What You Need to Know Before Your Next Vehicle Inspection

Whether you are new to the state of Georgia or have been a long-time resident, annual vehicle inspections are part of ongoing automobile maintenance.  In fact, if your inspection is not current, you will not be able to renew your vehicle registration.  And for both vehicle inspections and registration, you must provide proof of insurance.  Peter Laczko Insurance Inc. services Woodstock, GA and can help you find the right policy so that you are prepared for your next vehicle inspection.

The Vehicle Inspection Process

In Georgia, the vehicle inspection process includes at least three smog and emissions related tests.  And if your vehicle is older than the model year 1995, additional testing is also required.  There primary tests include:

  • The on-board diagnostic (OBD), to test emissions control performance.
  • The fuel cap inspection to ensure there is an adequate seal.
  • The catalytic converter inspection checks for removal or interference.

These tests are not required for some eco-friendly vehicles such as those that run on battery electricity, natural gas, propane, or hydrogen.

Tips to Ensure Your Vehicle Passes Inspection

It is recommended by Georgia’s Clean Air Force that vehicles inspections are done at least four to six weeks before it is time to renew registration so that there is time to fix any issues.  To ensure your vehicle passes, follow these guidelines:

  • Follow your vehicle manufacturer’s scheduled maintenance recommendations.
  • Change oil regularly.
  • Secure fuel cap after filling up with gasoline.
  • Keep tires inflated.

With proper care and current insurance, a passing inspection should be simple.  If it is time to consider a new insurance policy, contact Peter Laczko Insurance Inc. of Woodstock, GA.  Our independent insurance agents will help you find the policy that best fits your needs and budget. 

 

What Are The Essentials For RV Living?

Peter Laczko Insurance Inc. has compiled a list of the essentials for recreational living. For the sake of length and time, the musts for any RV life are grouped as follows:

  • The Kitchen:  Cookware, dishware, silverware, storage containers, cooking utensils, sandwich bags, garbage bags, baking soda, vinegar, seasonings, coffee/tea pot (or maker),  micro blender, mini chopper, foil, wax paper, mixing bowl, can opener and skewers.
  • Linens: Bedding (sheets, blankets, pillows), towels (bath, hand, kitchen, etc.), oven mitts, pot holders, and bath mat.
  • Miscellaneous: Fire extinguisher, cleaning supplies, laundry supplies, dish soap, and toiletries (shaver, toothbrush, mouthwash, hair brush, shampoo, and conditioner), work gloves, rubber gloves (when emptying black and gray water), cleaning wipes, rags/shop towels, window cleaner, ant spray, moth balls or cedar chips, binoculars and playing cards.
  • Survival: Matches (waterproof), eye glass repair kit, umbrella, hats, road flares, bug spray, citronella, maps, GPS, compass, field guides, hunting knife, batteries, flashlight, solar charging system, roadside emergency reflective vest, fishing line, bottled water, water purification tablets, and a rain poncho.
  • Tools: Bungee cords, toolbox (including a hammer, nails, screws, soldering gun, wrench, socket set, wire cutters), duct tape, white hose (meant to use on refilling water tank), folding shovel, ax, caulk/caulking gun, and goggles.
  • Equipment: Tankless portable air compressor, bicycle, walkie-talkies, portable folding chairs and table, cordless drill, folding step stool, ladder, broom, dustpan, portable vacuum, digital AV adapter, extension cord, and hand saw
  • First-Aid: First-Aid kit (full size) plus aspirin, antacid, Benadryl, sunscreen, tea tree oil, and eucalyptus oil. 

Using cast iron cookware can be used inside, and out on the BBQ, but too many pieces can be less that kind with regards to the gas economy. All that is left to pack is food, clothing, recreational equipment and portable entertainment.  Two items often forgotten until needed are a sewing kit and hand-crank radio.

Long term living would tack on other items such as an iron and ironing board, and bringing along pets is another list.  

The most essential for RV living is to have proper insurance coverage, and Peter Laczko Insurance Inc. can help you there.

