Hey Dude, Where’s My Spare Tire?

 

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

If you’ve been driving for more than a few decades, you’ll remember when every car on the road came with a full-sized spare tire.  Then the auto industry decided to short-sheet every driver by including only a compact spare tire, more commonly referred to by drivers as ‘The Donut.”  While it was better than nothing, every compact spare came with a warning that it shouldn’t be driven at speeds in excess of 50 MPH or for distances greater than 50 miles.  Well, now the automakers are taking the spare tire away altogether in many late-model vehicles.  This means if a tire goes flat, you’ll have only two options: hope that can of Fix-a-Flat will reinflate the tire or call the auto club for a tow.

Driving in the Rain

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

As the saying goes, “When it rains, it pours.”  In Florida, this sometimes means driving in a white squall on the interstate where you can barely see past the hood of your car.  It also means expecting torrential downpours on a nearly daily basis during the summer months.  Due to the nature of the peninsula, you can literally go from having to deal with driving rain to bone dry and back again every mile or so as you head north or south in June, July, and August.  If you’ve ever been stuck in a monster traffic jam caused by a weather-related car crash, then you’ll appreciate today’s ten tips that are designed to help you drive safely in the rain.

COVID and Camping

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

If you own an RV or travel trailer, you’re no doubt itching to get back on the road this summer.  Like everything else, the Coronavirus spoiled last year’s camping season. That meant everything from national parks to campgrounds was closed due to COVID-19.  The good news is that 2021 is seeing the lifting of restrictions, although it’s still on a case-by-case basis.  If you’re planning on taking to the road this summer, I thought I’d give you a few pointers that will help make your camping trip a success.

Tired of Spam Calls, Texts & Email?

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that at least half the calls & texts that come in on my cellphone every day are spam.  It turns out I’m not alone.  In 2019, more than 63 billion spam calls were received by Americans. This resulted in 43 million consumers being scammed for $10.5 billion.  While the statistics for 2020 have yet to be released, you can be assured that as a result of COVID-19, the numbers are only going to go up.  If you’re sick and tired of receiving spam calls, texts and emails, here are some helpful tips.

How Business Insurance Helps Owners Bounce Back from the Brink

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

A year after COVID-19 reared its ugly head, business owners are still reeling from its effects.  With more consumers staying home, every business from restaurants and travel to retail have found their profits way off. Even many service-based businesses have seen profit margins plummet due to the pandemic.  While this health crisis is unprecedented, it isn’t the only disaster that business owners have faced in recent years.  Less than four years ago, we in North Florida had to deal with the destruction caused by Hurricane Irma which hit a year after Hurricane Matthew.  While some businesses were forced to close their doors after they blew threw town, others were able to weather the storm, especially those who had business insurance.  If you own a business and don’t want to be derailed by disaster, let me show you what you need to know.

The ABCs of Boat Insurance

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

It may only be early March, but already the temperatures in northeast Florida are in the mid to upper seventies.  That’ means it won’t be long before boaters take to the water.  If you own a boat or are thinking of purchasing a boat, there are a few things you need to know about boat insurance, especially if you don’t want your weekend hobby to interfere with your full-time profession.  Like it or not, every time you go out on the water you are taking a risk that you could find yourself in a situation where your boat either sinks or has a run-in with another watercraft.  Even the most experienced boaters can have an incident on the water that causes either they or their passengers to get injured or even killed.  Should worst come to worst, you want to make sure that you’re covered for any liability.  If not, you could find your boat has gotten you into hot water.

Moving Out of State? Here's What You Need to Know About Auto Insurance.

 By Catherine Powell

Moving from one state to another is always an adventure.  There’s so much to do and so much to learn when you move out of state.  You’ll not only have to adapt to unfamiliar geography, but you may also have to deal with a new climate.  I know I did when I moved to Florida from the northeast twenty-three years ago.  Not that I miss slip-sliding through snow and ice.  But the long, hot Florida summers took some getting used to.  When it comes to settling in after an interstate move, don’t forget you only have a limited amount of time to register your vehicles and get new license plates.  You’ll also need to let your insurance company know about the move as well.  Here are a few things you’ll also need to know that can affect your auto insurance coverage.