http://www.lockinsurance.com/This is the Lock Insurance BlogCopyright (c) 2012 Fri, 18 May 2012 08:08:44 ESTFri, 18 May 2012 08:08:44 EST5  Three Tips To Help Your Vacation   With vacation season in full swing, you may be in the process of planning an annual getaway. While most people spend lots of time looking for ways to maximize their budget, one costly decision is often left to the last minute—whether to buy the optional insurance offered by a rental car company.   “Deciding whether to buy ‘damage waivers’ or insurance at the rental car counter can be a confusing experience—especially if you don’t know if you’re already covered by your personal auto insurance policy,” said Rick Crawley of the Progressive Group of Insurance Companies....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/insurance-tips-for-vacation.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/insurance-tips-for-vacation.htmlTue, 15 May 2012 11:58:00 EST  Picking the correct insurance company for your needs can sometimes be a chore. Whether it is for auto insurance, home insurance, or life insurance, you have to compare rates, service, look at premiums, and more in order to make an educated decision. Finding the lowest-priced insurance may be easy, but you want to make sure the company is reputable enough that it will cover your needs. They also need to be reliable in how they treat you. There are some tips when it comes to choosing an insurance company we can cover to help you make the correct decision. For example, today we will look at some ideas on how to find the right auto insurance company....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/how-to-pick-the-right-insurance-company.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/how-to-pick-the-right-insurance-company.htmlTue, 03 Apr 2012 02:52:00 ESTBuying car insurance can seem like a daunting task, but there are often steps you can take to make it a little easier. First, decide what kind of insurance coverage you are going to need.   There are different variations from state to state on minimum insurance you have to carry, so obviously your first goal is to meet this minimum requirement. From there, you can pick and choose what kind of coverage you need. If you have a lot of assets, liability insurance is a must. Bodily injury liability insurance is also important, as medical bills can be expensive....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/car-insurance-buying-car-insurance-in-the-21st-century.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/car-insurance-buying-car-insurance-in-the-21st-century.htmlThu, 08 Mar 2012 12:51:00 EST  It can be easier than you think to put the brakes on high auto insurance rates – as an independent agency, Lock Insurance can help! We can review your policy and possibly help you find a variety of illuminating ways to save money. Here are some things you may want to consider:   • Ask us to check several companies’ rates. This is the single most important thing you can do to get the best possible rate—and we can do it for you quickly and easily. The difference between the highest and lowest rate available to you from different companies could vary by hundreds of dollars.   • Reduce or drop physical damage coverage on an older car....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/cheap-insurance.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/cheap-insurance.htmlThu, 23 Feb 2012 03:07:00 ESTA motorcycle is a significant investment. Before you get your motor running and head out on the highway this season, you owe it to yourself to make sure your insurance is up-to-date and you’re properly covered. “Just as riding a motorcycle is much different than driving a car, riders should know that their motorcycle insurance needs are different, too,” said Rick Stern, motorcycle product manager, The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies. Here are some tips: Update your policy. First, verify that all your coverages are still in force. Be aware that some companies have a winter layaway period during which some cover-ages are restricted....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/motorcycle-insurance.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/motorcycle-insurance.htmlThu, 26 Jan 2012 11:56:00 EST If you are looking into buying a condo, you might not consider the cost of condo insurance. Condos are not like houses – there is no backyard, no basement, and generally you have a home owners association, or HOA, that takes care of fixing things around the property. But you will still have to provide some insurance for a portion of your property. It is important to look at your master policy in order to find out what kind of insurance you need, and what the condo association already covers.  There are two main types of insurance that will be discussed in the master policies: bare walls-in and all-in insurance policies....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/important-things-when-shopping-for-condo-insurance.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/important-things-when-shopping-for-condo-insurance.htmlFri, 20 Jan 2012 05:48:00 EST More and more, people are debating the worth of life insurance. But it is one of the most valuable insurance assets anyone can have and one of the most stable/secure financial instruments to advance in the investment field. Life insurance can offer mortgage protection, as it can be used to pay off an outstanding mortgage balance after death. It can be an income replacement, if you and yyour significant other have made plans for the future based on two incomes, and one of you passes away unexpectedly. People also do not consider the costs of final expenses, with funeral and burial costs as well as medical bills, which will be left to their family to take care of....