Have you ever wondered if your car insurance coverage was enough to take care of you in the event of a serious accident? Our JC Demo Insurance Group team has put together this short guide to help you determine whether the coverage you carry on your auto insurance policy is just right or too low.

Understanding State Minimum Limits for North Carolina Drivers

Before we can discuss whether a basic policy is sufficient, it is important to know what’s required by law. In North Carolina, the minimum liability limits are $30,000 per person for bodily injury with a $65,000 maximum aggregate per accident. Drivers are also required to carry $25,000 or more in property damage coverage. Comprehensive and collision coverage is considered a first-party coverage and is not required unless you have a loan on your vehicle.

Is State Minimum Coverage High Enough?

In most cases, state minimum coverage is high enough. However, if you’re involved in a major accident that is determined to be your fault, there’s a chance that this amount is not high enough. Medical bills for a serious incident easily range in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and repairs to fix brand-new vehicles can easily exceed a $25,000 threshold.

Why You Should Consider a Higher Limit

One of the most common questions North Carolina drivers ask is whether they should carry higher limits on their auto insurance policy. If you have substantial assets—like a home or a business—or a moderate income, state minimum limits might not be enough if you’re involved in a serious accident. In turn, this could potentially leave you open to a possible lawsuit in the future.

JC Demo Insurance Group is proud to assist Matthews, NC residents with all of their auto insurance needs. Please contact us today to schedule an appointment.

Like most states, North Carolina requires basic liability coverage on your automobiles, as well as some coverage for non-insured or under-insured motorists. Visit the JC Demo insurance Group in Matthews, NC to get the coverage you need for your automobile. 

Liability, of course, covers damages you cause to another car, or injuries in an accident where you are at fault.  There are some basic limits as to how much to have, but many car owners have more than the minimum. There are people who do not obey the law, and if they cause an accident, you may not be able to collect from them. That is where non-insured or under-insured coverage can protect you.

 Collision coverage covers damage to your car when you drive it into something. That something can be another car, or a tree, or a building. It covers your car when it is damaged. This is optional coverage, but you may be required to have it by the lender if you owe money on the car. If the car has high value it is a good idea to have this kind of coverage.

Comprehensive is the other main kind of insurance, and this covers everything else. This covers damage to your car from things like storms, floods, trees falling and so forth. It also covers windshield damage, fire, theft and other things out of your control.  This is also optional coverage that most people have if they have a newer car.

Call or visit the JC Demo Insurance Group on Matthews, NC to make sure you have the right coverage for your car. You may visit in person or online to get the coverage you need. If you are going to change cars, it is also a good idea to let your insurance company know before the purchase is made.

If you are a car owner in the Matthews NC area, it is extremely important that you take this responsibility seriously. One responsibility that you will have when it comes to owning the car is to make sure that it is properly covered by insurance. There are several different groups that will require you to carry auto insurance at all times. 

State Laws

Similar to other states, drivers in North Carolina are required to carry minimum levels of liability insurance at all times. This coverage will provide protection in the event you are at fault in an accident. It will provide coverage to the other drivers in the accident, but will not provide you with coverage for damage to your vehicle. The state requires that you have $25,000 in property damage coverage as well as $30,000/$60,000 in bodily injury coverage.

Lender Requirements

Since the base state requirements will only give coverage to the other party in an accident, it is important that you have additional coverage as well if you have a loan outstanding. In most situations, a lender or lessor of your car will require that you carry a full collision and comprehensive insurance policy at all times. This will help to protect you from a wide variety of losses including theft, fire damage, or if you are in an accident with a driver that is not insured.

When you are in the Matthews, NC area and are looking for an auto insurance policy, contacting the team at JC Demo Insurance Group is a good first step. The professionals at JC Demo Insurance Group are fully aware of the auto insurance laws in North Carolina and will also be able to review your lender agreements to make sure that you are in compliance with all related requirements.

Just like the flavors of ice cream, auto insurance is available in a variety of policies and packages to meet the needs of a variety of car owners. It might be a little bewildering if you discover your friend has insurance that appears to be very different from yours. Visit us at JC Demo Insurance Group and we’ll help you understand your auto insurance coverage. We’ll also help you find better coverage if that’s what you need, and we’ll sign you up right there so you don’t have to make phone calls or visit more offices. We’re happy to be of service to the neighborhoods around Matthews, NC and look forward to meeting you.

