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8 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Car Insurance
Make sure your car coverage reflects your needs and budget
The vehicle you own, your personal priorities and your budget all factor into your unique auto insurance needs. Before comparing policies and insurers, evaluate how you use your car and what risks you face to figure out what options make the best sense for you.
1. How much do you drive?
Do you absolutely need your car every day—for instance, to commute to work or drive the kids to school and activities? Do you drive 100 miles a month or closer to 1,000 or more? Make sure your policy reflects how much you use your car. If you don’t drive a lot, you may want to opt for mileage-based insurance.
2. Will you be using your car for work?
If you use your car not just to get to work, but to perform tasks for which you get paid, commercial auto insurance is a necessity. A personal auto policy will not provide coverage if you transport paying passengers through a ride-share service, deliver pizzas, drive as a courier or use your car for other commercial activities.
3. What type of car do you drive?
Insurers have mountains of data, and they know in precise detail what types of cars, makes and models are more—or less—likely to incur claims. A flashy sports car with a powerful engine may be more likely to be stolen and its bodywork costs will be more than on a mid-sized sedan—and your insurance will be priced accordingly. Some types of cars—such as modified or classic cars—require special insurance. By the same token, you may receive discounts if you have a "safe" car—one with the latest safety features and a good safety record.
4. How much do you love your car?
If you love the way your vehicle looks and take pride in its appearance, you’ll likely want it fixed perfectly—or replaced with the same model—if it gets damaged. That means you'll probably to consider the fullest range of insurance—including collision, comprehensive and glass coverage. On the other hand, if you drive a beater, see cars merely as transportation and want to save on premiums, you might prefer to limit your policy to liability.
5. Where do you live—and park your car?
Where you live will impact your insurance rates—and it may be a factor in what coverage you purchase. For example, cars parked on the street in urban areas face a greater risk for theft or vandalism, so comprehensive coverage might be a good option. You may discover that your premium rates are lower if you move from a city to a suburb.
6. Who else will be driving the car?
Generally, your car insurance will cover other occasional drivers. However, if other drivers live with you and use your car—whether a spouse, a teen driver or a housemate—they should be listed on your policy.
7. What are your legal obligations?
Nearly every state requires that you carry minimum liability coverage for your car. At the very least, you need to make sure your policy complies with Kansas mandates. However, the levels of required coverage are generally pretty low. Keep in mind that, if you are involved in a serious accident, you may be sued for a large sum of money. Depending on your assets and financial risk tolerance, to be safe, you’ll probably want to purchase a higher level of liability coverage.
8. Is your car financed or leased?
If you still owe money on your car or have to return it in good condition when a lease expires, you’ll likely be required to insure the car for its full value—and even for any gap between what you owe and the car’s market value. Collision and comprehensive will cover damage to your car—and supplemental gap insurance will cover the rest.
Keep in mind that your insurance options and costs will also be affected by your age, gender and driving record. Be aware too that your credit score can also impact your insurance rates. Once you’ve looked at your needs and priorities, and understood how insurance options will match them, you’ll be better prepared to make an informed decision about the types and levels of coverage to buy.
