​ When it comes to buying golf cart insurance, people tend to make the same mistakes over and over. While golf cart insurance is fairly easy to buy and is priced very low, people tend to take shortcuts that cheat them out of better coverage. For the same, or nearly the same price, you more than likely could be getting much better and/or higher coverage if you don't make the same mistakes many others do.


      There are some key points regarding golf cart insurance that you need to be aware of before buying a golf cart insurance policy. This article will help you understand what you need to know, so you can choose the appropriate coverage at the right price. Here are some key points about golf cart insurance that you need to know:

1. Buying an exclusive golf cart insurance policy is almost always better than attaching a golf cart onto a homeowners insurance policy.


      This is by far the most important key. And it is the most common mistake I see people make. It is very convenient to simply attach your golf cart onto your home insurance policy. But if you look at the fine print, you'll see that the coverage is not always the same:


 Many of those attached policies limit where coverage is offered. Some policies don't even cover your golf cart off of your own property. Other attached policies have other limitations that an exclusive golf cart policy would not.


An exclusive policy offers uninsured motorist coverage, medical payments coverage and roadside assistance, an attached homeowner policy usually only covers the golf cart.


2. Golf cart insurance premiums versus other vehicles.


     A golf cart policy gets rated at a much cheaper rate than most vehicles. That means either much better rates for you, or much better coverage for the same amount of premium. Because golf carts are considered off-road vehicles, premium for coverage on any golf cart is much lower comparable to an auto or motorcycle. In fact, many golf cart insurance policies cost less than $100 a year. Many golf carts go uninsured because people do not realize just how little golf cart insurance will cost them.


3. Don't shop with the same mentality for golf cart insurance that you would shopping for auto insurance.


       The premium for certain parts of auto insurance can be pricey enough for many to pass on. With golf cart insurance, that is almost never the case. Most of the added coverages that you may have passed on with auto insurance coverage is worth another look due to being a much lower price. But many who are familiar with auto insurance tend to turn down certain aspects of coverage because of price. This is especially true regarding comprehensive and collision coverage.


4. Always ask what higher levels of coverage costs.


          Sticking to the same levels of coverage that you are used to carrying on other types of vehicles might be making a big mistake as well. With many golf cart insurance policies, increasing coverage to double or triple the level you're quoting with costs next to nothing! So be sure to inquire about higher levels of coverage, and lower deductibles on comprehensive and collision coverage.


5. Additional coverages.


     A good golf cart insurance policy will offer other types of coverage that a lousy policy won't. These are all very inexpensive, and worth taking a look at. These include but are not limited to:

• Accessory coverage
• Roadside assistance
• Trailer coverage

6. Cross-sell discount opportunities.


     Almost anyone who owns a golf cart also owns automobiles plus other type of recreational vehicles. Having multiple vehicles insured with the same company usually comes with a very nice discount. Be sure you take advantage of this. It may save you a significant amount of money on other types of vehicles that you're paying insurance coverage for.




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​The Virginia DMV requires drivers to carry an FR44 state auto insurance filing if they've had their license suspended for DUI or various other reasons. Getting an FR44 state filing is easy to buy online. But there are some key things that you need to be aware of to make sure you're buying the right type of policy that you need. This article will help you understand what you need to know and how to go about getting the right type of coverage you need at the lowest possible price.


What is an FR44?


     An FR44 is not auto insurance. An FR44 is a state filing that attaches onto some type of auto insurance policy. It is a guarantee to the state DMV that you're carrying continuous auto insurance liability coverage. Thank of it as a tattletale attachment. If an auto insurance policy that has an FR44 attached to it ever lapses, expires or cancels, the auto insurance company is required by law to notify the Virginia DMV, and your license once again will be suspended until another FR44 is active, or the old one is reinstated.


What's the difference between an FR44 and an SR22?


     You are probably more familiar with the term SR22 because it is more common. Many states have SR22 state filings. However only Virginia and Florida have the FR44 filing. So there's not as much information about FR44's as their are SR22's online.
An FR44 works exactly the same way as an SR22 does. The only difference between the two is that an SR22 requires at least state minimum liability auto insurance coverage. An FR44 requires double that amount of coverage in Virginia. Other than that there is no difference between an FR44 and an SR22. It just boils down to which type of filing you're required to carry, and the level of liability coverage needed. An SR22 in Virginia requires at least 25/50/20 in liability coverage. An FR44 in Virginia requires at least 50/100/40 in liability coverage.


How do I set up an FR44?


This is very simple but important:


If you own a vehicle or have a registered vehicle in your name, then you need to attach the FR44 onto a regular auto insurance policy.


If you do not own a vehicle, then you need to attach the FR44 on to what's known as a named operators policy a.k.a. non-owners policy.

Buying an FR44 Policy Online: Where to look and where not to look.


  
      The most challenging part of finding a policy is finding a company that is both FR44 friendly, and offered at an affordable rate. Many companies won't even write state filings such as FR44's or SR22's. Getting your policy at the right price means looking in the right place. Here are some things to look for things to stay away from:

•     The best place to look for an auto insurance policy with an FR44 attached is through independent agents who specialize in high-risk auto insurance. They will have several of the companies that go easy on drivers that have dings on their driving record. They also go much easier on state filings. All you need to do is give your quote information once, and the agent will do the hard work of shopping around for the best price at the coverage levels you need.

•      Quoting for auto insurance online versus on the phone. There's nothing wrong with getting a quote online, as long as you have a good understanding of the coverages involved. But if you do not understand the coverages, you're making a big mistake by quoting online, and blindly taking guesses at what coverage you need. Many drivers get burnt by this! If you understand the coverages very well, and know exactly what coverage you need, then fine. There's nothing wrong with quoting online. But if you don't understand the coverages, I highly recommend you talk to an agent that can explain this to you.

