Many of us in the Rochester Hills, MI, area have experienced that unsettling sound of a stone hitting our windshield as we travel down the highway. It can take a minute or two to process the event, and then we usually go on an immediate search to see if there was any damage.

At Guy Hurley McNeil, we frequently get calls asking who is responsible if a windshield gets damaged while traveling. The answer is that it will likely fall on you. Here’s why.

Proving fault is difficult.

When a stone or pebble gets kicked up on a freeway, it can be hard to determine what caused it. Even if you see a potentially liable vehicle, it can be challenging to prove blame.

You will likely need to pay your deductible.

While some states have a zero deductible for windshield repair or replacement, Michigan is not one of them. If you incur windshield damage, you will, at the minimum, be responsible for your deductible. In many cases, that deductible will cover the cost of repair or replacement. A claim would not likely result in a monetary reimbursement under normal circumstances.

Would a glass damage claim impact insurance rates?

It is not likely any glass damage claims would increase your auto insurance rates in Michigan. Many glass damage claims remain unreported.

The bottom line.

If you have windshield damage that will cost $700 to repair and you have a $1000 deductible, you will ultimately pay for the full cost of replacement. This is one of the downsides of increasing the deductible to save on monthly car insurance premiums.

Get a quote today.

If you live in the Rochester Hills, MI, area and have questions about car insurance, your specific coverage, or how you may be able to improve your protection, we invite you to contact us at Guy Hurley McNeil. We want you to feel comfortable about your coverage and what you pay. Reach out to us for a free, no-obligation auto insurance review and price quote today.

Car insurance is a critical safeguard that provides financial protection should you be involved in a vehicular accident. Here are some guidelines to help you calculate the amount of coverage you need.

Reflect on Past Incidents

Reviewing past incidents that required out-of-pocket expenditure is an excellent place to begin. If you currently only have liability coverage, for example, you might have been liable for the costs associated with vehicle repairs. Upscaling the type of coverage may cover expenses arising from an accident that is your fault.

Consider Car Value

Take into account the value of your car. Naturally, if your vehicle is expensive, increasing the amount of coverage would be advisable. Make sure to reassess your coverage needs each time you replace or upgrade your vehicle.

Your Net Worth

Calculate your net worth. This is a critical factor to consider when determining the coverage amount. Your policy should not only provide adequate coverage but also comfortably fit within your budget.

Special Circumstances

Consider specific circumstances that may warrant extra insurance coverage. Add-on insurance products offer an additional layer of protection. For instance, an add-on insurance product might be beneficial if you frequently tow other vehicles.

A wide choice of add-on products is available. These insurance features are optional, allowing you to pick what best suits your needs based on your driving patterns.

Consult with Guy Hurley McNeil Insurance

Schedule an appointment with one of our proficient Guy Hurley McNeil insurance agents. An agent serving Rochester Hills, MI, will provide you with a customized automotive insurance policy tailored to your specific needs.

When you own a vehicle, you are required to have an auto insurance policy for it. It’s never a good idea to try to go without this insurance. This will put you in danger of fines and fees and make you vulnerable to the high cost of accidents. Different kinds of coverage can be included in auto insurance policies. Here are three of the types that policies should have to keep you protected. When you need auto insurance, call us at Guy Hurley McNeil in Rochester Hills, MI, to get started. 

Liability Coverage 

Every auto policy needs to have two types of liability coverage. Both are required in Michigan. Your auto policy should have both property damage and bodily injury liability coverage. Each of these protects against different costs you may be responsible for. When you have property damage liability, this pays for the cost of repairs to the other vehicle involved in the accident. The bodily injury coverage pays for the other party’s medical bills when they are injured in an accident with your vehicle. 

Collision Coverage

When you have collision coverage, it protects you against damage to your own property. When you’re in an accident, this coverage can pay for the repairs you need for your vehicle when you’re at fault for the accident. This is important to have with the high cost of repairs today. 

Comprehensive Coverage

This protects you against the many dangers of your vehicle when it isn’t being driven. Many things can happen to a car; you can protect against them with this type of coverage. 

Get Auto Insurance in Rochester Hills, MI

If you don’t have the needed coverage, now’s the time to get it. Call us at Guy Hurley McNeil in Rochester Hills, MI.

Auto insurance companies use various information sources to determine the risk they take when insuring an individual or family. Some information is the applicant’s demographic characteristics, previous driving and accident history, vehicles, and other factors. The information is used in formulas to determine the premium required to insure the applicant or others like them profitably. Guy Hurley McNeil, serving the Rochester Hills, MI area, is here to help you understand and acquire the insurance coverage that will best protect you and your family.