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/tips-to-consider-when-shopping-for-life-insurance.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/tips-to-consider-when-shopping-for-life-insurance.htmlThu, 05 Jan 2012 03:08:00 EST Home insurance in Lakeland is a very important insurance policy that you should consider getting for you and your family. It is important for a number of reasons. First, having your home insured provides protection in case an accident occurs, allowing for costly repairs to be made once you have paid the deductible.    Without this, it would be highly costly to cover repairs that can be incurred during a fire or other damage to the home all on your won. Besides covering the actual dwelling, many types of home insurance will also cover the content of your home, including furniture, jewelry, stereo equipment, appliances, and other items....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/home-insurance-lakeland.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/home-insurance-lakeland.htmlWed, 21 Dec 2011 03:11:00 ESTDo you need condo insurance? Often, the condominium association has insurance policies that protect the grounds, common area, and even the very structure of your unit. Because of this, you might feel safe. But the condominium association insurance often does not protect individuals from fire, theft, vandalism, or other threats, in which case condo insurance can be a beneficial purchase. When considering what kind of insurance to purchase, first find out what kind of policy your association has....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/condo-insurance.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/condo-insurance.htmlTue, 15 Nov 2011 09:41:00 ESTSome insurance companies in the southeast have come under heat from their subscribers as hurricane season brings about changes in the policies. Companies are informing customers that their insurance policies will not be renewed as the insurance companies are adjusting the amount of risk they are willing to face with their insurance policies.   Customers are up in arms – some agree they could understand if there was a hike in the costs of the premium to give insurance companies a better incentive to insure the properties, but are miffed at the complete dismissal of their policies. But storms are more frequent and severe, making insurance companies concerned....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/what-you-must-know-about-hurricane-insurance.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/what-you-must-know-about-hurricane-insurance.htmlTue, 25 Oct 2011 09:35:00 ESTOnce you understand the various portions of coverage that are available through an auto insurance policy, it is time to take a look at the price. There are deductibles and premiums that you can incur when getting auto insurance, and also sometimes out of pocket costs you will still have to pay in the event of an accident even after you have insurance. When considering how much you will be charged for car insurance, there are a few factors that the auto insurance companies take into consideration....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/understanding-the-price-of-auto-insurance.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/understanding-the-price-of-auto-insurance.htmlMon, 26 Sep 2011 02:18:00 ESTSometimes it can be difficult to pick the right auto insurance for you. There are some things to think about before you even get down to the process of choosing an auto insurance company. First, you need to understand how auto insurance works. You’ve heard about different deals with deductibles and premiums, but what does this really mean? We’re here to help you figure out the basics. When purchasing a car insurance policy, there are many different things that may or may not be covered. These include: Liability – covers accidental bodily injury or property damage you inflict on others....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/understanding-auto-insurance.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/understanding-auto-insurance.htmlWed, 31 Aug 2011 01:35:00 ESTIs an (A) rated company that writes in all most all counties in the state of Florida!   Security first writes in these counties that most companies will not:   Hillsbourgh CountyPasco CountHernando CountyMiami DadePalm Beach County Security First offers a variety of insurance products to cover your home or property and keep you secure. Credits and deductibles are two more important issues that we find that most people looking forhomeowners insurance. Properly applied credits and deductibles allow you to maximize your coverage while minimizing your premium. Paying higher deductibles will reduce your premium amount but some mortgage companies only allow certain limit....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/security-first-insurance-company.