May 2009
Volume 2, Issue 5 www.autoandhome.cc

Auto & Home Insurance Agency Newsletter

Video Message
A message from our President, Skip Schrayer
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Insuring Your College Student's Possessions

Before you ship your high school graduate off to college this fall, one of the many things you should consider is the safety of his or her possessions. But you probably have a to-do list that's taller than you are, so we'd like to help by answering a few questions about this issue now. For example:

Yes, your child's "stuff" is covered when he is away at school under most homeowner policies. But if he leaves any items there unattended for more than 45 days, those items are no longer covered for theft.

Yes, any items your student has stolen will fall under your homeowner policy deductible. However, keep in mind; most policies do have specific limits on certain items, such as jewelry, money and certain electronic devices.

Yes, you can purchase separate insurance with a lower deductible for your student away from home. But most parents feel comfortable using their homeowner policy.
  Auto & Home Insurance Agency

732 W. Ogden Ave
Downers Grove, IL 60515

(800) 437-4814 - Toll Free
(630) 960-5450 - Phone
(847) 427-3513 - Fax

How You Can Help Keep Your Teen Driver Safe

Teaching your teenager to drive is not one of the easiest tasks in life, but studies show your efforts can really pay off. Research has found that learning good driving habits from a seasoned driver – such as a parent – helps decrease the chance of crashes and fatalities during a new driver's first year on the road.

The first year of driving is critical, because your teenage children will be exposed to a variety of situations for the first time. These experiences require quick thinking and strategic maneuvering, both of which will become easier as their time behind the wheel increases. But there's no substitute for having a veteran driver in the car who can anticipate other drivers' actions and explain why a seemingly benign situation can quickly become hazardous.

We can help you design automobile insurance that is complete and appropriate for your child. Illinois allows a driver permit at the age of 15. However, most insurance companies do not require that you add your young driver to your automobile policy until they are actually licensed. Be prepared! It can be quite a shock when you find out how much it will cost to add your young driver, but some of these discounts can help. Many insurance companies offer discounts to young drivers who get good grades in school, because research has shown that these students are more responsible. In addition, most companies also offer a discount for driver training, which is mandatory in Illinois in order for a 16 year old to become licensed. Don't forget to tell us if you send your child off to college without a car! In most situations if the student is over 100 miles away from home without a car, your insurance company will offer a substantial discount.

Additional Tools

You can take other steps to help your teen become a safe driver. Auto and Home Insurance Agency along with MetLife has a free, 16-page booklet entitled, "Teaching Your Teen to Drive Without Driving Each Other Crazy" that we can send you when you call. We also stock a free DVD called "Young Drivers: The High-Risk Years," which includes important guidelines to follow before your teenager gets behind the wheel. The guide was reviewed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and serves as a roadmap to safe driving; with step by step instructions and lessons that you and your child can complete together.

Travelers Insurance now offers a special program called "IntelliDrive." When you enroll, your agent will schedule a convenient time for a technician to install a small data collection device in your vehicle. Designed for vehicles manufactured in 1996 or later, the device records such critical information as speed, driving times and driving area. You can also set parameters, such as maximum speed and driving radius, that if exceeded will cause the device to send an email to your computer or an immediate text to your cell phone.

The IntelliDrive program also lets you know the location of your vehicle at any time. By visiting the IntelliDrive web site from your computer, you can click on your vehicle and find it on a map. Another feature on the device automatically records even more information, such as your car's fuel efficiency and carbon emissions. Travelers offers a discount just for installing the device. In addition, information the system collects about vehicle mileage is also used to determine your eligibility for even more discounts, which may apply if your vehicle is driven just a certain number of miles per year.

So don't feel helpless when your teenagers begin to drive. Get into the car with them and spend time teaching them how to act and react in real traffic situations. And call us to receive any of the tools mentioned here to provide more help and monitoring. Remember: vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for those who are 16 to 18 years old. By helping your teenagers become safe drivers, you can help protect them – and countless others.