Motorcycle Coverage Options

When it comes to motorcycle and auto insurance, nearly every state in the country requires at least liability insurance to be in place for all drivers, including motorcyclists. A liability insurance policy is required in the state of Michigan for motorcyclists. Still, there are other types of coverage you can opt for to protect yourself and the investment you have made in your bike. The agents at Agency Advantage Insurance serving the West Bloomfield, MI area want you to know about these options to make an informed decision about what types of motorcycle insurance you need.

What Does Motorcycle Insurance Cover?

There is an array of different coverage options when it comes to motorcycle insurance. Below are the four main types you can learn more about to determine if you need them for you and your situation.

Liability Motorcycle Insurance

This type of insurance is required for you to have, and it will help you pay the medical bills and property damage you cause in an accident.

Underinsured or Uninsured Motorist Coverage

The last thing you want to do is be involved in an accident, but it becomes even more difficult if you’re involved in an accident caused by a driver who has no insurance or lacks an appropriate amount of insurance. Underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage will help you repair your bike and pay for medical bills if you are injured.

Comprehensive and Collision Motorcycle Insurance

If you want your motorcycle to have the most coverage possible, consider collision and comprehensive insurance. Collision insurance helps you pay for damages that occur if you collide with something. In contrast, comprehensive insurance will help you pay to repair or replace your motorcycle if it is damaged in some unforeseen event. These types of events that are covered include natural disasters, fires, vandalism, or theft.

If you owe a lender for your motorcycle, you may already be required to have both collision and comprehensive insurance policies in place to protect the interest your lender has in your bike.

Contact Agency Advantage Insurance

The agents at Agency Advantage Insurance serving the West Bloomfield, MI area want to ensure you have the appropriate motorcycle insurance to protect you and your bike. Call today for an appointment.

How Does Umbrella Insurance Benefit Retirees?

Your retirement years should focus on enjoying your family, hobbies, and activities rather than worrying about money, so retirees need to consider umbrella insurance to protect the assets they worked so hard to accumulate. Although this article covers the value of umbrella insurance for retirees, everyone has unique needs, so consider contacting our team at Agency Advantage Insurance, serving West Bloomfield, MI, to discuss umbrella insurance as part of your insurance plan.

How Umbrella Insurance Benefits Retirees

We buy home and auto insurance to protect ourselves against the unexpected. Still, accidents happen despite our best intentions, and sometimes we are liable for damages that exceed our base policy limits. For example, Michigan’s minimum auto insurance policy covers your liability up to $50,000 per person and $100,00 per accident. If an accident results in liability exceeding your policy’s limits, you are responsible for the difference, potentially making your retirement savings, home, and other assets vulnerable.

The solution to that problem is umbrella insurance, which sits atop your other policies and applies only when you exceed their limits. Thankfully, the liability for most auto and home accidents is handled within your standard policies, so umbrella coverage is seldom needed, making umbrella insurance relatively inexpensive. In addition, since most retirees are past their prime earning years, umbrella coverage provides extra protection for you and your assets.

Working With Agency Advantage Insurance

In a world where anything can happen, umbrella insurance provides a low-cost method of protecting you and your family. So, if you live in or near West Bloomfield, MI, and want to benefit from the protection offered by umbrella insurance, the team at Agency Advantage Insurance stands ready to help. Call us today to discuss a plan that makes sense for you.

Three Benefits to Annually Updating your Health Insurance Plan

Each year, we have to update a lot of things in our lives. One of those things is our health insurance plans. You never know what specific changes could occur from year to year. That’s why keeping your insurance agent informed about these changes is important. Our insurance professionals at Agency Advantage Insurance, serving West Bloomfield, MI, could assist you in updating your plan.

Updating your Plan to Make Contact Changes

The main benefit of annually updating your plan is to make contact information changes. What if you moved? What if your phone number changed? What if your employer changed? You must inform your insurance agent of this new information each year.

