How to Get Auto Insurance After a DUI

Being convicted of a drinking and driving charge can have a huge impact on your life. You will have a criminal record, you may lose your ability to drive for some time, you will likely have to pay huge fines, you may have to spend time in jail or doing community service, and once you are able to drive again, you may find that your auto insurance company will not reinsure you. Here is some information you need to know about getting insurance after you have been convicted of a DUI.

Find a Company That Offers SR-22 Auto Insurance

If you have been convicted of a DUI, your driver’s license will likely be suspended. Once the suspension is up, you will have to obtain SR-22 auto insurance in order to reinstate your license and drive again. However, not every insurance agency offers this type of insurance. If you need to obtain it, you will need to call various insurance agencies to figure out which ones in Coppell, TX offer SR-22 auto insurance.

Expect to Pay More

SR-22 auto insurance will cost you significantly more than standard auto insurance. This is because you are now considered a huge liability to an insurance company due to your inability to follow laws behind the wheel. Once you find a company that offers this type of insurance, expect to pay more for anywhere from five to ten years from the date of your conviction. Many companies will slowly lower your rates, but the DUI will show up on your driving record for 10 years, so your insurance may be higher for this length of time.

If you have gotten a DUI, you can expect to pay much more for your auto insurance policy. However, this does not mean that you still can’t shop around for the best possible price. If you are looking for a quote, Contact The Select Insurance Agency, serving the greater Coppell, TX area. We can help determine what your auto insurance needs are and then put together a policy for you at a competitive rate. Contact us now to get started.

Items to Consider Recycling in Coppell, TX

Recycling is such an important part of our society today but some people may not realize everything they can recycle from their home. To help you with your recycling, we have complied a list of things you can recycle fairly easily in your home.

Recycle Glass

Recycling glass is one of the easiest things to do but many people do not consider it. All you have to do is rinse out the glass container and take it to your recycling center. It doesn’t take much time or effort at all and it can really help the environment.

Recycle Paper

Recycling paper is probably one of the most common things to recycle but it has not reached its full potential. For many people, this means that they recycle newspapers and various other paper products. However, so many other things can be recycled such as junk mail, bills after you have shredded them, paper cups, paper plates, and much more.

Recycle Plastic

Plastic is another item that people recycle already if they recycle at all but there are so many things you can recycle in this category that it is not fully tapped either. While most people recycle plastic bottles, plastic can be found everywhere from candy wrappers to grocery bags. Make sure you are recycling everything possible that you have in your home.

Recycle Batteries

This is a category that most people are not informed about. After your batteries die, you can recycle them and you may even find a place that will pay you for them. Not only can you recycle your typical AA or AAA batteries, but you can also recycle laptop batteries, cell phone batteries, and pretty much any other battery you can think of.

If you are interested in exploring your options with home insurance, be sure to contact The Select Insurance Agency, serving Coppell, TX, today for free quotes.

Quick Tips to Keep Your Vehicle Clean

It’s hard to keep your car clean. Most people practically live in their vehicles. It’s like an office on wheels. With all of the things that happen in your car every day it’s no wonder that it’s hard to keep it clean and organized. The Select Insurance Agency in Coppell, TX has a few tips to declutter your driving space.

Paper or Plastic?

When you’re at the grocery store, every once in a while get plastic bags. Hang one from the glove compartment as a trash bag. Put several inside the glove compartment as backup. When your garbage becomes full, you can easily replace it with a new bag always keeping your floor and seats free from papers and other trash.

Keep Wipes Handy

If you’re a mom, you probably have baby wipes in your purse or car already. Use them to clean the hard surfaces of your vehicle. Dust, crumbs, and spill stains begin to pile up. If you wipe it immediately, it’ll keep your vehicle tidier. If you don’t have kids, a small container of antibacterial wet wipes will fit in most cup holders.

Pay Attention to Cup Holders

Cup holders attract dust, dirt, and become sticky quickly. As hard as you try, coffee, soda, and juice seep into the deep pockets and it becomes more and more difficult to get rid of with a tissue or wet rag. Use a cotton swab to remove any tiny debris. Wet the tip with soap and water to clean any small sticky messes.

