Category: Auto Insurance

Harris Insurance is here to serve the auto insurance needs of our friends and neighbors in the greater Jasper, AL area. If you have questions about your current policy or you’re getting ready to purchase a car, you can rely on us for all your insurance needs. Give us a call today to learn more about the auto policy options currently available in our area.

Key Benefits of Comprehensive Auto Policies

The main benefit of a comprehensive auto policy is the additional protection that it provides. There’s typically a wider range of covered events than that provided by basic policies. Your local insurance agent is here to help answer any questions you have and address any concerns that you have about auto insurance.

Upgrading to a comprehensive policy can include benefits like roadside assistance, glass replacement, and coverage for single-vehicle accidents. Every policy is different, and it’s always a good idea to speak with one of our agents when you’re determining which coverage makes the most sense for your situation.

Now’s an ideal time to learn more about the different options that are available and determine if upgrading to a comprehensive policy makes sense for you at this time.

Think of us as your insurance partner!

At Harris Insurance, we’re proud to provide the insurance policies that help our Jasper, AL community protect their vehicles. If you’re ready to upgrade your auto policy or you’re getting ready to purchase your first vehicle, you can count on us. Give us a call or stop by our office to learn more. We look forward to serving you soon!

The insurance professionals at Harris Insurance serving the greater Jasper, AL  community offer this advice about getting the most mileage from your tires which ultimately helps reduce the cost of maintaining your car.

How to Get the Most Mileage From Your Tires?

In addition to inspecting your tires for uneven tread wear, consider these suggestions, which might help maximize your tire’s lifespan:

Maintain Proper Tire Inflation

Ensure you follow the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure.

• Under-inflated Tires Wear unusually quickly as well as reduce fuel efficiency.
• Overinflated tires cause uneven wear.

Rotate the Tire Regularly

This too, should be done according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule. Regular rotation extends the life of tires as it helps them wear evenly.  

Wheel Alignment/Balancing

Appropriately aligned wheels help tires wear evenly, extending the useful life of the tire. Balancing helps ensure proper weight distribution.

Minimize Hard Braking

This type of driving can wear down tire treads quickly.

Drive Safely

Obeying speed limits reduces the heat that can build up on a tire. Avoid potholes, curbs, etc., to avoid damaging the tires.

Load Capacity

Overloading causes tire stress, decreasing the tire’s useful life.

Avoid Harsh Driving Conditions

Where possible, avoid extreme weather conditions – heavy downpours, blizzards, or very excessive heat as this accelerates the wear on the tire.

Store Tire Properly

Seasonal tires should be kept in a dry, cool place – out of the direct sun or high heat.  

High-Quality Tires

Often it pays to buy high-quality tires – with high traction performance and tread life ratings, that match your driving style or type of car.

Schedule A Consultation Today!

Appropriately maintained tires will save money, offer improved fuel efficiency, and enhance road safety. Contact Harris Insurance in Jasper, AL today for more information.

Driving for a ridesharing company is more popular than ever before. Whether you’re driving at the weekends or the evenings to make some extra cash, or it’s your full-time gig, you need to make sure you have auto insurance coverage that protects you and your vehicle.

Here are some things to consider when choosing an auto insurance plan for your ridesharing vehicle:

Specialized Policies for Ridesharing

Many insurance companies offer specialized policies for rideshare insurance. You’ll be on the road far more frequently than most other drivers and driving in areas you don’t know. Specialized policies consider all of these factors, as well as the wear and tear your vehicle will accumulate after being driven so much.

Differences Between Ridesharing Coverage and Regular Coverage

Ridesharing insurance coverage has several different features from standard auto policies. It addresses the needs of ridesharing drivers, ensuring you are covered while actively working. 

Insurance Policies from Ridesharing Companies vs. Finding My Own

While ridesharing companies offer insurance coverage for their drivers, it is often limited. For example, it typically only applies to specific stages of being a ridesharing driver, such as when you physically have a passenger in the car. It doesn’t account for waiting for a ride request or driving to pick up a passenger. Therefore, you may not be protected if you’re rear-ended while waiting for a passenger to enter the vehicle.

Looking for Ridesharing Insurance Services in Jasper, AL?

Ridesharing is a business; like most business decisions, you shouldn’t choose your insurance policy alone. At Harris Insurance, we’ll advise you on the best coverage for your business needs to ensure that you, your vehicle, and your passengers are properly protected.

Learn more about ridesharing insurance options at Harris Insurance in Jasper, AL by calling us today.

Why Alabama Drivers Need Auto Insurance

There are many reasons Alabama drivers need auto insurance.

• The most important reason is that it helps protect you when you’re involved in an accident.
• In an accident, you having liability coverage will take care of the other driver’s damages up to your policy limit if you were the one responsible 
• If the other driver sues you, your personal injury protection (PIP) could cover your legal expenses up to your policy limit.
• Auto insurance also covers damage to your vehicle caused by collision or non-collision events (like weather or theft).

