auto insurance Archives - Spencer Insurance Agency, Inc

Emergency Preparedness Winter Car Kit

February 4, 2020 by

Emergency Preparedness Winter Car Kit

Having the proper items in your car during the winter can be the difference between life and death during a critical situation. The items listed below can help provide comfort and save your life. Along with the following items, you’ll want to be sure you have a fully charged phone before hitting the road. This can also save your life should an emergency arise.

The Basic Supplies:

These are the essentials.

Remember that along with these basic supplies, you’ll need an adequate amount of gas. It’s important to check that your antifreeze is at the proper level as well.

  • Blankets – Even having one extra blanket can provide much-needed warmth and protection.
  • Extra clothes such as mittens, socks, hats, and jackets
  • Flashlight with extra batteries
  • Jumper cables
  • Bottled water
  • A proper first aid kit with all the supplies that come in it. If you use something in your kit, replace it as soon as you get a chance.
  • Windshield cleaner
  • A simple multi-tool such as a Swiss Army Knife or a Leatherman Tool
  • Road flares or warning triangles

 

Remember that along with these basic supplies, you’ll need an adequate amount of gas. It’s important to check that your antifreeze is at the proper level as well.

Extra Supplies:

If your area experiences extreme winter weather, it’s a good idea to keep these extra supplies on hand as well.

  • Non-clumping cat litter for gaining traction in the snow
  • A folding shovel
  • Sleeping bag
  • Small fire extinguisher (Class B or C for your car)
  • Tire changing essentials such as a jack and lug wrench
  • Paper maps
  • Compass
  • Snacks such as canned nuts or granola bars
  • Ice scraper
  • Tow strap or chain
  • Matches or lighter

 

You can pick from the many options on the market for emergency car kits, or you can take the above listed items and make your own based on your needs. Always remember to check these items and make sure they are still in working order every month. If something needs to be changed out, do so immediately, as you never know when you may need your emergency kit.

Need coverage? Have Questions?

Call Spencer Insurance Agency’s  licensed insurance professionals at 215-885-2200 or visit our website. 

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“Why did my car insurance rates go up when I haven’t any accidents or claims?”

May 14, 2019 by

Teen Driver Insurance and Resources

 

We hear this question often from our clients.  Car insurance rates for all companies have increased over the last few years and I’d like to address some of the reasons:

  • While technology in cars can make them safer on the road, it also adds to the cost to repair the car. My new Camry has five cameras to help me back up and see what is around my car. It also has lane departure warnings and helps navigate me back into the lane. I also have headlights that move as I turn my car.  All these features are great but to repair a bumper or windshield is now a lot more expensive.
  • There are more cars on the road than ever before and with stable gas prices people are driving more. More driving leads to more accidents.
  • Distracted driving. Do I need to say more?  I was on the road the other day when the driver in the car next to me was holding his cell phone to his ear talking with one hand as he drank his coffee using the other hand.  Not sure how he was driving.  It used to be when one of our clients was rear ended at a traffic light they were hit at about 10 MPH. Now due to distracted driving, drivers don’t even realize the light is red and smash into the car in front of them going 40 or 50 MPH. This leads to much more serious claims and higher payments. Over the last three years our agency has had three claims over $500,000 in liability payments.  Fortunately for two of our clients they purchased an umbrella policy that we recommended.

All these factors contribute to the rise in car insurance rates. Our goal at Spencer Insurance Agency is to make sure you are paying a competitive price for your insurance coverage. We review your renewal policy to make sure it is not out of line.  As independent agents we have several companies to choose from for your auto insurance rates.  If you ever feel your rates are too high let us know. We will check it out.  If another company’s rate seems a lot lower please call to discuss the quote with us to make sure you are getting the same coverage.  The “True Cost of Insurance” is not just the premium but also the additional out of pocket costs you incur because you had the wrong coverage.

Contact Spencer Insurance Agency for a second opinion on your car insurance.

 

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Fall is here and so are the Spencer Agency’s fall safety tips!

September 25, 2018 by

Fall Auto and Home Maintenance - Abington, Glenside, Jenkintown Homeowners Insurance company Spencer Insurance

 

As summer comes to a close I ask “will we get rid of this rain and humidity.”  I am looking forward to some crisp fall days and seeing the beautiful change of the color of the trees.

But it would not be fall without Spencer’s fall safety tips.   Check these tips out so you can prevent future claims. This fall section has tips on how to prepare your car and home for fall and winter.  It also has some teen driver tips for parents of teen drivers.

       

Lastly, September is Life insurance awareness month so I have some tips on how to protect your family with life insurance.  Tips on what you need to do with your life insurance if you are getting married or divorced. Rachel will tell you why you should not delay purchasing life insurance.

As always just contact us if you have any questions or concerns.  “Your protection and peace of mind is our only business.”

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Congratulations to our winners and our 4th of July hours

July 2, 2018 by

Congratulations to our recent Big Spin winners.  Dave Schweizer won a $50 Gift card and Jo Cornely won a iPad Mini.  Find out here how you could be our next winner.

