If you’re in the market for a new car, buying auto insurance is one of the decisions you’ll need to make. After all, this is a legal requirement in Buford, GA. But when this is your first time buying auto insurance, you can make mistakes that will impact you negatively down the line. This doesn’t have to be your experience.  We at Town & Country Insurance are here to explain some common auto insurance mistakes you should avoid.

Common Auto Insurance Mistakes to Avoid

Not Doing Basic Research

Shopping for an auto insurance policy is like shopping for any other product or service. This is particularly important when purchasing insurance online. Research the company you want to partner with to be confident you’re choosing the right insurance provider.

Not Knowing Which Coverage Options You Need

There are different types of auto insurance coverage options. They include liability coverage, comprehensive, collision, medical payments, and uninsured/ underinsured coverage. Each option offers you a different type of protection. Let us help you understand what each policy entails before deciding which one is right for you.

Lying on Your Car Insurance Application

It’s never a good idea to lie on your car insurance application. Most people fail to disclose how they plan to use their vehicles or refuse to add young drivers to their policies. You may be trying to avoid additional expenses by lying, only for things to backfire when your car is involved in an accident. Be honest so that your policy can protect you adequately.

Forgetting to Update Your Insurance Policy

Forgetting isn’t the same as lying, but it’s also a mistake some policyholders make. For instance, some people forget to add their kids to their existing policy. If any change happens in your life and it impacts your policy, make sure you update it.

We Are Here To Help!

At Town & Country Insurance, we want to ensure you don’t make these mistakes. Our Buford, GA agents are ready to guide you and answer any questions you may have. Call us today.

Any driver in the state of Georgia is required to have an active auto insurance policy at all times, or the driver could be faced with serious penalties. Anyone who drives without auto insurance in the state of Georgia could be charged with up to $185 in fines and could spend up to a year in jail. If you decide to drive uninsured, you could face certain consequences that could result in the suspension of your driver’s license and your vehicle’s registration.

Georgia’s Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements

If you live in Georgia, you’re required to carry liability insurance for your vehicle so that any injuries and damages related to an accident for which you’re at fault can be covered. You’ll also need to carry proof that you have a policy in place. Your vehicle must have a minimum amount for each of the following types of liability coverage:

•    A minimum per person for bodily injury coverage and a minimum for multiple people who have been involved in an accident.
•    A minimum in liability coverage for every accident that involves property damage.

Be sure to speak to an agent at Town & Country Insurance if you live in Buford, GA. We can help you find the coverage you need, and we’ll make sure it complies with Georgia State Law.

What You Could Face for Driving Without Auto Insurance

In addition to paying a fine and spending up to a year in jail, you could have your driver’s license and registration suspended. This can negatively affect your driving record. If your auto insurance policy has been terminated, you have 30 days to send an electronic notification to the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). If you fail to send it in within that specified period, you could be faced with certain penalties.

What you could face will depend on the circumstances of your case, but you could pay a fee that could fall anywhere between $85 and $185. If you’re not able to provide adequate proof that you have an auto insurance policy, your vehicle’s registration could be suspended, and you could be faced with jail time of up to one year. The fee and time in which your driver’s license and registration can be reinstated will depend on the number of subsequent offenses, so be sure you have an active auto policy at all times. Otherwise, you could face serious consequences later on.

If you live in Buford, GA, feel free to get in touch with Town & Country Insurance Group. Our experts have a thorough understanding of Georgia’s auto insurance requirements. If you need a policy that complies with state standards, be sure to contact someone at our office. We would be happy to speak with you!

Auto insurance is broken into two different types: comprehensive and collision. These two types are actually complimentary forms that protect the insured from paying totally out of pocket when an accident happens. Here are definitions of each one:

1. Comprehensive Insurance:  This type of coverage applies when something happens to the car other than a collision. For example, when damage is caused by fire, vandalism, theft, falling objects natural disasters, animals or glass damage like a cracked windshield. Some car collectors that store cars but don’t drive them will carry comprehensive coverage on them.

2.  Collision Insurance:  This type of coverage applies when a covered car runs into or collides with another car, an object other than a car or if the road driven on is hazardous, ie: a large pothole. It does not cover damage to the other vehicles. Liability insurance is what covers the other vehicle and is required by law in most states, including Georgia.

The difference between a car’s comprehensive and collision insurance is the damage they cover. The easiest way to remember is that comprehensive insurance covers drivers against damages caused to the car outside of their control and collision insurance covers drivers when they are in an accident with another vehicle or object.

Most insurance companies conveniently offer both comprehensive and collision insurance together as a package. Both types can include a deductible or the amount of money the insurer must pay to get the damage fixed. Going one step further, if there is a loan on the car, the bank will require both comprehensive and collision coverage and proof of insurance.

Contact Town & Country Insurance, Buford, GA for more information about comprehensive and collision insurance and what coverage is best for you.