Auto Insurance

Insuring a car for work vs. personal use in Boise ID

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When you first contact Fuhriman Insurance Agency looking for a policy that fits your needs, you’re going to have to consider to what extent your car is a personal vehicle, and to what extent you’re using it for work. It’s not always as cut and dry as, say, patrolling as a security guard and driving a car that belongs to the security agency, and trusting that your employers have you covered. If you drive for Uber or deliver pizzas in your personal vehicle, for instance, then you need to make sure that you’re getting a policy that reflects that. Fuhriman Insurance Agency can help Boise, ID drivers to find that policy, but you can’t just start driving professionally and hope that your current policy has you covered.

Some insurance companies won’t cover you at all if you drive for a living, but you are nevertheless going to be looking at personal insurance policies to get coverage for a car that serves as both a personal vehicle and a work vehicle.

Some companies will provide supplemental insurance while you are working for them. Uber, for instance, will offer additional coverage any time the app is actually in use. Many delivery restaurants offer the same deal. However, your employer or the agency you’re working for is not able to offer full coverage in Boise, ID. You need to talk with your insurer, let them know what you do for a living, and make sure that you are covered against all the risks that that entails.

In short, getting your personal car covered for work use is pretty easy for most drivers, but you can’t take it for granted, you have to ask your insurer about getting covered for business use.

Do All Homes Need Home Insurance?

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When it comes to insuring your home, it can be difficult to decide if your home needs a policy or not. There are of course legal considerations, but there are also considerations of rebuilding as well. The agents with Fuhriman Insurance Agency in the Boise, ID area can help you get your policy set up and ready to go.

The simple answer to this question is yes, every home needs an insurance policy unless you have the money lying around to rebuild after the home is damaged or destroyed. Most people do not have hundreds of thousands of dollars lying around so making sure you keep up a policy that has enough coverage is going to make a huge difference in how quickly you can rebuild.

Homes that are already paid for are not legally required to have a home insurance policy, but they can still benefit from keeping a policy. As mentioned before, if you do not have a home insurance policy, it is going to be your responsibility to come up with the money to either rebuild or repair or even buy a new home if yours is destroyed or damaged.

For a few hundred dollars a year you can protect your home and make it possible to collect an insurance pay out to rebuild or repair if your home is damaged. Your home is a very important part of your life and protecting it with a home insurance policy is the best way to make sure you always have a place to live and that you can recover if something happens to your home.

If you live in the Boise, ID area, the agents with Fuhriman Insurance Agency can help you find the policy that fits your home each and every time.

3 Reasons Auto Insurance Is Necessary

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In Boise, ID, it’s common for people to forget about the importance of their auto insurance. Until you actually need it, it can just seem like another unwanted bill you have to pay. But there are so many reasons to be glad that you have it rather than annoyed, and Fuhriman Insurance Agency can give you a few key points to remember.

1. Your Savings Account Is Never Enough

This particular reason doesn’t just mean that you never seem to have the funds to pay for that new handbag or necklace you want. When an accident happens, you could be deemed responsible for tens of thousands of dollars for both property damage or bodily injury. Almost no one in the world has that type of savings account to cover it all.

2. Keeps the Law at Bay

When you don’t have enough money to cover the damage, you’re subject to legal threats and more. While no one can extract money from that you don’t have, not having car insurance can mean having wages garnished for years or possibly even ending up in jail. No matter how you look at it, you really can’t afford not to have it.

3. You Need Someone to Call

When something happens in Boise, ID, you need to have someone to turn to other than just your family and friends. Fuhriman Insurance Agency can provide much more than just sympathy. The right agency can give you both helpful advice and the crucial financial assistance when you need it most. This type of safety net is truly priceless to those in complicated situations. Call to find out more about how our agency has been helping our clients for years and what we can do to get you the right policy.

Tips for Protecting Your Home for the Winter

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Temperatures can drop severely in Boise, ID. You should think about protecting your home for the winter before the weather becomes extremely harsh.

  • Overhanging Trees – Trees that are not trimmed properly can have old branches that weaken when the weather changes. Weak branches can fall on your roof or damage other areas of your home. Make sure these branches are taken care of before winter arrives.
  • Water Heater Temperatures – Lower the temperature of your water heater by 20 degrees. Most heaters usually push hot water at 140 degrees. If you manually decrease the temperature to 120, you could save lots of money as well as reduce wear and tear on your water pipes.
  • Ceiling Fan Direction – During the winter, change your ceiling fan’s direction. Switch it from counterclockwise to clockwise. This will allow the heat, which naturally rises, to be pushed down by the circulation of the fan. Warm air will travel down and help keep your rooms warm. Changing the direction of the ceiling fan is a simple, yet great way to minimize heating costs.
  • Door Locks – Extremely cold weather can contract metal door locks causing the key to freezing inside the locking mechanism. A simple solution is to spray a small amount of lubricant in the lock to prevent freezing.
  • Check Your Policy – Winter begins at the end of the year, so it’s a good time to go over your policy and make sure you’re covered. Understanding your coverage for winter accidents or mishaps will give you peace of mind. It is also a good time to add extra coverage if it is needed.

