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Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702

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Insurance Blog

Required Auto Insurance in Pennsylvania

Posted on by agentinsure

As in other states, Pennsylvania sets its own laws about which types of insurance drivers should have. There are three that are required by the state and several other types that aren’t required but are good to have. If you have questions about your auto insurance or you need a policy, call us at The Shay Agency in Wilkes-Barre, PA to talk with an agent. 

Bodily Injury Liability

One of the required types of auto insurance is a specific amount of bodily injury liability coverage. This pays the medical bills for other parties who are injured in an accident with you. This coverage does not include your own medical bills. 

Personal Injury Protection

This required coverage covers you in case of injuries from an accident. It doesn’t cover other people’s medical bills- only your own. 

Property Damage Liability 

This is also required under Pennsylvania law. This type of coverage covers the property damage that you cause when you are at fault for an accident. It includes both vehicle damage and damage to other property. 

Suggested Auto Coverage

If you have those three types of coverage, you’re legal to be on the road. However, these insurance policies don’t cover everything. They don’t offer any protection for your vehicle, and they provide little in the way of liability. Many people expand their auto coverage so that they are better protected in case of accidents. 

Collision coverage is a good type of policy to have, though it isn’t required. It pays for damage to your vehicle when there is a collision. This can include both repair and replacement coverage. Comprehensive coverage is another suggested policy. This insurance covers your vehicle when it gets damaged or destroyed by a wide range of incidents and accidents. 

Get Your Auto Policy

If you need coverage for your car, or you want to add more coverage to it, give us a call at The Shay Agency in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

How Much Home Insurance Do You Need?

Posted on by agentinsure

As a homeowner, it’s important that you purchase the correct amount of home insurance to replace your house and belongings after an unexpected event like a natural disaster. The Shay Agency, which serves Wilkes-Barre, PA and surrounding areas, is happy to consult with you and discuss precisely how much home insurance you’ll need for your individual situation. You’ll need to have enough home insurance to cover the following: 

Your Home
You’ll need to have enough insurance to cover repairs to your home or potentially rebuilding it entirely. You’ll first need to have a full assessment of your property performed so that you have documentation of how much your home is worth and how much it would cost to replace its various elements. If your home is damaged in a natural disaster, a fire, or another adverse event, your insurance policy can help you replace what you’ve lost. 

Special Features
As you note details about your house and property with an insurance adjuster, be sure to call out any special features that will cost additional money to replace. Do you have an attractive stained glass window, custom hardwood flooring, or specialty woodwork in your home? These will all make your property more valuable and should be noted on your insurance policy. 

Your Possessions 
You’ll also need enough home insurance to cover the majority of your possessions. Spend some time taking an inventory of the items in your home that will be expensive to replace. Consider taking photos of your items, or taking a video tour of your home and noting all of your belongings, as well as the date and time. 

As you determine how much home insurance you need to carry on your house and property, speak with a skilled insurance professional with The Shay Agency. They’ll be happy to help you determine the exact amount you need to protect yourself against damage to your Wilkes-Barre, PA home. 

Why should I invest in a commercial insurance policy?

Posted on by agentinsure

In the Wilkes-Barre, PA area, many small business owners will find that the great local economy can make it a good place to own and run a business. If you are going to start a business here, you need to make sure that you get the proper insurance protection. For business owners, this means getting a full commercial insurance policy. There are several reasons that you should invest in this type of business insurance. 

Insurance Protects Assets Owned by Business

One reason that you should get commercial insurance is that it can protect all of the assets of your business. When you get insurance for your business, it will include a provision to protect covered assets against a variety of situations that could result in a loss. This could include coverage against theft, vandalism or other types of damage. 

Gives Liability Protection

You should also get a commercial insurance policy because it will give you valuable liability protection. Anyone that owns a business needs to find a way to protect against their liability risk. The best way that you can do this is by getting a commercial insurance policy. This coverage will include a provision for liability insurance that will protect you in these situations. 

There are clearly many reasons that businesses in the Wilkes-Barre, PA area should get commercial insurance. Since there are so many different options to choose from, you should make sure that you speak with someone that you can trust. The team at The Shay Agency can give you the guidance you need to pick a new policy. The Shay Agency will help you to better determine all of your commercial insurance options to ensure you are able to pick a policy that is right for you and your business. 

Who needs to get a full motorcycle insurance policy?

Posted on by agentinsure

Anyone that is in the Wilkes-Barre, PA area will need to have a mode of transportation. One great option to consider would be to get a motorcycle. If you do decide to get a motorcycle, you should spend time thinking about all of your insurance needs. There are several situations when someone will need to get a full insurance policy for their motorcycle. 

One reason that you should get motorcycle insurance is that it can ensure you stay in compliance with a loan. Taking out a loan to buy a motorcycle is quite common. If you do have a loan against it, you will need to understand and follow the insurance rules. Most of the time, you will need to have a collision and comprehensive policy that offers full coverage with a reasonable deductible level.

