Every time you buckle your child properly into their carseat, you are ensuring their safety. In 2016, 723 children died in car accidents. Of these, 15% were unrestrained. These stats show that there is no question: a car seat or booster seat is a must. And in case, you don’t believe us, it’s also the law.
Each year, safety recommendations change, and the age and height of your child must also be taken into account. Continue Reading →
Making the change to an electric or hybrid vehicle comes with pleasantly low or nonexistent gas costs, and a reduced carbon footprint: the perfect response to sky-high gas prices and the shift to green living. What does an electrical vehicle mean for your insurance rate? Continue Reading →
Just how do insurers determine your vehicle policy rate? To an extent it is based on a computer dictating via its algorithms who is a statistical risk and who is not. It also depends upon logical factors such as driving and ticketing history, car model, and how far you drive every year. Surprisingly, that’s not all:
Factors including gender, neighborhood, relationship status, and credit scores can also bump up or lower your rate. Studies by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and experts from various agencies have shown that sometimes you pay more for factors out of your control. Continue Reading →
Forget the latest hybrid or electric car if you want efficiency—trends throughout the Sun Belt and Southern communities are showing that the golf cart is the next big thing, for the young and old alike. In planned communities of sprawling acreage, a golf cart is perfect for a quick run to the store, to drop the kids at a friends house or, of course, to head to the golf course. Continue Reading →
We don’t like to think we could be the victim of a hit and run accident; but if so, it’s best to be prepared. Hit and run accidents are a big (and growing) problem in California, specifically in Los Angeles, where 20,000 incidents are reported annually. So, if you become one of those 20,000 victims of a hit and run, keep these rules in mind: it will help you stay safe, and to more accurately report the incident to your insurance company. Continue Reading →
This week we have a guest post from Todd Trip, one of our trusted colleagues from the wealth management industry. Todd works for MST Financial Wealth Management in Newport Beach, and you can read more about him here. At BMR Insurance, we felt his recent article about what to know before co-signing for your child was one that needed to be shared. Before you pick up that pen, read the following:
Considering co-signing for your child? A recent survey by creditcards.com showed that one in six adults say they’ve co-signed a loan or credit card for someone else—most often to help a child or stepchild buy a car. Continue Reading →
Buying a used car can be a hassle. If you’re buying through a private seller, you need to get your car checked out by a mechanic, and that takes time and costs money. You may think it’s easier, safer, and more reliable to buy a used car from a dealership, especially when they have a “certified pre-owned” used car program.
But does that mean it’s perfect? Everything’s fixed and ready to drive off the lot? Not necessarily. You might be surprised to see a car on a dealer’s used car lot, check the CarFax and find that it’s on an open recall for the replacement of a Takata air bag inflator. Continue Reading →
Say you were trying to rent a car to explore the lesser known little French villages, foraging for croissants and other delectable goodies. Are you insured? Good question.
Navigating bureaucratic processes is complicated enough in the US– but in another country? It’s almost enough to make you give up.
Most countries, including Japan, Israel, and Jamaica, have specific requirements for American drivers when it comes to insurance. Unfortunately, these aren’t usually met by your general travel insurance coverage. Instead, renters usually end up paying double (or triple!) their original fee. If you are renting a car abroad, one of the most important points on your pre-departure check-list will be coordinating with your travel insurance agent, to find out what coverage you have, and what you can do to avoid any surprise fees. Continue Reading →
When you are 16 years old and getting your license, the world seems to open up before you, into a new kind of freedom. For a parent, it can be more than a little terrifying– watching your son or daughter take off into traffic, full of dangers and potential crashes. However, as a parent who is required to drive 40-50 hours with your teen before they get their license, you have the potential to positively and effectively teach your child good habits that go beyond vehicle handling. Continue Reading →
These trees are not your friends…if they fall and cause damage.
For this post, we’ll start with a trivia question:
Which of these circumstances would be covered by insurance as an “act of God”? (Read to the end to find your answer!)
Sometimes as much as you can try to prepare for the unpreparable, natural disasters– so-called “acts of God”– strike us unawares and unprepared. Fire, lightning, floods, and earthquakes– all might strike at a moments notice, and leave us with a crushed roof or burned down home. A Louisiana court (a state faced with its fair share of natural disasters) gave this definition of an act of God: Continue Reading →