Boise, ID residents, can have our expert agents helping them with their home insurance policy. We can also offer assistance with new or existing life, health, and auto insurance policies.

How To Determine Coverage For Your Auto Insurance In Boise

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Determining coverage for your auto insurance policy in Boise, ID is easier than you might think. It pays to work with an independent insurance agent from Fuhriman Insurance Agency so that your various questions can be answered along the way.

What You Drive

The type of car that you drive in Boise, ID is going to impact the kind of coverage that you may want. When there are more safety features in your car, it may not be necessary for you to have certain types of coverage. Then again if you are financing or leasing your vehicle, you may be required to have certain types of coverage because of what the lien holder wants you to have. This could include adding comprehensive and collision coverage so that there’s more financial protection in place.

Your Past Driving Experiences

If you have been involved in a variety of accidents over the years, you may want to have additional coverage. This is because you are likely to exceed standard coverage for property damage and/or personal injury liability. Your goal should be to have insurance take care of all of the expenses rather than having remaining money to pay out-of-pocket.

One of our independent insurance agents at Fuhriman Insurance Agency will be able to guide you to choosing the best coverage for your policy.

Exploring Coverage

Some coverage is more important than others. You are required to maintain a certain level of liability insurance for the state of Idaho. Additionally, you may want to explore various other options, including:

  • Collision
  • Comprehensive
  • Uninsured
  • PIP
  • Rental car coverage

Not all insurance companies offer the same coverage options, nor do they offer the same level of customer support. This means it’s important to make some comparisons – and one of our agents can help you.

 

 

 

Teen Auto Insurance Woes in Boise, ID

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If you are a teenager or a parent of a teenager in Boise, ID, you probably know that your life is about to change. Teenagers often look forward to driving when they are old enough to get their licenses, and their parents often dread this day. Teens often think more about the excitement of being able to be behind the wheel and have that control and power, rather than focusing on what an enormous responsibility it is to drive a car. Insurance companies are aware of this as well, and they take this into consideration when calculating insurance rates where teenagers are involved.

Because of the risks associated with teens driving cars, auto insurance rates often skyrocket when teens are added to plans. This can be very frustrating for parents, as well as the teens who are often made to pay the difference. As such, many parents simply opt not to tell the insurance companies that their teens are driving their cars, but this can be a big mistake. Even though no one is anxious to pay a higher insurance bill, it is important to disclose to your insurance company that your teen is now driving. Whether or not you tell them, they can very easily find out. They can find out that you have a newly licensed member in your household and revise your rates themselves, or they can drop you entirely.

If auto insurance for a teenage driver in Boise, ID is an issue for you, you can contact Fuhriman Insurance Agency to have your concerns addressed. The auto insurance agents at Fuhriman Insurance Agency are knowledgeable and can tell you everything that you need to know about teens driving as it pertains to insurance where you live.

3 Apps to Keep Teens Safe While Driving

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One of the scariest situations a parent faces is making the decision to hand over the car keys to their teenager. The news stories about tragic car accidents that are caused by teenagers texting and driving or driving carelessly are downright frightening. Fortunately, there is a variety of cell phone apps available to help you monitor your teenagers driving.

DriveMode

DriveMode by AT&T is available for iPhones and the Android. When the app is activated, it automatically sends a text message to the sender that the person being sent a message is currently driving. The app also silences alerts for emails, texts and phone calls as well as blocks web browsing and all outgoing calls unless they are an emergency. The app allows you to input 911 and five additional phone numbers on an emergency list. The app must be activated each time your teenager drives, so you or your teen will need to turn it on and off during each trip.

Safe Driver

Safe Driver is a free app for iPhones that monitors your teenagers driving behaviors through the GPS and accelerometer installed in the phone. The app sends alerts and updates to you whenever your teenager is driving over the speed limit, accelerates too quickly and/or brakes too hard. The only problem with this app is that it may drain the battery quickly if the accelerometer and the GPS are continually used.

DriveScribe

DriveScribe is a free app available for Android and iPhone that monitors and alerts you in real time of any unsafe driving habits. Once the app is activated, it will use the phone’s speakers to let your teenager know they are exceeding the speed limit. Another benefit of this service is that you earn points with each trip you or your teenager makes. The points are earned for good driving habits and accumulated points can be used for gift cards through the DriveScribe website.

