We recommend at least $500,000 in auto liability to all of our customers. Is it any wonder why? Anyone around here could cause an accident just like this on Pellissippi or I-40. Start doing the math on property damage alone -- don't even factor in the possible medical costs which could be exponentially higher.

TN state minimum limits provide only $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident for medical expenses and $15,000 per accident for property damage liability.

What do think the numbers were for this accident?

Here's a great video from the Oak Ridge Fire Department which shows how quickly a fire grows. Getting out immediately and calling 911 is the only sane course of action.

What's the most dangerous thing you do every day? The answer is probably "start your car." The risks of simply operating (or parking -- see this story) a vehicle are enormous. You, your car, and your financial future are all at stake so you need as much auto liability and uninsured medical protection as you can reasonably afford. Imagine if the gas leak mentioned in the story below had turned into a fire or explosion. The owner of the truck might have been liable for millions in damage and loss of life. And did you know you can also be liable for damage to public property, like signs, barriers, bridges, etc.?

"Emergency workers started evacuating about 100 people at an apartment complex and day care center after a pickup truck ruptured a two-inch natural gas line in central Oak Ridge on Friday morning.
"The apparently unoccupied pickup truck, which might have popped out of gear, rolled down a small hill at Broadway Apartments on East Madison Road and into a gas meter, which was attached to the gas line, Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley said."  -- Oak Ridge Today

Imagine the sheer risk possibilities of driving through Knoxville, TN on I-40: You spill your coffee and swerve from the center lane into a Lexus which is totaled ($55,000) and forces a contractor's pickup full of tools and material to run off the road and overturn ($45,000). Swerving to avoid the pickup is an 18-wheeler with a load of electronic equipment. It too overturns ($475,000). Only the driver of the Lexus is hurt and the injuries seem minor, but after a visit to a well-advertised law firm the medical bills start stacking up ($720,000). All of this is "your fault." Cost of that cup of coffee: $1,295,000. Cost to you if you have "good" $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 auto liability: $1,095,000. Cost to you if you have $500,000 auto liability plus a $1,000,000 umbrella policy: $0. Cost difference per year: maybe $300-$400. 

UL -- they worry professionally...

Valentine’s Day is the most popular day of the year for engagements. It’s the day you have been waiting for since you were a little girl. He finally pops the question and you say yes, of course, and now you’re planning the big event!

We’re sure you want to make your wedding day the most memorable day of your life. Decisions will have to be made regarding the banquet hall, the food, the dress, the right flowers, the most delicious wedding cake, the music and, of course, the very best photographer available to capture all the special moments of the big day. Yet, even though you think that you have covered every contingency, sometimes things can go wrong no matter how carefully you plan. Haven’t we all heard horror stories of bridal shops going out of business and and entire wedding parties unable to get their dresses? Or what about a reception venue that suddenly declares bankruptcy a month before the big day taking with it your non-refundable deposit? Suppose the culprit is a black-out, a hurricane, a severe snowstorm or some other weather emergency which results in a postponement of the nuptials? Are you aware that you can protect your investment with a Tennessee wedding insurance policy  from Windrock Insurance and Travelers for as little as $160? Wouldn't you say that is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that should anything happen, you can salvage the day? The Wedding Protection Plan covers such circumstances as damaged or lost wedding bands, ruined photos, and even wedding gifts that are damaged. It can also reimburse you for non-recoverable expenses if you need to postpone your wedding because of situations such as:

• a sudden illness on the part of the bride, the groom or even their parents thereby preventing them from attending the wedding; 
• a commercial transportation shutdown resulting in a situation where the bride, groom or their parents can’t get to the wedding;
• a bride and/or groom who are in the military and are unexpectedly called to active duty necessitating postponement of the event.

While a wedding is usually expensive, insurance to protect your wedding plans is reasonable and certainly can fit into any budget! If you want to learn more about this popular and affordable insurance, don’t delay. Just contact our independent insurance agency and we’ll be happy to help and you don’t even have to invite us to the wedding! Happy wedding planning and here’s wishing you a lifetime of happiness.

Everyone loves saving money. Here are 10 ways to reduce your auto insurance costs in Tennessee:

10 -  Encourage your teens to take drivers ed classes. Senior citizens can also benefit from defensive driving courses.

