Oh, the great American road trip. Whether you are driving across the country, making a trip to visit our beautiful National Parks or simply just exploring different areas in your state, it is important to pack the right items on your road trip.

Basic safety and materials to have:

While you should always store papers like a copy of your car insurance and license and registration in your vehicle, you should also carry a first aid kit and a roadside emergency kit.

Other items:

• Flashlight
• Spare tire with useful tools+ make sure someone in the car knows how to change it
• Owner’s Manual

Personal Items to pack:

It’s really nice and sometimes imperative to have the following items packed.

• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Water bottle
• Car Phone Charger
• Hand sanitizer or wipes
• Car cooler with snacks
• Popular road trip snacks: sunflower seeds, trail mix, jerky, hard candy or suckers or granola bars. Mints and gum are great too.
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• UV window shade
• Thermos
• Blanket or pillow
• Cash
• Lip Balm/ChapStick
• Notebook, pen or pencil
• Napkins or a roll of paper towels. A roll of toilet paper doesn’t hurt either!

Consider a Roadside Assistance Policy

Roadside Assistance can be added to your car insurance policy and is available from most insurance companies. It can also act as a standalone insurance policy. Roadside assistance can help you if you become stranded from a variety of things including but not limited to:

1. Flat Tires
2. Dead Battery
3. Run Out of Gas
4. Lock Yourself Out or Lose Your Keys
5. Disabled Vehicle
6. Towing if Vehicle Can’t Be Repaired Quickly
7. Winching if stuck in mud, snow or sand

We hope your summer road trip is a blast and that this article helps you prepare for your trip as well as stay safe on the road. If you have questions about your insurance, contact us before you leave!

With summer around the corner, avid campers are ready to get out and enjoy what nature has to offer. If you own a camper or trailer, it’s time to complete a quick tune up to ensure your vehicle is ready for summer use. While some people may pay to service their camper every year, it’s definitely doable to do it yourself too. Here are six areas to check when it comes to prepping your camper for summer use.

• Service your axle and hubs – One of the most common things you see with camper trailers is someone on the side of the road missing their entire wheel! Grease in the hubs can dry out and if your bearings fail, the entire wheel can come off! This is a dangerous and scary situation. This can be avoided by having your bearings repacked by your local tire shop.
• Inspect tires – Most camper trailers sit most of the year unused. Because they sit, the tires develop flat spots and cracks that can be dangerous. Inspect your camper tires for cracks as well as any flat spots. Flat spots can be avoided by using special tire savers. They’re widely available for under $100.
• Check for mold – If your camper is stored outside or if you put it away when it was wet, you may have some mold to deal with. Fortunately, getting rid of mold in campers is easy if it is just on the surface. More extensive mold issues may require a professional. If you have some surface mold, use a water and bleach solution to spray on and kill the mold. Be careful to not spray surfaces that may be discolored such as upholstery. Check along the bottom of your walls, behind curtains, under the sink or inside cabinets too for dampness. If you find it, leave a fan running over night in the camper while it is open to get circulation through the camper and dry it out.
• Inspect & test your lights – Before you hit the road, always check your lights for functionality. This should be done every time, not just at the beginning of the season.
• Check propane for leaks- Your propane system can become damaged by rodents or simply by your lines drying out or becoming bent. Your best detection for a propane leak is your nose and ears. Also, if you suspect a leak, use a soapy water solution to check your lines if you see any bubbles form from damage or suspected leak. All campers should be equipped with a propane detector for safety. If you suspect a leak, contact your local dealer to fix the issue or unplug your propane until you have time to get it fixed.
• Flush your water system- If you’ve winterized your camper, be sure to flush your potable water system well. The antifreeze in your water lines should be the non-toxic variety using propylene glycol. Regardless, flush the system well and dispose of the antifreeze in a manner consistent with federal and state regulations – not in a drain or stream.

If you are looking for a policy review on your camper, be sure to reach out to Mi Aseguranza. A RV policy review allows us to ensure you are getting the best coverage at the best price. We also can add additional coverage if you need it. Contact us today.

It is great that your child has a job and is earning their own money. The modern world of convenience is offering us many new ways to get food and almost instant retail deliveries, but what you should know is that your standard auto insurance policy likely does not cover you for delivery type services.

