What are My Auto Insurance Requirements?

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Driving a car on a daily basis is a necessity for many people. When you are looking to drive a vehicle in the Waldron, AR area, it is important that you understand what your auto insurance requirements are. For those that are in the area, several factors should be considered when you are trying to determine what your requirements for insurance coverage include.

Minimum Requirements

When you are looking for an auto insurance policy in Arkansas, you should first consider the state requirements. Similar to all states, Arkansas will require that you carry liability coverage whenever you are on the road. In Arkansas, you will be required to carry a personal property damage coverage of at least $25,000 per incident plus bodily injury coverage of at least $50,000 per incident. This is only liability coverage and will not buy any protection for your vehicle.

Collision and Comprehensive

In the state of Arkansas, you are not required to carry collision and comprehensive insurance coverage. However, if you have a loan or a lease on the vehicle, it likely will be required by the finance company. It is important to carefully consider your entire lease or loan document to make sure that you comply with it when you are buying a new auto insurance policy. This will provide you with a variety of different coverage types on top of liability.

When you are trying to determine your auto insurance requirements in the Waldron, AR area, it would be very beneficial to speak with The Owens Agency, LLC. When you meet with The Owens Agency, LLC, our insurance agents will be able to review your personal situation and determine what your insurance requirements are. We will also be able to provide you with a recommended policy that meets your coverage needs. Contact us for a quote.

What Business Owners Need to Know about Fleet Insurance

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If a company uses a truck for business purposes, even only part-time, it is likely that there is a need for commercial vehicle insurance. This need may arise in some not so obvious ways, such as when a business owner lends his or her personal truck to an employee to run an errand for the company. That is a commercial use of the vehicle, which may not be covered under a personal automobile insurance policy.

Additionally, when a company has more than one truck in operation, especially when there are multiple drivers of the commercial vehicles, the company may benefit from insurance of those vehicles as a fleet. A fleet is usually four or more vehicles used for commercial purposes. Even an individual that drives four or more personal vehicles may benefit by switching to fleet insurance.

Common Uses for Fleet Insurance

Common uses for fleet insurance include trucking companies, rental car companies, taxis, delivery services, buses, company automobiles used by outside salespersons, and many others. If your company has more than one truck or a combination of trucks and automobiles that it uses for commercial purposes, check with your agent at The Owens Agency, LLC serving Waldron, AR, and the surrounding areas to determine if fleet insurance is the appropriate choice for coverage.

Advantages of Fleet Insurance for Trucking Companies

Having fleet insurance eliminates the stress and extra work of maintaining separate insurance policies for each vehicle. There may be economic advantages, and the claims process is usually very efficient. If a fleet of trucks is used to transport goods, some policies also provide additional coverage for the value of the products being transported.

Contact your agent at The Owens Agency, LLC serving Mena, Waldron, AR, and the surrounding areas to learn more about the fleet insurance solutions that would be beneficial for your business.

How Many Supplementary Policies can be Added to Your Home Insurance Policy?

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Home insurance is something that we all need to have in place to protect our homes. If you have a mortgage on your home, your lender likely requires that you have home insurance to help protect their investment as well. These policies help us in a wide range of incidents from fire to storm damage, but there are some instances in which a home policy is simply not going to pay out. In those cases, you can add supplementary policies to help cover anything that may happen. For those in the Mena or Waldron, AR area, the agents with The Owens Agency, LLC can help you determine which supplementary policies you need.

Each insurance company is different in regards to how much supplementary insurance can be added to your primary policy and how many extra policies you can have, but generally, each insurance company will allow you to buy the supplementary insurance that you need. There are supplementary policies for just about anything you can imagine including flood, earthquake, umbrella policies, and more. The most important thing is to take the time to figure out what policy is right for you and what coverage you need. In most cases, your agent or agency will help you to condense supplementary policies for easy management.

Also, many insurance companies have supplementary bundles that save you money while giving you the extra coverage that you need above and beyond your typical home policy. This type of insurance policy is entirely optional and is great for those that need a bit of extra coverage, but that might not want to buy an entirely new policy. You can buy specific additional coverage, or you can buy umbrella policies that cover just about anything. For those in the Waldron, AR area, the agents with The Owens Agency, LLC can help you find the perfect coverage.  

What are My Auto Insurance Requirements?

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Driving a car is a practical necessity for many people. For those that are in the Waldron, AR area, driving a car on a daily basis is commonplace. Since these assets are so valuable, making sure they are properly covered by insurance is beneficial. When looking for a new auto insurance policy, there are several requirements that need to be taken into consideration.  

State Liability Minimum Requirements

The first requirement that drivers in Arkansas need to consider is the state liability minimum requirements. When driving a car in Arkansas, you will need to have a liability insurance policy in place that will provide you with up to $25,000 of personal property coverage and bodily injury coverage of at least $25,000 per individual with a max of $50,000 per incident.  

