Franklin Insurance Agency

2345 Southern Blvd SE Ste C4,
Rio Rancho, NM 87124, United States

Mobile MapGet Directions
  • American Modern
  • BTIS
  • CNA
  • Dairyland
  • Encompass
  • Hagerty
  • Liberty Mutual
  • Metlife
  • Nationwide
  • Progressive
  • RLI
  • Safeco
  • Stillwater
  • The Hartford
  • Travelers

Should You Get Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

If you have taken the steps to get the right auto insurance, it is likely that you expect others to have gone through the process too. You expect that when somebody else hits you, they will be responsible for your injuries and property damage. In some cases, things simply do not go the way they should.

Franklin Insurance Agency, which serves Rio Rancho, NM, understands your needs as a driver. It’s normal to have questions about coverage, including optional insurance coverage.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage Protects You

Many people do not realize that uninsured motorist coverage does not protect other drivers. It actually protects you, ensuring that you do not get stuck paying the bill for your own vehicle’s repairs and your own medical bills when somebody else causes an accident.

As a result, you are in a less stressful predicament. Getting uninsured motorist coverage is simply one of the safest options, and it could very well protect you from facing financial hardship in the future. Your coverage may provide you with the protection you need when other drivers do not do their part to protect you.

Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Right for You?

Many people do not think they will ever encounter a situation in which an uninsured motorist hits them, but it happens every day. You can be proactive by taking all measures possible to protect yourself before you ever get into an accident in the first place.

Are you still unsure about whether buying this kind of policy provides the coverage you need? Franklin Insurance Agency serving Rio Rancho, NM can help you decide if you should add uninsured motorist coverage to your policy.

Auto Insurance Explained

It is vital to acquire car insurance that suits your needs and lifestyle. Having auto insurance in Rio Rancho, NM is paramount. Regrettably, many Rio Rancho NM residents are unaware of the type of insurance they are supposed to buy to suit their needs. Whether you are a seasoned driver driving an old car or a new car owner, you require prolific auto insurance from Franklin Insurance Agency to cushion you and your expensive asset from impending perils like accidents and theft. 

Is Auto Insurance Mandatory in New Mexico?

Like many states, auto insurance is legally required in New Mexico. Car owners are expected to maintain minimum liability coverages in their auto insurance policy. These minimum requirements include bodily injury and property damage liabilities. Hitting the roads of New Mexico without these mandated requirements may attract stiff consequences like fines and license suspension. There are several auto insurance coverages, including.

Collision coverage: It pays for repairing or replacing your car after a collision involving another vehicle or stationary objects like a tree or guard rail.

Comprehensive coverage: It pays for either repairing or replacing your car up to the vehicle’s actual cash after an incident other than collisions such as glass damage, hail, and other inevitable eventualities.

Un-insured and under-insured motorist coverage: If you are engaged in an accident with a motorist with no or inadequate coverage, this coverage protects your prevailing medical bills.

Medical payments coverage: It pays for reasonable and vital medical costs related to accidents such as surgery and x-rays if you, your passengers, or your family members are injured in an accident.

Are you a car owner of Rio Rancho, NM searching for a salient auto insurance policy to protect yourself and your car? Don’t hesitate to contact us at Franklin Insurance Agency for all your insurance needs.

Reasons to take a good look at your auto policy

Life is not a static thing, it ebbs and flows. Auto insurance needs to grow and change along with the rest of your life. The policy that is right for today may be woefully short tomorrow. At Franklin Insurance Agency in Rio Rancho, NM, we are a family-owned independent agency that has been doing business since 1986. Our many years of experience have prepared us to provide our clients with the level of service they expect.  

When your policy renews, you get a declaration page that lays out your coverage in a way that is easy to read and understand. It makes it simple to see what coverage you have and how much of it. This is the ideal time to make sure you know exactly what you are paying for. You may be surprised at what you have and maybe don’t have. 

When you are adding a new driver or removing a driver, it is a good time to take a good look at your coverage. If you are adding a young driver you may want to raise your liability coverage and if you are removing a driver and perhaps a vehicle, you can lower your coverage. 

When you pay off your auto loan, it is time to take a good look at your coverage. Your lender requires you have collision and comprehensive coverage. When the loan is done, you can rethink if that is something you still want to do. A lot depends on the age and value of the vehicle. If it is more than 10 years old and the value is only a few thousand dollars, you may no longer want to carry the additional coverage. 

Contact Franklin Insurance Agency in Rio Rancho, NM when you are ready to take a good look at your auto insurance coverage. 

Required Auto Insurance in New Mexico

Driving in New Mexico means seeing breathtaking vistas and an amazing landscape, but it also requires a specific amount of auto insurance. Without these minimum coverages, you can face stiff penalties from the state. If you need auto insurance, or you want to raise the amount you have, call us at Franklin Insurance Agency in Rio Rancho, NM. 

