Motorcycle insurance tips: 5 Ways to ride defensively in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Motorcycle insurance protects you on the roadways. But it can’t prevent accidents from happening.

Unfortunately, some accidents are unavoidable. Motorcycles bring added risk. Excessive speed, distracted driving, and unexpected obstacles are the leading culprits. 

Yet Palm Valley Insurance Inc. knows that remaining vigilant while riding is key. Serving Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, the agency wants to keep you safe by offering these five defensive driving tips for all motorcycle riders.

Gear up

Put an outfit together that’s more than just "cool." Protective gear, like helmets, eyewear, and gloves, is essential. To shield against wind and debris, long pants, jackets, and boots are encouraged too.

Stand out

Motorcycles are already tough to spot for other drivers. Maximize visibility by wearing bright-colored clothing. Use headlights and turn signals, especially while riding at night. Stay ready to use your horn, just in case.

Leave room

Another way to increase visibility is to leave a greater distance between you and other motorists. Avoid tailgating. This helps avoid other drivers’ blind spots. As a general rule, find a less-traveled route to cruise. Less congested roadways present fewer problems.

Pass safely

Be careful when trying to pass. Don’t pass on curves or corners. Also, watch out for drivers changing lanes ahead of you. Improper lane switching and overtaking are the leading causes of accidents. 

Improve skills

The best practice is to get out and ride. This allows you to get more comfortable and gain experience. For new riders, consider taking a training or safety class.

Find an agent serving Ponte Verda Beach, FL

At Palm Valley Insurance Inc., your safety is their top priority. Serving Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, the agency can provide more than just helpful tips. Their professional agents can create a personalized motorcycle insurance policy that keeps you protected. Schedule an appointment today.

Has Your Life Insurance Needs Changed? Here’s How to Decide

Most people know they need to purchase life insurance. However, what most people do not know is that over time your life insurance needs will change. So, how do you know when these changes take place? At Palm Valley Insurance, Inc. serving Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, we are here to help you navigate important insurance questions like this. Keep reading to learn more. 

Why Do Life Insurance Needs Change?

The amount of life insurance you originally purchased would have been established based on certain factors. These factors can include your annual household income, your marital status, and how many dependents you have. Over time these factors can change. When these things change, then your insurance needs will change as well. 

Which Changes Will Effect Life Insurance Needs?

In order to determine if your needs have changed, you will want to ask yourself if there have been major life changes for you. Have you gotten married or divorced? Have you had a child or more children? Has your career changed? Has your annual income changed drastically? Have you developed any serious health problems? These are all important questions to ask yourself. Each of these major life changes will have an important effect on your life insurance needs. 

In many cases, families find that their life insurance coverage is no longer sufficient for their family’s standard of living or for their current family dynamic. 

The best way to determine your life insurance needs is to sit down with an insurance representative to discuss your particular details. 

If you would like to learn more about life insurance, please contact our friendly staff at Palm Valley Insurance, Inc. serving Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. We will be happy to answer your questions today. 

 

Underinsured Auto Insurance: A Vital Option

Uninsured insurance policies are a common safeguard against various auto accident risks. But, if you don’t have one of these policies, you’re doing yourself a grave disservice. Thankfully, we at Palm Valley Insurance Inc. can help Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, residents get the policy they need. 

How This Insurance Helps You 

  • An uninsured or underinsured motorist policy is an additional type of coverage you can add to your current coverage. It would go into effect if the driver who caused the accident had no insurance or poor insurance. When utilized, it helps to protect you by offering a myriad of benefits: 
  • Medical Payments – If you are seriously injured in a car accident, and the at-fault driver has no insurance, you may find yourself either having to sue the driver or pay the bills yourself. Thankfully, this policy type helps by providing payment, even though you’re not to blame. 
  • Auto Repair – Like with medical payments, a driver with no or poor insurance will leave you in the lurch when it comes time to repair your car. Thankfully, this policy type will help you by paying for these repairs, minimizing any long-term financial struggles as well. 

