Defensive driving is a technique that savvy drivers use to be proactive about their safety when they are on the road. It is about thinking and planning ahead, even if you are only planning one minute ahead of you. It is a kind of driving taught by many driving schools, as it helps to avoid collisions and save lives. 

At Thompson Insurance Services, we want Highland Village TX drivers to be safe on the roads. Use these easy defensive driving tips to avoid accidents and claims on your Texas collision auto insurance.

Keep Scanning

It is not uncommon to have something run out in front of you when you are driving, or even have a car make a quick lane change or turn before you see it coming. Keep scanning every minute that you are driving.

You won’t be able to see everything all of the time. However, you will be able to catch anything that could impede your way on the road if it should happen. So many accidents can be avoided with this tip.

Brake Early

Braking early, and slowly, are defensive driving techniques that could save your life. This is all about giving space on the roads. To you, to other drivers, to the road. Slow down as early as you can, as often as you can, particularly in bad conditions. 

When you brake slowly and early, you give yourself time to think as well. If something is happening on the road, a slow brake method helps you to reason through the situation and avoid a catastrophe.

Have an Out

This defensive driving technique will hone your intuition on the road. Having an out on the road is having an idea of where you would drive if an accident happens. For many, the out is to the right. If you are in the farthest right lane, for example, having an out would involve swerving to the right onto a sidewalk if you have to or even a ditch.

The out is a space where no cars are located. You still might be in a precarious position. But you could avoid a collision by swerving to your “out” if a sudden problem came up. You would spot this problem if you were always scanning around you, and behind you.

Get Collision Insurance

When you are driving defensively, the mindset is a mindset of avoiding collisions. Collision insurance can give you peace of mind on the roads when you are using these tips. At Thompson Insurance Services, we want Highland Village, TX drivers to be prepared for every driving scenario that could lead to a collision. Call us for a quote today to make sure your policy is as thorough as it needs to be.

Suppose you have been eying a car of your dream, but it’s too expensive when bought brand-new. As a result, you have decided to settle on a used car — of course you get the same car minus the smell of new leather and warranty. But either way, purchasing a second-hand car is an excellent option because it’s affordable, and you take the vehicle when much of the depreciation has been shouldered by the first owner.

Anyway, enough about second-hand car purchases. Let’s talk about insurance. Do you need auto insurance for your used car? If yes, what kind of coverages should you purchase? If you would like to find out, keep reading as Thompson Insurance Services in Highland Village, TX, provides insights.

Is second-hand car insurance required?

Whether driving a new or second-hand vehicle in Texas, you must purchase auto insurance. Failure to buy auto insurance leads to numerous fines and penalties, including license suspension. But is it worth it? You don’t have to learn the hard because you can purchase affordable auto insurance from Thompson Insurance Services.

When should I purchase my auto insurance?

Before purchasing your vehicle, you must buy auto insurance beforehand. Why? You must have auto insurance before driving your car off the yard. Besides, you need to understand how much auto insurance costs to avoid scenarios where you purchase a vehicle only to realize you can’t afford the premiums.

What car insurance options are available for my second-hand car?

Car insurance is broad — there exist many coverages to consider. The typical car insurance coverages to consider for your used car include:

• Comprehensive and collision coverages
• Liability coverage
• Uninsured/underinsured coverage
• Medical payments coverage
• Roadside assistance, and so on

Buy car insurance today!

Are you shopping for car insurance in Highland Village, TX? Would you please make Thompson Insurance Services your preferable insurance agent for all your auto insurance needs?

Ask most car owners when the last time they updated their car insurance, and they will stare at you with surprise. Many motorists rarely upgrade their car insurance. All they do is renew their policies without scrutinizing whether their current needs are captured. If you are such a car owner, please listen to Thompson Insurance Services of Highland Village, TX, as they share reasons that may necessitate you to upgrade your auto insurance policy. 

When you change the use of your car

Are you using your vehicle to run business errands? It would help if you upgraded to commercial auto insurance. Texas requires businesses to purchase commercial auto insurance for all business vehicles. As such, if you use your personal car to run business operations, you need to upgrade to commercial auto insurance to protect your vehicle and driver when accidents occur.

 

When you are letting go of your current car 

There are numerous reasons you would want to part with your current car. Perhaps, you are looking to upgrade, downgrade or your lease has expired, and you need to figure out what to do next. Whatever the reason, you need to update your auto insurance to ensure that your current needs are taken care of. 

If you upgrade to a newer, more expensive car, you need to update your auto insurance, especially if financed by a bank. While you may transfer your old auto insurance to your new car, you may need to upgrade to include more coverage. 

When you let a teenager drive your car

When you decide that your teenage son or daughter should drive your car, you need to add them to your auto insurance policy. Since teenagers are considered risky drivers, you need to inform your insurer to adjust your premiums accordingly.

Are you still not sure whether to upgrade your car insurance in Highland Village, TX? Please contact Thompson Insurance Services for guidance.

