Tag: Auto Insurance

Holiday Travel Tips

The holiday spirit is in full swing! With it comes spending time with loved ones and enjoying the peace as the year begins to wind down. If you have plans to visit family or friends, consider these travel tips, whether you’re road-tripping or flying this holiday season. 

Focus on Scheduling

The end of the year can get quite hectic. Planning ahead is crucial for staying sane and avoiding feeling overwhelmed. One thing to remember is that the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve are the most heavily traveled days of the year. If possible, schedule your travel for several days before and several days after the holidays to save money and time by avoiding peak road and air traffic.

Prioritize Disinfectants and Sanitizers

Regardless of if you’re driving or flying, it’s important to travel with a supply of hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. Winter is peak flu, cold and virus season so you’ll want to take steps to ward off these germs. Aim to wipe down high-touch surfaces, like car doors, seat belts and armrests, and remember to clean off hands before eating or touching your eyes, mouth or nose. 

Don’t Forget These Items

  • Passport – Nothing is more frustrating than arriving at the airport and realizing you don’t have your passport. Put this at the top of your packing list! 
  • Important documents – This may be car insurance cards, health insurance cards, boarding passes, etc. Any documents that might be helpful in case of an emergency.
  • Snacks – Traveling takes lots of energy and time, so be prepared by having some snacks on hand for the whole family. A reusable water bottle is a good idea as well. 
  • Don’t forget to check under the hood and/or your flight information. It’s always a good idea to ensure your vehicle is good to go, and it never hurts to double-check flight times and terminals.

Protect Holiday Gifts

If your travel plans require bringing gifts along, it could be helpful to hold off on wrapping the gifts until after you’ve reached your destination. This could make packing easier and help the wrapping stay in good condition. Additionally, if flying, it might help to ship the package ahead of time to the end destination, so you have one less thing to worry about when traveling.

Stay safe this holiday season! If driving, contact your OKFB agent to make sure your auto insurance is updated. Additionally, check-in on your home insurance if you’re going to be gone for a while. All in all, we wish you all the best and hope you have a merry holiday! 

Hot Car Safety Tips

As many of us hit the road to travel this summer, or just to head to work or school, we might enjoy the sunshine and its accompanying warmth! Summer heat, however, adds an extra layer of complications to our drives. As temperatures rise, so do risks of accident and injury as it relates to the vehicle, passengers and pets in the car. Take a look at these hot car risks as well as safety tips for avoiding these situations.

Complete Routine Maintenance Checks

Scheduling routine checks for the vehicle could help lower the chances of having a heat-related car breakdown. Check out the air conditioner, radiator/cooling system, belts, hoses and oil and replace or repair them if needed. Don’t forget about the tires – fill up the tires and the spare to the right air pressure level. Driving under-inflated tires can cause them to overheat easier and that can increase the chance of a blowout. 

Keep Your Vehicle Cool

The vehicle interior of a parked car can heat up quickly, posing some dangers to your health when you first re-enter it. Take care when entering the car to avoid touching the steering wheel and seats until the surfaces have cooled down. Consider installing seat covers, steering wheel cover, permanent window tint, or windshield sun shades to help block the sun’s rays. These items could help keep your car cool and protect the interior. 

Never Leave A Child or Animal Unattended

If you’re running errands with a child or animal in tow, avoid leaving them in the car, even for a short period of time. Instead, consider using drive-thru services or curbside pickup. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, a car’s interior temperature could rise 20 degrees in approximately 10 minutes. Even leaving the windows cracked or rolled down does not slow the heat acceleration. 

Prepare an Emergency Kit

Even if you’ve prepared your vehicle for summer travel, it never hurts to have a “just in case” kit in your trunk. Fill it with items like water, sunscreen, non-perishable foods/snacks, jumper cables, road flares, flashlight, first aid kit and more. 

Incorporating these tips can help keep you cool on the hot, sunny days in Oklahoma. While you follow these tips, also remember we offer auto insurance to protect you on your journey. Contact an OKFB agent to discuss your auto needs or current policy – you may be eligible for our roadside assistance policy addition. 

8 Common Car Insurance Myths

There’s a lot of misinformation that circulates about Car Insurance. To help separate fact from fiction and ensure you’re on top of your Auto Insurance, we’re debunking the following 8 common myths.  

Myth #1: The color of my car paint impacts my Auto Insurance premium

The color of your car has no impact on the price of your premium. Some features that do impact your premium include the car’s make, model, body type, year, engine size, etc. With this in mind, feel free to drive the car color of your dreams. 

