Why October Is the Perfect Time to Review Your Auto Insurance Coverage

Posted on October 23, 2025October 23, 2025 by McGriff Williams in Auto Insurance, Tips |

As autumn deepens, October brings more than crisp air and colorful leaves—it’s also an excellent month to take stock of your auto insurance. Here are reasons why October is especially good, plus what to review, and steps to take so you’re covered right for the rest of the year.

Why October?

Policy Renewal Cycles Often Happen in Fall
Many auto insurance policies renew annually or semi-annually. If your policy is nearing its renewal date this fall, October offers a natural checkpoint to reassess. You’ll have time before winter, when changing conditions can increase risk.
Weather Changes Increase Risk
With cooler nights, earlier darkness, possible frost or snow in many regions, and worse driving conditions (wet leaves, occasional ice, fog, etc.), your risk profile shifts. Your current policy that worked well in summer might leave gaps during harsher weather. October is right before many of these risks ramp up.
State and Regulatory Updates
Sometimes state laws, insurance regulations, or minimum required coverages change around the end of the year. Reviewing in October can give you lead time to adjust so you remain compliant and properly covered.
Premium Adjustments & Rate Changes
Many insurers revise their pricing for the coming year in late fall. Reviewing beforehand can help you lock in current premiums or shop around before proposed increases take effect.
Life Events Tend to Accumulate Over the Year
By October, many people have experienced changes in their driving habits: new drivers (teens getting licenses), moving, commuting distances changing, adding or removing vehicles, even using your car for side-jobs (e.g. deliveries). October is late enough in the year to catch these changes, but early enough to make adjustments before year’s end.
Budgeting Before Holiday Expenses
The holiday period often means more spending—travel, shopping, etc. Reviewing insurance in October means you can plan or adjust your coverage and premium payments ahead of those expenses rather than being surprised by an increase in December or January.

What to Review

When you sit down and go through your auto insurance in October, check these items:

Coverage levels: Is your liability, collision, comprehensive coverage still adequate? Do you need higher protection for weather damage, theft, or vandalism?
Deductibles: Higher deductibles can lower premiums—but make sure you could afford them if you need to use coverage.
Discounts: Are there new discounts you qualify for? Safe driver, bundling home & auto, low mileage, good student, safety features (anti-theft, backup cameras, etc.).
Usage changes: Has your commute changed? Are you driving less or more? Using the vehicle for delivery or rideshare? This may require different coverage or affect risk.
Vehicle changes: Bought/sold a car, added or removed someone who drives frequently, modifications made (e.g. aftermarket parts, safety upgrades).
State law requirements: Especially legal minimums—for example, liability limits or uninsured motorist coverage. Laws sometimes change, so confirm you meet the current mandates in your area.
Claims history / driving record: Any accidents, tickets, or other events since your last review? These can affect premiums, and sometimes insurers allow you to reassess how these are factored in.

Steps to Take in October

Gather all policy documents: Your current policy, renewal notices, driving record, vehicle info.
List changes since last review: Commute miles changed, new drivers, new car, modifications, shifts in usage.
Talk with your agent or insurer: Ask specifically about opportunities to reduce premiums without sacrificing necessary protection.
Shop around: Get quotes from at least two or three insurers to compare. Insurers change pricing, so staying loyal may cost you.
Adjust coverage: Make changes where warranted—maybe drop collision on a very old vehicle, raise deductible, add needed protections.
Set reminders: If your renewal is later, mark your calendar so you don’t forget. Insurance policy review shouldn’t be a once-in-a-few-years thing—it pays off to check annually.

Potential Benefits

Cost savings: Either via securing better premiums, reclaiming discounts, or avoiding paying for protections you no longer need.
Better protection: Ensures you’re not under-insured when bad weather, winter driving, or emergencies hit.
Security: Knowing you’re covered appropriately before seasonal shifts or year-end changes avoids surprises.
Compliance: Avoid fines or gaps in coverage due to changes in law or policy requirements.

