Statistics show that 70% of those shopping for insurance, do it online. 58% who buy, do it within the 1st hour of shopping. Are you one of those? So how do you know if you are making the right decision without talking or seeing anyone?

1. Google York Pa Insurance – Just by doing this, you will discover there are many insurance companies in the York area. Click on several of them and go to their websites. See what types of insurance they offer, how many years of experience they have, and determine if their company if reputable.

By going to their website, you can see what types of insurance they offer. You can also determine if their will they offer a discount if you purchase several types of insurance such as car, homeowners, life, etc.

Ways in determining if it is a reputable company is by checking out their financial ratings through agencies such as Moody’s or Standard & Poor. These companies can also be googled.

2. Is the company you found online in a well-known company? There are several major insurance companies. You see them all the time on television commercials. In York Pennsylvania, there are many local companies that represent a larger company. Make sure the company you have googled is represented by a national insurance company in the event you need them for a claim and you are protected.

3. Apply for a quote online with several companies in York Pa. See how fast you get an answer. Remember not all insurance companies are going to be the same. Be certain to compare them “apples to apples”. Many companies do offer different deductibles, options and limits so you will need to take this into consideration when making your choice. If you have any questions, email them.

4. Does the insurance agent in York Pa have a Facebook or My Space account? Social networking is huge and people tend to want to know other things about their agents. You can learn a lot from someone’s social networking pages. Google the insurance agent’s name.

Be a part of the 70% that shops online for insurance. Use these tips and start googling York PA Insurance today to get your quotes.

By: Steve Horning

We insure our homes our cars, our luggage and our lives on a daily basis. We don’t particularly enjoy paying insurance, but we know we need it in case any disaster strikes. Freight insurance is just as important, as there is always the possibility of cargo on shipping freights being damaged lost or stolen, even though the chances of this happening are minimal.

Clearing agents are vital when it comes to shipping of business or personal items from one country to another. Freight insurance is an agreement between yourself and an insurance company that states that if any of your cargo is damaged, lost or stolen during transportation, you will be adequately compensated. Insurance for freight transportation is more important than you may think. Insurance can be bought to cover cargo transported by truck, ship or train and is especially important if you want to transport your cargo for business purposes.

There are various dynamics that determine the type and the cost of freight insurance that you will need. One of the most important determining factors is the cargo value. The type of product will establish how vulnerable it is to damage. The distance travelled will also impact the price you will pay. Other factors that might contribute to the price of insurance include how the cargo is packaged and what mode of transportation you choose.

Contacting an insurance agent that specialises in freight insurance will help you choose a relevant policy that is best for you and your cargo shipping needs.

By: Lauren Potgieter

First, we need to make a distinction between an insurance “broker” and an insurance “agent.” In the insurance business, an agent is in partnership with one or more insurance companies. A dedicated agent has a contract with a single company, normally an insurance business that prefers exclusivity, and can only sell the insurance products of that company. An independent agent may work with a large number of companies, including AIG, CHUBB, and The Hartford, to name only a few.

A broker does not work for an insurance business but instead for a client in the market to obtain insurance. So if a new business owner wanted to purchase commercial liability insurance, a broker would not be restricted to only those insurance products sold by his or her partners as an agent would be, but could check with any commercial liability insurance provider. Brokers tend to work with non-standard, “excess and surplus” line insurance providers. These firms specialize in unusual coverage, often for emerging technologies, and generally do not enter into agreements with agents. For example, if XYZ company created a new kind of communication equipment where the potential liability risks were unknown, XYZ would most likely need to approach a broker in order to buy commercial liability insurance.

The best way to get started as a broker in the insurance business is to get a job with an established broker. There are many classes you can take on commercial liability insurance and a great deal of research you can do on the existing excess and surplus carriers, but having theoretical knowledge isn’t enough to make you a successful broker. An established broker can introduce you to the people in the insurance business. After all, it is a surprisingly small world and your future success depends on the associations you make. Additionally, an established broker can steer you past the many pitfalls inherent to the industry, mistakes that could cost a client his business. It is best to make these mistakes with someone experienced at your side to catch them and instruct you as to how to avoid them. And, more importantly, you don’t want to make these mistakes when you’re the one paying for the errors and omissions policy, because once you are on your own, the first thing you’ll need to do is get your own errors and omissions coverage. After all, even people in the insurance business need to have insurance. Any broker you work for will probably ask you to sign a limited term non-competition contract, but these usually only apply to businesses within the same state.

A broker, like an agent, is licensed by the state, with the assumption that the broker resides in the same state they do business in. Each state has its own requirements, which generally include a fee and a specified minimum level of education. An insurance business license must be renewed regularly, and continuing education courses may be required as part of the renewal requirements.

You may apply for a non-resident license, but do keep in mind that other states may have different licensure qualifications. Licensing information can be found on most states’ insurance department websites. Additionally, if you intend to work in a different state, you will find it useful to have an agreement with an in-state brokerage firm for tax purposes. And if you move to a new state, you will need to get a certificate of license status from your previous state where you were licensed in order to prove that you were a broker in good standing.




By: James Cochran