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  • Buying an RV? What You Should Know

    Buying an RV? What You Should Know

    One of the most enduring and fun pastimes that Americans enjoy during their vacation time is going camping. However, camping can be a bit inglorious: slumming it out in a tent in the woods is a bit harder to do once you’re out of your twenties. So, what’s a lover of the great outdoors to do? Well, the simplest solution would be to buy an RV, so you can bring a little bit of home with you when you go camping!

    RVs are quite the investment, though. It’s important that you know what you’re getting into before you buy an RV. To that end, we’ve compiled a quick guide of things you should know before you buy an RV. Get ready to hit the road and the campground in style!

    Be Selective

    It’s okay to take your time when you’re looking to buy an RV. Check out all the options available to you, take it slow and easy, and don’t fall in love with the first camper you see. It’s easy to fall for a hype sales pitch, but don’t let it convince you to buy something you’re not sure about yet. An RV is likely the second-most expensive thing you’ll ever buy, after your home. As such, it’s important you’re as discerning with your RV as you were when you bought your home.

    Keep a lookout for substandard components. Maybe the plumbing isn’t ideal, or the water pump is outdated. Check the cabinets out and double-check the build quality on the furniture. This is a huge purchase: it’s okay to take a year or more doing research and weeding out the campers you know you don’t want before you find the one you do.

    On the Lot

    When you’re going in to buy the RV, make sure you know when to buy. The best time to hit the dealership is towards the end of the month, or the end of the year. That way, you’re close to the deadline for some of the dealership’s quotas and sales targets. This gives you a lot more power in negotiating. When the power is in your hands, you can negotiate much more freely.

    Start by haggling for around thirty percent off the sticker price of the RV. If you can get the price down around that region, you’ll be in good shape. It’s important that you know to walk away if you can’t find a good price with the dealership you’re at. Let the salesperson know that you’re willing to walk away and work with their competition if they won’t work with you.

    Or Buy Used

    If you don’t feel like fussing with a dealership, you can try to buy an RV used. RVs are unusual in that they’re luxury items, but their value depreciates rapidly once they’re purchased. After being driven off the lot, they can drop as much as 25% in price on the spot. As such, if you’re willing to shop around and deal with secondhand sellers, you can likely find RVs for as much as half off their MSRP.

    When buying used, make sure you check the living quarters thoroughly and ask the owner for all the paperwork showing the proper upkeep and maintenance of the RV. They can be a big hassle to keep up with and maintain, so if the person you’re buying from is done with the RV and wants to get rid of it, you’ll likely find it easy to haggle for a better price on the camper. Be aware before you buy any RV that repairs can be costly and can take a lot of time, so be ready for a big responsibility. If you put the work in, though, they can be huge fun!


  • Window Replacements: What You Need to Know

    Window Replacements: What You Need to Know

    Windows are a huge part of the flow of any home. After all, no one wants to sit in a dark, windowless room. People love natural light, seeing the world beyond their windows and taking in the sights outside their home. However, your windows could be costing you a lot of money, or letting in bugs and other pests. If your home’s got older windows, you might need some window replacements. Here’s what you need to know about getting new windows installed in your home.

    Window Replacements

    Older Windows

    Older homes tend to have more traditional, old-school windows with simple wooden windowsills. The issue with these old-style windows is that they don’t get a good seal between the wood frame of the window and the wood of the seal itself. This results in your home’s internal temperature being more difficult to maintain. It loses cool air in the summer, and lets heat out in the winter. This is bad for a number of reasons.

    For one thing, this means your power bill is going to be higher than it has any business being. For another, if your HVAC is constantly running at full-tilt to try to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, it’s unlikely you’ll get the same lifespan out of the appliance that you would if it were being run more normal amounts. In turn, this means that older windows just straight-up cost you more money.

    Pests and Bugs

    Another issue with old-style windows is that their lack of a proper seal allows bugs and other pests to easily wiggle their way under the window. While having newer windows isn’t a surefire way to keep bugs out, it does offer one more line of defense between your home and an ant or termite problem. If you’ve been seeing lines of ants crawling in under your window, you know it’s time to get some new windows installed.

    What Kind Should You Get?

    Older windows are different from modern ones in more ways than just the sill. The actual glass panes on older windows are single-pane, and typically made from real glass. Modern, double-pane style windows are more energy efficient, as they radiate less heat, and they’re usually not made from real glass. Instead, they’re created from translucent materials that are much safer. If you’re looking to replace your older windows, we suggest you use newer, double-pane style vinyl windows.

