Difficulty Insuring Your Kia or Hyundai? There’s a Solution!

The difficulty of obtaining and maintaining auto insurance is becoming prevalent for Hyundai and Kia owners in Kansas and Missouri. In this article, we’ll help you understand why rates are climbing and what you can do to get coverage.

Theft Issues and Vehicle Vulnerability

Theft-related issues, primarily concerning vehicles produced between 2011 and 2021. Models like the Kia Soul and Sorento, as well as the Hyundai Tucson and Elantra, have been particularly susceptible to theft due to security vulnerabilities. These vehicles lack engine immobilizers, making them easy targets for thieves armed with nothing more than a screwdriver and a USB cable.

Major auto insurance providers have begun raising premiums or declining to issue new policies for most Hyundai and Kia models. The rationale behind this decision was to mitigate the heightened risk associated with insuring these vehicles. Many vehicle owners are reporting significant increases in their policy renewal premiums.

Software Upgrades and Their Challenges

In response to the theft problem, Kia and Hyundai have been rolling out software upgrades designed to prevent hotwiring by thieves. However, the upgrade is voluntary and must be completed at a Hyundai dealership. While this initiative is commendable, millions of vulnerable vehicles have yet to receive the update. Consequently, theft rates remain high in many areas, especially Kansas and Missouri.

The Solution

The good news is, we are still able to write new policies for many Kia and Hyundai owners! Your first step is to assess if you qualify for the free dealership security upgrade through a quick google search of your car's year, make, and model. Most Hyundais and Kias will qualify. If you qualify, you’ll want to get on the schedule with your closest dealership to get the update done. Once you’ve completed the upgrade, contact Family Union Insurance, and we’ll shop for you to find the best rates and coverages for you.

If you find that you do not qualify for the free security upgrade, but your vehicle has a push start, still reach out to us. We’ve been able to help many Hyundai and Kia owners stuck in the middle of these security system issues.

Don’t pay too much or spend all your time searching for auto insurance in Kansas City and reach out to Family Union Insurance!

Phone: (816) 287-8597

Email: service@familyunioninsurance.com

Auto Insurance for a New Car: A Comprehensive Guide for Kansas City

When it comes to protecting your valuable assets, such as your new car and your home, having the right insurance coverage is paramount. In this guide, we will delve into the world of auto insurance. If you’re about to purchase a new car, then you’re in the right place.

When To Buy Insurance for a New Car

Purchasing a new car is an exciting experience, but along with that excitement comes the responsibility of securing insurance coverage. In most cases, you'll need to have insurance before driving off the dealership lot, as dealers usually require proof of insurance. However, the timing of obtaining insurance can be influenced by whether the dealer offers a grace period. A grace period typically lasts anywhere from seven to 30 days from the purchase date, allowing you some time to arrange for a new insurance policy.

Factors affecting the presence of a grace period include your insured status and the insurance company you choose. Different insurers have varying policies regarding grace periods; some might offer a 30-day window, while others might not provide any grace period at all. To determine your specific situation, it's essential to review your contract or consult an insurance agent.

Securing Your New Car Insurance Policy

Getting insurance for your new car is a straightforward process. By following these steps, you can ensure a smooth transition from dealership to road:

1. Gather information: Have essential details ready, including the vehicle's VIN number, purchase price, and your contact information.
2. Compare quotes: Going through an insurance broker and working with an agent will make this step a lot faster. This step helps you find the best combination of cost and coverage.
3. Choose a provider and plan: Select the quote that aligns with your coverage needs and budget.
4. Provide proof to the dealership: Share your new insurance card, often available through mobile apps, with the dealership to finalize the purchase process.

What Factors Influence Car Insurance Rates

Understanding the factors that influence insurance costs can help you make informed decisions and potentially save money. Several variables contribute to insurance premiums:

• Age and Driving History: Younger and less experienced drivers tend to pay higher premiums. A clean driving record, free of accidents or violations, can lead to lower rates.
• Credit Score: In states where allowed, insurance companies may consider your credit score when determining premiums.
• Location: Your geographic location plays a significant role in insurance rates, with urban areas often having higher premiums.
• Coverage and Deductibles: The types of coverage you choose and the deductible amounts you opt for will affect your premium.
• Discounts: Many insurance companies offer discounts for bundling policies, safe driving records, and other qualifying factors.

