If you are driving down Arizona’s highways without insurance, there are two kinds of heat that you can look forward to: the heat that has made Arizona famous, and the heat that drivers can expect for violating the law. Now, we at the Insurance Center of Green Valley understand that violations of automobile insurance laws are not committed through a desire to do so; most often, it is committed either because people are ignorant of it, or they simply are too intimidated to obtain the proper insurance necessary to drive an automobile.

Specifically, drivers on Arizona roads are required by law to have liability coverage – which not only works to protect you from major financial loss as a result of an accident, but to also ensure that potential victims of an accident have this liability coverage made available for them. Having liability coverage may be required, but it is required because having it is a good idea. If a cop pulls you over and he or she finds that your insurance is not up to snuff, you can find yourself in a bad situation – you could be facing fines and maybe even lose your license for a period of time. In addition, residents of Arizona can get additional insurances to provide for stronger coverage. Depending on your circumstances, it may also be advised that you look into getting umbrella coverage to ideally maximize your insurance strength.

Arizonans in and near Green Valley who are still confused about automobile insurance and what it entails may behoove themselves to get a hold of us at the Insurance Center of Green Valley either online or by phone at (520) 648-1150. With our help, you could be enjoying Arizona’s highways sooner rather than later.

A car accident can cost thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars. There are medical bills, property damages, and pain and suffering costs that must be paid. Having car insurance can alleviate some of these costs from coming out of your pocket.

1. Liability for Damages. If you are at fault, you could be paying for damages to property, other vehicles, or any injuries that others may have suffered because of the accident. Whether they were passengers in your vehicle or other vehicles, you will be responsible.
2. Keep Your Risks Low. Without auto insurance, you are considered a “high risk” driver. Insurance companies will hesitate to give you a policy at a lower rate. You could end up paying twice as much in premiums when you do decide to get insurance.
3. Total Loss Compensation. Having car insurance will provide you with security in the event that you are in an accident. If the accident results in your vehicle being unrecoverable, insurance may cover the cost of having your vehicle replaced.
4. Other People’s Mistakes. You may be an impeccable driver and always pay attention when you are on the road, but there are many who do not. With the advent of texting and driving, you need to make sure that you keep your insurance up-to-date. Other drivers who are not paying attention may result in damage to you or your vehicle.
5. Legal Issues. If you are ever pulled over by a police officer, you are required to provide them with your driver’s license and insurance information. Not having insurance can result in citations, fines, and possibly jail time depending on your history.

In Green Valley, Arizona, the Insurance Center of Green Valley is an independent agency that can help you find the right insurance for your needs.

Taking proper care of your car requires so much knowledge and attention to detail. Tracking routine maintenance, getting mileage related services and even choosing the right gas will keep you on your toes if you want your car to last. When it comes to selecting fuel, a little understanding can go a long way. This quick guide will explain the differences in gasoline ratings so you can make informed decisions that keep your car running at its best.

The first thing to understand is what an octane rating really is. When you go to the station, there are usually a few different options that might be ok for your car. While you know to avoid diesel or other specialty fuels, is there really an advantage to choosing premium over regular? Answering that question starts by looking at the number associated with those different gasses. You may already know this, but the number refers to the octane rating. Higher numbers will cost more, and it’s usually the biggest difference in the premium levels.

So how does a higher octane rating help your car? The short answer is that it doesn’t. Unless your engine is specifically designed to run at a specific octane, you can use the lowest rating without fear. However, if you have a luxury or sport edition vehicle, double check the owner’s manual to see what rating is recommended. Engines designed for higher octane often get better gas mileage with the premium gas. There are several factors that contribute to this, but the primary reason is that higher octane fuels burn at slightly higher pressures, so when an engine is designed around those higher operating pressures, you get improved efficiency.

Even if your car does recommend a certain octane, driving lower rated fuel is unlikely to hurt the engine. Ultimately it’s best to experiment and use the fuel that gets the most mileage. The improved performance lets you know that the car is running as designed.

To make sure your car is protected from more than just fuel choices, check in with Insurance Center of Green Valley. A representative can make sure you have coverage that will take care of you when you need it most.

Unfortunately, accidents happen all the time, both in your everyday life and behind the wheel. How you react to the situation makes a huge difference in the outcome of the situation. This is especially the case since some people are out to earn a quick a buck and will do so no matter the expense to you. 