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/security-first-insurance-company.htmlSun, 07 Aug 2011 01:36:00 EST    Seven Tips To Finding The Right Commercial Auto Policy               Finding a good deal on commercial auto insurance is about more than finding the lowest rate—it’s about finding the best all-around coverage to suit your company’s needs. Understanding what coverages and service options are available is the first step toward making better, more informed decisions so that you and your business are properly protected....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/truck-insurance.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/truck-insurance.htmlThu, 16 Jun 2011 09:23:00 ESTState Farm Insurance a Florida insurance companies are canceling some insured's homeowners policies due to an increased cost of weather related claims.   In fact State Farm has not written any new homeowner's policies in the state of Florida since 2005 also the Office of Insurance Regulation said these are the average increases for the following counties: Duval County 15.5% Clay County 17% Baker County 16.6% State Farm has issued 632,000 personal, commercial and residential insurance policies statewide....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/state-farm-insurance-rate-increases.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/state-farm-insurance-rate-increases.htmlTue, 07 Jun 2011 09:04:00 EST  Hurricane season starts June 1 and ends Nov. 30 for the Atlantic Ocean        The peak threat of hurricane activity is from the middle of August through late October for the United States.           For the 2011 hurricane season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated last week that the Atlantic basin is expected to see an above-normal hurricane season this year, according to this seasons outlook issued by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/are-you-ready-for-a-hurricane.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/are-you-ready-for-a-hurricane.htmlSun, 29 May 2011 07:39:00 ESTSinkhole Coverage A sinkhole, also known as a sink, shake hole, swallow hole, swallet, doline or cenote, is a natural depression or hole in the Earth's surface caused by karst processes — the chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks[1] or suffosion processes[2] for example in sandstone. Sinkholes may vary in size from 1 to 600 meters (3.3 to 2,000 ft) both in diameter and depth, and vary in form from soil-lined bowls to bedrock-edged chasms. Sinkholes may be formed gradually or suddenly, and are found worldwide....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/the-difference-between-sinkhole-and-catastrophic-ground-cover-collapse.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/the-difference-between-sinkhole-and-catastrophic-ground-cover-collapse.htmlFri, 29 Apr 2011 07:17:00 EST Being A good driver can save you money!   Introducing our biggest discount ever: THE SNAPSHOT DISCOUNT! only from Progressive. Its the new, huge way to save more than ever on your car insurance.  You plug it inyour car and it keeps track of your good driving habits so we can lower your rate. Rewarding you for being a good driver....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/flo-from-progressive-brings-snapshot.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/flo-from-progressive-brings-snapshot.htmlMon, 18 Apr 2011 08:57:00 ESTBe weary of small companies!       Seminole had about 41,000 policies in Florida as of February, mostly covering personal drivers with some covering business automobiles or contractors liability.     Policyholders of the companies have until March of next year to file claims.       Seminole was licensed in Florida in 1988 and is licensed in eight states, but primarily sold policies in Florida and Maryland.       Give us a call today so we can help guide you to one of our great companies with a price you can afford....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/seminole-casualty-insurance-company.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/seminole-casualty-insurance-company.htmlWed, 13 Apr 2011 03:25:00 EST When looking at Lakeland insurance plans and policies, the options can sometimes get overwhelming. Which plan is right for you? First, you must consider the property you want to insure. Options for insurance include homeowners insurance, landlord insurance, renters insurance, vacant land insurance, condo insurance, and vacant home insurance. If you own the property and plan on living in it yourself, homeowners or condo insurance may be right for you. If you own the home but do not plan on living there, vacant home insurance or landlord insurance could be the key. If you are only renting a home or apartment, renters insurance is the obvious choice....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/what-is-the-best-home-insurance-for-you.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/what-is-the-best-home-insurance-for-you.htmlThu, 03 Mar 2011 12:55:00 ESTSave money on truck insurance there are several new discounts available!   Several commercial insurance companies are coming introducing several discounts that cound make your money go further.    If you have current insurance you need to ask yourself if you are getting these new discounts and if you are newly acquiring commercial truck you need to make sure the agent is aware of them.   Multi policy for discount having General liability CDL license length of time Safe Driver   Get a FREE Commercial Auto Insurance Quote....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/new-discounts-available-for-truck-insurance.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/new-discounts-available-for-truck-insurance.htmlTue, 22 Feb 2011 12:26:00 EST Insurance for your family Members!      