If you have a car, you probably have an insurance policy on it so you can legally drive on the streets of places like Honesdale, Milford, and Dunmore. While most people don’t think too much about their insurance on a daily basis, there are all kinds of reasons why you might not be happy with your insurer. Sometimes rates go up too much in a short period of time, or coverage changes so that you’re not getting as much value for your money. When things like that happen, it’s only natural to want to use a different insurance company.

Don’t cancel your old auto insurance policy until you get a new one. It’s not legal to drive around Pennsylvania with no coverage on your vehicle. Instead, come see us. We’re an independent agency, so we can work with a lot of different insurers to get you the best coverage for the right price. Because of that, you’ll have choices that you might not have had at your old insurance company. The prices could be better, or the coverage could be more complete than what you were offered, giving you more for your money.

Once we’ve found you a great new policy, you’re free to cancel the old one. It doesn’t matter that your term with that insurer isn’t up yet. You have the right to cancel anytime you want. You’re also entitled to a refund of the part of the premium that wasn’t used. Don’t let your old insurer tell you that you can’t cancel, or badger you about why you’re switching. You have a right to do as you please with your money and your insurance. As long as you have a new policy, you’re completely free to cancel the old one and get a refund any time you want to.

If you are like most Dunmore, Pennsylvania parents, there will come a time when your kids will want to learn how to drive. The itch usually starts when a teen enters high school and by the time they are a Junior or Senior, they are asking to borrow the keys to the family car.

While driving is a right of passage for almost all teens, it also can be a trying time for parents. Auto insurance for a seventeen year old can be quite expensive. As an independent agent, we hear all types of stories about the crazy things that happen when young, new drivers get behind the wheel of a car. You can try to tell your teenage son or daughter not to do this or not to do that, but the only way they ever learn is by actually getting behind the wheel and driving.

Teen drivers in Pennsylvania make a number of different mistakes when they are just learning to drive. Hopefully, the mistakes they make are little ones and do not result in accidents. If you are sitting in the passenger seat with a teen driver, you may wonder what is going through their mind.

Driving down the main drag in Dunmore, your teen driver may crank up the stereo and feel as free as a bird. However, the music may be so loud that they get distracted and can not hear the horn of another driver as they accidentally drift across the lane marker.

Teens tend to speed much more than more seasoned drivers. Boys are more likely offenders than girls. Little mistakes like forgetting to check the rear view mirror or not realizing that a car may be in your blind spot, can cause accidents. Inexperienced teen drivers sometimes drive too close to the vehicle in front of them and do not give themselves enough time to react if that vehicle stops short.

As a parent, you should have a good idea of the driving habits of your teenage son or daughter. You should be patient while they are learning to drive, but also firm by insisting that they do not text, speed, play the music too loud or otherwise get distracted when they get behind the wheel.

If a driver receives a traffic ticket in Pennsylvania, it depends on what the violation was for and how many tickets show up on their record, to raise car insurance rates. Receiving a fine for going 5 miles over the speed limit, will not affect your policy rate. Receiving a traffic ticket for going 20 miles over the speed limit while drunk seriously affects your insurance. Call your independent agent in Honesdale, Milford or Dunmore, to review your driving record.

Independent agents in Honesdale look closer at a policy when drivers have licenses, such as a CDL, and get violations. The penalties are higher and so are the rates on the policy. No points received on a ticket versus 4 points received on a ticket will increase premium rates. If a CDL driver gets a fine for going 26 or more miles over the speed limit they can get a suspended license for 90 days, which means no income and rates go up.

Car insurance rates in this state all depend on the fines received and the penalties. Minors who receive fines and penalties can expect the same as an adult driver. However, they are at a greater risk for having their license suspended, which in turn will raise their premiums. Call your independent agent to discuss violations received. If a driver has a learners permit or is under the age of 18 years of age and receives a violation, the license is suspended for 90 days. This will increase rates.

In Pennsylvania, a defensive driving course will not remove points on the driver’s record. The only way that Pennsylvania will reduce points on driving records, thus reducing rates is to keep violation free for one year. This will remove three points. If the person takes a written or on street test this will remove two points.

If concerned about driving records call the independent agent in Honesdale, Milford, or Dunmore to discuss violaions and rates.

Buying a car can be a lot of fun, but it can also be stressful. You want to get a great car, but you need to stay within your budget and make sure that you’re not overspending. Whether you’re buying new or used, and whether you’re financing or not, are both important and worth considering. There are plenty of things you want to consider, though, besides the price and how you’re making the purchase. Mileage is important, as well as having the car checked out by a mechanic if it’s used. New cars have warranties, so mechanical issues and mileage are generally not concerns.

One tip that most people forget to give when they’re offering advice about buying a car in Pennsylvania is to pay attention to the cost of insurance. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in Dunmore, Milford, or Honesdale – you still have to insure your car. What kind of car you buy will affect the price of your policy, and sometimes the price can be very high if you buy a car that’s considered high risk for theft or other problems. The larger the engine and the younger the driver, the higher the policy premiums will go, as well.

The best way to get the right car (and the right policy) is to come and talk to us. As an independent agent, we’re able to give you quotes from several different companies. That can help you to make a decision about the best policy, and also about the best car for your needs. By being able to take a careful look at several cars and how much they’ll cost you in insurance premiums across different companies, you can choose the best options for saving money and being safe on the road. We can help you be sure that you’re getting something you’ll be happy with for a long time.