    As far as cost goes, modern, energy-efficient windows tend to cost around $500 to install, though the price in your region could vary based on cost of living. That said, these types of windows are notably more affordable to get installed than older, wooden-style windows, which can cost around $900 to replace. While these may look more “classic,” they’re not exactly a good deal for your wallet.

    Appearance vs Cost Effectiveness

    Many homeowners love the look of classic, wood-frame, single-pane windows. They look traditional, classy and even a little romantic. However, updating from your older windows to this style can be tremendously expensive, cost-prohibitive just to install. Beyond the sheer installation cost, there’s the other expenses these windows could cause you.

    For instance, in the case of your power bill, older style windows will be running the bill up. Heat radiates much more easily through a single glass panel, and wooden frames don’t create strong seals. This means that a draft could get going under the window, resulting in escalating power bills. Not to mention, if the windows are allowing pests underneath, you’ll have to pay even more for an exterminator to remove the problem. In short, unless you’re willing to part with a lot of cash, we recommend sticking with modern, double-pane windows.


  • Do You Need Flood Insurance? The Facts

    Do You Need Flood Insurance? The Facts

    While the types of insurance you can get for your home often include coverage for damage from natural disasters, you might need flood insurance for full coverage. This goes double if you live in an area prone to flooding due to proximity to the ocean or frequency of hurricanes. Today we’re going to look into flood insurance and help you determine whether you need it for your home, or if your homeowner’s insurance is enough to cover you.

    Flood Insurance

    Flooding Risks

    Of all the natural disasters that occur in the US, nine out of ten of them cause flooding. Flood damage can be catastrophic on your property, damaging everything from your home’s foundation to your belongings. Electronics, furniture, pictures and collectibles can all be destroyed and ruined by flood waters. Keep in mind that homeowner’s insurance likely can only cover a small percentage of the amount of damage that a flood can cause to your home.

    Not to mention, flooding often brings silt, mud, and even sewage into your home, leaving a disgusting mess inside your home. Even worse, there are some floodwaters fast-moving and dangerous enough to sweep entire homes off of their foundations and simply carry them away. The only thing worse than your home being damaged badly is your home simply washing away into the ocean. This type of damage would likely be impossible to cover with normal homeowner’s insurance.

    Do You Need Flood Insurance?

    If you live on a flat plain in the middle of Nebraska, you probably don’t need to worry about flood insurance. Likewise, if your home is atop a mountain and far from any bodies of water, it’s highly unlikely that a flood will ever reach you. If one does, you’ll certainly have bigger problems than whether your baseball cards get soaked.

    Meanwhile, if you live in a lowland area near a river or on the coast, you should look into flood insurance. Keep in mind that if your area is particularly flood-prone, you might actually already have flood insurance. Many mortgage companies require you to have flood insurance if the likelihood of a flood in your area is over a certain amount.

    National Flood Insurance Program

    There are two different types of flood insurance you can look into. The first is the National Flood Insurance Program, or NFIP, offered through FEMA. This government-operated insurance is available to communities in flood zones, typically near the coast or in lowland regions near bodies of water. There are two coverage types available in NFIP, and most communities covered by it get access to both.

    There’s building property coverage, which offers to cover the cost to repair your home or get a new one entirely. This can pay out up to $250,000, allowing you to cover a wide range of damage. The other type is personal property coverage, which pays out damages to your property up to $100,000. This includes things like your TV, computer, furniture and collectibles.

    Private Flood Insurance

    Unlike NFIP, private flood insurance varies widely from insurer to insurer, so it’s harder to make generalized statements about it. However, as a general rule, you should speak to your local insurance agent to learn more about what they can offer in your area. People who have homes worth more than $250,000 or personal property worth more than $100,000 tend to be those interested in private flood insurance.

    For instance, if you have a summer home or a mansion that’s worth over $250,000 located on the Florida coast, you’ll likely want to speak to a private company about flood insurance. NFIP can only pay out up to $250,000, so there’s no real reason to go through them to insure a mansion or beachfront property.


  • Cruising to Europe? The Ultimate Cruise Guide

    Cruising to Europe? The Ultimate Cruise Guide

    If you’re looking to get away for a while and enjoy a nice vacation, you might be thinking of taking a trip to Europe. After all, it’s a continent full of history, ancient buildings and cultures that are fascinating to learn about. However, traveling to Europe can be a bit stressful when you’re just trying to enjoy your vacation. There’s so much to do, and traveling all over is a bit of a feat in terms of scheduling and planning.