A variety of auto insurance policies provides coverage for all kinds of auto owners. This includes a minimum liability that is required by North Carolina law for all auto owners. It comprises a certain amount of coverage for bodily injury and property damage liability. It also requires coverage for uninsured motorist liability. What that means is that if you have an unfortunate encounter with someone who carries no insurance, your needs will be met. 

Beyond the basic coverage are several options for further protection. Collision insurance, comprehensive insurance, car rental insurance, and towing & repair coverage are all available. These are optional according to state law. However, if you are making payments on your auto then your lending agent has the right to require these kinds of coverage. We can help auto owners around the Matthews, NC area sort this out. At JC Demo Insurance Group we’d be glad to sit down with you and explain the differences. We’ll help you choose the best policy for your needs, and enroll you right there. Call or visit today.

A lot of people get confused when it comes to knowing whether or not they need to invest in car insurance. What many people fail to realize, though, is that instead of an expense, auto insurance will oftentimes serve as a valuable asset. If you have an older car, truck, or SUV, and you are wondering whether or not you need to have insurance on it, the answer is yes. Here at the JC Demo Insurance Group serving Matthews, NC, we’ve put together a helpful go-to guide to help you understand why your old car needs insurance on it. 

You Never Know When an Accident can Happen

Some people believe that just because they have a car that isn’t worth very much, this means they don’t need to spend money on protecting it with auto insurance. But the truth of the matter is, you never know when an accident could happen. And just because you aren’t worried about having the financial means to replace your old car, this doesn’t mean you can afford the medical and property damage expenses that often accompany an accident. This is a good reason why you need to have insurance on your old car. 

It’s Required by Law

According to the law, you must have car insurance in the state of North Carolina. With this in mind, it becomes common sense that you need to invest in auto insurance. Even if you don’t own a car, you have to purchase a non-owners liability insurance policy. 

To learn more about needing auto insurance on an old car, contact JC Demo Insurance Group serving Matthews, NC. 

Typically, when we buy a car it is through a financing plan and that firm holds the title to the car. Once the car is owned outright the lienholder’s rights are no longer relevant to your insurance coverage and decisions. In fact, it is possible to drop both collision and comprehensive coverage and carry liability insurance only. While this is something that is possible and completely legal, it is by no means the best route to take in every situation. JC Demo Insurance Group is here to guide their clients in the greater Matthews, NC area through the insurance-buying process; whether they own their vehicle outright or not. Insurance needs will vary between the two situations.

Drivers often drop their collision and comprehensive policies immediately once they own their vehicle outright. In many instances, it may make sense to lower the coverage amounts, but there are many reasons to keep collision and comprehensive coverage in place. We recommend that remain aware of the depreciated value of your auto as that is what is typically used as the replacement value of the car in the event that it is totaled. Lowering the limits of your coverage will keep you protected, with insurance in place, but you will not be over-insured. Ultimately, the key decision is finding the coverage levels that make the most sense for your vehicle and your personal situation.

If you are unsure what the appropriate coverage levels are now that you own your vehicle outright, it’s time to sit down with one of the knowledgeable insurance agents at JC Demo Insurance Group. We are proud to serve the auto insurance needs of our friends and neighbors in the greater Matthews, NC area and look forward to working with you soon!

Car accidents, regardless of how bad they may be, can be both traumatic and stressful. If you are ever involved in an accident, you may wonder what to do next. While this is normal, if you are a victim of a hit and run accident in Matthews, NC, the situation can even be more confusing.

While the insurance policy you purchased from JC Demo Insurance Group should provide you with some assistance, there are other steps you should take in this situation, as well. Learn more about what these steps are, here.

Record All the Important Information

If the driver of the vehicle that hit you leaves the scene, you need to work to gather as much information as you can to give the police. This is the information that the police can use to find the other driver and make sure you don’t have to cover the damages they caused. Some essential things to try and get include:

• The make, model and license plate number of the vehicle

• Approximate year and color of the vehicle

• Location and time the accident occurred

• The direction that the driver went

• The contact information of possible witnesses

• Pictures of the damage to your car and the accident scene

Contact the Police

It is imperative that you call the police as soon as you can after an accident occurs. Provide information about the names of witnesses, the location of the accident and which way the driver went.

Once you have done all this, contact your own insurance company in Matthews, NC. Companies such as JC Demo Insurance Group will help each step of the way.

If you need new insurance, you can also contact this company for more information and to get the policy you need.

