Auto Insurance

What to Do If Your Car Is Totaled – Understanding Insurance Payouts

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Getting into a minor car accident can be stressful, but if your vehicle is declared a total loss, it can add another layer of uncertainty. By understanding how insurance payouts work in these situations, you can be confident in your decisions throughout the process. Located in Chandler, AZ, the San Marcos Insurance Group offers comprehensive auto insurance coverage options to keep you protected on the road.

What Does It Mean When a Car Is Totaled?

A car is regarded as “totaled” when the repair costs exceed a specified percentage of the vehicle’s actual cash value (ACV), about 70 to 80 percent. In such cases, the insurance company deems the vehicle beyond reasonable repair and offers a payout.

Steps to Take If Your Car Is Totaled

  1. File an Insurance Claim – Contact your insurer to report the accident and begin the claims process.
  2. Vehicle Assessment – The insurer will inspect your vehicle to determine if it’s a total loss.
  3. Review the Payout Offer – The insurance company will offer a settlement based on the car’s ACV before the accident.
  4. Negotiate If Needed – If you believe the offer is too low, provide evidence such as recent maintenance records or comparable car listings.
  5. Settle Any Remaining Loan – If you have an outstanding auto loan, the payout may go directly to your lender. If the amount is less than what you owe, gap insurance can help cover the difference.

Stay Protected on the Road with Auto Insurance

If your car is totaled, it’s important to understand your insurance coverage and payout process. If you’re located in Chandler, AZ, or the surrounding areas, our team at San Marcos Insurance Group can help. Contact our office today.

What is the Process of Dropping a Car From Your Insurance Policy After Selling It?

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Selling a car can be an exhilarating experience, particularly if you’re upgrading or simplifying your lifestyle. However, there’s a crucial step you mustn’t overlook after the sale: removing the vehicle from your insurance policy. At San Marcos Insurance Group, we provide auto insurance to residents in and around the greater Chandler, AZ area and often field questions about this process. Fortunately, it’s straightforward if you know the necessary steps.

Inform Your Insurance Provider

First, notify your insurance company that you’ve sold the vehicle. Be prepared to provide details such as the car’s make, model, and VIN, as well as the date of the sale. This information ensures no confusion about which vehicle you’re removing from the policy.

Ensure the Sale is Finalized

Before removing the car from your policy, confirm that the sale is officially complete. This involves transferring the title to the buyer and removing your registration. It’s important not to cancel coverage prematurely, as you could still be held liable for damages if the car is technically still in your name.

Review Your Policy

After removing the car, review your policy with your insurance provider. If the sold car was your only vehicle, you might want to cancel the entire policy. If you still have other insured vehicles, this is an excellent time to make updates or explore potential savings.

Selling a car is a significant transition, and we’re here to ensure your insurance keeps pace. If you need assistance removing a vehicle from your policy or have questions about your coverage, contact San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ today.

Does Auto Insurance Cover Heat-Related Issues?

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Our area must endure scorching temperatures for a good portion of the year. Excessive daytime highs can make your vehicle, especially its engine, vulnerable to damage in Chandler, AZ. Can you protect your vehicle from heat damage through auto insurance? San Marcos Insurance Group can provide you with tips to mitigate heat-related damage.

Most Insurance Doesn’t Cover Heat Damage

Insurance companies generally don’t cover damage to vehicles from heat because they feel that heat-related issues typically involve wear and tear and part of mechanical failures instead of a sudden or accidental event. Car fires are the one event where your auto insurance may protect you against extreme heat. Suppose your vehicle suddenly catches on fire because of extreme heat. In that case, your insurance company may compensate you for some damage, as engine fires are typically covered under an auto insurance policy. However, if your insurance finds you neglectful, they may not compensate you.

How You Can Protect Yourself

Getting a roadside protection plan is the best way to protect yourself and your vehicle during extreme heat. These are available through your insurer or dealer when you buy your vehicle. Although they will not pay for damage that occurs to your engine or other areas of your vehicle, they will help you get it as quickly as possible to a certified repair shop to remedy any damage. What you can do is add roadside assistance to your policy. Having emergency help readily at hand can help prevent extreme damage. Also, maintain your vehicle regularly with preventive maintenance and avoid leaving it out in direct sunlight.

Nevertheless, your auto insurance policy can provide coverage that will protect you from most risks in Chandler, AZ, and its environs. Contact San Marcos Insurance Group today to learn more.

Understanding The Different Oil Changes and What’s Right For Your Car

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When you go in for an oil change, you’ll be asked which type of oil change you want. Knowing the difference between the changes and which is suitable for your vehicle is essential.