Changes in your coverage

Your health is bound to change from year to year. You may need more coverage than last year because of a new health condition. Inform your agent that you may need more coverage. On the other hand, if you have a plan with plenty of coverage, but you hardly use it, contact your agent about a plan with modest coverage.

Add or Remove Recipients

If you have a spouse or children, you probably have them in your policy. However, what if you’ve experienced a new life change, such as getting divorced? A person who is on your health plan could pass away, and you will have to remove that person. These are examples of changes you must indicate in your health plan. Keep your agent updated on these critical changes annually.

Changes are bound to happen to your health, location, or anything else in your life. If you start to experience these types of changes to your health plan, be sure to keep your agent updated. Contact our agents at Agency Advantage Insurance for help in doing this.  

Why Classic Car Insurance is Different Than Standard Auto Insurance

Auto insurance is one of the most common types of insurance purchased on planet Earth. So what makes classic car insurance different? If you live in the West Bloomfield, MI area, you know classic cars are quite popular. The Agency Advantage Insurance team can help educate about what makes classic car insurance unique and assist in the purchasing process.

Classic Car Insurance Coverage

So what is unique when it comes to classic car insurance? Classic car insurance provides you with comprehensive collision coverage on your classic vehicle. The difference here is that the vehicle’s value is something you agree to before signing on with the insurer. You do not want to worry about the vehicle’s depreciation like you would with car insurance. You agree to the value and insure it to that point.

Standard Inclusions

With classic car insurance, you also get standard fares like liability coverage, roadside assistance, and more. The difference with classic car insurance boils down to that value. You could have a classic Corvette that you know is high in value. Agree to that, and get a premium that also factors in how you drive the vehicle and where the storage of it lies.  

Classic car insurance is something you want to strongly consider if you own a classic vehicle. Standard auto insurance will not cut it, nor will it provide you the value you seek. Instead, you need classic car insurance to help get the comprehensive collision coverage necessary to indemnify you if the unthinkable happens. Serving West Bloomfield, MI, Agency Advantage Insurance is in a position to assist with your classic car insurance research.

Safe driving tips for motorcycle riders

Motorcycle riders have a heightened sense of freedom when they hit the open roads in the West Bloomfield, MI area, but that entails taking extra precautions for their safety. Here are some safe driving tips for motorcycle riders from us at Agency Advantage Insurance:

  1. Wear protective gear: It is essential to wear the proper protective gear whenever you are out riding; this includes a helmet, gloves, boots, and reflective clothing. Not only does it provide a cushion in case of an accident, but it also makes you more visible to other drivers on the road.
  2. Check your tires: Before your ride, make sure your tires are inflated correctly and in good condition. This will help reduce the risk of any potential tire blowouts while on the road. 
  3. Drive defensively: Always be aware of what other drivers around you are doing and leave plenty of space between you and them if necessary. This will give you more time to react if they do something unexpected or dangerous on the road. 
  4. Avoid distractions: Put away your phone while driving and focus solely on the task at hand – staying safe on the roads! Texting or talking while riding can significantly increase your chance of an accident occurring. 
  5. Follow traffic laws: Make sure to follow all posted traffic laws and signals when riding; this includes not speeding or cutting across lanes without signaling first. 

Following these simple tips, motorcycle riders can enjoy their rides safely and securely every time they hit the open roads! For more safe driving tips, call us at Agency Advantage Insurance today. We proudly serve the West Bloomfield, MI area and would gladly answer all your questions. 

Umbrella Insurance Takes Over Were Other Coverage Stops

Do you have enough liability coverage in the event of a lawsuit or some other disaster? Do you live in the West Bloomfield, MI area? Agency Advantage Insurance can provide the extra coverage you may need in an emergency.

What exactly is umbrella insurance? It is liability insurance coverage over other policies you may have for losses not covered by them. It is an add-on policy sold in $1 million increments, usually up to $5 million. The more coverage you purchase, the more it will cost. The risk factors you may face will also determine the cost of the coverage.

