Safety precautions to take when driving an RV in Scotia, NY

Driving an RV is one of the most exciting experiences, particularly when traveling with your family. However, safety should be in your mind at all times as it is easy to get distracted when driving. Safety precautions, preparations, and planning are essential for a successful trip. So, what are the necessary precautions to take when driving an RV? Read on to find out.

Make Sure You Have Adequate RV Insurance

The best way to stay safe on the roads is by having enough insurance—that’s why auto insurance is mandatory in most states. If you are looking to tour around the vast Scotia NY, you may want to check your RV insurance coverages to know what is covered.

DePaulo Agency can also help you with all information you need to get RV insurance if you don’t have a policy yet. Make sure your insurance covers every aspect of your RV and add extra coverages such as towing and other emergency services.

Always Conduct a Pre-drive Safety Check Before Leaving

Don’t just hop into your RV and drive off. Recreational vehicles are complicated homes on wheels, and it’s easy to forget or skip some safety checks. Simple forgetfulness such as leaving doors unlatched is enough to cause damage and loss worth millions. Keep a pre-trip checklist and inspect your RV thoroughly before leaving.

Know Your Height

Sounds pretty obvious, but it’s surprising how people forget the extra height of an RV and end up hitting overhangs and bridges. A typical RV is about 8.5 ft. wide, and the typical highway lane is 10 ft wide. This provides you with 1.5 ft. to work with. Additionally, there are road signs and exits to help if you are not sure.

Drive Defensively

Driving an RV means driving safely by staying in your lane and maintaining the required speed, especially when leaving and entering highways. When speeding, the weight behind you may slow down your braking, which can easily lead to accidents. You also need to keep a greater distance from the cars in front of you.

 Need more safety information on precautions to take when driving an RV in Scotia, NY? DePaulo Agency can help answer all your questions and help you find a policy that matches your needs, style, and budget.

Are you thinking about starting a business? Then it might be a good idea to go ahead and purchase umbrella insurance from our DePaulo Agency team. Here’s what you need to know.

What is Umbrella Insurance?

You already have a personal level of liability coverage through your auto and home insurance policies. And, once you start your business, you’ll have liability coverage through your commercial insurance. However, there is still a chance that an accident involving your new endeavor could hurt your personal financial wellbeing.

An umbrella policy acts as an additional extension of your personal liability policies. If something happens with your business and you’re facing a lawsuit, your umbrella insurance acts as an additional layer of protection. 

Is Umbrella Insurance Required for Business Owners?

No, there’s no mandate or rule that says umbrella insurance is required for business owners. The truth, though, is that it is always a good idea to have this type of policy. And this is only amplified if you’re in a line of work that involves meeting with customers at your location, doing work on their property, or if you have employees.

Depending on your industry, you might have a higher level of risk associated with how you make money. For example, if you own an auto repair shop or if you trim trees at customer locations, you have a higher chance of something happening than if you’re doing clerical work. If this is the case, you’ll definitely want to make sure you talk to your Scotia, NY insurance team about whether having an umbrella insurance policy is a necessity.

Our Scotia, NY Insurance Team Can Help

At the DePaulo Agency, we want to help you make solid decisions in protecting your new business endeavor. To learn more about umbrella insurance, commercial liability insurance, or any other type of coverage, please contact us today.

In the Scotia, NY area, enjoying the warm and sunny weather that exists during the summer and fall months can be a great option and way to enjoy the area. One way that you can do this is by owning and purchasing a motorcycle. If you are going to purchase a motorcycle in this area, it is also important that you get the right insurance for it. There are several situations when someone should get a motorcycle insurance policy here.

Those that Want to Use on Public Road Need Coverage

One situation when you will need to get a motorcycle insurance policy is when you want to use your motorcycle on a public road. Anyone that wants to operate any type of vehicle in New York will need to comply with the state’s laws regarding liability coverage. If you do not continue to maintain this protection, you will be in violation of state law and could end up being fined. 

Those that Take Out a Loan

You will also need to get motorcycle insurance if you are going to take out a loan. Anyone that would like to purchase a motorcycle should consider taking advantage of low-interest rates provided by lenders. However, if you do take out a loan, you should carefully consider your insurance needs. Any lender will require that you maintain a full motorcycle insurance policy at all times as it will ensure their collateral is protected.

If you do want motorcycle insurance in Scotia, NY, you should call the team at DePaulo Agency. The insurance team at DePaulo Agency knows how important it is that you get proper insurance coverage for your asset. They will help you to evaluate your different insurance options and ensure you pick a policy that meets your needs. 

Why should you still have insurance for a boat when it’s in storage? This can be a tricky matter and though it’s not typically mandatory, it is a good idea. You can discuss your boat insurance needs with a Scotia, NY insurance agent from DePaulo Agency to determine what’s in your best interest.

Risks Out of the Water

Boat insurance should have minimum protection from theft, fire, and vandalism. Since these things can happen year-round and are more likely when boatyards are unattended (which happens often in the Winter), you’d do well to have coverage for this time.

