Car Insurance

Does my Auto Insurance Cover Driving in Other Countries?

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Are you planning a trip to the Bahamas or the British Virgin Islands from Myrtle Beach, SC? If so, you may wonder if your insurance is going to cover your rental car. This is a good question and something our team at Benefit Insurance Services is here to answer.

Understanding Rental Vehicle Insurance

The answer to this question is pretty simple and straightforward – no, your insurance policy won’t cover your rental vehicle when you are in the Bahamas or the British Virgin Islands. This has confused and concerned some of our clients and customers in the past. However, there is no need to worry. There is a good way to ensure you are fully protected, even when driving a rental vehicle.

Getting Insurance Coverage for Your Rental Vehicle

When you rent a vehicle in another country, the rental company is going to offer you insurance coverage. This is something you should pay for. In most cases, the cost for this additional coverage isn’t going to be much and will provide you with the protection needed while you are using a rental vehicle.

Keep in mind, there are usually going to be different levels of insurance coverage, and the more coverage you choose, the higher the price is going to be. You are going to have to determine the right coverage amount for your rental vehicle.

Contact Us for Help

If you are confused about whether your existing insurance policy covers rental vehicles when you travel from Myrtle Beach, SC to other countries, then call us. Our team at Benefit Insurance Services is ready and able to help and answer any questions you have and ensure you get the coverage needed to protect you and your rental vehicle while on vacation.

 

How can I get a discount on my car insurance?

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Nobody likes paying car insurance, and everybody likes saving money. It’s great to find out you can save money doing something you don’t really like. South Carolina only requires minimal amounts of liability coverage:

  • $25,000 for bodily injury or death per person
  • $50,000 for bodily injury or death overall
  • $25,000 for property damage.

You also need corresponding amounts of uninsured motorist coverage, in case you are in an accident with someone who doesn’t carry their own automobile insurance. Everyone driving in Myrtle Beach, SC, even visitors, is required to be insured. So you need the insurance, and Benefit Insurance Services can help you look for discounts that apply to you.

Multi-Car Discount

Insuring all your vehicles through the same company can earn you a discount.

Homeowner or Multi-Policy Discount

Many insurance companies will give you a better deal if they can get all your business. You may be able to combine other policies, like renters insurance, too.

Defensive Driver Discount

There is a special class recognized by the Department of Motor Vehicles which can get you a discount for up to 36 months after you take it.

Antitheft 

You might be able to get a reduction on your premium if you install special equipment which makes it harder to steal your vehicle.

Bill Plan Discount

Some companies offer a discount for paying by the year, or at least 6 months at a time, instead of monthly.

For Young Drivers: Good Grades or Driver Training

You can get rewarded for hard work or for taking a driver training course.

And More

If you drive in Myrtle Beach, SC, you might as well try to save some money. Call Benefit Insurance Services and we can compare rates and help you find discounts for your auto insurance.

Tips to Keeping Your Vehicle Spotless

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There are so many things that can leave your car dirty, and with little time on your hands, it can be difficult to keep it clean. With a few special tips, you’ll be able to get your vehicle looking like you just drove it off of the dealer’s lot. Here are a few suggestions from BenefitSource Insurance Services, Inc. in Aliso Viejo, CA on how to keep your vehicle spotless.

Cola is More than a Drink

One of the first things you should keep clean is the windshield. With bits of dirt, debris, bugs, and rain, it may cloud your field of vision over time. Sometimes windshield wiper fluid isn’t enough. You should try cola. Cola can break through the stuck on bird excrement and bug splatter. Just pour some onto a cloth or sponge and wipe the glass. Rinse it with water.

Compressed Air for Your Console

Another trick you can use is compressed air to remove dirt and lint. Lint can build up in the air vents as well as in the crux of your cd player opening. You can also use it for dirt that hides in the corners of the seat or the center console.

Wipes are Handy

Keep a package of antibacterial hand wipes in the car. Some brands have containers that can fit right in the cup holder. These come in handy when you accidentally spill your coffee or open up a can of soda and the spritz sprays over your interior.

Having Insurance is Key

For minor dirt and spills, wipes and air can do the trick, but you’ll need auto insurance if you have to fix significant damages. The agents serving the Aliso Viejo, CA area for BenefitSource Insurance Services, Inc. can help you find the right amount of insurance that you need for your vehicle. We are also able to get you started with home, health, renters, and other types of insurance policies when you are ready for them.

How Fault Is Determined After a Car Accident

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It is important to have a system for determining who is at fault after an accident. It makes it possible to decide whose insurance policy will pay for the damages. It is the responsibility of insurance providers to determine fault. If you are in Myrtle Beach SC, a reputable insurance agency such as Benefit Insurance Services may offer you advice on auto insurance issues. They may help you with the process of filing an accident claim.