Cars Need Therapy Too

Take good care of your car and it will take care of you. Make sure that you pick a day every month and do a thorough cleaning of the interior and exterior. Having a regular cleaning schedule will help keep your vehicle clean.

Drop by The Select Insurance Agency in Coppell, TX when you are ready to purchase auto insurance. They can also assist you with various other types of insurance, including home, boat, business, and life insurance.

What should your home insurance policy cover?

Homeowners in Coppell, TX know how important it is to have home insurance that covers everything that could potentially go wrong with a house.  Fortunately, the agents at The Select Insurance Agency know how crucial it is to find a good home owner’s policy for each of their clients.  If you’re currently in the market for a new policy, consider whether the policies you’re comparing cover these things.

  1. Natural disasters.  As it becomes harder to predict the frequency of storms and other events, some insurance companies are dropping coverage for events such as hurricanes and sinkholes.  If you opt for a policy that excludes coverage for these events, make sure you have ample savings to fall back on.
  2. Small items.  While items such as jewelry and cell phones are technically covered by most home policies, most people don’t make claims for them because of their high deductibles.  Ask your agent about adding a rider for these items.  You’ll pay a much lower deductible if you have to make a claim, and you’ll get better coverage than most store-bought warranties for these items.
  3. Detached buildings and structures.  If your property has a shed, pool house, or a dock, then it is possible that they aren’t covered by your home insurance policy. In many cases, these buildings are specifically excluded, particularly if they were added without a permit.  If they are covered, make sure that the coverage limits give you enough funds to completely replace them in the event of a disaster.  Many policies offer relatively low coverage limits for these items.

If you’re thinking about investing in a new home policy, call the agents at The Select Insurance Agency.  They have years of experience helping Coppell, TX residents find policies that are right for them and their families.

Comprehensive coverage protects you from loss due to storm damage and falling trees

There are a lot of perils out there to consider when buying automobile insurance in Texas. Of course there are traffic accidents, and that is usually the major concern, but there are also storms that can do damage to your automobile. Other things, like boats, RV’s and other motorized vehicles can also be damaged by storms.

In Texas, storm damage to your vehicle is usually covered under your automotive comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive is "everything else" type coverage and comes in when your car is damaged by something other than driving it. If you only have liability coverage you may not be covered. This would also be true for something like a boat that might get damaged by a falling tree while parked in your yard.

It does not matter whether the tree came from your yard or a neighbors yard, though you might be able to make a clam in their property if it came from their yard.

In coastal areas of Texas there is also a deductible for hurricane damages. In this case it must be an actual hurricane, as oppose to a watch or warning in place. Hail and high wind also carry special deductibles.

Call or visit the Select Insurance Agency in Coppell, Texas, to get auto insurance that will keep you covered when storms wreak havoc on your neighborhood. Each customer has a slightly different situation, so we can adjust it to fit your needs. Existing customers may also stop by to get their policy updated to make sure you have proper coverage. Boats or RV type vehicles should also have comprehensive coverage to make sure you will be covered if there is damage to that property as the result of a storm.

Fall Preparation Tips New Texas Home Owners Miss

If you’re new to Texas, you might not realize that winter can sometimes be a little harsh here. We at the Select Insurance Agency know it’s important to master the following items on your fall preparation checklist. They can help you keep your home safe from any problems that winter may bring.

Clean Out Your Gutters

During the fall, your gutters are likely to get clogged up regularly with dead leaves and other pieces of debris. During the fall, you’re going to see an increase in rain and snow, so your gutters need to be cleaned regularly in order to prevent roofing damage.

Check Your Attic

Early in the fall, check your attic to see how well it is insulated. If you see little to no insulation, try to add at least 10 inches on your attic walls. This will help reduce your heating bills and keep your family warm during the cold of a Texas winter.

