Category: Auto Insurance

Avoiding Legal Issues with Proper Auto Insurance in Pinellas County

Being a responsible driver goes beyond obeying traffic rules. It also means obtaining the right insurance coverage for your vehicles. Auto insurance is a significant matter, and overlooking this critical responsibility can lead to severe legal problems. At Zenith Insurance Group, serving Pinellas County and the surrounding areas, we assist our customers in making smart insurance choices. Let’s discuss a few types of legal problems you can avoid with the correct insurance.

Avoiding Tickets

In every state, driving without insurance is against the law. If you’re caught driving without coverage, you will be issued a ticket. This can negatively impact your driving record and future insurance premiums. Also, you may be faced with fines. Always maintaining insurance on your vehicles will help you avoid these issues.

Preventing License Suspension

Repeated instances of driving without insurance can lead to the suspension of your driving license. If your license gets suspended, you cannot legally drive in your state. This could adversely affect your life, career, and family, leading to far-reaching consequences.

Avoiding Financial Liability

If you’re in an accident that causes damage or injuries to others and you lack insurance coverage, you will be held personally liable for the expenses. This isn’t just a financial matter but will also become a legal issue. If you are unable to cover these expenses, you can be sued, potentially leading to a significant financial hardship for you and your family.

Proper auto insurance coverage is imperative to evade these types of risks. Zenith Insurance Group, serving Pinellas County and the surrounding areas, is here to assist you with your insurance needs. Give us a call today.

Road trips are a thrilling way to explore new places, but when you’re driving a rented vehicle, it’s crucial to consider insurance coverage. Rental car companies offer various insurance options, leaving many travelers confused about what they need. Here at Zenith Insurance Group, providing auto insurance policies to residents in the greater Pinellas County area, we want to help you navigate the ins and outs of rental car insurance to help ensure you’re adequately covered on your next adventure.

Understanding the Basics

Before hitting the road, it’s essential to understand the basic insurance options offered by rental car companies. These typically include collision damage waiver (CDW), liability insurance, personal accident insurance (PAI), and personal effects coverage (PEC). Familiarize yourself with these terms to make informed choices.

Check Your Existing Policies

Before purchasing additional rental car insurance, check your existing auto insurance and credit card policies. Some comprehensive auto insurance policies and certain credit cards provide coverage for rental vehicles. Knowing your current coverage can help you avoid unnecessary expenses.

Consider Your Destination

Destination matters when it comes to rental car insurance. If you’re traveling internationally, rental car insurance regulations may differ. Research the insurance requirements of your destination and ensure your coverage meets those standards.

Schedule A Consultation Today

Road trips in rented vehicles offer incredible adventures, but they come with responsibilities. Understanding rental car insurance options, checking your existing policies, and considering your destination’s requirements are essential steps to ensure you’re covered. With the right coverage, you can hit the road with peace of mind, ready to explore and create lasting memories. If you need help finding the right auto insurance coverage for you in the greater Pinellas County region, let Zenith Insurance Group assist you. 

A  basic auto insurance policy is liability coverage. To make it all-inclusive, you need to add collision and comprehensive coverage, but there are additional add-ons that can make your auto policy even more inclusive. At Zenith Insurance Group in Pinellas County, we provide personalized service to our customers and make sure that you get the right policy at the best value. 

Auto Insurance Add-ons

Gap coverage

When you have a new car, it loses value as soon as you drive it away from the dealership. If you have an accident that totals your vehicle your insurer will provide you with the current value. That value may be less than what you owe on your car loan. Gap coverage makes sure that you have enough money from your insurance to do that. 

Roadside assistance

This is basically the same coverage that you get from your auto club membership at a lower price. It will get help for you in the event of a breakdown, tow your vehicle and even help you get into your vehicle if you are locked out. 

Rental car reimbursement

When your vehicle is damaged in an auto accident you may not have access to it for a while as it gets repaired. This coverage gets you a rental car so that you will have a vehicle to get to work and carry out your normal activities of daily life. 

Full glass coverage

If you have comprehensive coverage, you have some glass coverage, but you must pay your deductible. With full glass coverage, you will not have to pay a deductible, and it is a very reasonable price. It allows you to call just about any glass replacement company, and they will even come to you. 

Get The Right Policy Today

Contact Zenith Insurance Group in Pinellas County for assistance with your auto insurance needs. 

Staying safe and legal on the road is highly dependent on keeping proper insurance on your vehicles. Zenith Insurance Group,  serving the residents of Pinellas County, can help you make the best insurance choices.

Here are some auto insurance basics that you need to know:

Never Let Coverage Lapse

It is crucial that you get auto insurance in place and never let the coverage lapse. A lapse in coverage is when you fail to renew or pay for your policy and the coverage ends. This can cause you several problems. You will not be able to legally drive the vehicle and you could lose your registration status for the vehicle. To avoid these issues, always keep coverage active. 

Stay Properly Insured

Most states have a required minimum insurance coverage they will allow in order to operate your vehicle on the roads. However, you should keep in mind that the minimum required coverage is not the same as full coverage. 

Minimum– A minimum required policy will only pay for damages that you might cause to another vehicle or injuries that you might cause to another driver. This type of coverage will provide nothing for your own vehicle damage or injuries. 

Full– Full coverage will provide both for you and the other drivers involved if you are the cause of an accident. In addition, if your vehicle is damaged due to a natural disaster, storm, fire, or theft, you can also be paid for repairs or replacement of the vehicle. 

Report All Drivers 

It is also important that you keep your insurance updated to always reflect any new drivers that are being added to your household. This includes teen drivers or anyone else who is allowed to drive the car on a regular basis. 

Get Auto Insurance Today

If you would like to learn more about our services, please contact us at Zenith Insurance Group, serving the greater Pinellas County and surrounding areas. 

Drivers in Florida need to have the protection that auto insurance provides. How much protection you need depends on a few different factors. Basic insurance is what is mandated by the state. Florida is a no-fault state, so there is a little more involved in basic insurance beyond just the liability insurance mandated.  Zenith Insurance Group in Pinellas County, Florida is dedicated to operating with honesty and integrity and is locally owned and operated. 

Basic Auto insurance in Florida is Property Damage Liability insurance (PDL) and PIP (Personal Injury Protection). Both of these must be a minimum of $10,000. You must get this insurance from an insurance agent licensed to do business in Florida and maintain it continuously while your vehicle is registered in the state. 

This basic insurance provides for your own medical expenses in the event of an auto accident and damage to the vehicle of someone in an accident where you are at fault. $10,000 is not a lot of coverage when it comes to repairing or replacing a vehicle. If it is a relatively new vehicle, it could be two or three times that amount. If the injuries in an accident exceed the PIP limit of the other driver, you could be sued for those costs. 

You need to discuss the amount that will protect you and your assets from legal action with your insurance agent. 

If you have an auto loan, you will need to carry collision and comprehensive coverage in addition to what the state mandates. Even if you don’t have an auto loan, if you count on your vehicle to go about your daily activities, having this coverage is important. If you might have difficulty coming up with the amount of money you would need to repair or replace your vehicle, this insurance is vital. 

Contact Zenith Insurance Group in Pinellas County for all your auto insurance needs.