Determining Fault

Police Officers

The first thing to do in case of a car accident should be to call the police. They come to the scene of the accident when there is evidence of what happened. The cops come in and take their notes. They record personal statements and take the accounts of witnesses. The information they gather may be important when determining who is at fault. Officers receive specialized training that enables them to establish what happened. Even though police reports are important, they are not used as conclusive evidence that someone was at fault. The reports are used only for reference. It is possible or the police to miss certain things or get the wrong deductions.

Insurance Adjusters

Insurance adjusters work for insurance companies. One of their primary responsibilities is to determine fault during an accident. After you file a claim, the insurance company investigates the claim depending on its policies, the nature of the accident, and the amount of damage it caused. Your insurance adjuster determines whether or not you were at fault after an investigation. You do not have to be entirely at fault or entirely not at fault. You may be at fault for a certain percentage. You may help in the investigation by providing evidence including pictures from the scene and statements from witnesses.

Contact Benefit Insurance Services for your auto insurance needs in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Will Auto Insurance Pay for Medical Bills?

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If you are hurt in a car accident, your first concern is getting proper medical treatment. But closely following that, you may wonder who is going to pay the medical bills. There is no blanket answer that covers all situations. Three important factors are involved: the type of accident, the state you live in, and the type of insurance you have.

No-Fault Insurance

If you live in a no-fault state, then your own insurance will pay for your injury regardless of who is at fault. And the other party’s insurance will pay for their expenses. There are limits, of course, to how much insurance companies will pay. This limit varies from state to state. If your expenses exceed that limit, you are responsible; your health care insurance may then take over and cover the additional expenses.

There are twelve states that have no-fault insurance laws. What about South Carolina?

In South Carolina

South Carolina does not have no-fault laws. So your liability insurance will cover injuries to the other party if you are at fault. Liability insurance includes bodily injury liability coverage, which will pay for your medical expenses. Again, there are limits to this coverage, and if the limit is exceeded, then the at-fault party is responsible for paying the extra amount. Your health insurance would generally cover the additional costs associated with your medical expenses. Benefit Insurance Services, which serves Myrtle Beach, SC, can provide more information and details.

Get the Right Coverage

It is important to have adequate coverage so you’re not left with a huge medical bill. Benefit Insurance Services can help you through these murky waters and find a policy that’s best for you. Serving Myrtle Beach, SC and other coastal South Carolina cities, you can rely on their experience and expertise.

Teaching Your Teen To Drive Accidents : Are Special Provisions Made When You Have Good Intentions

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Learning The Benefit of Calling Your Benefit Insurance Services Agent – Before You Put On Your Teacher’s Hat

Parents who reside in Surfside Beach, SC area are no different from parents all over the globe. If anyone is going to teach our children how to drive a car, we may as well do the work. In this manner we are assured that they will be learning how to best navigate the road.

The fact is that a kind-hearted police officer may take pity on your plight of instructor in the event of an accident involving your properly permitted teen. However if the accident incurs some form of insurance liability, your policy may take the full brunt of the hit. Notice we say properly permitted. Your teen should be driving only when permitted and following the time of day and location guidelines strictly. 

In the unfortunate event of an accident you will be standing on better ground if you have adhered to all of the guidelines of your state laws. Letting the majority of your child’s driving education be handled primarily by driving schools or driver education programs is a good idea. These programs have adequate insurance for student drivers. The cars are clearly marked in most instances and other drivers are more aware of their presence. 

We not only handle auto insurance at Benefit Insurance Services. We can underwrite your policy or just answer your insurance questions about auto policies as well as many other types of insurance that we handle here. Serving the Surfside Beach, SC area as well as the surrounding areas we can talk with you about different ways you can teach your children how to drive without putting yourself at risk. 

How to Avoid Road Rage

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For some people, when they get behind the wheel of their vehicle, they become a different person. Sometimes you can seem unrecognizable to your friends and even your loved ones. When you experience road rage and have an accident, your insurance rates could be affected.

In Surfside Beach, SC, road rage is described as offensive and aggressive behavior towards other drivers. This can become extremely dangerous. If it is not controlled, it could lead to emotional or physical trauma, legal entanglements, and sometimes death.

The Warning Signs of Road Rage

Certain situations may be an underlying cause or precursor to road rage. Before you even enter your vehicle, be aware of your emotions. If you had a bad day at work, a fight with a friend, or are running late for an appointment, then you should examine your level of stress before driving. These incidences can quickly turn your inward feelings of anger to outward aggressive driving.

