You have a series of tasks you should do each year before you retire your bike for the cooler seasons. The maintenance doesn’t stop there. At Agency Advantage Insurance, serving West Bloomfield, MI, and the general vicinity, our agents advise motorcyclists to make the most out of their bikes by properly maintaining them, even in the summer. 

Coolant Levels 

If your bike doesn’t have enough coolant, it’s possible for it to overheat. Your engine may stop at that point. If a car or bike behind you can’t stop in time, you might end up getting into a serious accident. You can prevent your bike from overheating by checking your coolant levels regularly. If they need to be replaced, it’s important to do so immediately. Generally, you should only need to replace your coolant once per year. 

Tire Pressure

If you don’t have enough pressure in a tire on your bike, you’re putting yourself at risk for getting into a serious accident. We advise clients to regularly check their tire pressure to ensure it’s adequate. This is particularly advisable to perform before you take your bike on a long road trip. 

Check Your Brakes

Being able to stop immediately is vital when you’re riding a motorcycle. Whether you’re just starting to take your bike out or you’re venturing on a long journey, we recommend checking your brakes. Brake fluid should be a light yellow color. If it’s a darker yellow, you should replace it. 

Insurance

Although it isn’t actually part of the maintenance routine. It does keep you safe on the road and prevent you from getting a ticket. 

Make sure your insurance is updated for the summer by contacting Agency Advantage Insurance, serving West Bloomfield, MI and the surrounding region, by calling 248-855-9090.

 

Umbrella insurance is a bit of a mystery: What does it cover? Who needs it?

If you’re a resident or business owner in West Bloomfield, MI, read on to find out whether umbrella coverage from Agency Advantage Insurance might be useful to you.

It Can Cover Your Home And Auto

Umbrella insurance is an all-encompassing type of policy. It is the type of insurance that can fill in and cover when other, more specific types of insurance run out of coverage.

For instance, if you get into an accident and your auto coverage won’t extend to the full price of the damage, you can put in a claim with your umbrella policy provider to cover the outstanding costs. This is especially helpful if you’re at fault in the accident and your auto insurance provider is giving you a hard time about coverage for the other party’s vehicle.

Umbrella coverage is also very useful for homeowners. In most home insurance policies, whether for a West Bloomfield MI home or beyond, there are certain excluded circumstances that will not be covered. For instance, no home insurance policies include damage due to a flood. In such a case, instead of purchasing an expensive flood insurance policy that you may or may not need, your umbrella insurance can kick in if necessary.

In business And In Life

Your umbrella insurance coverage from Agency Advantage Insurance can come in handy if you’re a business owner, too. Of course, if you run a legitimate business, you do need to obtain commercial coverage for legal reasons. However, if your commercial policy is a bit skimpy, your umbrella insurance can keep you from having to declare bankruptcy.

If you own a life policy and you are hurt or ill, your umbrella insurance can help pay for your end-of-life expenses. Furthermore, you can appoint a beneficiary on your umbrella policy. This way, your coverage extends beyond your life insurance, and it can benefit your surviving loved ones.

Ready To Buy An Umbrella Insurance Policy?

At Agency Advantage Insurance, our agents are happy to answer any questions you may have about umbrella insurance and how it can fit into your life. Give us a call or visit us in West Bloomfield, MI to discuss your limitless options today.

There are currently government requirements in place for an individual which require them to have health insurance. Many people do not understand what these requirements entail, however. You should be familiar with what the government has termed “minimum essential health insurance” and follow the guidelines for coverage to avoid penalties.

Minimum Essential Coverage

When you are shopping for insurance, you want to be certain that you purchase at least a minimum essential health insurance coverage. This outlines 10 points of coverage related to providing services, inpatient and outpatient services, and prescription coverage. In order to ensure you make the right selection, you will need the help of a licensed health insurance agent who is familiar with each policy and can help you avoid the pitfalls that come with shopping for health insurance coverage. 

Working With A Licensed Agent

You always want to work with a knowledgeable, licensed agent who can offer you options that will meet or exceed the government’s health insurance requirements. If you don’t choose at least minimum essential coverage, you will incur a hefty fine in the following year. If you live near the West Bloomfield, MI area, you can count on Agency Advantage Insurance to provide you with the products and information you need to avoid those fines and give yourself adequate insurance protection.

Shopping for the right health insurance policy is much easier with the assistance of one of the top insurance representatives at Agency Advantage Insurance, serving West Bloomfield, MI. Call or stop by today to get more details or to schedule a consultation with one of our helpful agents. 

Insurance is a must for all cars, but there are specific types of insurance that are not necessarily required. A good example is classic car insurance. For those that have a classic car and live in the West Bloomfield, MI area, the agents with Agency Advantage Insurance can help you find the policy that works best for you.

