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AUTO INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

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(this is a reposting of an original article found here from Mercury Auto Insurance Group. All information, images, and other forms of data in this post are from Mercury)

Be sure you are carrying adequate coverage

Most states require liability insurance to operate a motor vehicle. You may be subject to fines and the state may revoke your license and registration if you don’t have adequate auto insurance coverage.

Fines and penalties for driving without insurance can be avoided by buying insurance that meets the minimum coverage limits required by your state. However, this minimum insurance coverage may not be enough to ensure that you, your family and your assets are fully protected.

In California, drivers must carry liability insurance of $15,000 for injury/death to one person, $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person and $5,000 for damage to property (15/30/5).1 Your insurance company will only pay up to these limits if you are found to be liable in an accident, which means you would be responsible for any costs over and above these limits.

Mercury Insurance offers a variety of coverage options that will allow you to customize an auto insurance policy to meet your needs. Some coverage options you may want to consider include collision, liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury, uninsured motorist property damage, rental car and medical payments coverage.

Insurance can be very complicated, so it’s important to get help from a professional. Mercury has a hug network of local agents, so you can find an agent in your area who will be happy to help with your insurance needs.

In the table below, the first two numbers refer to bodily injury liability limits, while the third number refers to the property damage liability limit:

  1. First number: Bodily injury liability maximum for one person injured in an accident.
  2. Second number: Bodily injury liability maximum for all injuries in one accident.
  3. Third number: Property damage liability maximum for one accident.

For example, if you live in California, the minimum liability limits are $15,000 for injury liability for one person, $30,000 for all injuries and $5,000 for property damage in an accident.

State by state insurance minimum requirements in thousands2:

  • Alaska: 50/100/25
  • Alabama: 20/40/10
  • Arkansas: 25/50/15
  • Arizona: 15/30/10
  • California: 15/30/5
  • Colorado: 25/50/15
  • Connecticut: 20/40/10
  • Delaware: 15/30/5
  • Florida: 10/20/10
  • Georgia: 15/30/10
  • Hawaii: 20/40/10
  • Idaho: 20/50/15
  • Illinois: 20/40/15
  • Indiana: 25/50/10
  • Iowa: 20/40/15
  • Kansas: 25/50/10
  • Kentucky: 25/50/10
  • Louisiana: 10/20/10
  • Maine: 50/100/25
  • Maryland: 20/40/10
  • Massachusetts: 20/40/5
  • Michigan: 20/40/10
  • Minnesota: 30/60/10
  • Mississippi: 25/50/25
  • Missouri: 25/50/10
  • Montana: 25/50/10
  • Nebraska: 25/50/25
  • New Hampshire: 25/50/25
  • New Jersey: 15/30/5
  • New Mexico: 25/50/10
  • Nevada: 15/30/10
  • New York: 25/50/10
  • North Carolina: 30/60/25
  • North Dakota: 25/50/25
  • Ohio: 12.5/25/7.5
  • Oklahoma: 10/20/10
  • Oregon: 25/50/10
  • Pennsylvania: 15/30/5
  • Rhode Island: 25/50/25
  • South Carolina: 25/50/25
  • South Dakota: 25/50/25
  • Tennessee: 25/50/10
  • Texas: 30/60/25
  • Utah: 25/65/15
  • Virginia: 25/50/20
  • Vermont: 25/50/10
  • Washington: 25/50/10
  • Wisconsin: 25/50/10
  • West Virginia: 20/40/10
  • Wyoming: 25/50/20

 

1 www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr18.htm#minliareq
2 www.dmv.org/insurance/insurance-state-requirements.php


Car Insurance Rates Are Color Blind

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(this is a reposting of an original article found here from Mercury Auto Insurance Group. All information, images, and other forms of data in this post are from Mercury)

Car color doesn’t factor into Mercury’s auto insurance rates

Most people have heard it, and many people believe it: a red sports car will cost more to insure than, say, a white one. Mercury Insurance wants to let consumers know that car color does not factor intoinsurance rates

“The idea that certain colors of cars are more expensive to insure is nothing more than an urban legend,” says Ken Kitzmiller, VP of underwriting for Mercury Insurance. “We don’t even ask for the color of a vehicle in the quote or application process. Your driving history is much more important than the color of your car.”

