Tips for finding the right auto insurance policy for your family

Austin, TX area families turn to the folks at TAB Insurance Agency LLC for help with their insurance needs. If you’re wondering what auto policy will best meet your family’s needs, we can help! Call or stop by our office today to find out more.

How to find the right auto insurance for your family

Finding the right auto policy to meet your family’s needs isn’t a chore. These tips are a great way to get started and help you narrow down your options. There are a lot of auto policies available in Texas, and there’s bound to be one that’s just right for your needs.

  1. Assess your overall needs – ask yourself questions like how often we drive, the value of our vehicles, and how much medical expense coverage makes us feel comfortable? Your needs are unique, but there’s a policy out there that can meet them.
  2. Keep an open mind – sometimes, having the entire family on the same policy makes sense. It may be better to have teen or senior drivers on their own policies in other situations.
  3. Review the add-ons and features – there are a lot of features that are now available with auto insurance policies. Take the time to explore what’s available and which can help meet your family’s needs.

Once you know what you need, it’s easier to find the right policy for your family!

Let us help you with all of your family’s insurance needs!

TAB Insurance Agency LLC is here to help the Austin, TX community and surrounding area with insurance. If you’re not sure what to do next for auto insurance, give us a call or stop by today!

Is boat insurance in Texas a good investment?

The Austin, TX area is a popular place for people to move to and enjoy their lives. One of the draws to this area of Texas is that there are a lot of great lakes and rivers to enjoy throughout the year. As you are looking to purchase a boat here, you also need to ensure that you get the right insurance for it. Having a boat insurance plan will be a good investment for various reasons. 

Boat Insurance will Cover Asset.

A primary reason to have boat insurance is so it can cover your asset. Your boat is an important asset that you will need to invest capital into to acquire. When looking to purchase a boat, it is crucial that you adequately cover your investment with insurance protection. Boat insurance gives the support you need if the boat is damaged or stolen. 

Offset Liability Risks

It would help if you also got a boat insurance plan to mitigate your liability risk. There will always be liability risks that come with owning and operating your boat. If you cause an accident that damages property or causes injuries, you can be liable. Your boat insurance policy will give the coverage needed to mitigate this risk. 

As you are looking to get a new boat in the Austin, TX area, you will always want to know that you are adequately insured. A boat insurance policy is a good investment, but choosing the right plan can be complex. Once you are ready to start looking for a new plan, beginning your search by calling TAB Insurance Agency LLC is a good option. TAB Insurance Agency LLC professionals will give you the guidance you need to choose your next policy. 

Who needs home insurance in Austin?

Being a property owner can be a great investment for anyone in the Austin, TX area. When you are a property owner, you will enjoy having a stable place to live and could benefit from price appreciation in the long run. If you choose to purchase a home when you are in this part of Texas, you will need to get the right insurance for it. There are various reasons why someone will need to get home insurance here. 

Those with a Mortgage

A situation when you will need to carry home insurance is when you have a mortgage. It is very common for people all over the Austin area to take out mortgage financing when they buy a home. If you choose to take out a mortgage, you are obligated to follow all terms. This can include carrying the proper amount of home insurance. In many cases, a lender will require you to establish escrow accounts to ensure you pay your insurance on time. 

Those in a Home Association

If your Texas home is located in a community with a larger home association, you may be required to carry home insurance. Home associations frequently will have required levels of insurance that all owners must carry. You may be required to provide evidence of insurance coverage at all times to ensure you remain appropriately covered. 

Owning a home can be a great option for people in the Austin, TX area. If you are assessing your insurance needs and options when you are here, it would be helpful to call TAB Insurance Agency LLC. The team with TAB Insurance Agency LLC understands the need to get this coverage and they can help you build a proper plan. This will ensure you and your home are properly covered. 

When you should review your home insurance policy

Home insurance is what lets you sleep at night when you are a homeowner. So many things can go wrong and when you are covered with a good home insurance policy it gives you peace of mind. Home insurance can’t stop bad things from happening, but if they do, you know you won’t be facing them alone. In Austin, TX,  you can count on TAB Insurance Agency LLC to be there for you. 

Home insurance usually renews once a year. At the time that your policy renews, you should take a good look at your coverage to make sure that it is giving you what you need in the way of protection. On the front of your policy is the declaration page and this is a summary of all your coverage amounts. It shows your deductible and any endorsements you have added. All the amounts are right in front of you, making it easy to check your liability coverage, your content, and structure coverage. 