Understanding New Car Insurance Coverage

Auto insurance coverage for new cars is similar to coverage for other vehicles. However, specific factors, including state requirements and lender mandates for financed vehicles, can influence coverage needs. State minimum requirements vary, so it's crucial to understand your area's regulations.

Typically, state minimum requirements include:

• Bodily Injury Liability Insurance: Covers medical expenses for other parties in an accident where you're at fault.
• Property Damage Liability Coverage: Pays for damages to other vehicles and property if you cause an accident.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Medical Payments (MedPay): Cover medical expenses for you and your passengers, regardless of fault.

Lenders might require additional coverage options, such as collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, gap insurance, and loan/lease payoff coverage.

Standard coverages you will also want to consider are:

• Collision Coverage: Ensures that your vehicle is protected in the event of an accident, regardless of who is at fault.
• Comprehensive Coverage: While collision coverage handles accidents, comprehensive coverage goes the extra mile. It shields your vehicle from a range of non-collision incidents.
• Roadside Assistance: Roadside assistance coverage is a practical addition to your insurance policy. It provides assistance when you encounter roadside emergencies.
• Rental Reimbursement: Rental reimbursement coverage is especially valuable if your car is undergoing repairs due to a covered incident.

By understanding insurance requirements, coverage options, and cost factors, you can make well-informed decisions that suit your needs and budget. Remember to compare quotes from multiple providers and select a policy that offers the right balance between cost and coverage. An insurance agent can speed up this process and help you to identify discounts you might not be aware of. Whether you're a seasoned insurance buyer or a first-time purchaser, these insights will help you navigate the complex world of insurance with confidence.

Ready to talk with an insurance agent? Give Family Union Insurance a call at (816) 287-8597

Buying Your First Home? What You Need to Know About Homeowners Insurance

If you're shopping for your first home, you may have questions about homeowners insurance. You might be wondering if you’re required to have homeowners insurance in Missouri and, if so, when in the home buying process should you purchase it. At Family Union Insurance, we’re here to provide some insights to help you make an informed decision.

Is Homeowners Insurance Required?

While there's no law that requires home insurance, mortgage lenders do require you to have home insurance coverage before they agree to finance your home purchase. This requirement is understandable because home insurance protects the lender's investment. It provides the necessary funds to repair or rebuild the home if it's damaged or destroyed by a covered event like a fire, lightning storm, tornado, or other such occurrences.

What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?

A standard homeowners insurance policy typically covers three main areas: your house, your belongings, and liability protection. Your house is a significant investment, and homeowners insurance can help pay for repairs or rebuilding in case of damage from a covered loss. It's essential to understand the extent of coverage for your house and other structures on your property, such as a detached garage or a storage shed.

Your possessions also deserve protection, and homeowners insurance can come to the rescue if they're damaged or destroyed. Whether it's your comfortable couch or delicate china, knowing that you can replace them in case of a covered loss brings peace of mind.

In unfortunate situations where your home becomes uninhabitable due to damages, your homeowners insurance policy may include additional living expenses (ALE) coverage. This coverage helps pay for a hotel or other lodging while your home is being repaired or rebuilt. It ensures that you have a place to stay and maintain a semblance of normalcy during trying times.

Beyond property damage, homeowners insurance also offers liability protection. Accidents happen, and if a guest slips on your walkway and you're held liable, your homeowners insurance can cover medical bills, legal costs, and potential court awards. It's wise to review your policy and determine the dollar limit set for this coverage.

What Homeowners Insurance Doesn’t Cover

While a standard homeowners policy provides broad coverage, it's important to note that certain events like earthquakes and floods are typically not included. Depending on your home's location, your lender might require you to purchase additional insurance for these specific risks. Moreover, if you possess valuable items like fine jewelry or an art collection, you may want to consider a Personal Articles Floater (PAF) to secure proper coverage for those items.

When Should I get Homeowners Insurance?

Ideally, you should start shopping for homeowners insurance as soon as you sign a contract to buy a home. This timeframe allows you to explore different quotes, compare coverage options, and ensure that your policy is in place before the closing date. Usually, you'll have around a month or more between signing the contract and the closing day. It's important to note that you'll typically need to provide proof of payment for the first full year of premiums at closing.

How Long Does it Take to Get Homeowners Insurance?

Speaking of timelines, you might be wondering how long it takes to get homeowners insurance. Well, the process is generally quick and convenient. Starting the process typically takes just a few minutes. It can take one to three days to get coverage in place.

