De seguros en México

Si usted está planeando viajar a México en estos días festivos, lo más probable es que usted necesite seguro de auto especial. La mayoría del tiempo, la cobertura que lo protege mientras conduce en los Estados Unidos no es válida o es muy limitada en México y no es aceptada por las autoridades mexicanas. Si usted está involucrado en un accidente de tráfico, puede ser detenido y su vehículo puede ser confiscado, incluso si usted no es culpable. Las leyes varían según el área, pero la mayor parte del tiempo, cualquier involucrado en un accidente es considerado culpable hasta que una investigación sea completada, lo que puede tardar días.

Lo mejor es adquirir un seguro antes de su viaje, de modo de que usted este cubierto en el momento de cruzar la frontera. También puede ser necesaria la compra de un seguro de responsabilidad civil que debe incluir la cobertura para pagar fianza si es necesaria. Si usted es dueño del vehículo, asegúrese de que el seguro que usted compre, y todos los documentos de su vehículo, son facilitados a su nombre. En México, aparte de su pareja y sus hijos, nadie mas es permitido conducir su vehículo a menos de que usted esté presente.

Para consejos sobre el seguro de responsabilidad civil, y para determinar si necesita cobertura de colisión, cobertura completa o seguro de responsabilidad civil para conducir su vehículo o un vehículo rentado en México, haga clic aquí para hablar con los expertos de Freeway Insurance. Ofrecemos seguros de cobertura en todo México a precios económicos y con deducibles muy bajos. Usted puede elegir cobertura anual o mensual, y también puede agregar asistencia en caminos opcional para más tranquilidad.

Viajar a México en estos días festivos es motivo de celebración. ¡Permítanos preocuparnos de los detalles importantes para que usted pueda disfrutar su viaje!

Traveling to Mexico?

If you’re planning to travel to Mexico for the holidays, chances are you need special auto insurance. Most of the time, coverage that protects you while driving in the United States is not valid or extremely limited in Mexico and may not be accepted by Mexican authorities. If you’re involved in a traffic collision, you may be arrested and your car may be impounded, even if you’re not at fault. Laws vary by area but most of the time anyone involved in an accident is considered guilty until an investigation can be completed, which can take days.

It is best to purchase insurance before your trip, so that you’re covered the moment you cross the border. You may also need to purchase liability insurance which should include coverage to pay bail if necessary. Make sure the insurance you purchase, and all other vehicle documents, are issued in your name if you own the car. In Mexico, no one else besides your spouse or children will be permitted to drive your car unless you are actually in the car.

For advice about liability insurance, and to determine whether you will need collision, comprehensive, or liability insurance for driving your car or a rental car in Mexico, click here to speak to an expert at Freeway Insurance. We offer affordable insurance coverage with low deductibles for all of Mexico. You can choose monthly or full annual coverage, and you can also add optional Roadside Assistance for extra peace of mind.

Traveling to Mexico this time of year is always a cause for celebration. Let us help take care of important details so that you can enjoy your trip!

One drink isn’t DUI. Or is it?

You’re having a good time with friends. You have a couple of cold beers then get in your car and drive home. Could you be stopped for DUI?

There are more and more sobriety checkpoints to reduce the number of drunk drivers on the road. Every time you drive, you’re granting your consent to be tested at one of these checkpoints. So the more you drive late at night or early in the morning, the more you’re likely to be stopped and tested.

If you are found to have a blood alcohol reading of 0.08% or higher, you could be arrested for DUI (driving under the influence) and lose your license. Underage drivers (under 21 years of age) risk a revoked or suspended license with a reading as low as 0.01%, and commercial truck drivers will be put out of service with a 0.01% reading or higher.

BAC
Blood Alcohol Concentration is based on a person’s weight, number of drinks, and elapsed time from the first drink. The effects of one drink will change if you drink ale, malt liquor, fortified wine, port, brandy, or different proof liquor. Drinking on an empty stomach, drinking when you’re sick, tired, upset, or with any medicines or drugs can also have devastating, and sometimes fatal, consequences.

• One drink = 1 1/2 oz. shot of liquor (even if mixed with a non-alcoholic drink)
• One drink = 5 oz. glass of wine
• One drink = 12 oz. glass of beer

A person weighing less than 130 pounds who has one drink and drives within one hour is 5 times more likely to be involved in an auto accident. After two drinks, the probability goes up to 25 times. Think you’re safe if you weigh more? Fat chance. A person weighing 130-210 pounds needs only two drinks to increase their chance of a traffic collision by 5 times, and three drinks to increase it by 25 times. Is this starting to make sense? Just 1 or 2 drinks can make a person 5-25 times more likely to be involved, hurt, or even killed in a car accident than if they had nothing to drink.

Take this short quiz. You might be surprised at the answers.

1. How many Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related traffic collision during their lifetime?
a. 10%
b. 25%
c. 50%

2. How many people are killed every year in alcohol-related traffic collisions?
a. 230
b. 2,300
c. 23,000

3. How often does a person die in an alcohol-related traffic collision in the United States?
a. One every week
b. One every day
c. One every hour
d. None of the above

Even if you don’t feel the effects of “just a few” drinks, be a responsible citizen. Ask a friend to drive you home and offer to pay for their gas. Call someone to come pick you up even if you have to listen to their complaints all the way home. Stay the night at a nearby hotel until you sober up in the morning. Call a cab. The money you spend is nothing compared to ambulance, hospital, and repair bills, or even funeral costs.

Were you just arrested for DUI? Click here to find out how Freeway Insurance can help you get back on the road with a fresh start.

