Required Auto Insurance in Arizona

States set their own requirements for the auto insurance their citizens should have in place. In Arizona, the law is slightly different from most states. If you need auto insurance, or you want to add to your auto insurance, call us now at San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ to talk with an agent.

A Fault State

Some states are no-fault states, requiring coverage for themselves for bodily injury no matter who was responsible for the accident. However, Arizona does have fault rules. If someone has been found to be responsible for causing an accident, they are at fault for it. They have to be financially responsible for the accident. 

Financial Responsibility

The main rule for Arizona drivers is that the driver has to take financial responsibility for an accident they cause, and they must be able to prove that they are able to do so. For most people in the state, this is done by getting auto insurance. There are mandatory minimum amounts for the bodily injury liability for each person and another amount per accident. It also requires property damage liability coverage that comes with its own mandatory coverage minimum. 

Another way that drivers can legally prove that they can be responsible for an accident is to have a specific amount in a certificate of deposit. This has to be kept by the Arizona State Treasurer’s Office, and the driver must show proof of this money is available. 

Both of these options may be too small to take care of a serious accident, however. It’s a smart decision to add to them so that you can pay for serious accidents that have a lot of injuries and property damage. 

Get Your Insurance Policy

To get your auto insurance policy, call us at San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ to make your appointment with an agent. 

Do You Need to Have Auto Insurance When Your Vehicle Is in Storage?

Is it necessary for you to keep your auto insurance even when you have your vehicle in storage? You aren’t required to have insurance on your automobile in the state of Arizona while it’s being stored though you may want to continue it through these months and make some adjustments. An independent agent at San Marcos Insurance Group of the Chandler, AZ area can assist you.
 
Change in Your Coverage
 
If you only drive your car or truck part of the year or have some reason you’re not going to be driving it for a while you should look into making a switch to storage coverage instead of your standard policies. Most companies will drop the collision and liability coverage so that you’ll only have comprehensive coverage.
 
When using storage coverage, you’d be keeping your vehicle off the street in one place, typically a locked garage. When you have this type of coverage, it should make your premium drop significantly. It applies when it comes to instances such as a vehicle that’s not used regularly, one that’s in need of repair, or if it’s owned by a military member who’s deployed. You’d still have many of the same benefits. It also helps you maintain insurance history so that there won’t be any problems where it’s considered a lapse.
 
This can be a tricky matter when it comes to some state’s vehicle registration laws. Your best bet for this situation is to cancel registration for the vehicle (which makes sense if you won’t be using it for a long time) and make sure that it remains off the road.
 
If you’d like more information and to see if you should make this change, reach out to San Marcos Insurance Group. The agents assist new and returning customers with the right fit for their situation in the Chandler, AZ region.

Do I need an Arizona auto insurance policy?

Those that are in the Chandler, AZ area will want to consider getting a car as it will help them to ger all around the Phoenix area. When you are looking for a car around here, you also need to think about your insurance needs. There are many reasons why someone here will need to get this insurance for their car.

Insurance is Required by Law

One of the reasons that you will need to get this insurance is that it can be required by law. Anyone that wants to drive a car on a public road in Arizona should be made aware of the state requirements regarding auto liability insurance coverage. This type of insurance can ensure you are able to pay for damages that you cause in an accident. Having this coverage is required by law as it helps to protect all other drivers on the road.

Auto Lender Will Require Coverage

While state law will require that you have liability insurance, anyone that has a loan that they took out when buying their car will also be required to have insurance. Any auto lender will want to make sure that you have a full collision and comprehensive insurance policy. This type and level of insurance coverage will ensure that you are able to repair or replace your car or pay off your loan if the car is stolen or damaged. 

Choosing an auto insurance policy in the Chandler, AZ area can be a big decision. When you are looking for this type of insurance, you should speak with the team at the San Marcos Insurance Group. When you call the San Marcos Insurance Group you are going to receive the support you need to understand your insurance obligations and pick a policy. 

Will My Auto Insurance Cover a Relative Visiting for the Summer?

If you have family or friends visiting your Chandler, AZ home this summer, you may have to deal with guests asking to borrow your vehicle. Loaning out your car is a personal decision. At the same time, it’s good to confirm with your San Marcos Insurance Group agent if guest drivers are covered by your auto insurance. You don’t want to be stuck paying for damages of an unexpected accident. Here’s what you should know about guest drivers and auto insurance.

Friends are Covered with Permission

Your friends in Chandler, AZ are covered by your auto insurance if they have permission to drive your car. Depending on the coverage you have, your policy will cover damages in the event of an accident. When loaning your car to a friend, make sure he or she has a valid driver’s license, and is a safe driver.

