Author Archives: AgentInsure

Do I need my Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or driver’s license number to get an auto insurance policy quote in Albertville, Minnesota?

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Asking for a quote from an auto insurance company will require that you provide certain details and information about your car and your personal driving history. Depending on the insurance company, the exact information that you are required to provide may vary.

License

In many cases, a customer service representative or the company providing a quote will require the use of a driving license to obtain a quote. You will not need to send a copy of your license, but you may be asked to provide the driver’s license number on the card to verify your driving history.

A license is used for identification and accurate estimates. Since a quote is an estimate of the price you will pay, your driving history is a necessary part of obtaining accurate figures.

The VIN

Even though an insurance company may ask for the Vehicle Identification Number before providing the coverage on your car in Albertville, Minnesota, it may not be necessary to provide the information when you are asking for a quote.

In most cases, insurers will provide a quote if you provide the make and model of the car. The VIN is only necessary after you have purchased the vehicle and are applying the policy to the account. The make and model of the car, as well as the year it was built, are the key factors that determine the appropriate estimate.

Providing a large amount of information to an insurance company can help you obtain the most accurate estimate for your coverage. Depending on the insurer, the details you will need to provide can vary. Contact Pizano Insurance to talk to an independent agent for more information about the details you need to provide for an accurate estimate.

What Should I Do If There Is a Lapse in Home Insurance in Albertville, Minnesota?

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It is very important for individuals to maintain home insurance on their property at all times. Should something happen to put the home at risk, such as a fire, flood, or burglary, it is critical that the right type of insurance be in place to protect the value of that home. Additionally, most mortgage lenders require borrowers to maintain a specific level of coverage at all times to protect the investment. So, what happens when your home insurance does lapse?

In Albertville, Minnesota, it is critically important to discuss your situation with your insurance agent as soon as possible. Getting a new policy in place right away is critical. Some insurance providers may penalize you with higher rates because of the lapse, but many will not. Ultimately, you do not want to delay in getting the coverage you need. The best way to do this is to consider both options of renewing your policy with your current provider or seeking out a new one.

You do not want to face risks with your lender for having a gap in coverage. It is best, then, that if you plan to switch providers that you begin looking at least a month in advance of the expiration of your current policy. This can help to reduce your risks of losing coverage even for one day.

If you are in the market for a new policy, it is often best to use an independent agent to help you to find the right policy for your needs. Even when you may not have the best track record of coverage, chances are good there is a provider that can meet your needs. Trust in an independent agent who can help you to find the right policy for your particular needs.

Which one is better if I am not using my boat for next three months in Wayzata, Minnesota, suspending or cancelling my policy?

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If you own a boat in Wayzata, Minnesota, there is a good chance that you will not be using it during the cold winter months. So, if your boat is going to be out of the water and in storage until April, do you really need boat insurance? Should you cancel or suspend your policy until you are ready to go boating?

If you intend to sell your boat when the boating season in Wayzata starts back up in late spring or early summer, you may want to cancel your policy. If, on the other hand, you will be waxing your water skis at the first sign of warmer weather, you may be better off to suspend your insurance for the three or four months when boating is out of the question.

If you cancel your boat insurance, or for that matter, any other type of insurance, you may have a hard time finding a new policy with a premium and coverage as good as your canceled policy. In addition, if you cancel your policy, you will lose coverage for liability and physical damage while the boat is out of the water. Even if you keep your boat in your backyard, someone could climb aboard, fall and get injured.

When you purchase a boat insurance policy, many insurance companies will allow you to suspend coverage during the part of the year when your boat is in dry dock. They may offer you a discount of perhaps 5 percent for each month that you choose to go without coverage.

If you are looking to save some money on your boat insurance, suspending coverage for a few months may be a viable option. As your independent agent in Wayzata, we can help you make the right decision on whether to suspend, cancel, or continue to keep your policy in force. Please give us a call and talk to an independent agent for further information and assistance.

What if my Life Insurance Needs Change in Albertville, Minnesota?

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When you review your life insurance policy in Albertville, Minnesota, you may discover that the current policy no longer fits your needs. Depending on your situation, you may discover that you need more coverage or that a term policy is no longer appropriate for your current concerns. Depending on the policy that you obtained, you may be able to make changes.

Conversion Options

Depending on the policy that you obtained, it may be possible to convert your current policy into a different type of plan if you discover that the current plan is not appropriate for your needs.

Read through your policy and look for any details related to a conversion option. A clause or an exception may provide details about your ability to convert your current term plan into a whole-life plan or other similar policy solutions.

