You need to remain safe every time you slide behind the steering wheel of your car. Always be aware of what shape your tires are in and make sure there’s plenty of tread. Keep an emergency kit in your trunk. Finally, defensive driving tops the list of things you can do to remain safer in your car. Guy Hurley McNeil in Rochester Hills, MI can help you insure your vehicle, but your safe driving methods help you make sure you never need to file a claim.

Concentrating on the road and driving can solve a lot of problems. Force yourself to pay 100 percent attention to driving. Avoid multitasking, and that includes using your cell phone or another electronic device.

Defensive driving means paying attention to what happens on the road with other drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, etc. You can see more of what goes on if you reduce your speed a bit. You gain more reaction time if you drive more slowly. It can also reduce accident severity.

Remember the one-car length that your driver’s education instructor told you to keep between the front of your car and the one in front and behind you? It was not a suggestion. It provides a two-second cushion between you and the other vehicles. Increase it to two-car lengths in lousy weather, so you have a four-second cushion. This can save your life and others.

Plan to drive safely, and you should try to start your trip early. Also, plan in rest breaks. You need to pull over to eat and make comfort adjustments before you start driving. That means put the seat, mirrors, and climate controls in the proper position before you put the vehicle in gear.

Visit Guy Hurley McNeil serving the Rochester Hills, MI area to learn more about vehicle safety and how your auto insurance helps protect you.

Whether you are traveling to a winter destination or a local spot, the winter weather can be tough to navigate at times. Snow and ice can make driving conditions extremely dangerous. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, more than 500,000 accidents occur each year due to hazardous weather conditions. The agents at Guy Hurley McNeil have competent agents ready to get you started with auto insurance coverage, which is the best way to protect yourself against hazards.

Start With Maintenance

Keeping your vehicle in tip-top condition will help you when you need to face the winter weather. Before the weather changes, you should check the battery to make sure that it is in optimal condition. Replace fluids, such as windshield wiper fluid and antifreeze. Check tire pressure and tread to prevent slips on any patches of ice on the road. Keep your gas tank at a decent level. Having too little gas could cause significant problems if you get stuck in a storm.

Driving on Winter Roadways

• Drive Slower – If it begins to snow, the best thing to do is not go out, but if you have to drive, you should drive slowly. The speed limit is set for clear and optimal conditions, so speeding will quickly become dangerous. 

• Stay Back – Your field of vision will be impaired while it is snowing, so it’s best to drive slowly and keep a safe distance. 

• Know Your Brakes – Know what your car can and cannot do. Knowing how your brakes accelerate and decelerate in inclement weather can be an advantage. 

• Skids – If you do find yourself skidding, turn your tires into it and not against it.

Stop by Guy Hurley McNeil in Rochester Hills, MI to get car insurance. Our agents have the expertise to help you with insurance coverage for your vehicle.

 

The state of Michigan requires all drivers who operate vehicles on the highway and in the city to have proof of auto insurance at all times. There are specific stipulations that satisfy the insurance requirement, which include policy limits as well as deductible minimums. An agent at Guy Hurley McNeil can help you find the auto insurance plan that fits your preferences and satisfies the requirements in Rochester Hills, MI. 

Michigan auto insurance requirements

Drivers in the state of Michigan must provide proof of the bare minimum insurance coverage. At the very least, every driver should have a policy that offers: 

• $20,000 bodily injury per person with at least $40,000 bodily injury for all persons involved in the accident

• $10,000 for property damage

• $20,000 for bodily injury in instances where the person at-fault lacks proper coverage. Drivers should have coverage that provides $40,000 for bodily injury for all persons involved in the accident.

• Unlimited personal injury that requires a maximum deductible of $500

Is the minimum enough?

In many cases, the minimum is not enough. Such is especially true in cities such as Detroit and Rochester Hills, MI, where the price to replace a car damaged beyond repair can exceed $10,000. Medical bills are all a factor as the cost of proper care can go well beyond $20,000 per person. 

Experts suggest drivers maintain insurance policy limits that are no less than $100,000 for property damage and $300,000 for bodily injury. It may even be a good idea to have policy limits that swell to $500,000 in an accident. 

Call Guy Hurley McNeil!

Guy has been in the insurance industry for many years and can help you find the right policy to satisfy state law and your personal preferences. We can also explain what Michigan’s status as a “no-fault” state means for you and your family in an accident. Call Guy today to schedule a consultation for insurance coverage. 

While Rochester Hills, MI is a great place to live, you may love traveling during the summer and winter months during vacations. We at Guy Hurley McNeil understand this impulse and have a few tips on what kind of auto insurance will work best for your needs and those of your vehicle as well. 