Bodily Injury Auto Coverage

To drive in New Mexico, you must have some mandatory minimums of auto insurance. This includes a specific minimum amount for the injury or death of a person and another for the injury or death of two or more people. This bodily injury coverage pays the medical bills of those injured or killed in an accident that is your fault. You must carry proof of this insurance coverage in your vehicle. 

Property Damage

It is also required that you have a specific amount of coverage to cover all of the property damage you do in an accident in which you are at fault. This type of coverage is often used to pay for the damage to another person’s vehicle, but it can also cover the damage done to houses, landscaping, commercial property, and anything else that was damaged by your vehicle. You must also carry proof of this insurance and show it upon request. 

Call to Make an Appointment

If you aren’t sure if you have enough coverage, or you want a new auto policy, call us at Franklin Insurance Agency in Rio Rancho, NM. Make an appointment to talk about your auto insurance needs with an insurance agent. You may want to boost the amount of auto coverage you have to better fit today’s medical and property expenses. If you don’t have enough insurance to pay for either bodily injury or property damage, you could be forced to pay for them out of pocket. 

Three things to do before you select an auto insurance policy in New Mexico

Buying the right auto insurance policy is important for motorists in New Mexico. At Franklin Insurance Agency, we can help you to pick out an appropriate auto insurance solution for your needs in Rio Rancho, NM.

The following are three things to do before you select an auto insurance policy in New Mexico. 

Figure out your budget

You’re going to have to regularly make premium payments on your auto insurance policy over time.

Because your premiums are a recurring expense, you need to budget for them carefully. Figure out how much you can afford to put toward your auto insurance payments every month. 

Get all the pertinent information together

You will need to provide certain information to insurance providers to start a policy. You will need to provide information like your driver’s license number, the VIN number of your vehicle, and the title number of your vehicle. 

It’s therefore important to gather documents like your driver’s license and your vehicle title before you purchase a policy. 

Acquire quotes from several providers

It’s important to compare quotes between different auto insurance providers. This allows you to determine the best deal on your policy.

Do your research and pick out three or four auto insurance providers of interest. Then, you can get quotes from all of them. 

Don’t just look at the price when you’re comparing quotes. You should also consider the value you’ll be getting out of the particular policy. You’re going to want to be able to depend on your policy when you need to file a claim. Therefore, a reliable auto insurance provider is important. 

Contact us for assistance with selecting an auto insurance policy in Rio Rancho, NM. At Franklin Insurance Agency, we’re here to help answer all of your auto insurance questions. 

Five Common Mistakes New Drivers Make When Purchasing Auto Insurance

Auto insurance can be a bit confusing when you’re new to driving, causing you to make costly mistakes when purchasing a policy. At Franklin Insurance Agency, we can help you make wise auto insurance choices that can save you money. Here are some of the most common mistakes new drivers make when purchasing auto insurance in Albuquerque or Rio Rancho, NM.

Choosing the Cheapest Policy

Auto insurance costs vary depending on your insurer and the coverage you want. The cheapest policy is not always the best as it may provide insufficient coverage. This puts you at risk of paying for accident damages out of pocket. By shopping around, you can find adequate coverage at reasonable costs.

Not Getting Required Coverage 

Auto liability coverage is required in New Mexico, to pay for damages or injuries to others in accidents you cause. If you fail to obtain this coverage, you are breaking the law. Without liability coverage, you also risk being sued for other people’s damages due to accidents you cause. 

Getting Insufficient Coverage

Auto insurance should protect you, others, and your vehicle in the event of an accident. If you compromise your coverage to reduce your insurance costs, you risk having to pay for your repair costs out of pocket.

Not Taking Advantage of Discounts

Most insurers offer discounts that can lower insurance costs. Before purchasing coverage, ask your insurer what discounts they offer. If you’re a safe driver, have certain safety features on your car, bundle your auto and home insurance together, or don’t drive very often, you may qualify for reduced premium costs.

Paying Too Much for Coverage

Comparison shopping online gives you a good idea of what auto insurance costs in Rio Rancho, NM. This can save you from paying too much for your coverage. 

For quality auto insurance at affordable costs, contact Franklin Insurance Agency today.   

What Does A Comprehensive Auto Policy Cover?

Rio Rancho, NM is one of the fastest expanding cities in New Mexico. It is a popular place to live and it is easy to navigate. In New Mexico, the law requires vehicle owners to carry liability insurance. Drivers need $25,000 in bodily injury per person with a max of $50,000 per accident and $10,000 in property damage. At Franklin Insurance Agency, we know New Mexico law and we can provide guidance to you when it comes to making sure that you have the insurance you need. 

The liability insurance required by state law protects other people from your accidents, but what about you and your vehicle? In an accident which you caused, you are responsible to repair or replace your own vehicle. But sometimes, no one is responsible, the damage is the result of things that are beyond your control. A comprehensive insurance policy would be the best option in this situation. Comprehensive auto insurance (non-collision insurance)  is required by lenders when you have a car loan. This is also beneficial for other reasons such as vandalism, fallen tree limbs, and hail.