Kitzmiller offers some other factors that can actually affect car insurance premiums:

  • Driving record. A major portion of car insurance rates are based on past accidents and tickets.
  • Driving experience. Young drivers with less than eight years on the road generally have higher insurance rates. However, Mercury Insurance rewards young drivers who possess a GPA of 3.0 or higher with a good student discount.
  • Price of your car. Expensive vehicles are generally more costly to insure. Car insurance rates for your BMW 5-series will be higher than if you drive a Toyota Camry.
  • Annual mileage. As a rule, the more you drive, the higher your rates will be. The way you use your vehicle can also affect your rates. Expect to pay more if your car is used for business and vehicles used in a daily commute will be higher than those only driven on weekends.
  • Marital status. Statistically speaking, married drivers tend to be safer behind the wheel than their single counterparts, so their rates are generally lower. Additionally, Mercury offers multi-car discounts to customers who insure more than one car on the same policy.

Contact your Mercury agent before you purchase your next vehicle—no matter what color it is. You can learn the impact certain makes or models will have on your premium and get more information aboutMercury discounts and savings.

Putting Your Teen Behind The Wheel

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(this is a reposting of an original article found here from Mercury Auto Insurance Group. All information, images, and other forms of data in this post are from Mercury)

Teen drivers spend countless hours dreaming of owning their first car. A fast sports car conjures exciting images, while an SUV has ample room for all of their friends—and both vehicles have one thing in common: Neither is a good choice for teens.

If you’re the parent of a teen driver, you may be wondering what you can do to help ensure his or her safety. Aside from knowing and honoring the rules of the road, safe teen driving involves operating the appropriate type of vehicle. In addition to researching auto insurance for teens, there are five tips to consider when choosing your teen’s first car. Designed to help protect young drivers, these suggestions focus on safety, which also helps to lower the cost of car insurance for teenagers.

Tip 1: Watch the speed. Driving fast cars with turbochargers and high horsepower carries significant risk for teen drivers. Car accidents are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year olds, and in 37% of those accidents the primary cause is speeding.1 Help protect your teen by choosing a vehicle with a four-cylinder engine and average horsepower, which may cost less to insure and could save lives.

Tip 2: Grounded in reality. When it comes to buying a car, many parents mistakenly presume that big equates to safe. The opposite is often true for young drivers, as SUVs and pick-up trucks can pose significant dangers for teen drivers. These vehicles have a high center-of-gravity, which makes them less stable and more prone to rollover than traditional mid-sized sedans—especially for inexperienced drivers.

Reality check: Pick-up trucks are two times more likely, and SUVs are three times more likely, to rollover than traditional passenger cars.2

Tip 3: Buy 1997 or later. While pre-owned cars are less expensive, older models may be more costly to insure—and they often don’t have modern safety features found on newer cars. Although many parents can’t afford new or almost-new vehicles, they should focus on models manufactured in 1997 or later—the year airbags were required in all cars. Other important safety features include side airbags, anti-lock brakes and roll stability control.

Tip 4: Know the score. Whether shopping for a new or pre-owned vehicle, always check crash-test scores. All vehicles are rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which provides ratings on a vehicle’s ability to withstand a front or side impact. Although these scores are approximate, they provide an excellent appraisal of a model’s structural integrity. To access crash-test scores, visit the NHTSA’s website at www.safercar.gov.

Tip 5: Ask for a rate quote. Before you go car shopping, inquire about car insurance for teens. Find out how much it will cost to insure your teen in his or her new car. Rates can often vary by hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Mercury Insurance Group offers some of the lowest rates available for families with teen drivers. If you’d like to speak with an agent about a quote, please call (800) 956-3728. Mercury Insurance Group sells insurance through independent agencies and insurance brokers in 13 states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.

Following these tips will help reduce the risks often associated with teen driving as well as lessen parents’ anxieties.

1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2009, Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System
2 Safercar.gov, Rollover FAQs

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Refer a Friend!