If you do a little research, you will find that there are a wide range of apps available that can give you a little piece of mind each time your teen gets behind the wheel. In order to ensure you are getting the most out of the apps, it is important that you talk with your teen and discuss the importance of them not disabling the apps. Be sure to talk with teens about the dangers of texting and driving, speeding and getting distracted by talking with passengers while they are driving.

Now that you have a teenage driver in the family, don’t forget to contact Fuhriman Insurance Agency to review your current auto insurance policy and add your teen driver if necessary.

Understanding What Constitutes a Great Used Family Car

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Tax season is a great time to purchase a great used family car. With extra money, you don’t have to worry about taking money from your savings to purchase a car. At Fuhriman Insurance, we want you to purchase the right car so that you don’t have to worry about ongoing repairs after your purchase. The following are three tips to help you purchase a great family car.

Tip #1. Choose a car that is safe.

There is more to a car than getting you from point A to point B. You want a car that is going to take you and your family where you need to go safely. Before you invest in your next car, you should consider how safe it is. Many manufacturers are going beyond industry standards to incorporate additional safety features, including additional airbags, adaptive cruise control, automatic tire pressure monitoring, and rollover prevention. You should choose a car that offers your family the best protections while you are on the road.

Tip #2. Ensure your new car has enough room.

It’s important that you purchase a car that’s comfortable for your family. If you have a family of four, then a sedan or an SUV is an easy option. For families that are still growing, you should consider the future. You can start by estimating how long you expect the car or SUV to last, and then determine whether you will need additional room in that time frame.

Tip #3. Choose a vehicle that is compatible to where you will drive.

Getting the most out of your vehicle is best for your entire family. The best way to do so is to consider where you drive most frequently. For instance, if you anticipate your family will travel to areas with unpaved roads, then it’s important that you purchase something rugged that will endure.

At Fuhriman Insurance Agency, we want you to be happy with your next car purchase. If you have questions about purchasing a car or getting auto insurance, do not hesitate to give us a call.

Bicycle Safety Tips For Motorists

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Bicyclists face serious risks on the Gem State’s roads. They can easily suffer life-threatening injuries when traffic accidents occur. Boise motorists help to prevent such disasters when they follow these tips:

1. Always slow down if bicycles are present. A rider may unexpectedly enter your lane to avoid another vehicle’s door, a patch of sand or broken glass in the shoulder. Exercise patience; don’t insist on passing a bike when there isn’t enough room.

2. Don’t honk your horn to say hello to a familiar bicyclist, warn riders of your presence or urge them to move over. This can startle or distract cyclists just long enough to trigger harmful mistakes.

3. Keep in mind that Idaho stop sign laws allow riders to slow down and yield rather than completely halting their bikes. Bicyclists must stop for red lights but aren’t required to wait until they change color.

4. Remain alert when you travel through residential neighborhoods. Young children on bikes might not use enough caution when they enter the street. Kids don’t always understand the consequences of risky behavior.

5. Never travel with an unrestrained dog in a truck bed or a car with open windows. Some canines will jump from vehicles to attack cyclists. If you’re near a road, always use a leash when leading a dog from your car to a building.

6. Leave at least three feet between your vehicle’s mirror and a bike’s handle bar when passing. Increase the distance if you’re driving quickly or passing a child on a bicycle.

It’s also crucial to carry sufficient auto insurance. Fuhriman Insurance Agency has served Boise motorists for over five decades. Call us today to get a no-obligation quote or do so on our website, too.
 

Safe Riding in Boise: Motorcycle Deer Season Tips

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Boise, Idaho has a large amount of wildlife in it’s untamed surrounding Rocky Mountain environs, so motorcycle riders must learn to always be on-guard when they are out on the road. Animals can unexpectedly dart out into the road which could cause an accident at any time, resulting in damage and minor injury at the very least, if not much worse. While this is a problem year-round, deer season is an especially dangerous time, as deer tend to be more prevalent than any other time of year. Hitting one on a motorcycle is dangerous, so there are a few things that motorcyclists should concentrate on when riding in Boise, Idaho during deer season.

First, don’t go way over the speed limit, even if you know the roads. This is because you may have to suddenly slam on the brakes if a deer runs out in front of your bike and excessive speed may not allow you to stop in time. Second, always wear a helmet. While this is state law anyway, many riders don’t wear helmets, endangering themselves in general but even more so when they have to stop when avoiding hitting a deer. Third, make sure you have a good insurance policy during deer season that will cover both you and your bike in the event you hit a deer. The Fuhriman Insurance Agency will cover you and your motorcycle on this front, as they serve the greater Boise, Idaho area. And last, make sure you know the warning signs when there are more deer that may cross the road. As deer travel in groups, watch out for others following close behind who might dart out in front of you. Just because you avoided one, doesn’t mean there aren’t more crossing nearby.