When your children become teenagers, it is a good time to think about looking at your liability coverage. If you add any risky things to your life like a dog,  pool, or trampoline, you should also take a good look at how much liability coverage you have. You may want to add an umbrella policy as well. 

If you have done major renovations, especially ones that added square footage such as finishing a basement or an attic or building an addition, you need to make sure your insurance agent is aware that your square footage has changed and your replacement amount has increased. 

Some upgrades you do to your home can save you money, so if you have added a security system, wired smoke detectors, or a new roof, let your agent know. 

Contact TAB Insurance Agency LLC in Austin, TX when you are ready for a new home insurance quote. 

How to choose a car based on its safety features

When shopping for a new car, you’ll want to ensure it’s functional and safe depending on your personal needs. Buying a car with safety features like rearview cameras, rear and side airbags, and auto braking features saves on your car insurance. The following factors will guide you in choosing the ideal car with the safety features you need. And if you’re looking for an auto insurance policy in Austin, TX, TAB Insurance Agency LLC can help you choose a policy that meets your needs.

Structural design of your car

Cars are designed to be resilient even in the toughest conditions, which means the safety features are dependent on the vehicle’s overall build. Is there a sturdy occupant compartment? How are the rear and front built? These questions help determine which features are best to protect the safety cage where passengers sit.

Size and weight of the car

If you have a large and heavy car, it’ll be harder to move and to damage too. However, larger cars are hard to control and though hard to damage, they can easily roll over in a crash. Consider the crashworthiness rating of the car and consult with your insurer on any safety concerns. Safety features like head restraints are considered in the safety rating.

Choosing an ideal car based on its safety features

Before buying a car, take it for a test drive to ensure its safety features are functional and suitable for you. Check the seatbelts, airbags, crumple zones, and head restraints to ensure protection in case of an accident.

Passive safety features

The safety of any car, big or small, is influenced by its built-in safety features like seat belts, airbags, electronic stability control, anti-lock braking systems, seat belts, among others. All these are ideal and critical to saving lives in case of an accident.

With adequate planning and research, you’ll be able to buy a car that suits your needs and fits in your financial budget too. Buying the right auto insurance policy is also crucial to protect your car in cases of theft or accidents. Visit TAB insurance Agency LLC serving Austin, TX to get guidance on an auto insurance policy that suits your needs.

Home Insurance and You

Your home is your safe haven, your place where you can relax, and where you should feel safe. Therefore, it is really important your home insurance covers as much as possible. You might want to check if your home insurance is still comprehensive enough, or just check in with us for your regular review.

TAB Insurance Agency LLC in Austin, TX is proud to offer home insurance to homeowners. Our agents would be so happy to discuss quotes with you. These quotes are from several providers, so you have different options available to you. 

What home insurance coverage do you want

Your wants and needs depend on a lot of things, such as the neighborhood you live in or the type of home you own. However, in general, most homes have a few things in common, one of them being that homeowners always want what’s best for their homes. Some things to consider in terms of coverage under home insurance:

  • You should want coverage for fires and flooding, especially in particular areas with a higher risk of this. 
  • Moving costs if something needs repairing in your house. If your house suddenly becomes inhabitable and you need to cover costs to stay elsewhere, you can claim on your insurance to make this a lot less of a financial issue. 
  • You should consider liability insurance in the case that someone who enters your home gets hurt and requires medical attention. 

TAB Insurance Agency LLC in Austin, TX looks forward to helping you work through our home insurance quotes. Call one of our agents today to get home insurance quotes. You can reach us or request an online quote. 

Why do people in Texas need to get boat insurance?

The Austin, TX area continues to be one of the fastest-growing parts of the country. Many people love this area due to the warm weather, which is around for almost the entire year. If you are looking to move to this area of Texas, owning a boat can be a good investment as you can use all the local waterways. Along with your boat, you should also get insurance for it. Boat insurance is typically needed for a few reasons. 

Coverage is a Lender Requirement

Buying a boat can be a very big purchase. Due to this, it is common that a boat owner will need to take out a loan when they complete their purchase of the boat. If this is the case in your situation, you need to carefully assess your insurance requirements. Many boat loan providers will require that borrowers maintain full coverage until the loan has been completely paid off. 

Coverage is Required by Local Marinas

It is also common in this area of Texas for local marinas or waterways to require insurance. A local marina will want to ensure that all boats and boat owners are adequately protected. A great way this can be done is by requiring all owners and users of the marina to provide evidence that they have a full boat insurance plan in place. 