Frequent Travelers Need Robust Insurance 

When you plan on using your car for a lot of travel, you need to buy a car insurance policy that is as robust as possible. For example, you need high-quality liability coverage because your chances of being in an accident are higher the longer you are on the road in your car. 

Just as importantly, you need options like comprehensive coverage and collision coverage to protect you when your car is impacted by events such as vandalism, theft, natural disasters, and animal-related problems. Try to find a plan that is affordable but comprehensive to your travel and driving needs.

Best Travel Options to Consider 

If you plan on taking to the road regularly during the year, you may want to add traveler insurance options to your auto policy. These plans typically include a myriad of coverage options that are unique and which help protect you during trips. 

For example, you can consider trip cancellation and interruption coverage to protect you when you need to come out out of nowhere. You can also get baggage and personal item recovery insurance, emergency medical care, and medical evacuation coverage. 

Let Us Help You 

So if you live in Rochester Hills, MI and like traveling, please contact us at Guy Hurley McNeil to get the auto insurance that you need. Our experts will help you understand your options and guide you to the best plan that your money can buy. 

First-time car owners in Rochester Hills, MI need to buy an excellent insurance policy and avoid serious mistakes that can cost them too much money. So if you’re looking for an excellent plan for your vehicle, please contact us at Guy Hurley McNeil to ensure you don’t pay an excessive amount of money.

Buying the First Policy You Find 

Many new car owners buy the first policy that they are offered and don’t try to balance their coverage. This mistake is enormous because you can quickly end up buying one that doesn’t meet your needs. For example, you may purchase a comprehensive policy on a junker car and spend too much cash. Try to balance your needs with the quality of the vehicle to get the best results. 

Investing in Road Service Coverage 

When you’re buying a relatively new car, you may want to get road service coverage for your insurance policy. This problem is a mistake because you may get this type of coverage when you purchase your vehicle and may end up spending too much money. Talk to your dealer about the possible options here to learn more about what to expect and which options are right for you. 

Undervaluing Your Car 

Although your insurance company will value your car for you, you may not want to spend too much and try to go with the lowest possible policy. This option is understandable if your vehicle is quite old – as many first-time cars are for many drivers – but is less defensible if your car is newer. Don’t skimp out here or you might find your policy is less than perfect. 

Finding the Policy That You Need 

If you live in Rochester Hills, MI and you need a high-quality policy, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Guy Hurley McNeil to find significant policies. We can seek through your options and set you up with a first-time plan that meets your needs as much as possible. 

For those that are in the Rochester Hills, MI area, having auto insurance is very important. Not only will it protect your car, but it will also give you liability protection if you are found to be at fault in an accident. Further, it is also required by law that you carry at least the minimum level of liability insurance. If you are caught driving without this type of insurance coverage a number of negative situations could arise. 

Lose Your License and Get Fined

If you are caught driving without auto insurance one penalty that you need to be aware of is the risk of losing your drivers license and being fined. Auto insurance laws are taking very seriously in the state and if you do not have it in place, your punishment could include not being able to drive for months at a time. 

No Coverage

Most importantly, if you don’t have auto insurance, you will still be liable for the damage that you caused. This means that you may need to come out of pocket in order to make restitution. If you are not able to do so immediately, you likely will have to enter into a court-ordered repayment plan until the debt is paid off. 

For those that are in the Rochester Hills, MI area, it is clearly very important that they have auto insurance in place at all times. When you are looking for your next auto insurance policy, you should speak with the team at Guy Hurley McNeil insurance agency. The Guy Hurley McNeil insurance agency can help you to better understand your auto insurance needs. This will help to make sure that you get into a policy that provides you with the right level of coverage. 

Rochester Hills, MI is one of many places where it feels as though it would be difficult to get by without driving. At Guy Hurley McNeil, we work hard to help people find the best auto insurance to fit their circumstances while keeping the premiums as low as possible.

There are ways that drivers can get discounts, and we also work to help find extra discounts. The last thing anyone wants is to pay more than is necessary for a needed policy.

Here are some of the best car insurance discounts:

• Good Driver (or Safe Driver) is a discount you can qualify for if you have not been at fault in an accident in the past 3 to 5 years. A good driver discount will also require you to have a clean driving record, with no moving violations like speeding or running a stop sign.
• Good Student discounts may be awarded to individuals up to the age of 25 who have at least a 3.0-grade point average in high school or college.
• Low-Income Senior discounts will benefit people who have reached a certain age, such as 62, who can prove they don’t have a high income.
• Customer Loyalty discounts are some of the most common. After you find an insurance company you are comfortable with, you can save money by renewing early, using the same company for multiple policies (like home and auto), or paying six months or a year at a time. You may even be able to get a discount for going paperless.