Conventional Oil Change

The conventional oil change is the most basic of your options. It is usually the most affordable because it uses traditional motor oil extracted from crude oil. This oil isn’t refined and doesn’t have as long a life as other oils. Most newer cars use this oil up to about 50,000 miles before transitioning to a different type. In reality, you should only get this oil change a handful of times.

Semi-Synthetic Oil Change

A semi-synthetic oil change uses a type of oil that combines conventional and synthetic oil. Some oils will have more conventional oil than synthetic, and others may be reversed. When you opt for a semi-synthetic oil, you get a longer-lasting oil that improves performance better than standard conventional oil and is more affordable than synthetic oil. Most cars start taking a semi-synthetic blend around 50,000 miles and continue until they are ready to transition to full synthetic.

Synthetic Oil Change

A synthetic oil change consists of full synthetic oil designed to reduce your vehicle’s friction and engine wear. It is the best oil you can put in your vehicle and the most expensive. Once a car enters high mileage space, it’s time to switch. However, you don’t want to skip the semi-synthetic oil in between, as you want your engine to get accustomed to the new oil. This oil is also ideal for performance vehicles and sports cars, as it keeps the engine running smoothly.

If you’re looking for an auto insurance policy in the Chandler, AZ community, or surrounding areas, contact our San Marcos Insurance Group agents today for more information.

Should I Supplement My Auto Insurance with an Umbrella Policy?

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In a world of uncertainties, comprehensive insurance coverage gives a much-needed safety net. One such safety companion is umbrella insurance, designed to provide coverage against unlikely events and safeguard you from potential devastation. Contact the San Marcos Insurance Group, serving Chandler, AZ, to discover how umbrella insurance can help protect you and your family.

Protecting Your Potential Liabilities

Home and auto policies provide crucial protections if you’re found liable for an accident or someone gets injured on your property. However, in some cases, your liability can exceed your base policy limit. Under such circumstances, you’ll be personally responsible for paying off the remaining liabilities, which can jeopardize your savings, home, and other assets. It’s precisely these situations where umbrella insurance comes into play.

Umbrella insurance essentially provides extra protection for "worst-case" scenarios. Although claims against umbrella insurance are relatively rare, the policy tends to be inexpensive due to the low claim rate. Apart from covering certain legal and court costs, it offers the priceless commodity of peace of mind, protecting you and your family against unlikely events and making it the ultimate preventative measure.

Teaming Up With San Marcos Insurance Group

Knowing you and your family are fully protected from unforeseen circumstances is comforting. If you live in or near Chandler, AZ, and want to discuss umbrella or other insurance options, the San Marcos Insurance Group team is ready to assist. Call us today at 480-899-6633 to explore the insurance choices that make the most sense for you.

Auto Insurance Because There Is No Such Thing as Being Too Safe

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The state of Arizona is renowned for its open highways and beautiful climate. Unfortunately, those two factors are also likely contributors to more than 100,000 accidents in Arizona each year. The good news is that there is also protection and help when we become involved in one of those accidents, which is why so many people from around Chandler, AZ, turn to the trusted and professional team at the San Marcos Insurance Group for all their auto insurance needs. Auto accidents will happen, but auto insurance can help.

There Is No Such Thing as Being Too Safe On the Road

Do you try to avoid rush hour traffic when you drive? Do you prefer to drive in the slow lane on the freeway? Do you always check your mirrors one (or three) too many times before changing lanes? That’s okay because there is no such thing as being too safe when you drive. After all, that is also why you want auto insurance, right? Accidents happen, but sometimes safety is as much about preparation as action, and insurance is how you plan ahead before getting behind the wheel. Why? Because you can never be too safe.

For All Your Auto Insurance Needs in Chandler

If you are looking for auto insurance and are a driver in or around the beautiful and scenic Chandler, AZ, area, then the friendly and professional team of agents at the San Marcos Insurance Group is here to help. Want to learn more about auto insurance, coverage options, or choosing the right deductible? Let us help you take the guesswork out of insurance and help you find the right auto insurance for you and your vehicle today at the San Marcos Insurance Group because we can never be too safe on the road.

Choosing Value Level in Auto Insurance

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When you insure your new-to-you vehicle in Chandler, AZ, you probably want the quickest option so you can hit the road. At San Marcos Insurance Group, we want to explain why it’s best to take the time to create a custom policy instead of choosing the state minimum package.

What State Minimum Insurance Covers

Arizona requires every driver to carry liability insurance to cover property damage and bodily injury. That coverage protects the other drivers on the road but does not damage your vehicle or cause injuries.

