Advice For Teaching a Teen to Drive on Slick or Icy Roads

Teaching your teen to drive can be daunting, especially when it involves navigating slick or icy roads in Tinton Falls, NJ. At York Jersey Underwriters Inc., we understand the importance of preparing young drivers for such challenging conditions. Here are some tips to ensure your teen’s safety on winter roads.

Begin With the Fundamentals

Before setting out on the road, ensure your teen comprehends the basics of safe driving in winter conditions. Stress the importance of reducing speed and increasing the following distance—slippery road conditions require extra stopping time, making it crucial to maintain a safe gap from the vehicle in front.

Practice Leads to Mastery

Identify a safe, open space where your teen can practice driving on snow or ice. Parking lots work well for this purpose. Encourage them to get a feel for the car controls and practice gentle braking. Additionally, this provides an opportunity to instruct them on recovering from minor skids by steering into the slide.

Maintain Calm and Boost Confidence

Confidence builds with practice, but it’s equally important for you to remain calm during your teen’s driving lessons. Your teen will pick up cues from your behavior, so maintaining a relaxed attitude can help them feel more comfortable. Remind them that it’s perfectly fine to be cautious and drive at a slow pace.

Equip Them With Essential Knowledge

Ensure your teen knows how to handle everyday winter driving situations. Discuss what to do if they get stuck or encounter black ice on the road. Framing a plan for such scenarios can alleviate anxiety and better prepare them for unexpected challenges.

For more safe-driving tips or to discuss insurance options for your teen driver, feel free to reach out to York Jersey Underwriters Inc. in Tinton Falls, NJ. We’re here to help your family stay secure on the road.

Automotive Insurance Protection for Towing Equipment

If you are using your vehicle to tow a boat, camper, or recreational equipment, seek insurance coverage to protect your equipment. Before you use your vehicle for towing purposes, update your existing automotive insurance policy.

Considerations

Adding coverage to your existing insurance policy can alleviate costs associated with repairing or fixing your towing equipment. While you are actively towing something, you endure more of a risk than you usually do.

You are not only responsible for driving your primary vehicle. You are also responsible for safely towing whatever is behind your vehicle. For this reason, it is wise to seek adequate protection for the towing equipment you will be using.

If your towing equipment is damaged or stolen, you will be eligible to file a claim. If your claim is approved, you will be able to have your towing equipment repaired or replaced.

Records

Keep concise records of all the towing equipment that you will be using. A trailer, tow bar, or another piece of equipment that was a big investment should be added to your existing insurance policy.

Determine how often you will use the towing equipment. If you use it consistently, plan on keeping all the towing essentials insured throughout the year.

If you are using the towing equipment temporarily, you will only need to carry temporary additional insurance coverage.

Contact York Jersey Underwriters Inc.

Contact one of our agents at York Jersey Underwriters Inc. An agent who provides services to those in the Tinton Falls, NJ region will modify your automotive insurance policy.

What States Require Auto Insurance?

If you own or drive a car, it’s important to know about your state’s auto insurance rules. You could lose your license and face large fines or other penalties if you don’t obey these laws. It’s also possible that you’re still required to have auto coverage even if your state hasn’t mandated it. No matter where you are in the United States,  York Jersey Underwriters, Inc. is here to help. 

States That Require Insurance

Nearly all U.S. states enforce laws demanding car insurance, including major states like California, Texas, and New York. The Garden State also requires it, so adequate coverage is a must for motorists here in Tinton Falls, NJ. The specific types and amounts of insurance differ depending on where you live. You’ll probably need certain minimum amounts of liability coverage for both damage and injuries.

States That Don’t Require It

It’s easier to list the states where vehicle insurance isn’t required by law: Virginia and New Hampshire. However, a yearly uninsured vehicle fee applies to Virginia drivers without coverage. New Hampshire expects uninsured motorists to provide proof of adequate financial resources. Drivers in both states remain financially responsible for any harm they cause.

Explore Your Options

There are other reasons why you might need to insure your car. An employer may require insurance if you use the vehicle for work-related purposes. Lenders often expect borrowers to remain insured until their car loans have been paid off. In New Hampshire, motorists who have committed certain crimes are required to have insurance.

Our insurance experts at York Jersey Underwriters, Inc. serve drivers all over the United States. Reach out to us today and we’ll help you explore your options. 

The Many Auto Insurance Options

Some insurance commercials tout customized car insurance, but every insurance company offers that. When you enter your information, such as your vehicle identification number (VIN), name, and address, York Jersey Underwriters Inc. automatically offers you full coverage insurance. You can add or subtract coverage as long as you leave the NJ state-mandated coverage in place.

Basic Coverage: What You Must Legally Keep

Whether driving in Tinton Falls, NJ, Newark, Trenton, or any other location in the Garden State, you must carry valid auto insurance that fulfills the state’s minimum requirements. That means you must keep the following:

  • Property damage liability in the amount of $5,000 per accident
  • Personal injury protection (PIP) in the amount of $15,000 per person per accident
  • PIP coverage of up to $250,000 for specific serious injuries.*

The serious injuries specified under PIP include disfigurement, significant or permanent brain injury, or spinal cord injury. Other significant injuries requiring medically necessary treatment at an acute care facility or trauma center immediately following an accident also fall into this category. The policy only covers acute care/trauma center care until the patient’s doctor determines they are stabilized and can transfer to another facility.

Standard Coverage: A Better Choice

The 5/15 coverage comprises the NJ Basic Policy, which the state only recommends to those with few family responsibilities and assets. Most individuals choose at least the standard policy offered in New Jersey, then add to it as needed. The standard policy comes closer to the state minimums of other US states by including:

  • Bodily injury liability coverage in the amount of $25,000 per person per accident
  • Bodily injury liability coverage in the amount of $50,000 for all persons per accident
  • Property damage liability coverage in the amount of $25,000 per accident
  • PIP coverage in the amount of $15,000 per person per accident
  • PIP coverage of up to $250,000 for specific serious injuries.*

The standard policy PIP includes the same specific serious injury coverage as the basic policy. In New Jersey, you can have your insurer add uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to a standard, but not a basic policy.

Options We Automatically Offer

At York Jersey Underwriters Inc., we automatically include comprehensive and collision coverage in our insurance quote for you. This lets you consider these important policy options that protect your vehicle. If you hit a fence, for example, collision coverage pays for the repairs to your vehicle. Comprehensive coverage handles items like theft of the vehicle or damage from hail.

What You Can Also Add to a Policy

You can add other auto insurance options, such as roadside assistance coverage. Roadside assistance provides similar services to auto clubs, such as a tow truck when you need it or fuel brought to you on the roadway if you run out of gas.

Contact Us Today

Contact York Jersey Underwriters Inc. to create your custom auto policy. Drive New Jersey roads with an auto policy that protects your financial security.