Regardless of what you deliver, a personal auto insurance policy doesn’t provide coverage for paid delivery drivers. For this, you need a commercial auto policy.

A commercial auto insurance policy is needed for:

1. Freight delivery
2. Food delivery services
3. Courier delivery services
4. & many more!

Some people think that simply not telling their insurance company means they won’t be able to charge them the extra premium and that they will pay the loss. Don’t kid yourself. Simply not telling your insurance company that you or your child is using their vehicle for delivery does not mean they will cover you when a loss occurs using the vehicle. In fact, when it comes to insurance, it is a black and white coverage decision. Either there is coverage or there isn’t.

When deciding what coverage you need, ask yourself these questions:

1. Who owns the vehicle you’re using for delivery? If it is owned by the company, they probably have a commercial policy. If you own it, you need to carry the right insurance.
2. How are you using this vehicle? Delivery drivers need a commercial insurance policy.

Your best bet is to talk to a licensed agent in our office to discuss your insurance needs. Remember, simply not telling your agent or your company that you or your child is using the vehicle for delivery doesn’t mean you’ll be provided coverage regardless of any auto insurance claim you have to deal with.

We all know that owning a home is an expensive investment. Unfortunately, you can’t just move in and let it set. Homes require constant maintenance to ensure you don’t get costly damage. We suggest doing a yearly home inspection.

Most people will never venture up onto their roof to see what is going on up there.  A homes roof takes a beating. In the summer, it bakes and the sealant can shrink and expand hundreds of times each year. Making sure your roofing is up to par will save you from costly damage such as mold, water damage, sagging rooflines, pests and much more.

During winter, rainwater can find its way through tiny cracks causing moisture in your attic or between the layers of roofing. Identifying these issues early on can save you thousands of dollars in repairs to the roof itself, drywall, mold or go into your walls creating all sorts of havoc.  It is critically important to understand that your home insurance does NOT cover water intrusion damages caused by deferred maintenance.

Things to look for on your roof inspection:

1. Missing or damaged shingles
   1. Shingles can become damaged by wind and hail or even just years of use. When inspecting your shingles, make sure the granules are covering the shingle. Ensuring that your shingles are in proper working order will ensure water stays out of your home.
   2. Look for curling shingles, or if wood, cracked or decayed shingles.
2. Flashing
   1. Your flashing is the metal pieces that go around skylights, butt up against walls and down the valleys on your roof.
   2. Make sure these pieces are whole and without damage such as being twisted upwards, or having holes in them from rust or other damages.
3. Flat Roofs: Look for obvious patches, cracks, tears, or blisters.
4. Gutters: Make sure your gutters are clear from debris, are not leaking and are butted up tight against the structure.
5. Chimneys: Ensure your chimney cap is on tight and if it is brick, inspect for cracks.
6. Ventilation: Make sure your ventilation caps are clear of obstruction.

Inspecting your roof is a quick and easy job. Take your time and be careful while up there as there are many trip hazards and climbing on and off of the roof onto a ladder can be tricky. But, if done safely, a roof inspection can identify problems that would normally not be covered by your homeowners insurance.

As a local insurance agency, we are here to help with all your insurance questions. When it comes to renters insurance, many people assume that since they are renting an apartment, home or condo, they are fully covered by their landlord if anything unfortunate occurs.

Your landlord’s insurance policy should cover any damage to the property itself but, it will not protect against any of your personal property or liability you cause. If you were to experience water damage, for instance, if your neighbor’s pipe burst above you and damaged your personal property, you would NOT be covered.

Renters Insurance protects:

• Personal Property: items clothing, furniture, electronics, bicycles or jewelry from theft or fire, smoke, or water damage. If you have expensive individual items you may need additional insurance coverage.
• Liability Coverage: if someone is injured in your home helps cover legal fees and medical bills if you’re held liable.

Is my roommate covered with my policy?

If you are not related to your roommate (parent, sibling or spouse), most likely your roommate is NOT covered. However, each insurance company is different so please ask one of our licensed agents to confirm.

Luckily, renters insurance is an inexpensive way to make sure that your personal effects are covered in the event that damage occurs in your rental unit. Contact our agency and speak to one of our licensed agents. You may even be able to bundle your renters insurance with another line of insurance, like your auto insurance, for a discount.