What Does Home Insurance Actually Do?

Congratulations! You are about to buy your first home in the Woodstock, GA area. Buying home insurance is one of the items on that must-do list that’s a million things long. Besides being required to purchase it to appease your mortgage company, what does home insurance actually do for you? Peter Laczko Insurance Inc. is here to answer all of your questions and help you purchase the right policy that fits your life and your budget.

Protects Your Largest Investment

If your home is damaged by a storm, a fire or if a vandal destroys a part of the property, home insurance will help you pay to restore the structure and property. Maintaining the home helps to protect its resale value, which ensures that you will enjoy long term benefits of home ownership.

Can Help Replace Possessions

In case of total loss, it’s not just the walls and windows that will need replacing. Your home insurance will help you carry on with life by replacing clothes, furniture, kitchen goods, and electronics.  Talk to your agent about full replacement coverage for exceptional items such as collectibles, jewelry, and valuables.

Provides Shelter

If your home is not habitable after a catastrophic incident, your insurance can help pay for short-term shelter until you can reoccupy your property.

Provides Liability Insurance

Accidents do and will happen. Guests who injure themselves while on your property can have their medical bills and expenses covered, ensuring that your savings account remains intact for true personal emergencies.

If you’d like to learn more about home insurance in the Woodstock, GA area, give the friendly agents a call at Peter Laczko Insurance Inc. to set up an informative appointment. We look forward to helping you settle into your new house.

Different Kinds Of Home Insurance Options

Your home is most likely the largest single investment you’ll ever make. Whether living in Woodstock, GA or anywhere else in the state, it is important to protect this investment. The primary way to do this is to take advantage of home owner’s insurance. There are different kinds of home owners insurance to consider, so before you move forward with implementing one form of coverage for your home, we at Insure Your Toy want to make sure you have the right coverage for your individual financial and personal needs. 

HO-1

The HO-1 is a standard, entry level form of insurance. It provides protection against 10 different problems you may face, including fire/smoke, riots, damage from aircraft, vehicles, vandalism, theft, lightening, explosions and even volcanic eruptions. Now, you probably won’t need to worry about volcanic eruptions in Woodstock, GA, but just about everything else is important. There might be an explosion with the gas line, or someone can break into the house. The vast majority of coverage will come in extremely helpful. 

HO-2

This upgraded policy includes everything you’ll find in the first policy, but adds falling objects, damage from ice, snow and sleet, freezing in your AC unit, breaking of your water pipes and damage from artificially generated electrical currents. Coverage for a burst pipe is valuable, as you never know when a pipe might burst, especially when you are out for the holidays. 

HO-3 and 4

These different kinds of insurance are options you probably will not need. HO-4 is for renting out your home. You’ll want this on top of the other coverage if you do decide to rent your house. HO-3 is the most common form of insurance as it gives the same basic coverage as HO-2, it doesn’t limit coverage and it insured attached structures (such as a deck or other feature you may have added ). This way, everything you own in and around the home is protected. 

5 Reasons New Boat Owners Should Consider Purchasing A Boat Insurance Policy

People purchase boats for different reasons. Some buy a boat to go fishing and others buy boats for recreational purposes. Whatever the reason, boats are expensive. The best thing that you can do when you purchase a boat is to purchase boat insurance as well. There are several reasons that a boat insurance policy is necessary.

Boat Protection

If your boat is stolen, if it is involved in an accident, or if its contents are damaged, your boat insurance will cover it. A boat is a very expensive investment, therefore, you will need insurance just in case something happens.

Insurance is Required in Some Areas

There are certain areas on the water where you would be required to have boat insurance. Many waterways require you to have boat insurance to pass through and many marinas require that you have insurance to keep your boat there or launch your boat from one of their docks.

Winter Months are Dangerous

Many people who keep their boats at a marina for the winter believe that there is no need to carry insurance during these months. This is not the case. Winter is the time when the most fires, thefts, and floods occur on boats. Also, most of the claims that are filed for vandalism are done so in the summer. It is important to keep your boat protected all year long.