    Thankfully, there’s a much simpler way of traveling around Europe that also turn your travel time into leisure time: cruising. Cruise boats are as much giant floating resort hotels as they are a means of transportation, so if you’re looking for a relaxing way to visit some amazing locales, a cruise boat is the right call for you. Here are some of the best cruises to Europe you can find.

    Seabourn Ovation

    First sailing out in 2018, the Ovation is the newest ship in Seabourn’s fleet. The luxury cruise liner carries up to 600 passengers and has been described as “intimate,” offering a nearly one-to-one ratio of crew to passengers. The storied luxury of Seabourn is on display on the Ovation, as well, with the food and amenities onboard described as “decadent”. Every passenger room on the boat offers a veranda with an ocean overlook, and every room has flat-screen TVs and a complimentary in-suite bar.

    Passengers can opt for upgrades like the “Pure Pampering” package, which means your baths will be drawn by your suite stewardess. The cruise liner often takes routes through the Mediterranean, though it also visits Northern Europe and even offers cruises through the British Isles. No matter what part of Europe you’re interested in seeing, Seabourn Ovation is a great ship to do it on.

    Celebrity Reflection

    The Celebrity Reflection was first introduced in 2012, and it had a renovation in January of 2018. The Reflection has room for up to 3,046 passengers, and offers unique amenities like the Game On club, which has huge, flat-screen table games, which is great for teenagers or gamers. There’s also a top-deck Lawn Club, giving guests a naturalistic area for relaxing on the boat. Also available on this ship is the Alcoves, an extra-charge area that allows for smaller crowds and cabana-style lounging.

    There are twelve different restaurants aboard the Reflection, though of them seven cost extra to dine in. Most of the cabins offer verandas with ocean overlook, and all of them come equipped with flat-screen TVs and minibars. There’s also the option to upgrade to an Aqua Class cabin, which grants the passengers 24-hour butler service and direct access to the spa. The boat splits its time between the Caribbean and Europe, though it’s a blast to be on in either region.

    Viking Sea

    As the name implies, the Viking Sea is a luxury cruise liner that cruises all over Europe. It often offers cruises through the Mediterranean, across various beautiful locales such as Rome, Venice, Barcelona and Athens. The ship was introduced in 2016, and is on the smaller size, accommodating only 930 passengers. This smaller size allows it to visit smaller ports, such as Norway and Bergen. The ship is, notably, extremely luxurious for all passengers.

    Case in point? Every cabin has heated floors, king-sized beds, flat-screen TVs, balconies, and even complimentary wi-fi. Noteworthy attractions on the boat include a unique infinity pool on the nose of the ship that gives the illusion of swimming in the ocean. Between this and the numerous options for delicious cuisine, it’s hard to go wrong with the Viking Sea as your ship of choice for a European cruise.


  • Cord-Cutting: Which Internet TV Service is the Best in 2019?

    Cord-Cutting: Which Internet TV Service is the Best in 2019?

    It’s not hard to see why people don’t want to have cable services through traditional providers anymore. Cable bills are astronomical, and they charge consumers a ton for programming that goes mostly unwatched. If you’re looking to save money on your cable bill and watch TV without breaking the bank, your best bet is to use a Roku or Smart TV and connect to an Internet TV service.

    There are so many options on the market, though, and the pricing of all the different services seems to change every few months. Today we’re taking a look at the top Internet TV services to help you decide which one is the best for you. Here are our top picks for the best Internet TV in 2019.

    Sling TV

    The first service to hit with the current business model of being an internet-based TV service, Sling debuted in 2016. Owned by Dish Network, Sling costs only $25, though it offers a number of channel packages and add-ons that can increase that price pretty quickly. Notably, there are two channel packages for the base $25: you choose either Orange or Blue, which essentially is a decision between Fox or Disney and ESPN.

    Notably, Sling recently lost regional Fox Sports in a high-profile contract dispute, which inconveniently also fell right in the middle of baseball season. This frustrating turn of events is due, in part, to Sling’s avowed dedication to keep their price steady at $25 per month. If you’re looking for a good budget TV service, it’s hard to go wrong with Sling. However, the lack of local channels and regional sports can be a turn-off for some viewers.

    PlayStation Vue

    PlayStation Vue might sound like a new video game console from Sony, but it’s actually an Internet TV service like Sling. It’s a more “premium”-style service, as even its base package, called “Access” costs $50 per month. However, Vue offers local channels that aren’t offered on budget services like Sling or Philo, making it a strong choice as a strict cable-replacement.

