Did you know by paying your bills through the mail or at our agency, you are paying an additional $4 to $6 per payment?  That could equal an additional $72 a year per policy!  Each company charges a different amount and we would like to inform you of different options that save you money.

Set up EFT payments. This automatic withdraw can come out of your checking, savings, or a credit card.  There is no charge to be set up EFT.  Below are the options per company:
Auto Owners: Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-Annual, and Annual
Citizens: Monthly
Hastings: Bi-monthly and Quarterly
Progressive: Monthly and 5-Pay
AAA: Monthly

Click here to request a form to switch to EFT payments.

Pay Online. Visit your company’s website to make your payments online. It’s fast, simple, and the payment is posted that day.
Auto Owners: www.auto-owners.com
Citizens: www.mycitizenspolicy.com
Hastings: www.hastingsmutual.com
Progressive: www.progressive.com
AAA: www.aaa.com/payments

Our agency will no longer be processing payments. Instead your payments will be forwarded to the correct company via mail.  The reason for this change is primarily due to the safety.  Robberies have slowly been making their way down Lewis Avenue.  Please choose an option above, which will also save you money, or simply mail your payment to the company in the envelope provided with your bill.

If your payment is late, please call the company directly.
Auto Owners: 800-346-0346
Citizens: 800-573-1187
Hastings: 800-442-8277
Progressive: Michigan- 800-876-6327  Ohio- 800-283-1101
AAA: 877-446-9222

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

With summer in full swing, it’s a great time for outdoor recreation.  Are you protected?  Do you have the appropriate coverage for your motorcycles, vacation trailers, campers, motorhomes or recreational vehicles such as ATVs, mini-bikes, trail bikes, or golf carts?

Here are some examples of coverages that you may want or need:

• Liability coverage while using your unlicensed recreational vehicle off your own property

• Expense reimbursement up to $35 each consecutive day a vacation trailer is uninhabitable due to loss or damage while you are on vacation

• Affordable coverage for contents of the motorhome.  Included in the standard contents coverage for a trailer is the option to purchase more coverage if needed.

• Total loss to a motorcycle. Under certain conditions, your motorcycle will be replaced with a new motorcycle or the original purchase price will be paid.

Call us or stop by our office to learn more!

Note: The analysis of coverage is in general terms and is superseded in all respects by the Insuring Agreements, Exclusions and Conditions of the Policy.  Some of the coverages mentioned may have to be modified to conform to applicable state law.  Some coverages may have been eliminated or modified since the printing of this material. Some of these options are not available in all states and some options have an additional charge.

Road Trouble Service (RTS) is an optional coverage available on a personal auto policy and some business auto policies.  It is designed to cover times when the vehicle is disabled.

Let’s look at the reasons when this coverage might be used:

• Disabled due to a mechanical malfunction (i.e., engine stops running):  It would cover the cost to tow the vehicle from the point it stopped running to the nearest repair facility.

• Flat tire:  It would cover the cost of having someone change the tire.

• Key locked inside car:  It will cover the cost to have someone unlock the vehicle.

• Dead battery:  It would cover the cost of having a towing service representative jump-start the vehicle.

• Run out of gas:  It will cover the cost of delivering the gas to the vehicle, but the cost of the fuel is the driver’s responsibility.

Call or stop by our office today to add this valuable coverage.

A commercial umbrella policy from Auto-Owners will protect your business assets from catastrophic liability or other unexpected losses and can provide additional coverage not available elsewhere.  A commercial umbrella can provide you with these coverages:

• Care, Custody & Control:  This entails damaging a piece of equipment you have rented in a collision.
• Worldwide Coverage: While on a business trip in Europe, you rent a car in the business’ name and have an at-fault accident where you are responsible for the damages.
• Landlord Liability:  Not properly maintaining a sidewalk and a tenant slips and falls, suffering an injury.
• Auto Liability:  An employee of your business is involved in an at-fault auto accident resulting in serious bodily injury to the claimant.
• General Liability: A pipe is installed incorrectly in the claimant’s building, causing substantial water damage to the building.
• Legal Defense: Provided when coverage is not

afforded by the primary liability insurance policy.  For example, the umbrella policy would provide defense for a humiliation or discrimination claim against you.