When it comes to owning a car, you have to have insurance on it in order to be able to obtain tags for it so that you can legally drive it on the road. For classic cars, there are classic car policies that are designed for the special elements of a classic car, but this type of insurance is not required. You are required to have at least liability coverage on any car if you intend to drive it on the road. If you have a classic car that you do not drive, however, or that does not have tags, you do not have to have any insurance at all on it.

For those that have classic cars, insurance is always a good idea and if it is a very expensive classic car, having insurance that is designed specifically for classic cars is, of course, a good idea. Classic car insurance covers things like hard to find parts if the car is damaged, the cost of replacement or repair that is the result of a wreck, and even vandalism. Classic cars are hard to maintain and expensive, and having good coverage is the best way to make sure your car is going to be covered fully. For those that live in the West Bloomfield, MI area, and have a classic car, the agents with Agency Advantage Insurance can help you find the perfect classic car policy for your needs and your vehicle.  

When you park your motorcycle for the winter, there are a few tips to consider to make sure it is fully protected. The agents at Agency Advantage Insurance are available to provide motorcycle owners who live in the West Bloomfield, MI area tips on how to keep their motorcycle safe during the winter months. While keeping it insured is a must, there are also storage tips they can follow.

Winterize

Winterizing your motorcycle will protect the engine and other moving parts from damage caused by the extreme winter temperatures. Winterization also helps to protect the fuel lines and keeps them from freezing.

Cover It Up

Covering your motorcycle will keep it protected from any type of airborne debris that may fall from trees or is blown around by high winds. Covering your bike also prevents it from being hit by bird droppings and also reduces the risk of fading due to sitting in direct sunlight.

Store It Inside

If at all possible, store your bike inside. While covering it is still important, storing it inside will help to reduce the risk of your bike being vandalized or stolen. It will also keep it out of the sun and away from debris that could fall from trees.

If you live in the West Bloomfield, MI area and have questions about motorcycle insurance, contact the agents at Agency Advantage Insurance. They will provide you with tips on how to care for your motorcycle while you have it in storage. Schedule your appointment today and get the answers you need to protect your bike during the winter months.

 

Many people don’t realize how important it is to have an umbrella policy. Because of the much higher limits, an umbrella policy offers a vastly higher level of protection over a traditional policy.

Once you have decided to purchase an umbrella policy, you will need to start thinking about how much total protection you should get. If you live in Novi or West Bloomfield, MI, you can speak to an agent at Agency Advantage Insurance about your specific circumstances and what the best coverage will be for you.

How Umbrella Insurance Works

You can’t have an umbrella policy unless you have at least one other kind of insurance policy. Your umbrella insurance won’t kick in until the limits on your other insurance have been completely exhausted.

One good combination is auto and homeowners insurance; your umbrella policy will cover you in both areas in the event of a disaster. Whether there is a house fire or a car crash with a very large amount of damages, the umbrella policy will start working as soon as the appropriate policy has maxed out.

Kinds of Protection Offered by Your Umbrella Policy

Umbrella insurance doesn’t just cover damages specific to the original policies. Here are some of the kinds of damages that may be covered:

1. Significant property damage
2. Serious bodily injury
3. Legal fees associated with those claims and others
4. Landlord liability
5. Libel or slander
6. Malicious prosecution

The minimum amount for an umbrella policy is usually $1 million in coverage, but you can elect to have coverage of $5 million or even $10. You will be surprised at how little the policy costs.

If you are in West Bloomfield, MI  and would like the peace of mind that comes with maximum protection, call Agency Advantage Insurance today for a free quote.

Some people believe health insurance is an unnecessary expense if they’re healthy, but a health insurance policy could help you in the long run. It may cover more than you initially thought it does. In fact, Agency Advantage Insurance, serving West Bloomfield, MI, and the surrounding region, wants you to know that a health insurance policy may do more than just keep you compliant with current federal laws. 

Routine Exam 

If you don’t currently have insurance, you probably skip out on routine examinations because they’re just an extra expense, especially if you’re not experiencing any issues. Even though you may feel healthy, issues could be occurring that you don’t notice symptoms of until something significant happens. However, when you have insurance, you can go to the doctor’s for routine health screenings to detect problems early enough for intervention, possibly preventing a complication from happening. 

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are often a part of your health you don’t consider, especially if you don’t have any health coverage. However, even as an adult, vaccinations are important. Getting a flu shot can stop you from getting seriously ill and potentially landing in the hospital. The flu can even become deadly. Healthy individuals over the age of 50 may want to get the shingles vaccines. While shingles aren’t deadly, it causes pain and unsightly blisters. 