Choosing Full Coverage

When you purchase auto insurance with collision and comprehensive coverage, it protects you from financial loss if your vehicle is totaled or damaged. Collision coverage protects you from financial loss due to a single—or multi-vehicle accident.

Choosing Your Valuation Method

Choosing the correct valuation method ensures that your insurance covers you fully. Actual cash value won’t pay for a new car even if you totaled a new car because it uses the depreciated value of the vehicle. Fair market value improves the amount you get from a claim, but agreed-upon value provides the best payout. Stated value uses the value you state, but you must provide documentation to prove it. You choose which valuation method to use when you purchase your insurance policy. For stated value, you will also provide documentation of the vehicle’s value.

Contact Us Today

Call San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ for a custom policy that fully protects you financially no matter what might happen to your vehicle. Let us help you design a policy that works for you!

Do You Need an Auto Insurance Review?

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Regular Auto Insurance Reviews: Why They’re Crucial and When to Make Changes

As a responsible vehicle owner, your auto insurance is your last line of defense against unexpected events. Ensuring you, your passengers, and your vehicle always have adequate protection is paramount. Based in Chandler, AZ, the San Marcos Insurance Group can assist in reviewing your policy to ensure it’s up-to-date and offering optimal protection.

When to Consider Adjustments to Auto Insurance

Certain situations necessitate changes to your insurance coverage. For instance, if you’re adding or replacing vehicles in your household, you’ll need to reflect these changes on your policy. The coverage level may vary depending on factors such as the vehicle’s age. Moreover, changes in your household’s driver lineup, like a child earning their driver’s license or moving out, should prompt timely policy updates. This ensures that your policy accurately covers all regular drivers and vehicles.

What Triggers the Need for an Auto Insurance Review?

A good rule of thumb is to consider an insurance review at least once a year. However, major life events or notable changes to vehicles or drivers in your household also justify a review. At the San Marcos Insurance Group, we are ready to help residents of Chandler, AZ, navigate these changes. Our experienced team promotes informed decisions regarding auto insurance policies and coverage options. The protection of our clients and their vehicles is our priority. Contact us today.

Three Ways Your Agent Can Help With Auto Insurance Updates

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If you’re in the Chandler, AZ area and looking to update your auto insurance policy, the agents at San Marcos Insurance Group can help. We understand that getting insurance for your vehicle is easy, and you want to ensure it stays valid. Many people don’t think about making significant changes (or even small ones) to their policy after they have it, but sometimes that’s important.

1. Going Over Details to Make Sure They’re Accurate

You and your agent need to ensure there aren’t any problems with the information listed on your insurance policy. If something isn’t accurate, and you’ve just noticed it, it’s important to update it as quickly as possible. Some inaccuracies can put you at risk of liability in the event of an accident or other claim, so you want to let your agent know about any needed corrections.

2. Helping You Make Adjustments During Big Life Changes

Big life changes may also need vehicle insurance updates. If your child turns 16 and needs to be added to your policy, for example, you’ll want to make sure you’re covered. Buying or selling a car also requires an update, as does getting married or moving to a new home. It’s better to err on the side of caution and ask an agent to help with any significant changes.

3. Offering a Yearly Review to Make Sure You’re Up to Date

A yearly review is a great way to ensure your insurance policy protects you as well as possible. If you’re in the Chandler, AZ area and looking for a review and update of your auto insurance, contact us at San Marcos Insurance Group for help today.

Auto insurance add-ons to consider

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In Chandler, AZ, a basic automobile policy will include liability coverage, which the state of Arizona requires. At San Marcos Insurance Group, we are independent insurance agents, which allows us access to more options and the best possible rates. We give personalized service to our customers and work with you to ensure your coverage fits your needs. 

Roadside assistance

With roadside assistance, you can drive with the confidence that if anything happens to your vehicle, you will not be stranded. You will be able to get help and a tow if that is needed. 

Full glass coverage

If you have comprehensive coverage on your vehicle, you will have glass coverage, but you will have to pay your deductible. That may be as much as $500 or more. If you have full glass coverage, you can get the glass replaced without any deductible. 

Rental car coverage

Rental car coverage is not for a rental vehicle you may use for vacation. The rental coverage will provide you with a rental car if your vehicle is damaged or totaled in an accident. It makes it much easier to get by until your car is fixed or replaced. 

Gap coverage

Most people who buy a new automobile have an auto loan. It depreciates as soon as you drive off the lot with your new vehicle. The value that the insurance company assigns to your vehicle may be much lower than the amount you owe on your loan. If you have gap insurance, it will fill in the gap left by the coverage.  

Contact San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ for auto insurance or a free quote.