    The interface for Vue is clean, snappy and similar to many major cable providers. DVR is built in and stores shows for up to 30 days, and normal on-demand content is available through the service. The $55 per month “Core” offers up even more robust sports coverage, and the high-end “Ultra” package, which is $85 per month, adds Showtime and HBO to the channel lineup. Notably, Sony doesn’t carry any Viacom channels, like MTV, Comedy Central and Spike.

    Pluto TV

    If you’re looking to slide in for the low, low price of free with your Internet TV, we’ve got good news. Pluto TV is totally free, though you get what you pay for. The service is more akin to a curated selection of already-available content from the internet, comprising mostly reruns of shows from a few years ago and original content from websites like IGN.

    One of Pluto’s strengths is that it offers incredibly focused channels that are collections of very specific interests, like Gaming or Anime. If you’re just looking for something to throw on to watch idly without giving the content much thought, Pluto is a great option. After all, the content is free and it’s entertaining. If you’re looking to catch current sports games, local channels or new content in general, though, it might be worth springing for a paid TV service.

    HD Antenna

    If you’re looking to catch local channels but don’t have a service that carries them, you can also opt to use an HD antenna. Once you buy one, it picks up HD signals over the airwaves and allows you to watch local channels, including the news and the Big Three. HD antennas can be paired with Sling or Pluto to create a low-cost TV-watching solution without giving up too much content.


  • What’s Cooler than being Cool? Best Coolers for Your Pool Party

    What’s Cooler than being Cool? Best Coolers for Your Pool Party

    Who doesn’t love spending time out by the pool over the summer? Or going out on a picnic, or hosting a barbecue? No matter what your favorite outdoor activity is during the summer, you need to make sure you bring a good cooler to keep all of your drinks frosty in the sunshine.

    It’s tough to decide which cooler is the best, though. The top-of-the-line coolers are quite expensive, and the budget coolers might not keep your drinks cold. How can you narrow it down and find the best? No sweat! We’re here to help. We’ve done some extensive testing (who says work can’t be fun?) and experience has borne out a few clear winners. Here are some of our picks for the coolest coolers you should pick up this summer!

    Igloo MaxCold

    As far as value goes, you simply don’t beat the Igloo MaxCold. You can often find this cooler on sale for less than $50, and that makes it one of the best values as far as coolers go. It’s got great performance, even in direct sunlight, keeping drinks cold for hours. As for the negatives, it’s not as tough or durable as some of the competition, and it’s not rotomolded. That means that the plastic isn’t quite as good at keeping the cold air in as a comparably-sized rotomolded cooler.

    In spite of its outdated and somewhat dorky design, the Igloo MaxCold is still a great value. It’s far from a looker, and it’s not going to make anyone think you’re a high roller. However, most people aren’t going to be calling you anything mean when you’re rolling up with a cooler full of cold beers. For those on a budget who still need a hard-working cooler, this is the one for you.

    Orca Classic Cooler

    For something stylish, durable and rotomolded, check out the Orca Classic Cooler. This well-designed and tough cooler comes in at $300, which is a lot, but it’s well-worth that price tag. Consider it an investment in summer fun to come! For that price, you get what may be one of the best coolers on the market, in terms of size-to-price ratio for a cooler with as good of insulation as the Orca has.

    The Orca Classic Cooler has a lot of other things going for it, too. It look great and comes in a ton of awesome colors, so it’ll be stylish on your campsite as it keeps your beers cold all weekend. It’s also rather comfortable to carry, thanks to some smart design choices that make it ergonomic and hand-friendly, even when toting it around over long(ish) distances. It’s worth noting that this cooler is set in a tie with its direct competitor, the Cabela’s Polar Cap Equalizer Cooler.

    Cabela’s Polar Cap Equalizer Cooler

    Set in a complete tie with the Orca Classic Cooler is the also-wonderful Cabela’s Polar Cap Equalizer Cooler. It’s also rotomolded, durable and great at keeping the cold in. It’s also $300, and the two coolers have very comparable amounts of storage inside. The Polar Cap offers slightly more internal space, which is a slight bump in its favor, though.

    The other major differences between these two equally-priced coolers is that the Polar Cap is a little more uncomfortable to carry. The handle design isn’t great, and it’s a bit of a hassle to lug around. Incidentally, it also sports slightly less options in terms of colors, making it somewhat dorkier by comparison. To make up for this, the Polar Cap sports some nifty bottle openers in the rubber latches that close it up. As such, it’s sort of a wash: just pick the one you like the look of better!