There’s No Off-Season When It Comes to Mother Nature

Your watercraft can get damaged from natural disasters at any time of the year. This includes flooding, hurricanes, and wildfires or fires started by a storm. When you have boat insurance you’ll have thousands of dollars in protection for replacements and repairs.

Homeowner’s Insurance Doesn’t Cover It All

When you have your boat stored in your home garage or elsewhere on your property, you may think it’s covered by homeowner’s insurance. This simply isn’t the case though you may have some coverage in place as long as it’s on your property at the time. Boat insurance typically will give you a higher amount and provide collision damage, property damage liability, bodily injury liability, and comprehensive coverage.

It Makes More Sense to Have Year-Round Insurance

If you cancel your policy during the Winter only to re-start it in the Spring, this can be more expensive. It’s best to talk to your independent agent to find out what your options are in this situation.

Reach out to professionals in the insurance industry at DePaulo Agency of the Scotia, NY area. You can get assistance with your questions and concerns about boat insurance.

While RV coverage will vary from one policy to the next depending on what each consumer purchases, there are coverages that are included on nearly every RV insurance policy. Generally speaking, RV insurance always includes some level of coverage for liability, collision, and comprehensive. After that, most insurance companies offer a number of additional coverages that can be purchased so that policyholders can customize policies to meet their needs whether they have a motorhome, 5th wheeler, or travel trailer. 

Given the size of an RV, it’s not surprising that your personal auto insurance is unlikely to carry over to such a large vehicle. Additionally, you may not want to mirror the coverage of your existing auto policy to an RV because the average cost of an accident in a motorhome is significantly higher. Consequently, having enough comprehensive, collision, and liability coverage to protect yourself, your occupants and other people on the road is imperative. 

At the DePaulo Agency in Scotia, NY, our RV insurance will protect you in nearly every situation. For instance, if an uninsured driver hits your RV you will be compensated for the damage up to the limits of a policy. Additionally, damage caused by an animal, weather or if your vehicle is stolen is all covered under comprehensive coverage. 

When it comes to finding an RV insurance policy, come to the place that NY residents have been trusting for years – the DePaulo Agency. We have a talented team of insurance professionals with years of experience in the field who are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to assist. Give us a call today and we’ll help you customize an RV policy that is perfect for your needs.

Just as every business differs from the next, so do the insurance needs of each business. The selection of types of business insurance remains vast. Your business will not require every type of business insurance. Let DePaulo Agency of Scotia, NY help you better understand which choices best suit your business.

• Business owner’s policy (BOP): a money-saving bundle combining the four most needed policies to protect the business’ property and liability.
• Builder’s risk or Construction insurance: covers commercial buildings under construction.
• Business interruption insurance: real property insurance the pays for repairing or replacing real property damaged by a named peril plus lost income from the business interruption.
• Commercial auto: full coverage policies for the business fleet that covers each licensed driver operating a fleet vehicle.
• Crime insurance reimburses a business’s losses from burglary, theft, robbery, and other property crime.
• Debris removal insurance: covers costs of debris removal following a named peril so that construction can take place.
• Directors’ and officers’ liability policy: insures the company for the settlements of lawsuits involving the corporation’s or non-profit’s C-level officers and directors plus the attorney fees and court costs.
• Equipment breakdown or boiler and machinery insurance: covers costs of repair or replacement of boilers, machinery and other equipment plus business interruption losses.
• Errors and omissions insurance  (E & O): typically carried by doctors, lawyers, manufacturing firms, publications, etc. to cover settlements when an accidental error injures a third-party.
• Glass insurance: pays for the replacement of plate glass and windows damaged by named perils.
• Inland marine insurance: pays for damage to third party property in transit and stored at the business.
• Liability insurance: pays for injury to a third party caused by the business.
• Professional liability or malpractice: pays for the settlement, business losses, court costs, and attorney fees due to injury to a third party caused by a professional failing to provide an appropriate standard of care.
• Ordinance or law insurance: pays for the demolition and reconstruction of a damaged structure that must be brought up to updated building code standards. 
• Property insurance: pays for personal or real property damage.
• Tenant’s insurance: covers the repair of damage to the lessee’s building improvements made by employees of the lessee.
• Workers’ compensation insurance: pays for employees’ medical care and lost wages when they incur a workplace injury or illness.

Stop by or call DePaulo Agency of Scotia, NY today to learn more about insuring your business. We can provide the insurance policies you need to protect your business. Contact us today.

If you are a tenant in Scotia, NY, then you probably know that anything could go wrong with your rented apartment. In most cases, the landlord insurance covers most of the items that could go wrong with the building. Even with landscaping issues, you would probably have a professional third party for your services. It is easy to forget about your own insurance coverage.

Understanding your renter’s insurance

To be able to access reliable renters insurance, you need to put into account two essential considerations: the value of your property and the risk of property damage. First off, you need to create an inventory of all your personal items such that you know exactly what your personal property is worth.