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Are you a satisfied Cornerstone Customer? Then tell us! We love to hear your feedback so we can continuously strive for excellence in every area of our service to you. Write a testimonial or refer us to a friend!  Feel free to check out our Yelp page, too!

Happy Halloween from Cornerstone

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Happy Halloween from all of us at Cornerstone!!!

Blast From The Past

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original article: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2005/03/30/53154.htm

Cornerstone Preferred Joins United Agencies

Thomas E. Hays, chairman of the board for Pasadena, California-based United Agencies announced that effective immediately, Cornerstone Preferred Insurance Services has joined the United Agencies group and will be housed in new Pasadena offices.

Jim Stone, president of Cornerstone Preferred Insurance Services, explained that joining the United Agencies group gives him the purchasing power usually reserved for the larger, national brokerage firms.

Hays added, “We’re pleased that Jim has made the decision to come aboard and join our family of companies. We recently moved our headquarters in Pasadena which enabled us to make room for more professional organizations like Jim and Cornerstone. We continue to upgrade our back office support so our members can better service their independent books of business.”

Stone began his insurance career in 1982 in Torrance, Calif., at Powell-Waterhouse Insurance as a personal lines CSR. He next served in a sales position at Crescenta Valley Insurance. For the next seven years, Stone specialized in commercial lines sales at Knight Insurance Agency. He also spent 10 years at Golden Pacific Insurance Services, serving as vice president for six years.

In 1962 seven agents formed United Agencies with the express purpose of giving customers personal professional service while providing clients with the insurance services and competitive markets of a regional or national brokerage. Today, United Agencies provides a full range of services to business and individuals nationwide. United Agencies has corporate headquarters in Pasadena, Calif. and eleven branch offices are housed in that building. In addition, they have another seventeen offices throughout Southern California and Nevada. The Pasadena headquarters recently relocated to 301 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101.

Winterize Your Vehicle

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HELPFUL INSURANCE TIPS

(original post here)

Do you have Car Insurance that is right for you? If not, consider switching to Cornerstone! Click Here to Get a Quote

Preparing for colder weather includes upgrading your Mercury auto insurance coverage

Winter: A time when your car won’t start running and your nose won’t stop. When temperatures drop, car accidents often rise, as does the importance of having the correct auto insurance.

On average, 1.5 million weather-related car accidents occur annually, accounting for 24 percent of all car crashes nationally and 630,000 injuries.1

“Winter driving can be extremely dangerous for motorists and severely damaging to vehicles,” says Joanna Moore, Mercury Insurance chief claims officer. “Properly maintaining your vehicle, exercising extreme caution while driving and keeping your autos fully insured are the best ways to stay safe on winter roads.”

Here are some things to consider when reviewing your auto insurance policy:

  • Who will be driving your vehicle during the winter months? Consider upgrading your auto insurance if an inexperienced winter driver — perhaps a teenager who has little experience in cold, icy conditions — will be behind the wheel.
  • How frequently will you be operating your vehicle(s) this winter? Reevaluate your car insurance coverage on any vehicle(s) that will be driven more during winter months when the most weather-related accidents occur.
  • In what condition is your vehicle? You may want to increase your coverage if you drive an older vehicle that doesn’t have the most recent safety features, such as anti-locking brakes, all-wheel drive and traction tires. In addition, a pre-winter examination of your brakes and tires by a licensed mechanic is highly recommended.

In the event of a winter breakdown, Mercury customers can take advantage of the company’s Roadside Assistance program, which is available for all customers and part of Mercury’s collision coverage with no additional fees. Through GPS technology, the service can even identify the exact location of stranded drivers.

“With the callers’ permission, Mercury Roadside Assistance will identify their precise location and allow us to send help right away,” says Moore. “It’s also network neutral, meaning it will work with any phone, regardless of service provider or model.”

