Do You Need Identity Theft Insurance?

Identity theft is a surprisingly common problem that Americans face, with a new theft occurring every 22 seconds. Identity thefts are expected to increase over time, with many expected to experience financial loss. You should consult an insurance agent for protection if you’re somebody with a high risk of identity theft. Identity theft insurance is one method of many in protecting yourself in this situation. At Shell Insurance Agency, we’re offering identity theft insurance to the people of Deer Park.

How Do I Know if I Need Identity Theft Insurance

Because the internet is now such a pervasive platform, many use it for banking purposes. Americans have a 1 in 6 chance of losing money to a scam. If you have some of your money stored in a digital storage space – like an online banking account or a payment processor – then identity theft insurance comes highly recommended. 

What to Expect From Identity Theft Insurance

There are various types of protection against identity theft, and insurance offers its own set of benefits. In an identity theft insurance plan, you can expect payment if your identity is stolen. It can also cover additional theft-related fees, like legal aid, application charges, or lost wages on the job. When shopping for this insurance, find policies matching your needs.

Finding Identity Theft Insurance from Deer Park, TX

Ready to purchase an insurance plan that covers situations like identity theft? If so, please contact our Deer Park agency at 713-527-2209. Our team would be happy to discuss insurance options with you. 

Auto Insurance Coverage Options

In Texas, people are expected and required to pay for any accident they cause while driving. Most motorists have auto liability insurance to help cover any expenses for damage to the other vehicle or injuries that anyone suffers due to an accident. Our agents at the Shell Insurance Agency in Deer Park, TX are touting the importance of auto insurance and explaining the different types of auto insurance coverage options.

Auto Insurance Coverage Options

Underinsured and Uninsured Motorist Coverage

One of the options that Texas motorists have to choose from when it comes to auto insurance is uninsured and underinsured insurance coverage. This is a great option to have in place if you happen to become involved in an accident with a driver who does not have insurance or does not have enough to cover everything.

Comprehensive and Collision Insurance Coverage

If you borrowed the money to purchase your vehicle, you are more likely required to have both comprehensive and collision insurance in addition to your liability auto insurance policy. This is because these two types of insurance will help protect your bank’s investment in your vehicle. These two types of coverage options will also help you protect the investment you made in your car. Comprehensive coverage helps you take care of any damage to your vehicle if it involves a natural disaster, vandalism, or fire. It will also help if someone steals your car, truck, or SUV. Collision insurance will help fix your vehicle if you collide with a stationary object or another vehicle when you are behind the wheel of your car.

Contact Us

You can turn to the experienced and trusted agents at the Shell Insurance Agency in Deer Park, TX for all your auto insurance needs. Call for a quote today to get your policy started!

Three Wise Ways to Flood-Proof Your Yard

Torrential rainfall, hurricanes, and floods can all cause significant damage to your Deer Park, TX landscape. From Shell Insurance Agency, here are three wise ways to flood-proof your yard and keep your property safe.

Identify Low Areas in Yard to Elevate or Fill In

1. Look for standing water: Areas, where water collects and stands after a rainstorm or sprinkler use, can indicate low spots in the yard.

2. Measure elevation changes: Use a laser level or another tool to measure elevation differences across your yard. Low spots will have a lower elevation than the surrounding area.

3. Look for drainage patterns: If you have a large yard, look for signs of water draining away from specific areas. This could indicate that those areas are lower than the rest of the yard.

Install Sloping Landscapes to Guide Water Away From House

Installing sloping landscapes around your home can help prevent flooding by guiding water away from the house and its foundation. Sloping landscapes are designed to direct surface runoff away from the house, preventing it from pooling around the foundation and causing water damage. They also help prevent water from entering the home in heavy rainfall or floods. By directing water away from the house, sloping landscapes help reduce the risk of flooding, property damage, and costly repairs.

Choose Plants That Can Withstand Flooding

Flood-tolerant plants can be an excellent asset for properties prone to flooding. They have deep roots that help stabilize the soil, preventing erosion and reducing the risk of landslides or mudslides. Additionally, these plants can provide a buffer against rising waters and help absorb excess moisture, thus lessening the impact of flooding on your property.