1. Don’t Leave the Scene

You should never leave the scene with just a verbal agreement not to proceed with an insurance company. While it’s fine to agree that the accident was no big deal and that no claims are going to be made to an insurance company, you can’t be sure the other driver is actually going to follow through with this agreement. Your insurance company requires you to report all accidents anyways. It won’t hurt you in the long run to report it, but it could if you don’t report it. You can let the insurance company know there wasn’t any damage or that you’re paying out of pocket. 

2. Pictures

A picture is really worth a thousand words, especially when it’s one of the best ways to prove who’s at fault when compared to drivers verbally recalling the incident. Take pictures of the damage done to both vehicles. Snap pictures of the person’s driver’s license and insurance information if available. If there were witnesses at the scene, it doesn’t hurt to click a pic of their information. Get snapshots of everyone involved in the accident and the license plate of the driver.

3. Get a Cop Involved

A cop can’t force you to proceed with the insurance claim. He can report who’s at fault and be a reliable witness if the accident turns into a lawsuit or even a large insurance claim. He can even let the insurance company know the status of the other driver, so you don’t wind up getting a lawsuit for fraudulent medical issues. Keep in mind, no matter how you agree to pay for the damages, a cop must be called if the damages are estimated to exceed $1,000.

To receive a quote, contact Insurance Center of Green Valley today. 

Green Valley, Arizona is a great place to live. Many commute to the Tucson area for work, so they need to save money on gasoline. The Insurance Center of Green Valley offers some tips on how to save money on gasoline and gives a bit of advice that helps drivers to pay lower auto insurance premiums and still obtain superb auto insurance coverage.

Here are a few items to consider:

1. Getting a Tune-up Increases Gas Mileage – The recommendation for a tune-up includes a full vehicle maintenance and safety check. Replacing spark plugs with new ones, changing the fuel and air filter, and adjusting engine idle speed does wonders for increasing gas mileage. Additionally, checking tire air pressure, wheel alignment, and taking unnecessary stuff out of the trunk that is excessive weight, all increase mileage. As part of a full maintenance check, be sure to review the auto insurance for proper coverage.
2. The Use of Biofuels – Biofuels are a great way to use an alternative to gasoline, but using them needs careful consideration. It is important to understand the effects of using alternative fuels that may change the coverage for warranty repairs. Moreover, consider any potential mechanical failures from using biofuels that might cause an accident. Working with a qualified mechanic that understands these issues is important for saving money on gasoline and also for driving the vehicle in a safe manner.
3. The Benefits of Driving a Bit Slower – It is amazing how something as simple as driving a little slower can decrease the chances of having an accident as save money on gas. Defensive driving does not mean driving so slow as to impede the flow of traffic. What it does mean is slowing down in bad weather conditions and always leaving plenty of room in front of the vehicle to come to an abrupt stop when needed.

Check in with the nice folks at the Insurance Center of Green Valley to make sure you have adequate auto insurance coverage and find out about the possibility of good driver discounts, offered by some insurance companies.

Obviously, you care about someone a great deal if you’re giving them a gift of a vehicle that can easily can costly on your part. Although your heart may be in the place, there are a few factors you should consider prior to giving a car in Green Valley, AZ. 

Taxes

Your friend or loved one is responsible for any taxes that are required because of gifting taxes. You may want to take a few moments to evaluate the person’s financial situation to make sure he or she is able to afford this. 

Insurance

Insurance is a requirement for all vehicles. If the person you’re giving the car to isn’t able to afford the premium, you’ll need to be generous enough to pay for the first premium. If not, you could find yourself giving a holiday present that’s not of much use to the person. Before you even buy the car, you should evaluate what the price of coverage will be and determine if it would be reasonable for the person you’re giving the vehicle to. Even if you pay the first premium, the person may not be able to pay premiums after that. 

Title

In Arizona, a car must have a title. If you’re going to give the gift as a surprise, you’ll need to put it in your name first and then transfer the title. It’s more cost efficient to surprise the person at the lot, so it can go immediately in that person’s name. You’ll only need to pay one time for the title rather than once for the title and once for the transfer. 

If you’re considering purchasing a car as a gift this holiday season, contact the Insurance Center of Green Valley at 520-648-1150 today for a quote. 

Accidents happen every day throughout the roads of Arizona. If you’re driving and see an accident, you may want to pull over and help out. Not sure how? It’s easy and it can make the difference to help the victims before official help has the chance to make it on the scene.

The most obvious thing for you to do is call 911. This should be done once you have parked so as not to add to the accident that you are calling about. When the operator answers the call, speak in a calm voice and tell them everything that has happened. Be as specific as you can about where the accident has taken place. Identify the number of vehicles as well as anything else you think could be pertinent.

