Tips if it's time for new tires in St. Louis, MO

5 Telltale Signs It May Be Time For New Tires

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Tips if it's time for new tires in St. Louis, MOWhen it comes to vehicle safety, few things are as important as your tires and you should regularly inspect them to ensure they’re in good shape before taking your car out on the road. Tire safety is much more than just tire pressure. Familiarize yourself with these 5 signs that your tires may need to be replaced.

  1. They’re Bald – This is the most obvious, but often time the most overlooked safety hazard. Bald tires can cause hydroplaning, decreased stopping ability and are much more susceptible to flats from road hazards. Any tire shop will happily measure your tread depth. Additionally, your tires are equipped with a Tread Wear indicator that you can easily see yourself. This is a piece of tire that runs perpendicular to your tire tread. If you’ve reached this depth, you’re tires are not safe to drive on.
  2. Cracks – Aged tires, or tires that sit for long periods of times like on travel trailers or utility trailers can develop cracks in the tread. Look carefully in between your tire tread to see if your tires have cracks. If they do, they’re more susceptible to a blow out and should be replaced.
  3. Gouge in Sidewall – We’ve all hit a curb or a big pothole. If you’re inspecting your tires and find a gouge in your sidewall, the tire should be replaced. Sidewalls are thinner than the tread area of your tire and cannot be repaired.
  4. Uneven wear – A vehicle this isn’t properly aligned can cause the tires to wear unevenly which can cause your vehicle to pull in one direction or another. When inspecting your tires, be sure that they are wearing evenly. Additionally, you should align your vehicle every 30,000 miles or so.
  5. You’re driving on a spare – Never drive on a spare tire longer than it takes to get to a safe location. Spare tires are meant to be used for short periods of time and are not intended to be used for regular driving. If you’re driving on a spare tire, get to a tire shop to get a real replacement tire.

Driving can be dangerous, but even more so if you’re driving on tires that are not fit for the road. By inspecting your vehicles tires regularly, you can avoid an accident, hydroplane or another potentially dangerous situation.

Your safety is our top priority and getting you the right insurance is part of that. If you have questions about your auto or other vehicle insurance, contact our agency. We can review your current policy or provide an insurance quote.

Insurance Options in St. Louis, MO

4 Things You Should Complete in the New Year for Your Insurance

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Insurance Options in St. Louis, MOThe start of a New Year always energizes us to start off on the right foot. Whether it’s committing to spend more time with family, exercising more or saving money, New Year’s resolutions are common for everyone. But, what about your insurance policy? Is there something you can do at the start of every year to save money or keep yourself fully protected? We share four items to complete.

Actually Complete a Home Inventory Checklist

Sure, this is always easier said than done. But it doesn’t take as long as you may think. Plus, you would regret NOT doing this if you experience a disaster in your home. You can start by taking pictures of each room in your house. Always include your big ticket items like jewelry, art, electronics, antiques, furniture and anything else you highly value. Get into the habit of taking a picture of your receipts for big ticket items. To keep your home inventory list safe, store it on the cloud or save your documents on a zip drive that’s stored safely.

Keep In Touch With Us

Always keep us up-to-date with your life changes. Are you driving less? Did you remodel your home to add value? Did you purchase big ticket items? By keeping us in the loop, we’ll keep your insurance policy updated, make sure you are fully covered and may be able to find additional discounts.

Ask Us Questions

When you use a local insurance agent instead of purchasing insurance online, you get guidance and professional advice. Do you know exactly what your insurance covers? If you want the cheapest insurance plan, you may not realize what risks you’re taking by opting for less coverage. We never want you to be surprised if you have to file a claim and find out you’re not covered. Did you know if your home experiences a flood or an earthquake, you would need a separate policy to be covered? Continuously ask us questions. You should always know what you are and aren’t covered for with your insurance policy.

Always Ask Before Shopping Around

Did your auto insurance increase $300 this year? It’s normal to think you need to shop your insurance elsewhere. However, being a local insurance agent, we have MANY insurance companies to quote from and it may be as simple as asking us to shop around for similar coverage with other companies. Let us do the shopping for you! As an independent insurance agent, we can review your coverage and ensure you have the best company for your current situation.

By following the four topics above can keep you informed and prepared for any unfortunate situation. If you have questions about your insurance policy, contact Goetz Insurance. We are here to help & ensure you have the right coverage.

Full Coverage Auto Insurance in St. Louis, MO

What is “Full Coverage” Auto Insurance?

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Full Coverage Auto Insurance in St. Louis, MOFull coverage has different meanings to different people. When most people refer to full coverage they’re referring to a mix of insurance coverages to protect their vehicle.  That being said, there is no such thing as “full coverage” just a combination of coverage options that will protect your vehicle as well as others on the road. Let’s look at this closer.

Some coverages such as Bodily Injury and Property Damage (also known as liability insurance) are required by law.  You can choose just how much liability insurance to carry, but at a minimum, this is required by your state law in order to drive your vehicle.