Things to Watch Out For

Don’t strip coverage too much: While saving is good, being underinsured in case of damage from weather, theft, or an accident can be costly.
Understanding exclusions: Some policies exclude certain types of damage (e.g. flood, hail) unless you add them. Review what’s in the fine print.
Lapse danger: Avoid gaps between policies when switching carriers. Even a short lapse can hurt your record or leave you exposed.
Policy timing: If you adjust coverage mid-policy, check how the pro rata of premium changes works—some adjustments might increase your monthly payments.

October is more than just the gateway to colder weather—it’s a smart time to make sure your auto insurance matches your current life, risk exposure, and budget. With some planning now, you’ll be better prepared for winter’s challenges, avoid surprises, and possibly save money.

Football Season = Tailgate Safety

Posted on September 30, 2025 by McGriff Williams in Safety, Tips |

Before kickoff, give your insurance a pre-game check.

It’s that time of year again — crisp fall air, rivalries heating up, and the smell of burgers on the grill in stadium parking lots and backyards everywhere. Tailgating and football parties are some of the best traditions of the season. But while you’re planning the snacks and setting up that big-screen TV, it’s worth asking: is your insurance ready for game day, too?

Auto Insurance & Tailgating

Many tailgates happen in stadium parking lots. If your vehicle is damaged — whether it’s a door ding from another fan or a fender bender leaving the lot — your auto policy can help. Comprehensive coverage also comes into play if your grill or cooler scratches the paint, or worse, if an accident happens while hauling your gear. Pro tip: Double-check your liability limits before the season starts — it’s a simple pre-game warm-up that can save you headaches later.

Homeowners Insurance & Backyard Parties

Not heading to the stadium? Backyard football parties are just as popular. If a guest trips over an extension cord or slips on a wet deck, you could be held liable. That’s where your homeowners (or renters) insurance liability coverage comes in. And yes — if you’ve invested in that giant outdoor TV or sound system, make sure it’s covered under your personal property limits.

Umbrella Coverage = Extra Protection

For true peace of mind, umbrella insurance adds an extra layer of protection above your auto or home policies. If a serious accident happens at your tailgate or party, and the costs go beyond your standard liability limits, an umbrella policy helps cover the difference. Think of it as your insurance defensive line.

Quick Tailgate Safety Tips

– Keep walkways clear of cords, coolers, and chairs.
– Grill safely — never leave it unattended.
– Have a designated driver plan before kickoff.
– Know your coverage before the party starts.

Game Plan Recap

Football season is about fun, food, and friends — not fumbles with your insurance. A quick review of your auto, homeowners, and umbrella policies ensures you’re covered, no matter what game day brings.

Before kickoff, give your insurance a pre-game check and enjoy the season with confidence.

How to Help Prepare for a Hurricane

Posted on August 11, 2025 by McGriff Williams in Safety, Tips |

Your level of preparation before a hurricane can have a significant impact on how well you weather the storm and how quickly you recover from it. Consider preparing your home, inside and out, long before a storm is in the forecast. In the end, you can never be too prepared when it comes to protecting your loved ones and your property from hurricanes and other extreme weather events.

Know the forecast

You may hear the terms “Hurricane Watch” and “Hurricane Warning” in your local forecast. Understanding the difference between them is essential to helping you prepare for a hurricane. As soon as a Hurricane Watch or Hurricane Warning is forecast for your area, it is important, depending on the type of alert, to immediately begin or complete your preparations.

A Hurricane Watch means hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours. Begin stocking up on emergency supplies in the event a warning is issued. If you live in a coastal area, you also should be prepared to evacuate.

A Hurricane Warning is more serious. Hurricane-force winds (74 mph or higher) are expected to hit your area within 36 hours. Seek shelter or evacuate if notified to do so.