Another situation when someone will want to get a full motorcycle policy is when they intend to drive it on a public road. Anyone that wants to use a public road will need to comply with the state law regarding liability insurance. If you do not have the necessary liability coverage, you could face penalization and even lose your license. 

Getting a motorcycle in the Wilkes-Barre, PA area can be a great option for those that want to have an efficient mode of transportation. When you are searching for your next policy, you should call The Shay Agency to discuss your options. There are a lot of important factors that need to be considered as you are shopping for a new policy. When you call The Shay Agency, you can get the help you need to better understand your options and manage the complexities. 

Why you Need Flood Insurance in Wilkes-Barre, PA

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Pennsylvania is home to some of the most gorgeous mountain ranges. It is perhaps why flood insurance is mostly overlooked in the state. Unfortunately for most residents of the beautiful landscape, there is a high likelihood of experiencing massive flooding from the Susquehanna River among other large rivers across the state. In fact, during tropical storm Lee, the Susquehanna River water levels had risen to above 42 feet! Luckily, the newly built Wyoming Valley levee saved thousands of homes from complete destruction during the floods. However, there was substantial damage to many houses from the raging waters.

Importance of Insuring against Floods in Wilkes-Barre, PA

Much of the Wilkes-Barre, PA area is considered in a high flood risk region. The area experienced considerable flooding back in 2011. Since then, there haven’t been any government-sponsored improvements made on the embankment. The area is, therefore, one of the most susceptible to significant flooding events in the state.

There are currently no rules requiring residents of Pennsylvania to obtain flood insurance to cover their houses. Moreover, homeowner’s insurance does not offer cover for flood damages on homes. It is easy to be ignorant of the likelihood of storms but the unthinkable can happen, and you don’t want to find yourself in a fix when your house is ruined.

At The Shay Agency, we offer residents of Wilkes-Barre PA with flood insurance to protect their valuable assets and provide the funding required for the restoration of their property. We take flood insurance as seriously as we do fire insurance; since they are equally disastrous. We work hard to build our homes, and to have peace of mind, we have to protect them.

The Shay Agency is your best bet to protect your home from a disastrous nightmare. Contact us today via phone, or give us a visit at our offices in Wilkes-Barre, PA and get the right plan for you home.

Life Insurance Is Useful At All Stages of Life

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Life insurance is one of those things you do not think much about. It is not a legal requirement, you hope your family never needs to use it, and it rarely affects you directly. It is one of those things that is often a mental requirement to be considered a responsible adult and parent, but aside from that its simply there in the background forgotten in a file. There are many reasons to purchase life insurance even if you have not reached the stage in your life where you have a lot of dependants or health risks. The Shay Agency provided quality life insurance policies for people in all stages in life. We serve the community of Wilkes-Barre, PA and the surrounding area with reliable service. 

Reasons Life Insurance Is Important Through All Life’s Stages:

  • Early Adulthood: Young adults often do not think too much about life insurance for decent reasons. However, if you buy an insurance policy in your early twenties and keep it up you will often find your premiums lower for higher coverage as you reach the next stage of your life. 
  • The early Thirties: At this stage, humans often have dependents, mortgages, and even companies that rely on their vitality. Life insurance brings peace of mind in an uncertain world, and if you purchased while you were young it is likely an easy transition to add dependants and increase coverage as needed. 
  • Middle-Ages: People often purchase their first policy in their late forties. It is certainly not too late, but again the earlier the better as a general rule. 
  • Senior Citizen: Many senior citizens have had life insurance for several years and simply keep up their coverage so they know that their passing will not put a financial burden on their children or spouses. 
  • Golden Years: It may be more difficult to get a policy that has comparable coverage to a policy that was purchased decades ago if insurance is allowed to lapse but funeral policies are common to cover funeral expenses. 
  • Other: Many grandparents choose to purchase life insurance policies for their young grandchildren, in some cases, these policies can have greater coverage than death benefits. 

Contact us at The Shay Agency for more information about a life insurance policy that can grow with you throughout all the stages of your life. We proudly serve the community of Wilkes-Barre, PA and the surrounding areas. 

Unique Auto Insurance Facts Pennsylvania Drivers May Not Be Aware Of

Posted on by agentinsure

The Shay Agency is an independent insurance agency that strives to help people find the insurance that they need. We are located in Wilkes-Barre, PA. We offer multiple insurance policies to our clients so that they are covered regardless of the situation.

Auto Insurance

It’s important that every driver have auto insurance. Auto insurance not only protects your vehicle if you are involved in an accident, but it also covers you in the event that you sustain any injuries in the accident. The Shay Agency will help you analyze different types of coverage so that you can make the best decision for your situation. While you are doing research, here are some unique auto insurance facts that you may not be aware of.

Your Credit Score Is Important

In some cases, your credit score may impact your auto insurance policy. So while it may not be weighted as heavily as your driving record for example, having good credit can make a difference.

Pay Attention To The ISO Ratings

The ISO ratings are determined by looking at a vehicle’s model, make, and safety ratings. Primarily, the ISO ratings determine how risky it is to insure your vehicle.

