Documents that should always be in your vehicle

Driving legally in Georgia requires certain requirements. You must know these and ensure that you abide by them. The team at North Georgia Insurance Center in Commerce, GA, will ensure that you have the auto insurance mandated by the state. 

Before you get behind the steering wheel, there are some things that you need to have in your vehicle. This includes some necessary documents that may be required of you if you have an accident or are pulled over by a police or traffic officer. 

Vehicle registration

One of the legal requirements for driving a vehicle is to have it registered. The state provides this. As soon as you buy a vehicle, it needs to have a license plate and be registered. You are given a document showing that your vehicle is registered and needs to be in your car or truck at all times. It is usually the first thing you need to produce to prove you own your vehicle. 

Insurance coverage card

Your auto insurance company provides proof that you have paid for your coverage. This is a piece of paper you can print off and place in your glove box so you can show it as needed. It should be replaced at each renewal. 

Drivers license

Your driver’s license must be on your person when driving. It is a form of ID, so it should not be left in the vehicle when you exit. 

If you live in or near Commerce, GA, our agents at North Georgia Insurance Center are here to ensure that you have what you need. 

A Discussion on Lane Positions and Safety When Motorcycling

Lane positioning depends on factors like maximizing your ability to be visible to other drivers and being able to see them. At North Georgia Insurance Center in Commerce, GA, we believe that safety is a priority, so we offer some tips for choosing the right position in a lane when motorcycling.

The Three Positions

A lane offers three positions or strips. The leftmost strip is position one, the middle is position two, and the rightmost area is position three. Motorcyclists should always consider the benefits and drawbacks of their lane position choices.

Position One

On two-lane roads, position one offers the most advantage. It gives you enhanced viability of the oncoming traffic and reduces the risks of other drivers making surprise left turns in front of you. Other drivers can easily spot you in their side mirrors, as well.

Position Two

The center of the road at position two is more likely to have oil and grease deposits, making it extra slippery when wet. This can make braking, turning, and accelerating more dangerous and challenging. However, position two is advantageous when taking blind hills and corners.

Position Three

Lane position three tends to have more gravel and sand, which poses a slip hazard. It makes you less visible to autos pulling in from right-side roads and oncoming traffic. Some other drivers take your location outside the lane as an open invitation to share it while they attempt to pass you, which poses real dangers.

Need Motorcycle Insurance Protection?

At North Georgia Insurance Center in Commerce, GA, we serve all of Georgia and South Carolina’s insurance needs for motorcycles, homes, autos, renters, watercraft, and more. Contact an agent today to learn how we can help you secure a great policy and get a no-obligation quote.

Four things you might not be aware of regarding auto insurance

Motorists need to be adequately informed about how auto insurance works and what their auto insurance options are in Commerce, GA. At North Georgia Insurance Center, we’re here to provide you with the information you need about auto insurance.

The following are four things you might not be aware of regarding auto insurance. 

Auto insurance is required by law in almost every state. 

You don’t have the option of whether you want to carry auto insurance or not. Auto insurance is a requirement in Georgia and most states.

In Georgia, motorists are required to carry at least $25,000 in coverage for bodily injury expenses per person and $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident. 

Collision coverage is not automatically included in a basic auto insurance policy. 

A standard, basic auto insurance policy can be expected to offer liability coverage. However, you’ll probably need to request that collision and comprehensive coverage be added to your policy if you want to enjoy these types of coverage. 

An auto insurance policy only covers the policyholder up to a certain maximum amount.

Motorists need to realize that auto insurance won’t cover them for any expense they can face. Auto insurance policies only cover policyholders up to a certain amount.

If you face expenses higher in cost than your maximum coverage limits, you may have to pay for the excess out of pocket. 

You should always keep proof of auto insurance with you in your vehicle.

Law enforcement officers typically request insurance proof when they pull over motorists. That’s why motorists always need to carry proof of insurance in their vehicle with them. 

Are you looking for the best auto insurance options available in Commerce, GA? Call us at North Georgia Insurance Center, and we’ll give you a quote on an auto insurance policy. 

FAQs About Auto Insurance Policies

If you’re like the millions of people with auto insurance, buying insurance can be a challenge. It can be confusing, time-consuming, and frustrating, but getting the right coverage at the right price doesn’t have to be that way. Below are some frequently asked questions about auto insurance answered by North Georgia Insurance Center. 

What is auto insurance?

Auto insurance is a contract between you and an insurance company. You pay the company money, and the company agrees to give you coverage for your car or truck and any passengers in it if you’re involved in an accident.

What types of auto insurance are there?