Moore offers a few winter driving tips in addition to maintaining the proper insurance coverage:

  • Winter driving precautions start before you ever get in the vehicle. Replacing old wiper blades, checking fluid levels (especially antifreeze and oil), rotating tires or putting on traction tires, cleaning battery connections and checking the heating system are essential to making sure your vehicle is ready for winter.
  • Do not drive distracted. Keep both hands on the wheel and stay off your cell phone. It’s important you are alert and ready to react. Remember, you are 23 times more likely to get into an accident when you text while driving.2
  • Control your speed. Quickly accelerating or stopping means trouble when driving on ice-slick roads. The number one cause of winter accidents is trying to change speed or direction faster than surfaces allow.3
  • Always buckle up.

Talk to a local Mercury agent today or go online to www.mercuryinsurance.comto get a fast, free quote to see how much Mercury can save you.

1Fourteen-year averages from 1995 to 2008 analyzed by Noblis, based on NHTSA data.
2Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
3Colorado Department of Transportation

 


What Employees Should Know About Healthcare Changes Ahead

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Do you have the health insurance that is right for you? Consider switching to Cornerstone and saving today!

Click here to get a quote today!

(Original post here)

If you like your 401(k) retirement savings account, you’re going to love what healthcare reform does to your employer-provided health care plan.

In a post-Obamacare future, expect more employers to adopt defined contribution healthcare plans. Instead of providing coverage, they will throw a set amount of cash at workers and have them buy their own coverage on private employer-sponsored exchanges.

That future isn’t here yet. Right now only about 5 percent of companies are using this approach, according to Alan Cohen, chief strategy officer of Liazon, a firm that sets up private exchanges for companies. But it is fast approaching. Cohen expects that in five years, half of all companies will be offering these private-choice dollar benefit plans.

Major elements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are approaching even faster than that. On Oct. 1 of this year, the first massive open-enrollment health insurance season in history starts, when the state and federal exchanges open for business.

Workers at big companies probably will face fewer immediate changes than everyone else. But those who buy their own insurance, go without coverage or work for small employers will see dramatic changes in the coverage available to them. Here’s an early take on what to expect and what to do about it now.

– This tax season matters. Take a look at your 2012 tax return to see if you’re going to qualify for subsidies. People who earn 400 percent of the federal poverty level or less will have their premium costs capped and excess premium covered by tax credits.

Those figures do get adjusted annually, but using 2012 numbers, that means that even families earning four times the poverty level – roughly $44,680 for singles and $92,200 for that family of four – would see their health insurance costs capped.

At that income level, premiums couldn’t cost more than 9.5 percent of family income. Lower levels of income would qualify for lower caps and higher subsidies.

People with incomes up to 250 percent of the poverty line ($22,340 for singles and $46,100 for families of four, based on 2012 figures) also will qualify for lower deductibles and co-payments subsidized by the federal government.

The income used to determine this is modified adjusted gross income, calculated basically by adding tax-exempt interest income and tax-free Social Security benefits to adjusted gross income.

So, if your 2013 tax return puts you on the cusp, check again to make sure there’s not a retirement contribution you could make or another move that would bring your income below those key levels.

And married couples who have been filing separately should give very strong consideration to filing jointly, suggests Cheryl Fish-Parcham, deputy director of Families USA, a consumer advocacy organization. Complex regulations will make it difficult or impossible for those married-separate filers to claim the subsidy credits.

– Get educated. Fish-Parcham and her colleague, Claire McAndrew, a senior policy analyst, say they most worry about newcomers to the health insurance buffet getting scammed or misled once they are both required to buy health insurance and responsible for choosing their own. Beginning on Oct. 1 this year, there will be public exchanges featuring health insurance plans that meet minimum federal guidelines. That means they won’t exclude people with pre-existing conditions and they won’t have lifetime spending limits, for example.

There will also be web-based exchanges run by private companies, like the ones run now by companies like ehealthinsurance.com and Netquote.com. And private exchanges available through employers from companies like Liazon, which runs its own Bright Choices exchange. “We’re a little concerned about the confusion that might result,” McAndrew said.

All of the exchanges would be required to carry policies that meet new minimum federal guidelines and they would be required to meet federal pricing rules too. But the private exchanges might offer more separate coverage, such as vision and dental care. And the state exchanges will also screen for other federal and state assistance programs.

