Auto insurance telematics are becoming a tool that many insurance companies offer to help you reduce your auto insurance rates. The telematic device tracks your driving, allowing an insurance company to see whether you speed, where you frequently drive, and whether you slam on your brakes often. Here at West Texas Insurance Agency, serving the Amarillo, TX area, we are often asked about telematic devices. Here is some information drivers should know about them. 

Can You Be Required to Use Auto Insurance Telematic Devices?

By law, auto insurance companies cannot require you to use auto insurance telematics devices if you do not want to. However, they can increase your rates if you elect not to use one or offer money-saving incentives to try to get you to use one. 

Should You Use Auto Insurance Telematic Devices?

Unfortunately, there is no right or wrong answer to this question. The information that is gleaned from the device may cause your rates to increase or decrease. The insurance company will get an insight into how you drive. If you speed often, using one of these devices may not be ideal for you. However, if you are a safe driver who abides traffic laws, one of these devices may be a good idea for you. There are also privacy concerns with the devices, so ultimately, the decision is up to you. 

There are pros and cons to using auto insurance telematics devices. If you are looking for an insurance policy and want to learn more about these devices in the greater Amarillo, TX area, West Texas Insurance Agency can help you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss how we can help you. 

Car accidents occur in Amarillo, TX all the time and they can be very costly. Therefore, it is wise to ensure that your vehicle is fully protected. West Texas Insurance Agency’s auto insurance will protect you against costly medical bills or expenses and hefty fines. Here are some of the benefits of carrying auto insurance.

Protects you from financial liability

Expenses can add up so quickly immediately after an accident, and it is almost impossible to pay for all these expenses or the repairs of your car. In some situations, you can be sued for bodily injury and be required to spend thousands of dollars in the event of a grisly car crash. Your auto insurance will cover the medical costs of the other driver and passengers of the vehicles involved in the crash.

Pays your medical bills

You need medical care after a car accident. Without auto insurance, it will be very expensive for you to pay for all your medical bills and expenses, especially if you sustain serious injuries. While you may think that you will never be involved in an accident, it is better to be prepared for the worst. Instead of waiting for your medical bills to rack up and start begging for contributions from friends and family or liquidating your assets, consider purchasing sufficient auto insurance from West Texas Insurance Agency in Amarillo, TX.

Some drivers are uninsured or underinsured

While it is a requirement to carry liability insurance to protect yourself in Texas, it is possible to encounter drivers who are uninsured or underinsured. Uninsured or uninsured drivers will not be able to pay your medical bills and other covered losses. But with the uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage option, you can still get reimbursed by your insurer.

Before you get behind the wheels or buy a new vehicle, think about auto insurance. If you are looking for the right auto insurance coverage options, contact us today for more information.

 

 

 

Let’s face it. Nothing that can happen to you can be quite as aggravating as getting into your car and not being able to start it or, having started it, finding out something is wrong, such as overheating or transmission trouble. If your car fails while you are on the road, you will find yourself in physical danger until you can get to the side of the road and start waiting for a tow truck.

The West Texas Insurance Agency, serving Amarillo, TX, advises you to take your automobile in for scheduled maintenance as your owner’s manual stipulates. A trained and experienced mechanic will be able to spot potential problems before they affect you on the road and suggest fixes. Scheduled maintenance is also the time when you get the fluids, filters, and belts replaced in your vehicle as needed.

The old adage that, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," is especially true for the vehicle that you depend upon to get around. You may find it easier to spend a few hundred dollars to fix a problem before it strands you than to spend several thousands of dollars afterward.

Also, adhering to the scheduled maintenance plan in your owner’s manual is likely a condition for your car’s warranty. Failure to keep your vehicle running as smoothly as possible may void its warranty.

Finally, getting your vehicle maintenanced regularly will increase its resale value when you are ready to trade it in for a newer model. You will be able to present to the buyer proof that you have kept your now used vehicle maintained in peak running condition.

If you have any questions about auto insurance, feel free to contact the West Texas Insurance Agency, serving Amarillo TX. We also offer an online rating tool for quotes from home on auto and home insurance.

 

You’ve probably heard the term "no-fault insurance state." A no-fault state is one where you are required to carry no-fault insurance. That part’s simple enough, but what is no-fault insurance, and how does that affect drivers in Amarillo, TX?

Here’s what you need to know:

Is Texas a No-Fault State?

No-fault insurance means that when two drivers get into an accident, they each have their own insurance providers cover their own expenses. No-fault states are the ones where everyone is legally required to carry this type of insurance. It’s enforced at a state level because if one person carries this insurance and gets into an accident with another person who doesn’t, then what does that accomplish? No-fault has to be engaged with as a state or else it doesn’t accomplish very much.

All that being said, Texas is not a no-fault insurance state. If you get into an accident in Amarillo, TX, you might have to make a claim with West Texas Insurance Agency to cover both your expenses and the other driver’s if you are found to be at fault.

There are some advantages to no-fault insurance, one of them being that it clears the courts up. If everyone covers their costs, then there’s no need to drag people to a civil claims trial. But, as of the moment, there’s no reason to worry about no-fault insurance when you give West Texas Insurance Agency a call to cover your new auto. On the upside, that means that, if someone else causes an accident that you happen to be involved in, your rates won’t go up.

Reach out to West Texas Insurance Agency to learn how to start an auto insurance policy right away. Also, try our online rating tool for quotes from home on auto insurance.

Most people think nothing of loaning their car to a visiting relative or friend to enjoy the sights or take a quick trip to the store. Before loaning out your vehicle, you should make sure the driver is covered on your auto insurance policy.

In general, auto policies cover two types of drivers: those listed on the policy (household members) and those who occasionally take your car for a ride. Here’s a brief breakdown on insurance coverage for each.

Occasional Drivers

Relatives who drive your vehicle from time to time while visiting your Amarillo, TX home fall under the category of occasional driver. They are protected under your auto insurance coverage, according to the terms of your policy. Under some policies, limits for liability coverage may be lower for occasional drivers than those who regularly drive your car.    

If your visiting relative is involved in an accident while driving your vehicle and damages exceed your insurance limits, you (as the policy owner) could be held liable. You’re also expected to pay any deductible on the policy when making a claim, even if someone else was driving. Before loaning one of your vehicles to a visiting relative, make sure he or she is a responsible, licensed driver.  

Household Members  

Relatives who are licensed drivers and members of your household are covered under your insurance policy. This includes teen drivers, parents, grandparents or any other relatives who live with you and use your vehicle frequently for work, school, or leisure activities. At West Texas Insurance Agency, we encourage our policyholders to list all licensed drivers in their household on the same policy to ensure they receive full protection in the event of an accident.

If you have any questions concerning auto insurance coverage or costs, contact us at West Texas Insurance Agency in Amarillo, TX.