Aaron McDermid

As a U.S. Army Veteran, University of Nebraska graduate, and State Farm Agent with 17 years of experience, I’m proud to help individuals, families, and businesses explore insurance coverage that fits their needs. My team and I are committed to providing personalized guidance and excellent customer service.

• Community involvement is an important part of who I am. I have served three times as President of the Superstition Mountain Rotary Club and currently serve on the Board of the Apache Junction Chamber of Commerce. I am also a graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy.

• These experiences have strengthened my commitment to service, leadership, and the local community.

I look forward to being your reliable Good Neighbor and helping you with your insurance needs.

August Back-to-School Insurance Tips for Arizona Families and Teen Drivers

August in Arizona means the beginning of a new school year, college move-in season, busier roads, and more teenage drivers commuting to school, work, sports, and activities. At the same time, extreme heat, monsoon storms, flash flooding, and haboobs continue to create risks for Arizona drivers, homeowners, renters, and businesses.

Changes to your family’s schedule can also change your insurance needs. If you recently added a teen driver, purchased a student vehicle, sent a child to college, or moved a student into an apartment, August is a good time to review your insurance policies.

Adding a teenage driver is an important milestone—and a good reason to review your auto insurance. New drivers may face unfamiliar situations involving school-zone traffic, crowded parking lots, distracted drivers, extreme heat, and sudden monsoon storms.

Before your teenager begins driving to school, confirm:

• The teen is listed correctly on the appropriate policy

• The vehicle they regularly drive is properly insured

• The vehicle’s primary use and mileage are current

• Your liability limits and deductibles reflect your needs

• The teen knows where to find insurance information

• Emergency roadside contact information is available

• The vehicle has water and basic emergency supplies

• Your teen understands Arizona school-bus and school-zone laws

Remind teen drivers to wear a seat belt, put their phones away, avoid driving while tired, and never drive through flooded roads or washes.

Teen driver safety tip: Encourage your student to leave early. Rushing to school can lead to speeding, abrupt lane changes, and distracted driving.

An August insurance review can help you check your drivers, vehicles, addresses, coverage limits, deductibles, and policy details.

Consider reviewing your Arizona auto insurance if you have:

• Added a licensed or permitted teen driver

• Purchased a vehicle for a high school or college student

• Added or replaced a household vehicle

• Changed your daily commute

• Sent a student to college with a vehicle

• Changed where a vehicle is parked or stored

• Started driving more for school, work, sports, or activities

• Added another household member who regularly drives your vehicle

Your auto insurance review may include:

• Bodily injury and property damage liability coverage

• Collision coverage

• Comprehensive coverage

• Coverage limits and deductibles

• Emergency roadside service options

• Rental car coverage

• Household driver information

• Vehicle usage and annual mileage

• Multi-vehicle policy options

• Potential teen driver or student discounts

Coverage options, eligibility, and discounts vary. Talk with McDermid State Farm Agency about your household’s drivers and vehicles.

Drivers should use additional caution as students return to school. Traffic patterns may change quickly near campuses, crosswalks, bus stops, and student parking areas.

Help your family prepare by reviewing these safety practices:

• Reduce speed in school zones

• Watch for children near crosswalks and parked vehicles

• Follow crossing-guard instructions

• Allow school buses enough room to stop

• Never pass a stopped school bus when prohibited by law

• Avoid using a phone while driving

• Expect congestion during drop-off and pickup

• Leave extra space between vehicles

• Use caution in crowded student parking lots

• Discuss safe passenger behavior with teen drivers

Parents should also review who is permitted to ride with a newly licensed driver under applicable Arizona graduated driver licensing requirements.

Arizona College Student Auto Insurance

If your student is attending Arizona State University, a community college, an in-state university, or an out-of-state school, their vehicle use and living arrangements may affect your insurance needs.

Contact your insurance agent if your college student:

• Is taking a vehicle to campus

• Is leaving a vehicle at home

• Will regularly drive a roommate’s or family member’s vehicle

• Has changed their permanent or campus address

• Will park in a dorm, apartment, or campus lot

• Is attending college away from home

• Purchased or registered a vehicle

• Will use a vehicle for work or deliveries

Your agent can review how the student’s address, vehicle location, mileage, and driving habits should be reflected on the policy.

August temperatures can be dangerous for drivers and hard on vehicles. Extreme heat may contribute to battery failure, tire problems, overheating, fluid loss, and air-conditioning issues.

Before the school commute begins, check:

• Tire pressure, tread, and overall condition

• Battery condition

• Coolant and other fluid levels

• Air-conditioning performance

• Windshield wipers

• Headlights, brake lights, and turn signals

• Brakes

• Emergency and roadside supplies

• Spare tire or tire repair equipment

• Insurance and registration information

Keep bottled water, a phone charger, a flashlight, and basic emergency supplies in each family vehicle. Avoid leaving electronics, medications, pets, or children in a parked vehicle.

Arizona heat safety tip: Vehicle interiors can become dangerously hot within minutes. Never leave a child or pet unattended in a parked car, even for a short time.

Arizona’s monsoon season continues through August. Teenagers and college students should know what to do when blowing dust, heavy rain, lightning, or flash flooding affects the road.

If you encounter a severe dust storm or haboob:

• Check the traffic around your vehicle.

• Pull completely off the paved roadway when it is safe.

• Stop the vehicle and set the parking brake.

• Turn off your lights.

• Remove your foot from the brake pedal.

• Keep your seat belt fastened.

• Wait until visibility improves before returning to the road.

Never stop in an active travel lane. Do not drive through flooded washes or water-covered roads, even if the water appears shallow.

Call, Text, or stop by for a Free Insurance Quote or Review!

Two Convenient Mesa Locations

• McDermid State Farm Agency 1113 S. Signal Butte Road, Suite 109 Mesa, AZ 85208

  OR

• McDermid State Farm Agency 6835 E. Baseline Road, Suite 102 Mesa, AZ 85209