Recent study published by LIMRA, fewer of us today have insured the financial future of our loved ones.  In 2010, it was found that only 44 percent of US households have individual life insurance, and 30 percent of US households have no coverage.      I Believe that providing for our loved ones well-being today and into the future is the ultimate selfless act of love.  Life insurance is one of the most cost-effective ways to ensure that, should anything happen to you, all or part of your income is adequately replaced to ensure the financial future of your loved ones....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/how-do-you-determine-how-much-coverage-you-need.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/how-do-you-determine-how-much-coverage-you-need.htmlSun, 20 Feb 2011 09:39:00 EST Car insurance the price you pay is going to increase!     It is hard to believe during 2009, Tampa experienced a 290-percent increase in questionable claims related to staged or caused accidents, the CFO’s office said in a press statement. A single staged accident can generate tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent claims.   The three cities Tampa, along with Miami and Orlando, make up three of the top five cities nationally for questionable claims associated with staged accidents, and PIP fraud accounts for more than 40 percent of Florida’s annual insurance fraud referrals, the statement said....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/car-accident-fraud-can-cause-insurance-prices-to-rise.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/car-accident-fraud-can-cause-insurance-prices-to-rise.htmlSun, 20 Feb 2011 08:56:00 ESTMaking the most with your tax return!   Taxpayers of any income level can file free with forms on the IRS site. Details and links at www.irs.gov/free file.    If you do your own tax return and your adjusted gross income is $58,000 or less, you can file free from the IRS website, using Free File software. Or you can use the program on line or work with a cooperating company such as Turbo tax or H&R Block. Each company has its own criteria for who is eligible to file free with its program. When you need human help, there are a number of companies, organizations and volunteers provide free tax-filing help in Florida....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/make-the-most-of-your-tax-return.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/make-the-most-of-your-tax-return.htmlSun, 30 Jan 2011 08:49:00 EST   I often find that when asked about their homeowners insurance, many of my clients tell me that they are (covered by insurance from the mortgage company). Be very clear and understand this: if your insurance is canceled or if your insurance has lapsed and you were notified by your mortgage company that they have obtained insurance for you call me, this insurance covers their loan in case of fire/theft/damage but it does not cover the homeowner‘s property or interest. Forced place insurance is usually at least double usually triple what a standard homeowners policy cost, and much more limited in actual scope of coverage....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/forced-place-insurance-what-does-it-really-cover.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/forced-place-insurance-what-does-it-really-cover.htmlWed, 22 Dec 2010 04:41:00 ESTMaking sure you look out for all the auto insurance discounts that are available to you!   Three areas of opportunities to save money that you should pay very close attention to:      Driver discounts: Good student, safe driver,defensive driver coarse, driving history, age, gender, married.    Vehicle discounts: Anti-lock breaks, airbag, alarm systems, mileage.     General policy discounts: Purchase early discount, good credit discount, prior insurance, homeowner, paperless. Contact us and we would be more than happy to look at your policy or give you a comparable quote....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/how-can-you-get-a-discount-on-your-car-insurance.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/how-can-you-get-a-discount-on-your-car-insurance.htmlMon, 29 Nov 2010 11:03:00 EST Factors that affect Liability Insurance.   There are several factors that decide the price on Liability Insurance:   The number of employees and the sub- contractor cost (many do not understand their sub-contractors effect there rate even when they carry there own insurance). How many Owners - if one of the owners is not active or is not in the field working, sometimes we can exclude them. Gross receipts - total that you bring in to the business before you pay all your expenses. The type of work that you do - insurance companies call them class codes....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/what-should-liability-insurance-cost-your-business.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/what-should-liability-insurance-cost-your-business.htmlThu, 11 Nov 2010 06:53:00 ESTCar Insurance in Polk County is substantially lower.    Insurance companies will vary from county to county even zip code to zip code. So if you are moving from Orlando to Lakeland you will be happy and if you are moving from Lakeland to Orlando you might be upset with the rates.  Even if you have a child take a vehicle to college, the insurance company will want to change the garaging zip code to charge for the area the vehicle is in.   