These are just a few ways that a commercial umbrella policy can protect your business assets from catastrophic or unexpected losses.

Call or stop by our office to receive a commercial umbrella proposal for your business today.

Paying our bills on time and avoiding unnecessary fees is something we all strive for.  However, with today’s busy lifestyles it can be a challenge.

Our Companies offer a payment program for your insurance premiums that guarantees on-time payments and eliminates late fees.  This can be accomplished by signing up for their EFT (electronic funds transfer) Direct Payment program, or by using your credit card.

For EFT, our companies can arrange to have your payment electronically withdrawn from your checking or savings account.  Service fees are waived when you pay by EFT.  EFT covers all payment options (Full Pay, Semi-Annual, Quarterly, 3 Pay and Monthly).

You may also select your withdrawal date (1 thru 28 only).  A notice will be sent approximately 20 days prior to your selected due date, specifying the withdrawal amount and date.  Therefore, you will always be aware well in advance when a withdrawal is going to take place.

The credit card option is also available for all payment plans, but only for personal insurance policies.    Customers paying other than Full Pay will continue to be charged an installment service fee.

You can also choose the date you would like your charge to take place (1 thru 28).  When a new payment is due, a notice will be sent approximately 20 days prior to your selected due date, specifying the amount to be charged to your credit card.

Contact our office for assistance in choosing the payment method that best suits your needs.

Floods happen everywhere. One-quarter of all flood insurance claims come from homes outside a designated flood zone. Even an inch of water above your floor can have devastating results for your home and its contents.

Is your neighborhood in a designated flood zone?  If you aren’t sure:

• Check with your city or county building authority, our agency or your mortgage lender to see what flood risk exists.
• Floods maps are being redrawn nationwide by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
• Consult your city or county building department to determine how the redrawing affects your property.
• You may be among those newly considered to be in a new flood zone.

Everyone lives in a flood zone, but the risk varies.

• Contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency to find out if your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
• If your home is in a NFIP participating community, you are eligible to purchase flood insurance.
• Set up a visit with our agency to discuss how to go about buying flood insurance.

Summer is here, which means people are hitting the road in their motorcycles and motor homes.  Besides insuring your car, Auto-Owners Insurance can also insure your motorcycle, vacation trailer, camper, recreational vehicle and motor home.

All discounts that apply to cars—such as the Paid-in-Full, group, and multi-policy discounts—also apply to other vehicles on the policy.  In addition to these discounts, we also offer the following through Auto-Owners:

Motorcycles

• Multi-Vehicle Discount – A 10%-25% discount is available on all motorcycles on the same policy as your car.
• Touring Bike Discount – Motorcycles classified as touring bikes receive a 40%-60% discount.
• Motorcycle Safety Foundation Discount – A 10% discount is given to all Motorcycle Safety Foundation certificate holders over age 17.
• Anti-Lock Brakes Discount
• Total Loss to a New Motorcycle – Pays for replacement of a new motorcycle if totaled in the first 90 days after purchase.

Vacation Trailers

• Vacation Trailer Endorsement – We cover loss or damage to your vacation trailer if made uninhabitable while on vacation.
• Vacation Expense Allowance – We will reimburse you up to $35 for each consecutive day your vacation trailer is uninhabitable while on vacation.
• Contents Coverage – Your vacation trailer contents are included up to 10% of the amount on the trailer.  Additional amounts may be purchased.
• Road Trouble Service – If Road Trouble Service applies to the automobile towing your vacation trailer, it will also apply to any necessary towing and labor costs for your trailer.

Motor Homes

• Special Motor Home Program – We provide a 15%-50% discount on select coverages for motor homes not used as a primary residence or used in commuting to work or school.
• Motor Home Contents – Affordable coverage for motor home contents may be purchased.

Recreational Vehicles

• Auto-Owners also provides coverage for ATVs, dune buggies, mini-bikes, trail bikes – even golf carts and snowmobiles!

Call or stop by our office to learn more!