Erie, Pa., 01/25/10 - You may be considering hitting the open waters less frequently this year because of higher gas prices. But, you could save some extra bucks just by reviewing and making changes to your boat owner’s policy.

Yes, chances are you really do need a boat owner’s policy. Many policyholders believe watercraft vehicles are covered under their auto or homeowners policy. But, for most insurers, that isn’t the case.

“Typically an auto policy won’t provide liability or physical damage coverage for a boat,” says Dan Willliams of  Williams Agency. “And most homeowners policies only provide a limited amount of coverage for physical damage to boats and restrict automatic liability coverage to low-powered boats. It’s a good idea to purchase a separate boat policy to ensure that you are adequately insured.”

Carefully reviewing your policy with an agent can help you save money while assuring you have adequate coverage for your needs.

“If you are prepared financially for a loss and have the means to cover yourself, the simplest way to cut costs is to consider a higher deductible,” Williams suggests. “A deductible above the standard $250 may reduce the premium. For additional coverage, you may want to consider Emergency Services Coverage and Personal Effects Coverage.”

Many insurance companies, including ERIE, give Premium credits to policyholders for having certain systems on the boat or for completing accredited, instructional boating safety education.  If your boat is equipped with such items as: an audible burglar alarm, fume detector, built-in fire extinguishing system, a ship-to-shore radio, radar, sonar, loran, and depth finder you may qualify for additional discounts.

You can also save by purchasing a boat with a diesel engine. Diesel engines are generally more efficient than gasoline engines of the same power, resulting in lower fuel consumption. Many insurance companies also offer credits for boats with diesel engines.

Review your policy with an agent to make sure you are getting the best coverage for your personal needs.

For more information contact Williams Agency.

According to A.M. Best Company, Erie Insurance Group, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, is the 16th largest automobile insurer in the United States based on direct premiums written and the 18th largest property/casualty insurer in the United States based on total lines net premium written. The Group, rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company, has over four million policies in force and operates in 11 states and the District of Columbia.  To learn more, visit www.erieinsurance.com.

If you are one of the millions giving or attending a Super Bowl Party this year, remember to play it safe when it comes to drinking and driving. Super Bowl Sunday is one of the deadliest days for drunk driving. The Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) reports that nearly 60 percent of traffic deaths on Super Bowl Sunday involve alcohol.

“If you are throwing a Super Bowl party, you should feel a sense of responsibility not to let people drink and drive,” said Dan Williams of  Williams Agency. “Also, in most states, you can be held financially responsible for your guests’ actions after they leave your party.”

In more than 30 states, there are laws or court precedents holding social hosts liable, according to the I.I.I. This means that party givers who serve alcohol can be held legally liable if their guests cause an accident because their driving ability was impaired by the consumption of alcohol.

Erie Insurance Group offers the following tips to help you have a winning Super Bowl Party:

• If you are giving the party, be responsible. Limiting your alcohol intake will allow you to better determine if someone is fit to drive home.
• Offer non-alcoholic beverages for those guests who are driving or choose not to drink.
• Always serve food and water with alcohol.   Food and water can help counter the effects of alcohol.
• Encourage drivers to wear seatbelts and drive defensively.  Try to stay a safe distance behind aggressive or impaired drivers.
• Encourage all guests to have a designated driver.  Make sure that any guest who has had too much to drink does not drive.
• If a friend is unfit to drive home, call a cab or offer the guest room.  This will protect your guest from having an accident and protect you from a lawsuit.

According to A.M. Best Company, Erie Insurance Group, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, is the 16th largest automobile insurer in the United States based on direct premiums written and the 18th largest property/casualty insurer in the United States based on total lines net premium written. The Group, rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company, has over four million policies in force and operates in 11 states and the District of Columbia.  To learn more, visit www.erieinsurance.com.

With all of the details and stress involved in moving, it’s likely that renters insurance has slipped your mind. “Anyone who rents an apartment or house should have renters insurance. It is relatively inexpensive and yet many people either don’t think about it or have some common misconceptions about the coverage and think it is unnecessary.” explained Terry McConnell of Erie Insurance. Many tenants are unaware that their landlord’s policy typically does not cover the contents of the property. They may also be unaware that renters insurance often extends beyond coverage for theft and vandalism and may even cover extras such as CD’s or a laptop stolen from your car.

Your furnace—and any heater that burns fuel—can leak carbon monoxide. Although it is a natural byproduct of the incomplete combustion that makes your furnace work, carbon monoxide can be deadly. The Centers for Disease Control estimates it leads to the deaths of more than 500 Americans each year. 

Carbon Monoxide is odorless, colorless and tasteless. You cannot distinguish carbon monoxide in your home unless you install a carbon monoxide detector. Check the detector’s battery twice a year when you change your clocks, the same time you check your smoke detector batteries. Contact an Erie Insurance Agent for more information about protecting your home, possessions and family from the impact of a fire.

Be sure to review your pennsylvania homeowners insurance coverage with a local erie agent as well.

How much money can you save ?

That seems to be the new buzzword as of late. We’re rushing to save folks money while keeping the coverage the same or possibly improving it. No easy task in today’s marketplace.  Everywhere we look you see price increases. Did anyone tell these people we’re knee deep in a recession ?  Apparently not because it looks like there’s insurance companies lining up for more of your cash in 2010. can you avoid them reaching into your pockets ?

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Rate Relief

Alka Seltzer won’t help with this one.  Rate relief seems to be coming from people changing insurance companies. Fortunately for us we have several companies who have extremely competitive rates on pennsylvania auto insurance right now. That’s a good thing for all of you.  Relief is only a few clicks or a call away.

We’ve got some of the newest innovations in car insurance to come along in a while.  Rate guarantees, disappearing deductibles just to name a few. We’ll go looking for discounts like nobodys business. When we find them you’re the first to know. No surprises here.

Read a few of our customers testimonials and you’ll see we’re constantly looking for ways to save $$ for new and old clients alike.

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Benefits to you..

Accident forgiveness… it may have taken you years to earn accident forgiveness with your current company. Heck, some companies don’t even offer accident forgiveness.  Some of the companies that do offer it, make it a “one time”deal. Imagine you’ve been with them 20 years and this is your first “fender bender” now you find out that you’ve used up your firgiveness. 

We’ve got several great programs that offer accident forgiveness from “day one” and others that will “recharge” the benefit after three years of accident free driving. One company has a program that rewards long term clients by agreeing to never again raise their rates because of an at fault accident. Now that’s the type of benefits you want to grab ahold of.

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Why Williams Agency?

We don’t make you shop around every several years. You’ll find many of our clients have said that we surprised them when we called with a policy that offered better discounts, benefits and lower rates. They’re shocked to find out that their agent was looking out for them. We don’t just “say” we appreciate your business, we “show” that we appreciate your business and we work hard for you every day.

Our clients are used to us doing all their paperwork,we never leave it in your lap. Sit in your easy chair, let us do the work.