Prevent Issues in the Future 

If you’re healthy now, you want to prevent issues in the future so that you can remain healthy for as long as possible. Having insurance that covers at least part of doctor’s visits means you’re more likely to work with your physician to optimize your health. 

Contact Agency Advantage Insurance, serving West Bloomfield, MI and the nearby area, to discuss the ideal health insurance policy for you by calling 248-855-9090.

Believe It Or Not, The Agency Makes All The Difference

At Agency Advantage Insurance in West Bloomfield, MI, we believe that the insurance agency you choose makes a tremendous difference in your experience. That’s why we hope you will take advantage of the quality you receive at our agency. We are the experts when it comes to the comprehensive yet flexible insurance needs that involve your classic automobile. 

Important Points To Consider

• How often you drive your classic car – Bottom line, this is one of the most important factors in determining your insurance rate. This is also why it is so important that you speak with a professional who is knowledgeable about classic automobiles. We have the advantage. You want to have flexibility and how often you drive your classic car. You don’t want mileage constraints because you usually drive your classic car when the mood strikes or for special occasions. 
• Where your classic car is stored – generally speaking, you don’t drive your classic car every day, so it is usually under lock and key somewhere. Because the car is very valuable both to you personally and also in monetary terms, where it is kept is critical in protecting your investment. 

These aspects are crucial considerations to ponder as it regards the type of insurance you require. The fact that you don’t drive the automobile every single day would dictate that you probably would not pay the same insurance rate as you pay for your regular everyday automobile. Let us help you weigh all of the factors involved. 

Contact any one of our caring staffers today at Agency Advantage Insurance. We serve the West Bloomfield, MI area as well as the surrounding areas. Take advantage and start getting the best mileage out of your classic car insurance policy today. 

 

For people in the West Bloomfield, MI area, spending an afternoon on a motorcycle can be a great way to enjoy the great outdoors. When you are looking to purchase a motorcycle, it is also vital that you consider your insurance needs. Similar to when you are buying a car, there are several situations in which motorcycle insurance will be required for you.

State Requirements

When you are operating a motorcycle in Michigan, you will need to comply with the state minimum insurance requirements. Michigan requires that you carry $10,000 of property damage liability insurance at all times. You also need to carry bodily injury liability coverage of at least $40,000 per incident with a $20,000 per person coverage policy. Anything less than this, and you will violate the law.

Lender Requirements

Another situation in which you will be required to carry motorcycle insurance is if you have a loan on your motorcycle. Many people today take out a loan to finance the purchase of their motorcycle. As long as the loan is outstanding, your lender will undoubtedly require that you carry a collision and comprehensive insurance policy. This will ensure they are covered if your motorcycle is damaged or stolen. 

Due to motorcycle insurance requirements that are in place for operators in the West Bloomfield, MI area, it would be a good idea to meet with a professional insurance agency when you are looking to get a new policy. Agency Advantage Insurance will be able to help you make sure that you get the right insurance in place for your situation. Agency Advantage Insurance will be able to do this by carefully reviewing your particular situation to figure out what type of policy and level of coverage is right for you. Reach out to our agents for a quote and to have your questions answered.

You may have heard about an umbrella insurance policy but are unsure what this type of insurance does, and what it covers. An umbrella policy is additional liability insurance- which means it is a backup to a general insurance policy. If you live in West Bloomfield, MI and have questions about purchasing an umbrella insurance policy, Agency Advantage Insurance can help. 

What Does an Umbrella Insurance Policy Cover?

An umbrella policy will pick up additional coverage based on coverage limitations for lawsuits and injurious claims, advertising claims, product liability, defects, and more. An umbrella policy can be purchased in addition to any general insurance policy- including homeowner policies, auto insurance policies, boat, and commercial insurance policies. It can even be applied toward rental properties that you own and rent out. 

When do I Need an Umbrella Insurance Policy?

The worst realization is to experience a loss, injury or claim and find out that it isn’t covered by your general insurance policy. Hindsight is 20/20. Thus, it is proactive to have an umbrella insurance policy to cover you. Lawsuits, liabilities, judgments and legal fees can be exorbitant and cause a company or individual to go bankrupt as a result. Umbrella policies give that added assurance that you will be able to avoid being personally liable in covering these costs. Consider situations you may not think about beforehand that an umbrella policy will cover:

• Dog bites that cause personal injury to another
• Personal and business lawsuits, and corresponding legal fees
• Injuries that occur in your home, rental property, or place of business

An umbrella insurance policy provides further peace of mind toward your financial security. If you are a resident of West Bloomfield, MI or its surrounding counties, and would like to explore umbrella insurance, contact Agency Advantage Insurance today.