Other Protection – If you lose out on work time or experience any financial loss due to an underinsured or uninsured driver, this policy will compensate you. It will pay up to its policy limits, so make sure you find an option that fits your financial needs. 

Give Yourself the Policy You Need 

Protect yourself and your family by finding an uninsured driver policy that meets your needs. Our team at Palm Valley Insurance Inc. will do what is necessary to ensure that you are satisfied with your Ponte Vedra Beach, FL policy and will work with you to give you the help you need.

Palm Valley Insurance Inc. lists 4 benefits of home insurance

Owning a home is rewarding. But having insurance may be even more valuable.

Although it’s often overlooked, homeowners insurance guards the investment you’ve made in your home. It grants security and peace of mind. However, the benefits don’t end there.

Palm Valley Insurance Inc. has helped Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and its residents understand the importance of home insurance. The agency breaks down four ways home insurance protects you, your family, and your belongings.

Protects property

The main benefit is protecting your primary dwelling. In the event of damage, home insurance will cover any necessary repairs or replacements to your home. Yet other structures on your property may be covered as well. This could include detached garages, decks, fences, and sheds.

Protects possessions

The contents inside your home are covered too. Personal property coverage may reimburse you for key items that are damaged, destroyed, or stolen. Furniture, electronics, and appliances fall into this category. Take an inventory of these belongings to ensure you purchase the appropriate coverage.

Protects against lawsuits

Liability insurance is a crucial part of any homeowner’s policy. If you are found legally responsible for hurting someone or their property, this coverage kicks in. Not only will it reimburse repair costs, but it may also help with legal fees and medical bills.

Protects for loss of use

Prepare for the worst. If a disaster, catastrophe, or other covered claim forces you to relocate, home insurance will provide payment for any additional living expenses you incur. This applies to hotel, food, and increased travel costs. 

Palm Valley Insurance Inc. can help

Serving Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, the agency will build a personalized home insurance policy just for you. With many benefits, don’t wait any longer. Call today.

Important Maintenance To Keep Your Vehicle Alive

The idea of sitting without transportation for even a day is a frightening thought for most car owners. A car offers convenience and being able to get from point a to point b without a hassle is something that should not be taken for granted. It is important to perform regular maintenance checks on your vehicle so that it does not break down.

Here are some important car care tips to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape:

  1. Tire Care and maintenance: Check tire pressures regularly to ensure you are getting value for money in terms of fuel consumption. Also, check the tread on your tires. Worn tires are dangerous and can cause damage to the vehicle.
  2. Change the oil: Check and change the oil regularly. This will keep the engine running smoothly.
  3. Check the fluids: Various fluids in your vehicle must always be in sufficient quantity, including engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and power steering fluid. Leaks will affect the handling of the vehicle.
  4. Change the engine air filter: An air filter prevents dust, sand, and dirt from getting into your vehicle’s engine. Dirty air filters lead to poor engine performance.
  5. Check your brakes: Your vehicle’s brake pads also need to be checked regularly. If you hear noise when you apply the brakes, this could be an indication that the brake pads need to be replaced.
  6. Take your car in for regular vehicle inspections: Always take the vehicle to a reputable garage that will perform additional mandatory checks on the car to make sure everything is working as it should and to replace parts that need to be replaced.

Speak to an expert at Palm Valley Insurance Inc. serving Ponte Vedra Beach, FL find out which auto insurance policy is best for you and your family. 

What Should You Know About Motorcycle Insurance?

You may think that you do not need to carry motorcycle insurance because it is an additional expense. However, if you own a motorcycle and you ride it, then motorcycle insurance is what protects you and your motorcycle on the road. If you have never had this type of insurance before, and you want to know more about it, Palm Valley Insurance Inc. serving clients in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL prepared the basic information about motorcycle insurance you should have:

What Should You Know About Motorcycle Insurance?

