How to Help Local Homeless Shelters

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Even as many of us enjoy the holiday season, homelessness remains a serious problem in Oklahoma City. People often lose their homes after becoming unemployed or falling ill. Everyone can help these individuals by taking steps to support local homeless shelters:

1. Try volunteering at a nearby shelter. These organizations frequently rely on volunteers to prepare meals, clean rooms and advise residents about housing or employment. Other possible tasks include welcoming visitors to the organization or tutoring children who lack homes.

2. If you have more money than spare time, think about sending a cash contribution. Homeless shelters can’t meet all of their needs with volunteers and donated supplies. In addition to funding repairs to their buildings, they need money to pay heating and cooling bills.

3. Another option is to donate extra goods to a local shelter. For example, you could give food, clothing, books or toys. The needs of different shelters vary, so it makes sense to call ahead before dropping off such items.

4. If you own a business, there may be a number of additional ways you can help the homeless. You could place a cash donation container in the checkout area of your restaurant or shop. The IRS permits substantial tax deductions for companies that donate excess food.

5. Spread the word and remind other people about the importance of helping the homeless. For instance, you could share this blog post with friends, link to a homeless shelter on your website or write a letter about homelessness to a magazine.

Finally, remember to support local businesses. They often directly or indirectly assist nonprofit organizations in Oklahoma City. Consider purchasing insurance from an agent in your community. The helpful staff at FM Insurance has served local residents since 2006.
 

How to Prepare for Driving Abroad

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Preparation is critical when you are going to be driving abroad. Particularly if you are crossing the pond, there is quite a lot to know because you may be dealing with foreign languages and even driving on the “wrong” side of the road.

Insurance

You should always have auto insurance in place, even if it is for a rental car. If there is an accident or your car gets hit in a parking lot, it’s easier to file a claim than to have to pay out of pocket. Your rental car company may be able to provide all the coverage you need. It is also possible that your auto policy will cover you if you travel to Canada or Mexico.

Road Signs

Do the research to find out what the road signs look like in the country you are traveling to. This will make it easier to know how to drive and adjust your speed accordingly. This can prevent getting into trouble when you arrive and see a road sign for the first time.

GPS

You want to make sure you know where you are going, and a GPS can be the best thing to have. Don’t depend solely on a map app as it can cost you a lot of money with roaming charges from your cell phone company.

Requirements

You also want to check on the requirements for driving in a particular country. A standard driver’s license may not be enough. You may be required to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP). These are easy enough to get and most auto clubs will help you with them for a small fee.

Call to find out more about auto insurance. Our agents at FM Insurance are happy to discuss policies, coverage levels, and answer any questions you may have. We can also get quotes from some of the best insurance companies to help you compare rates.

 

 

Hit and Run in Oklahoma City: Understanding Your Policy

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Have you ever been involved in a hit-and-run accident? If so, you know firsthand how aggravating it can be to receive compensation for any damage, especially if the at-fault driver is never caught. Fortunately, though, there are several ways in which auto insurance can be used in your favor after a hit-and-run takes place. The most important thing you can do to ensure you are covered is by speaking with a qualified agent serving the Oklahoma City area. 

First of all, collision coverage will prove to be of the utmost benefit when it comes to hit-and-run accidents. Probably one of the most notable features about collision insurance is that it doesn’t matter whose fault the accident is, benefits will still be paid out to cover the damage. This means that even if you aren’t at fault, you will likely have the opportunity with collision coverage to make a claim with your own insurance company on your policy; this is regardless of whether or not the other driver is found.      

You’ll also find that having personal injury protection (PIP) to be of immense value after a hit-and-run accident takes place. Although policies vary from one insurance provider to another, many PIP benefits include giving you protection against lost wages as well as expenses accompanied with taking care of your children if you’re in an accident and become unable to care for them.        

If you have yet to take a look at your current policy to determine the type of coverage you’ll have in the event that you’re the victim of a hit-and-run accident, you’ll definitely want to speak with an agent at FM Insurance who serves the Oklahoma City area.

 

Autumn Car Care Tips

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There are various autumn car care tips that you should follow. Throughout autumn as well as winter, Oklahoma City is going to experience snow, ice, sleet, and colder temperatures. There are ways for you to prepare so that you don’t experience any car problems.

Find a Mechanic

Find a mechanic that you can trust. This can be a local one or the one that is at your dealership. This will ensure that you can go to have various things checked, including:

  • HVAC system
  • Defroster
  • Brakes
  • Tires
  • Battery

Set a Schedule

Set a schedule for when certain things need to happen. This includes having your air filter replaced, your oil replaced, and more. Depending upon the age of your car, you may need to have your spark plugs replaced as well.

Make Some Replacements

There are some replacements that you may want to consider so that you are prepared for autumn as well as winter. If it has been a while since you replaced your battery, you may want to add it to the list. Your wiper blade should also be replaced in the autumn so that it is capable of clearing the windshield as needed.

Use a Tire Pressure Gauge

It is a good idea to have a tire pressure gauge in your car at all times. Check the tire pressure to ensure that it matches what is recommended for your car – and this is found in the owner’s manual. You may need to add or subtract air from the tires in order to meet the ideal pressure as the temperature fluctuates.

Call us at FM Insurance today so we can talk to you about car insurance. Our independent insurance agents can help you to find a policy that makes sense in Oklahoma City. We work with some of the top insurance agents in Oklahoma to get you the coverage as well as the quotes to help you make the best decision.