SOURCE: Insurance Information Institute (www.iii.org)
Did you know that in some parts of the world, it's illegal to wear a suit of armor to Parliament? Or that there are places where it's against the law to walk your pet alligator without a leash? In this article, we'll explore some of the most bizarre and unusual laws from around the globe that will leave you scratching your head in disbelief. Join us as we take a journey through the weird and wonderful world of strange laws, where the line between legality and absurdity is often blurred. From the downright bizarre to the oddly specific, these legal regulations are sure to entertain and amuse as we uncover the strange and surprising laws that govern our world. No High Heels Without a Permit (Greece) : In Greece, it's illegal to wear high heels without a permit. This law was introduced to prevent damage to historical sites and monuments, but it's still enforced today, leaving fashion-forward visitors scratching their heads. No Walking Your Pet Alligator Without a Leash (Florida, USA) : In Florida, it's against the law to walk your pet alligator without a leash. While this law might seem like common sense, it's a humorous reminder of the state's unique wildlife. No Chewing Gum (Singapore) : In Singapore, chewing gum is banned to maintain cleanliness and prevent vandalism. While exceptions are made for therapeutic gum, the sale and possession of chewing gum are heavily regulated. No Naming Your Child "Batman" (Mexico) : In Mexico, there's a law prohibiting parents from naming their children "Batman" or any other superhero-inspired name. While it might seem like a fun idea to some, the government takes naming regulations seriously. No Salmon Suspicion (UK) : In the UK, it's illegal to handle a salmon in suspicious circumstances. This obscure law dates back centuries and is still on the books, though its enforcement is rare. No Eating Fried Chicken With a Fork (Gainesville, Georgia, USA) : In Gainesville, Georgia, it's illegal to eat fried chicken with anything other than your fingers. This law is a nod to the city's proud Southern heritage and culinary traditions. No Whistling at Night (Portugal) : In Portugal, it's considered bad luck to whistle at night. This superstition has led to a law prohibiting whistling after dark, with the belief that it can attract evil spirits or bring about misfortune. No Duck Parades Without a Permit (Tennessee, USA) : In Tennessee, it's illegal to hold a duck parade without a permit. While the origins of this law are unclear, it's a humorous reminder of the state's quirky regulations. No Wearing a Suit of Armor to Parliament (UK) : In the UK, it's illegal to wear a suit of armor to Parliament. This law dates back to the 1313 Statute Forbidding Bearing of Armor, which aimed to prevent armed noblemen from intimidating lawmakers. No Selling Gum (Thailand) : In Thailand, it's illegal to sell gum due to concerns about litter and cleanliness. While chewing gum is not prohibited for personal use, the sale and distribution of gum are strictly regulated.
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For many of us, our smartphone is an like an additional appendage--attached to us at all times. From paying bills to shopping online, opening your garage door, or watching your "kitty cam", the options are realistically without limit. You can also waste a lot of time. If you've had a nagging feeling (or checked your screen time and read the hard facts) that you are spending too much time surfing or socializing... there's an app for that. In fact, there are several apps for that! If you need a little help detoxing from your social apps, keep reading. We've compiled a list of apps (sources below) to help you cut down your screen time and focus on the tasks at hand--or at least get a little balance in your life. Built In Smart Phone Solutions • Are you an Android user? The in-built screen time tracker and limiter for Android, Digital Wellbeing, is already installed on your Android phone, and as it turns out, it’s a fairly effective and simple way of beating phone addiction and stopping you from scrolling through Facebook every few minutes when you should be working. To access it, just go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing and parental controls and tap App timers under Your Goals. From here, you can click the Egg timer icon to the right of each app to add your own timer. You can also tap on Work time or Me time under Focus mode to set up apps you’re able to use during these times — for example, you might allow yourself to use only Gmail and Microsoft Teams during Work Time. You can also set the duration of your Work Time for a set amount of time or until you turn it off. By tapping Screen time under Your goals, you can see the stats for your usage of various apps — helpful for breaking the addiction cycle. • For Apple users the in-built screen-time-limiting app, iOS Screen Time, is an excellent way to track your screen time without downloading any other apps. Built into iOS (and iPadOS), you can access it by going to Settings > Screen time. From here, you can set usage limits for all your apps and also schedule Downtime, as well as set which apps you want to allow at all times. You can also access graphs and stats of your screen time on a daily and weekly basis, so you can see how much more or less time you’ve spent on your phone. Screen Time breaks down your app usage into categories like games, social media, etc., so you can