At Shell Insurance Agency in Deer Park, TX, we provide flood insurance to protect you and your property. With us, you can trust that you’ll be getting quality coverage and the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re covered in case of a flood. Contact us today to discover more!

What every new homeowner should know about home insurance

Most new homeowners don’t have a lot of knowledge about home insurance. They count on their insurance agent to ensure they have the right coverage. At Shell Insurance Agency in Deer Park, TX, we get to know our customers so that we can offer you the right choice. 

You can choose the deductible amount that is right for you

Having a higher deductible can help make your home insurance more affordable. But, the amount you choose has to be reasonable for you to pay if you file a claim. The deductible is usually between $500 and $2000 but can go as high as $5,000. It is also important to know that the deductible is on every claim; it is not a yearly amount. 

Not everything is covered by home insurance.

Home insurance policies have exclusions, things that just aren’t covered. Some things not covered are:

  • Floods
  • Earth movement
  • Sewer backup
  • Wear and tear
  • Owner neglect 

Home riders you may want to add

Riders, also called endorsements, are additions to your policy that either expand the overage you already have or add excluded coverage. You should consider a jewelry rider if you have more than a small amount of jewelry. You need to provide an appraisal for valuable pieces. If you have antiques or expensive electronics, these also need an additional coverage rider. 

What type of coverage does home insurance provide?

Home insurance offers very important coverage for your home. Property insurance covers the basic structure and any attachments. Unattached garages, sheds, and casitas are also covered. The content of your home is covered. You have liability insurance coverage and loss of use protection which helps you have a place to stay if your home is damaged. 

Contact Shell Insurance Agency in Deer Park, TX if you have questions about home insurance.

Three reasons why everyone should have ID theft protection

Shell Insurance Agency is here to serve the insurance needs of the Deer Park, TX community. If you have questions about ID theft insurance and how it can help to protect you, we are here to answer them. Call our office or stop by today to find out more.

Top reasons why you should have ID theft protection

  1. ID theft insurance is an effective way to avoid serious financial problems. When your ID is stolen, it can lead to a lot more headaches than just having your accounts changed. Hackers typically use the data they steal to open credit accounts and mortgages. Protecting yourself from this financial risk is smart in today’s environment. 
  2. You can maintain tighter control over your data and information. It can feel like a challenge to successfully protect your privacy and personal data in today’s online world. With an ID theft protection policy, you can access the resources necessary to keep your personal data and online information safe. 
  3. It is an effective way to protect your credit profile and score. We all know how important a healthy credit score is to obtain a loan or open a credit card account. Ensure you have the protection you need to keep a strong credit score. An ID theft policy can alert you to unusual activity before it becomes a problem. 

Contact us today!

If you live in the greater Deer Park, TX area, Shell Insurance Agency is here to help with all your insurance needs. Most people spend a lot of time online and protecting your data, and privacy only makes sense! Give our office a call today and learn more about this important type of insurance. 

Four Add-ons to Consider For Your Auto Insurance

Auto insurance can be such a life-saver when involved in an accident. It protects you and your vehicle when life serves you with lemons. While standard auto insurance works, sometimes it can fall short. For this reason, Shell Insurance Agency in Deer Park, TX advises clients to consider “add-ons” to boost their basic car insurance. But since there are several add-ons to consider, we have narrowed them down to four that are well worth your cash.

Umbrella Insurance

Are you a high-net-worth individual? Are you at a high risk of being sued? If yes, consider umbrella insurance. This policy takes over from where your conventional liability coverage leaves off. Your car liability coverage will likely max out if faced with a significant liability claim. In such instances, umbrella insurance takes over, preserving your assets and personal savings.

Roadside Assistance

Do you frequently travel long distances? Your auto insurance could use a roadside assistance add-on. This coverage saves the day when your car breaks down miles away from your residence. So, when you encounter a flat battery, puncture, or empty tank, you don’t have to make frantic calls to your friends and relatives. You need to call your insurer for help.

