Giles & Iten Insurance

Is my Chevy Nova eligible for classic car insurance?

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Classic car insurance is often misunderstood. Although it has many of the same benefits as traditional car insurance, there are specific differences. However, each insurance agency defines its own eligibility requirements for classic car insurance. Also, it should be noted that not all old cars are eligible for classic car insurance. Our Giles & Iten Insurance team is invested in helping Surprise, AZ drivers understand classic car insurance.

What is classic car insurance?

Classic car insurance is designed for cars between 20 and 45 years old. Like conventional car insurance, classic car insurance provides liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage. However, classic car insurance provides other forms of specialized coverage as well. The car owner and the insurance company determine the value of a classic car. If anything happens to the car, the agreed-upon value of the vehicle that the owner is given. Typically, classic cars must be kept near the original condition with the original specs. However, the individual insurance company determines whether a vehicle meets the insurance company’s eligibility requirements. Also, classic cars aren’t driven full-time. They are typically driven as a second car. Some car models are more likely to be considered classic as well.

I have an old beat-up Chevy Nova. Am I eligible for classic car insurance?

A car’s age is just one of the determining factors when it comes to classic car insurance eligibility. If your vehicle is in poor condition, a classic car insurance company may likely find it ineligible for classic car insurance. Also, some car models receive the classic stamp more often than others. Also, if your older car is being driven as your primary form of transportation, it wouldn’t fall into the classic car category. If you have more questions about classic car insurance, call us. We’d be happy to explain how classic car insurance works. 

How Much RV Insurance is Adequate?

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So you’ve purchased an RV. You’re probably very proud of your purchase because now you can travel anywhere and avoid paying lodging costs while keeping your dining costs to a minimum. Now that you’ve purchased your RV before you head out on your first trip, you need to consider what type of insurance you should get. How much RV insurance is adequate? Here is an overview that can help you make this determination so you’ll have ample coverage for your new "hotel on wheels." 

What’s the Value of Your RV?

The first step to purchasing the proper recreational vehicle insurance is to determine its value. To be as accurate as possible, it’s best to have your RV appraised by a professional. Once the value has been adequately determined, you can then share this paperwork with your insurance company to assist them with providing you with an accurate quote. 

Are You Making Payments on Your RV?

While comprehensive or collision coverage isn’t required, even if you’re making payments on your RV, if you’re traveling regularly using it, you should certainly consider more than just the minimum coverage. Since accidents, vandalism, weather, and other events can’t be predicted, it’s better to be safe than sorry when adding collision and comprehensive insurance to your policy. When you’re on the road, you want to relax and enjoy being on vacation, not constantly worrying about any damage your RV could incur. 

Like your car or truck, you need reliable insurance coverage for your RV before you head out on the road. Giles & Iten Insurance would happily have you as a customer if you’re looking for a new insurance agent. Serving the Surprise, AZ area, Giles & Iten has knowledgeable and helpful professional agents who are eager to answer all your questions and provide you with a quote.

How does umbrella insurance benefit retirees?

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If you are retired, you likely want to spend your time pursuing your interests rather than worrying about money. Yet, despite having all the standard insurance coverage, you may leave yourself exposed without umbrella insurance. So, let’s take a minute to review how umbrella insurance is especially valuable for protecting seniors. Then, after reviewing this article, take a moment to contact Giles & Iten Insurance, serving Surprise, AZ, to discuss whether to include umbrella insurance in your insurance plan.

How Umbrella Insurance Helps Seniors

Those who reach retirement age know that accidents happen, and we buy insurance to protect against the unexpected. Since Arizona is an “at-fault state,” your auto insurance policy handles your liability for accidents where you have responsibility. Likewise, the liability portion of your home insurance covers injuries that occur in your home.

In most situations, your home and auto policy typically limits cover whatever liability you may have. However, by misfortune, your liability could exceed the standard policy limits, meaning you must pay the difference using your savings or by selling your assets, including your home. These situations can leave you vulnerable since most seniors are past their prime earning years.

Umbrella insurance protects against these situations because it provides coverage when you exceed your standard coverage limits. The good news is that these situations are uncommon. The result is that umbrella insurance is relatively inexpensive, yet it provides an extra layer of financial protection and the comfort of knowing you have protection against almost any misfortune.

Working With Giles & Iten Insurance

Knowing you and your family are protected is comforting in a world where anything can happen. So take a minute to call Giles & Iten Insurance, serving Surprise, AZ, to discuss the protection offered by umbrella insurance.

The difference between whole life and term life policies

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Regarding life insurance, the two most popular types of policies at Giles & Iten Insurance are term life and whole life here in the Surprise, AZ area. While both provide financial protection for you and your family in the event of your death, there are some significant differences between them. 

