Insurance on Rental Cars

The rental-car clerk will offer you a collision-damage waiver (sometimes called a loss-damage waiver), which can cost $10 to $20 per day. The CDW shields you if the rental car is damaged or stolen. But as long as the rental is for personal use and you have collision coverage in your own auto-insurance policy, you’re covered without the CDW (with the same deductibles that apply to your own car).

Your credit-card benefits supplement your auto coverage. Most cards will pick up your deductible, and premium cards offer beefier coverage. Keep in mind that credit-card protection doesn’t include liability. And if you’ve dropped comprehensive or collision coverage on your policy, the rental car will not be covered if it is stolen or damaged in an accident.

Not drugs. Not alcohol. Driver error was the number one cause of fatal car crashes involving 16- and 17-year-old drivers according to a recent study. Limiting the number of passengers and discouraging distractions — like talking on the phone, sending text messages and changing music on the radio or MP3 player — can help keep teen drivers safe. For more tips and resources to help promote safe teen driving in your community, go to allstate.com/teen. Ask me for more resources that can help stop this killer in its tracks. Ask your Allstate agent, here at the Ranek-Spurgeon Group, for more resources that can help stop this killer in its tracks.

For all of you iPhone an Blackberry users, there is now an Allstate Mobile app that you can use to access your auto, motorcycle and home insurance policies, find out what to do during accident, make a claim, and much more.  This can be a very quick and easy referrence for you when you’re in a hurry.

We recommend to our clients that they should consider the following options to put their tax refund to work for them:

• Set up an emergency savings fund. Simply essential. The old conventional wisdom advised saving enough money to cover three to six months of unemployment. Many financial professionals now recommend keeping enough money stashed away to cover six months to one year of unemployment.

• Buy life insurance. Many people have only the life insurance plans offered by their employer. But your family needs protection whether you’re working or between jobs. There are two basic types of life insurance: term and permanent.  A financial professional can help you determine the type and amount of protection you may need.

Enjoy life knowing that you’re protected from the unexpected!

With so many people out on the roads, make sure you talk to your agent about your liability limits on your auto insurance policy.  Having the right coverage to meet your family’s needs makes all of the difference for your future.  Call your agent today!