How Does My Credit Score Affect My Auto Insurance Rates?

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If you’re looking to buy a new car, the lender will likely check your credit score. If it’s below a specific threshold, they may not approve you. In case you’re driving a car with low or average mileage, the lender may check your credit score as well. For questions and advice, contact Brent Young Agency LLC, and talk to the experienced team in Manchester, CT. 

What to Know About Credit Score 

Credit score is often the deciding factor between getting affordable car insurance or not, making it important to understand how it works. You can maintain a good score by keeping track of your bills and making timely payments. If you have a low or bad credit score, you could end up with a rate that is three to four times higher than someone with excellent credit. 

Your premiums are low if you’ve low scores. When you shop for car insurance, you’ll probably see a few different factors that affect your rate. What can affect your car insurance rate? There are several things you can do to improve your score, like staying current on bills and keeping a low balance on your credit card. Some of the factors include: 

  • Your age
  • Your credit score
  • Your car make and model
  • Where you live

With practically every provider and in most jurisdictions, a higher credit score lowers your vehicle insurance premiums, typically substantially. Almost every insurer will do a credit check on you. Getting a quotation, on the other hand, doesn’t impact your credit score. 

Give Us A Call

While credit history doesn’t directly affect your car insurance rates, it does impact your insurance premium indirectly by impacting your rate profile. When deciding on the amount to charge, the insurer will consider your profile. Are you a resident of Manchester, CT and you need help? Call Brent Young Agency LLC.

How commercial insurance benefits your business

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Owning your own business gives you a lot of freedom, but it also comes with a lot of work and with big risks. More than half of businesses will not survive for five years. You can increase your chance of survival by making sure you anticipate as many of the hazards. At Brent Young Agency LLC in Manchester, CT,  we are independent insurance agents who bring our expertise to our business and personal customers. 

How commercial insurance benefits your business

Business interruption insurance

Things happen and not all of them are good. If your business is shut down by a covered risk, you will be able to survive much more easily if you have this type of insurance. When your business is not generating any income, your expenses won’t change. You still need to meet the payroll, pay bills, and rent. If you have business interruption insurance, you will have the money you need to survive until your business is back up and running again. 

Commercial property insurance

When a disaster hits your business, your means of earning an income may be lost and you need it replaced as quickly as possible. If you have a lot of extra cash in your business, then you will be able to replace your equipment and repair the building if you own it. If like most businesses, you don’t have a pile of cash hanging around, commercial property insurance can provide the money you need to replace your equipment, electronics, tools, machinery, inventory, and much more. 

Commercial liability insurance

Protecting yourself from legal actions against you is a big benefit. Businesses are at great risk of being sued and finding themselves with a judgment against them. It really is a lifesaver to have this insurance. 

Give Brent Young Agency LLC in Manchester, CT a call to make an appointment to discuss your commercial insurance needs. 

What types of coverage does home insurance provide?

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Home insurance is not just one type of insurance. A traditional home policy has four different types of coverage. You get property coverage, content cover, liability coverage, and loss of use coverage. Read your policy carefully to make sure that it includes all four. At Brent Young Agency LLC in Manchester, CT, we have a full-service independent insurance agency that has been serving customers throughout the state since 1990. 

Liability coverage

The world is full of things that can damage you financially and having the correct amount of liability insurance makes the difference between saving your assets and losing everything you have worked so hard for. Be sure that you have the right amount of liability coverage. Not having enough is a bad mistake. 

Loss of use

If your house is damaged to such a degree that it is not habitable, you will need a place to stay. Depending on the length of time you will be homeless, you may stay in a hotel for a short stay, but for longer times, a rental home may be the best option. In the short term, meals may also be covered. 

Property

The physical structure of your home is protected from a variety of different hazards. It covers the roof, chimney, walls, basement, porch, deck and garage. It also covers detached structures on your property like a shed or casita. 

Content

All of your personal possessions are also covered, though some items like art or jewelry have limits. If you have expensive things, you may need a rider. You can choose a replacement cost or current value when it comes to your content. The current value allows for depreciation when determining the value. You may not get enough to replace some items. 

Contact Brent Young Agency LLC in Manchester, CT when you are ready to discuss your home insurance. 