  • Hearing Loss and Loss of Cognitive Function: Why Hearing Aids Matter

    Hearing Loss and Loss of Cognitive Function: Why Hearing Aids Matter

    There are a number of people who find that they don’t want to use hearing aids, even if they have significant hearing loss. They may associate hearing aids with aging and “looking old,” or perhaps they just don’t want to mess with the technology. However, this is a mistake: if you have hearing loss, you should absolutely be using hearing aids.

    There are a number of reasons why it’s important to use hearing aids if your hearing isn’t optimal. Today we’re going to get in to the various benefits using hearings aids confers, and what detriments you incur by not using them when you need to.

    Mental Acuity

    Numerous studies have shown that choosing not to use hearing aids even when you have suboptimal hearing is a huge way to invite cognitive issues. Things like memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s have all been shown to be more directly impactful on people with loss of hearing. Of course, the flip side of this is that if you use hearing aids, the effects of such cognitive degeneration are slowed dramatically.

    This is likely due to a combination of factors. Namely, brain function as we age alters due to the dulling of the senses. Much like muscles, if you don’t use your brain’s functions then they’ll get weaker. We, as humans, need mental stimulation to keep ourselves sharp. The same can be said for visual stimuli, as well as touch and smell and taste. As long as you’re receiving stimulation to various parts of your brain, you’re staving off cognitive degradation.

    Social Awareness

    It’s very difficult to carry on a conversation with someone who can’t hear every other word you’re saying. Imagine how frustrating it must be for your friends or family to have to yell to be understood by you. It’s also uncomfortable for anyone if you mishear them and react as though they said something they didn’t say. Taking the time to correct your mistake, walking back the conversation and trying to be understood is a huge social embarrassment and hassle.

    An easy way to alleviate all this social stress and conversational awkwardness is to simply wear your hearing aids. They allow you to easily hear your friends and family when carrying on a conversation. You won’t miss important information, and you’ll be able to hear conversations without people having to shout at you.

    Safety

    It’s very dangerous to walk around a busy, crowded street without being able to hear the world around you. Things like rushing emergency vehicles, people shouting about potential hazards and even the sounds of fights or gunshots might go unnoticed if you’re not using hearing aids. By going out into the world without them, you’re inviting disaster. What if there’s a fire and you don’t hear the alarm going off and get stuck in the building?

    Another safety consideration regarding hearing is driving. If you go out driving but don’t wear your hearing aids, it’s much more likely that you don’t hear things like emergency vehicle sirens and the sounds of car horns blaring. By wearing your hearing aids, you’re more likely to be aware of your surroundings and react to traffic patterns around you.

    Enjoyment

    Simply hearing the sounds of birds chirping, babies crying, and wind rustling the leaves in the trees can be meditative and enjoyable. Who doesn’t love the sound of a running creek or the tides coming in and out? If you’re hard of hearing and don’t have, or don’t wear, your hearing aids, consider all the ways you’re missing out. Look out for your safety, your cognitive function and your friends and family by using hearing aids.


  • Losing Weight Without Dieting: Changing Lifestyle

    Losing Weight Without Dieting: Changing Lifestyle

    Fad diets are a dime a dozen. Maybe you’ve even tried some yourself. There’s been all kind recently: paleo, keto, the list goes on. What many people find is that when they do a fad diet, they lose a bit of weight at first, but then they burn out, eat normally and gain the weight back. How can you lose weight without having to worry about your lifestyle just putting it back on? Well, you have to change your lifestyle.

    Losing Weight Without Dieting

    Healthy Lifestyle

    A healthy lifestyle is made up of a combination of tons of different factors. There’s a lot of important things you need to pursue to be healthy, but the place you need to start is a determination to live better and a mindset that puts your health above everything else. Dedication and discipline are of utmost importance when it comes to living a holistically healthy lifestyle.

    Regular Exercise

    Get out every day and exercise. It doesn’t matter whether this is weightlifting, running, yoga, tai chi or rock-climbing, you just need to get out and move. If you’re never burning calories, your body is storing them as fat. That’s just basic nutrition. Whatever you need to do to squeeze in at least half an hour of exercise per day, do it.

    Maybe you like playing video games. Well, don’t let yourself play until you’ve gotten in a half-hour jog through your neighborhood. Maybe you love shopping. Don’t buy any new shoes until you’ve hit your half-hour goal for yoga for a straight week. The specifics don’t matter: what matters is that it works for you and it gets you moving and burning calories.