  • Most insurance companies offer the following coverage options: collision coverage (damage to your motorcycle minus the deductible amount), comprehensive coverage (covers if your motorcycle was stolen or damaged), medical payments (covers medical bills if your passenger is injured in a road accident), and personal injury protection (covers your medical bills, as well as medical bills of your passenger and pedestrians injured in a road accident).
  • There are ways to save money on motorcycle insurance. You can get a discount if you buy another policy from the same insurance company, maintain a good driving record, complete a motorcycle rider training course, insure two or more motorcycles with the same company. 
  • Motorcycle insurance may cover more than just your motorcycle. Some policies also cover mopeds, scooters, and even your gear. 
  • Roadside assistance may be covered by your insurance as well. Usually, roadside assistance helps with an empty gas tank, flat tire, dead battery, and other issues. 

Palm Valley Insurance Inc. – Your Safety Is Our Priority

Do you live in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL or any other nearby town? Are you looking for reliable motorcycle insurance? Then Palm Valley Insurance Inc. is ready to help you find a policy you need. We take into consideration your budget, personal preferences, and requirements, and offer you a perfect insurance option. Do not hesitate to give us a call if you have any questions. 

Busting Florida Renters Insurance Myths

When you are a renter in Florida, you will have a lot of your life to protect, even if it feels like you shouldn’t have to worry about it. Many renters feel like they don’t need insurance because the landlord will have it, or they don’t have enough to protect.

At Palm Valley Insurance Inc., we want Ponte Vedra Beach, FL residents to have the coverage they need for every risk that apartment or renting carries. We don’t want you to be confused by the myths about Florida renters insurance

Myth: Renters Insurance Only Covers Contents

Renters insurance does not only cover contents. It covers your contents, and it also covers you in the event of liabilities.

If you are having people over and an accident happens or your dog bites them, you will be held liable. Renters insurance can help to protect you from those liabilities.

Renters insurance does cover your contents. It also covers your contents when you are not at home. If you are traveling, and a belonging covered by your renter’s insurance gets stolen, you can have that replaced.

Myth: Landlord Insurance Should Cover You

This is not the case in all areas of your building or home. Your landlord is required to have insurance for the main building and every hallway and common area. 
If a liability occurs with you or a guest of yours in any of these common areas, the landlord insurance will cover that problem. If the liability happens in your unit, then your insurance will cover that.

Myth: You Must Cover Every Damage in the Unit

This is also not true. There are damages that could happen to your unit that aren’t your responsibility. 

Flood, theft, fire damage, those are things that your insurance covers. If there is a structural problem, a contractor causes intentional drama, or an area your landlord services, their insurance covers it.

Get a Quote

When you are a renter, a lot of landlords will try and make you feel like you don’t have rights or are responsible for everything. You aren’t. At Palm Valley Insurance Inc., we want Ponte Vedra Beach, FL renters to be protected against every liability, and know their rights when they are. Call us for a quote today.

Who Needs Umbrella Insurance in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL?

Having bought various insurance coverages like auto insurance, life insurance, and homeowners’ insurance, you would ask whether umbrella insurance is worth investing in. Well, beyond these standard insurance policies, umbrella insurance is an essential type of insurance that has been overlooked as it extends beyond the limits of your other policies. 

What is this umbrella insurance, what does it entail, and who needs it? Well, Palm valley Insurance Inc. understands your concerns and your questions. Would you please stick on as we tell you all that you need to know? 

What is umbrella insurance?

It’s the extra liability insurance that takes over when your conventional liability insurance coverages are exhausted. Umbrella insurance rides on other coverages like auto, home, and boat insurance to increase your liability protection. 

Who needs umbrella insurance?

The answer is everyone earning a livelihood. Since we live in a litigious society, everyone faces the danger of being sued. Below are examples of people that need umbrella insurance.  

If you have assets 

Let’s take a scenario where you are at fault for an accident, and lots of people got injured and property damaged. It could cost you thousands of dollars, and maybe your liability coverage on your auto insurance cannot cover all the damages. It means you pay the rest of the cash. 