General hurricane preparation tips

Prepare a survival kit that includes items such as water, nonperishable food and medications for everyone, including your pets; a portable radio; flashlights; batteries; and battery chargers for your cellphones and other portable electronic devices, which can be powered by your car.
Plan your evacuation route and leave as soon as an evacuation order is issued. Also, fuel up your car before you leave.
Build a content inventory of the items in your home or at your business.
Secure all outdoor objects or move them inside. Close your home’s storm shutters and board up windows and glass doors as appropriate.
If possible, bring in gas or charcoal grills, but do not use them indoors. Also, do not store propane tanks inside the house or garage. Chain propane tanks in an upright position to a secure object away from your home.
Secure your boat or move it to a safer place.
Fill your emergency generator fuel tank, if you have one, and have spare fuel on hand. Store generator fuel in an approved container in a garage or shed, away from open flames, heat sources and appliances such as natural gas appliances.

Keep Track with Our Emergency Checklist

Five tips to help prepare your home for a hurricane

Help avoid water damage

Heavy rains have the potential to cause significant water damage. These tips can help you prepare your home.

Close and lock all windows and doors and remove any window air conditioners.
Remove valuable items from your basement or elevate them off of the floor.
Clear debris from exterior drains and gutters.
Repair damaged gutters and downspouts to make sure water can drain away from your foundation.
Check your sump pump and the battery backup to confirm they are working properly.

Monitor your trees

In a powerful windstorm, trees can be a hazard. Broken limbs or fallen trees – even uprooted shrubbery – could damage your home and fences, or your neighbor’s property.

Routinely maintain the trees around your home:

Prune tree limbs within 10 feet of your home.
Check for cracking or splitting in trees.
Remove dead limbs and weakened trees.

Roofs, doors, windows and skylights

It is important to keep wall openings such as doors, windows and skylights protected. The roof, doors and windows of your house are especially vulnerable to wind damage. When houses are exposed to hurricane-force winds, roofs are most susceptible to damage, followed by walls and openings such as skylights.

Strengthen doors and windows by:

Installing reinforcing bolt kits at the top and bottom of doors.
Reinforcing garage doors.
Installing storm shutters over windows.

Secure outdoor Items

If you live in an area that experiences high winds, outdoor items around your property that are not properly anchored can become airborne and cause damage.

If high winds are expected in your area, move as many outdoor items indoors well before the high winds arrive. As mentioned earlier, do not store propane tanks in your home or garage.
Adequately secure any remaining outdoor items that cannot be safely moved to protected areas.

Strengthen your exterior structure

During a windstorm, wind forces are carried from the roof down to the exterior walls and then to the foundation. Homes can be damaged when wind and wind-driven water get under the building’s exterior walls if proper controls are not in place.

Strengthen exteriors by employing a contractor to:

Install hurricane straps to reinforce roof-to-wall and wall-to-foundation connections.
Retrofit soffits to help ensure they remain in place in high winds.
Properly brace roof trusses.

The effort and time you invest in hurricane preparedness can make all the difference—not only in safeguarding lives, but also in limiting damage and accelerating recovery. From understanding local alerts to stocking emergency supplies and reinforcing your home well in advance, each proactive step builds resilience. Whether you evacuate or shelter in place, early and thorough preparation helps protect your loved ones and property from the worst of what a storm can bring. You truly can’t be too prepared when protecting what matters most. Stay ready, stay informed, and above all, prioritize safety long before the skies darken.

Source

Summer Driving & Insurance: Adapting to Heat, Roads, and Safety

Posted on July 17, 2025 by McGriff Williams in Auto Insurance, Safety, Tips |

Summer ignites the allure of road trips, evening drives, and spirited journeys under the sun. But hotter roads, longer trips, and rising traffic also bring elevated hazards—and insurance should adapt accordingly. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, accident rates climb, especially for teen drivers and travelers hitting unfamiliar routes. Meanwhile, sweltering temperatures make parked cars dangerous, sometimes fatally so.

To navigate these seasonal challenges smartly, your auto insurance and habits must evolve with the weather. Let’s explore how to optimize coverage, protect against heat-related risks, and ensure no passenger—especially a child—winds up forgotten in a too-hot backseat.