Myth #2: I only need the minimum Auto Insurance required by law

It’s true that you only need the state’s minimum level of Auto Insurance to drive legally in Oklahoma. However, purchasing the minimum level is usually not the best choice. If you are at fault in an accident and the other party sues you for damage, you may have to use your own money to pay any losses that exceed what the minimum level of coverage protects. Talk to an agent to see how much coverage you may need based on your vehicle. 

Myth #3: Personal Auto Insurance will cover business use of my car

Using your car for commercial reasons comes with its own set of risks. You may need to look into getting Commercial Vehicle Insurance in order to ensure that you, your employees and your inventory are protected.

Myth #4: Comprehensive and collision coverage are the same

Comprehensive coverage and collision coverage protect your vehicle in different circumstances. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your car sustained by incidents not related to a collision. Some examples include hail, flood, falling tree limbs, break-ins, vandalism, and run-ins with deer. Collision coverage pays for damage to your car by a collision with another vehicle, tree, pole, pothole, or guardrail.

Myth #5: My insurance will pay off my loan or lease if I total my car

If an accident totals your car, your Car Insurance will pay what the market says your car was worth before the accident – the Actual Cash Value (ACV). Most commonly because of depreciation, a driver with a loan on their vehicle will owe more on the vehicle than the vehicle’s ACV, leaving the driver with the responsibility of the difference. Talk to an agent about extra coverage options to fill in this gap.

Myth #6: Auto Insurance includes towing or other assistance I may need on the roadside

A typical auto policy does not include this coverage, but you can add a Roadside assistance option to your policy. Roadside assistance will pay for costs associated with towing your disabled vehicle. Additionally, other services needed may be covered, like gas for an empty tank, battery jumping and changing a flat on-site.

Myth #7: Auto Insurance will pay for a rental car after an accident

Many people believe that car insurance will pay for a rental car after an accident. Unless you have a rental car reimbursement on your policy then typically your insurance will not pay for a rental. Luckily, this is an easy addition to make to your policy. 

Myth #8: A ticket will always increase my Auto Insurance premium

Insurance companies consider a number of factors beyond a speeding or driving ticket to set auto premiums. Drivers with speeding tickets may be considered higher risk, and may be charged more for Auto Insurance premiums. On the other hand, if the driver is over the age of 25 and has not had a similar violation in the last three years, the premium may not be raised, as long as the person avoids getting another violation. The best course of action is to drive safely at all times. 

Keep these facts in mind to stay protected and prepared for any auto-related incident. Contact your OKFB agent to be sure that your policy covers everything you could need.

Assemble a Roadside Emergency Kit

From unpredictable weather to unexpected emergencies, there are many things that could leave you stuck on the side of the road when traveling from point A to point B. No matter how short the distance you’re traveling, keeping a roadside emergency kit in your vehicle can help give you peace of mind. Follow these steps to assemble one of your own, and make sure to take routine inventory. 

Emergency Kit Supplies

A first aid kit is essential to have in your vehicle in case of an injury while on the road. Consider assembling your own kit or buying a pre-made kit. Use the American Red Cross guidelines to ensure your kit includes all the essentials. Some other emergency kit supplies you may want to keep in your vehicle include:

  • Bottles of water
  • Nonperishable food items
  • Blanket or sleeping bag
  • Matches
  • Phone charger

Vehicle Tools

Your vehicle will need its own toolkit in case of a roadside incident, like a flat tire or dead battery. You may be able to buy a vehicle toolkit or you can compile one of your own with these necessary items: 

  • Jumper cables
  • Tire pressure gauge
  • Work gloves and rags 
  • Flashlight and batteries
  • Hazard triangles or warning lights 
  • WD-40
  • Tow rope
  • Fire extinguisher 

Severe Weather Supplies

Extreme weather events can happen suddenly and pose some serious risks if you’re unprepared. Should you find yourself facing freezing temperatures, ice or tornadoes while on the road, you’ll want to have these items stored and ready in your vehicle: 

  • Warm, waterproof boots
  • Hat, scarf and gloves
  • Antifreeze
  • Ice scraper
  • Shovel 
  • Road salt or sand

Keeping these items in your vehicle will help ensure you’re prepared for roadside emergencies, but you’ll also want to make sure you have auto insurance that offers you the protection you need. Contact your OKFB agent to discuss your auto policy and see if you may be eligible for our roadside assistance policy addition.