Umbrella liability coverage protects against the financial fallout that could arise due to certain unforeseen events that lead to injury or property damage for which the policyholder is responsible. When the homeowner’s or auto insurance liability coverage has been exhausted, umbrella coverage takes over.

Are you wondering if you need umbrella insurance coverage? You need this coverage if your net worth is more than $500,000. The more you have, the more you stand to lose. Most insurance policies will not provide enough coverage. If you are on your way to reaching millionaire status, an umbrella insurance policy is for you.

Umbrella insurance is also called personal liability insurance. It is a failsafe way to protect your assets and your savings.

However, some losses are not covered by an umbrella insurance policy:

  • Business losses
  • Criminal acts committed by the policyholder
  • Damage due to war, terrorism, or nuclear radiation
  • Flooding caused by natural disasters
  • Intentional acts or injury by the policyholder
  • Oral or written contracts

So, if you are one of the fortunate people who have built up significant assets, ensure you protect them with the extra coverage that an umbrella policy can provide through Agency Advantage Insurance. Contact our office today.

How to Choose the Best Classic Car Insurance Coverage for You

For many of us, our car is more than just a mode of transportation- it’s a classic. Whether it’s a ’57 Chevy or a ’70 Mustang, a classic car is a treasure that deserves to be protected. But you can’t just go with the standard policy when it comes to insuring your classic car. You need coverage that is specifically designed for classic cars.

Here are a few tips to follow if you want to choose the best classic car insurance policy for you:

Your Car’s Value

The first thing you need to consider is the value of your car. Your standard insurance policy will not provide enough coverage for a classic car. You must ensure enough coverage to replace your vehicle if it is totaled in an accident or stolen. This means getting an appraisal of your car’s value and then insuring it for at least that much.

Your Driving Habits

Another essential factor to consider is how you use your car. If you only drive your classic car on special occasions, you can get the insurance that reflects that. Some policies will only cover your vehicle when it’s stored and not driven. This is the most basic and cheapest type of policy you can get, but it will not provide any protection if your car is involved in an accident or stolen. If you drive your classic car regularly, you will need a policy that covers you whenever you are on the road. Remember, the more time your vehicle spends on the street, the more likely it is to be involved in an accident. You must decide how much protection you want and what type of deductibles you are comfortable with.

The Type of Coverage You Want

There are a few types of classic car insurance coverage to choose from. The most common is agreed-upon value coverage, which means that you and the insurer agree on a value for the car ahead of time. In the event of a total loss, you will receive that agreed-upon amount. There is also actual cash value coverage, which considers the car’s depreciation. With this coverage, you will receive the actual cash value of the vehicle when it is totaled. Finally, there is stated value coverage, similar to the agreed-upon value but with a little more flexibility in terms of what you can receive in the event of a total loss.

Bottom Line

When insuring your classic car, you need to ensure you have the right coverage. Agency Advantage Insurance in West Bloomfield, MI can help you find the perfect policy for your needs. Give us a call today to get started!

Four Add-ons to Consider for Your Motorcycle Insurance

Two-wheelers have become a standard mode of transport in West Bloomfield, MI because of the ease of commuting and affordability. Unfortunately, accidents have increased due to the increasing number of bikes on the road, hence the rising need for motorcycle insurance. Your standard motorcycle covers your bike, injuries, and liability claims. While this might seem like sufficient coverage, sometimes you need more than “standard.” At Agency Advantage Insurance, we recommend you consider “add-ons” or “riders” to enjoy maximum coverage.

While there exist several motorcycle insurance add-ons, the ones below are the most common.

Roadside assistance coverage

If your bike stalls away from home, it can be frustrating. Getting help involves calling friends and relatives or looking for towing services, which can be expensive. To be safe, consider roadside assistance coverage to bail you out whenever you have a road mishap. This way, running out of gas, punctures, flat battery, and other minor breakdowns don’t have to keep you stranded on the highway. Your help is just a call away.

