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A change of address sometimes surprises policyholders. Auto insurance prices tie to the zip code where one lives. Insurance companies periodically perform a statistical analysis for each area of the State of Oregon. The data may show that a particular zip code suffered more significant losses than one next door, where claims may have declined. One zip code will rise in cost while the other drops after the company releases the new rates. No one ever complains if they move to a zip code that is lower in premium.
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Warning! Do not buy a car until you run the vehicle identification number (VIN) with us. The insurance price varies depending on the model and the accident, theft, and maintenance history of the vehicle. You cannot buy cars the way you used to. Please find out what the VIN is before you even test drive a car. We can find out a lot about an automobile before you fall in love with it. We will run as many VIN numbers as necessary until we find a good one.
Ask to see the title. So many buyers agree on a price and hand over the money only to discover the seller doesn’t have the title. That should be the first question you ask before you test drive the car and count out the bills. If they don’t have the title, run away! A seller does not have the right to sell a vehicle when they don’t have the title readily available.
If they have the title, have them print and sign their name in the seller portion on the back. Then you complete the buyer portion and fill in the date. Make out two bills of sale and insist both parties sign and date them. Include the time as well. Why? That’s when your insurance becomes effective. With signed title and bill of sale in hand, call us, and we will activate the coverage before you leave the scene of the purchase if you are buying insurance for the first time. If you already have a policy, you can drive away confident you are automatically covered until you get home. I don’t recommend this last one, but you do have that coverage. If I were you, I’d still call or text us to put the car on the policy before you get behind the wheel. Then the company app on your phone will show proof you have coverage if you get in an accident or are pulled over by the cops on your way home.
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Change is part of an insurance policy’s lifecycle. Families grow, jobs change, and cars break. These life events require adaptation to the form of transportation you use. Many drivers fall in love with their automobiles and will do anything to repair them, sometimes beyond what is economically advisable. We are happy to make the changes you need to your policy. When you email, text, or call, please inform us of all the changes you plan to make to the policy before we start. Many companies only allow one change per day, so if we miss an item, we would have to wait until the following day to make the change. Take great care to give us the correct vehicle identification numbers, date of birth, driver’s license number when adding drivers, exact building and apartment numbers, and zip code when changing address. The amount of money charged for these changes, whether higher or lower, depends on accurate information. Correct information leads to timely changes. Any errors in the change to the policy result in time spent fixing the policy and aggravation when the payments come out wrong.
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- Written by: Doug Hartley
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Many companies that offer coverage for recreational vehicles give you two choices. You can either add the motor home to your auto policy or a separate recreational vehicle policy. If given a choice, a separate policy is often the better way to go. Why? It’s a specialized policy with more optional coverages and amplified language beneficial to owners of travel trailers, motorhomes, motorcycles, boats, and snowmobiles. The insurer will apply discounts on the other policies you have with them, making it a more economical option. Complete and submit a quote request form or call us for a quote. We do not share your information with anyone else. It stays with us.
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Renting a house, townhome, or apartment just got a little more complicated. Oregon law now requires landlords to request renters insurance from tenants. A renters policy covers more than one may expect. Not only does it protect your property, but it provides liability coverage in case you injure someone else arising from a personal activity. For example, if you break an enormous window or hit someone in the back of the head while golfing. It also covers the damage to the structure if you set a boiling pot of oil on the stove and walk away. Since rental units are often attached, the fire might spread to other apartments. Who would be responsible for the damage or injury from the fire? You would. That’s why the property manager will require you to have insurance. Call us at 503-693-2852 for a quote or complete this online form. We don’t sell or give away your personal information. This data is for our use only in quoting you with the companies we represent. Beware of those ads you see online promising you the best quote. They are referral services that make money by selling your data to twenty other agents or companies. Next thing you know, you have to change your phone number or block their calls.