Owning your first car is an exciting moment. For most first-time car buyers, navigating all the processes necessary to ensure your auto is up and running is often problematic. This is why you need a trusted auto insurance company to advise you throughout the entire process of applying for auto insurance coverage. 

Are you wondering where to start with auto insurance? Here, you’ll learn everything on where to start with your auto insurance coverage.

What Is Auto Insurance? 

Auto insurance is a kind of coverage, which seeks to provide financial protection for cars in case of bodily injuries or physical damage to the vehicle. You also get to experience safeguards against the liabilities that may be emerge following such accidents. If it’s your first time handling auto insurance, these tips should come in handy. 

Determine How Much Insurance You Need 

Conducting a self-assessment is essential when seeking insurance coverage. You can start by estimating how much insurance cover you might need for your auto. 

Factors such as the age of the car often affect the number of auto insurance premiums. You should also consider the specific state minimum liability insurance requirements.  

Find an Auto Insurance Provider 

When starting with auto insurance coverage, finding the right insurance provider is often a deal-breaker. Unless you settle for a reputable provider, you might end up getting a low-deal in the long-term. At Thompson Insurance Services, we are keen on ensuring that first-time clients get the best deal from their coverage. If you live in Highland Village, TX, then our services are worth trying. 

Determine Scope 

Understanding what you are buying is the other important part when starting with auto insurance. It’s important to know who the plan covers. It would be best if you also considered the exclusions and limitations in the specific coverage. Further, probe the provider on how much coverage they provide. 

Get Auto Insurance Coverage Now

When looking for auto insurance as a new client, there’s often the risk of getting a low deal. This is why you need to get in touch with our team at Thompson Insurance Services to assist you in navigating the process of first–time auto insurance. 

If you live in Highland Village, TX, or any other region within the locality, then trusting our services will guarantee a safe mind even when driving.

If you’re considering purchasing just the state minimum insurance, think again because you will not have your vehicle fully protected. Thompson Insurance Services of Highland Village, TX wants you to understand that purchasing just the minimum coverage means you bought protection for the other people on the road only because of liability and property damage payout to the person you hit when you cause an accident.

Those two types of coverage ensure that you can pay for an accident you cause, but to protect your vehicle, you need collision, comprehensive, and uninsured motorist coverages. To protect your health and well-being, medical payment insurance protects you when you caused the accident whether your vehicle was the only one involved or it was a multiple vehicle accident. Other important coverages include roadside assistance and car rental insurance.

While collision and comprehensive pay for damages to your own vehicle regardless of the accident type, your uninsured motorist coverage only pays for damages when you incur damage from another vehicle, but the driver of it does not carry insurance or did not carry enough insurance to cover the damage. It takes the place of their property insurance or pays for what theirs does not in cases of uninsured motorists.

Roadside assistance probably sounds self-explanatory. It is. If your vehicle breaks down anywhere, you can phone the insurance company’s toll-free number and they will send a tow truck or service vehicle. Pair it with car rental insurance so you can get back on the road quickly while your vehicle receives repairs. Your car rental insurance pays for a rental vehicle for a short time. The typical coverage provides a car for about a week, but you can get policies that provide for longer terms.

Contact Thompson Insurance Services serving Highland Village, TX to learn about adding coverage to your auto insurance. We can help protect your auto investment.

The Highland Village, TX area is a great place for anyone to work or live. When you are in this area of Texas, there is a huge range of recreational activities that are within a short drive as well as many professional opportunities. To ensure you are able to enjoy the area as much as possible, you will need to get auto insurance. There are several benefits that come when you get a full insurance policy.

Liability Protection

One of the primary benefits of having auto insurance is that you can receive valuable liability protection. Even if you are a very safe and cautious driver, there is always going to be a chance that you could cause an accident. If you do cause an accident while driving, you will need to cover the damages. Fortunately, if you get a full auto insurance policy, you can receive protection against this risk.

Covers Vehicle

Another advantage of an auto insurance policy is that it can cover your vehicle. If you invest in a full auto insurance policy with collision and comprehensive coverage, you can be assured that you will be protected if your vehicle is stolen or damaged. Not only will this help to provide you with financial protection, but it will also ensure you are in compliance with any lender’s insurance requirements. 

If you are going to get auto insurance in the Highland Village, TX area, it never hurts to get advice from someone experienced and that you can trust. For those that are in this area, reaching out to Thompson Insurance Services would be a great option. When you do call Thompson Insurance Services you can get personalized support and guidance. This will help to ensure that you get into the best policy for your situation. 

When you are involved in a fender bender your first response may be one of relief. But even if you are involved in an accident that, thankfully, does not cause any accidents, it doesn’t mean it won’t be a headache! If you, or a family member, have been involved in a fender bender and do not require medical attention, the first thing to do is notify your insurance agent. The team here at Thompson Insurance Services is proud to serve the Highland Village, TX community, and are here to help with all of your insurance needs.