quickly see where your time is going and adjust your usage limits accordingly. Screen Time is linked to your iCloud account, so if you toggle on the Share across devices option in the Screen Time menu, you’ll be able to see how you use apps across all your Apple devices. Apps for both Apple/iOS and Android • Freedom (Android and iOS) is used by over two million people worldwide and allows you to create blocklists and schedule time away from the apps that may be most distracting. Whether you want to focus on studying, get your work done, or just break a bad phone habit, the app can help. Just select the websites and apps you want to block to start your session, and Freedom will prevent you from opening them. There’s a Freedom app for both iOS and Android as well as Mac, Windows, Chromebook, and Linux, so it’s easy to create custom blocklists for all of your devices. While Freedom offers a free trial period, a subscription of $39.99 per year or a monthly rate of $8.99 is required to access all of its features. • Space ( Android and Apple ) is a little different than many other screen time apps. Space helps you set goals to be more mindful of your screen usage. When you install Space, you’ll complete a short questionnaire about your smartphone habits and then select a user type that is your best match. The app then sets goals for screen unlocking and time use, sends notifications as screen time increases, and rewards you with different achievement badges when you meet your daily goals — and you can compare your progress with friends and family, too. There’s even an eight-day Phone/Life Balance course that’s packed with relatable and informative research and recommendations to help you balance your phone use with the rest of your life in a more healthy way — something we could all benefit from. • Offtime (Android and Apple) allows you to block not only social media but games and even text messages. You can also determine what you can and can’t access for specific times like Family time, Work Time and Me Time. • The Forest ( download for Android or iOS ) app works by letting you plant a seed and watching it grow into a tree. BUT when you start using social media on your phone, your trees die. The apps is basically a reward system so if you are motivated by virtual rewards, this is a good option. Just for Android • If you need a little help managing your time and beating smartphone addiction, Social Fever (for Android) can help. Its simple interface shows you at a glance how much time you’re spending on various apps including social media. You can easily set timers to notify you when you’ve exceeded your limits — and it’s quick and easy to get started with no need to set up an account. Just install Social Fever, then add the apps you want to track. • AppDetox (Android) allows you to easily create rules to limit access to certain apps. The usual schedule and time-based limitations are available, as well as an option that requires to you walk to earn screen time. AppDetox is one of the few apps that provides a Forever option for apps that cannot be deleted from your phone — and it’s also handy for parents to use to control kids’ screen time. • For those who truly have a problem staying off their phone, Off the Grid (Android) may be for you. Off the Grid completely blocks your phone for a set length of time that you determine. You can schedule your Off the Grid time — for example, if you want to stop using your phone after 8 p.m. every night. You can even set custom auto-reply messages to let friends and family know why you’re not responding, and choose to allow calls in case somebody needs to reach you urgently. While you’re off the grid, you can still access the camera app, handy in case you need to capture a special moment or snap a selfie. • AntiSocial (Android) is one of the best-known screen-time-limiting apps available on Android. While it provides many of the standard features like screen-time limits and app blocking, it has an interesting trick up its sleeve: AntiSocial compares your screen usage data to other people in your age and gender group, so you’ll have an idea if you’re using your device more than your peers. It’s totally free to use, and there are no ads. For your computer • Cold Turkey (iOS and Windows) If you are one of those people who just need to quit cold turkey, this app is for you! It’s a browser extension that allows you to choose specific time limits to block web pages, the entire internet OR your entire computer. One interesting perk: there is a writer feature that forces you to finish writing your paper before you can do anything else. Which is great for writers, bloggers, and students. (Free or $29 for Pro.) • FocusMe l ets you block certain websites and apps for a limited time like most other apps. The difference is that you can also block something FOREVER if you really need to. FocusMe will also remind you to take breaks throughout the day and parents can use the app to set a limit of their kids time on games and what sites they are allowed to visit. The app is $7.95/month or $47.95/year and works on Windows and iOS. Sources: digitaltrends.com, everydayeyecandy.com, pcmag.com
Locations
Derby, KS
228 N. Baltimore
Derby, KS 67037
Phone: (316) 776-0777
Conway Springs, KS
(620)-456-2205
Dodge City, KS
(620) 225-0999
Overland Park, KS
8101 College Blvd
Overland Park, KS 66210
(913) 660-0818
Business Hours
- Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri
- -
- Wednesday
- -
- Sat - Sun
- Closed