Visiting Relatives are Covered with Permission

If you give visiting relatives permission to drive your vehicle, they, too, are covered by your auto insurance as long as they have a valid driver’s license. As relatives may be unfamiliar with the area, use wisdom when loaning out your car. You may prefer to drive them yourself for nighttime events or find them other forms of transport, especially if they’re attending a party where the hosts will be serving alcoholic beverages.   

Guest Drivers May Have Limited Coverage

Although guest drivers are protected by your auto policy in Chandler, AZ, they may not have the same scope of coverage as you or members of your household listed on your policy. Guest drivers also have restrictions on how often they can use the vehicle without being listed on the policy.

To learn more about auto policies, coverage and costs, call or visit your San Marcos Insurance Group agent today.

Auto Insurance Facts vs Myths

Before purchasing auto insurance in Chandler, AZ, make sure you know the facts. Auto insurance myths could cause you to make costly mistakes in choosing your coverage. At San Marcos Insurance Group, we’ll help you separate fact from myth to ensure you get the protection you need without wasting money.  

Myth: You Only Need Minimum Liability Coverage

Fact: Arizona requires that you have minimum auto liability coverage to protect others in accidents you cause. Liability insurance, however, won’t protect you against theft or cover repair costs to your vehicle if it’s damaged in a crash. By adding collision, comprehensive and uninsured motorist coverage to your policy, you’ll receive greater protection against accidents, which could save you thousands of dollars in repairs out of pocket. 

Myth: Men pay higher auto insurance rates than women.

Fact: This may be true for young men and teens as they’re often viewed as a greater risk for accidents. In general, however, gender has little bearing on auto premium costs. Your driving experience, driving record and credit rating, however, could affect the cost of your auto coverage.  

Myth: If a friend or relative borrows your car and causes an accident, he or she is responsible for damages.

Fact: Car insurance follows the car, not the driver. If you give people permission to drive your car and they cause an accident, your auto insurer is responsible for covering the cost of damages.

Myth: Rental car expenses are automatically covered in auto policies in Chandler, AZ.

Fact: If you want your insurer to pay for a rental vehicle while your car is being repaired after an accident, you have to add it to your coverage. It isn’t automatically included in your policy.   

For quality auto coverage at affordable costs, contact San Marcos Insurance Group today.

Benefits to Bundling Your Auto Insurance with Other Types of Insurance You Need

Is it worthwhile to bundle insurance policies? There is evidence that this is ideal for most people to do. If you’re in the Chandler, AZ area and want to find out if this would be a beneficial move, an agent from San Marcos Insurance Group can assist you.

Bundling Is Popular

There are relatively few insurance agencies that stick to one type of insurance. If a young adult goes to an agency, chances are high that they require more than one of them. The best part is that most companies will give you a great discount if you bundle. Home and auto insurance are among the most popular policies to put together like this.

Saving Time and Energy

You’ll get to save time and energy when you go through one company for different types of policies. You won’t have to research and meet with several people at different agencies if one offers all that you need. There also may be a unique product tiers available if you get an insurance bundle.

Risky Protection

If you already have a policy with a company, they’re more likely to consider your risky situation for an auto or home policy. They’ll want to give you coverage if you’ve been a loyal customer for a while and won’t want to lose out on having you as a customer. Of course, there are limitations to this, such as anything that is against the law in your state.

If you want auto insurance and also are thinking about switching over to a new company for your home insurance policy or have a new home for which you need a policy, talk to us at San Marcos Insurance Group. We’ve been serving the Chandler, AZ area and would love to help you find just the right insurance to meet your needs.

Does basic auto insurance provide enough coverage?

Arizona is a great place to live and drive and Chandler, AZ is no exception. Arizona requires that all drivers carry at least basic liability auto insurance, they mandate 15/30/10 coverage.  At San Marcos Insurance Group our team has years of insurance experience. We have the information you need to decide if basic auto insurance provides enough coverage. 

Liability insurance is an important coverage. It protects you in the event that you have an auto accident and are found to be at fault. Medical bills can be astronomical these days and lawsuits filed after an accident can also go through the roof. If you own a home and/or have assets, basic liability coverage may just not be enough to protect you. You can add additional liability insurance to a basic policy to provide the protection you need. 

If your vehicle is something that you would have a hard time living without, you want to make sure that it is repaired or replaced in the event that it is damaged. Two types of additional coverage help to make sure that you and your vehicle are covered. 

Collision coverage pays to have your vehicle repaired or replaced when you are involved in a collision with another vehicle and you are at fault. It has a deductible that must be met first and then it pays out up to the limit of the policy. 

