Harold Britt Agent/Broker

Thank you for visiting the Britt Insurance Agency Inc. website and blog.  We invite you to take a few moments to browse our links and posts. 

Britt Insurance has  provided  Auto, Home, Life, Business and Health Insurance to our clients since 1982.   We are an “On-Your-Side” certified agency by Nationwide Insurance.  This certification is awarded by the insurance company based on our commitment to quality customer service.  We welcome the opportunity to provide you with the same “award winning”  service.

After browsing our website click  the Nationwide Insurance Logo below the Mission Statement to be linked to our Nationwide Insurance webpages. There you can learn more about our Agency and you can get  “no hassle-no obligation” on-line quotes for all your Personal and Business Insurance needs.

                                                                                                                                                       For Health Insurance information and quotes you may click on  the links at the bottom of the Quote Page from this site.

Or call us toll-free at 1-877-289-1481 and one of our licensed agents will be happy to provide you with a free confidential “On-Your-Side” review of your insurance coverages. 

 Again thanks for visiting.  We look forward to working with you soon.

Harold Britt

The other day, your friendly insurance agent became the victim of crime when  the license plate on my car was switched for an expired one.  The theft would probably have gone undetected until a police officer spotted the expired plate, except it was not placed on the car properly.

According to our local police,  the expired plate was also reported as out of service, but had previously be on a vehicle, the same type and year model as mine.  A new trend, it would seem in the growing problem of automobile related thefts.

I did a little research and discovered that thieves are going after components and parts now as they are easier than stealing the entire vehicle.  There was a recent rash of thefts locally of catalytic converters and now it is parts such as chrome rims and even the lowly roof rack that are being stolen.  Dash mounted gps units and radar detectors are prime targets for the smash and grab thefts as well as unsecured cell phones and pda’s.  Nationally over 75,000 airbags are stolen annually and those items are expensive to replace.  The new xenon headlights are also an item that thieves can take quickly.

Old fashion thefts are also making a comeback.  Odometer frauds and car cloning are on the rise.  (Car cloning is where thieves steal several  same make and model vehicles and then alter the Vehicle Identification Number with one copied from a similiar vehicle for sale, usually at a dealership.)  Carjackings are still a problem in many areas and nationally a car is stolen every 33 seconds according to the FBI.  The South leads the way there with 37.8 percent of the total reported thefts in 2008.

Here is a list of the most stolen vehicles:

Rank / Year / Make / Model

1. 1994 Honda Accord
2. 1995 Honda Civic
3. 1989 Toyota Camry
4. 1997 Ford F-150 Pickup
5. 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup
6. 2000 Dodge Caravan
7. 1996 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
8. 1994 Acura Integra
9. 1999 Ford Taurus
10. 2002 Ford Explorer
Source: Auto theft by model 2008; National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Want to reduce your exposure to theft?  Contact Us  and we will email you some handy tips.

LSV

It sounds like a good idea; using the golf cart or mo-ped to run errands around town. But, just how safe are these LSV’s (Low Speed Vehicles)? The attached article points out that LSV’s were intended for use in gated communities or neighborhood streets and are not safe for highway use, including our downtown streets.

In addition, many LSV operators are unaware that their homeowner’s insurance does not provide coverage away from their residence premise and so do not have liability insurance. These folks are exposing themselves (and us) to catastrophic losses should an accident occur.

If you plan to use your LSV away from your residence, you should contact our office to determine the coverage you need. Just because the LSV doesn’t require a license or registration, doen’t mean that there isn’t a need for insurance.

What do insurance agents expect when dealing with claim service? Our agents expect the same things as our customers! Fast, courteous service is a priority.
A recent survey by the Insurance Journal found that agents say friendly claims service is much more important than meeting expectations on claim payment amounts. Fully 61 percent of respondents rated friendly service as critical, while only 28 percent considered providing the expected payment amount as critical. One agent describing a top carrier said, “They are kind, courteous, and treat people how they themselves would like to be treated, no matter how small or large the claim happens to be.” Another emphasized the importance of the personal touch by noting that their “claims reps are always pleasant, helpful and sympathetic to clients’ needs and concerns.”
At Britt Insurance claim service is a #1 priority for us!

Our agency provides coverage for more than your family sedan. We also insure motorcycles, classic cars, muscle cars, antique automobiles and military type vehicles. We just returned from the Oakboro (NC) Cruise In, a monthly event held on main street and featuring hundreds of vehicles lovingly restored and maintained by their owners. My son, Robert, shot the photos of just a few using his cellphone camera.