Fall Car Care Tips to Help Extend the Life of Your Car

Posted on October 23, 2015October 23, 2015 by agentinsure

The way you take care of your car directly affects how long your car lasts. Fall gives drivers a great opportunity to take care of some car maintenance before it gets too cold outside. Our staff at Oliver Insurance hopes the following fall car care tips will help our customers endure the extreme winter temperature that are on the horizon.

Protect Your Battery from Extreme Temperatures

Winters in Canby, OR can be devastating. With ice and snow on the ground, the cold temperatures can easily cause battery problems. To prevent problems with your battery, it’s important that you take measures to protect your battery from extremely cold nights. Check your battery to ensure it has no corrosion on the posts. Corrosion interferes with connection and can interfere with your ability to crank your car. You should also install a battery blank around your battery to insulate it from frigid temperatures.

Replace Worn Tires

One of the most threatening aspects of driving in winter weather is driving with worn tires. Without proper tread, it’s hard to get traction from your tires. If you know your tires no longer provide you with adequate traction, change your tires before winter begins.

Change Damaged Windshields

Your windshield protects you and your passengers while you are in your car. With a bad windshield, one that has cracks in it, then you can’t see to avoid traffic hazards. If you have a windshield that has been shattered or that has a crack, have the windshield replaced so that you have can see better while you are driving.

At Oliver Insurance, we want you to be safe behind the wheel. By using these fall car care tips, you can increase your chances of being safe this fall.

If you would like more information about our competitive insurance rates, don’t hesitate to give one of our insurance agents a call or use our website tool to get an insurance quote.

When Taking a Road Trip, Save Money — But Don’t Expose Yourself to Unnecessary Risk

Posted on October 5, 2015October 7, 2015 by agentinsure

There are lots of ways to save money when taking a road trip. We at Oliver Insurance have collected just a few ideas and listed them below. When cutting your costs, though, you shouldn’t reduce your auto insurance coverage. Doing so could leave you dangerously unprotected.

Save on Food, Lodging and Activities

There are plenty of safe ways to save money during a road trip. For instance, you might:

pack a cooler with food and drinks, so you don’t have to buy meals and beverages
find friends you can stay with, so you don’t have to pay for hotel rooms
look up free activities to do, so you don’t spend a lot on doing things and seeing sights

None of these three tips exposes you to danger, nor do they detract from how fun a road trip is. In fact, some, like staying with friends, can make a road trip more fun — especially if you stay with friends you haven’t seen in awhile.

Don’t Skimp on Insurance Coverage

One place where you shouldn’t cut corners is auto insurance. It’s fine to shop around with an independent insurance agent for the lowest possible premiums. We even recommend doing this. You shouldn’t, however, reduce your insurance coverages. Lowering your coverage levels could leave you dangerously exposed if you were in an accident.

If you need help shopping for insurance, contact our independent insurance agents. Our auto insurance agents have helped many drivers in Canby, OR find low rates without sacrificing coverages. When you contact them, they’ll go over what coverages you want, and then they’ll compare policies that have those coverages for you. To speak with one of our agents, send them a message through our agency’s website.

Go Shopping for Renters Insurance with Your Roommate

Posted on September 30, 2015October 1, 2015 by agentinsure

If you rent an apartment with a roommate, and you’re looking for something to do together one day, we at Oliver Insurance have a suggestion. Go shopping for renters insurance together. Everyone who leases an apartment should have renters insurance, and you can even have fun shopping for policies with your roommate.

Renters Insurance for You and Your Roommate

Everyone who rents should have renters insurance, because it provides valuable protection against covered incidents, which often include things like burglaries and fires. Roommates, however, should maintain separate renters insurance policies, to ensure that each person has the right amount of coverage and to simplify the claims-filing process.

While you and your roommate ultimately should each purchase individual policies, you can go shopping for renters insurance together. You may even have fun calculating the value of your belongings and coming up with “what if” scenarios. You can even make a game of who can find the lowest rate. Both of you will likely win, because renters insurance rates are among the lowest of any type of insurance.

Independent Insurance Agents

The best part of shopping for renters insurance with your roommate is that you don’t even have to leave your apartment. At Oliver Insurance, we make it easy to begin the process of purchasing renters insurance on our website. Contact us via our online form, and one of our independent insurance agents will be with you and your roommate shortly. You can answer their questions, compare policies and purchase a policy in just a few minutes, and the entire process can be completed online and by phone. Our agents can find both of you affordable policies if you live in Canby, OR. To get started, grab your roommate and fill out our online form.

Earthquake Insurance

Posted on September 18, 2015 by Ryan Oliver

Recently there have been reports in the news about the imminence of the “Big One” shaking the greater Portland-Metro area, which has led many to begin thinking about what they can do to prepare for an earthquake. In addition to storing food, water, and other supplies, it is important to think about the catastrophic damages that can take place at your home and whether or not your Homeowners Insurance will cover the damage.