•      Getting a quote directly from a company is usually a bad idea! Understand that when you call the company directly and asked for a quote you will not be talking to an actual insurance agent but rather a customer service rep. A CSR doesn't have the overall knowledge and expertise that a regular agent has. Not to mention that their advice is more geared towards sales than towards doing what's best for you. Quoting this way is also not time efficient because you're only quoting one company at  a time.

•    Stay away from agents and agencies that only sell one company. It's not that these agents are bad. Most of them do a great job. It's more about the company that they work for. Most companies who only hire agents to work exclusively for them are usually the companies that are not FR44 friendly! Many of them won't write FR44's all. And of the ones that do, they are usually the most expensive. These companies do not want your business because of your driving record. That's why they price their selves out of the market.

• Beware of lead generation websites! When you search online for an independent agent, you often run into websites that look like any other agency's website should look. Don't be fooled! It's easy to spot a lead generation site because they all share on characteristic: there is no contact information given. If you don't see an actual agent's name address and phone number, chances are that you're dealing with a lead generation site. These companies do not sell auto insurance at all. All they do is take your quote information and sell it to other agents. This wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, except that many of these lead generation sites will sell to dozens of agents. So while it might be an effective way to get a good price, it's also a good way to blow up your phone! So when getting a quote online, make sure your information is going to an actual agent and not a company that's going to simply sell your information. The difference between the two is really easy to spot just by looking for contact information like I mentioned.

Summary: There is no instruction manual for buying an auto insurance policy with an FR44 attached. That's why so many drivers either buy the wrong policy, have the wrong coverage, or pay way more in premium than they should be. Using the guidelines above will help point you in the right direction. If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call, or drop me an email. I will be happy to answer any questions you have.


   If you would like to get a quote with several companies at once who are FR44 friendly, I will be happy to help you with that also. Click on the top link below if you own a vehicle. Click on the bottom link if you do not own a vehicle. And as always, I handle all quotes personally and privately.


Get an FR44 quote with Lyles Insurance here if you own a vehicle


Get an FR44 quote with Lyles Insurance here if you don't own a vehicle


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​
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​Shopping online for Ohio auto insurance is the most time efficient way for you to find your lowest rate. However, there is a right way and wrong way to do it. This article is going to show you what you need to know about doing it the right way, while avoiding common pitfalls.




There are three ways to quote and buy auto insurance online:


1. Quote online directly with an auto insurance company or an agent who only sells one company.


    Quoting with one company time or with an agent who only sells one company will probably not get you the best rate because it is not time efficient.


2. Getting quotes from a lead generation site.


     When quoting with a lead generation site, you will have the opposite problem. A lead generation site looks just like a regular insurance agents website. But there is a big difference between the two. A lead generation site does not sell you insurance. They simply take your information and sell it to other insurance agents. That wouldn't be such a bad idea except that many of these sites will sell to dozens and dozens of agents. So you want to stay away from lead generation sites because your phone will ring off the hook for days!


      Note: Many of these lead generation sites try to disguise themselves as regular agents. As a result, it can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between a website from one of these companies and a website owned by a real insurance agency. (see "tell-tale signs" below to help you identify and distinguish between the two).


3. To quote with an independent agent.


    When quoting with an independent agent, you get the best of both worlds. You only need to submit your information once and the agent will do the hard work for you by shopping around for the lowest rate. Getting quotes from multiple companies at once gives you a much better chance of being matched up wih the right company.

​


Other key points that you need to know:


1. Tell-tale signs of a lead generation site.


    As I mentioned before, it can be difficult to tell the difference from a good site that is run by an agent/agency that actually sells insurance versus sites that only sell your information.... Here are some tell-tale signs to look for in distinguishing between the two:
A legit site will have all of the following:

• An actual name of an agent or agency.
• A physical address.
• A Phone number.

  If you don't see any of those, you're probably on a lead generation site..... RUN!

2. Know/understand basic auto insurance coverages.


     Whether you're getting an auto insurance quote online, in person, or on the phone, you will be asked to select between different levels of coverages on your auto insurance policy. It is very important that you understand these coverages. If you don't understand levels of coverage, then you are setting yourself up for failure. If you do not understand basic coverages, be sure to either educate yourself beforehand, or have an agent explain those clearly to you. Feel free to give me a call if you have any questions, or you can learn a lot about basic coverages from my blog.


3. Include all drivers that should be on your policy.


    Be sure to include all drivers that needed need to be added onto your policy. Anyone living in your household of driving age or anyone living outside of your household that has regular access to your vehicle should be listed as a driver on your auto insurance policy. They don't necessarily need to be insured, as some companies will allow for exclusions. But anyone living in your household of driving age should be listed on your policy. This can prevent you from a major disaster in the future!


4. Know what's on your driving record.


If you don't know what's on your driving record or leave out key violations accidents or claims filed within the last several years, getting a quote is worthless! Before an agent or company can sell you a policy, they first have to pull up your driving record and your insurance score (known as a CLUE report). This will tell a company whether you had any accidents,  claims, any tickets on your record and so forth. So be sure that the information you submit is accurate. It also helps to be accurate on the dates of occurrence. This is especially true if the occurrence date is approaching three years. If you are unsure of what all is on your driving record, you can visit the Ohio BMV website tab and look it up. An official driving record transcript cost five dollars or if you're certain the violations of been within two years you can also access the free unofficial copy.



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