Skip to content
Click to Call
Oliver Insurance

101 N Ivy St
Canby, OR 97013

Get Directions

Oliver Insurance Blog

Auto Insurers and the Use of Auto Trackers: What You Need to Know If You Are Considering a Policy That Utilizes One of These

There are some auto insurers out there who are allowing drivers to use telematics devices or auto trackers to possibly earn an auto insurance discount. The tracker can determine how many miles the car is driven, where the car is driven and if the driver is following safety laws, such as speed limits. If you are considering one of these devices to get a discount, here is some information you need to know.

Your Insurance Rate Can Actually Increase

One of the downsides, aside from giving up your privacy, is that your auto insurance rates can actually increase if you use one of these devices. If the insurance company sees that you frequently travel to an area with high car theft rates or accident rates or you are driving in what they view an unsafe manner, they have the right to increase your rate. So while you may be hoping for a decrease, you could actually end up with an increase.

Good Driver is an Arbitrary Term

Another downside is that good driver is an arbitrary term and only the insurance company knows exactly how they use the data to determine if you are a good driver and qualify for the discount. Some people may use the device only to find out that they don’t get any additional discount because the software doesn’t deem them a good driver.

If You Qualify, the Discounts Can be Substantial

While there are several downsides to using a tracker, there is a huge upside. If you qualify for the discount, the discount is often a substantial one. Some insurers will offer as much as 25 percent off your auto insurance rates if you use the tracker and use safe driving habits. If you are on a tight budget, this may make it a great deal for safe drivers.

If you are interested in learning more about telematics devices or are looking for alternative ways to possibly save on your auto insurance policy, contact Oliver Insurance, serving the greater Canby OR area. Stop by our office or call us to set up an appointment now.

 

What Does Car Insurance Cover When Towing A Boat In Canby OR?

Weekend warriors in Canby, OR who take to the lakes and reservoirs to fish, ski, or just spend time with family on the water may be in for a rude awakening if they are involved in an accident on the road and their boat or trailer is damaged. The fact is, most car insurance policies only cover the trailer. Even then, the coverage is not quite as extensive as what is on the vehicle towing the boat and trailer.

Just Because It’s Attached, Is It Insured?

Many people are under the assumption that if the boat and trailer are attached to their vehicle, they are both insured. In most cases, if your boat is damaged due to an accident you caused or damage that was caused by another vehicle, your losses will not be covered by your car insurance. If your boat comes in contact with another vehicle and causes any amount of damage, your insurance will not cover those particular damages and you will be responsible for them out of your own pocket.

Boat and Trailer Policies

If you plan on towing your boat on a regular basis, it’s a wise decision to purchase a policy specifically for your boat and trailer. This will fully cover both items while they are on the road and in the water. It’s an important safeguard that may prevent you from losing your boat completely or having to pay for extensive repairs that may result in financial hardship.

Talk to your local insurance agent at Oliver Insurance. The staff will help you determine what type of insurance you need, as well as how much coverage is best for your particular boat/trailer combo. Oliver Insurance serves residents who live in and around the Canby, OR area.

Five Simple Ways To Decrease Your Insurance Premiums

Insurance premiums can be a major part of a person’s monthly expenses, but Canby, OR residents can decrease their premiums in a variety of ways. Oliver Insurance offers the five following tips as the most effective ways of decreasing your auto, home, and health insurance premiums.

Cleaning Out Your Garage

Carefully cleaning out your garage can offer you premium discounts for two types of insurance coverage: auto and home insurance. Parking your car in a garage will decrease your auto coverage while cleaning up dangerous items will decrease your home premiums.

Increase Your Deductible

While it might be frustrating to increase your deductible, doing so will lower your monthly premium costs. Yes, you’ll pay more when problems do occur, but saving $100-200 per month can save you as much as $1,200 per year on your insurance.

Improve Your Insured Item

Repairing your car or home will decrease your premiums by making it worth more money. For example, adding storm shutters and adding a new room will minimize fire and water damage threats. Adding a new motor to your car will make it run more smoothly, eliminating breakdown threats.

Tweak Co-Insurance Rate

With medical insurance, you’ll typically have a ratio of 80/20 or 90/10, meaning the insurance provider pays 80-90 percent of your coverage while you pay the rest. Increasing the amount you pay (such as 70/30) will decrease your premiums, but increase what you pay: this method is similar to increasing your deductible with other insurances.

Avoiding Double Insurance

People often get medical coverage with their auto insurance policy and their personal health insurance policy. This is unnecessary, particularly if you already have life and disability insurance. Coverage duplication is expensive, so eliminate the most costly of these expenses to decrease your premiums.

Oliver Insurance covers the Canby, OR and can help you not only find great insurance coverage, but teach you ways to save money. Let them help you get full coverage and live a happy and productive life.

Should You Tell Your Insurance Provider About Home Renovations?