Why do I Need Homeowners Insurance

Once you've made your last payment, your mortgage lender no longer has a say in whether you carry insurance. However, it's important to consider the value you've built in your home over the years. Should a loss occur, having insurance in place is essential to protect your investment. Your home holds cherished memories, serves as your sanctuary, and provides security for your family. By maintaining homeowners insurance even after paying off your mortgage, you can safeguard your home well into the future.

Consequences of Not Having Homeowners Insurance

Lastly, let's touch upon the consequences of not having homeowners insurance in the event of damage to your home. If your home or property is damaged by a fire, windstorm, or other covered event, your homeowners insurance would typically cover the necessary repairs. However, without insurance, you'd have to pay for repairs out of pocket or seek alternative resources to rebuild your home. In the worst-case scenario, you could risk losing your entire investment. By maintaining active homeowners insurance, you ensure that you have the means to cover the costs of repairing or replacing your home and belongings in the event of a covered loss.

How to Get Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners insurance is a vital protection for your home, your belongings, and your financial well-being. While it may not be legally mandated, it's a smart choice considering the potential risks and the importance of preserving your investment. To make the process easiest, contact Family Union Insurance to have an insurance agent shop a variety of carriers and compare the rates for you!

Reducing Car Insurance Costs in Kansas: Tips and Insights

Car insurance in Kansas can be a costly endeavor for many residents due to a variety of reasons. However, it is not all bad news for drivers in Kansas, there are options to reduce your rate. In this article, we will take a closer look at why car insurance is expensive in Kansas and provide tips on how drivers can reduce their premiums without compromising coverage.

No-Fault State and Personal Injury Protection

One of the primary reasons for car insurance being expensive in Kansas is the fact that it is a no-fault state and requires personal injury protection. With personal injury protection, drivers are required to purchase additional coverage to ensure they are covered financially if they become injured in a car accident. The state’s personal injury protection is designed to cover medical expenses and loss of income for those involved in a car accident regardless of who was at fault. While the additional coverage is helpful for those involved in an accident, it can also add to the overall cost of car insurance.

Rising Accidents, Claims, and Payouts

Another factor contributing to the increase in car insurance prices is the rise in the number of accidents, claims, and payouts in Kansas. People are driving more frequently, which, in turn, increases the risk of accidents, regardless of fault. With more accidents, insurance providers must pay out more claims, and the cost is often spread out among all policyholders in the state. Additionally, auto repairs are becoming increasingly costly due to the additional technology and features in newer vehicles, causing insurance providers to raise their rates to offset the increased cost.

Increase in Uninsured Drivers and Healthcare Costs

Moreover, more people in Kansas are driving uninsured. As car insurance rates continue to rise, more drivers take the risk of driving without car insurance. In 2019, 11% of drivers lacked even minimum liability insurance in Kansas, placing further financial strain on insured drivers as the costs of uninsured motorists are passed on to them through higher premiums. Similarly, healthcare costs in Kansas are on the rise, with healthcare spending increasing by an average of 5.5% every year, causing car insurance companies to pay out more claims involving medical bills, which is again reflected in increased car insurance rates.

Severe Weather Events

Lastly, Kansas is experiencing more severe weather events, such as severe storms, droughts, and floods, which are increasingly causing insurers to pay out a higher number of claims. These payouts are generally more expensive and more unpredictable. As a result, insurance providers are raising their rates to keep up with the costs.

Other Factors Affecting Car Insurance Rates

While these factors are primarily responsible for the increasing cost of car insurance in Kansas, there are other reasons why your rates may be high. These include your age, location, driving patterns, financial responsibility, and claims history. Drivers under 25 and over 65, people living in population-dense cities, and drivers with poor credit scores generally pay more for auto coverage. Additionally, drivers with numerous recent claims for relatively small amounts may end up paying higher premiums.

Tips to Reduce Car Insurance Costs

Fortunately, there are ways to reduce your car insurance costs in Kansas. Keeping a clean driving record is crucial to lower your insurance costs. Obeying traffic laws and avoiding accidents resulting in claims can help keep insurance rates down. Other ways to save include shopping around for the best rates every three to five years, ensuring that you maintain the best credit score possible, and taking advantage of any discounts that you are eligible for. Comparing rates from at least three insurance companies can potentially save thousands of dollars.

