Answers to Your Questions About Premium vs. Regular Gasoline

Posted on May 5, 2016 by AgentInsure

The rising cost of gasoline makes many people wince when they are pulling into the gas station and the different prices for each grade can be confusing So, how do you know which type of gasoline is the best for your vehicle and why is there such a difference in the cost of different grades? Is it beneficial to pay a little extra for premium? Here are some answers to the most common questions about the difference between the grades of gasoline.

Should You Get Premium or Regular Gasoline?

In most situations, the manufacturer will recommend whether your vehicle should use premium gasoline or not. If your vehicle doesn’t require premium, it is better for your vehicle to not use it. Higher octane fuel (premium) will help an engine operate at the optimum level, but if your vehicle manual does not recommend it, your vehicle does not need it.

Why Would a Vehicle Need Premium Gas?

Engineers typically recommend premium gasoline for cars that have turbochargers, high-compression engines and other types of high performance features. Even with a high performance engine, not using premium gasoline all of the time will not hurt the engine, but it may slightly affect the performance of a premium engine.

Can Premium Gas Improve Performance?

Filling your tank with premium gas may help save on your maintenance cost over time. Even though the majority of modern gasoline has detergent additives, it is common for your car’s motor to get a build-up of plaque from the deposits in gasoline. Filling up, even occasionally, with premium gas may help to keep the valves and the fuel injectors clean.

Is Premium Gasoline Beneficial for Older Cars?

If you have a heavier style of SUV or truck or an older car with a high-performance engine, filling up a few times with premium gas may help the vehicle run a little better, especially if you are experiencing problems, such as the engine knocking.

What is the Octane Difference in Gas?

Both regular and premium gasoline varies in the octane percentage, depending on the state you are. However, on the average, gas stations typically offer three different octane grades: regular, which is usually 87 octane, mid-grade, which is typically 89 octane and premium, which is typically 91 or 93 octane.

Due to the variation in octane from state to state, it is recommended that you check the octane before filling up when traveling across state lines. Keep in mind that whether the manufacturer recommends premium or not, you can use it in vehicles that it is not recommended for as well as choose not to use in high performance vehicles. However, if you choose not to use premium on a regular basis, it may reduce your cars maintenance needs if you use for at least every other fill-up.

Residents of Burlington, NC who have recently purchased or sold a vehicle should remember to contact Don Allred Insurance to review or update their current auto insurance.

How Best to Avoid Fender Bender Fraud in Burlington, North Carolina

Posted on April 27, 2016 by AgentInsure

If you’re in a fender bender in Burlington, North Carolina, there are a number of results. One is that everyone exchanges insurance information and no claim is made or a minor claim is made where everyone agrees who is at fault. However, there is also a decent percentage of fender benders in which fender bender fraud occurs, where the other party claims to have been injured and need money to pay for their medical bills and time missed at work—even though they are perfectly fine. This is tough to disprove in a court of law, but there are things you can do to help avoid fender bender fraud right after the accident occurs as a driver in Burlington, North Carolina.

CALL THE POLICE

No matter how small the fender bender, call the police to the accident scene to ensure they are witness to the accident and can write up some form of report. This will be very helpful in court in the event that some sort of fraud may take place, as their word is trusted above most people in a court of law.

CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY IMMEDIATELY

Make sure you call your insurance company immediately and let them know what happened and exactly how it happened. Having an auto policy with a company like Don Allred Insurance, who serves the greater Burlington area, will also be helpful in ensuring they are on top of the accident and anything fraudulent that may occur.

TAKE MULTIPLE PICTURES OR VIDEO

With your camera phone or an actual camera, take as many pictures of the accident as possible as this will be useful in the event that fraud later occurs. Shoot the accident itself but also the other driver who may make an injury claim to show them immediately after the accident occurred.

Why Is Homeowner’s Insurance So Important?

Posted on April 25, 2016 by AgentInsure

Whether you’re buying a new home or you’ve been living at the same address for decades, you likely know about homeowner’s insurance. You probably also wonder whether or not you really need it, since many people will never go on to make a claim. But even if homeowner’s insurance is not required in your state, it’s still an important part of owning a home. Here are a few reasons why.

Your Lender Requires It

Even if your state doesn’t require homeowner’s insurance, your lender often will before you can get a mortgage or refinance your existing one. This makes sure the lender’s investment is protected against loss. In many cases, a lending application can be cancelled if proper insurance cannot be secured, or the lender may purchase insurance and add it to the monthly mortgage payment. Check with your lender if you have specific questions or concerns.

It Protects Your Investment

Unlike cars, which start to depreciate in value the minute you drive them off the lot, houses generally appreciate in value. Even in rough economic times when home values can take a huge hit they will often recover given time. Homeowner’s insurance can help protect what for most people is their largest investment.

