safe driving is smart driving. Not only will you be at less risk for accidents, but you could also be rewarded for your good behavior. Maintaining a clean driving record can open more insurance options for you. Getting good grades, taking safety courses, and being involved with local safe driving teen programs are excellent ways to improve your reputation with your insurance agency. 

Explore Your Options!

The type of vehicle you choose can have a major effect on the kind of insurance policy you’ll need. It can also play a major role in your accident risk factor. The safest vehicle type for a new driver is a mid-size sedan.

Options Insurance Agency encourages new drivers in Hershey, PA to contact us today to learn more about auto insurance!

In Hershey, PA you are required to have basic liability insurance in order to drive your vehicle. The limits of coverage that you must have are determined by the state and can be found on the Pennsylvania DMV website. Basic liability coverage is what you need but it may not be what you want or should have. The friendly staff at Options Insurance Agency have the information that you need to determine what coverage options are right for you. 

Collision coverage 

Collision coverage protects your vehicle in the event that you are in an accident. If you have a collision with another vehicle or with a tree or fence. It can be expensive to pay for repairs or to replace your vehicle. If you have a loan on your car or are leasing your vehicle, having collision coverage will likely be required to protect their investment. If you rely on your vehicle to get to work or just to get around, being able to repair or replace it is very important. If your vehicle is old and has very little cash value then it may not be necessary coverage. 

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive coverage is often called other than collision. If you damaged by something other than another vehicle, fence or tree. If a deer jumps in front of your car, a stone gets thrown up and breaks your windshield or a large branch falls on your car, your comprehensive insurance pays for the repair or replacement.  It also protects your vehicle from vandalism and theft. This can be a very important coverage and may be required by a lender or a lessor. 

If you think some of these other coverages are right for you and you live in the Hershey, PA area, Options Insurance Agency has the information that you need to make an informed decision. Stop by our office, give us a call or visit our website, you will be glad you did. 

Hail can damage your car’s exterior in just a few minutes time. There are times, however, when your car insurance will cover both hail and storm damage, but you must have the right type of insurance in place. The Options Insurance Agency offers all types of auto insurance coverage to residents who live in the Hershey, PA area. A simple phone call to one of their reputable agents will ensure that you have the coverage you need to protect your car.

Comprehensive Coverage 

Comprehensive coverage is the only type of insurance that will cover hail and storm damage. Liability only covers damages and injuries sustained by others if you are involved in an accident. Collision insurance covers damages to your vehicle that occur when you are involved in an accident. Comprehensive covers both collision and liability as well as many other types of claims such as theft and vandalism. 

Protect Your Vehicle

There are many ways you can protect your vehicle from hail and storm damage. If it’s at all possible, park your car in a garage or under a cover of some type, like a carport or overhang. If you don’t have anywhere safe to park your car to get it out of the elements, purchase a car cover and put it on whenever a storm approaches.

Hershey, PA residents can call the licensed agents at Options Insurance Agency to get a quote for a new auto insurance policy or get a review of an existing policy. By scheduling an appointment with one of the agents, you will be able to get the answers you need to make the right choice in terms of what type of policy is best for your individual needs. Call today!

There are plenty of reasons why someone might want to insure a vehicle they don’t own in Hershey, PA. It’s common when parents or family members buy a car for their loved ones. Maybe you’re giving a friend a loaner for a few months. Regardless, insurance in these cases can get tricky. That’s especially true if the registration doesn’t match the insurance. Options Insurance Agency is here with a little advice to help you understand if you can insure a vehicle that isn’t registered to you.

Mostly No

In general, the insurers want to see the name on the registration match the name on the insurance policy. In fact, some states require this by law. The philosophy behind it is that the owner of a vehicle has a stronger personal interest in caring for the car, and this reduces risk to the insurance provider. If the state allows (laws change over time), and the insurance company is on board, you can potentially overcome this by demonstrating an insurable interest in the car. How you do that will be up to the insurance company.

Do This Instead

There are two easier ways to insure a car that isn’t in your name (or vise versa). You can update the registration to have both names. Once that happens, only one of the two names is required to be on the policy, and everything runs smoothly. It can be a little costly to renew a registration early to do this, but it’s better than being uninsured.

The other option is to pay for insurance in someone else’s name. There are no requirements at all on who pays the bill. You only need to be sure that the person who drives the car is named somewhere in the policy. This usually isn’t a big deal. There is one word of warning. If you think it at all necessary, you can write a legally binding contract to make sure the initial arrangement is honored by both parties.

Options Insurance Agency has experts available to anyone in Hershey, PA. You can ask all of your questions and get reliable answers.

Having the right coverage on your car is a necessity that you should take very seriously. Having the right coverage can be difficult, however, if you are not aware of what type of coverage you need or what level of coverage you need. For those in the Hershey, PA area, the agents with Options Insurance Agency can help you find the coverage that works for you. 

There are a few different factors that determine the overall cost of your monthly car insurance premiums. The first is the value of the car. This affects cost based on the fact that a more expensive car is going to cost more to replace and therefore needs more coverage. More expensive cars are also more likely to have loans out on them which means that they need to be covered in full. Another factor that affects cost is the age of the driver. Those that are over the age of 25 are going to get a lower rate while those over the age of 50 are likely to get an even bigger discount. Still, another factor that affects the cost is the amount of coverage. When you have full coverage you can expect to pay more than when you have only liability coverage. 

These are not the only factors that affect the overall cost of the insurance policy you choose. Marital status, college degrees, owning a home, children, and more are all going to affect the overall cost of your policy. On top of all of that, your driving record is also going to affect cost. It is important to talk with an agent to find out how much your premium is going to be and to find the best rate possible. For those in the Hershey, PA area, the agents with Options Insurance Agency can help tailor your perfect policy.