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Insurance can be complicated as there are a lot of variables to consider. For the most part, the every day consumer isn’t even aware of what is in his policy. That is why trust in your agent is a premium among those shopping for Insurance.

Here are some things to consider when you consider your insurance needs. The secrets of the insurance industry.

• You can leave an existing policy at any time. Even though you may have already paid for 6 months or a year, you can walk away from that policy and get refunded should you decide to shop with Team ATD and find a better rate. You never have to wait to start saving money. (Note: Do not cancel a policy until your a new one is in place, let us help you in the transition).
• Comparing quotes will save you the most and keep everyone honest. One of the advantages of working with your TEAM ATD representative is they can shop from 12 different insurance companies, vs having you go from agency to agency trying to find the best rate. We will insure you have the proper coverage to meet your needs. Sometimes the quote you get from cost saving agencies isn’t always the best protection. We strive to give you both, affordable rates, the coverage you need.
• Auto and other insurance rates are constantly changing. You may actually be paying too much if you have locked in, or unless your agent stays on top of current rate indexes. Having TEAM ATD on your side allows you be secure knowing your policy is constantly monitored for the best price possible.

Don’t be fooled by flashy commercials, after all if they insure you, your policy is paying the cost for all that excessive  advertising. Make sure your insurance is based on what is best for you and your family or business.

Call TEAM ATD and find out why for the last 109 years Northern Ohio has trusted us to protect their most precious assets.

You’ve heard the expression “time is money”, and we believe it to be true. Your time is very valuable to us, so much so that in our 109 years of service to our customers we have developed and honed the best possible way to help you save money.

Instead of you having to go agency by agency to compare prices, Team ATD takes your information and shops it for you. Saving your time and still producing the best cost savings possible.

As an independent insurance agent we partner with over a dozen of the finest companies in the industry. Our state of the art quoting system allows us to shop your information to find the company that is the best fit for your needs at the very best price.

And with Team ATD it is more then just a price, we don’t have automated answering machines that make you go through a maze of phone options. We have real live customer service reps waiting to speak with you all of which are from Northern Ohio. No calls to a foreign land or another state when you need help the most.

It really is as simple as picking up the phone, stopping in, or emailing us. One stop, one unbeatable price. That is the Team ATD difference.

We all get excited those first few days in March when we get a glimpse of warm weather and the snow melts away. Unfortunately for all of us here in Northern Ohio, Winter doesn’t end for another week or so. Starting tonight the rain will once again turn to the white stuff and driving conditions may deteriorate.

So what better time to refresh our winter driving tips, hopefully one last time.

• First and above all, slow down. Plan to take a little extra time to get to your destination. People who are constantly in a hurry often make bad decisions due to stress.
• Make sure you have plenty of assured cleared distance between you and the car in front of you. It doesn’t matter if you have 4 wheel drive or not, all cars break the same. It takes distance for momentum to be slowed to the point of a safe stop.
• Gradually accelerate, and turn. Many times the best defense is to lift your foot off of the gas pedal under and over bridges and through turns. This is the best defense against spinning out.
• Try out your anti-lock breaks on an empty section of your street on in a vacant part of a parking lot to make sure you are comfortable with how they operate in snowy conditions.
• Don’t use your cruise control in poor weather conditions.
• Don’t use your cell phone, but make sure it is fully charged when you head out to your destination.
• Be leery of snow covered cars or trucks. Those chunks of snow can fly off at any point.
• Don’t forget a jacket and gloves in case you get a flat or get stuck for awhile.

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The best defense against acclimate weather is to avoid driving unless you have too.

Your friends at Team-ATD are hoping you stay safe this weekend!..

Right at this moment there are an estimated 105,135,871 renters in the United States, unfortunately many millions of them are unaware that their worldly possessions are not protected from tragedy. If a fire, tornado, or windstorm were to occur, only renters insurance can protect your personal belongings.

What about my landlords insurance?

It’s true that if such a loss were to happen to the home or apartment you are living in, your landlord’s insurance will pay for damage to the home itself. It, however, covers NOTHING involving your personal belongings.

Only Renters Insurance will provide you with coverage for your personal property (some items have limited coverage on the policy), Loss of Use (coverage to pay for living expenses if you are unable to occupy your home due to a covered loss), Personal Liability, and Medical Payments.

So contact Team ATD to see if you are missing out on this very important coverage….

You’ve seen the ads on TV, call XYZ Insurance and we guarantee we can save you money. Or, they proclaim an average savings over their competition of hundreds of dollars. What they’re not telling you is it could cost you everything if you have cut-rate coverage and are in a serious accident.

We know price is a big factor when making a decision on who to go with for insurance but is that the most important factor?

You should be sure you are not sacrificing your family’s long term financial health for short term gain. The most important thing about insurance is making sure that you have the coverage needed at the time of a incident. If you are opting for low limits and decreasing and/or declining coverage you could be at a bigger loss than if you were to pay that little bit more premium per month!

Sure you may have enough to cover a fender bender, but that may not always be the case. There are more than six million car accidents each year in the United States. Many accidents are car-truck accidents where the contents of the truck can be anything from an entire load of cars, to high tech equipment. In fact large trucks made up three percent of all registered vehicles and seven percent of all vehicle miles traveled. All the more reason to make sure you have proper coverage to protect yourself from unforeseen circumstances.

So check your policy. In fact, bring it in and we will check it with you. Protecting your family or business is what we have been about since 1902. Team ATD, we are here for you!