For now, it’s good to look at your family and analyze your use of the healthcare system. Do you have lots of well-child visits? Chronic conditions? Do you want to pay higher premiums for first-dollar coverage or less for higher-deductible plans? If you know early what your health spending patterns are, it will be easier for you to shop for health insurance.

– Save money now. If you currently have a high deductible plan with a health savings account, max out your contribution for 2012 and 2013. It’s not clear that these programs will all survive in their current form going forward; you may find yourself with other choices that don’t allow you to use an HSA, and that money could come in handy later.

Furthermore, many people may see their health insurance costs rise in 2014, warn experts. Costs could rise as insurers stretch to meet higher coverage standards. And with new rules limiting the markups that could be charged to older subscribers, some young people could find their insurance costs rising, said Sam Gibbs, president of eHealth Inc’s Government Systems division.

As more employees are nudged to cheaper high-deductible plans in the future, they will want to learn more about the healthcare they are buying, suggests Ceci Connolly, managing director of the PwC Health Research Institute. She said that after being switched to a high-deductible plan herself, she started questioning her healthcare costs more carefully.

“When the first $3,000 to $5,000 is out of your own pocketbook, you might think differently about the different tests and screenings; the things that get ordered up quickly.”

A first step? Check at the government’s website to see data on doctors and hospitals. Begin to think about finding better doctors and hospitals to achieve better health. More and more of that information will be made public as we move into the future of healthcare.

Copyright 2013 Reuters. Click for restrictions.
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Cornerstone Giveaway | $50 VISA Gift Card

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At Cornerstone, we really believe that our superior savings and service will make your life better and save you money.

To help get the word out about our company to more people, we’re hosting a giveaway! To help us out, enter the the giveaway by LIKING our Facebook page and by FOLLOWING us on Twitter!

From today until the 20h of June, you can enter to win a free $50 VISA Gift Card! Enter today and help us get the word out about Cornerstone.

Click here to enter now!

sincerely,

 

 

—the Cornerstone Team

How much do YOU know about healthcare reform?

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Just as with anything, ignorance about an issue or major change can cause you unforeseen problems down the road. Keeping well informed about important changes can save you time, money, and energy in your business and in your personal life.

The health reform law promises to deliver big changes in the U.S. health care system. But, as with other sweeping pieces of legislation, it can be hard to get the real facts about what it does. And it is all too easy for misinformation about the law to spread.

 

So, test your knowledge about the health reform  changes with this simple and short quiz from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, then share your results with friends on Twitter or Facebook.

——->Take the quiz!<——-

—The Cornerstone Family

 

How much do YOU know about Home Insurance?

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Just as with anything, ignorance about an issue or major change can cause you unforeseen problems down the road. Keeping well informed about important changes can save you time, money, and energy in your business and in your personal life.

Owning a home is one of the most important milestones in many people’s lives and provides so much more than just a place to stay warm and dry to a family. Your home is often the place of community and connectedness that is central to a family.

Do you know enough about how your home is protected and insured though? Test your knowledge about homeowner’s insurance with this simple and short quiz from the Allstate Blog, then share your results with friends on Twitter or Facebook!
Do you know enough about homeowner’s insurance? It pays to know.

—The Cornerstone Family

Home Run Derby 2013—Pick-a-Player

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Vote now to get the chance to win a $10 Starbucks gift card! All those who pick the right player will win!

[polldaddy poll="7252278"]

Announcement: The It Pays To Know Campaign

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It Pays To Know.

This post introduces our It Pays to Know campaign. We hope that the resources we provide to you will help educate you and ensure that you are experiencing real, actual peace of mind when it comes to your home, car, and other personal assets.

It is an unfortunate reality that many accidents and injuries are caused by a lack of knowledge and could have been prevented if people were properly informed. This is especially true when it comes to natural disasters. Though the disasters themselves cannot often be prevented or predicted, you can prepare you and your family to respond well to an emergency.

To help you achieve a more holisitic peace of mind, we have created the It Pays to Know campaign. The central aim of this campaign is to inform and prepare you for things like natural disasters as well to provide useful, practical tips about daily tasks. 

You can start experiencing more complete peace of mind by taking the Earthquake Preparedness Quiz. Try it out and be sure to browse the other resources that we have compiled for you!