Term life insurance is a type of policy that offers coverage for a predetermined length of time, such as 10, 20, or 30 years. If you die during the term of the policy, your beneficiaries will receive a death benefit. These policies are more cost-effective than whole-life policies because they don’t build up cash value over time.

In comparison, whole life insurance provides lifelong coverage – so long as premiums are paid on time – and builds up cash value over time. If you cancel the policy, you will receive a portion of the accumulated cash value as a return premium. Whole-life policies are more expensive than term-life policies because they offer lifelong coverage and accumulate cash value. 

Ultimately, which type of policy is best for you depends on your individual needs and lifestyle. Before making any decisions about purchasing either type of policy, speak with an experienced agent who can help assess your situation and make recommendations accordingly.

For more information or to speak to an agent about what type of policy is best for you, call us at Giles & Iten Insurance today. We are proud to serve the Surprise, AZ area and would be happy to help you find a policy that meets your needs and budget.

Top Three Risks For Teen Drivers

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Putting your teen on the road to drive can be a nerve-racking experience. Here at Giles & Iten Insurance, we want to help parents in Suprise, AZ, and the surrounding areas learn better ways to prepare their teens for driving. Keep reading to learn more about the top three risks for teen drivers. 

Texting and Driving

Although you have probably heard this a million times, texting and driving is still one of the top risks for teens. Teens struggle to understand how distracting texting or using a phone while driving can be. It is essential that you keep a running dialogue going with your teen concerning this danger. 

Distracted Driving

Although texting is a considerable risk, it is not the only way your teen might get distracted while driving. Having other teens in the vehicle can also be a huge distraction. It is important that you enforce smart rules concerning who can be in the vehicle with your teen while they are still becoming confident drivers. 

Speeding 

Teens are almost hardwired to push limits, including the speed limit. It would be best to have hard and fast consequences for speeding violations. Getting a ticket may not be enough to deter your teen from speeding effectively. Make sure that consequences are fair and meaningful. 

Substance Use 

Although not as common as some of the risks mentioned above, driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol can also be a huge risk for teen drivers. Be sure your teen understands the immediate and long-term consequences of these actions. 

If you would like to learn about auto insurance, please get in touch with us at Giles & Iten Insurance, serving Surprise, AZ, and the surrounding areas. 

Protect Your Bottom Line From Unexpected Setbacks With Commercial Insurance

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No business is immune from the occasional setback. Whether it’s a natural disaster, a slip and fall on your premises, or a lawsuit from a disgruntled customer, commercial insurance in Surprise, AZ can help protect your business from the financial ruin of these unexpected events. 

What is Commercial Insurance?

Commercial insurance is property and casualty insurance that helps protect businesses from financial losses resulting from accidents, natural disasters, theft, and lawsuits. 

Many types of commercial insurance policies are available, and the coverage they provide will vary depending on the insurer. Some common types of coverage include: 

  • Property damage: This covers repairs or replacement costs for damaged property belonging to the business, such as buildings, equipment, inventory, and furniture. 
  • Business interruption: This covers lost income and expenses incurred due to having to suspend operations due to an insured event. 
  • Liability: This covers costs associated with third-party injuries or property damage caused by the business’s negligence. 
  • Professional liability: This covers errors or omissions made by doctors, lawyers, and accountants. 

At Giles & Iten Insurance Agency, our experienced agents can help you find the right commercial insurance policy for your Surprise, AZ business to ensure it has the proper protection.

Why Do I Need Commercial Insurance? 

No matter how well you run your business, there’s always the potential for something to go wrong. And if you’re not correctly insured, you could be left footing the bill for damages or legal fees that could easily bankrupt your company. 

Commercial insurance can help give you peace of mind knowing that you’re prepared for whatever comes your way. And if something does happen, having commercial insurance can help ensure your business has the financial resources it needs to get back up and running quickly. 

Contact Giles & Iten Insurance today to get started!

Five Ways to Get Your Home Ready for Summer

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Ready for summer in Surprise, AZ? You might be, but your home needs a little help! In addition to finding a good insurance policy through Giles & Iten Insurance, you also need to take a few steps to weatherproof your home.

Here are a few ways to prepare your home for the summer heat.

1. Insulation

Adding an additional insulative layer can help you to lower your energy bills because the air conditioner won’t need to run as frequently. The good news is that you may not even need to do this for every area of your home, so you can also save on the upfront cost of insulation.

2. Air Filter

Your home’s air filter needs to be replaced before summer starts. Why? Collected debris can reduce the amount of air that can flow freely throughout your home, which could mean that the air conditioner needs to stay on longer than necessary.