People that are in the Austin, TX area and want to get boat insurance will want to speak with someone experienced and that they can trust. A great group to speak with is TAB Insurance Agency LLC. If you do call TAB Insurance Agency LLC you can learn a lot about your different insurance needs. The team can then give any support you need to build your next boat insurance plan. 

Can I add a motorcycle to my auto insurance?

In the state of Texas, all drivers need to show financial responsibility in the event that they cause an accident. That includes motorcycle drivers as well as those who drive autos. This means they must either give a cash bond or have liability insurance. The required amount is 30/60/25. That is $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for a single person in an accident, with $60,000 for all the people injured in an accident. $25,000 is for damage to property. In Austin, TX,  TAB Insurance Agency LLC has experienced agents who can help make sure you have the coverage you need. 

Many motorcycle owners are also automobile or truck owners and have auto insurance. The question of whether you can add a motorcycle to the auto policy you already have is bound to come up. It seems like it would make sense to just add the motorcycle to your auto policy, the same way you would add any other vehicle you acquire. It isn’t that easy though. You can not just add a motorcycle to your auto policy the same way as a car. 

That is not to say that you can not add it, but you must do it a different way. You must add an endorsement for your motorcycle that has the same liability as you are required to have by the state of Texas.

Not every auto policy allows you to add a motorcycle as an endorsement. If you happen to have one that doesn’t allow it, you can always just get a motorcycle policy and then bundle your policies. It will give you a multi-policy discount which, while it is not as convenient as putting it on the same policy, is the next best thing.  

Contact TAB Insurance Agency LLC in Austin, TX for all your motorcycle insurance needs. 

Small Business Insurance Coverage that Protects Your Business

Small business owners often get overwhelmed by the number of insurance policies available to them. Whether you own a contracting construction firm or a boutique, many of the coverage needs are the same. There are several types of insurance policies that all small business owners should consider purchasing. Let the professional team at TAB Insurance Agency LLC in Austin, TX help you select the appropriate policies so that your business is protected when the unexpected comes up. 

Crucial Coverage for Your Small Business

Business Interruption Coverage

In 2017, Hurricane Harvey stalled business operations for thousands of companies across Texas. As a result, many business owners were struggling to pay bills and employees during that time. This same scenario can happen to anyone, but for a small business, it can be devastating. Business interruption coverage offers financial assistance in specific situations that cause you to close your business for a certain period of time. Whether it is a gas leak or a hurricane, most policies like this will offer coverage of both bill payment and employee payroll.

Worker’s Compensation

If your business has a team of employees, Worker’s Compensation is a definite must. Accidents in the workplace happen, no matter how you try to avoid them. And, if an employee feels they have not been fairly compensated for lost wages due to injury, they could file a lawsuit against your company. Worker’s Compensation typically covers any medical and disability an employee can claim due to workplace injury. Additionally, some policies will include coverage of legal fees and representation in the instance you face a lawsuit.

Property Damage

Whether you are a start-up company or long since established, losing property associated with your business can be devastating. If you are considering the purchase of a property damage policy, speak with an insurance agent at TAB Insurance Agency LLC in Austin, TX. Our team will help you find a policy that includes all aspects of your business property, from structure to inventory.

Tips to Reduce Your Energy Usage

With energy costs on the rise, homeowners need to do everything possible to help keep their energy usage down and help keep their energy bills as low as possible. So take time to go through the home and make the following changes to help reduce your household’s energy usage in Austin, TX. 

While making changes in your home to reduce your energy usage, don’t forget to protect it from the elements. Reach out to our agents today at TAB Insurance Agency LLC for information about protecting your home. 

Energy-Efficient Appliances

Energy-efficient appliances include washers, dryers, refrigerators, microwaves, and dishwashers. When replacing existing devices, opt for energy-efficient units by looking for those with the Energy Star Logo. 

Solar Power

Switching to solar power can help significantly reduce energy usage in a home. However, if switching to solar power for the entire house is not an option, consider converting your water heater and pool pump over to solar power. By changing these two units, you can help conserve a significant amount of energy. 

Smart Thermostat

Switching to a smart thermostat allows you to control it on your phone or other internet-connected devices. Using a smart thermostat means you can change things while you are away and monitor your home’s temperature. Additionally, turn the heat down a few degrees than usual to save on energy usage. 

Leaky Faucets

Check your entire home and fix leaky faucets. Fixing leaks can reduce the number of wasted water and your annual water consumption. 

Austin, TX residents can do several things to help reduce the energy they use in their homes. Once your home is more energy-efficient, it is time to review your insurance policy. Give TAB Insurance Agency LLC experts a call for additional information on protecting your home once you have made it more energy-efficient.