 

Insure Your Belongings with Renters Insurance

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Serving renters in Oklahoma City, FM Insurance helps tenants ensure that their belongings are properly insured. While personal property coverage is only one of several coverage options that a renters insurance policy may contain, it is one of the most important protections. Here’s why you should have a renters insurance policy that includes robust personal property coverage.

Insuring Your Belongings

Few people can afford to replace all of their belongings, which is why there’s renters insurance. Unless you’re independently wealthy, in which case you probably would own, not rent, a place, replacing all of your belongings would place a significant strain on your finances. Many people couldn’t afford to replace everything they have.

Renters insurance protects your belongings against a host of risks. If your possessions were damaged in a covered incident, a rental insurance policy’s personal property coverage would reimburse you for the loss. Depending on the type of coverage you have, you may be reimbursed for the depreciated value of your damaged items, or you might receive their replacement cost. Precisely how much a policy pays is determined by its terms and conditions.

Finding Renters Insurance

Even robust coverage doesn’t need to cost a fortune. By comparing policies with an independent insurance agent, you can see which insurer offers the most coverage and has the lowest premiums in Oklahoma.

If you have an apartment in Oklahoma City but don’t have renters insurance, contact one of our independent insurance agents. They can be reached through our website or by calling our agency. In just a few minutes, our renters insurance agents can help you begin looking at policies that will protect your belongings.

 

Tips For Buying Flood Insurance In Fort Worth

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Buying flood insurance may be a necessity based upon where you live in Fort Worth, Texas. If you are within a Special Flood Hazard Area, you will need to obtain flood insurance within the federal standards, at a minimum.

There are some important tips to help you buy a flood insurance policy that sufficiently protects your home and is affordable.

A flood is defined as a temporary condition and you will want to ensure that the policy covers damage from all possibilities from a flood, including an overflow of water, mudflow, as well as the collapse of land as a result of the flood.

Learn about what your homeowners insurance covers in terms of a flood. Your flood insurance should fill in what your homeowners policy doesn’t cover so you have all the protection needed if you are affected by a flood at any time in Fort Worth.

Take the time to compare policies. There are many companies who are licensed to issue policies in the state of Texas and our independent agents work with many of the top companies. This makes it easier to get quotes, compare them, and see who has not only the most affordable policy, but the best overall coverage.

Find out about what your community has experienced in the past. Especially if you have just moved to the area, it can be important to learn about past floods and claims made on insurance policies. An insurance agent can help you with this so that it does not fall entirely on you to do.

The more information you have, the easier it will be to make an educated decision on the best policy for your home.

Contact one of our independent agents at FM Insurance to learn more about flood insurance. We can answer questions, search for quotes from multiple insurance companies, and much more.

 

 

Oklahoma City Home Insurance

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If you own a home and have a mortgage, you’re going to be required to have home insurance. If you’re buying a home in the immediate future, you’ll need to bring proof of home insurance with you when you close on your house. Most lenders will require coverage to permit the premises that they have an interest in to go uninsured. 

One of the basics of home insurance is to protect you from hazards like a fire, an explosion, or a storm. Take tornadoes for example. Oklahoma City sits in the middle of "tornado alley." It’s not unusual for us to see more than one tornado in a single day. Sure, your home insurance is likely to cover you in the event of damage or destruction from a tornado, but a standard home insurance policy will probably leave you paying out-of-pocket for repairs or replacement of a home and its contents. That could amount to tens of thousands of dollars. Insuring your home for its replacement value rather than its actual cash value should give you enough coverage to rebuild your home. We can arrange that for you along with special coverage for any particularly valuable personal property.

We’re independent insurance agents who live and work in and around Oklahoma City. Our families and businesses are established in our communities. We want to live here, but we recognize the risks too. Be prepared for them with sufficient home insurance. You can get an online quote, call us or just stop in. We’ll be happy to look at your existing policy. We’ll give you honest and objective answers and information. You might be surprised if you learn you’re not even covered for tornadoes. We’ll give you a wide range of options to choose from.

 

Kansas State Insurance Shocker

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Although Kansas is considered a no-fault state for purposes of auto insurance, that doesn’t mean that fault isn’t relevant after an auto accident. No-fault only means that regardless of fault, injuries you might cause to somebody else in a motor vehicle accident are first considered under personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. If, and when, the threshold for that PIP coverage is exceeded, those your injuries are considered under the general liability provisions of your policy.

Kansas has one of the best mandatory minimum liability insurance laws in the country. However, it is still minimum insurance coverage. The required minimum does not fully cover any medical bills you might receive in an accident that was your fault. It doesn’t cover repair or replacement of your vehicle either. By riding on minimum insurance, you’re placing yourself and your personal assets at risk, including your vehicle itself.

We’re independent insurance agents and we live and work in the Wichita area. We’re established and trusted business people who give you honest and unbiased information and answers.

Because we’re independent insurance agents, we’re tied in with multiple insurance companies that compete against each other in efforts to give you the best auto insurance possible at the lowest rates. Agents working for national insurance agencies (or, captive agencies) are not able to find rates from other companies, whereas we work with several different carriers.

Cheaper insurance means more elbow room for you, so you can pack in better coverage like medical payments, collision, and comprehensive coverage without premium shock. You might even be able to bump up your policy limits too.

You don’t want to be underinsured, even if an accident isn’t your fault. Get an online quote from us, call us, or just stop in if your’e close. We’ll be happy to talk with you at FM Insurance, whether you’re buying a new vehicle or just shopping for better coverage and prices.