There are many different types of auto insurance to choose from. Some of the most common include

  • Liability– Damages you cause to other people and their property when driving your car or truck. If you’re at fault in an accident, this insurance will help pay for your legal expenses and other damages.
  • Collision– Coverage to repair or replace your vehicle if it gets damaged in a collision with another car or object.
  • Comprehensive– This pays to repair or replace your vehicle after being stolen or damaged in any other way.
  • Medical payments- This type of insurance covers medical expenses for you, your passengers, and pedestrians injured in an accident.

What factors affect auto insurance rates in Commerce, GA? 

The type of auto insurance coverage you choose, the number of miles you drive, your age and gender, and your location can all affect your insurance rates.

The North Georgia Insurance Center can answer your questions about auto insurance and help you find a policy that fits your needs. Contact us today for an estimate or to ask more questions for clarification. 

Choosing the Right Auto Insurance for You: Factors to Consider

Auto insurance is an important aspect of responsible car ownership. It’s vital for protecting you from the financial consequences of accidents, theft, or other damage. When insuring your car, it is important to be aware of the types of coverage available to you to make the best decision for yourself and your finances. There are a lot of factors you need to consider when making this decision. Here are some of the most important.

1. Type of Coverage

The first thing you should do is decide exactly what type of coverage you want. The major categories are liability, collision, comprehensive, and medical payments. Liability covers the damage you do to other people; it does not cover your car. Collision and comprehensive cover physical damage to your vehicle. Collision covers damage from a collision with another object, and comprehensive covers non-collision damages such as theft, vandalism, or certain weather events. Insurance can also cover medical payments to you and other people involved in the accident if they are hurt.

2. Budget

Of course, you should also consider how much coverage you can afford. If you get in an accident and are held liable for all of the damage to the other car along with the medical bills of everyone involved, it could easily exceed tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Without adequate insurance, that could quickly become a financial disaster for you.

3. Optional Coverage

When considering your coverage options, keep in mind that you can customize it with optional items like roadside assistance and rental reimbursement. These costs typically come out to only a few extra dollars per month, but they provide valuable added protection.

4. Your Vehicle

Of course, your vehicle should be one of the most important things to consider when choosing insurance because you want it to be covered. The type and value of your car will impact the cost of your insurance policy, so you should know exactly what kind and how much it is worth before buying a policy.

There are a lot of important factors to consider when buying auto insurance. With this information, you should be able to make the best decision for your finances and needs. Call North Georgia Insurance Center today for all your auto insurance needs in Commerce, GA.

What auto insurance is required in Georgia?

Having to live without a vehicle would be hard for most people. Unless you live in an urban area with great public transport, you count on your vehicle to go about the activities of daily life. When you own a vehicle, you are required to carry the auto insurance mandated by the state where you live and, like most other states, Georgia requires auto insurance. In Commerce, GA, North Georgia Insurance Center has been providing reliable and accurate insurance quotes for more than 40 years. 

In Georgia, the required auto insurance is 25/50/25. This means that for one person injured in an auto accident where you are at fault, the coverage is $25,000. The total for all people injured in any given accident is $50,000. An additional $25,000 is required for property damage. This is an okay amount of coverage, but depending on your financial position in life, it may not be enough to protect you. 

If you have an auto loan or are leasing a vehicle, you will be required to carry insurance to protect the vehicle. This requires collision and comprehensive coverage. 

Collision coverage protects your vehicle from damage in an accident where you are the at-fault driver, where you are the victim of a hit and run, or in an accident where no other driver is involved. 

Comprehensive coverage covers all those unexpected things that can happen to your vehicles such as theft and vandalism. It also protects against weather events that can damage your vehicles such as hail or strong winds and limbs from trees. Additionally, if a deer runs into or in front of your vehicle, you are covered. One of the most popular coverage is the glass coverage which has no deductible. 

Contact North Georgia Insurance Center in Commerce, GA if you have auto insurance needs or questions. 

Who should get auto insurance in Georgia?

In the Commerce, GA area, local residents would always benefit by owning a vehicle. While a car or other vehicle will make it easier to get around town, they do come with responsibilities as well. One responsibility is the need to carry the proper insurance. There are many scenarios in which someone should get an auto insurance plan in this part of Georgia. 

Those Driving on Public Roads

The first situation when someone should have insurance for their vehicle is one they want to drive on a public road. Georgia is similar to other states because it requires drivers to at least carry liability insurance. This is an important form of coverage and law as it ensures that someone who is responsible for an accident will be able to cover damages. If you do not maintain this protection, you could be in violation of the lock and face various penalties.

Those Who Want Vehicle Protection

You will also want to get auto insurance if you want to protect your vehicle. If you choose to purchase a car, SUV, or other vehicles, it will be something that you will want to last for a long time. If you have the right insurance with collision and comprehensive protection, you will know that you have the support to repair or even replace the vehicle if you incur a variety of losses including theft, vandalism, or accident damage.

Drivers all over the Commerce, GA area need to maintain proper insurance protection. As you are looking for a policy in this area, it would be wise to call North Georgia Insurance Center. The team at the North Georgia Insurance Center understands the value and need of having proper insurance. They will provide the support that you need to choose a new plan. 