    Sleeping Better

    A huge factor in living a healthy overall lifestyle is sleep. If you’re not sleeping right, you’re going to feel bad and you’re going to find it hard to lose any weight. Make sure you’re getting to bed at a reasonable hour, getting between 6 and 8 hours of sleep, and waking up at a decent time. Sleeping in late every day is a surefire way to encourage your body’s metabolism to be slow.

    To help encourage better sleep, you can try a few things. Make sure you don’t drink any caffeine within eight hours of when you want to sleep. If you’re following our advice about regular exercise, you’ll probably be tired enough by the end of the day to hit the hay. If you work second or third shift, try to stop doing so if you can. Ask for a transfer to day shift or try to change jobs. If you can’t, then try to keep your sleeping schedule as consistent as possible.

    Junk Food

    We know we said this was an article about losing weight without dieting, but trust us on this one: you need to cut the junk food out. This includes greasy, fried foods, snack foods and everything high in saturated fats. If you want to snack, that’s fine, just make sure its on something like carrots, apples, bananas or other fruits and veggies. They’re good for you and they’ll help you keep from overeating during meal time.

    While you’re at it, make sure you cut sugary soft drinks and sports drinks out of your normal diet. This isn’t to say you need to go on a diet: feel free to eat whatever else and operate normally. However, if you want to live an overall healthy lifestyle to encourage weight loss then you’re going to want to leave these incredibly fatty, sugary foods out of your diet. If you follow these steps, you’re not guaranteed to lose weight, but we do guarantee you’ll feel a lot better.


  • Best Car Insurance Companies for 2021

    Best Car Insurance Companies for 2021

    Let’s be honest: you’re required to have car insurance. That’s a given if you’re going to drive your car anywhere outside of closed, privately-owned tracks. Just because you have to have it doesn’t mean it has to stink, though. You deserve only the best car insurance, from only the best car insurance companies. Today we’re taking a look at some of the best car insurance companies for the money in 2021.

    We’re looking at a combination of factors when deciding on the best: customer service, customer satisfaction, price and a good shopping experience. There are tons of car insurance companies all vying for your dollar, so the one you go with needs to have only the top marks in order to be worthy of your hard-earned cash. Let’s get into it.

    Amica Insurance

    Amica isn’t the biggest names in terms of recognition, but they are a juggernaut in the field of customer satisfaction. Amica consistently scores huge marks from their customers in terms of satisfaction: people with Amica feel taken care of, important, and well-covered. Try this one on for size: Amica has proportionally lower complaints from customers than any other agency in the country, even accounting for their small size.

    That’s not to mention their awesome free perks. Car insurance policyholders with Amica get all kinds of goodies like free lock and airbag replacement. You also get a complete reimbursement of your lost wages if you have to go into court at Amica’s request: they have you covered. If you lose your keys, or they get stolen, they’ll cover the cost of getting you replacements. Oh, and did we mention that in most states they won’t take depreciation out of your new car in the first year if you total it?

    Erie Insurance

    Another smaller company with a low profile and stellar customer reviews, Erie Insurance is beloved by their policyholders. The consistently get five-star satisfaction reviews, and they offer a ton of killer perks. The only problem, however, is that they operate in a small selection of states. Only Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, West Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania are covered.

    If you do happen to be covered, however, Erie is well-worth considering. They offer a rate-lock so that you know your premiums won’t go up unless you add cars or drivers to your policy. After three years, you get accident forgiveness so that your first at-fault accident doesn’t carry a surcharge. They also offer goodies like a diminishing deductible and even pet injury coverage if your pet is hurt in a car accident.

    Nationwide

    Nationwide insurance is the only insurer on this list with a large national profile, and for good reason. Normally operating at the scale they do makes it difficult to keep customers satisfied, but they manage to be both massive and care about their policyholders. Ignoring their obnoxious televised commercials, Nationwide is a good company to have in your corner. They consistently score five-star customer satisfaction reviews, and they have a very low number of customer complaints year over year.

    The much-talked-about vanishing deductible is one of Nationwide’s staples, and it can really add up: after five years of safe driving, you’ll have $500 off your deductible. In some states, Nationwide offers accident forgiveness, which can be a lifesaver if you get into a little fender bender and don’t want your rates to go up. Likewise, their “On Your Side Review” offers you the yearly chance to go over your life and needs to make sure you’re getting the right coverage and all the discounts you need. In short, Nationwide treats their customers with care and tries to make sure they feel valuable and cared for.