Additional Coverage Requirements

While the state of Arkansas will only require you to carry the minimum liability insurance, you may also be required to carry collision and comprehensive coverage. These types of coverage will provide you with coverage in a variety of situations including if your car is damaged in an accident, if your vehicle is stolen or vandalized, or if you are in an accident involving an animal. Most auto lenders and lease providers will require you to carry this insurance.  

For those that are in the Waldron, AR area and would like to understand their insurance requirements and needs better, one great company to talk to is The Owens Agency, LLC. When you meet with The Owens Agency, LLC you will receive a lot of insight and input into what the basic requirements are for you to comply with the state laws and your loan agreement. Reach out to our agents to get a quote or try our online rating tool for a quote on auto insurance.

Trucking Risks: Why Trucking Insurance Coverage Is Crucial

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While trucking insurance may seem like a considerable investment, it is one of the more essential protections you can provide for your Waldron, AR business. Just like other forms of business insurance, trucking insurance coverage can help pay for damage or losses that otherwise might result in your business shutting its doors. When selecting the ideal policy, you need to consider the risks. Regardless of the type or size of the truck you operate, keep in mind the following factors to ensure your policy from The Owens Agency, LLC is the right one for your company.

Trucking Accident Risks

According to the Department of Transportation, 130,000 people in the U.S. are involved in a truck-related accident each year; 22 percent of which result in injury to truck drivers, passengers or other drivers, and 75 percent of those incidents result in property damage. Whether you are an individual operating a single commercial vehicle or a trucking company, trucking insurance is invaluable – the average cost of a commercial trucking accident is $59,000. With the right trucking insurance policy, you won’t be responsible for hefty out-of-pocket payments.

How To Minimize Trucking Risks

Talk to your insurance agent to have your policy reviewed periodically to ensure you have adequate trucking liability coverage for your Waldron, AR business. Assess your risks and make sure you have coverage that protects you beyond the basics. Only hire experienced and skilled drivers with a history of safe driving. Create a safe schedule, encourage drivers to pull over and rest if they feel drowsy on the road, and make sure your vehicles are operating at peak levels.  Each of these measures can help to keep your risks and liabilities as low as possible.

For more information about trucking insurance and choosing a trucking insurance policy that is best suited for your unique business risks, call the insurance experts at The Owens Agency, LLC today and learn how you can get started.

Can Home Insurance Companies Deny Claims Because a Home Is Not Maintained?

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At The Owens Agency, LLC, serving the greater Waldron, AR area, we are often asked questions about homeowners insurance. More specifically, people want to know why their home insurance claims may be denied and what role home maintenance plays in denials. We believe in informing and educating potential customers. Here is what every homeowner should know about home maintenance and home insurance claims.

Home Maintenance

It is critical that you properly care for and maintain all of the elements of your home, including things such as the roof, siding, your foundation, and plumbing. If you file a homeowners insurance claim, an adjuster may come out to evaluate the damage done to your home. One of the things that they will look for as they evaluate the damage is what condition the damaged part of your home is in and whether that element was adequately maintained. 

If the adjuster determines that the element of your home that is damaged was not adequately maintained or was damaged due to a lack of maintenance, they reserve the right to deny your claim. Always carefully read over your policy documents to learn more about the maintenance requirements for your home and what your rights are if you dispute the findings that the element that was damaged was not adequately cared for or maintained. 

When you are looking for a new home insurance policy, The Owens Agency, LLC, serving the greater Waldron, AR area, would love to help you find the right policy for your situation. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to sit down with us and discuss your home insurance needs. 

3 Ways To Lower Your Auto Insurance Premiums

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People in Mena and Waldron, AR are always looking for ways to save some money. It might surprise the people of Arkansas to know that auto insurance rates in the state are some of the lowest in the United States. Allen Kerr, Arkansas Insurance Commissioner, announced these findings of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in January of 2018.

The Owens Agency, LLC has played its part in keeping rates for auto insurance low in Arkansas. We feel one of our most important assets is tapping the wealth of agents with local experience.

The laws of Arkansas demand that certain minimums for bodily injury and property damage are maintained for any vehicle. These are three ways you can lower your auto insurance premiums and stay legal.

Let an Agency Shop for You

Do not shop for a better deal on your own. The easiest way to find a lower insurance premium is to deal with an agency that represents a number of the top firms in the country. You can get an immediate comparison of rates for the same coverage. This helps to make a decision simple and fast.

Higher deductible

Selecting a higher deductible has a dramatic impact on your premium. This method of premium reduction does not work for all people. Some very expensive cars are not suitable for this method. Younger drivers are not allowed to use a lower deductible due to a higher frequency of accidents.