Auto Insurance Risk Factors

Auto insurance companies have decades of information on driver profiles, accident histories, claim volumes, and the money paid in claims. That information helps them understand how accidents and claims vary by age, gender, marital status, and similar applicant characteristics. While the insurance company cannot know how safe a specific 16-year-old driver will be, history tells them that new drivers experience more accidents than experienced drivers, so all else equal, younger drivers have higher premiums.

Besides demographic characteristics, previous accidents, traffic tickets, and other driver record elements influence the risk calculation. Likewise, the vehicle’s value, safety equipment, and performance characteristics affect the likelihood of accidents and the cost of repairs if one occurs. Of course, the coverage limits and deductibles an applicant chooses also affect the expected risk.

An emerging trend for assessing and incorporating risk is usage-based insurance (UBI). UBI uses vehicle telematics to track driving habits, such as speeding, hard braking, and miles driven, with premiums adjusted based on the risks posed by such driving.

Working With Guy Hurley McNeil

Our team at Guy Hurley McNeil serves the Rochester Hills, MI area and will happily answer your insurance questions and prepare a policy to meet your needs best. Call or stop in to see us today.

Our agents at the Guy Hurley McNeil Insurance Agency, serving the Rochester Hills, MI area, want you to know that auto insurance is required in Michigan.

Auto Liability Insurance

All drivers in the state of Michigan must have at least an auto liability insurance policy. If you drive a vehicle, you better have auto liability insurance if you are pulled over or involved in an accident. The reason for this is to protect you and the other driver if you cause an accident and the other driver or their passengers suffer injuries or property damage. While auto liability insurance coverage is required, there are several different auto insurance options you can choose from to add to your policy.

Comprehensive Insurance Coverage

Comprehensive insurance is a wonderful policy to have in place. This is because it will help you financially if your vehicle is destroyed or damaged by a tornado or some other natural disaster. It will also help you cover expenses if your car catches on fire or someone vandalizes it. If you walk outside to get in your vehicle and it’s gone because somebody stole it, your comprehensive insurance policy will help you replace it.

Collision Insurance Coverage

Collision insurance is also important. This is because at any time, while you’re driving on the road, you could collide with another vehicle or some sort of object, such as a pole or sign. If this happens, this part of your policy will help you repair your vehicle.

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage

You never know when you will become involved in an accident, and the other driver may not have enough insurance to cover your injuries or property damage. This is the reason it’s a good idea to have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage to make up for the lack of insurance on the other person’s part.

Contact Guy Hurley McNeil Insurance Agency

There are other types of auto insurance coverage that our agents at the Guy Hurley McNeil Insurance Agency, serving the Rochester Hills, MI area, can help you choose from, along with the main ones listed above. Call today for an appointment and get your policy started!

Defensive driving is one of the best ways to avoid accidents. By cultivating safe driving habits, you protect yourself and other drivers on the road. The following safe driving habits compiled by Guy Hurley McNeil in Rochester Hills, MI can make driving a safer, more pleasant experience for everyone.

Focus on Driving

When you’re on the road, focus on driving. Don’t let your mind wander or get distracted by phone calls, music on your stereo, or conversations in the car. Keep your eyes on the road and your mind on getting to your destination safely.

Respect Speed Limits

Respecting speed limits enhances safety for you and those around you. Adjust your speed accordingly during rush hour or adverse weather to avoid accidents. Also, use extreme caution in school zones or residential areas.

Stay Calm

Stay calm when you’re late for work and caught in a traffic jam. When the driver in front of you cuts you off, stay calm. Getting angry only provokes other drivers and increases your risk of accidents.

Check Blind Spots

Before changing lanes or passing other vehicles, check your blind spots. Looking in your rearview mirror isn’t enough – also look over your shoulder to make sure the lane is clear before shifting over.

Maintain Your Vehicle

Have your car maintained regularly to ensure it’s roadworthy. Remember that faulty brakes, worn tires, and defective windshield wipers can cause serious accidents.

Pull Over When You’re Tired  

If you’re feeling drowsy, find a safe place to stop and take a break from driving. Driving when you’re tired is a recipe for disaster.

Keep Your Auto Insurance Current

Ensure your auto coverage is current, relevant, and meets the legal requirements for Michigan drivers. For help obtaining quality auto insurance coverage, contact Guy Hurley McNeil in Rochester Hills, MI.

Staying safe out on the road involves more than having an excellent insurance policy. The insurance professionals with Guy Hurley McNeil want to help you stay safe on the streets in Rochester Hills, MI, and the surrounding areas. Keep reading to learn more about how brake maintenance affects your vehicle safety. 

Is It Time For Brake Maintenance?

Several signs will alert you that your brakes need servicing. One of the most obvious signs is that the brakes will start squeaking and making noise when you try to brake. This is caused by the material on the brake pads breaking down. When this happens, the metal is scraping against the metal. This creates an unsafe braking situation. 

