Safe Driving Habits Every Driver Should Cultivate

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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.

What are my home insurance options?

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Home insurance offers eight forms – five forms for houses, one for mobile homes, one for condos, and one for renters. This blog explains the differences between the home insurance forms, so clients of Guy Hurley McNeil can more easily decide which level of protection they want for their Rochester Hills, MI home.

Home Policies for Houses

Five forms of home insurance cover houses. Each offers a different amount of perils coverage, so you choose which best suits your situation. The options include:

  • HO-1 offers the most basic perils coverage of ten named perils. It protects your structure but doesn’t typically include personal property coverage.
  • HO-2 offers coverage for more perils, bringing the total up to sixteen perils. Some policies offer personal property coverage.
  • HO-3 offers all perils coverage, although many policies create an exception for earthquakes. All policies create an exception for floods. These policies cover structural and personal property damage and insure the home using replacement cost value.
  • HO-5 offers comprehensive coverage that extends to every peril except for floods. It covers the structure and its contents using replacement cost value.
  • HO-8 offers coverage for architecturally significant and historical homes. It only covers ten perils, the same ones included in an HO-1 policy.

If you don’t own a house but instead own a mobile home or a condo, home insurance provides tailor-made options for you.

Policies for Other Types of Domiciles

A condo policy, HO-6, covers the condo walls and everything inside them. It also protects your porch, patio, or balcony. An HO-7 policy protects your financial investment in a mobile home with a foundation and personal property.

If you rent an apartment, condo, or home, choose a HO-4 policy called renters insurance. It only covers your personal property.

Contact Guy Hurley McNeil Today

Call or email our insurance agency to purchase the insurance policy to protect your Rochester Hills, MI home. Let us help you insure your home so you ensure your financial security.

Brake Maintenance and Car Safety

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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. 

Safe driving tips for new drivers

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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.

Home Insurance Coverage Options

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Serving the Rochester Hills, MI area, the agents at the Guy Hurley McNeil insurance agency want you to learn about the different coverage options available for you to choose from when it comes to home insurance.

Your house may very well be the most significant investment you will ever make, so you will want to protect it with an adequate amount of home insurance.

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

Home insurance is designed to cover the structure of your home. This means if it is damaged by vandalism, a fire, or even a natural disaster, your home insurance policy will help you repair or rebuild your house. It can also help you pay for alternate housing while your home is being repaired. It will also help you to purchase new clothing, appliances, personal belongings, furniture, and other things that may have been damaged inside your home.

Home insurance can also cover any outbuildings on your property, including decks and garages. It will also help you replace stolen items if your home is burglarized.

If you have a mortgage loan that you are paying on that you used to purchase your house, there is an excellent chance that your lender already requires you to have an adequate amount of home insurance in place. Even if you do not owe money for your home, having a home insurance policy is an excellent idea because you never know when disaster will strike.

Contact Guy Hurley McNeil

The home insurance agents at Guy Hurley McNeil serving the Rochester Hills, MI area are here to serve you and all of your insurance needs. Call today to get your home insurance policy started!

What is Auto Insurance Reform?

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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. 

How Can Home Insurance Protect Me from Lawsuits?

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Home insurance can protect you against covered damage to your home, but did you know it may also protect you from lawsuits? If you’re in the market for home insurance in Rochester Hills, MI, or would like to upgrade your policy, the agents at Guy Hurley McNeil can help. You can also ask us about what type of home insurance provides legal protection. Keep reading to learn more!

What Is Home Insurance Liability Coverage?

Personal liability coverage is included in most home insurance policies. It handles the legal costs if you face a lawsuit due to personal injury or property damage due to events listed on your policy. On the other hand, if someone hurts themselves on your property, you could face serious legal bills if you don’t have liability coverage. 

Examples of Lawsuits Covered by Home Insurance

Accidents in the home are common causes of claims. If a visitor gets hurt while spending time on your property, you may have to pay medical expenses. Here are a few examples to consider when setting your policy limits:

  • Overserved guest: If someone drinks too much at your weekend mixer and then gets into an accident, they could sue you for damages. 
  • Trips and falls: Icy sidewalks or slippery floors can cause passersby or guests to slip or fall. Alternatively, someone could trip over a driveway crack. Without liability coverage, you could face serious financial obligations.
  • Pool or trampoline injuries: If the neighbor’s kids get hurt in your pool or on your trampoline, they can sue you for medical expenses.
  • Dog bites: Check your policy carefully for breed restrictions on this coverage.

We can help you protect your family against significant financial burdens with liability coverage baked into your policy. For more information on home insurance coverage in Rochester Hills, MI, contact the experienced staff at Guy Hurley McNeil.

Insuring Teenagers

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Insuring teenagers can seem daunting in light of teaching and training young drivers to take the wheel for the first time. It’s essential to contact your Guy Hurley McNeil insurance representative once your child has obtained their learner’s permit to ensure they are covered while they learn. 

Motorists in Rochester Hills, MI are required to carry PIP or personal injury protection because Michigan is a no-fault state. This means that drivers are required to purchase insurance that covers their own medical expenses in the event of an accident, regardless of who caused the collision. 

Residual bodily injury protection is also mandated by law, with minimum limits set to $250,000 per person hurt or killed or $500,000 per wreck. Property damage liability is another indemnification required by law to protect out-of-state drivers, and $10,000 in coverage must be obtained. These insurances will pay for any medical costs and property damage that exceed the driver’s insurance caps. 

A driver’s education course may teach them safe driving habits and reduce their premiums. Encourage them to pay attention to the road by discouraging cell phone use while on the road by setting limits. 

You may further reduce insurance costs by bundling your homeowners and automobile policies. Usually, you can add a teen to your existing policy or procure one of their own. Teens may receive discounts for maintaining a particular grade point average.

Guy Hurley McNeil Can Help 

We specialize in tailoring insurance packages to your needs, including insuring all your eligible family members. Contact us with any questions, and we invite you to stop by our office to discuss your situation today. We serve those living in and near Rochester Hills, MI. 

Why Is the Home Insurance Provider Asking…?

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When you are looking to obtain a new home insurance policy, the insurance company may ask several questions. When asked some of these questions, you may immediately understand why the insurance company is asking. However, there are other questions that you may be asked, and you may not understand why. At Guy Hurley McNeil, serving the Rochester Hills, MI area, one of our customers asked why their home insurance provider is asking how far away the nearest fire hydrant is from their home. Read along as we explain why an insurance company would be asking you, the homeowner, this question. 

How Far Away Is the Nearest Fire Hydrant?

While it may seem like a strange question, your home insurance company is asking how far away the nearest fire hydrant is to determine how quickly a fire department can start to douse your home if a fire happens. The closer you are to a hydrant, the faster firefighters can begin to put out the fire. This may minimize or limit the spread of the fire and, thus, limit or reduce the damage that the fire does to your home.

A home insurance company may ask specific questions to determine how much risk they are taking when insuring you. If you are in the market for a new home insurance policy in the greater Rochester Hills, MI area, Guy Hurley McNeil would love to help you get the insurance you need. We can also help answer any questions the insurance company may ask you. Reach out to us now to get started. 

How much auto insurance do I need?

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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.