The question of whether to purchase classic auto insurance or obtain a standard policy amounts to how you want to use your vehicle. Agency Advantage Insurance wants West Bloomfield, MI drivers to remain safe on the road and understand what their classic car insurance does for them.

If you want to drive your car or truck daily, standard auto insurance provides your best choice.

Classic car insurance limits your use of your vehicle. Most policies limit you to about 1,000 driving miles per year. That falls far under what you would need for commuting or errand running. If you violate the policy and drive it for more miles, you void the policy. That means you lose all the premiums you paid.

Insurance companies expect you will only drive the classic car in parades, auto shows, and special events. It is this limited amount of road time that enables the companies to afford to pay for the full replacement value of a vehicle if it gets totaled.

Another requirement most insurance agencies use is that you have already restored the vehicle completely. You cannot get classic car insurance on a vehicle while you work on it. You can get standard coverage. Standard coverage typically costs more for full coverage, but it lets you drive the car as much as you want. That’s important since many cars insured under classic car insurance fall into the classic or vintage category, not antiques. A classic car may only be ten years old but will qualify if it was a limited edition or had a manufacturing run of only a few years. You’d still probably want to drive these cars, but classic car insurance would limit the amount you could do so.

The real benefit of classic car insurance is its payout. You can purchase a replacement vehicle of the same make, model and year outright with its insurance payout of full coverage. If the vehicle sustains repairable damage, the insurance company pays for the replacement parts. Some agents will even help you locate appropriate parts.

Contact Agency Advantage Insurance, serving West Bloomfield, MI, to learn how classic car insurance can benefit you. Even if your car isn’t a 100-year old antique, it may qualify for classic car insurance.

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.