DeKok Insurance Group, Inc.

507-226-8121 [email protected]

A Couple of Insurance Myths – Busted

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These comments are shared as fact. . .when in fact they are false.

  • No-fault insurance means it can’t be my fault.

No fault insurance does not mean that if you caused an accident you’re not responsible. This part of your insurance policy allows all parties to get payment for their immediate medical needs while the insurance companies of all parties are deciding who is going to pay.

Call your insurance agent to find out what no-fault insurance means in the state you live in. Most policies cover medical expenses (up to specific limits) and lost wages (for a specific amount of time) no matter who is at fault in an accident.

  • My friend borrowed my car, so she  has to pay for the damages. 

If you let someone else drive your car, and that person is involved in an accident, your insurance policy – not hers – will cover the damages.

Insurance follows the car, not the driver.

  • My laptop was stolen out of my car, but I have great auto insurance, so it’s covered.

Most car insurance policies don’t cover this kind of personal property. Your laptop or other stolen items might be covered by your homeowner’s policy, but your deductible will apply.

If you have insurance questions or want a quote, call me at 507-226-8121.

Jon

[email protected]

[tweetthis]Insurance myths busted. #InsuranceMyths #GetTheFacts [/tweetthis]

Serving MN clients for almost 30 years, I specialize in home, auto, umbrella, business, and life insurance.

If you have any questions regarding your insurance or insurance in Minnesota, please call me at 507-226-8121.

2 Kinds of Insurance You May Not Need

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Several years ago when Joy and I went on our first big vacation, we rented a car. She was surprised I didn’t buy the rental-car  insurance, and as we pulled out of the lot asked me if we were covered. My answer: Yes. Another time an insurance company called her and offered her extra coverage on her credit card. She’d been working for me for a while by then and told the guy on the phone she’d call him back after she talked to her credit card company and her current insurance agent. He hung up without giving her his number.
Here’s why we didn’t need the extra policies either time:

Credit Card Fraud Insurance: The Federal government requires credit card companies to provide a substantial amount of protection to credit card holders. To be sure you’re covered, call your credit card company and ask or check their website to see how they cover their clients in cases of credit card fraud and stolen or lost cards.

Note: Stolen identity is a different subject – one I’ll provide information on in another blog post.

Rental Car Insurance: If you carry full coverage on your car insurance, it’s likely that coverage will extend to the car you rent. Before a renting a car, call  your agent to find out what your policy already covers. Then, you can avoid the pressure to buy more at the car rental counter with confidence.

If you have any questions about your insurance, give me a call at 507-226-8121.

Jon

507-226-8121

[email protected]

[tweetthis]Insurance you may not need. #MNInsurance #Information [/tweetthis]

Insurance Trivia

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In 1995, MetLife introduced Snoopy as their mascot and started using the slogan, “Get Met. It Pays.” With the choice of a much loved cartoon character, MetLife radically changed insurance marketing by showing the friendly side of a business most considered serious to the point of boring.

As an assigned agent with MetLife, I’ve found that for some of my clients, MetLife Home & Auto “pays” by saving them a substantial amount of money on their insurance needs while providing them with excellent coverage.

It’s possible you’re paying too much for your insurance. To find out if I can save you money, call my office at 507-226-8121 or click HERE  to let me know you’re interested in a quote.

Jon

[email protected]

[tweetthis]Insurance Trivia #MetLife #DeKokInsuranceGroup #Trivia #Snoopy[/tweetthis]

Women Drivers

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Hello – Joy here.

Since I started driving in 1973, I have heard women drivers are by far the worst on the road. While I’m not a feminist, this has always bothered me. So, to find answers, I did some research.

Here are some interesting facts:

  • Women are involved in HALF as many accidents as men.
  • The majority of accidents involving women happen at lower speeds and
    result in less property damage or bodily injury.
  • Women drivers pass the written and practical driving exams the first
    time more often than men.

There have been a few statistical changes in the past few years as women spend more time behind the wheel.

Younger women are found to be more aggressive drivers than in the past and there’s an increase in speeding violations, but they are still less than their male counterparts. Young mothers in mini-vans are far more easily distracted by their passengers and there’s an increase in minor violations. Business women and women driving SUVs show an increased tendency to tailgate and speed.

Even with these increases, women are still considered safer drivers than men, and their insurance is less expensive.

While the gap between male and female drivers is closing, women have never been or are they now the worst drivers.

I admit, I really enjoyed writing that last sentence.

Two True Stories:

I was riding in a car driven by a guy (NOT my husband), and a car cut us off and was driving badly. He smacked the steering wheel and said, “That’s got to be a woman driver. Let’s get her license plate number.” At the next red light, we caught up with the car, and his eyebrows rose when we both looked at the driver: a man about the same age as the driver in the car with me. Suddenly reporting the erratic driving wasn’t important.

This morning on the way to the office to write this blog post, I noticed a Pontiac that was all over Hwy 52. The driver was crossing lines and speeding – I was going just over 65 MPH,, and this car zoomed past me. I noticed she was looking intently into her review mirror and I assumed she was watching out for law enforcement. I was wrong. A couple of minutes later, we took the same exit and traffic plus a red light forced the driver to slow down. I  watched the driver (a young woman) applying mascara and fussing with her bangs, while she talked into the blue tooth device sticking out of her ear. She nearly poked her eye out when the light turned green.

So there you have it – the facts and a bit of “fair & balanced” reporting.

Joy

 

 

Joy DeKok, Marketing Assistant to Jon DeKok

Independent Agent for DeKok Insurance Group

Better coverage at better prices.

 

 

 

P. S. There are many resources like this one on the Internet, but I’ll share just one recent study about men and women drivers done by MSN in 2011.

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=788126

[tweetthis]Women Drivers #MNInsurance #IndependentAgent #Insurance[/tweetthis]

Graphic purchased at Fotolia.com  © Norman Pogson – Fotolia.com

The Red Car Myth

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Ford Mustang

You may have heard that red cars are more expensive to insure and are often “targeted” by law enforcement  officials. Let’s take a closer look at the what the statistics show.

More Expensive to Insure:

Insurance companies decide their rates based on statistics – not vehicle
color.

So why does it seem that red cars cost more to insure? To find the answer, we have to look at sales statistics. Sports cars are expensive and  because they cost more to buy, they cost more to insure. The colors that outsell the rest are (in this order): red, black, and yellow.

Another factor: drivers of fast cars tend to speed more often than others.

Targeted by Law Enforcement:

Again, when looking at the numbers, this is another myth, we can bust. Law enforcement officers are targeting speeders and a high percentage of people driving expensive sports cars prefer speed. If you put these people in a
car of any color, they will exceed the speed limits and get ticketed more often. Statistics show these drivers usually prefer red and black cars – with red again being the number one choice.

When you combine the sales and driving statistics, it’s easy to see where the myth of red cars comes from, but the numbers bust it.

Jon

[tweetthis]The Red Car Myth. #RedCars #MNInsurance #Statistics[/tweetthis]

Specializing in auto, home, umbrella, business, and life insurance.

Graphic purchased at fotolia.com  © -Misha – Fotolia.com