There may be other discounts you qualify for, as a driver in Rochester Hills, MI. If you would like to see if there are discounts you may qualify for, or if you just want to find a better price on your auto insurance, please call Guy Hurley McNeil today.

One of the biggest financial factors in driving is the cost of car insurance, which relies heavily on your age. Generally, younger drivers and seniors pay more for vehicle insurance. Costs typically decrease after your teens and early twenties, until you hit sixty when your rates rise again.  

Car insurance premiums are generally highest among drivers in the 16 to 24-year old range. According to recent research, the average car insurance costs are highest from 16 years of age to 21 years of age. At 25, vehicle insurance costs tend to decrease sharply and continue declining as you get older. After the age of 55, car insurance premiums slowly start creeping back up, especially between the ages of 60 and 65, typically returning to the rates 25-year-old drivers are charged. Guy Hurley McNeil explains why below. 

Why Teens and Seniors Pay More For Car Insurance

Car insurance in Rochester Hills, MI or metro Detroit is more expensive for teenagers and elderly drivers because statistics indicate that those demographics are more likely to get into car accidents than other age groups. In fact, according to the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety, drivers between the ages of 16 to 19 are three times as likely to be involved in a collision than those from 20 to 50, even though they only account for 7 percent of licensed drivers.  

When it comes to older drivers, the fact is that aging is often behind many accidents. Older drivers generally have slower reflexes and poorer eyesight, which can affect their driving ability. Insurers often charge senior drivers age 70 and above as much as they would charge a driver who is 25 as a result. Of course, your driving record and number of accidents you’ve been involved in will also impact your insurance rates. 

To find the best automobile coverage for your age group, contact the Rochester Hills, MI insurance experts at Guy Hurley McNeil today.

Generally, most auto insurers acknowledge that people tow small trailers with their vehicles. For example, one of the images of traditional Americana is the camping trip via the camper trailer or the fishing trip with the boat trailer. And in that respect, especially if the vehicle is the type that can tow, the risk is carried in the general language of the auto policy provided.

There are a couple of requirements that need to be met by a Rochester Hills, MI car owner. First, the trailer used needs to be licensed and valid if used on public roads. This allows the insurer to see reference and see the trailer in the state DMV records to verify it’s load type. Second, the drivers needs to obey traffic laws involved. Traveling with a trailer often involves driving at slower speeds and staying in the right lane on a highway. DMV manuals in every state spell out these rules for drivers. Third, a car’s hitch and equipment need to be used properly. However, not every insurance policy or car is automatically covered. For example, a compact should not be saddled with a hitch and expected to carry & tow a full extra-length boat trailer. It’s simply silly and extremely dangerous. It’s also very likely to cause an accident as well.

If you want to begin using a trailer on a regular basis in Rochester Hills, MI or the surrounding area, do yourself a favor and give Guy Hurley McNeil’s office a call. Not only can the staff there confirm exactly how trailers are covered, but they can also show you policies available that will provide coverage if yours doesn’t or your current insurer doesn’t want to handle trailers at all. But don’t find out the hard way after an accident. Call Guy Hurley McNeil first and drive safe!

There are many variations and add-ons to consider when selecting auto insurance. The right add-ons depend on your driving habits and how much time you spend in the car. At Guy Hurley McNeil, our team is ready to help you and your family find the right auto insurance add-ons while living in and around Rochester Hills, MI.

Roadside Assistance

You never know when you might need help on the side of the road. Roadside assistance provides an assortment of coverage including towing, tire repair, and a new battery. This is a valuable addition to consider. 

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

In the state of Michigan, it is no fault. So regardless of who is at fault, your insurance coverage will provide you with assistance. However, there are times where an uninsured motorist may damage your vehicle when you are not driving. It may also cause added injuries. In these instances, you need to consider uninsured motorist coverage.

Personal Injury Protection

If you are injured in the event of a car accident, medical bills can quickly add up. Your health insurance policy may not cover everything, leaving you to foot the bill. With the help of personal injury protection or PIP, the insurance coverage will go the extra mile to help pay for your medical bills. It can also help with the loss of income and funeral costs as well. So you may want to consider adding personal injury protection add on to your insurance coverage. 

Whether you live in Rochester Hills, MI or in one of the surrounding communities, it is important to find the right auto insurance coverage. From standard insurance to add-ons, our team at Guy Hurley McNeil is here to help you with all of your auto coverage needs.