Most people do not realize that a standard Homeowners, Condo, or Renters policy does not cover earthquake damage. In fact, according to the Oregon Insurance Division, only about 20% of Oregonians have earthquake coverage. Earthquake coverage can either be added as an extra endorsement or sold separately as a stand-alone policy.

Here are a few steps you can take to ensure you are covered:

Check your current Homeowners policy to see if the Earthquake Endorsement has been added. If not, you can simply call your agent to have them add the endorsement or they can write you a stand-alone Earthquake policy.
Find out what the deductible amount is. Earthquake coverage has a separate deductible from your base Homeowners Insurance. Deductible amounts ranging from 10 – 25% will be applied in the event of a claim. Example, if there is $200k in damages you could pay anywhere from $20k – $50k out of pocket.
Identify your Coverage A (the dwelling itself), B (other structures), and C (personal property) amounts on your Homeowners policy to determine what your total deductible amount would be in the event of a total loss. Example: Coverage A = $200k, Coverage B = $20k, Coverage C = $120k for a total of $340k in coverage. The deductible for a total loss would be 34k – 85k depending on your deductible %.

Although the deductible can be expensive, it is a relatively small amount to protect one of your biggest investments – your home. Please contact your Oliver Insurance agent today for more information.

Medical Payments Coverage Provides Valuable Protection

Posted on August 31, 2015September 1, 2015 by agentinsure

Renters insurance policies include several different coverages. While personal property coverage and liability coverage are two of the main ones that most policies have, medical payments coverage can also provide tenants with valuable protection. If you rent an apartment in Canby, OR, read on to learn more about medical payments coverage, and contact us at Oliver Insurance if you’d like to shop for a renters insurance policy that includes this coverage.

Medical Payments Coverage

The specific protection that medical payments coverage can afford will vary from one renters insurance policy to the next. In general, this coverage is designed to help pay medical bills that a guest sustains while in your apartment. It’s not meant to be a substitute for health insurance, and it won’t cover your medical bills. If there’s an accident in your apartment that you’re held liable for, though, medical payments coverage may protect you.

Affordable Protection

Medical bills can easily reach hundreds, even thousands of dollars. If you’re responsible for a visitor’s injuries, you could be expected to pay the related bills. Don’t leave yourself open to this risk. Instead, protect yourself with a renters insurance policy that includes medical payments coverage. Compared to the potential cost of medical bills, medical payments coverage is very affordable.

At Oliver Insurance, we have independent insurance agents who can help you find the lowest rates on medical payments coverage. By comparing renters insurance policies from multiple insurers in Oregon, our agents will help you get a policy that doesn’t leave you vulnerable and doesn’t cost a fortune. To talk with an agent about medical payments coverage, contact us through our website or call our office.

Extend The Life Of Your Car With These 3 Ways

Posted on August 31, 2015September 1, 2015 by agentinsure

When you live in Canby, Oregon, managing costs is important. You never want to spend more money on anything than what is absolutely necessary. This goes for your car as well – and there are three really easy ways to extend the life of your car. This will save you on car maintenance and put off the idea of having to buy a new car anytime soon.

Check Tire Pressure

Poor tire pressure can cause problems with alignment, fuel efficiency, and much more. The PSI (pounds per square inch) is something that is found on the door panel of your car. Knowing the proper PSI is important as it will ensure that your tires are never under inflated. Adding a little air to your tires can result in better fuel efficiency and more.

Don’t Always Run Your AC

Oregon has a lot of great weather throughout the year, which means you don’t need to run your AC all the time. Avoid running it constantly as it is going to receive power from the engine. You may be putting unnecessary strain on your engine without even realizing it. Use reflective windshield shades and park under trees as a way of keeping your carpool – and you won’t need to run your AC on full blast.

Get Tune Ups

Within your car manual there is a tune-up schedule. This is something that needs to be followed so that your engine is maintained all the time. Poorly tuned engines can cost more money in fuel, can cause more pollution, and result in a variety of car problems. The oil and oil filter should be changed based upon the maintenance schedule.

At Oliver Insurance, we want to do what we can to protect your vehicle. This includes helping you to find affordable auto insurance. Call today and let us begin searching for quotes on your behalf within Canby, Oregon.

3 Reasons Your Business Needs Interruption Insurance

Posted on July 15, 2015May 5, 2015 by agentinsure

/business-interruption-insurance-tips

Fires and storms are all unforeseeable events that jeopardize business operations. From preventing employees from coming to work to damaging your physical property, these events prevent your business from realizing anticipated revenues for days, weeks, and even months at the time if the event is serious. Fortunately, your business can purchase interruption insurance to protect your income and secure your business. The following are three reasons you need interruption insurance.

You Continue to Get Business Revenue
Attempting to recover after experiencing a physical loss is challenging. All too often, many business owners cannot recover and their business is dissolved. With interruption insurance, when you have a qualifying event, you do not lose the revenue your business would have generated ordinarily, which prevents you from starting from square one again.

Pay for Contract Penalties
When you experience a physical loss that necessitates shutting down operations, your products will be delayed. With delayed products and services you could possibly be sued in court for breach of contract from contractors. Interruption insurance may help your business cover penalties resulting from delays. Whether you are a small business or a large business, with financial backing from a business interruption policy, you can easily recover once you are fully operational.

