For many small business owners, it can seem as if commercial vehicle insurance is an expense they can skip.  Many people simply assume that their personal auto insurance policy will cover them if they’re ever in an accident.  Unfortunately, too many business owners find out too late that this is rarely the case.  

Call an agent today if any of the following situations apply to you or your business.

1. Your business owns a vehicle.  If the title for a vehicle is held by your business (as opposed to being held by you personally), then you need to have commercial auto insurance.  Many personal auto insurance policies have restrictions that state the policy holder will not be covered in a company-owned vehicle.  Keep this in mind if you transfer the title of your personal car to your business.
2. You use your vehicle for business more than 20% of the time.  Using your personal vehicle for business on a regular basis could void parts of your auto insurance coverage.  To make up for it, a commercial insurance policy needs to be purchased.  It will provide coverage only when the vehicle is being used for business.
3. You store business items in your personal vehicle.  If you don’t have a rider on your personal auto insurance policy that covers business property, then you need to buy a commercial insurance policy to protect things such as inventory, equipment, and computers.  If these items are stolen or damaged in your vehicle, a commercial auto insurance policy could pay to repair or replace them.

If these situations apply to you or your business, call the insurance agents at JC Demo Insurance Group.

Fraudulent car insurance claims start with an individual trying to obtain money by staging an accident. These incidences can increase your insurance rates, add blemishes to your driving record, and cause you to lose lots of money. Before shelling out thousands of dollars to a criminal, you should know how to recognize fender bender fraud and be prepared if it happens to you.

The Swoop and Squat

In busy traffic, at a traffic signal, or at an onramp, a driver will swoop in front of you and then stop. Rear-ending someone is usually that person’s fault even if the other driver did the wrong thing. You should look out for people who want to squeeze between you and the car in front of you. It is safer to just let them in and slow down.

The Phantom Victim

You are in a car accident and someone that was not in the accident files a claim with your insurance company. That person claims that they were a passenger in one of the vehicles that was hit. They also say they have injuries that need financial retribution. To avoid this, you should gather the names of all of the passengers in each vehicle, if possible.

The Sideswipe

You are in the inner lane of a two-lane left turn. You slightly drift into the far lane as you turn and the outside lane driver hits you on purpose. They can claim that you were at fault because you were not in your lane. Be vigilant and avoid drivers who are speeding in the turning lanes.

JC Demo Insurance Group understands the damage a fraudulent insurance claim can have on innocent victims. If you suspect you are the target of a staged accident, the agents at JC Demo Insurance Group can offer advice and answer questions. They can also search for policy quotes for new insurance coverage and existing policyholders.

Many people claim that it is necessary to run premium gas through your car at all times to protect the engine and to make sure it is performing at peak efficiency. That being said, premium gas normally runs at least ten cents higher in price than regular unleaded gasoline and many simply cannot afford that price raise. So what is the actual difference in these grades of gasoline, the answer is simpler than you might imagine.

The main difference between each grade of gasoline is the temperature at which the gas combusts to make your car run. Lower grade gas burns at a lower temperature meaning that it is likely to leave more residue in your engine which may end up making your car run worse over time. The higher the grade gasoline the higher temperature that it runs which means that it is going to burn cleaner and leave less residue behind.

Now this difference may or may not affect the performance of your car. Overall, using lower grade gas is not going to make a brand new car run like it is twenty years old. Over time lower grade gas may cause build up in your engine but with a great gas cleaner that is run through the gas lines every so often you can clean up this residue and get your car back to tip top shape.

Some engines do run better with a higher grade gasoline in them which means that it may be beneficial to use a higher grade gasoline. If you feel that your car needs premium gas by all means use premium but do not think that regular gas is going to ruin your car. Another important factor when driving is your insurance coverage. JC Demo Insurance Group can help you get the right coverage for you every time.  

The trouble with accidents is that you can never truly know when one is going to happen. No matter if you’re involved a major crash or a minor fender bender, there could be physical and even psychological damages. Moreover, there is always the potential of coming into contact with someone who is dishonest. Making a bad situation worse, many have become victims of fender bender fraud for simply being kind. With that said, the following is an overview of three ways to avoid fender bender fraud.

3. Never Leave the Scene– One of the biggest mistake anyone can make is leaving the scene without contacting the authorities. Unless you have had your accident properly documented, if you discover damages at a later time, it will then be your word against the other driver’s… which, usually doesn’t end well. 

2.  Never Embellish Your Story- Although it may be tempting to try and get the other driver to cover expenses that are not related to the accident in question, doing so could compromise the integrity of your case a whole. One of the top ways judges tend to gauge who is telling the truth is by paying attention to who is the most consistent. Lying leaves room for you to forget your story and change it over time. Just don’t do it!

1. Call On Your Witnesses– Lastly, if you have any witnesses, that can help seal your case. There are few things as powerful in court as an eyewitness account. 

Serving the North Carolina area, the JC Demo Insurance Group can provide you with all the tools you need to protect your vehicle on the road. No matter what kind of coverage you need, JC Demo can provide a package that encompasses what you’re looking for. 

Many people who live in the Charlotte, North Carolina suburb of Matthews commute into the middle of the city on a daily basis. This can cost a lot of money in gas, even when oil prices are low. However, there are some ways to cut gas expenditures down significantly. Below are some tips for increasing gas mileage and reducing the amount you spend on gas on a daily basis when commuting from Matthews to Charlotte or anywhere else in North Carolina and beyond.

DRIVE AT TIMES WHERE THERE IS LITTLE TRAFFIC

While traffic is relatively unpredictable, try not to drive during rush hours, as the more time you spend idling in traffic the worse your gas mileage usually will be. The more you can be moving while in your vehicle, the better, as you will get farther on less gas.

TRY TO LIMIT AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER USE

Using the air conditioner and heater will cost you a good amount of gas over time, especially if it is on full blast. So try to limit your air conditioner and heater use depending on the season in North Carolina and you will see better gas mileage results and ultimately pay less at the pump.

MAKE SURE TIRES ARE PROPERLY INFLATED

Tires that are low will slow the car down and significantly reduce gas mileage. It is also dangerous to drive with low tires as they may more easily result in a blow out at high speeds. So make sure your tires are properly inflated at all times.

BUY A FUEL EFFICIENT VEHICLE

Try buying or leasing another vehicle that is more fuel efficient, like a hybrid that gets double the miles per gallon most regular cars get. Of course, when you get a new vehicle it means getting new insurance to protect your investment, allowing you to see the monetary benefits over time of what you see at the pump. Check out JC Demo Insurance Group who serves the Matthews, North Carolina area for competitive rates.