Summer Insurance Imperative

Auto insurance premiums have surged—up roughly 30–40% over recent years—driven by inflation, repair costs, and weather-related damages like hail and flooded roads. Yet most policies remain unchanged from winter term assumptions, failing to reflect new seasonal risk exposures .

Summer’s expanded road hours involve more miles, higher chances of breakdowns, and heightened accident potential. This mismatch wastes money and exposes families to gaps and misses vital safety overlays. By realigning coverage seasonally, drivers avoid over-paying in low-use months and stay protected during peak driving times.

Harnessing Usage-Based Insurance for Summer Efficiency

Usage-based or telematics-driven insurance (UBI) calculates premiums based on real driving behavior—miles, braking, acceleration, speed, timing, and location. For safer summer driving, UBI offers two key benefits:

Discounts and accurate pricing: Responsible summer drivers (avoiding rush hours, harsh braking, late-night trips) can earn substantial savings—often 5–30% off premiums.
Motivated safe habits: Awareness of monitoring effects improved driving behavior for many users .

Still, UBI isn’t a guarantee; frequent highway driving or night trips may increase premiums, so analyze your summer pattern before enrolling.

Smart Insurance Adjustments for Summer

Activate Seasonal UBI
Opt-in just for summer months when road time increases. That’s ideal for aggregating summer savings without long-term data capture.
Add Roadside Assistance & Rental Coverage
Extended trips increase the chance of flat tires or breakdowns. These options relieve stress and cover unexpected repair or rental costs.
Adjust Deductibles Thoughtfully
Higher deductibles (e.g., $500–$1,000) reduce premiums. Balance savings with your ability to cover the deductible when needed.
Leverage Low-Mileage or Storage Discounts
Classic cars, stored beach cruisers, or lightly used vehicles may qualify for 5–10% savings when annual mileage is under ~7,500–10,000 miles.
Maintain Your Vehicle Proactively
Summer heat damages belts, hoses, tires, batteries, fluids, and cooling systems. Regular inspections reduce claim risk and covered breakdowns .

The Silent Danger: Hot Cars & Hidden Passengers

A parked car can rapidly become lethal in the sun. Inside temperatures can climb 40–60 degrees within the first hour. Even with windows cracked, a comfortable 80°F day can escalate cabin heat past 109°F.

Metabolic changes in children and pets make them especially vulnerable—body temperatures rise 3–5 times faster than adults. Tragically, hot-car deaths occur nearly 40 times a year in the U.S., a figure that surged 35% in recent years .

Although insurance doesn’t cover such incidents, prevention is imperative. Strategies like placing phones, wallets, or keys in the back seat, verbal reminders, and locking doors can prevent forgetting a passenger.

Safety Habits: A Summer Driving Blueprint

Check the back seat—and set reminders. Create exit rituals to ensure nobody is left behind.
Plan to drive in safe time windows. Avoid midnight drives and rush-hour traffic.
Maintain vehicle systems. Tire pressure, coolant levels, battery health, and belts/hose checks before and during summer travel are critical.
Stock and inspect roadside kits. Tire inflators, jumper cables, roadside flares, and water supplies reduce risk during long trips.
Practice teen driving safety. Enforce hands-free use, passenger limits, curfews, and no-tolerance policies for distracted behaviors.

Real-Life Scenarios: Strategy in Action

Family Road Trip
You activate seasonal UBI and earn a 15% discount after smooth driving. With roadside and rental coverage, a blown tire in another state brings prompt roadside support. Reminder habits prevent hot-car incidents on rest stops.

Convertible Cruiser
You park your convertible for most of the year. By dropping collision in fall and reactivating in spring, you secure low annual premiums while ensuring summer protection.

Teen with Gradual Privileges
Your teen uses the car occasionally. Seasonal UBI both tracks behavior and offers coaching reminders. Curfews and passenger limits reduce risk without inflation of policy premiums.

Aligning Coverage with Summer Reality

Customized insurance planning creates smart summer-centric results:

Reduced premiums from UBI and low-mileage adjustments
Enhanced protection via roadside, rental, and heightened deductible options
Greater accountability from maintenance and safety habits
Mitigation of tragic outcomes through backseat checks and reminders

This layered approach enables freedom on the road while centering responsibility and protection.