Not All Boater Have Insurance

It is important to have boat insurance because many boaters don’t. If another boat collides with yours and they don’t have insurance, you will want to have your own insurance to cover the damage.

Avoid a Lawsuit

If you cause a boat accident and you don’t have insurance, you could be looking at a very expensive lawsuit. Between the damage to the other boat and any injuries to your passengers and the passengers on the other boat, you could end up owing a great deal of money if you aren’t insured.

If you live in the Woodstock, GA area, and would like to get more information regarding boat insurance quotes and coverage, you should contact Peter Laczko Insurance Inc.

How To Plan A Motorcycle Road Trip

There are all sorts of places you can go by motorcycle and it can be exciting to plan. You can choose to stay within the state of Georgia or go anywhere else in the country. In order to plan your road trip, there are a few things to consider.

Are you driving the whole time?

You don’t have to drive the entire time, so this is something to consider. They make various tow packages so you can drive to your destination and then jump onto your motorcycle. If you are concerned with a long distance trip or don’t want to put a lot of miles onto the bike, this may be a consideration.

Find a group.

There may be a local motorcycle group where you plan on going, whether it’s a national park, the Grand Canyon, or New England. Get in touch with them to see what advice they can give you. It may be a way to make new friends and have some people to ride with.

Get your bike serviced.

Allow time for your bike to go into the garage for servicing before you take off on your road trip. This can ensure your oil is changed and your filter is cleaned. Listen to the mechanic in terms of their recommendations to prepare for your trip.

Map it all out.

Don’t start your trip until you have mapped out everywhere you are going. Identify the roads you will take, the gas stations that are along the way, and where you plan on stopping each night. This will ensure you don’t run into problems once on your way, especially if you lose cell signal at any point, which could happen.

Call us at Peter Laczko Insurance Inc. today to get help finding the right motorcycle insurance policy in Woodstock, Georgia.

 

 

What Happens to Companies that Don’t Insure their Vehicles?

Imagine this: you are driving your commercial vehicle to your next project location, when suddenly the inclement weather becomes too intense. You lose control of your vehicle, sliding into the car in the lane next to you. No matter who is considered at fault, you are then expected to present your proof of auto insurance to the other driver. If your commercial vehicle does not have insurance, the situation becomes much more complicated.

Commercial Auto Insurance in California

In California, all commercial vehicles are required to have insurance, and the driver must be able to present proof of financial responsibility for accidents they are liable for. For passenger vehicles, a certain amount of liability insurance is required based on how many passengers the auto can hold. Overall, this type of insurance is much like personal auto insurance except that it is much more specialized.

The Consequences

One of the most likely consequences for uninsured vehicles in Georgiais a suspended registration. The Department of Motor Vehicles will be notified that your insurance policy has been cancelled or does not exist. If no replacement is submitted within 45 days or a driver has provided false evidence of insurance, vehicle registration is cancelled. Driving with suspended registration can result in citations, fines, and possibly vehicle impound.

If a driver of a company vehicle is involved in a collision, the company or driver may be held personally liable for all damages incurred. Driving without insurance is financially very risky.

Obtaining Commercial Auto Insurance

Finding the right commercial auto insurance can be as simple as visiting the website of the agency you want to work with. In Georgia, insurance rates for commercial vehicles are based on the type of vehicle and its weight. If you have questions about commercial auto insurance, speaking with a licensed insurance broker at  Peter Laczko Insurance Inc. may be helpful.

 

Protecting and Insuring Your Home from Earthquake Disasters

Though earthquakes in Georgia are relatively rare, they do occur.  Even without distinct active faults, the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences cites that about 15 percent of the earthquakes that occur happen in areas like Georgia.  Homeowners face significant damage to their property during an earthquake.  The northwest, central and west central counties of Georgia are considered to be areas of greatest risk. 