It Guards You From Loss

Homeowner’s insurance isn’t just for the lender’s peace of mind. It can cover you in the event of loss or disaster. If your home ever burns down, or you’re the victim of a burglary, or something else causes potential financial loss, homeowner’s insurance can pay to repair the damage and replace your lost possessions.

Are you a new home buyer looking for homeowner’s insurance? Are you a long time owner who is seeking a new policy and don’t know where to start looking? The agents at Don Allred Insurance can sit down with you and help you decide on a homeowner’s policy that will suit your needs. So give them a call today!

How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?

Posted on March 27, 2016 by AgentInsure

Life insurance is a tricky thing, especially if you have no idea how much you need. You do not want to purchase too much or too little. Every person is different so there is no magic number. Luckily, there are some easy ways to determine a great ballpark figure for the right amount of life insurance needed for you. Answer these questions to help figure out how much you need.

Do you have debt? This is a big thing to take a look at because if you pass away and you have debt, it will likely be handed over to a family member to take care of. This is a burden you do not want to give to anyone. If you have debt, figure out how much so you can account for it in your life insurance policy.
Are you financially responsible for the care of anyone? This is important because if you have someone such as a child, parent, or spouse who relies on your income for care, you need to make sure there is enough set aside for them to live comfortably until they can get back on their feet and take care of themselves.
Have you considered funeral costs? Funerals are not cheap and whether you get buried or cremated, it can still cost a lot. If you have not already saved for this expense, then you may want to consider it so that the burden does not fall on a family member. Consider adding this cost to your life insurance so it can come out of that money instead of someone else’s hard earned money.

If you still have questions or would like to get a quote for life insurance, please contact us at Don Allred Insurance today.

What is Fender Bender Fraud

Posted on March 15, 2016 by AgentInsure

Fender benders are incredibly unpleasant but for some, they may become something necessary to deal with. That being said, it is important that all drivers know what fender bender fraud is and what to do if you suspect that you are caught in one.

To put it quite simply, fender bender fraud is any accident that was either staged or where one driver tries to extort or take funds from another driver through unfounded claims. Some typical instance as those in which a driver is not paying attention and the driver in front of them slams on their brakes causing a rear-end collision. Though you may have been following the rules of the road, the fact that the accident occurs makes it necessary to make an insurance claim.

In fraudulent accidents the driver that is pulling the scam will often claim that they have injuries that are hard to prove like whip lash in which case the afflicted driver will then take money for medical bills and for pain and suffering from the driver that they have pulled the fraud on. This type of accident is more prevalent that you might imagine, and if you are part of one, you can often spot it fairly quickly.

Those drivers that are quick to get your information but reluctant to share their own may be pulling a fraud, if you have no idea how the accident happened, and you cannot pinpoint how it occurred, it may be a scam. It is important to keep in mind that those accidents that are fraud still have the ability to affect your insurance rates and your driving record. If you suspect that you have been part of a fraud you can always take action and work to clear your name. Don Allred Insurance wants you to be safe so be diligent with all insurance claims.

Tips To Increasing Gas Mileage

Posted on February 23, 2016 by AgentInsure

When you live in Burlington, North Carolina and anywhere else for that matter, you always want to do what you can in order to save money on gas. After all, there is no reason to use any more than what is absolutely necessary. There are a few tips to help you increase gas mileage so that you can get further on a tank of gas.

Consider a New Car

Some of the older cars are simply not going to provide you with the desired gas mileage.

Efficiency has improved significantly in the past 10 years, so you may want to consider investing in a new ride so that you can save at the pump more frequently.

Get Rid of the Added Baggage

The heavier your car, the more it can cost you in fuel. This means you may want to reduce the weight whenever possible – such as ditching a rooftop cargo container when you are on a family trip.

Be Safe on the Roads

When you are safer driver, you can increase gas mileage. Such things as hard braking and fast acceleration can lower gas mileage by as much as 33% on the highways.

Avoid Winter Driving

Try to avoid driving in the winter as much as possible simply because warming the car is going to take a significant amount of gas, even before you get onto the road.

Maintain Your Car

A lot can be said about maintaining your car. This includes oil and filter changes as needed, inflating your tires to the proper PSI, and more. If you want to know about some of the other maintenance that can lead to improve gas mileage, talk to your local mechanic.

Call and talk to us at Don Allred Insurance today. We can talk to you about gas mileage, auto insurance, and more. We’re ready to save you money with premium comparisons, too.

Importance of Community: Giving Back

Posted on February 11, 2016 by AgentInsure

Your community is a special place. This place is somewhere that you call home. To help make it the best it can be, you should consider giving back to the community you love so much. Not everyone in the community is as fortunate as you and your neighbors. Do something to make them happier and provide a better life for them. You never know when a small gesture from you could change the life of someone in your local community. Consider one of these ways to give back to your community.