 

All of us at Spencer Insurance Agency wish you and your families an enjoyable and safe 4th of July Celebration!

Please observe a moment of silence for all those who have fought to make our freedom possible.  Have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July!

Our office will be closing at 3:00 PM on Tuesday  July 3rd and reopen Thursday July 5th.

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You may have noticed your car insurance rates increasing.

April 17, 2018 by

 

You may have noticed your auto rates increasing.  Why are my rates going up you may ask?  I have had no accidents.  We have noticed too.

Spencer Insurance Agency wants you to know we keep an eye on industry trends to make sure our clients are getting the coverage they need at a competitive price.  We are proactive in checking to make sure you are getting all discounts and make sure the company you have is competitive.

As independent agents Spencer Insurance represents several top rated insurance companies and can choose the company that offers you the coverage you need at a competitive price.  We understand that price is important but that the “True Cost of Insurance” can be much higher if not properly covered.

So why are car insurance rates rising.  There are several factors.  Here are a few:

  • According to Strategy & PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2016 Auto Industry Trends, people are buying more cars. In 2015, Americans bought a record 17.5 million new vehicles.
  • People are driving more. Due to lower gas prices and higher employment, 2015 saw the highest increase in driving in 25 years according to U.S. Department of Transportation.
  • Repair Costs are rising. Newer car repairs include costly electronics – like cameras, sensors and other safety devices.
  • Injury costs are rising due to medical inflation
  • According to the National Safety Council, Insurance Information Institute traffic fatalities are reaching record levels. 2015 brought the largest single – year increase in driving – related deaths since 1966. Worse yet, we’re on track for a two – year increase of 18 %.
  • Distracted Driving is increasing! According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fewer people are talking while driving, but more are texting and surfing the web.

We all know it is crazy out on the roads these days.  How many times have you been at a red light when it turns to green and the car in front of you does not move because the person driving is texting?

We ask that you be careful about switching just due to price.  Check out our article “True Cost of Insurance” before you switch and contact us to compare the quote you received with your actual coverage. Yes, sad to say some agents will quote lower limits to get your business. You may not realize it until you have a claim when it is too late. Here are some additional reasons why you may not want to switch carriers even if you save some money:

  • You may have a disappearing deductible or deductible credit which you will lose.
  • You may have accident forgiveness on your current policy.
  • Because rates are changing for all our carriers you may find the company you switch to costs more come next renewal. You then lose loyalty credits.
  • Does the company you choose have the same level of claim service you have come to expect?
  • Are you talking to the same people when you call your insurance agent or do you just get the next person available to take your call?

Spencer Insurance has a licensed and highly experienced team. You know when you call that you will be talking to Joan, Beth, Denise, Steve or me.  If you have any questions please contact us!  We are here for you!

Please drive safely and pull over to use your phone to make a call, text or check the GPS.

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Do you know someone who is a parent of a teen driver . . .

February 13, 2018 by

If you have a teen driver continue reading.  If not, forward this message to a friend or family member who is a parent of a teen driver.  You will be doing them a favor.

I remember when my four children were teen drivers. My head was spinning. I had to teach them how to drive safely and pay those high rates for car insurance.  Now that I have grandchildren I look forward to watching my children navigate through this process.

Spencer Insurance has help for parents of teen drivers.  Check out our website designed just for parents of teen drivers.

What is on the website?

  • A list of driving schools – email us if you know another good one.
  • Tips and suggestions
    • Parent – teen driving contract
    • 101 Safe Teen Driving Tips
    • 7 costly mistakes parent make
  • Links to the PA, NJ and DE motor vehicle sites to learn how to get a permit
  • A link to our “Safe Teen Driving Course”

Spencer Insurance understands this is an important and stressful time.  Let us help you navigate through this process.

Please contact us with any questions you may have.

“Your Protection and Peace of Mind is our only Business.”

 

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The Devil is in the details . . .

January 23, 2018 by

Teen Driver Insurance and Resources      

I am sure you have heard the saying “The devil is in the details.”  This applies to insurance as well.  When you shop around for insurance you may think you are being quoted the same coverage only to find out the reason the quote is cheaper is because you have lesser coverage. When you call the 800 number to get a quote in 5 or 15 minutes you don’t know if the person you are talking to has been on the job for a week or 7 years. They may know very little about insurance and just follow a script. They have no skin in the game if they give you poor advice or if they don’t tell you the coverage you have is not sufficient.  They may not talk to you again, ever.

That is why Spencer Insurance Agency asks our clients to call us when they get a quote from another company before they consider switching to a new company.  We are a local independent agency which means we write with more than one company and all of our staff members are licensed professionals, not just order-takers.  You can even stop in and talk to us! Our staff understands insurance and knows that details are important. You talk to the same people when you call us.

Spencer Insurance Agency is not offended when a client calls and tells us they feel their rates are too high.  We will review your policies and see if there is anything we can do to bring the price down that will not put you at a greater risk because you have less coverage. We have several quality carriers not just one.