Replace Your Air Filter

Every fall, you need to check and replace your furnace’s air filter. A clogged and dusty air filter will decrease the efficiency of your furnace and even spread dangerous allergens through your home. Don’t just remove it and knock off the dust: install a new one.

Preventing Mold Growth

All the water and moisture caused by fall can lead to mold growth in your home. Cold air drafts need to be sealed up as soon as you find them, as they can promote mold growth and put your family in danger of living with black mold.

Keeping Your Pipes Safe

Though winter rarely gets cold enough to cause burst pipes in Texas, it may still happen. Make sure to wrap your pipes with insulation (even something as simple as an old piece of carpet) to keep them warm and to avoid burst pipes.

Let Us Help You Prepare

At the Select Insurance Agency, we can help you understand how to get your home ready for fall and winter and how to avoid problems that may cost you a bundle in home insurance deductibles.

How To Determine If You Need Commercial Insurance

As a business owner, you face many different decisions on a daily basis. One of those decisions that you need to make sooner rather than later has to do with commercial insurance. Many business owners wonder if they really need to get commercial insurance and to provide a short answer: yes, you do actually need it no matter the size of your company. Before you write it off as something that you can skip for now, continue reading to see how commercial insurance can benefit you, your employees, and your company as a whole.

  • General liability coverage is a backup plan. Even if you do not think you are going to need it, it is always good to have general liability coverage as part of your commercial insurance policy. This type of coverage can provide extra protection from things like lawsuits, employee injuries, and more. It is a good thing to have because no matter your business size, something could happen at any time.
  • It can save your business from financial ruin. As long as you do not have anything negative going on, you should be fine. However, if you are sued at any point for any reason, not having this protection could financially take the company down.
  • It can be customized to your specific business. All businesses are different, even if they look the same. Because of this, you can get your commercial insurance policy to meet the needs of your business and not the other way around.

If you are interested in exploring your options for commercial insurance as well as getting a quote for coverage, be sure to contact The Select Insurance Agency serving Coppell, TX. There are many options available within the umbrella of commercial insurance and you want to make sure you are completely covered.

8 Smart RV Essentials for Happy Trails

Ready to take your RV out for an adventure? Make sure you are prepared for the unexpected by bringing with you these essential tools and supplies.

Tools and Repairs

  • Water Pressure Regulator: Not every RV campsite has normalized water pressure, sometimes the pressure is very high. Unchecked, this can damage your RV’s water system and create leaks or water hose explosions that may result in significant water damage and leave you with an exorbitant water bill.
  • Extra hoses and electric cord: Some campsites are not ideally situated for faucet and power access. Bring along two 25’ 30-amp electric cords, three 25’ drinking water hoses and you should be ready for any set-up.
  • Repair Kit: Depending on your level of fix-it knowledge, you’ll want to keep on hand the tools and materials essential to repairing small issues that arise in your RV. This can include WD-40, JB Weld, duct tape, safety wire, roof repair tape and roof sealer, volt-ohm meter, spare fuses, soldering gun, electrical connectors, and similar supplies.

Electronics

  • 12-Volt Battery Charger: Things happen. If you kill your chassis battery, this will be a lifesaver. You can also acquire jump starter chargers that include USB charging ports for keeping your electronics alive.
  • Battery-Free Flashlight: Whether you shake it, crank it, or squeeze it to get it going, have at least one portable light source that doesn’t require batteries to operate.

Information

  • GPS: Don’t rely on your phone’s included navigator, it will be sketchy once you get outside of data coverage range (which RV’ers frequently do).
  • Weather Radio: Always tuned to the right station, with regular weather alerts to keep you safe. RVs are not well equipped for handling nasty weather, so it’s best to avoid it entirely when possible.
  • RV Insurance Paperwork:  Make sure you have the coverage you need to protect the investment you’ve made in your RV. Keep insurance paperwork accessible so you can contact your agent quickly in an emergency. Before you leave, contact The Select Insurance Agency to discuss your coverage details to make sure you have the best possible insurance to meet your needs.