Zero depreciation cover

You should consider this coverage if you own a vehicle over three years old. If your car is stolen or written off after an accident, your insurer compensates you for the loss, less the depreciation factor. If you want to buy a vehicle similar to the one you have insured, you will have to fork out the difference from your pocket. However, you can cushion yourself from depreciation by purchasing “zero depreciation” coverage.

Engine protect coverage

Your standard auto insurance only covers engine damage when a covered peril destroys it; in case of an oil leak or water logging, you must purchase an add-on to cover the damage.

Would you like to learn more about car insurance? Please reach out to Shell Insurance Agency, serving Deer Park, TX, and its surrounding area.

Can FEMA Re-map Your Town?

You bought a home that doesn’t sit in a flood zone, but when FEMA updated its flood maps, you received notice that you do own a home in a flood zone. Here’s how to handle that problem.

Shell Insurance Agency knows that your Deer Park, TX home means a lot to you. That’s why you insure it. When you purchased your home, it may not have appeared in a flood zone on any map. However, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducts regular research in the area of floods and updates the US flood maps accordingly. Your community can also decide to re-visit the flood maps and update the flood zones.

FEMA and Community Agencies Can Re-map

When the agency updates the flood maps for Deer Park, it can result in your home and others moving into a flood zone that requires federal flood insurance. Typically, this occurs due to a flood or series of flash floods striking the area.

Re-mapping causes homeowners who previously did not need to purchase flood insurance to need to do so. The Agency requires this to ensure that each homeowner can repair or rebuild after a flood, since homeowners’ insurance does not cover flood or rising water damage.

Updating Your Insurance Coverage

While it’s rare that this occurs, it can happen. Shell Insurance Agency can help you obtain flood insurance locally. Our insurance policies meet the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which works in conjunction with FEMA.

Let us help you properly insure your Deer Park, TX home against flood. Contact us if you find that either FEMA or your community updated the flood map for Deer Park and your home or business now falls within a flood zone that requires coverage.

Stay Protected With Home Insurance

It’s essential to keep your home protected from as many risks as possible, and home insurance can help you to do just that. This type of insurance comes with many types of coverage that lend you protection in different ways. When you own a home, keep a home policy to protect yourself. Call us at Shell Insurance Agency in Deer Park, TX to get started if you don’t have a home policy. 

Protection for the Home

The house you live in likely represents your most significant investment. It’s always a good idea to have that investment well-protected with home insurance. In most cases, homeowners must have home insurance from either their lender, association, or both. Even if neither applies to you, it’s never a good idea to be without home insurance. It can pay for the repairs needed after a serious event damages your home.

Protection for Your Possessions

When you have home insurance, it also protects your belongings. It gives you coverage for all your possessions on your property in case of a serious incident that destroys them. This is important coverage to have when you consider how much your things are worth and how much it would cost to replace them. 

Liability Protection

Another type of coverage in a home policy is protection for your liability for accidents. If someone had an accident on your property, this coverage could pay for the medical bills that result from that accident so that you won’t have to. 

Get Your Home Protection

It would help if you had a home insurance policy to protect your home, possessions, and finances. Call us today at Shell Insurance Agency in Deer Park, TX to get started with a policy of your own. 

Essential Steps to Protect Your Identity from Thieves

When you purchase ID theft insurance from Shell Insurance Agency, you probably hope you’ll never use it. Things happen in Deer Park, TX, just as they do in the rest of the US, so taking careful preventative measures helps you avoid needing to file a claim.

Using the advice from the US government and identity theft expert Frank Abagnale, we’ve put together this quick list of precautions to help you keep your identity safe.