Steps to Take After a Fender Bender

Medical and Safety Concerns – once your vehicle has been moved to safety, it’s time to evaluate your physical condition. You may feel fine, but it’s important to remember that many common car accident injuries can take days to manifest symptoms. It is worth your time to undergo a comprehensive medical exam, even if you feel fine.

Filing a Claim – this can be a stressful process, but not when you work with a local agent. They are here to help you navigate the process to ensure that your claim is filed correctly and that you are able to get to your regular routine as soon as possible.

Vehicle Repairs – we recommend policies that cover not just repairs but also alternative transportation while your vehicle is being fixed. Going without a vehicle can cause serious disruption to your life, especially if your area is not well-served by public transport or other alternatives. 

No matter how small, a fender bender can still be disruptive to your everyday life. Contact the team at Thompson Insurance Services today to find out more about the advantages of working with a Highland Village, TX full-service insurance agency.

Changes in your lifestyle, location or vehicle can alter your auto insurance coverage, making it necessary to upgrade your policy to maintain the protection you need. At Thompson Insurance Services in Highland Village, TX, we can help you determine if you need to upgrade your auto insurance to keep up with current changes in your life. Here are four reasons why an upgrade may be in order:

Change of Vehicle

If you traded an older car for a newer model, you may want to add collision or comprehensive coverage to your policy to protect your new investment. Older vehicles often don’t need this type of coverage. Upgrading your policy ensures your new vehicle is protected against theft, vandalism, collisions, and other incidents that can cause costly damage.   

Move

Moving across town or to another city can affect driving distances or put your vehicle at greater risk of theft or vandalism. If so, you may want to increase the limits on your collision or comprehensive coverage to protect your vehicle against unforeseen incidents or accidents.

Teen Driver

Maybe you’re considering adding your teen to your auto policy. That would require an update to your policy. If your teen is driving the family vehicle, you may want to increase the limits of all your coverage.

Marriage

If you were married last year and your spouse will be driving your vehicle, you’ll need to add him/her to your policy. If your spouse has a questionable driving record, you want to increase your coverage, particularly liability insurance, to protect your assets against accidents your spouse may cause. 

For quality auto insurance at reasonable rates, call or visit Thompson Insurance Services in Highland Village, TX.  

One of the most important things to understand when you purchase auto insurance and many other types of coverage are what a deductible is.

A deductible is an amount you have to pay out-of-pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in. At Thompson Insurance Services in Highland Village, TX, we have a range of deductible options on our insurance policies from among which you can choose. 

The following are three crucial things to know about auto insurance deductibles to find and use your auto insurance policy:

The higher your deductible, the more expensive an accident is going to be for you out-of-pocket

High deductible plans offer the benefit of a lower monthly premium and are cheaper overall if you don’t get into any accidents. However, they can create a lot of expenses for you in the event of an accident. The more likely an accident is for you, the more critical it is for you to opt for a lower deductible policy.

You can save money on insuring an expensive vehicle with a higher deductible

Higher deductible policies are especially attractive to anyone who is driving a vehicle that is particularly expensive to insure. If your car falls into a high-risk category in the minds of insurance providers, consider bringing down costs while still covering your liabilities by choosing a high deductible policy. 

Liability insurance doesn’t generally require a deductible

While deductibles usually apply to collision and comprehensive insurance coverage, they shouldn’t apply to your liability coverage. Therefore, a deductible is generally not a consideration if you’re only purchasing liability coverage. 

Consult one of our representatives at Thompson Insurance Services in Highland Village, TX if you are a DFW driver who is on the market for a good auto insurance policy. 

The state of Texas is a great place to live as it provides you with a good lifestyle and plenty of professional opportunities. For those that work and live in Texas, having a car is a practical necessity. When you do have a car in Texas, you will need to have auto insurance in place at all times. There is a lot you need to know about auto insurance when you are looking for a policy in the Highland Village, TX area. 

State Requirements

The first thing that you need to know about auto insurance in Texas is the basic state requirements. The state of Texas has a 30/60/25 auto insurance requirement for all drivers. This dictates the amount of liability insurance that you need to have at all times. In Texas, you need to have bodily injury coverage of at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per incident plus property damage liability of at least $25,000 per incident. 

Additional Options

While it may not be required by law, Texas car owners should also consider getting collision and comprehensive insurance coverage. This type of insurance will provide you with protection for your vehicle if you sustain a loss. This is not included by the base state requirements and could save you a lot of money in some challenging situations.

If you are a car owner in the Highland Village, TX area, it is important that you fully understand all of your requirements when it comes to having auto insurance. To ensure that you get into the right policy, you should speak to the team at Thompson Insurance Services. When you reach out to the team at Thompson Insurance Services, you will get the guidance that you need to get into a policy that provides you with adequate auto insurance coverage.