You will find that through the accumulative purchase of personal items, you are probably worth more than you think. As such you cannot afford to risk your worth and/or property value, in case of any mishap within your rented apartment. Your property worth is your guide towards acquiring the best renters insurance available in Scotia NY.

The DePaulo Agency has a comprehensive range of policies that would cover the relative needs of your insurance cover. In fact, the DePaulo Agency has provisions for personal rental services that contribute to various risks such as slippery floors. Further, you can be able to update your personal inventory records when you add new items to your collection.

Bottom line

The best renter’s insurance agency should offer the relative worth of all the personal items in your inventory. Basically, your renter’s insurance should be able to cover the typical exposures to any liability lawsuits. Visit us today.

Umbrella insurance is one of the least understood types of insurance. Many people are not quite sure what it is, how it works, and if it is something that might be right for them. At the DePaulo Agency in Scotia, NY, we are dedicated to providing our customers with the highest level of customer service and we work with them to create the perfect coverage for their specific situation. We carry umbrella insurance and we know how valuable it can be to your financial security and it will be our pleasure to help you to understand how it can fit into your financial plans. 

Think about umbrella insurance as you would about a big umbrella that would offer you protection from a heavy rainstorm. You wouldn’t want to deal with driving rain without one. The same way that an umbrella protects your clothes, umbrella insurance protects your assets. An umbrella insurance policy is not a stand-alone policy, it is an excess liability policy that goes along with a policy you already have. It can be private or commercial depending on what your needs are. 

When you are involved with legal action against you, the liability portion of your primary policy will kick in. Given the level that some suits can reach these days, the judgment and the expenses can go beyond the limit of your policy. That is where your umbrella policy comes in. It will cover dollar amounts above and beyond your primary policy. A typical umbrella policy is anywhere between one and five million dollars. If you have assets, an umbrella can be a lifesaver.

When you are ready to discuss your insurance needs, the experienced agents at the DePaulo Agency in Scotia, NY are ready and willing to answer any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you and setting up an appointment. 

A motorcycle road trip is a great way to kick off the spring season. Advanced planning is the key to making your road trip a success, especially if it’s your first time out on the open road. These tips from DePaulo Agency in Scotia, NY can help you prepare for your road trip travels.

Service Your Bike

Make sure your motorcycle is working at top capacity before hitting the road. Check the fluids, valves, fuel system, electrical system and tires to avoid mechanical problems when you’re far from home. If you’re not used to long-distance travel, take a few practice runs before your trip to see if you need to adapt your bike to make it more comfortable for long-distance riding.

Plan Routes

Plan your routes and take a GPS to keep you on track. Keep to safe roads that are well-traveled. Pace yourself and plan your rest stops and where you’ll spend the night in advance to avoid getting stranded without accommodations.

Wear Protective Gear

Wear protective gear for your road trip to include a full-face helmet, leather jacket, jeans, riding boots, and gloves. Bring extra gloves in case one pair gets torn or lost and rain gaiters, jacket and pants in case you get caught in rainy weather.

Invest in a Waterproof Travel Bag

Waterproof backpacks or travel bags make good choices for packing clothes and necessities like cell phones, glasses, toiletries, maps and insurance papers for your travels. Secure your travel bag to your bike with bungee cords so it doesn’t blow off. Bring a first aid kit to handle minor injuries on the road.

Purchase Motorcycle Insurance

Make sure you have adequate motorcycle insurance coverage to protect you against any eventuality on the road. For help in selecting the policy you need, contact DePaulo Agency in Scotia, NY.

If you live in Scotia, NY, you’re lucky to get out on the lake for 6 months out of the year. Even then, it never feels like you have enough time to enjoy your boat. It feels like your boat spends more time moored and in storage than in use. It seems like a waste to pay boat insurance for the entire year. Are there any good reasons to carry insurance for the entire year? Unfortunately, canceling it might only not save you money, but it could get you in trouble.

If you still owe on your boat, you are most likely required as part of the terms of the loan to carry insurance at all times until the loan is entirely paid off. As long as the lender has an interest in the boat, they can require you to meet certain conditions. If you keep your boat at a marina, the marina might also require you to keep insurance on your boat. Whether your boat is stored at home, in a storage space, or at a marina, it is still vulnerable to vandalism, fire, and theft, which can happen anywhere at any time. You don’t want to take that risk and losing all the money you’ve put into your boat.

Your homeowner’s policy through DePaulo Agency probably offers limited coverage for your boat. However, it won’t cover the kinds of events boat insurance normally covers, like collisions with other boats. The boat will have to be on your property to qualify, and even then probably won’t have full protection.

If you have boat insurance in Scotia, NY, it is probably more cost-effective to carry it year-round. DePaulo Agency can offer discounts for many reasons, including a history of paying your premium claim-free. If you would like to see how you can save money on boat insurance, call us today.