It’s easy to forget how many benefits come with an auto insurance policy if one gets a comprehensive coverage plan for their vehicle. However, it becomes really clear what one is missing if instead, a driver chooses strict liability coverage just to meet the North Carolina insurance requirement minimums for public roads. Comprehensive coverage auto insurance doesn’t just protect from a variety of vehicle-related risks, it also tends to extend coverage to other vehicles a person drives, including rental cars.

Normally, if one goes to a rental car agency in Matthews, NC or elsewhere, the company will push its own coverage plan for temporary protection of the car or then hold the driver personally responsible for any damage. And if you think that’s avoidable, just a windshield crack from a flying pebble can be a $100 to $200 is costs to repair. So drivers end up having to take out a plan. However, if one has it included in his comprehensive coverage already in place, then the claim just goes to the personal auto insurance policy to address. And that can avoid a big, sudden expense at the end of a trip.

On the other hand, if your coverage for personal driving is the bare minimum, then it is unlikely that your auto insurance addresses coverage with a rental car as well. Such plans tend to be vehicle specific, but this is not a fast and solid rule. According to the folks at JC Demo Insurance Group, it varies from company to company, so the sure way to know is to read the terms of a coverage policy before renting a car.

For those in Matthews, NC who travels a lot by car, rental cars may just be a necessary fact of life. In that case, you should talk with the folks at JC Demo Insurance Group to make sure your coverage is inclusive of rental car use. You don’t want to be surprised after the fact.

At JC Demo Insurance Group, serving the Matthews, NC area, one of the questions that we have been asked multiple times is whether you can insure an inoperable vehicle. Here is the information you need to know about this topic. 

What an Inoperable Vehicle Is

An inoperable vehicle is a vehicle that currently cannot be operated on the roadways. It may be unable to pass smog or emissions testing, it may have been involved in a car accident, or it may need parts repaired. 

If an Inoperable Vehicle Can Be Insured

An inoperable vehicle can be insured. Most insurance companies do offer insurance specifically for inoperable vehicles. This takes into account the fact that the car is sitting and not be driven, which greatly reduces the liability costs associated with the car. However, some companies do not differentiate between operable and inoperable cars when providing auto insurance, so be sure to ask whether the company offers inoperable vehicle insurance or not. 

The Benefits of Insuring an Inoperable Vehicle

There are many benefits to insuring an inoperable vehicle. The top benefits are that your car is covered from theft, fire and vandalism when you have comprehensive or full auto coverage on the car. While your car is not being driven, and as such, is not likely to be involved in an accident, these other factors are much more likely to happen. Insuring the car helps to ensure that you are financially covered in the event one of these elements occurs. 

If you are looking to insure an inoperable vehicle, JC Demo Insurance Group, serving the Matthews, NC area, is here to assist you. Call us today to get answers to any of the questions you may have or to get a free estimate for auto insurance. 

Cars have come a long way in terms of safety, which means the number of deadly accidents has decreased tremendously throughout the years. The latest safety features range from automatic braking to apps specially designed to keep your hands on the steering wheel. Although you still have to have insurance from a company like JC Demo Insurance Group, serving Matthews, NC, and the surrounding area, these technological advances keep you safe and will prevent your premium from rising from an accident. 

Electronic Stability Control

Electronic stability control helps correct issues like understeering and oversteering. Understeering happens when the car continues to move forward without turning as a result of the tires not having enough traction. On the other hand, stability control also helps with issues like oversteering when the car turns farther than a driver intended, ultimately resulting in the rear wheels sliding. Electronic stability control is ideal for new drivers. 

Apps for Driving 

While you’re encouraged not to use your phone while driving, there are apps that can assist you while you’re driving. Two apps, in particular, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, allow people to easily access their entertainment, navigation, texting and calling features on their phones through voice commands while they drive. 

Adaptive Cruise Control

Adaptive cruise control utilizes sensors to scan the road ahead and automatically adjust the car’s speed if the car in front slows down. When the road becomes clear ahead, the car’s speed adjusts back to normal automatically.  

Blind Spot Monitor 

Blind spot monitors sense cars in your blind spot. An icon will light up if a car comes into your blind spot. If you try to change lanes or turn on your turn signal, the car warns you with an audible alert. 

Forward Collision Warning 

A forward collision warning uses radar, lasers, and cameras to detect vehicles in front of the vehicle and alerts the driver if they are going to fast. Vibrations or an audible warning get the driver’s attention back on the road. 

These safety features among others will keep you safe, but just in case an accident occurs, JC Demo Insurance Group, serving Matthews, NC and the surrounding area, can assist. Contact us today at 704-541-5155 to get a quote for auto insurance.