If you don’t have the money, they come after your assets like your house, investment accounts, car, and so on. With this in mind, umbrella insurance comes in handy in protecting your assets.

Examples of other people that need umbrella insurance because of their likelihood of being sued include: 

  • If you own a business
  • If you coach youth or kids sports
  • If you have a risky hobby like hunting
  • If you own a dangerous pet like some breeds of dogs

Umbrella insurance in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

If you want to safeguard your family, assets, and yourself, umbrella insurance is a no-brainer. Besides providing the highest coverage limits, it’s also affordable. Ready to purchase your umbrella insurance in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL? Talk to us at Palm Valley Insurance Inc. for an affordable quote.

State of Florida Employees Life Insurance Explained

Life insurance is a necessity for your family to survive after you pass away. There are several different types and calculations that need to be made in order to secure enough for your family. At Palm Valley Insurance Inc. our knowledgeable agents can help you determine just how much life insurance is needed for your family.

State of Florida Insurance

If you are a full-time employee of the state of Florida, you are entitled to a small insurance policy at no cost to you. In Ponte Vedra Beach, FL employees receive a basic group term life insurance policy with a benefit of $25,000. The average cost of a funeral in a small setting starts at $10,000 and goes up from there. This would not leave much money to take care of your family afterward.

Getting Additional Life Insurance Coverage

You can secure other types of insurance for your family including dependent spouse coverage and child term life insurance as well. You can also add additional coverage for yourself to help your family survive financially when you are gone.

Determining How Much Life Insurance to Get

There are many different variables in the determination of how much life insurance you really need for protection and it’s usually best to secure more than what you think you need because the cost of living expenses rises each year. This will ensure that you don’t need to review your coverage amount every few years and secure more insurance.

The short version for life insurance calculations includes the most basic way of this determination. You should calculate all of your obligations and add them together. This can include other types of insurance, such as auto and home, as well as funeral expenses, student loans, car loans, home loans, and any credit card payments.

Your next calculation is to determine how much your family will need in the case of an unexpected death. You add up your yearly income and multiply it by the number of years your family will need it. Also, add in tuition costs for the children, any retirement savings, and your work insurance policy.

Then you add your obligations to the amount your family will need and subtract it from your spouse’s income to estimate your coverage needed.

At Palm Valley Insurance Inc. we service the Ponte Vedra Beach, FL area and we are here to help you make these determinations for your family’s well-being.

Auto Insurance: Beyond Minimum Coverage

Just like maintenance is vital to your vehicle, so is auto insurance. Car insurance protects you and your car when the unthinkable strikes. But how much auto insurance do you need? Aren’t the state-required coverages adequate? If you have such questions lingering in your mind, Palm Valley Insurance Inc. of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, is here to clear the air. But first, let’s explore the state-required auto insurance coverage in Florida. 

What is the minimum required auto insurance in Florida?

Like most states, auto insurance is mandatory in Florida, and drivers are required to include the below minimum coverages in their auto insurance:

  • Personal injury protection (PIP): Before you register your car, you are required to purchase PIP coverage with a minimum of $10,000. PIP coverage pays for 80% of necessary medical expenses, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. 
  • Property damage liability (PDL): Protects you against damages you cause to other people. The minimum required amount is $10,000. 

Failure to comply with the minimum required auto insurance results in suspension of driving privileges and a reinstatement fee of up to $500.

Is the state-required coverage adequate?

While adhering to the auto insurance requirements by the state is pivotal, most car owners explore other auto insurance coverages for optimal protection. You see, the state-required minimums don’t cover your vehicle following an accident. Additionally, mandatory car insurance doesn’t provide other coverages like engine protection and roadside emergency coverage that suits your unique needs. 

For these reasons, drivers should purchase auto insurance that is beyond the state-required auto insurance. If unsure of the amount of insurance you need to carry, please talk to your insurance agent for advice.

Buy auto insurance today!

Are you shopping for auto insurance in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL? Please look no further than Palm Valley Insurance Inc. Contact us today, and we will help you buy coverage that suits your budget and driving style.