Don’t settle for the bare minimum…

We hope Mr. Alexander Pope can forgive us for altering his famous quote, but lets face it some accidents are unavoidable. You can be the best driver in the history of the world, and that guy next to you in traffic texting on his phone while drinking coffee and eating a bean burrito could come across your lane at any minute forcing you into a situation.

Life is not always fair, but with Team-ATD your insurance can be. This is where accident forgiveness comes in. Many of our insurance carriers provide accident forgiveness but most of them require that you are with them for a set number of years before providing you with forgiveness. At Team ATD, we tailor your policy to suit your needs. The more cautious you are on the road, and those with the best driving records with least amount of claims have the best opportunity at being rewarded when it comes to accident forgiveness.

What types of accidents trigger an increase in premium?

• Any accident that is deemed “at fault” is subject to premium surcharge/increase. This can be an accident with another vehicle which is deemed your fault or an accident where just your vehicle is involved (example – slipping on ice and loosing control).
• Not “at fault” accidents and Comprehensive losses will not affect your premium. Please do not hesitate to contact a Team ATD agent with any questions….
• Some carriers require you to have a clean record for 4 to 5 years. So check with us and let us shop around and find the best solution for you.
• Different policies have different approaches to forgiveness. Some policies allow only a single incident over a period of time, while other premium policies will allow for multiple incidents over the same period without effecting your bottom line. The costs vary from policy to policy.

The bottom line is, know what is in your policy before an accident happens. Contact Team ATD to find out how to protect yourself and your family. We are always here to help.

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So your buying a new car and everything is shiny and exciting. You get the checklist out and run through it:

• color-check,
• style-check,
• ipod capable-check,
• gas mileage-check,
• new car smell- check,
• gap insurance- um what????

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You see many times there is an overlooked aspect to buying a car, and that is if your car is in an accident and  totaled, or stolen and not recovered who pays for it?

Gap Insurance gives you the extra protection you need to ensure that the total amount of your loan is covered. If you are leasing or financing a vehicle, make sure that gap coverage is included on your policy. If a loss occurs, GAP insurance will pay the difference between the actual cash value of the vehicle and the current outstanding balance on your loan or lease. Gap Insurance protects your vehicle lease or loan. Sometimes it will also pay your regular insurance deductible.

Don’t get caught in a shortfall between the actual cash value of your car and what you owe on it. That is the “Gap” we can help close. Contact Team-ATD and let us help you find the coverage you need. A car can be the most important tool you have in keeping employment.

Team-ATD is always here to keep you on the road and in the black.

If you’re getting dumped with snow, here are some tips to keep in mind when you’re sharing the road with snowplows:

• 1) Always keep your distance – give snowplows room to work. The plows are wide and can cross the centerline or shoulder. Don’t tailgate or try to pass. If you must pass, take extreme caution.
• 2) Vision – a snowplow operator’s field of vision is restricted. If you cannot see the plow’s side mirrors, the driver cannot see you. Stay two to three car lengths behind the plow and watch for sudden stops or turns.
• 3) Take it slow during ice and snow – snowplows travel well below the posted speed limit. Be patient and try not to pass the plow. Beware of snow clouds – snowplows often create clouds as they clear the roads. These snow clouds can reduce your ability to see.
• 4) Even walking on sidewalks near a major road, you need to be aware of a snow plows movement. Snow can be thrown a great distance.
• 5) Please do not let your kids tunnel into snow banks next to the road! Check out the video below.

Join Team-ATD in our commitment to keeping your safe in rough weather conditions. For more information, or to talk to a Team-ATD representative about your coverage in these slippery times, contact us at the number on the right.

Northern Ohio’s weather can be described as having multiple personalities. The age old saying goes, “if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes”, and that is never truer then when it comes to the chilly days of February and March. Just like today when predicting the coming days, forecasters are whisy-washy as to what exactly we can expect. Just this morning a forecast said “it depends on the way the front moves” that we may get either freezing rain, sleet, snow, and how much of each.
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Always with potential for bad weather situations you need to be prepared, we offer you some sound advice from travel experts.

• If you have to go out in hazardous conditions, Slow down..drive with extreme caution. Drive below the speed limit until you are sure you are on a good clean surface, free of ice and debris.
• Keep plenty of distance between you and the car in front of you. At least one car length for every ten mile per hour (30mph – 3 car lengths).
• Turn on your lights, daytime running lights don’t illuminate taillights.
• Use turn signals, while most do this already we all know many people ignore the basics.
• Keep a blanket in your car. You never know when you might get stuck somewhere on the road.
• Keep a wool stocking cap and gloves as well.
• Purchase a 12v adapter for your cellphone. If you ever do get stuck, this will significantly improve your chances of contacting help.
• Keep a spare key hidden in case your locked out of your car. Newer vehicles have features such as on-star which allows you to call and have your vehicle unlocked. Make sure you have the number in your cell phone.
• If you are driving long distances, a bottle of water or two could also be useful if stranded or stopped for a period of time .
• Keep a  small first aid kit in the car.
• Know that if you have to pull over, be sure to use your flashers and use extra caution when outside the vehicle to keep aware of any nearby traffic.

Talk to Team ATD on how we can help, with items like towing insurance and rental vehicles if you should be without access to your car due to accident.

We are right here when you need us. Be safe out there!

Independence is the Team ATD difference. We are not employed by a single company, or certain brand of insurance. We are independent agents that work for you and no one else.  We shop for you and always look for the insurance the suits your needs best. We are in your corner. Call us and find out how we can help you save money.