Donate your time to local homeless and animal shelters. These places are always looking for volunteers. There is a lot of work to be done and they can use all the help you can offer.
Donate money to local charities or causes. If you cannot provide your time, provide a monetary donation to help out causes and charities that directly affect your community.
Donate clothes and coats. Instead of throwing away your clothes when you decide you are done with them, donate them instead. If they are still usable, they will be put to better use when donated.
Donate food. Your local food banks will take non-perishable food at any time. This food that you donate will go straight to the people in the community who need it.
Volunteer at a local assisted living home. Sadly, many of these residents do not get visitors. If you have time to donate, spend some time with the senior citizens of your community. They may even invite you back for some fun games of cards.

Support local businesses and make sure you have your insurance plans through community businesses like Don Allred Insurance serving Burlington, NC. They can help you get an insurance plan that meets your needs and your budget.

Tips for Being the Best House Sitter

Posted on January 15, 2016 by AgentInsure

Being a house sitter in Burlington, NC is a great way to earn some extra income or to just do something nice for people you know but there are a few different tips you can follow to make sure you are asked time and again to house sit. If you are looking for a house sitter you may want to contact your local insurance agency to make sure your insurance policies are up to date, Don Allred Insurance can help.

The first tip to being a great house sitter is to leave the home the way you found it. If the floor was clean make sure you keep it that way, if things were arranged in a certain way make sure you put them back. This will reassure the homeowner that you respect their belongings and that you are concerned with making sure their home is the way they left it.

Another great tip is that if they have animals that also need care, you make sure you are taking them to the bathroom often in the case of a dog, that the cat box is cleaned out if it is a cat and so on. Pets are a huge part of any family and making sure that they are well taken care of will also let the homeowner know that you are concerned with their home and their pets.

Lastly, you can also make sure that if you use something from the home like food that it is replaced before the homeowner returns home so that you can again, show that you have respect for the home and for the homeowner. All these tips will help make you the best house sitter possible making it a wonderful opportunity to be house sitter time and again.

Contact the friendly agents at Don Allred Insurance in Burlington, NC for a home insurance review today.

3 Amazing Ways Independent Agents Make the Difference

Posted on January 5, 2016 by AgentInsure

When you are purchasing a product you want unbiased opinions, that’s why you should research everything. Unfortunately, researching all the options you have for insurance can be time-consuming and challenging. However, when you need coverage, you can count on an independent insurance agent at Don Allred Insurance to help you find coverage in North Carolina.

Independent Insurance Agents Work Hard to Find Multiple Offers for Insurance
One of the greatest benefits of working with an independent insurance agent is their technology. Their high-tech equipment places multiple quotes from multiple insurance carriers directly at their fingertips. In a matter of minutes, they can have quotes ready for you, helping you save time and energy.

Their Customers Are Their Sole Focus
Another reason you know you are winning when you choose to purchase from an independent agent is because their focus is exclusively on making you happy. Independent insurance agents are paid based on a commission. If you keep the policy a long time, then they continue to keep their commission. As a result of that, they are going to sell you the coverage you are happy with in the end.

They Remain Connected After the Sell
All too often when you purchase something, after the sell, you are own your own. That’s not the case when it comes to working with our independent insurance agents. They check on you periodically throughout the year to ensure you are still satisfied with the coverage.

Our independent insurance agents are ready to give you a quote for insurance, give them a call today. You also have the option of researching our products online and getting a quote online to streamline your insurance purchase.

How To Help At A Car Crash

Posted on December 2, 2015 by AgentInsure

There are many ways for you to help at the scene of a car crash in Burlington. The first thing to do is assess the problem so you know just what is going on. This will allow you to keep yourself safe and get help for everyone involved.

Call 911
You need to call 911 as one of the first things to do. This will ensure that help arrives quickly in order to get the situation under control – and get the victims to the hospital, if needed. The 911 operator is going to ask for location and various other details.

Move Your Car
Move your car away from the crash so that it is not in the way.

Talk to the Victims
Talk to all of the victims and let them know that 911 has been called. Try to calm them down as best as you can.

Secure Their Cars
When a car crashes, most people don’t think to put it in park and turn off the ignition. This means that the cars are still engaged. Try to get the driver to turn off the ignition – or do it for them.

Talk to the Police
When the police arrive, let them know that you are a witness. They need to know everything you saw leading up to the crash. After they have asked you questions, they will likely take your personal information down so that they can contact you later on – and provide your witness information to insurance companies, lawyers, and anyone else involved in the investigation.

Contact one of our agents at Don Allred Insurance to learn about how to help at a crash as well as to obtain information about auto insurance. We can help you to get an affordable policy by getting quotes from multiple companies in North Carolina.

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

Don Allred Insurance

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