  1. Keep your Social Security card in a safe place, such as a safe or safety deposit box, stored with your other critical identifying documents. Don’t carry your number with you; memorize it. Only provide your Social Security number when necessary.
  2. Avoid sharing personal information, such as your birthdate or bank account number, unless you must for an application or payment.
  3. Use a credit monitoring service like Lifelock or Experian Dark Web Scan + Credit Monitoring monitors the three major credit bureaus – Transunion, Equifax, and Experian. The service needs to notify you in real-time of an identity compromise.
  4. Use a micro-cut shredder to credit offers, shred receipts, account statements you still get on paper, and expired credit cards so no dumpster diver can access your personal information.
  5. Collect your mail daily and put delivery on hold when you go out of town.
  6. Know your billing cycle date and contact your bank or creditor if your statement doesn’t arrive on time.
  7. Compare your receipts with your bank statement and credit card statements to balance your accounts and catch unauthorized transactions.
  8. Review all three of your credit reports annually to check for incorrect information, especially accounts you don’t recognize. You can get a free credit report from Annualcreditreport.com.
  9. Always use a credit card, so you use the bank’s money, not your own. Credit cards protect you from unauthorized charges. You typically only have liability for $50.
  10. Avoid using debit cards since they provide a bank account gateway. Examine any ATM or gas station pump card reader carefully before using it. Skimmer attacks place an artificial card reader over the legitimate reader to steal your card number, then your cash.
  11. Activate all of the security features on your smartphone and other mobile devices.
  12. Create passwords you can remember that an identity thief would find difficult to guess or hack. At a minimum, you should use a different password for each website. Each should consist of at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one digit, one special character when allowed, and not more than three repeating characters. Typically, each password must consist of at least eight characters.
  13. If a company with which you do business experiences a security breach, change your password for their site.
  14. Install virus-detection software, malware detection software, and a firewall on your home computer, tablet, and smartphone.
  15. Use a virtual private network (VPN) when using public Wi-Fi. Also, update your firewall settings before signing onto public Wi-Fi.
  16. Freeze your credit files with the credit bureaus, Innovis, and the National Consumer Telecommunications and Utilities Exchange if you know you don’t need to apply for a loan or a credit card. The freeze prevents costs nothing and stops anyone from being able to apply for credit or utilities in your name.

If you don’t already have ID theft insurance, contact Shell Insurance Agency serving Deer Park, TX. Let us help you protect your identity.

Filing a Non-accident Auto Insurance Claim

When you need to file a claim on your auto insurance that does not involve an accident, call your agent at Shell Insurance Agency serving Deer Park, TX, first. We’ll guide you through the process, beginning with whether the policy you purchased covers the item you want to file a claim on.

If you purchased comprehensive or collision insurance, you pay a deductible. If your repairs cost less than the deductible, your insurance won’t pay for anything. If it costs more than the deductible, once you’ve paid the amount of the deductible for the repairs, your insurance kicks in if you file a claim.

What does collision insurance cover?

Typically, if you hit a deer or another animal and it damages your vehicle, your collision covers that. It takes care of repairs to your vehicle from single-vehicle accidents, just as it does in cases of multiple vehicle accidents. Other examples include hitting a mailbox, the closed garage door, a fence, etc.

What does comprehensive insurance cover?

If a named peril damages your vehicle, such as a flood or tornado, your comprehensive coverage handles the repair costs. It also covers theft, damage by another individual to your vehicle during acts of civil disobedience or disorder, vandalism, windshield or window damage, fire, and falling objects. This type of coverage also frequently includes a deductible requirement, so if your repairs cost less than the deductible, you won’t need to file a claim because your insurance would not pay anything.

Filing a Claim with Your Carrier

At Shell Insurance Agency, we write policies underwritten by 30 insurance companies. Each company offers its own online interface for filing a claim and phone number for verbally filing a claim.

  1. Visit our carriers page to find your insurance carrier.
  2. Phone the toll-free number listed for your carrier if you want to file a claim by phone.
  3. Click on the link provided for your carrier’s “File a Claim” website.
  4. Choose from individual or business insurance claims.
  5. Follow the prompts for the insurance company to provide all needed information. In most cases, you’ll need to upload photos of your vehicle’s damage and provide at least one quote from a licensed, certified repair technician on repair costs.

Contact Us

Contact Shell Insurance Agency serving Deer Park, TX as soon as your vehicle incurs damage. Let us help you make the most of your auto insurance coverage.