Types of Auto Insurance

Finding the right auto insurance requires you to understand the various components of each policy, from the qualifications to the items covered. To do this, however, you first need to know what kind of insurance that Commerce, GA motorists can get. North Georgia Insurance Center covers the types of auto insurances offered and what to expect from each.

Bodily Injury Liability

If you get into an accident and the other party gets injured, a bodily injury liability covers expenses related to their medical costs. Where the injuries are severe and cause a loss of income to the motorist, this cover also ensures that the injured party is compensated during their recovery.

Property Damage Liability

Property damage liability comes in handy when you damage another person’s vehicle during an accident. In addition to this, if you damage property such as homes or building structures during your daily commute, property damage liability will help you offset these expenses.

Collision Cover

When your car gets damaged during an accident, a collision cover pays for repairs and any replacement when the damage is substantial. This coverage, however, only works where damage to your vehicle results from a clash.

Comprehensive Cover

A comprehensive policy covers non-collision damages to your vehicle. This includes issues such as vandalism, damage from disasters like hail and theft. Due to this, any personal items destroyed during these instances are not covered since they fall out of your vehicle’s damage scope.

Uninsured/ Underinsured Coverage

Despite policies such as bodily injury liability being compulsory for every motorist in Commerce, GA, some will still choose to drive without proper coverage. If you get into an accident with such a motorist, uninsured coverage takes care of expenses arising from such an incident. If the other motorist’s policy cannot cover the full amount of property damage or injury, your underinsured cover will take care of all costs requiring payment.

Medical Payment Cover

Lastly, a medical payment policy provides coverage when you or any passengers are hurt during an accident.

Getting auto insurance will allow you to keep yourself and other parties protected while you are on the road. Contact North Georgia Insurance Center to get a policy that is tailor-made for your needs.

Mistakes To Avoid When Buying Auto Insurance

Being a responsible driver, you understand the importance of having auto insurance. Unfortunately, many people do not know how to look for auto insurance and therefore make a lot of mistakes. Here is the list of the most common of them prepared by North Georgia Insurance Center serving Commerce, GA and other surrounding areas: 

  • Not getting enough coverage. Many drivers do not want to spend a lot on their car insurance and choose the minimum coverage. However, in most cases, this means that they will not have enough coverage and will end up with high out of pocket expenses in case of an accident. 
  • Not getting familiar with the policy. Once you have found a policy you like, make sure you learn it from top to bottom. Do not hesitate to ask your insurance agent questions if something seems unclear. 
  • Not disclosing all drivers. It is very important to mention all the drivers who are going to use your car on your policy. If an insurance company figures out that there are unreported drivers, you may end up with a higher rate. 
  • Being unaware of your deductibles. Make sure to discuss with an insurance agent the deductible option and pick the one that is right for you. For example, if you are a careful driver without any accidents in the past, then a higher deductible might be a perfect option for you. 
  • Not shopping around. To make sure you making the right choice, it is highly recommended to shop around and compare offers from a few different companies. This will help you find a perfect policy. 

If you are looking for auto insurance for your new vehicle in Commerce, GA or you just want to update your existing insurance, North Georgia Insurance Center is ready to assist you. Give us a call to talk to one of our qualified agents and discuss the available options. 

First time car buyers: Things to keep in mind

Buying or driving your own car for the first time can be fun but scary at the same time, whether young or old getting on the road for the first time is not always a smooth ride. With worries of driving right comes the aspect of whether you are adequately covered in case of an accident. Auto insurance in Commerce, GA is a requirement by law and all drivers, including new drivers, must carry a valid auto insurance policy in case they are pulled over.

1. Buy insurance before you have bought the car

Before you even step foot on the car buying company lot to negotiate about the price, make sure you have sorted your insurance needs. While shopping for auto insurance may not be as fun as the car buying process, sorting your insurance needs saves you hundreds of dollars. Remember, vehicles such as sports cars carry higher insurance rates. You need to consider auto insurance as part of the cost.

2. The dealership may and may not take care of the insurance paperwork for you.

Different dealerships have different ways of doing things. While some are willing to do the paperwork for you, it is always prudent to be one or two steps ahead. If this is not your first vehicle, take the initiative to add that collision or comprehensive insurance before you leave.

3. Understand what is needed

As a first-time car and auto insurance buyer, you need to know the average cost of the vehicle in order to calculate the cost of insurance. You also need to understand the limits, coverages, and deductibles. An insurance expert at North Georgia Insurance Center can help you with that.

Car insurance companies have a way of determining how much the premiums should cost. This varies from one insurance provider to another. At North Georgia Insurance Center, we can help you choose a policy that best fits your needs. Be sure to visit us at Commerce, GA today!