If the scene looks safe enough to get close to (the cars aren’t on fire), then park your car off on the side of the road and approach carefully. See if there are any victims in the car and let them know that help has been called.

The first thought may be to try and be a hero and rescue people out of the cars. If you can do so safely, then that’s wonderful. Otherwise, don’t move them and simply wait for an ambulance to arrive on the scene.

You should take a look at the cars and get them into park. Turn off the ignition if you are able to as well.

Once the police arrive, you will leave a statement. This can be a valuable way to help because the victims may not know what happened. Be specific and thorough.

One of our friendly independent agents at Insurance Center of Green Valley can help to provide you with peace of mind when you drive throughout Tucson. Call now and learn about quotes, coverage, and more.

You’re ready to get your driver’s license in Green Valley, Arizona. There’s plenty of natural beauty in this area. However, you need a car to see the stunning desert and absolutely amazing geological features, as walking in the sun is not the wisest choice.

The first step in this process is picking up your learner’s permit. A learner’s permit shows that you passed the written portion of the test required to pick up a license in Arizona. You have the option to start the practical side of the test once you’ve gotten behind the wheel practice. The only catch is, are you properly covered by car insurance when you get in the car?

Some car insurance policies allow another driver to add permit holders to the insurance without much of a hassle. These policies cover the person driving, as long as they are supervised by the adult who is the policy holder. The exact terms of the car insurance varies, so it’s important to know if you’re legal to drive in Arizona.

You may need another policy holder to add you onto the policy as a named driver. If this is your first time getting a license, and you are a teenager, this adds significant cost to the policy in many cases. Let our agents help you figure out the best option for a learners permit driver seeking proper insurance. It’s trickier than simply setting up a new auto insurance policy, so our expert advice helps guide you on the right path. We even have a free online quotes tool so you can look at comparative quotes from different companies, allowing you to choose the option that works best for you.

As children get older, they often dream of getting married. One thing they fail to think about, though, is whether or not getting married will cause their insurance rates to decrease or increase. Truth be known, it can go either way, and it’s solely based on the former driving records that both spouses have. As you can imagine, the cleaner the driving record, the lower the rates will be. Here’s a closer look at how getting married will affect your auto rates and what you can do to keep your rates as low as possible. 

Ask about discounts

For starters, you should ask your insurance provider about any discounts they give for getting married. In addition, ask about multi-car policy discounts. You may find that you are able to slash your rates in half with these two discounts alone. 

Take a look at both driving histories

What does your spouse’s driving record look like? Are there DUIs? Speeding tickets? Accidents? If there are, this is most definitely going to cause your rates to increase if you combine your policy with your spouse’s. To avoid enduring an increase in your rates because of your spouse’s poor driving history, you’ll want to delay combining your policies for as long as possible. 

Be accident free

The best move to make when it comes to keeping your auto insurance rates low is for both you and your spouse to avoid getting in accidents as well as avoid getting speeding tickets. One ticket can cause your rates to increase considerably, and it can sometimes take two to three years or longer for a ticket to be removed from your driving record. 

To learn more about getting married and auto insurance premiums, visit the Insurance Center of Green Valley today. 

The most frequently traveled road that your teen will likely use is the one back and forth to school from your house. Because of this, your teen driver should be well-prepared to drive on this road before he gets permission to drive without supervision. Keeping this in mind, you should always let your teen drive to school in the mornings when you drop him off. This way, he’ll gain many hours of driving experience on the road he’s going to travel on a daily basis once he gets his actual driver’s license. Here’s a quick look at a few other tips you can share with your teen driver to boost his driving abilities. 

Avoid driving in hazardous weather

When it gets really stormy outside, it’s usually best to stay off the roads. This is why you should advise your teen driver to avoid driving in hazardous weather whenever possible. Still yet, though, some experience driving in stormy weather is advised. In fact, your teen will need practice driving in the rain before he’s allowed to get his driver’s license. 

Wear sunglasses

When the sun starts glaring through the windshield, this can cause drivers to easily become briefly blinded. With a good pair of sunglasses, though, the glare is greatly reduced, thus improving your teen’s ability to see when driving. If your teen doesn’t have a good pair of sunglasses, you should definitely buy him a pair. 

To learn more about the many tips you can share with your teen to be a better drier, please contact Insurance Center of Green Valley. Providing top-notch tips and affordable insurance, Insurance Center of Green Valley cares about your teen driver.