In addition, most lenders require borrowers to have comprehensive and collision coverage on financed vehicles before they can drive them off the lot. 

5 Auto Insurance Tips for Alabama Drivers 

Following are five tips that can help Jasper, AL drivers save money on their coverage. 

1. Get quotes from a reputable insurance company.

We are here to help. Talk to our experienced auto insurance professionals at Harris Insurance. 

2. Ask about multiple policies and group insurance.

Many reputable insurers offer discounts for things like safe driving history, good grades, and more. Be sure to ask about any potential discounts you may be eligible

3. Consider raising your deductible.

Your deductible is the amount you would have to pay out of pocket if you had to file a claim, and raising it can significantly lower your premiums.

4. Get insurance to meet state minimums. 

An experienced insurance agent can help you get the coverage required by law that meets your needs – no more, no less.

5. Review your policy regularly and make adjustments as needed.

As life changes, so do our insurance needs, so it’s essential to keep your policy up-to-date.

Reach Out To Us

Contact Harris Insurance in Jasper, AL for a free quote! 

Are you a licensed driver? Do you live in or near Jasper, AL? Harris Insurance can provide the coverage you need for your car.

Why Auto Insurance?

Liability car insurance provides financial protection if you cause a car accident. You can be held responsible for associated costs such as legal fees, the injured party’s medical expenses, or their lost wages if they are unable to work.

If you own an older vehicle, collision, and comprehensive coverage may not be worth it. Decide how much you can afford to spend out of pocket if your car is damaged, then decide whether it is worth buying these coverages to protect your car.

Collision insurance helps pay for any damage done to your vehicle in the event of an accident. This coverage applies regardless of who is at fault. For example, if you are stopped at a light and get rear-ended, collision coverage helps cover the costs of fixing your damaged rear bumper. On the other hand, if you are the one who runs into someone from behind, collision coverage will help pay for the cost of repairing your damaged front end.

Comprehensive coverage will pay for damage done to your car in non-collision scenarios, theft, vandalism, or natural disasters. For example, heavy winds are responsible for broken tree branches in your yard, and they come down on your car, parked in the driveway.  You now have a dent in your roof. Comprehensive insurance will help pay for the cost of the repair of your roof.

Give Us A Call

It is against the law to drive without car insurance. You risk losing your license or facing a hefty fine. Contact the specialists at Harris Insurance in Jasper, AL to provide the coverage you need to protect your finances. Paying for car repairs out of pocket could be a daunting prospect. Don’t risk it.

When you have a vehicle in Alabama, it is required by the state that you have at least the minimum required insurance that is mandated. You also must have proof of your insurance policy in the vehicle and must show it when required. Not having auto insurance in the state can open you up to fines and fees, and you may have your vehicle’s registration suspended. When you need an auto insurance policy, contact us at Harris Insurance in Jasper, AL to get started with a policy of your own. 

Liability Insurance in Alabama

Getting your auto insurance in the state requires that you have two types of liability coverage in the policy and three different minimum amounts of coverage. There is one minimum amount required for bodily injury liability for one person who has injuries after an accident that you caused. There is another amount required for all of those who have injuries after an accident that you are at fault for. There is another amount required for property damage liability to pay for the damage done to another person’s property in an accident that you are liable for. 

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury

This type of insurance is required to be presented as a part of the insurance policy, but it is possible for you to refuse this coverage and still keep legal insurance. However, it’s a good idea to keep this coverage in place so that you are protected in case of a driver who has no insurance or has too little insurance. With this coverage, you will also have better peace of mind in knowing that you are protected in case of accidents with those drivers. 

Get Auto Insurance in Alabama

When you have a vehicle in the state, you have to be covered. For a policy of your own, call us at Harris Insurance in Jasper, AL.

When shopping for automobile insurance, you may find yourself really confused. There are many terms that you need to understand, so that you know exactly what your insurance covers (and what it doesn’t). Harris Insurance in Jasper, AL provides this guide in navigating auto insurance coverage. 

Here are some terms that you need to know:

Claim

If you are ever involved in a car accident, you are going to submit a claim to your insurance in order to get payment. 

Collision Insurance

This will cover expenses to fix your vehicle if you are involved in an accident. 

Comprehensive Insurance

This covers expenses that you may be facing for any reason, including storm damage and vandalism. 

Liability Insurance

The liability part of your insurance covers any medical bills that you may be facing if you hurt someone when you were in an accident. It can also help you pay legal fees. Some plans will even cover property damage. 

Deductible

The deductible is the amount of money that you will have to pay, before your insurance pays out. This could be as low as five hundred dollars, though you may have a pretty high deductible. Usually, the higher your deductible, the less you will pay monthly. You have to find a balance between monthly pay and what you could pay if something happens to your car. 

Contact Us Today

There are many terms that you need to know when shopping for insurance. You need to know the different types of insurance, such as liability, comprehensive, and collision. You also need to understand what a deductible is and what that means for your monthly costs. 