Recently, a client notified us they switched to another company to get a much better rate.  When the client sent us the new policies for us to review they were shocked to find how much coverage they lost.  They had a 2% wind deductible which means if there was a  thunder storm with strong winds and their house sustained wind damage (tree blown onto house, shingles blown off roof, etc.) that they had a $8,000 deductible. The policy our client had with our carrier was a $1,000 deductible regardless of the cause of the covered loss.  They also did not have any water backup coverage and other coverage was missing as well.  When they called the new company to inquire about the missing coverage they could not get through to anyone that could help them and became very frustrated by the service. Yes, they got a better price but the coverage and service they received was very poor.  They cancelled those policies and came back to Spencer Insurance.

We understand that price is important but please call us before you switch so we can help evaluate the offer you received before you switch.  A savings of $500 could end up costing you $20,000 when you have a claim.

Call us today at 215-885-2200 for a review.

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Happy Labor Day! Are you looking forward to the first day of school? Send us your pictures!

August 31, 2017 by

Happy Labor Day!  I hope you enjoy the weekend!

Labor Day means it is time to go back to school.  Many of us remember or are experiencing our child’s first day of school.  Excitement, Anxiousness, happiness, sadness are just a few things parents experience not to mention the kids.  I think many times the first day of school is harder on the parents.

 

This is a picture of my oldest and youngest on one of their first days of school.  Send us your pictures of your child’s first day at school.  Send us the old and the new!  Love to see the older pictures too.  Post them on our Facebook page or email them to us.  We would love to share them in our next newsletter.

Be careful driving as the school zones will be active again.  Also, remind your teen drivers to be careful. Don’t forget we have a website for the parents of teen drivers.

Good luck this school year.  Don’t forget to send us the pictures.

 

 

P.S. Spencer insurance will close at 3PM on Friday September 1st and reopen Tuesday September 5th.

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Car insurance rates are rising. Want to know why?

August 22, 2017 by

Car insurance rates continue to climb in Bucks and Montgomery counties just like the rest of the state.  There are many reasons why rates are rising:

  • Increased cost of repairs due to safety technology in cars today. They make cars safer but repairs more costly.
  • Gas prices are low so people are driving more miles.
  • More cars on the roads

But the most concerning reason auto insurance rates are rising is distracted driving and distracted walking.

Although distracted driving can be looking at your GPS or navigation system, eating or drinking coffee, changing the radio station; the most concerning distracted driving activity is texting while driving.

I saw a statistic that said when on the interstate traveling 60 MPH the average text would involve looking away from the road for the length of a football field.

Don’t think Bluetooth devices are the answer.  Although better than hand held they still distract the driver.

 

No text or phone call is worth your life.  If you need to take a call or make a call pull over to a parking area then make the call.  We all hear and see stories of accidents while texting that are life changing for a family.  The loss of a parent or child is devastating. Don’t let it happen to you!

I also mention distracted walking.  We are seeing more and more claims where people are texting or looking at their phone while walking.  They walk right into an intersection while texting and don’t look up.  The result is more accidents involving pedestrians on their phones.

I hope this article will help just a few people put down the phone when driving and walking.  I don’t want to see anymore claims involving pedestrian hit by cars while the walker or driver was texting.

I also want to make a plea to parents.  Remember your kids are watching your driving habits.  If you are texting while driving you not only put your life and other lives at risk but you are setting a terrible example for your kids.

I understand phones are important for all of us. But when did our lives become so complicated that we needed to be available to answer the phone or text immediately?  I for one do not want people thinking I am available 24/7.  I value my life and yours too much.

Spread the word as distracted driving is becoming an epidemic and as serious as drunk driving.

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Separating or recently divorced? Check in with us!

August 8, 2017 by

 

If you or someone you know is recently separated or divorced you should check in with us. The sooner the better.

We recently had a client in Glenside that had car insurance on a policy with her husband.  They were recently separated and the wife moved into an apartment. What she did not understand is this would have huge impact on her car insurance and homeowner’s insurance.

Privacy laws sometimes make it difficult for us to talk to her about her husband.  However, we could quote and issue a car insurance policy on just her car.  We also suggested a renter’s insurance policy for her since she moved out of the home.  The husband would continue with the current policy so his car would also have coverage.

You also need to think about your life insurance policy.  Who should be the beneficiary?  If you have children then it is important to make sure there is a change to the beneficiary to reflect the separation or divorce. You should also discuss with the divorce lawyer your life insurance policies as you want to make sure they continue for the benefit of the children.

It is important to make sure the divorce attorney helps you in these areas but you may need to see a lawyer specializing in estate law.  You will need to update your will, power of attorney and living will.  If you need a referral to an estate attorney contact us.

There are many things related to insurance that you need to consider when getting a separation or divorce.  For more details check out our website article “Getting a divorce or separation.”

As always we are available to review your auto, home and life insurance policies.  We are professionals and our goal is to make sure both spouses have the proper protection in the event of a divorce or separation.  We do not take sides, we just assist both of you.

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