Other coverages such as Collision, Comprehensive, Personal Injury (PIP), MedPay, Roadside Assistance, Rental Reimbursement, and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) are optional coverages in most states. Some states do have laws that also require UM/UIM and PIP/MedPay be purchased.

So, the choice really becomes, “How much insurance do you want?” Deciding on how much insurance you want or need is a combination of factors that only you can decide. A licensed insurance agent can help you decide on what options may be best for your situation, your budget and your needs, but ultimately, the choice is yours to decide.

Contact Goetz Insurance for an auto insurance quote or a review of your current policy. We strive to make sure all of our clients have the proper coverage for their needs.

Six Ways to Avoid a Holiday Decor Disaster In Your Home in St. Louis, MO

Six Ways to Avoid a Holiday Decor Disaster In Your Home

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Six Ways to Avoid a Holiday Decor Disaster In Your Home in St. Louis, MOThe holiday season is here! No matter how you celebrate, you have likely added some holiday décor to your home. Lights, candles and festive plants add a wonderful, warm ambiance to areas of your home but take some extra steps to ensure that your décor pieces don’t wreak havoc on your holiday.

  • Watch for dry needles. Whether it’s your Christmas tree, wreath or garland, chances are they may dry out. If you find that pine needles are falling, clean them up immediately. Dry pine needles increase your risk for a fire hazard. If you find your tree, wreath or garland is extremely dry & it’s decorated with lights dry, toss it – nothing is worth the risk of a fire.
  • Prevent your chance of fires. Christmas lights are bright and festive, but they could put you at the biggest risk for a fire. Check for any wear on the strings, cracked bulbs or any other signs of damage. Don’t try to repair them, instead replace them. LED lights emit less heat, so if you need to make the switch, choose LED lights that have been safety tested. You can read on the box if they have been inspected by looking for an UL logo.
  • Centerpiece Candles! Yes, we all know we should watch our candles. Ensure all candles are kept in a non-flammable holder. However, it’s important to keep a close eye on your centerpiece decoration if you plan to light the candles during your holiday dinner. If the candles burn too long, the centerpiece can catch fire. Even consider battery powered flameless candles. You have to look close to tell they’re not real!
  • Choose a safe spot for your tree. Keep your holiday tree away from your fireplace, radiators, space heaters or any other area in your home where it could catch on fire. It should be at least 3 feet away from any heat source.
  • Be festive, yet smart with your holiday lights. Whether your house looks like the Griswold’s or you just like to put up a single string of lights, your energy bill will increase during the holiday season. To avoid an extremely high electric bill, choose a window of time when your holiday lights will be turned on. For example, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Avoid leaving your lights on all night.
  • Place your holiday plants in a safe place. Choose areas away from young children and pets. Do not leave plants on the floor or a place where a child could easily reach for it.

By taking a few extra steps like unplugging your holiday lights before you go to bed or when you leave the house, can help you avoid a decor disaster this holiday season. Goetz Insurance in St. Louis can assist you with any questions you may have, like “Does my homeowner’ insurance cover accidental fires?” Our expert agents can walk you through your policy and even add additional coverage like personal umbrella insurance should you want extra protection beyond your homeowner’s insurance. Contact us today.

Umbrella Insurance Policy in St Louis, MO

Should I Have an Umbrella Insurance Policy?

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Umbrella Insurance Policy in St Louis, MOAnyone who wishes to protect themselves from major claims or lawsuits, or would like to protect their assets or earnings would benefit from an umbrella insurance policy. Insuring your future is what an umbrella insurance policy can help with by safeguarding your future earnings, your home or cash savings.

When Would I Use My Umbrella Insurance Policy?

A personal umbrella insurance policy covers you when your auto, home or other personal lines insurance policy is exhausted by a covered insurance claim.

Example: You get into a car accident where you are at fault. Your insurance policy covers you for $250,000 in 3rd party damages. However, the other individuals in the car accident needed medical attention & their car was totaled. The total damages for the other party cost $350,000.

You are responsible for the remaining $100,000. If you have an umbrella insurance policy, it would then kick in to cover this excess liability. If you don’t have an umbrella policy, would you be able to foot the bill? If you cannot pay for the remaining balance, a court may issue your future wages to be garnished.

Similarly, homeowners need to protect themselves from a liability claim. Whether you’re hosting a party and serve too much alcohol, have a slip and fall accident on your sidewalk or your dog bites a neighbor, you can be held liable for medical bills, rehabilitation programs and lost wages.

How are you covered?

By purchasing an umbrella policy, you can be covered for the following items:

  • Bodily injury: Medical bills and settlement for injuries sustained to the third party.
  • Property damage: Damages sustained to the property of a third-party.
  • Other damage: Libel & slander, other claims expenses.
  • Legal fees: Hiring an attorney can be expensive. An umbrella insurance policy helps cover the cost.

There are countless situations that can occur and exhaust your current liability limits on your home or auto insurance policy. Good news: umbrella insurance policies are relatively inexpensive, typically starting around $155 per year. Contact an agent at our office for your personalized umbrella insurance quote today. We can help you determine how much coverage you need.