In conclusion, car insurance in Kansas can be costly due to several factors, including being a no-fault state, increasing accident rates, more people driving uninsured, rising healthcare costs, and more severe weather events. To keep your car insurance costs down, it is essential to maintain a clean driving record, shop around for the best rates, and take advantage of any discounts you are eligible for. Additionally, working with an insurance agent that can shop many carriers and help drivers make informed decisions about their car insurance policy.

Protect Your Recreational Toys with Toy Insurance: Find Coverage in Kansas City | Family Union Insurance

Recreational toys are undoubtedly enjoyable, but they can also be expensive. One of the most critical responsibilities is making sure that they’re adequately covered with a toy insurance policy in the event of an accident. Motorized toys include RVs, boats, motorcycles, and ATVs. Not everybody in Kansas City, MO needs toy insurance, but if you own one or several of the items above, you need toy insurance, and here's why.

Protecting Your Assets

Firstly, protecting your assets is essential. Your toy is an expensive asset that may cost lots of money to replace if not adequately covered. You want to make sure that you can still get a new one in case anything happens. A toy insurance policy provides you with peace of mind as the coverage protects your assets against fire, burglaries, loss, and other natural disasters.

Liability Coverage

Secondly, it's essential to have liability coverage when it comes to toy insurance. Accidents happen everywhere, but that shouldn’t be a problem if you have the right toy insurance. For coverages, liability coverage should be your priority. Whether you have passengers or not, your toy may lead to endless lawsuits in the event of property damage or bodily injury. Remember, you’re supposed to be financially responsible, especially if you drive a luxury vehicle or motorcycle.

Advantages of Toy Insurance

Lastly, toy insurance has some clear advantages. However, it's essential to purchase a policy from an insurance provider with a proven track record. At Family Union Insurance, you can sit back, relax and let them do the hard work as they are here to help with all your toy insurance needs. They have insurance agents that can help you find the best coverage that suits your needs.

Conclusion

To conclude, recreational toys are fun to have, but they come with significant responsibilities. That's why toy insurance is important. It provides coverage against theft, accidents, and other natural disasters. Plus, it offers liability coverage to protect you financially in case of an incident. At Family Union Insurance, they know how expensive recreational toys can be, and that's why they are dedicated to helping you find the best coverage to protect your assets. So, if you're looking for Auto & Home Insurance Quotes in Kansas City, Missouri, Family Union Insurance has got you covered.

Kansas Insurance Department Recovered $7.6 Million - Protecting Kansans from Insurance Malpractice

Protecting Consumers

Faced with the complexities of the insurance claims process, it's not uncommon for policyholders to find themselves lost and unsure of their rights. That's where the Kansas Insurance Department steps in. By investigating complaints lodged between the consumer and the insurance company, they are able to uphold the policies and ensure that benefits are paid out accordingly. The fact that the department has made its largest-ever single-year recovery highlights the importance of their mission and their success in carrying it out.

Protecting Policyholders' Rights

Take, for example, an individual who has been involved in an automobile accident. Having sustained injuries and damages to their car, they file a claim with their insurance company. As the process unfolds, they realize their claim is being met with resistance from the insurance company. With nowhere else to turn, they approach the Kansas Insurance Department for help. Through the department's investigation, the policyholder's rights are upheld, and they receive their rightful benefits.

Acting as an Intermediary

It's stories like these that emphasize the significance of the Kansas Insurance Department's role in protecting citizens from insurance injustices. By doing so, they have acted as an intermediary in difficult situations between policyholders and insurance companies, helping to prevent further disputes and ultimately saving time and money in the process.

Enlisting the Help of an Insurance Agent

For support in the general claims process, I strongly recommend enlisting the help of an insurance agent. Doing so not only helps ensure that you are fully protected with the right policies, but it also provides an expert to assist you in navigating the claims process. Should something go wrong, they can get you connected with the Kansas Insurance Department for your next steps to resolve your claim.

Conclusion

The Kansas Insurance Department's record-breaking recovery of $7.6 million in a single year is a shining example of their tireless efforts to protect the rights of Kansans. Through their investigation of complaints and their commitment to upholding insurance policies, they stand as a beacon of hope for those struggling with the intricacies of property and casualty insurance. Should a dispute ever arise, don't hesitate to approach the Kansas Insurance Department - they may just be the solution you need.