There are some new discounts that are available:   Prior insurance for at least six months.  If you have not moved in the last year....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/the-low-cost-of-car-insurance-in-polk-county.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/the-low-cost-of-car-insurance-in-polk-county.htmlFri, 05 Nov 2010 09:16:00 ESTLife Insurance rates have been getting less expensive as mortality tables have been adjusted.  If you are thinking of purchasing Life Insurance, it is best to purchase it before your birthday.    A few questions you should think about:   How many years do I need the insurance for? How much insurance do I need? if I die what do I want to take care of?  Burial cost, loss of income, Child education, etc. What type of insurance: Term Insurance or Permanent Insurance Do I need any Riders or extras such as return of premium, child rider, waver of premium, accidental death, etc....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/how-much-will-life-insurance-cost-you.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/how-much-will-life-insurance-cost-you.htmlMon, 04 Oct 2010 09:42:00 ESTWith home insurance costs rising and with changes made to the wind mitigation discounts, its important to talk with an agent that understands them.    Before you pay for an inspection you should see if you qualify for the new revised wind mitigation discounts....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/what-are-wind-mitigation-discounts.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/what-are-wind-mitigation-discounts.htmlMon, 04 Oct 2010 08:51:00 ESTWith Citizens consuming high risk properties for several different reasons such as:   High Risk Area Prior Insurance claims Age of home Type of home That is why they have to increase premiums to have the assets to pay the claims for high risk properties. Underwriting for companies are always changing so it would be in your best interest to look around and see if there are other companies that could help you....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/premiums-rise-for-high-risk-homes.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/premiums-rise-for-high-risk-homes.htmlSun, 03 Oct 2010 10:54:00 EST       Most Florida insureds are unaware of several fees attached to there policy. One is the cat fund created by the state to offset the cost of hurricanes. Easy analogy is taxing someone in a low risk area to subsidize a person in a high risk area. Even if you don't own a home you are being surcharged on almost all types of insurance, including auto insurance, property insurance, Liability insurance. This article sums it up, as Florida Insured myself it really scares me. We are looking at a bad situation.   Get a FREE Homeowners Insurance Quote....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/what-you-should-know-hurricane-home-insurance-florida.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/what-you-should-know-hurricane-home-insurance-florida.htmlThu, 23 Sep 2010 09:36:00 EST Home Insurance claim   Whether it is a burglar, a fire, or a hurricane, it is always devastating. Check your policy or call your agent to see what is covered. If the incident has already happened, that is not the time when you want to find out what is not covered.       As soon as the claim occurs or as soon as you realize there is claim there are a few steps you need to take.   Take pictures of any and all damages - the more you have the better. It is your responsibility to stop any further damage that could have been prevented, within reason. Any money you spend keep your receipts for the adjuster....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/where-to-start-with-your-home-insurance-claim.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/where-to-start-with-your-home-insurance-claim.htmlMon, 13 Sep 2010 07:15:00 ESTFlorida is number one when it comes to fraud claims. Miami has always been a hot bed for years but Tampa and then Orlando are tring to catch up.  I mean they just changed the name of the Ford Ampitheater to 1-800-ASK-GARY. It is important if you are in Florida right now to keep your insurance in place even in situations were you don't have a car.  If you are in an accident, take pictures, write down names and numbers of any witnesses.  If it happens on private property the police will not show up to do a report. More information on the Blomberg report.   Related story....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/rise-in-cheap-insurance-quotes-in-florida-due-to-fraud-claims.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/rise-in-cheap-insurance-quotes-in-florida-due-to-fraud-claims.htmlTue, 24 Aug 2010 09:24:00 ESTWhen you are surfing the internet for the cheapest car insurance quotes, keep in mind a lot of the advertisements that you see are for companies that sell and share your information.    There are hundreds of these companies out there and they sell them to agencies like myself that pay 3 to 20 dollars for one shared lead, which are suppose to be sold out to know more than 5 times.  If you get to a local company such as ourselves we just quote you through our 7 companies in house. Experience the difference at www.lockinsurance....

]]> http://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/how-other-sites-do-your-online-auto-insurance-quotes.htmlhttp://www.lockinsurance.com/blog/posts/how-other-sites-do-your-online-auto-insurance-quotes.htmlWed, 11 Aug 2010 10:15:00 EST