Summer Safety + Insurance: The Ultimate Combo

Below is your quick summer checklist—answer “yes” to each to stay both savvy and safe:

✅ Action	Why It Matters
Signed up for seasonal UBI	Ensures premium reflects real summer driving habits
Checked low-mileage or storage discounts	Saves money when the car isn’t in use year-round
Increased deductible thoughtfully	Cuts annual cost while keeping loss protection
Added roadside assistance & rental coverage	Offers help during travel mishaps
Completed vehicle inspection—tires, coolant, battery	Reduces breakdowns and claim denials
Committed to backseat reminders	Prevents heat-related tragedies indoors
Enforced teen safety rules	Reduces accident risk during the “100 deadliest days” summer period

A “yes” to these means you’ve prepared your coverage, your vehicle, and your habits for the heat, miles, and risks of summer travel.

Season Savvy Driving

Summer driving is thrilling, but it comes with hidden costs and risks. By customizing your auto insurance through seasonal adjustments and usage-based savings, combining practical protection options, maintaining your vehicle, and establishing safety routines around hot cars and passenger checks, you shift from luck-based to intention-based driving.

This is about more than bill optimization—it’s about saving lives. No one should ever suffer a preventable tragedy in a backed-up summer heat wave. Thoughtful coverage keeps families safe and drives summer adventure without compromise.

Stay covered. Drive smart. Check your backseat every time. Let this summer be defined by exploration—not regret.

Tips for Moving to Another State with Medicare

Posted on June 18, 2025 by McGriff Williams in Medicare, Tips |

If you are enrolled in Medicare, moving to another state means navigating the healthcare system across state lines. It does not have to be stressful, but it may require some planning to keep your Medicare coverage intact while enjoying your new home. Here are some practical tips to help you make the transition as smooth as possible.

Understand Your Coverage and How It Works in the New State

How Medicare works in a different state will depend on whether you have Original Medicare (Parts A and B) or a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C):

Original Medicare: This federal program will work anywhere in the country with any provider that accepts Medicare. If you have Original Medicare, you are mostly good to go for an out-of-state move. However, many purchase supplemental Medigap plans to help cover coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles. In most states, you can keep your current Medigap plan when you move to another state. However, before the move, you must contact the private insurance company that provides the plan and inform that provider of your upcoming relocation. The insurer can tell you whether you can keep the same plan or enroll in another.
Medicare Advantage Plan: These health plans are provided by private insurers, each with a specific network of doctors and hospitals. If you have Part C, your current plan may not cover your new state. You will need to find out if your insurance provider offers coverage in the new location, and if not, you may have to switch to a different plan.

Pay Attention to Enrollment Periods

Enrollment periods are specific times when you can make changes to a Medicare plan without penalty. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you will have a Special Enrollment Period when you can change plans if you move to another state.

If you notify your insurance provider before you plan to move, you will have one month before the date of the move and two months following your moving date to switch plans. However, if you tell your provider about the move after the fact, your Special Enrollment Period begins the month you inform the insurance company and continues for two months after.

Missing enrollment deadlines could lead to gaps in coverage or late enrollment penalties. Note the timeline and act before you move to avoid any coverage issues.

Update Your Address with Medicare

Updating your address sounds like a simple step, but you may be surprised how many people forget to update their address with the Social Security Administration when they move. Medicare should have your new address on file to avoid billing, claims, or correspondence confusion. You can go online or phone the Social Security Administration to update your address. Be sure to also change your address with health insurance or prescription drug coverage (Part D) providers.

Be Informed and Stay Covered

Moving to another state does not have to interrupt your Medicare coverage, provided you keep track of deadlines, update your address, and research your new plan options. If you are unsure of any step, reach out to one of our friendly local agents. We are Medicare experts and can guide you through the transition.

Source: www.insuranceneighbor.com/tips-for-moving-to-another-state-with-medicare/