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.

• 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!

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.

In most states, the child is covered under the automobile of the parent or guardian and the coverage extends to the vehicle(s) you have registered with us.  In any event, you should also remember to notify us as soon as your teen receives their learner’s permit.

You’ve probably heard from friends and relatives that your rates will increase, which is true.  However, there are steps you can take to keep the rates as low as possible.  The amount your rates will be affected depends on the type of policy that you have as well as several other factors.

Top Tips to Keep Rates Low with a Teen Driver

Whether your child has their own car or will be using the family vehicle, it is best to add your child to your policy.  It costs far less to do this than it would to have them purchase one on their own.  If they do get their own car, adding their car to your policy could qualify them for a multi-car discount on your policy.

Your child should take a certified driver’s education course.  Most states require that they do this in order to get a license.  Either way, it is valuable education to be behind the wheel with a qualified instructor.

How are your child’s grades in school?  Most insurance companies offer a good student discount for student’s that earn at least a “B” average.

Is your child going away to school and leaving their vehicle at home?  If the distance from school is at least 100 miles from home, discounts will normally apply.

Set a good example for your child by being a good role model.  Always fasten your seat belt, be a defensive driver and avoid distractions while driving.

Most states have manuals for parents to assist them in teaching their teens to drive.  Following the programs they outline can help you understand the best ways to start teaching your teen to drive and reduce the stress of teaching them how to drive.

Any additional insurance questions about your teen driver?  Please give the insurance pros at the Cincinnati E.P. Zimmer Insurance Agency a call and we will be happy to answer any of your questions!

An umbrella policy is a liability policy that provides coverage over and above the coverage of your regular policy. We like to say it’s the added layer of protection that protects your assets over and above the limits of your standard liability limits.

As an example, you have an auto insurance policy with a liability limit of $300,000. When you add an umbrella policy with a $1,000,000 limit, you now have liability protection of $1,300,000. Why do you need this additional protection? Consider this – The average personal liability lawsuit judgment in the state of Ohio in personal liability lawsuits is $850,000. A standard liability coverage of $300,000 would leave you with on the average, a $550,000 shortfall.

If the judgment in the lawsuit is against you and your insurance is not sufficient, you are still responsible for the the  difference. The court can require you sell all of your assets, including your home, business, 401K, college savings – essentially everything until the amount is settled. Bankruptcy offers no protection from this type of suit.

The numbers above are only the judgment/settlement amounts and do not include your attorney fees, which can easily be tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In our opinion, an umbrella policy is one of the most important products on the market to protect your assets and future. It is very inexpensive for the coverage you get. The question is normally not “Do I need umbrella insurance?” The real question becomes, “What type of umbrella insurance policy is right for me?”

Call the insurance professionals at the Cincinnati Zimmer Insurance Agency for a review of your risk and exposure as well as a quote for umbrella insurance.

In our experience, the savings are the result of two major factors. One is that the previous insurance company wrote a general policy for the customer without doing a comprehensive review of the clients needs. The other is that the insurance company applied several automatic annual price increases that the client never questioned and were not necessarily justified.

Here is a list of the most common ways for you to keep your insurance costs in control:

1. Maintain a high credit-based insurance score and you may qualify for additional discounts.
2. Choose higher deductibles. With a low deductible, you are essentially funding all the small insurance losses others may claim. Reduced premiums are normally more cost-effective, particularly over a longer period of time.
3. Qualify for multi-policy discounts by having your policies with the same insurance company. The savings by combining policies can be significant.
4. Be safety conscious and install safety devices in your  home. Many of these devices can actually result in an additional discount. If you do install any, be sure to call your agent at the Cincinnati Zimmer Insurance Agency so we can determine how the device may affect your premium.
5. Keep your losses down. Consumers who have the lowest rates are often among those with the fewest claims.
6. Work with an independent insurance agency like Zimmer Insurance. We are not locked into one insurance company and our interest is in serving YOU – Not the insurance company. We will select the best policy based on your needs and make the best recommendations to protect your assets.

Sometimes, you may find a lower price but rarely will you find a better value than you will with Zimmer Insurance. You get superior value, excellent service from experienced professional agents who take the time to fully understand you and your needs.

Welcome to the Zimmer Insurance and  Z-News and updates. As your professional independent insurance agent, we believe it’s important to keep you informed about Zimmer Insurance and the insurance industry in general. There’s a lot of misinformation floating around about insurance and we will cut through the clutter to give you reliable and accurate information.

Visit here regularly to get insurance information, home and auto owner’s safety and security tips as well as insurance tips for your business.  If there is a topic you’d like us to cover or have an insurance question, please let us know. If you haven’t done so already, complete the form below to sign up for the Z-News e-newsletter.

We’ll keep you updated with information about insurance, home and business security as well as local and national news relating to insurance. When local emergencies arise such as the hurricane winds that blew through the Midwest in the fall of 2008, many people were unable to reach us, which is why we’ve added this section to our site. When major weather-related disasters or other events occur, we will update this section of the EP Zimmer Insurance agency web site so you are kept informed with helpful information.