Drive safely

Your premium will decrease if you drive without an accident. The longer that you drive accident free, the more your premium will go down. Your auto insurance premium will never get to zero. Safe driving does pay in reduced rates. The insurance company would instead give you a break on your premium than pay for an accident because the premium cut costs less.

The Owens Agency, LLC in Waldron, AR is more than happy to find a way to help you lower your auto insurance premiums. Call us at 479-637-2207 to discuss options that can reduce your premiums.

 

3 Safety Tips for Truckers

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Truckers notoriously have to handle a lot during their time on the clock. From long hours to hypnotic roads, there’s a reason why trucker safety is so important and so disastrous if something goes wrong. For a safer ride every time, follow these three tips for trucker safety from The Owens Agency, LLC. 

Better Driving 

Most truckers know to slow down before they hit a big curve or to hit their brakes when they enter a construction zone — but that doesn’t always mean they do it. It’s not easy for truckers from Mena and Waldron, AR to reduce their speed when they’re under a deadline, but it has to be done. If you find yourself in bad weather conditions or are exhausted from a long drive, make time during your trip to pull over and wait for things to blow over. This can be the difference between a successful haul and death.

Smarter Loading 

The truck reacts to every bump and curve based on how well it was loaded. The more precautions taken during the process, the more likely it is that the weight will be evenly distributed along the road. There are also plenty of products that can be purchased for semi-trucks, such as air springs, to ensure that the truck doesn’t have as much wear and tear on it by the end of the journey. 

Additional Trucking Insurance 

All truckers are required to have some type of insurance for both the driver and the vehicle, but all policies are different. Companies in Mena and Waldron, AR who wish to save themselves a lot of hassle in the future can contact The Owens Agency, LLC to find out more about how truckers can get the best possible protection. From bodily injuries to vehicle damage, there’s a lot to learn about how trucking insurance works. Give us a call to find out more and to get a quote.

Is Home Insurance On the Rise?

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If you own a home in Arkansas or Oklahoma and have insurance on it, you may notice a rise in your premium from time to time. What you need to realize, though, is that your insurance rate should not increase simply because the insurance provider wants to make more money. Instead, there usually has to be some justification and change as to why you are paying more. Let’s take a closer look at what could make your homeowner’s insurance increase with The Owens Agency, LLC in Waldron, AR. 

Dogs and Pets

Did you know that dog bites account for roughly 1/3 of all homeowner’s liability claims? If you have a dog and your insurance provider finds out and you have not previously listed the dog on your policy, this can cause your rate to increase. 

Trampoline and Outdoor Equipment

So, you’ve decided that the kids would love to have a trampoline. Sure, having one of these is going to keep the kids well-entertained, but it may also increase your homeowner’s insurance rate. Pools can have the same affect as well.

Wood-burning Fireplace

There’s nothing better than the cozy feeling of heat coming from a wood stove. However, with 36 percent of rural and residential fires starting from a wood fireplace or stove, this makes having one in your home high risk; therefore, meaning once you list it on your policy, you very well may see a jump in your insurance rate. 

Home Business

If you run a home business, there’s a good chance you may require a completely separate insurance policy for it. If you don’t, then the coverage of your homeowner’s policy is likely to increase because coverage will be needed to protect your business assets, including furniture, electronics, and more. 

To learn more about homeowner’s insurance, please contact The Owens Agency, LLC serving the Waldron, AR area. Also, try our online rating tool for quotes on home insurance from your computer.

Does Auto Insurance Cover Your Windshield?

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Here at The Owens Agency, LLC in Waldron, AR, one of the questions that we are often asked in relation to auto insurance is whether windshields are covered under an auto insurance policy. Here is a bit of information that you will want to know if you have this question. 

Windshields Are Included

Windshields are covered under your auto insurance policy. If a rock flies up and cracks your windshield or if it shatters due to a car accident, you can file an insurance claim and have the windshield repaired or replaced. However, many people are under the impression that they are not included as part of an auto insurance policy because often the cost of the deductible exceeds the cost of the windshield repair or replacement cost. In this case, it makes no sense to file an insurance claim, leading many to believe it is not covered. 

Windshields Can Have Their Own Deductibles

In some cases, windshields or auto glass has its own deductible. This deductible may apply specifically to your auto glass and is lower than your regular auto insurance deductible. This helps to make it easier for you to afford windshield repairs or replacement. If you are wondering if you have a separate deductible for auto glass, be sure to read your policy. If you do, it will be clearly stated. If you cannot find this information in the policy, it is because you likely do not have a separate deductible for auto glass or your windshield.

If you are in the market for a new auto insurance policy or are looking to price out policies with auto glass coverage, contact The Owens Agency, LLC in Waldron, AR today. We would love to put together a plan for you and provide you with an estimate. Contact us today to get started.