Zero depreciation coverage

As you ride your bike, its value drops every day. You may not pay much attention to this until your motorcycle is stolen or totaled. In such cases, your insurance will deduct the depreciation amount from your compensation, meaning you will cover the difference from your pocket. However, this isn’t the case if you have zero depreciation coverage.

Engine protect

Your standard motorcycle insurance will cover engine damage when the cause is listed in your policy. However, if an oil leak or waterlogging damages your engine, you won’t get compensation from your standard bike insurance. That’s why you need “engine protect” coverage.

Consumables coverage

It covers consumable items like fluids, nuts, bolts, filters, etc., not covered by the standard insurance when your bike is undergoing repairs.

Would you like to learn more about motorcycle insurance in West Bloomfield, MI? Please contact Agency Advantage Insurance for all your motorcycle insurance solutions.

When Can You Buy an Umbrella Policy?

Umbrella insurance is a secondary insurance type available from Agency Advantage Insurance, serving West Bloomfield, MI. You must carry a primary insurance policy before you can add umbrella to it.

That means you need to own a home, auto, or business insurance to purchase an umbrella policy. You could potentially add it to a boat policy, too.

The umbrella policy adds to the liability coverage of the primary policy. So, anytime you purchase a primary policy with liability coverage, you can add an umbrella policy to it.

When do you use the umbrella policy?

When an event occurs that requires the use of the liability coverage that you purchased, the insurance company uses the primary policy first to pay off the medical bills or settlement of the individuals harmed. If the settlement and medical costs exceed the amount covered in the primary policy, the insurance company moves to the secondary umbrella policy.

Why would you need umbrella insurance?

High net worth individuals should acquire umbrella insurance because they’re more apt to get sued. If an accident occurs at their home, they’re more likely to get sued because the injured person knows they have money.

They also frequently host parties and fundraisers, bringing many people to their homes. This opens them to increased liability since they have more visitors on an increased frequency.

How much umbrella insurance do you need?

Because these policies cost very little in monthly premiums, most individuals purchase a $1 million policy. This also ensures that the policy can cover nearly any liability incurring situation.

Contact Us

Contact Agency Advantage Insurance serving West Bloomfield, MI for more information on umbrella insurance or to purchase a policy. We’ll work with you to determine the amount of coverage you need.

What Are The Benefits Of Having Health Insurance?

Health insurance can save you a lot of money and keep you from financial ruin in the event of a severe illness or accident. It also helps you get the care you need in a timelier manner, reducing the risk of further health complications. 

Health insurance also has other perks, like coverage for prescription medications, vision care, and dental care for your family. Having health insurance can also reduce your overall stress level since you no longer have to worry about how you will pay for a serious illness or accident. For inquiries in West Bloomfield, MI, call Agency Advantage Insurance.

Why Do You Need Health Insurance? 

Health insurance can make it easier for you to pay for the medical care you require now and in the future. It can also help you avoid hefty medical bills if you get sick or injured and have to go to the hospital. It is essential to research the available plans to select the plan that is most suitable for you and your family.  

The cover allows you to receive the care you need to stay healthy without worrying about how you will pay for it. Additionally, it pays for a sizeable portion of the cost of any medications that require a prescription. If you have a serious illness and require frequent doctor’s visits and expensive treatments, insurance can help you afford the care you need. 

Health insurance can also make it easier for you to afford the treatment you require to maintain your health. Most importantly, health insurance protects you and your family if you ever face a major medical event like a car accident, serious injury, or illness. 

Contact Us

While health insurance comes with various benefits, it can be costly and not affordable for most people, especially if you don’t have a job. It may also come with a long list of things you can’t see a doctor for, such as plastic surgery or laser eye surgery. For expert help, consult Agency Advantage Insurance. The firm serves in West Bloomfield, MI.