—The Cornerstone Team


The Anatomy of An Earthquake

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Do you know what an earthquake really is?

As a part of our It Pays To Know campaign, we have provided you with this excellent infographic about the anatomy of an earthquake. After you’ve learned about all that goes into earthshaking, go to our It Pays To Know page and find out how you can best prepare for an earthquake!

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How to Get Life Insurance After a Heart Attack

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hospital roomWhile it may be more difficult to get affordable life insurance after a critical illness, it is not impossible. Many insurance companies will still consider insuring patients who have had life-threatening illnesses & diseases such as cancer, stroke, and heart attacks. Some companies even have a separate policy, called high-risk life insurance, designed for these types of patients.

Regardless, here are a few tips on how to get life insurance if you’ve been diagnosed with a critical illness.

#1 – Be Honest With Insurance Companies

Don’t try to hide your medical information from the insurance companies while applying for life insurance. They will probably require an exam or medical records anyways, so it won’t help your case to withhold information. It will only make them less likely to provide coverage.

#2 – Document Everything

The insurance company will ask you a number of questions related to your illness, such as:

  • What is the date of your diagnosis?
  • What are the medical reasons for your heart attack
  • How many times do you visit the doctor each year?
  • Which treatments did your doctor recommend?
  • Which treatments you have opted to receive?
  • Has your condition improved since you were first diagnosed?
  • Does your family have a history of your illness?

Make sure that you document all doctor’s visits and make copies of records. It will be important to show proof of diagnoses, treatments, and procedures associated with your illness.

#3 – Reduce Factors That Could Lead to a Future Relapse

Insurance companies will be more likely to extend a policy if you are taking measures to improve your health and reduce contributing factors to your illness.

  • Comply with your doctor’s orders and any treatment options that they recommend.
  • Make sure you are at a healthy BMI.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
  • Take steps to reduce stress in your life.

Then, have a doctor write a letter about your compliance and efforts to improve your health.

What You Can Expect Next

Happy-PatientUsing information from these questions and your medical exams, the insurance company determine your risk. They will then decide whether or not they will extend a life insurance policy to you or if perhaps you qualify under a high-risk policy.

While your premiums may be higher than a person who has not had a critical illness, it may be still wise to take out a policy. You may also be able to reduce rates by getting a shorter policy, and by rechecking your policy annually to see if you qualify for lower rates as time passes.

Have More Questions? Contact Our Glendale Insurance Agents Today!

If you want to know more about taking out a life insurance policy after a critical illness, please call one of our insurance specialists at Cornerstone Preferred Insurance in Glendale. We can assist you with any of your insurance needs.

A Simple Guide to Motorcycle Insurance Laws in California

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Just like with any motor vehicle, California requires that motorcyclists have a certain amount of financial responsibility before hitting the road.

Minimum Insurance Requirements for CA Motorcycles

motorcycle insuranceOne of the most common financial responsibility options is to take out an insurance policy. The minimum requirements in California for two-wheeled vehicles are:

  • $15,000 in injury or death to one person
  • $30,000 in injury or death to more than one person
  • $5,000 in property damage

Remember, these are the minimum requirements for motorcyclists in California and this doesn’t cover damages for your own injuries. Your needs might be different, so make sure you talk to an expert insurance agent before you take out a policy.

Financial Responsibility Alternatives to Insurance

If for some reason, you don’t want to take out an insurance policy for your bike, then California does give you some other options for meeting their financial responsibility requirements: 

  1. Make a $35,000 cash deposit to the DMV. You can contact the DMV Financial Responsibility Unit at (916) 657-6520 for more information about this method of financial responsibility.
  2. Self-insure your motorcycle. The DMV will require you to get a self-insurance certificate if you decide to go this route.
  3. Get a surety bond for $35,000 from a company that is licensed to do business in California. If you want to find a company that issues surety bonds, you can always visit the Department of Insurance online.

Have More Questions? Get In Touch with Our Glendale Insurance Agents!

If you have more questions about meeting financial responsibility in California for your motorcycle, then please contact the insurance agents at Cornerstone Preferred Insurance in Glendale. Our experts can talk with you about your situation and your needs to find the perfect solution!

