When considering RV insurance, there are three main types of uses to think about, which are:

1. On the Road: Think about the need to insure the RV while it is driving down the road. Insurance should provide protection for the vehicle and its contents if it is involved in an accident.
2. Parked: The protection needed for when an RV is parked includes insurance against theft, damage, vandalism, fire, and other risks to the RV and its contents.
3. Storage: When an RV is in storage, there are other risks to consider such as pest infestation.

Discuss these three categories in detail with your agent at Southwest Insurance Center, serving Austin, TX and the surrounding area, to make sure you have adequate coverage.

On the Road

The most common accidents while on the road are:

• A tire blowout caused by the tires not being properly inflated.
• Hitting some overhang when the driver makes a height-clearance mistake.
• Tearing off the stairs or something else attached to the RV when it was not retracted before moving the RV.
• Fires that start in the motor area.

Parked

When an RV is parked, it is subject to the inclement weather of the area where it stops. Many RVers do not know the weather patterns of the places where the RV trip will take them. In fact, it may be the first time they visit an area. Additionally, climate change is causing unusual weather such as flooding and tornadoes that could damage a parked RV. Hail damage is a serious risk that may need special coverage.

When an RV is parked, it is vulnerable to burglary if the occupants leave the RV unattended. If the RV is parked in an isolated area and left unattended, it may attract vandalism. If it is parked in a campground, it may be subject to the risk of things being done by others who are nearby, such as lighting campfires.

Storage

Storage has special risks. Damage to a stored RV may come from pests, mold, mildew, and other risks depending on the storage conditions. If the RV is not secured properly, it could be stolen.

Conclusion

Protecting your valuable investment in your RV with adequate insurance coverage is best done with the help of your agent and thinking about all the details about where it will be used, parked, and stored. To get a quote for new RV insurance or an upgrade for existing RV insurance, contact an agent at Southwest Insurance Center in Austin, TX by calling 512-280-6100.

There is nothing like the experience, the feeling and the freedom of being on a motorcycle. There are also some necessary steps, both legal and practical, that we need to take so that we can continue enjoying the ride, safely and for years to come. For motorcyclists, it is just that much more important to be aware of their surroundings and other vehicles. Riders simply don’t have the same protection afforded by other types of vehicles.

Your Helmet for Everything Else

Ask any biker, it only takes getting burned once or twice by the muffler before they understand why jeans are the smart choice for riders. That may be even truer if you have ever had the misfortune of laying your bike down, no matter what the surface. These are just practical lessons taught by common sense and experience, like wearing a helmet.

Now that we have covered the basics of being safe and safety gear, we only have one item left before hitting the open road. Austin, TX motorcyclists understand the importance of being insured and they rely on the friendly professionals at the Southwest Insurance Center to provide them with the coverage they need. There are few places in the world that offer the type of open road and ride found in Austin, TX, and a partner like Southwest Insurance Center will help keep you safe so you can enjoy the ride.

If you need motorcycle insurance, want to compare rates or make sure that you have the legal requirements for the state of Texas, contact us today. Insurance is that one last piece of practical safety you need. Motorcycle insurance, it’s like your helmet for everything else.

For those that are in the Austin, TX area, having a boat is a very great experience. When you have a boat, you can spend many great days and evenings out on the open water and under the sun. While a boat can help you make many great memories, it is also an important asset that needs to be properly covered by insurance. There are many components of a boat insurance policy that can make it a great option for you. 

Boat Property Coverage

One type of coverage that you will get in your boat insurance policy is property coverage. Your boat insurance policy can be designed to cover your boat for a wide variety of losses. Depending on the policy that you choose, this could include being covered for theft, boating accidents, vandalism, and even damage from a storm. Due to the importance of this type of coverage, many boat lender will require it when giving out a loan. 

Liability

Whenever you are operating your boat you are taking on some risk and responsibility. If you are found to be at fault in a boating accident you could face stiff expenses. Because of this risk, it is important that you get boat insurance. When you have boat insurance in place you will have coverage for any damage that you cause through your liability insurance policy. 

If you have a boat in Austin, TX, you should speak with the team at Southwest Insurance Center to learn more about how boat insurance can protect you. The professionals at Southwest Insurance Center are very knowledgeable about all of the benefits of boat insurance. They can then help you get into a boat insurance policy that will provide you with the right level of protection. 

If you own a hair salon or you’re thinking about opening one, it’s pertinent that you understand the importance of commercial insurance. Many business owners wait for months or years until they get insurance. This is often a huge mistake and can even lead to the failure of a company in certain instances. Here at the Southwest Insurance Center serving the Austin, TX area, we take pride in helping hair salons around the area protect themselves with proper insurance. Here’s a look at the top two reasons your salon should get commercial insurance from day one.

Product Recall

As a salon owner, you offer your clients so much more than a hair cut or styling. You are offering them products to ensure they look their best even when they’re doing their own hair at home. But what happens if you sell them a product that ends up getting recalled? Will your customers take their business elsewhere because they start to think poorly of you since you sold them a bad product? With commercial insurance that has business interruption coverage, you can rest easy knowing your salon is protected against the losses that you endure do the loss in clients.