If you want to make sure that you are fully protected before you get behind the wheel, don’t hesitate to contact us today at Harris Insurance in Jasper, AL. 

Auto insurance is required. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have choices.

Minimum coverage is rarely sufficient. In Alabama, the state mandates only liability insurance. This law sets a baseline of $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person and a total of $50,000 for any accident. This also includes another $25,000 in property damage protection per accident. This is commonly listed as "25/50/25" coverage. This means these thresholds are the maximum payout you would receive from your insurance provider. 

For this reason, Harris Insurance recommends upping your coverage. Serving Jasper, AL, the agency lists six options to add to expand your auto insurance to gain more protection.

Collision

This covers damage to your vehicle in the event you collide with an object or another vehicle.

Comprehensive

All other damage falls under comprehensive coverage. This includes theft, vandalism, falling objects, or weather-related damage.

Uninsured motorist

If you are involved in an accident with another driver who has inadequate or lapsed coverage, this kicks in. It may reimburse for damage, bodily injury, and any medical bills.

Medical payments

As the name implies, this coverage pays for medical expenses following an incident. This applies no matter who is at fault.

Roadside assistance

Avoid being stranded. Roadside assistance helps with towing costs, battery jumps, flat tires, and other costs incurred if your vehicle breaks down on the roadway.

Rental car reimbursement

Following an accident, your car may need repairs or replacement. These policies fill in that gap, reimbursing for rental car expenses while your primary vehicle is being fixed.

Contact an agent in Jasper, AL

Bare minimum coverage is never the best. In the event of an accident, too little protection can lead to crippling out-of-pocket costs. Harris Insurance can evaluate your needs and find the right auto insurance policy for you. Call today.

This is a common scenario. You are shopping for car insurance, and identify coverages that will protect you and your car optimally. But at the point of paying, you only settle for basic car insurance in the name of saving some bucks. But is this wise?

Purchasing basic auto insurance might seem like an excellent idea at first glance but may turn catastrophic when you are involved in a significant incidence. According to Harris Insurance of Jasper, AL, here is why basic car insurance isn’t always a good idea.

Required auto insurance in Alabama

Motorists in Alabama are required to include the below coverages in their auto insurance:

• Bodily injury liability: This insurance policy protects you when you cause an accident, inflicting bodily harm to third parties. The required minimum amount is $25,000 per accident and a minimum of $50,000 for accidents involving several victims.
• Property damage liability: It protects you when you are at fault for an accident that causes property damage to third parties. The minimum amount required is $25,000 per accident.

Now, should you settle with a car insurance policy that includes the above coverages, are you safe? Are the coverages sufficient to cover you in all facets of car ownership? The answer is no. At Harris Insurance, we usually advise our clients to increase coverage limits and consider other car insurance coverages.

Why basic car insurance is never enough

If you are settling for basic auto insurance, you need to upgrade because basic car insurance:

• Has insufficient coverage limits: The insurance limits of "50/25/25" won’t suffice when involved in a severe accident. Uncovered car accident expenses mean that your assets will be at stake.
• Covers third parties only: Basic car insurance doesn’t cover you and your car. That said, you need to consider comprehensive, collision, PIP, and other optional car insurance covers for optimal protection.

Are you looking to insure your vehicle beyond the minimum? If you are in Jasper, AL and its environs, please contact Harris Insurance for a well-rounded car insurance policy.

Auto insurance protects you in the event of an accident or theft, which causes financial loss. Your Jasper, AL insurance company agrees to pay for your losses as outlined in your auto insurance policy in exchange for your premium payments. The biggest question most car owners have is, “Who is covered by an auto insurance policy?” Continue reading to learn more. Then call the experts at Harris Insurance to learn more about who is covered under your policy. 

Who Is Covered By My Auto Insurance? 

An auto insurance policy covers you and your family members listed on the policy. The covered family members are covered regardless if they are driving your car or someone else’s car with their permission. Additionally, your auto insurance policy covers someone else who, with permission, is driving your vehicle. 

Does My Auto Insurance Cover Commercial Purposes? 

Your personal auto insurance policy will not cover you nor anyone else listed on your policy when using the car for commercial purposes. For example, if you use your vehicle to deliver pizzas and get into an accident, the policy will not pay for damages. However, if you only use the car to commute to work, run errands or drive around town for personal reasons, your policy will cover any accidents during these trips. 

What Does Auto Insurance Cover? 

Your auto insurance policy covers you and the family members listed on the policy. Basic auto insurance policies cover property damage, liability, and medical concerning covered events, such as an accident or theft. 

Your auto insurance essentially protects you and other family members you have chosen to list your policy. In most cases, the ones who get listed on your policy are the family members living with you in Jasper, AL. For additional information about auto insurance coverage, reach out to the agents at Harris Insurance. They can help you learn more about coverage and find you a policy to fit your needs.