A home renovation project is an excellent way to not only make your house more enjoyable but increase the property value as well. One of the most popular questions regarding such a project is whether or not you need or should tell your insurance company about such a home renovation. At Oliver Insurance, we want to make sure your entire house is protected, which is why we recommend informing your insurance company when making any sort of renovation in Canby, OR or the surrounding areas.

When Contacting Your Home Insurance Provider Isn’t Necessary

There are some home renovation projects you may not need to inform your insurance provider of. These are usually projects that don’t increase the value of the home but simply correct current issues. Correcting some plumbing issues or electrical problems likely do not need reporting to your home insurance provider as it won’t play a major role in the cost of your home. If you’re not sure about if the project has an effect on property value, contact us at Oliver Insurance and we can help you with this question.

When to Contact Your Insurance Provider

If you are performing any sort of upgrade, such as a new floor, renovating the kitchen or adding on a room to the house, you need to tell your insurance provider as it will have an effect on the overall value of the home.

A home renovation is an exceptional use of your money. Initially, you may not want to inform your insurance company about the project as it can increase your monthly premiums. However, in the long run this is almost always necessary as it protects your investment and ensures you receive payments for any damage your newly renovated home sustains. At Oliver Insurance, we are here for you, so if you have questions regarding your Canby, OR home, give us a call at your convenience.

Prevent Water Damage and Protect Your Home

Water damage could lead to a home insurance claim in Canby, OR. Beyond that, water damage can expose your home to mold, which can cause serious health problems. The best way to avoid water damage is to protect your home using the following methods.

Clean Your Gutters

Your gutters are an integral part of your roofing system. They protect the foundation of your home from water by guiding the water away from your home. However, if your gutters are clogged with debris, they can’t perform as they should. To avoid this problem and protect your entire home, have your gutters cleaned by a professional.

Have a Professional Unclog Drains

Another professional you should hire for clogs are plumbers. Toilets and sinks are known to clog when you least expect it. Although attempting to unclog your drains may make sense in some cases, you should leave it to a professional to ensure it’s done right, especially when the clog is significant. If you damage your plumbing while trying to unclog your drain, you face costly repairs. Avoid it at all cost by enlisting the help of a professional when necessary.

Make Sure Your Drains Are Working Properly

Even now in then, it makes sense to get your drains checked. If you don’t, you may experience a whole-house plumbing back up. Annual drain inspections in Canby, OR helps prevent this problem by ensuring that your drains are working properly. If they are not, a licensed plumber can make recommendations that will help you avoid a plumbing problem.

We are always here to help our clients when they experience a loss. Beyond taking measures to protect your home from water damage, we encourage you to contact us today to make sure you have enough home insurance.

What Canby, OR Drivers Need To Know About Auto Insurance

Driving in Canby, OR requires that you have auto insurance. There are specific things that you need to have in order to be compliant with state law. This includes maintaining certain levels of property damage and personal injury liability on your policy.

What You Need

You need to have auto insurance if you plan on driving throughout Canby, OR and beyond. The state will dictate certain levels of insurance, and you may need additional insurance if you have a car loan or lease.

In addition to what you “need” there may be also things that you want. More coverage is possible beyond what is required of you. This includes collision insurance, comprehensive coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, rental car coverage, and so much more. It allows you to build a better policy so that you have more protection throughout the year.

You never know what’s going to happen. Even if you are the safest driver out there, you can’t be sure of what the weather or other drivers will bring. This means it is imperative that you have an auto insurance policy that you can count on.

Finding the Right Policy

At Oliver Insurance, we will be able to help you with finding the right auto insurance policy. This means such things as:

  • Answering questions
  • Recommending coverage
  • Obtaining quotes

There is no reason for you to do all of the work on your own. We have the ability to save you time and money. All you have to do is decide to tap into the resources we have available. This will make it easier for you to have the financial protection on your vehicle so that if something happens, you have recourse to be able to file a claim.

Contact one of our independent insurance agents at Oliver Insurance in order to learn more about auto insurance.

Top 5 Myths About Auto Insurance

Understanding the facts about auto insurance can help you from making a costly mistake. By distinguishing fact from fiction, you will get the most out of your policy and stay well protected in case of an accident.

Myth 1: Auto Insurance Rates Stay Low for Unreported Accidents

The biggest misstep many drivers make is to get into an accident and decide not to report the incident to their insurance companies. They are worried about their premiums increasing as a result of the fender bender. However, the other driver can at any time decide to file a claim against you as a result of the accident. Also, if a ticket was issued to you because of the accident, your insurance company may increase your rates.

Myth 2: Auto Insurance Policies Covers All Uses of My Vehicle

Under some policies, your insurer does not cover damages if the accident occurred while using the vehicle for business use. Your independent insurance agent can help steer you in the right direction when shopping for auto insurance. They will recommend a policy to keep you covered, no matter what.  

Myth 3: My Credit Doesn’t Matter for Auto Insurance Rates

An auto insurance provider wants to make sure you’re able to handle your financial obligation by paying your premiums on time. A good credit score can reduce your rates while a poor credit score may end up costing you more for coverage.