How To Save On Home Insurance with Home Improvement

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Trying to save some money on your home insurance? If you are planning on making home improvements, then here are a few things to consider doing:

  • Use Fire-Resistant Siding: Installing new siding with fire-resistant materials (like metal or cement shingles) can save up to 20% on your home insurance! This is especially true for areas that are susceptible to forest fires.
  • Get No-Burst Metal Washer Hoses: Because rubber washing machine hoses are notorious for bursting and causing water damage, insurance companies will give deductions for replacing them with metal washer hoses! Metal washer hoses are still flexible, yet essentially leak-free.
  • home securityPurchase Home Security: Installing stronger deadbolts and purchasing burglar alarms will help keep your home safe and free from robbery. Insurance companies may give discounts up to 15% for sophisticated security systems!
  • Remove Brush and Keep Trees Trim: If you live in an area that is at risk for wildfires, then removing brush and trimming your trees regularly can help reduce your home’s risk. Insurance companies may give you a discount for upkeep on your property.
  • Install Trouble Detectors: Trouble detectors that can help warn of plumbing failures may also save you some money! Temperature sensors that detect when the furnace is broken or leak detectors are relatively inexpensive.
  • Prepare For Floods: If you live in an area that is at high risk for flooding, then make sure you have flood openings and put all your utilities above ground level. That can help you reduce your premium for flood insurance!
  • Use Tough Roofing Materials: RoofingIf you are replacing your roof, you might want to consider using a tougher material than asphalt. Metal roofs will give you the biggest discount, but if you can’t afford that, then try heavy grade asphalt. Before installing, however, talk to your agent about which roof will give you the best cost-benefit.
  • Installing Storm Shutters: In areas that often have hurricanes, it can save a lot of money on your hurricane insurance to install storm shutters. Most shutters will pay themselves off in 3-5 years!
  • Remove Old Structures on Your Property: Have an old shed in your backyard? Chances are you are paying for any other building on your property. Make sure your buildings are up to code, or just remove them and save on your premium!

Get Advice from Our Glendale Insurance Agents

Before making improvements to save on insurance, call our Glendale insurance agents to make sure that these discounts will apply to your home insurance. We are more than happy to review your policy with you and suggest the best home improvements for your plan. If you are looking for a brand new policy, then be sure to request a quote!

 

 

Why You Need Insurance for Your Restaurant or Bar

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As a restaurant owner, you probably understand the many risks of opening a food service or bar business. Fires, lawsuits, worker injuries and crime all threaten to cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.

By purchasing restaurant & bar insurance, you can get protection from any accidents that may occur. In California, certain types of insurance are required for you to stay in business! Talk to our specialists to find out more about choosing the restaurant insurance that you need at the price you want.

Common Types of Restaurant Insurance in California

There are a number of different types of insurance that you may purchase for your restaurant or bar. Here are some of the most common:

  1. Worker’s Compensation Insurance: this is insurance that is required by law. It protects businesses when an employee is injured at work or due to work-related activity.
  2. Property Coverage: covers any damage to the building, equipment, and furniture, as well as improvements in some policies
  3. Income Coverage: reimburses business owners for loss of income due to any interruptions or shutdowns
  4. Spoilage Coverage: covers losses for food & inventory that spoil during equipment breakdown
  5. Crime Coverage: protects against damages from employee theft or break-ins
  6. General Liability: covers against any lawsuits that may arise from food illness, slip and falls or other injuries that occur on your premises.
  7. Commercial Vehicle Insurance: if you have any delivery vans or business vans that transport food, then you will need to purchase insurance for those vehicles.

Need to Purchase Restaurant Insurance? Call Our Specialists in Glendale!

Whether you are thinking about opening a restaurant or already have an established business, you should make sure that your insurance policy is right for your needs.

Our insurance agents can discuss your business to make sure that you have all the right coverage at a price you can afford. We aren’t tied to any one insurance provider, so we can shop around to find the best policy for your restaurant or bar!

Get in touch with us today by calling our office at (888) 840-4020 or getting an online quote

 

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