Comprehensive insurance helps to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged by something other than a collision. It may be damage from things like fire, hail or strong winds. It also replaces your car in the event that it is stolen. Glass coverage is usually included in comprehensive coverage. 

How much auto insurance is enough is an important consideration and the type of thing that you should discuss with the team at San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ. Call our office or stop by for a no-obligation quote.  

 

What You Need to Know about Auto Insurance in Arizona

For those that are in the Chandler AZ area, owning a car is a practical necessity in order to get to and from school, work, or to get daily tasks completed. When you are looking to buy a car, it is important that you have proper auto insurance in place at all times. There are many things that you need to know about auto insurance when you are looking for an Arizona policy.

Required by Law

One factor to understand is that having auto insurance is a legal requirement whenever you are on the road in Arizona. In this state, you are required to carry liability insurance at all times. If you do not have this coverage or do not have enough coverage, you could be in trouble if you are caught driving without it. 

Provides Asset Protection

While it is not required by law, Arizona car owners will also want to learn more about how they can protect their vehicles. The best way to do this is by getting a full collision and comprehensive coverage policy. This will ensure that your vehicle is covered for a wide variety of situations that could cause a loss, such as theft or vandalism. 

There is a lot that you need to know about auto insurance when you are looking for a policy in the Chandler, AZ area. To ensure that you learn all that you need to, contacting the San Marcos Insurance Group before you start shopping for a policy would be a great option. The San Marcos Insurance Group can help you to better understand all of the needs that you have when it comes to auto insurance. They can then help you get into a policy that provides you with the right protection. 

Mistakes That Could Nullify Auto Insurance

Car insurance in Chandler, AZ is necessary and required by law. However, there are some mistakes that can nullify your auto insurance. Speak with an agent at San Marcos Insurance Group to learn more about not making these mistakes.

Non-Disclosure of Car Modifications: A car modification can affect how an insurer will rate your prices. When you are searching for a policy, you need to declare all modifications made to your vehicle. Failure to do so can nullify your policy.

Committing Car Insurance Fraud: Fraud and dishonesty are the top reasons why car insurance companies will cancel your policy. If an insurer finds out you have lied about your driving record or car details, or you have made a false claim, then you can be dropped from your policy.

Not Obeying Traffic Laws: Not only can disobeying traffic laws land you in trouble with authorities but it can also affect your insurance. Committing an offense such as driving under the influence or with a suspended driver’s license can give an insurer reasons to cancel your policy.

Not Paying Attention to Car Maintenance: It’s your responsibility as the policyholder to keep the car in a roadworthy condition at all times. This means you will need to have regular maintenance and fix any malfunctions as soon as possible.

Using Your Car for Business: Many policies will have a disclaimer that coverage is only limited to private use. If you are found using your car for business, such as transporting passengers or making deliveries, then you can have an issue with your insurance in Chandler, AZ.

Loaning Out Your Car: You and named drivers on the policy should be the only people using your car. If you loan out your car to a friend, you can invalidate your insurance. In the car is involved in an accident, the insurance company may not pay for the damages.

Contact San Marcos Insurance Group to get a quote on auto insurance. 

Chandler, AZ Auto Insurance

In the state of Arizona, Auto Insurance is required to operate a motor vehicle, so this is a requirement that must be satisfied before you hit the road.  This requirement is set in place not only to protect other drivers on the road, but it protects you as well in case of an accident.  Another factor to take in for insurance purposes is the unique weather conditions that apply from time-to-time in Arizona which includes dust storms and the possibility of flash floods.  The state of Arizona has certain minimum coverages that need to be met before you’re legally able to drive on the road.

These minimum coverages include underinsured motorist coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, property damage coverage, and bodily injury liability coverage.  

Underinsured Motorist Coverage covers motorists who have insurance but their coverage isn’t enough to pay for your damage and medical bills in an accident.  Uninsured Motorist Coverage covers you in the event of an accident with someone else who doesn’t carry insurance.  This covers your own medical expenses and damage that would normally be covered under the other driver.

Property Damage Coverage covers damage to the other parties’ property in an accident that you’ve caused.  This covers building damage and other artifacts (mailboxes, posts, etc.) that are tied in with the property.  Bodily Injury Liability Coverage covers injuries to the other party in an accident that you’ve caused.

To be legal to drive and covered for all situations, you need a quality company like San Marcos Insurance Group.  Serving Chandler, AZ, they handle all facets of car insurance and can help you stay protected in case of an accident.  Contact San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ and find out how they can help you with your insurance needs today!