Myth 4: Older Cars Cost Less to Insure

Although the value of a car is factored into auto insurance rates, unusual cars with heavier engines and increased tonnage could cost more to insure. Another myth to consider is that the color of the car does not affect premium rates.

Myth 5: Older Drivers Pay More for Auto Insurance

When you’re over the age of 55, you may actually qualify for discounted rates through a car insurance provider.

Contact one of the agents at Oliver Insurance to discuss available auto insurance policies within the Canby, OR area.

 

Surviving Fall: Handy Tips Canby Residents Can Try

The transition into fall from summer can be a rocky one, especially if you live in a place like Canby, Oregon. The leaves begin to change, the weather starts to get cooler, and people start to turn off their air conditioning start to dress up for the incoming cold weather. What many homeowners both new and old may fail to realize is that the changing weather that is creeping up on them can do harm to their home and cost them an unfortunately high amount of money if they are not properly insured.

One issue is that as the weather gets colder, a lot of people do not check their doors and windows to make sure that your home is properly insulated to avoid damage from the cold weather. Another thing that homeowners should consider watching out for is that as the weather gets colder, so too does it get dryer, and dry weather can do some serious damage to your furniture. If you do not take the proper precautions to keep the cold weather out of your home, you may find your favorite sofa is put out of commission – and if you are uninsured, insult would be added to injury, as you would have to pay to have the furniture replaced out of pocket. Canby, Oregon residents should also make sure that their roofs are properly shingled and kept in good shape and that their gutters are in good shape as well; not only can a poorly maintained roof cause a house to have too cold of falls, it can make it more unsafe to clean our the gutters.

Insurance may assist you in avoiding serious consequences as a result of damage from the seasonal changes. Oliver Insurance can help you figure out exactly which insurance plan works best for your needs.

Benefits of Hiring an Independent Insurance Agent

An independent insurance agent isn’t affiliated with one specific company. It gives drivers in Canby, OR, and the surrounding area a unique experience when compared to going through an agency. In fact, hiring an independent insurance agent has a lot of benefits.

1. Can Save Money
Hiring an independent insurance agent rather than going through a specific insurance has the potential to save the driver money. The agent will offer the customer a wide variety of policies rather than focus on just the ones provided by the company the agent works for, meaning the agent won’t pressure the driver into purchasing the best policy. Moreover, most of the policies are less money than most of the ones from a specific company.

2. An Unbiased Opinion
Drivers want the agent’s opinion on the best policy for his or her needs. Unfortunately, an agent working for an agency works for a company is giving advice based on the fact that they must keep the company’s best interests at heart. They may even work on commission, so the car owner’s best interest doesn’t come first. Independent agents don’t work on commission and have no preference over one company or another, allowing the driver to reap the benefit of an honest unbiased opinion.

3. More Personalized Experience
Those working for large insurance companies tend to rush a customer into selecting a policy and might not always address issues thoroughly since they have to work under call-time restrictions. However, independent agents have the ability to give a person a more personalized experience. They’re not pressed for time and have fewer customers to deal with each day, giving each person more time with a professional.

To learn about the different auto policies available through Oliver Insurance, Serving Canby, OR, and the surrounding area, from a friendly independent agent, contact us today at 503-266-2715.

How to Determine How Much Commercial Insurance Your Business Needs

Trying to determine how much insurance your commercial business needs is challenging. You don’t want to be underinsured, or you won’t be fully covered in the event of a fire or break-in. You don’t want to be over insured, or you are paying for more insurance than you need. So how do you determine how much insurance your business needs? Here are a few factors to consider.

The Value of the Product or Merchandise You Have Stored in the Building

One of the first things to do is to determine what the value is of the product you normally store in the building. This is challenging as your inventory can go up and down, but get an average of how much you normally have on hand at any given time.

The Value of Your Business Property

Another factor to consider is how much your business property in the building amounts to. This includes computers, point of sale systems, fixtures, desks and other business property that makes your business function. In the event of an emergency, you will need to replace these items.

How Much Your Business Makes Each Day

The last factor to consider is how much money your business makes each day. If your normal day-to-day operations are interrupted or halted because of flood or fire, your commercial insurance will cover this daily loss if you are properly covered. Figuring out how much you average per day can help ensure you carry the right amount of insurance so you aren’t out any money if the unexpected happens.

If you are trying to figure out how much commercial insurance your business needs, or are looking for a new policy in the greater Canby, OR area, be sure to check out Oliver Insurance. We would love to help you determine how much insurance you need and draw up a new policy for that amount, ensuring your business is fully covered.

 

 

Accident Report Form

Leave a Review

Servicing States

  • Oregon
  • Washington
  • California
  • Arizona
  • Idaho

Client Reviews

Partner Carriers

  • Acuity
  • Branch
  • Cincinnati
  • Liberty
  • Metlife
  • Northwest
  • Progressive
  • Safeco
  • Stillwater
  • Sublimity
  • Travelers