Auto Insurance Do’s and Don’ts

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Auto insurance is a monthly expense that can not be avoided. Most states require that you carry minimum auto insurance in order to operate your vehicle legally. At Brent Young Agency LLC, serving Manchester, CT, and the surrounding areas, we can help you understand how to save on this important monthly bill. Keep reading to learn about auto insurance do’s and don’ts. 

Do Shop Around 

Insurance rates can change a lot during the course of a year. This is why it is important that you shop around for new insurance coverage annually. Few people do this, and they might be missing out on important savings. It is also a good idea to shop around because different life events can affect how much you will pay for insurance. If you have recently gotten married, divorced, or purchased a home, it could influence your auto insurance costs. 

Do Add New Drivers Quickly

If you need to add a new driver to your policy, be sure to do this as soon as possible. If you fail to add a new driver to a policy, and that person will be driving the vehicle on a regular basis, it could put you at financial risk if something goes wrong. 

New drivers need to be added if you have teens who are starting to drive in your home and will be using your vehicles. New drivers also need to be added any time you have agreed to let anyone use your car on a regular basis. 

Don’t Let Insurance Lapse

Allowing your auto insurance to lapse can put you at financial risk and could have legal consequences as well, depending on where you live. 

If you would like to learn more about our services, please contact us at Brent Young Agency LLC, serving Manchester, CT, and the surrounding areas. 

How Much Commercial Insurance is Needed in CT?

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Connecticut businesses are required to carry two types of insurance – workers’ compensation and commercial auto insurance. Specifically for workers’ compensation insurance, any Connecticut business with employees – regardless of being part or full-time – are required to carry this coverage. Workers’ compensation insurance helps pay the medical bills incurred because of a workplace injury or illness. The only exception to this policy is if the person is a household employee such as a caregiver or housekeeper. If these individuals work less than 26 hours per week, workers’ compensation insurance is not mandated. The second type of insurance, commercial auto insurance, is required for any business-owned vehicle. Businesses must carry at least the below minimum liability coverage:

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident

If you require your employees to use their personal vehicles for business use such as a delivery driver then their personal auto policy is unlikely to provide coverage should they be in an accident. Consequently, although it is not required, you should strongly consider covering their vehicles with hired and non-owned auto insurance. Additionally, if your business is in the trucking industry there may be additional requirements that you need to consider and have to comply with Connecticut regulations.

If you own a business in Connecticut and are struggling to find commercial insurance, look no further than the friendly team at the Brent Young Agency LLC. Conveniently located in Manchester, CT we offer a plethora of insurance options and can answer any of your lingering questions. Give us a call today or stop by our office to learn more about our insurance offerings. 

Keeping your home safe when you are away

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Getting away is something that everyone looks forward to. With rising crime rates, however, you may worry about leaving your home unattended. It isn’t an unreasonable worry, but there are some things that you can do to make your home safer while you are away. At Brent Young Agency LLC in Manchester, CT, we work with our customers to customize their home insurance to their needs. As independent agents, we work for our customers, not for the insurance company. 

The first thing you need to do is to install a home security system. These days, it is neither expensive nor difficult. Many of them are DIY projects and you don’t have to opt for professional monitoring, you can monitor it yourself on your phone. If you already have a system, make sure it is armed when you leave the house. 

Stop your mail. Stop it a day or two before you actually leave to make sure your mailman actually stops the delivery. Make sure you don’t have any packages scheduled for delivery. You don’t want anything piling up at your door.

Have a friend or a relative check on your home. Also, let your next-door neighbor know that you are going to be away. It is always good to have several sets of eyes checking on your home. 

Don’t announce your plans on social media. Don’t post pictures while you are away telling the world that no one is at your home. You will have plenty of time when you get back to share all the details of your time away. 

There is no way to guarantee that your home will be safe while you are away, but if you follow these suggestions, you have a reasonably good chance that all will go well. 

Contact Brent Young Agency LLC in Manchester, CT when you are ready to discuss your home insurance coverage. 

Auto Insurance Deductibles: FAQs

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Most insurance policies have a deductible in place. The deductible is what must be paid by the policyholder before the insurance company pays for the remaining amount of repairs. Deductibles can be a bit confusing, which is why Brent Young Agency LLC, serving the Manchester, CT area, wants to share some information regarding insurance deductibles.

How Do Insurance Deductibles Work?