Accessories May Require Special Coverage

If your vehicle has a number of special accessories, you may have to look into an additional policy to ensure that all of the accessories are covered in the event that they are damaged or stolen.

The Differentiation Between Personal Usage and Business Usage

If you are using your vehicle primarily for business purposes, you may need to look into a separate policy compared to if you were using your vehicle primarily for personal usage. Make sure that you inquire about the differences before choosing a policy.

Consult With The Shay Agency

Providing good customer service is very important to us. To learn more information about different auto insurance policies, stop by our office in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

What is included with a Pennsylvania home insurance policy?

Posted on by agentinsure

When you live in the Wilkes-Barre, PA area, there are a lot of opportunities to enjoy appreciation if you own your own property. Due to this, owning a home in this area can be a great long-term financial decision as it also gives you a stable place to live. If you are going to purchase a home in this town, it is important that you properly insure it with a home insurance policy. There are several forms of coverage that are included with your home insurance. 

Property Protection

One type of coverage that is included with your home insurance policy is property protection. When you own your own home, you are going to have a major asset that will require a lot of personal investments. Further, under the roof of your home will be all of your personal assets. When you get an insurance policy for your property, you will receive coverage for all of these assets.

Liability Protection

Another advantage of getting a home insurance policy here is that it can provide you with liability protection. Anyone that owns a property in this state is going to take on risk. If you have guests over, you could be held liable for damages if they are injured. When you get a home insurance policy, you are going to receive some personal liability coverage.

Whenever you are ready to start looking for a home insurance policy in the Wilkes-Barre, PA area, you should contact The Shay Agency. At The Shay Agency, you can be treated very well by a team of insurance professionals that will keep your best interests in mind. This team of professionals can assess your situation to figure out what form of coverage is right for you and properly covers you and your property. 

Understanding the Basics of Two Types of Life Insurance

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No one likes to think about the end of life care, but it is a subject that needs to be talked about by families. The cost of a funeral keeps going up each year. Not to mention there is a financial burden of the loss of income after someone passes away. These issues are why some people have chosen to buy life insurance in Wilkes-Barre, PA. This is one way that you can protect your family from having a major financial burden if something was to happen to you. Here are some things about life insurance that you will want to know.

Understanding Term-Life Insurance

Term-life insurance is the most basic and easy to understand life insurance policy. It is also the least expensive to buy. As a customer, you have a choice to make as to how much the life insurance policy should be. This kind of policy will be in force for a set period of time. If you pass away in that time frame, then the policy will payout. If the policy expires, you will have to renew the term in order to have the coverage.

Understanding Whole-Life Insurance

This type of insurance policy does not expire unless you cancel the policy. It also builds a cash value the longer you own it. What makes this policy unique is that you can borrow against the accrued value of the policy. You then pay back the money plus interest. This is a great policy in that it can be used when life throws a financial curveball your way. The premium for this policy is higher than that of a term-life policy, but it does not expire. 

There are a lot of questions that you may have about life insurance. Please call us today at The Shay Agency. We can answer those questions and help get you the policy that you need to cover your family with.

How Does Auto Insurance Work When a Car Is Stolen?

Posted on by agentinsure

Plenty of people appreciate life in Wilkes-Barre, PA, but it is not immune to the problems that afflict every town and city in the world. Sometimes, bad things happen. Sometimes, that bad thing is car theft. If your car is stolen, it will feel like the world fell out from under your feet, but there is help available. Knowing more about the process can be great for peace of mind, so The Shay Agency wants to walk you through a stolen vehicle claim.

Is It Covered?

The process starts by knowing the answer to this question. If you have liability-only coverage, you aren’t protected from theft. Only policies that specify theft coverage will offer financial assistance in this case. The good news is that most comprehensive plans do cover theft, and your insurance agent took the time to explain this to you. So, assuming you’re covered, you go to the next step.

Making a Claim

The very first thing you should do is contact the police. A police investigation is pivotal to everything else. When the police are on their way, you can go ahead and call the insurance company. They’re going to walk you through important steps to help you with your claim process.

What happens next is different in every scenario, but there are basically two possibilities. Either the vehicle will be recovered, or it won’t. If the vehicle is recovered and undamaged, then you may be eligible for rental reimbursement or another small claim (it all depends on the specific policy), but things are usually pretty simple. 

If the vehicle isn’t recovered, or if it is significantly damaged, you might be looking at a total loss claim. It’s a bit of a process, but the general idea is that the insurance company will write you a check to help you get a replacement vehicle. Every policy has a deductible, so don’t forget that. Also, the size of your payout depends on the value of the vehicle you lost and the details of your policy. It’s best not to have any expectations, good or bad, unless you remember the details of your coverage.

At any point before, during or after the process, you can speak with The Shay Agency. An agent will make sure you understand the important details of your policy so you know what to expect, and you won’t be stuck as a pedestrian in Wilkes-Barre, PA.