Even though comprehensive sounds like it covers everything, it has limitations when it comes to comprehensive auto insurance. The sorts of things it does cover are things like theft. If your car is stolen and either not recovered or damaged, this insurance will fix or replace it. Weather can also be very unpredictable, and if your car is damaged by hail, heavy winds, or flooding, this is when comprehensive insurance becomes a beneficial priority. If a large animal like a deer darts in front of or runs into the side of your vehicle, it can cause devastating damage, again this is covered with this policy. 

As you can see, comprehensive auto insurance protects you in ways you may have never considered. At Franklin Insurance Agency in Rio Rancho, NM, we understand all the things that can happen and we will work with you to make sure you have coverage. Call or stop by our office for a quote or use our online rating tool. 

 

Do I need more than basic auto insurance

Owning a car in Rio Rancho, NM is a necessity. When you own a vehicle, you are also required to adhere to the laws of the state regarding auto insurance. In New Mexico, the state requires that you carry liability insurance. Drivers must carry $25,000 per person for injury or death up to a max of $50,000 for two or more persons and additionally $10,000 for property damage. This is basic auto insurance. You are a driver, and if you have questions, the team at the Franklin Insurance Agency has answers.

What other auto coverage options do I need? 

If you have an auto loan or a lease, you will be required to carry collision and comprehensive coverage. While basic liability insurance protects other drivers from damage that you are responsible for, it does not cover your vehicle. Lenders and leasers want your vehicle to be protected since that protects their investment in you. 

Collison

Collision coverage is the insurance that helps to repair damage to your vehicle. When you have an accident and are at fault, you will need to fix your vehicle yourself if you do not have coverage. If you don’t have a collision policy, that repair comes out of your pocket. If your pocket is not deep enough to handle that sort of a hit, collision coverage is something that you need. You will have to pay a deductible, and depending on the value of the vehicle, the coverage may not be enough to replace the vehicle.

Comprehensive

Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle from something other than another car. Some of these include weather events like wind and hail and from damage or loss caused by other humans such as vandalism and theft. Glass coverage is also part of comprehensive insurance. 

At Franklin Insurance Agency in Rio Rancho, NM, our team of agents is here to help you to decide exactly what types of coverage is right for you. Give us a call or stop by our office for a no-obligation quote. 

Does My Car Insurance Cover Other Drivers?

Car owners who live in Rio Rancho, NM who have questions about whether or not their car insurance covers other drivers can call the agents of Franklin Insurance Agency. The agents have the knowledge and experience to be able to answer any questions concerning who is covered under a specific type of auto insurance policy. They can also advise you about upgrading your policy if your individual needs have changed over time.

Regular Drivers

When you purchased your auto insurance policy, you were asked who would be driving your vehicle. While these are your regular drivers, there may be a time when you allow someone else to drive your vehicle. In these types of situations, it’s a good idea to write a note that states you have given them permission to drive your car. This, however, doesn’t guarantee that they will be covered by your insurance policy. Their policy may be required to cover any accidents that may occur.

Each Company Is Different

Every insurance company is different when it comes to covering additional drivers. You may be required to call in and notify your agent if you are willing to allow someone else to drive your car. Before letting anyone else behind the wheel of your vehicle, contact your agent to find out who will be covered if anybody.

In Rio Rancho, NM, the agents at Franklin Insurance Agency can go over your policy with you and let you know who is allowed to drive your car under your particular auto insurance policy. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call the office and talk to one of the agents.

4 Little Known Facts about Car Insurance You Should Know

Although every motorist is required to purchase an auto insurance policy, it seems that very few fully understand the ins and outs of the car insurance sector. For residents of Rio Rancho, NM, the following is 4 little-known facts about car insurance you should know.

Lost/Stolen Items

While many policies will provide at least some form of financial compensation if your vehicle is stolen, this does not apply to the belongings you keep in your vehicle. No matter how much the items are worth, if your car is stolen, you will likely take a loss on any belongings that were left in the vehicle.

Occupation Matters

On another note, you may not realize this but your job can also impact your car insurance premiums. For instance, teachers are considered to be lower risk than many other professions, so they are often afforded a discount.

Credit Scores

On the other hand, your credit score can also affect the cost of the premium. Since studies have shown that there is a link between your credit score and the likelihood that you will file a claim, your premium is likely to be more if you have a lower credit score.

Low-Risk Vehicles

Furthermore, low-risk vehicles can earn you lower premiums. For instance, vehicles that have good safety equipment or are less likely to be stolen will often have lower premiums.

For help with your car insurance questions, contact Franklin Insurance Agency. A premier insurance company located in Rio Rancho, NM, contact Franklin Insurance Agency today to find out how you can get your car insured and hopefully save some money in the process.