3. Ceiling Fans

During warmer months, it’s best to rotate your ceiling fans counterclockwise. This will help direct the airflow downward and optimize the cool air distribution in each room when your AC is on.

4. Thermostat

Be sure to adjust your thermostat before temperatures rise to ensure your air conditioner is functioning correctly.

5. Cleaning

With all of the additional airflow introduced into your home during the summer, you will want to clean off excess dust around your home so that you aren’t sneezing whenever the fan is on.

Summer will be blazing hot in Surprise, AZ! After your home is ready for summertime, be sure to contact Giles & Iten Insurance for more information about homeowners insurance.

How to prepare your car for winter

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Once you have taken care of all the big maintenance tasks, there are smaller things to consider when prepping your car for winter. Here are a few tips from Giles & Iten Insurance to make sure you are ready for the winter weather:

  • Ensuring your tires are correctly inflated is essential, as this can significantly improve traction and reduce fuel consumption.
  • Tire treads should be checked frequently to ensure they meet safety standards; winter conditions require more grip than summer.
  • You should also inspect your windshield wipers and replace them if necessary – during the winter, road grime and rain will put extra strain on these vital components.
  • Finally, check that all lights are working so you remain visible on the roads at night or during poor weather conditions. If any of your bulbs need replacing, now is a great time to do it!

Having your car ready for winter keeps you safe and increases your vehicle’s longevity. Taking a few extra steps can ensure you remain safe and warm on the roads throughout the season. By taking care of these small tasks and the larger maintenance jobs, you can be confident that your car is prepared for whatever winter throws at it! Investing just a bit of time now will save you time, money, and hassle down the line. So check those items off your list before colder weather arrives! 

For more auto insurance, call us at Giles & Iten Insurance today. We proudly serve the Surprise, AZ area. 

Required Commercial Insurance in Arizona

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In Arizona, there may be types of commercial insurance that you are required to have for a business. When you are required to have certain types of policies, you can come to us to get the policies you need.

Call us at Giles & Iten Insurance in Surprise, AZ. We can help you obtain the policies that are required as well as any other coverage that you want to protect yourself and your business. 

Workers’ Compensation InsuranceWorkers’‘ compensation insurance is required for all Arizona businesses employing at least one person. This can be full-time or part-time employees. This excludes occasional workers, casual workers, or independent contractors. It also doesn’t apply to domestic workers who work inside a home. When you have any number of regular employees, make sure you have this insurance in place to keep your business legal and to avoid fines and other problems. 

Commercial Auto Insurance

This is a type of insurance that is required by the state for all vehicles that are owned by an Arizona business. When a car is business owned, it must have at least the minimum required auto insurance, but you can add more coverage if you choose. Companies often choose to add other types of auto coverage so that they have better coverage for their investment in the vehicle. The policy must have property damage and bodily injury liability coverages. You can also choose to get comprehensive and/or collision insurance. 

Get Coverage for Your Business

If you own a business in Arizona, there are certain types of commercial insurance that you need to have in place. When you’re looking for the insurance you need, you can contact us at Giles & Iten Insurance in Surprise, AZ.

Tips to Help Extend the Lifespan of Your Home’s Siding

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One of the reasons why water damage and mold can occur in a home is that cracks in a home’s siding allow water or moisture to enter. Ensuring your siding is in good condition now and for years to come is one of the best ways to prevent this issue. Here at Giles & Iten Insurance, serving the greater Surprise, AZ area, we want to help you learn how to care for your siding and help it last. Here are a few tips that may help you extend the lifespan of your home’s siding. 

Inspect Your Siding At Least Once Every Season

At least once every season, you should walk around your home and examine your siding. Look for loose panels or boards, cracking or chipping, or signs of water damage. This should also be completed after large storms. 

Have Your Siding Professionally Cleaned Annually

Another way to extend the lifespan of your siding is to have your siding professionally cleaned at least once a year. Removing dirt, pollen, dust, and other residue helps your siding to look its best while also helping it last. 

Be Mindful Of What Is Up Against Your Home’s Siding

The final tip to help extend the lifespan of your home’s siding is to be mindful of what you place on your home’s siding. Placing items such as a hot barbeque or grill against your siding can damage it. Always be aware of what you put against the siding and ensure it will not damage the siding. 

Properly caring for your siding is one of the best ways to help your siding to last. This can help prevent water damage or mold that occurs when your siding is old, cracked, or worn. At Giles & Iten Insurance, serving the residents of Surprise, AZ, we want to help you care for your home and ensure you have the right home insurance policy. If you are in the market for a new insurance policy, call us today, and let’s work together to find you the right insurance policy.