9 - Take advantage of discounts. For instance, some companies offer low-mileage discounts for cars driven less than 8000 miles a year.

8 - Find the right company. Some companies are friendlier to different classes of drivers than others are. If you have drivers under 21 or over 70, for instance, or if you have an at-fault accident on your record you need to shop around.

7 - Choose an independent agent who can choose from many companies and match you with the best – for you. No one company will always be the best option. Don't get stuck with a “captive” agent who only writes for one huge company.

6 - Pay your bills on time. Credit factors in to most auto insurance rating formulas.

5 - Bundle – most of  the time. Sometimes you'll actually come out better having your home or renters insurance with a different company than your auto, especially in rural areas.

4 - Raise your liability limits. It may seem odd, but over the long term drivers who keep higher-than-minimum limits will end up with better rates.

3 - Raise those deductibles to find the perfect balance between coverage and price.

2 - Avoid parking lot accidents. Private property accidents are almost always considered your fault and can really hurt your rates, even if the damage and claim is minor.

1 - Drive a little slower! Simply avoiding speeding tickets keeps those dreaded points off of your record.

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BONUS - Call or message us today to know that you are getting the best rates! Start your quote here.

Did you know that the only way to take full advantage of personal property replacement cost coverage on homeowners or renters policies in Tennessee is to be able to prove what was lost? Insurance companies will not always "take your word for it" on property losses -- you must me able to justify your claim. 

There is, of course, an app for that. Actually there are several, plus online tools. Here are two great resources to help you inventory your personal possessions and store that information securely. 

MyHomeScr.APP.book comes highly recommended and is available for the Apple devices and Android.

The non-profit Insurance Information Institute offers their Know Your Stuff app and an online/software platform for those without smartphones. 

Do seriously consider using these tools or at least photographing each room and all your most significant possessions. If none of these tools work for you, please contact us for more options. We can even help you store your data.

And make sure that your policy has replacement cost coverage for personal possessions!

If you are a renter (or know one), remember that we have three companies that will write renters insurance, which provides property coverage, medical payments, and personal liability. It's usually quite affordable so don't do without.

At Windrock Insurance we’re often asked “What's the best type of car for my new teen driver?” Because we help lots of East Tennessee families get the best auto coverage for less, we do have some expertise to offer.

Safety and affordability can go together. That's what we'll consider as we try to answer this question. When choosing a first car for teen drivers there are three factors to consider:

1. Initial cost of purchase. This is self-explanatory -- you must be able to afford it!
   
2. The vehicle’s safety features. Airbags are a must, anti-lock brakes are important too. Crash test data is available online for almost any car.
3. Cost to insure. Generally, the more safety features a car has, the better its crash test data, and the lower its repair cost -- the cheaper it will be to insure. Performance cars are a no-no. They will always be the most expensive for teens. Boring is good; speed kills.

And remember this: the most expensive type of auto insurance coverage in Tennessee is collision. You must have comp & collision (full coverage) if you finance a vehicle. Therefore, to save money, avoid financing your teen's vehicle if possible. Otherwise, the monthly insurance payment could equal or exceed the car payment!

Pickup trucks and minivans often rate lower for insurance purposes than cars (Not that your teen is going to want to drive a minivan).

And remember, some companies offer discounts for drivers ed course completion and good grades for full-time students. Again, boring -- but very helpful.

Here's another tip: Your insurance will always be cheaper if there are more drivers than cars in your household. If there are two adults and one teen in a household and only two cars, that's going to be cheaper than having three cars in the household. Also, if you have two teens it will be much cheaper to insure if they share a car rather than each having a car. 

Choosing a first car for teen drivers can be a stressful task. However, by doing a little homework you can feel more confident in your decision.  There are safe, inexpensive cars out there that you and/or your teen driver can afford to operate and insure in Tennessee.

You just have to find them. And we're always happy to do advance quotes on cars that our customers consider adding to their policies. Just call, text, or e-mail from the car lot and we can usually get you a rate in minutes. This is just one of the extra services we try to provide for our customers.

If you would like a quote for your teen driver on auto insurance call us at (865) 435-7470 or start a quote here.