The Best Driving Tips to Help You Avoid an Accident

At Access Insurance Services, serving the greater San Antonio, TX area, one of the insurance products we offer is car insurance. One of the questions that we are often asked is whether we have tips or suggestions that we think may help to minimize accidents. Here are a few of the best tips to help you avoid an accident. 

Always Ensure Your Car Is In Safe and Operable Condition

Anytime you hit the roads, ensure that your car is in safe and operable condition. If there is a crack in your windshield, that may prevent you from seeing the road. As such, you should replace your windshield. Having under-inflated or over-inflated tires increases your risk of a blowout. As such, you should always ensure your tires are properly inflated. 

Learn Safe Driving Techniques

Another tip that can help you to avoid an accident is to learn safe driving techniques. Safe driving techniques, or defensive driving techniques, have dramatically decreased your risk of being in an accident. Take a defensive driving course to learn safe driving techniques. 

Minimize Distractions While You Are Driving

Lastly, always minimize the number of distractions you face when you are driving. This includes avoiding using your cell phone, avoiding eating, and avoiding putting on make-up. Simply focus on the roads to help keep yourself safe. 

Unfortunately, you cannot prevent every auto accident from happening. As such, you need to ensure you have the right auto insurance policy to fully cover you in case you are involved in an accident. Here at Access Insurance Services, serving the greater San Antonio, TX area, we can help to ensure you have the right policy for your needs. Reach out to us today to get started. 

What is the 80% rule in homeowners insurance in San Antonio, TX?

Many of our clients at Access Insurance Services are surprised to learn that their homeowners’ insurance in San Antonio, TX is based on the 80% rule. In short, this rule stipulates that your insurance should cover at least 80% of the replacement cost of your home.

How to Determine the Replacement Cost of Your Home

The first step in determining whether or not you have adequate coverage is to calculate the replacement cost of your home. This can be done by contacting a local builder or real estate agent and asking them for an estimate. Once you have an estimate, add 10-20% to account for any unforeseen costs that may arise during rebuilding.

For example, let’s say your home is estimated to cost $200,000 to rebuild. In this case, you would want to carry insurance that covers at least $220,000 – $240,000 of damage.

If your current coverage falls short of this amount, you’ll need to consider increasing your coverage or finding a new insurer who can provide you with the coverage you need at a price you can afford.

The 80% rule is essential when purchasing homeowners insurance in San Antonio, TX. By ensuring that your policy covers at least 80% of the replacement cost of your home, you can protect yourself from being underinsured in the event of a disaster. If you’re unsure whether your current policy meets this standard, we recommend contacting a local builder or real estate agent for an estimate of your home’s replacement cost. Then, add 10-20% and compare it to the amount of coverage provided by your homeowner’s insurance policy. If you have questions, contact Access Insurance Services about increasing your coverage.