Archive for September, 2009

Did you know that the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) offers seniors safe driving courses? When you think of driver’s education, the thought of a 15 or 16 year-old probably comes to mind. However, as we age, there are  subtle changes that affect us including vision, hearing, motor speed, reaction time, strength and others.

These factors affect people differently but they do affect pretty much everyone. It’s important for all of us to be aware of these changes and educate ourselves about them. When it comes to driving, we have an added responsibility because our actions can impact others quite dramatically.

The insurance industry recognizes theses issues and many companies offer additional discounts to seniors who take an approved safe driver course. We also recommend them as a way to help you be a safe and careful driver. There are more cars on the road, driving habits have changed, the distractions inside and outside the car have increased and it seems there is more traffic everywhere!

The AARP driving courses can be taken online or at different locations around the city. There are several locations around Cincinnati offering them. To take the online course or to find a course being offered in your area, visit the AARP web site for detailed information. You may qualify for a discount upon completion. Call Cincinnati Zimmer Insurance Agency at 513-381-1919 to see if your rates will be affected.

Continuing our Cincinnati insurance agency cost control series, we’re sharing with you today tips six through ten. You can catch control auto insurance costs tips one through five by clicking here.

• Avoid duplicating your medical coverage. Most people have adequate medical, life and disability insurance and don’t need to add more. It’s important to note that some financial institutions require this coverage, even if you already have it.
• Be sure you are qualifying for teen discounts. The main teen discounts are for: Good grades, taking a safe driver course and, if they are in a college more than one hundred miles away and don’t take a car and (if they are still a dependent) keeping their cars on your policy.
• Have all of your policies with a single insurance carrier generally qualifies you for multi-policy discounts. An added advantage of working with a Cincinnati Auto Insurance Agency like Zimmer Insurance is that we know your situation and look for ways to combine your policies and save you money.
• The final tip in our series about controlling auto insurance costs is to consider the cost of insurance before buying another car. Some cars cost a lot more to insure than others and it’s good to know before you buy. We’re happy to provide you with an estimate on the cost of auto insurance on your new car. Just give Cincinnati E.P Zimmer Insurance a call at 513-381-1919 for the best rates and incredible service!

Our Cincinnati Zimmer Insurance Agency clients often look for ways to control auto insurance costs.  TV commercials would have you think the only way to reduce your automobile insurance rates is to switch companies. While that may sometimes be the case, it’s pretty rare with our clients because we’re an independent agent and represent several insurance companies. This means we’re not locked into one company and their rates so we can select what is best for you, without having our hands tied to one company.

It’s important to remember that you also play a role in determining your rates. In later posts, we discuss safe driving tips but today we want to give you a few tips to keep your costs down.

• Request higher deductibles. Most damage claims are for less than $1,000. While that’s not an amount to sneeze at, the savings in premiums over a few years make it worthwhile. Up your deductible from $200 to $500 and you could lower the cost of collision and comprehensive by 15%  to 30%. Increase the deductible to $1,000 and you could save over 40%
• Cancel coverage you don’t need. If you have a “beater” care as a second car or a car for your child that isn’t worth much, it makes sense to cancel collision coverage. Between the cost of the premium and the deductible, it may not be worth it. You can check the approximate value of the car at the Kelly Blue Book web site.
• Drive less. Most insurance companies offer discounts for low mileage usage. Since the odds of a claim increase with the amount of driving, you are a lower risk.
• Add safety and security devices. Air bags and seat belts are standard on cars but you can still add security anti-theft and other security devices to reduce your rates.
• Drive safely, be a defensive driver and practice good driving techniques. The surest way to have rates increase is to get in accidents or get tickets due to careless or reckless driving. Watch the speed limit, avoid distractions like cell phones, don’t ever text while driving, be an aware of driving conditions and pay attention to the road.

These tips can help you control your auto insurance costs. If you are a Cincinnati Zimmer Insurance Agency client and have questions about your policy, just give us a ring at 513-381-1919. If you’re concerned that your auto insurance rates may be too high or coverage inadequate, you will want to talk to the experts at Zimmer Insurance Agency.

We look forward to serving you!

Read control auto insurance costs tips six to ten by clicking here.