Before disaster strikes, homeowners can protect their home and property with earthquake insurance.  Insurance can’t prevent the disaster from happening but it can help significantly with the recovery process.  The key is to discuss whether earthquake insurance is right for your situation.  Your agent at Peter Laczko Insurance Inc. serving Woodstock, GA can talk with you about the variety of options that are available.   In addition to reviewing insurance options, homeowners should take the time to inventory and photograph their property and belongings.  This can save time and ensure proper documentation should the unthinkable occur. 

If your home is damaged during an earthquake, be sure to file a claim quickly with the necessary documentation and photographs.  Some policies will provide additional living expenses for policy holders whose home is significantly damaged and deemed uninhabitable. Your agent will discuss what the earthquake policy covers and what levels of coverage are appropriate for your circumstances. 

The agents at Peter Laczko Insurance Inc are ready to help you get the coverage that you need.  They will provide you with information about the available coverage options and work within your budget to get you the coverage that meets your needs.  Disasters can occur when they are least expected.  Call the home insurance experts at Peter Laczko Insurance at 888-883-1650 or visit www.insureyourtoy.com/ to get started. 

Use Household Cleaners For More Than You think

For many people, cleaning house is not on the top of the favorites list. It can be frustrating buying and using several different cleaners just to get the job done. The good news is, as long as you have a bottle of liquid dish soap you no longer have to use several different cleaners to get your home sparkling clean. Dish soap is very versatile and can be used for many more chores than simply doing the dishes. Here are 3 ways to use dish soap for household cleaning.

Stain Removal

If you are like most people, one of the most frustrating things about doing laundry is trying to remove a stain from your favorite piece of clothing. Instead of using expensive stain remover, simply reach for your bottle of dish soap to remove oily stains. Gently rub a small amount of dish soap on the stain before washing.

Patio Furniture
Although dish soap may not seem like a tough enough cleaner to remove the dust, dirt and grime that builds up on patio furniture, it is actually one of the best products to use. Dish soap can be used to clean plastic, wrought iron and aluminum patio furniture. Simply add a few drops of your favorite dish soap to a bucket of hot water and use a scrub brush to remove years of built up grime. After scrubbing, rinse with a water hose and allow to dry thoroughly.

Window Blinds
Do you try to clean each slate while they are still hanging over the window? If so, an easy solution is to soak them in dish soap. Remove the blinds, fill the bathtub with hot water, add a few drops of dish soap and allow the blinds to soak for a few hours. Drain the bathtub, turn the shower on and rinse the dirt and grime away. If possible, taking the blinds outdoors to dry in the sun will allow them to dry much quicker, but if the weather isn’t permissible, lay a few towels on the floor, open the blinds and stretch them over the towels to dry.

Residents of Woodstock, GA who have recently moved to a new home or have had your current home insurance policy for some time, its time to contact Peter Laczko Insurance Inc. to insure your new home or review your current policy.

When and How to Update Your Insurance

When it comes to insurance coverage there are certain factors that make updating your policy necessary. That being said, many people are not sure what factors make updating necessary and when or how they should update their policy. Here are some tips to help you determine if you need to update your policy or if your current coverage is sufficient.

Age and marital status are both big indicators that your policy may need to change. When you reach te age of 25 most companies will offer a discount because you are no longer considered a high risk customer. Likewise, marriage also makes you less of a risk. Having children, buying a home, or updating or changing cars may also indicate a need to change coverage.

Another factor that may indicate that you need to update coverage are any claims that are made on the policy. If you had more claims than anticipated you may need more coverage, less claims may indicate that you can have lesser coverage.

In most cases, it is helpful to have an insurance agent on hand to talk you through the changes that may affect what kind of coverage you need, what policy you need, and what changes are being made to your policy. As a rule of thumb, reassessing your coverage every year is a great way to stay on top of coverage and to make sure you are going to have the right coverage each and every time.

Your insurance is important and having the right coverage, the most current information, and knowing what you need to know about your policy can make a huge difference. Peter Laczko Insurance Inc. wants to help you get the coverage you need. Call today to update or change your current policy.