Protect Your Business from Service Outages
Many businesses are experiencing security breaches these days. It appears that hackers are getting more aggressive and hacking businesses with high-level security protocols. If a breach affects one of your service providers, how will your business cope? With business interruption insurance, it is likely that your business will continue to see revenues, as if you never stopped operating helping you maintain your competitive position within the industry.

Business interruption insurance can help your business remain in operations after recovering from a disaster or interruption due to failed utilities. If you do not know how your business will generate revenue during a major shutdown, contact your local independent agent today.

Do You Need Errors and Omission Insurance for Your Business?

Posted on July 1, 2015April 30, 2015 by agentinsure

Slug: /errors-omissions-insurance-for-businesses

There are many professionals providing services for clients who are at risk of being sued in Canby, Oregon. Providing the wrong advice or service often means you have a need for errors and omissions (E&O) insurance to protect you or your business from lawsuits. In fact, many professionals have E&O insurance including:

• Doctors
• Lawyers
• Construction contractors
• Engineers
• Accountants
• Chiropractors

E&O insurance helps these professionals protect their interests while dealing with the public. Instead of risking their livelihood by being sued personally, individuals in these professions shield their personal property with an E&O policy.

What Businesses and Professionals Need E&O?
In the most simplistic terms, if your business provides services or advice to clients, you should purchase E&O insurance. Since you are exposed to many types of risks based on the nature of the service provided, protecting your business from errors and omissions makes good business sense. Freelancers, web hosting companies, brokers, and business consultants all need E&O insurance policies.

How to Purchase an E&O Policy
Purchasing an E&O policy is much like purchasing a commercial auto or general liability insurance policy. The process starts by speaking with our local independent insurance agents who can help you determine the extent of your risks. If you have a lot of exposure to risk, then we will be able to determine the insurance amount that best meets your needs.

Purchasing an E&O insurance policy is easy and recommended for you if you provide services to business clients. With E&O insurance, you may not be personally liable for errors or omissions made while you are working each day.

What Do You Collect? Will Your Home Insurance Cover That?

Posted on June 17, 2015July 18, 2015 by agentinsure

Most of us collect something. They may be sentimental items like hat pins from places we have visited through the years, or things of more monetary value like coins and stamps. Some people collect items of value to provide more security as the years go by. Some people will go so far as to start a collection of classic cars. What do you collect? Are you confident your home insurance will properly cover your collectibles?

While most home insurance policies will have coverage that includes contents, most also have limits to some collectible categories like jewelry, coins, art, stamps, and furs. In many cases, these limits may be so low as to provide very little coverage at all. If you have a growing collection of valuable items, you will want to make sure they are covered for a sufficient amount. In Canby, OR all it will take is a call to Oliver Insurance.

Oliver Insurance is an independent agency serving the Canby area. That independence gives us several advantages. First, it allows us the ability to review policies from any company. Secondly, it allows us to quote rates from multiple other companies to find better coverage at better rates. In addition, because we are local we are here to answer your questions and are available should you need assistance with a claim.

At Oliver Insurance, we can show you how an inexpensive rider may provide the coverage you need. If you are just interested in a homeowners insurance or auto insurance quote, you can visit our website and get a no obligation online quote. If you would prefer a review, contact our office.

See how our status as an independent insurance agency can benefit you and protect your valuables adequately. Contact Oliver Insurance today!

Five Things Your Agent Knows About Home Insurance That You May Not

Posted on June 1, 2015July 18, 2015 by agentinsure

How well do you know your homeowners insurance? Many people haven’t looked at it in years. Some aren’t even aware of how much they are paying for it. They have it because their mortgage company requires it. If you ever have to file a claim, you will likely become very interested in its coverage. Here are five things your insurance agent knows about home insurance that you may not.

Your best opportunity to save is to compare. Some agents prefer you don’t know this. They know if you compare, they could lose your business. We are independent insurance agents at Oliver Insurance and can help you compare policies to best suite your wallet and lifestyle.
Raising deductibles could save you money. By increasing the deductible on your policy, you could save significantly on your premiums.
Your policy likely doesn’t cover a variety of perils. Unless you have specific coverage, your policy will not cover you in case of flood, earthquakes, or landslides.
You may be paying to insure your land. Without thinking, some people pay to insure the land their home sits on. Odds are, even in a disaster, you will still have your land.
Many homeowners claims are low. If you don’t have a video or up to date inventory of your home’s contents, you could be prone to submit a claim that is too low.

If you can’t remember the last time you reviewed your homeowners insurance, or don’t know what you are paying, contact us at Oliver Insurance. We are an independent insurance agency serving the Canby, OR area. We can review the policies of any company and seek out quotes to save you money. Visit our website for an online quote on home or auto insurance. If you prefer, contact us for a review. Don’t wait until it is too late to better know your policy. Contact us today!

Oliver Insurance

Get a Quote