Now for the answers to the above questions:
1. c
50% of all Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related traffic collision sometime in their lifetime.

2. c
Nearly 23,000 people are killed every year in alcohol-related traffic collisions.

3. d
One American dies every 22 minutes in an alcohol-related traffic collision.

California Update: DMV Issues New Licenses

Last month, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) began issuing new and improved California driver licenses. The cards are specially designed to discourage fake I.D. cards and other fraud, and will be California’s primary official document of identification.

All information normally on the card remains the same:

• Driver License number
• Expiration date
• Cardholder’s name and address
• Sex (male/female)
• Height and weight
• Eye color
• Card issue date
• Class of license—A or B for commercial truck drivers; C for regular drivers; D for drivers restricted from driving between 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m.; and M for motorcycle drivers.

New card features include:

• Raised feel-by-touch signature
• Raised feel-by-touch date of birth
• Laser outline of a California brown bear—visible by shining a flashlight through the back side of the card.
• Background pattern of color UV images that can only be viewed under ultraviolet light.

Drivers under age 21 will be issued a vertical card to help merchants and police officers immediately identify the cardholder’s age.

An additional improvement is the way the cardholder’s name is displayed. To reduce problems with identification, the last name is displayed on the 1st line, and the first and middle names are displayed on the 2nd line.

The back side of the new card includes:

• Cardholder’s signature
• Class of license
• Laser outline of the California brown bear
• Tamper-resistant features: a matrix barcode and magnetic stripe that hold all of the information as the front of the card.

It is not necessary to replace your current driver license or I.D. card until your current card expires. When it is time to renew, be sure to go online at www.dmv.ca.gov to avoid waiting in long DMV lines.

If you have questions or need help obtaining a driver license, click here to contact one of our knowledgeable staff who can help you through the process.

Agent or broker? What’s the difference?

If you’re confused by the terms insurance agent and insurance broker, don’t worry— you’re not alone.

Insurance agents serve as representatives between you and an insurance company. In simplest terms, they explain basic policies to you, and they routinely process your insurance fees and applications. The two types of agents are:

• captive agent – represent one insurance company, and can only sell you a policy from that one insurer. Examples are State Farm and Allstate.
• independent agent – may work with multiple insurance companies but legally represent the insurance company, not clients.

Insurance brokers are independent insurance salespeople that represent you, the consumer. In order to find insurance for you, a broker will review rates and coverages of several insurance companies.  They also represent multiple insurers, but their duties go beyond what an agent can do. A broker will thoroughly examine your needs to make sure you have the best possible coverage that’s right for you, with the lowest premiums to fit your budget. It’s their job to save you money. They work for you, not a big insurance company. In short, they’ve got your back.

The terms agent and broker are often used interchangeably, but it’s important to know that some lower-end insurers do not use licensed agents. So when you’re shopping for insurance, whether it’s auto, homeowners, renters, or life, be sure to ask if the person you’re talking to is licensed. (Oh and by the way, Freeway Insurance agents are all licensed insurance brokers, including the helpful people who respond to your web chats.)

Click here to get the right coverage from someone who understands what you need.

Insurance 101: Auto Insurance Explained

Auto insurance can be confusing.  It doesn’t have to be.  Let us decode the jargon for you and explain things in easy-to-understand terms.  Welcome to Insurance 101!

Why do I need auto insurance?
Every driver is required by state law to have auto insurance coverage. The penalty for driving without auto insurance can be fines up to $500 plus penalties, impounding of your vehicle and suspension of your driver’s license. If the vehicle is impounded, you pay for any towing and storage fees.  Auto insurance protects you, your car, and others financially in the event of an accident.  Without it, the amount you might have to pay for damages could be catastrophic.

How much will it cost?
The price of insurance depends on the insurer, the type of policy, and the deductible amount.  A deductible is the amount you pay out-of-pocket before the insurance company pays.  Policies with low deductibles have higher premiums. And vice versa—high deductibles result in lower premiums. A premium is the amount you pay for your auto insurance. Premiums can be paid annually or monthly.

Types of Coverage
Collision – this coverage pays for damages to your vehicle if you hit another car or object, regardless of who caused the accident. This coverage can also cover the cost of towing your vehicle.

Comprehensive – this coverage pays for damages to your vehicle caused by something other than a collision—such as fire, theft, vandalism, or storm. This coverage may be required if your car is financed or leased.

Bodily Injury – this coverage protects you if you are involved in an accident and you caused bodily injury or death to others. It also provides you with a legal defense in case someone sues you because of the accident. If your car is leased, your lease company may require you to buy higher limits of this coverage.  In some states, this is required coverage.

Property Damage – this is coverage that pays if you are involved in an accident and you cause damage to someone else’s property. This could be their car, house or any other property. If your car is leased, your lease company may require you to buy higher limits of this coverage. In some states, this is required coverage.

Personal Injury Protection – Covers medical expenses from injury or lost wages as a direct result of a motor vehicle accident for you and others in your vehicle. If you don’t have health insurance, you should consider this coverage.

Uninsured Motorist – This coverage protects you if you are involved in an accident and you cause damage to someone else’s property. If your car is leased, your lease company may require you to buy higher limits of this coverage.  This insurance also protects you from underinsured drivers. An underinsured driver is someone who met required minimum liability insurance requirements, but did not have a policy with payment limits high enough to cover the damage they caused.

Now that you understand these basic insurance terms, click here to protect yourself financially and make sure you get the best coverage for the lowest price.