You Burn a Client

It happens even to the best of hair stylists. You get busy chatting and then all of a sudden your client yells "Ow" because you accidentally burned her neck with the curling iron. Or maybe you leave the straightener on a chunk of hair for too long and what was supposed to be a medium-length hairstyle all of a sudden has to be turned into a chin-length bob. These kinds of instances put you at great risk of being sued by the customer. With professional liability insurance through commercial insurance, you can take comfort in knowing you are protected.

Contact the Southwest Insurance Center serving Austin, TX today to learn more about the reasons you need to have commercial insurance from the get-go at your salon.

If you live in Austin, TX, you may have purchased a whole life insurance policy through Southwest Insurance Center so you could have access to cash if you needed it. There wouldn’t be much point in having it if you were afraid to ever use it, but it can be difficult to decide when to take advantage of it. You may even need to pay taxes on the cash you get, so you want to make sure you are doing the right thing.

Two Kinds of Benefits In a Whole Life Policy

There are actually two kinds of cash benefits available if you have a whole life policy. The first one is the same as you would have with a term life policy, a death benefit. That benefit comes into play if you die, and your beneficiary will have access to that money to help settle your estate or help pay for your funeral or other expenses.

The unique advantage to a whole life policy is the actual cash value. When you pay your premium, the money adds up and could get quite large over time.

Borrowing, Withdrawing or Surrendering

There are three ways you can get the cash value from your policy. You can simply borrow the money and pay it back, so you still have a solid policy later. You can withdraw money and keep it, which diminishes your total. Or you can simply surrender your policy, cashing it out and canceling your policy.

When you are thinking about getting cash from your policy, it may help to know you can keep your policy, and even pay the money back. If you are in Austin, TX and have any questions about your policy, or if you would like to purchase one, give Southwest Insurance Center a call today.

At Southwest Insurance Center, the agents who serve the Austin, TX area offer their advice to their customers to ensure they always have the right type of car insurance in place at all times. Collision insurance is a good choice for those who don’t necessarily want the added expense of a comprehensive policy. They have to remember, however, the limitations a collision policy bring with them.

Hitting Another Car

Collision coverage protects you against damages caused by any type of collision. Whether you hit another vehicle or they hit you, the damage that results would fall under the protection of a collision policy. This would also include limited coverage for any injuries sustained by either party from the collision. Collision policies are designed to cover only the damages that are the result of an accident that involves a collision.

No Comprehensive Coverage

Collision coverage does not cover any of the other types of damage that a comprehensive policy does. It will not cover theft, broken windshields, or any other type of damage that is often claimed. Rocks that are kicked up and damage windshields or chip paint off of your car are not covered by a collision policy.

While many people sometimes confuse collision and comprehensive policies, they are quite different. In Austin, TX, the agents at Southwest Insurance Center are always available to explain the differences and go over your policy with you to make sure you have the types of coverage you both need and want. Contact the office today to set up a consultation and go over your policies. Reviewing your policies and bringing them up to date may save you money!

Fire insurance is a key part of a comprehensive insurance plan for any dwelling, but when you own structures that are uninhabited the requirements can be different. The team at Southwest Insurance Center is here to help you determine the appropriate level and type of fire insurance for your dwelling in the greater Austin, TX area. Dwelling fire insurance is necessary for clients who own a rental or other investment property in which they do not reside. It is also appropriate for sheds and other outbuildings that are not inhabited. 

Your Homeowners Policy May Not Provide the Fire Insurance Protection That You Need

When you own property, such as a rental unit or another investment property, your homeowner’s policy will likely prove insufficient for adequate coverage. Your homeowner’s policy will cover the structure in which you live, but not other property that you may own but in which you do not reside. The same may also hold true for sheds and other outbuildings that are on your property but are not inhabited.

Don’t be confused about your fire protection! Now is the perfect time to work with your professional insurance agent and review all of your current coverage. Many clients overlook Dwelling Fire Insurance when they review their insurance protection needs. You do not want to be caught without adequate coverage in the event of fire damage to one of your dwellings! Clients who are looking to protect rental units will want to learn more about rental interruption coverage and other policy options that can protect you from loss of income.

Interested in learning more about how Dwelling Fire Insurance can help to protect your Austin, TX area assets? Contact the team at Southwest Insurance Center today to schedule a consultation.

Most people are familiar with the standard insurance products available such as life, home, and auto, but there is another type of insurance that protects you from financial losses if you unexpectedly become disabled or die as a result of an unforeseeable accident or incident. 

Who Needs Personal Insurance?

If you have a family or you have significant debts and responsibilities, you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to carry personal insurance. If you are injured, disabled, or killed, you can provide for yourself, family, or survivors. It is an extra layer of protection for everyone. If you are considering purchasing personal insurance, you need to work with an experienced company and agents who can outline your need and insurance products to cover those needs. 

Quality Insurance Services 

The quality of the insurance and the service work together to offer you peace of mind by purchasing personal insurance. If you live in the Austin, TX area, you should work with Southwest Insurance Center to get the guidance and products you need. They can work with you individually to ensure you get the level of protection necessary to prevent loss during a covered event. They will even help you or your loved ones file a claim in the future. 

Personal insurance is a great strategy for protecting you and your loved ones in the event of an accident or injury that would create a burden. Southwest Insurance Center is proud to serve the residents around the Austin, TX area and look forward to working with you to find coverage that works for your situation. Call or stop by the office today to speak with an agent.