A deductible is a pre-determined amount of money that you will need to pay after a covered event occurs. The deductible is in place to help prevent frivolous claims. For instance, if you are involved in an auto accident that results in $1,500 worth of property damage and you have a $500 deductible, you will need to pay $500 out of your own pocket before the insurance company will pay the remaining $1,000 in damages.

When Does the Deductible Need to Be Paid?

Your deductible will need to be paid if you are filing a claim with your personal insurance company. However, if another individual is responsible for the accident, then you will not need to pay your deductible. In the event they don’t have their own insurance policy, you would need to pay your deductible so you could move forward with the uninsured motorist coverage of your policy.

How Much Should Your Deductible Be?

The deductible amount you choose should be based on your individual situation. Ultimately, the higher the deductible, the lower the insurance premium. However, you must take into consideration whether you can afford to pay a high deductible on short notice in the event of an accident. You can speak to an insurance agent to help you determine a suitable deductible based on your budget, vehicle, driving habits, etc.

If you have any questions about auto insurance deductibles, reach out to our team at Brent Young Agency LLC. We are happy to help the residents of Manchester, CT and the surrounding areas with any and all auto insurance needs.

What home insurance do you need for your Connecticut home?

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Homeowners in Connecticut live in one of the most scenic states in the country. But even though it is scenic, that doesn’t mean the risks of living there are any less. Manchester, CT is a Hartford suburb that offers good schools and affordable housing. At Brent Young Agency LLC, we are independent agents who provide our customers with access to more carriers and an experienced team to make sure you get the insurance you need. 

The laws in Connecticut don’t require that homeowners have home insurance. If, however, you have a mortgage, the lender will require it. Even if you don’t have a mortgage, given the fact that purchasing a home in Connecticut is one of the biggest investments you will ever make, you will want to protect it. Your local independent insurance agent can help you find the right policy for your needs. 

Home insurance offers several different types of coverage. It protects the physical structure of your home as well as other structures on your property. It covers the contents of the home and structures. It provides liability coverage for you and family members and it also provides loss of use protection. 

Structure coverage protects against a variety of perils. Things like tornados, fire and theft. It covers the home, a deck, a porch, attached and detached garage, a shed or casita. 

When it comes to content, you have choices about the type of replacement you get. You can choose cash value or replacement cost. 

Liability protection is important and safeguards your assets from suits that may be brought against you or your family members. 

If your home is damaged, loss of use allows you to stay in a hotel or get a rental while you are waiting for repairs to be completed. 

If you live in Manchester, CT or the surrounding area, the Brent Young Agency LLC can help you to find the perfect home insurance for your home. 

Commercial Insurance Explained

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If you are thinking about starting a business in Manchester, CT, you need to think about commercial insurance from Brent Young Agency LLC. While you may have the business acumen, when it comes to matters of risks, you can’t predict their occurrence with certainty. It’s for this reason you need insurance to cushion your business when the unthinkable happens.

But because we know that not everyone is familiar with commercial insurance, we have taken time to ensure you understand commercial insurance basics. Here is what you need to learn about commercial insurance.

Is commercial insurance mandatory?

Yes, some aspects of commercial insurance are compulsory in Connecticut. If you have commercial vehicles, you are required to purchase commercial auto insurance. Similarly, if you have workers, you must invest in worker’s comp insurance.

Are there optional commercial insurance coverages?

Commercial insurance is broad — there are many options to consider for your business. Here are the most common commercial insurance coverages:

  • General liability insurance: This coverage protects your business when accused of bodily injury, property damage, and advertising injury. Furthermore, this policy protects you when sued.
  • Commercial property insurance: If you have business assets, you must invest in commercial insurance to protect your valuables against perils like fire, theft, vandalism, and natural disasters.
  • Cyber liability insurance: Because of the rising cybercrime activities, you need cyber liability insurance to protect your business when faced with online attacks.
  • Umbrella insurance: If you want extra liability protection, you need to invest in umbrella insurance to protect your business when faced with significant liability claims.
  • Flood insurance: Since typical commercial insurance doesn’t protect your business against floods, you need a stand-alone flood insurance policy to protect your business.

Would you like to learn more about commercial insurance? Don’t hesitate to contact Brent Young Agency LLC for more information. Better yet, you can pop in our Manchester, CT offices to speak to one of our agents.