Month: February 2025

Understanding Usage-Based Insurance

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Usage-based insurance (UBI) is an increasingly popular form of auto insurance that uses behavioral measurements of your driving habits and vehicle use to determine your premium. In effect, UBI calculates your insurance premiums based on your driving miles and riskiness. If you want to learn more about UBI programs, contact the August Vincent Insurance Agency team serving the Crystal Lake, IL, area.

How UBI Works

Traditionally, insurers determine auto insurance premiums based on a driver’s accident history, gender, age, marital status, and other characteristics. While this system was the best available, it wasn’t perfect as it based premiums on your characteristics rather than your driving behavior. However, today, in-vehicle telematics, smartphones, and other technologies allow insurers to track how often you speed, hard brake, use your phone, drive miles, and where you drive to determine your insurance premiums. Some UBI policies are based only on your miles driven, while others use your mileage and driving riskiness.

Policyholders choose to participate in UBI; the insurer does not force you into the program. Financially, UBI benefits those who drive safely for limited miles (less than 11,500 per year) and don’t mind the insurer tracking their driving and location. Such drivers typically save 5 to 10% for signing up and 10 to 15% after a trial period that confirms they are safe drivers.

UBI has drawbacks for those who drive aggressively, drive a lot, or have privacy and data integrity concerns. Insurance companies use different technologies for their UBI programs, so switching insurers may also require switching technologies.

Working With The August Vincent Insurance Agency

Our August Vincent Insurance Agency team serves the Crystal Lake, IL, area and will answer your UBI or other insurance questions. Stop by or call (847) 512-7301 today to develop an insurance plan that meets your needs.

Tips to Avoid Smash and Grabs

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Riding a motorcycle is an exhilarating experience; for many riders, sharing that experience with a passenger makes it even better. But before you invite someone to hop on the back of your bike, it’s important to know whether your motorcycle insurance covers them in the event of an accident. At Kingston Insurance Agency LLC, serving residents in and around South Kingstown, RI, we help riders understand their coverage so they can confidently hit the road.

Understanding Motorcycle Insurance and Passenger Coverage.

Not all motorcycle insurance policies automatically cover passengers. While liability insurance is required in most states, it typically only covers damages or injuries you cause to others, not the person riding with you. If you regularly ride with a passenger, you’ll want to ensure you have guest passenger liability coverage or medical payments coverage in your policy.

Guest passenger liability helps cover medical expenses for your passenger if they’re injured in an accident where you’re at fault. Without this coverage, your passenger might have to rely on their own health insurance, which could leave them facing high out-of-pocket costs. Medical payment coverage, on the other hand, helps pay for medical bills regardless of who is at fault.

Why Passenger Coverage Matters

Even the safest riders can’t control everything on the road. If an accident happens, having the right coverage ensures that both you and your passenger are protected from unexpected expenses.

At Kingston Insurance Agency LLC, proudly serving the communities in and around South Kingstown, RI, we’re here to help you find the right motorcycle insurance policy for your needs. Contact us today to review your coverage and make sure you and your passengers stay protected every time you ride.