Another sign is that you will have prolonged braking times. If you need to brake further back, it could mean your brakes need repair. 

What Are The Risks?

The most dangerous risk to avoiding brake maintenance is that you will not be able to stop in time when you need to. This can put you in a lot of danger. It would be best to have plenty of reaction time when braking on the roads. If you come upon a person, animal, or object in the roadway, you will need this quick braking. The worse your brakes are, the slower the reaction time will be in this type of situation. 

Who Should Work On Brakes?

Having a professional mechanic work on your brakes is always a good idea. This will ensure the job is done right and safely. 

If you would like to learn about auto insurance, don’t hesitate to contact Guy Hurley McNeil serving Rochester Hills, MI, and the surrounding areas. We will be happy to help you today. 

As a new driver in the Rochester Hills, MI area, staying safe on the road should be your top priority.

Here are some essential, safe driving tips for new drivers from us at Guy Hurley McNeil to help you stay safe and avoid accidents: 

1. Follow the speed limit – Stick to the posted speed limits, especially in residential and school zones. Speeding is one of the leading causes of car accidents, so obeying the law is essential. 

2. Avoid distractions – Put away your cell phone while driving and stay focused on the road. Distractions such as talking or texting on your phone can take your attention away from driving, leading to an accident. 

3. Wear your seatbelt – Always wear your seatbelt when driving, as it will significantly reduce the risk of injury or death in an accident. 

4. Pay attention to other drivers – Be aware of what other drivers are doing and give them plenty of space to maneuver safely. This can help you anticipate their actions and avoid potential accidents. 

5. Drive defensively – Always drive defensively by not assuming other drivers will always follow the rules of the road or drive safely all the time. Being proactive and taking extra precautions when on the roads can help keep you and others safer driving. 

By following these tips, you should be able to stay safer while out on the roads as a new driver! For more tips, give us at Guy Hurley McNeil a call today. We are proud to serve the Rochester Hills, MI area and would be happy to help you find an insurance policy to meet your needs and budget.

In the summer of 2020, Michigan lawmakers passed bills aimed at auto insurance reform. This bill was designed to change the way the no-fault laws operated in Michigan regarding auto insurance and help residents of Michigan save on their auto insurance policies. Some of the reform went into place immediately in 2020, while other bits of the reform were slowly rolled out and went into effect a year later in 2021. To this day, many Michigan residents are not fully aware of the auto insurance reform and how it impacts their auto insurance. As we at Guy Hurley McNeil, auto insurance providers in the greater Rochester Hills, MI region, explain more about auto insurance reform in Michigan. 

Why Was There a Push for Auto Insurance Reform? 

The state of Michigan had the highest auto insurance costs in the nation, costing Michigan drivers a lot of money. A lot of the reason for these high costs is that insurance providers were subject to paying out high expenses in catastrophic accidents that resulted in major injuries. The theory was that insurance companies could reduce auto insurance premiums by reforming what insurance companies had to pay for in accidents and placing limits on payouts. 

Did Auto Insurance Reform Work? 

Auto insurance reform has caused the cost of auto insurance policies to drop by about 20 percent in Michigan since the reform happened. However, auto insurance policies are now very complex in the state of Michigan, and there is a lot of complexity about billing and what insurance companies have to cover, and at what expense. As such, insurance rates have not dropped as much as state lawmakers had hoped. 

Auto insurance reform has led to consumers having many questions about their auto insurance policies. If you have questions about your policy or are in the market for a new policy, the team at Guy Hurley McNeil, serving the greater Rochester Hills, MI area, would love to help you. Contact us today to get started. 

It’s no secret that car insurance can be expensive. But how much do you need? How can you get the best rates? In this blog post, we’ll answer all of those questions and more. We’ll help you determine how much car insurance you need, learn about the factors that affect rates and find ways to save money on your premiums. So whether you’re shopping for car insurance for the first time or just looking to save a few bucks, read on for tips and advice that will help you get the coverage you need at a price you can afford.

Let’s talk about how to determine how much car insurance you need. The first thing to remember is that there is no one-size-fits-all answer here. Every driver has unique needs and circumstances, and the coverage you need will depend on several factors, including where you live, how much you drive, and the type of car you own.

One helpful rule of thumb is considering the combined value of your home, property, and car. If it exceeds a certain amount (for example, $100,000), you’ll likely need more extensive coverage to protect yourself in case of an accident or other loss.

Another critical factor to consider is your record as a driver. If you have a history of accidents or moving violations, insurance companies may consider you a higher risk – and that means you’ll likely have to pay more for coverage. On the other hand, if you have a clean driving record, you may qualify for lower rates.

If you have any questions or want to explore your options, please give us at Guy Hurley McNeil a call today. We proudly serve the Rochester Hills, MI area.