Types of Road Rage Behaviors

Anger can contribute to driving aggressively. When you start to notice that you are engaging in the following behaviors, you should try to avoid them.

  • Tailgating – when a driver begins to drive too closely behind another vehicle.
  • Offensive language – cursing or gesturing at drivers that upset you.
  • Brake checking – a driver taps on their brakes to discourage tailgating.
  • Unrelenting honking – laying on the horn or constantly honking at a single driver.

Prevent Road Rage

Start by acknowledging that you are upset. Take a deep breath before you get behind the wheel. If another driver does something that frustrates you, do not react. You don’t want a situation to escalate into dangerous territory.

Talk with your independent insurance agents at Benefit Insurance Services to find out how road rage influences your rates. Benefit Insurance Services in Surfside Beach, SC is an independent insurance agency with expert agents that can help you with your auto insurance needs. They can also research home, life, and business insurance policies.

Can sand hurt your car after a beach trip?

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There’s no point in living in Surfside Beach, SC if you never hit the beach, right? If you’re lucky enough to live by the ocean, there’s not much reason not to spend as much time there as possible. But, all that sun and sand can do as much harm as good. Spend too much time on the beach without sunscreen, and you’re looking at skin cancer, and if you’re not careful, all that sand can do some serious harm to your car.

One of the ways sand can harm your car is by working its way into the brake pads. This can cause premature wearing on the bearings when it works its way into the calipers. It can do some major damage to your belts by getting into the pulley system, and even clog filters, restricting air flow in your car. In many cars, it can affect the sensors and give drivers false readings.

The most obvious damages are usually cosmetic, scratching away at the clear coat, wearing away at your paint job and leading to rust. On the upside, it’s rare for sand to get right into the engine block itself, so you’re probably not going to wind up asking Benefit Insurance Services for a whole new car over sand.

If you expose your car to sand frequently, you can use an air pump to blast the sand out of there and keep your car relatively grit-free. Washing your car regularly can also keep sand from building on it and creating damage. You can also park a little farther from the coast on your next Surfside Beach, SC trip. Proper maintenance will help prevent most sand damages, and Benefit Insurance Services can help you when things get really bad.

What Beach Town Drivers Need To Know in SC

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If you live in Surfside Beach, and if you drive, then there are a few things that you need to know to stay safe and care for your vehicle while you’re out and about.

First, you need to be ready for tourist season. The snowbirds always come out in the Wintertime, folks from up North who are looking to escape the extreme cold down in cozy old Carolina. We’ve got good news and bad news for SC residents come December. The good news is that those extra dollars tourists bring with them are a big part of the economy of snowbird hotspots like Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, and if you want to try driving for Uber or Lyft for a few months, you can make a pretty penny. The bad news is that traffic does tend to spike around this time of year, and many Carolinians choose to do a lot less driving for this reason.

The weather is another major concern. Beach Town weather is amazing for people, but not so great for cars. The salty sea air combined with the sun can wreak havoc on your car’s finish. The best way to protect against the elements is to keep your car nice and clean, wax it regularly, repaint it when you need to, and store it in a garage if you can.

With proper care and a great insurance policy, there’s no reason you can’t stay safe in a car that looks as fresh as the day you bought it. Contact us for free quotes on some great policies, and treat your car with a little TLC and you should be fine.

Auto Insurance Benefits for Seniors

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If you’re a senior driver in Surfside Beach, SC there are a variety of perks for reaching the golden years when it comes to auto insurance.  In fact, individuals generally aged sixty five or older are considered seniors and their many years of life experience is rewarded with auto discounts.  

The General Senior Discount

First of all, when you reach the age of a senior, insurance companies give you a discount.  Just like that.  The fact is, you’re on the road less so they can pass on this savings to you.  Basically what you’re getting is a low-mileage discount and this makes you a very valuable low-risk customer.  

The Excellent Senior Driver Discount

If you want to take it a step further, opt for an insurance premium based on your driving performance.  Diagnostic devices can be put in your car to measure your driving capabilities.  The better a driver you are, the better your premium.  And it makes driving a whole lot more interesting, especially if your start competing with friends to see who the best driver is.  

Take a Driver’s Course Discount

When seniors brush up on their driving skills by taking an authorized course in defensive driving, they may get a discount on their auto insurance.  These courses are often offered by AARP or the local DMV and have shown to have positive results in getting drivers to adopt better driving skills.

At Benefit Insurance Services we love to help seniors find the right auto insurance.  We are a family owned and operated independent insurance agency who will help you find senior auto insurance in Surfside Beach, SC. Visit our auto insurance page find out more.