Changing Beneficiaries

Although a change to your plan may focus on the funds or the type of plan that you need, it may also be necessary to change the beneficiary on your policy. Changing the beneficiary can take place whenever major changes occur in your life. For example, if you get married, then you may ask the insurer to change the beneficiary to your new spouse.

Making a change of the beneficiary will depend on your situation and the details of your policy. Some insurers may allow you to make changes at any time while others will require a specific reason for the alterations.

It is sometimes necessary to make changes to your life insurance policy. Depending on your situation and the current plan that you purchased, the details about how you can change your plan may vary. Contact us to talk to an independent agent for more details about the options that are available.

I Reside in Wayzata, Minnesota, Do I Receive Notification to Renew my Commercial Insurance Policy?

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When you own a business in Wayzata, Minnesota, you may obtain commercial insurance to protect your company from a variety of different problems. Depending on the policy that you obtain, the details of when you must renew your policy may vary. In some cases, your insurer may notify you that it is time to renew your policy.

Notifications

Commercial insurance companies may send a notification when your current policy is about to expire so that you can renew your policy and avoid a lapse in coverage. Since each company is different, the details about when they send a notification may vary.

Although some companies may notify you by phone or mail, every insurer is different and some companies may not send a notification that your business coverage is about to expire. It is your responsibility to determine if your coverage still applies.

Automatic Renewals

Although some insurers may notify you when your coverage is about to expire, it may be possible to set up an automatic renewal with insurers so that you do not have any gaps in your coverage. The ability to set up an automatic renewal system may vary based on the company and the specific business policies that apply to the situation.

When you automatically renew your policy, your insurer may send a new copy of your policy so that you can determine if it is still appropriate for your needs.

Protecting your business requires the right type of insurance. When your coverage is about to expire, it may be necessary to contact your insurer to find out whether you will obtain a notification or if you can renew your policy over the phone. To learn more about renewing your policy, contact us to talk to an independent agent today.

If I Purchase New Things for my Home Should I Keep my Insurer in Albertville, Minnesota Posted with it, in Order to be Covered?

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Buying a home in Albertville or Wayzata, Minnesota may require a certain amount of home insurance to protect your property. Although personal belongings are usually covered in part by a home insurance policy, there are situations when you will want to keep your insurer informed about new purchases that come into your home.

Expensive Purchases

If a purchase is very expensive, then you may want to inform your insurer about the item as soon as you bring it into your home. Give your insurer the details about the replacement cost so that it is noted on your account.

Expensive purchases that may be appropriate to inform your insurer about include electronics, jewelry and furniture. After informing your insurer about the purchase, keep a copy of the receipt and a picture of the item in a safe location so that you can prove that you owned the item if something happens in the future.

Other Purchases

Although it is appropriate to inform your insurer about expensive purchases, it is not necessary to give the details of every item that you bring into the house. Articles of clothing, a pair of shoes or an inexpensive piece of furniture may not require you to inform your insurer about the purchase.

In most cases, the amount of coverage that you have for personal belongings may provide enough funds to handle low-cost purchases that are not specifically identified.

While it is not necessary to inform your insurer about every purchase that you make, it is usually a good idea to mention high-cost items to ensure that the replacement cost of those specific items is covered. Call us to talk to an independent agent today for more information about coverage for personal belongings.

How do I Know my Business Property is Worth Insuring, in Albertville, Minnesota?

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When you own a business in Albertville, Minnesota, you may worry about the insurance coverage that you need. Although you may decide that commercial insurance is a necessity for liability, you may worry about the necessary expense of insuring your company property. Although it may seem that your property is not worth insuring, in many cases it can save you money and frustrations if you obtain coverage for your property.

Value of the Property

Before you make any decisions, evaluate the value of your property. Even if you just have a plot of land or several computers that you used in a rented office space, the value of that property can make it worth insuring.

As a general rule, insure any property that is owned by your business if it will cost a large amount of money to replace those items. If the replacement cost is limited, then it may be appropriate to avoid an unnecessary expense.

Buildings or Land

Even though the value of a company-owned building or a plot of land may not be too expensive to replace or repair if it is damaged, it is usually a good idea to purchase some protection for any land or building that you own.

Commercial insurance that is designed for property can help protect against thefts, break-ins, fires and vandalism so that you are not paying for the repair costs or the replacement of equipment that your business requires.

It may not always seem important to insure the property that your company owns, but it can save a large amount of money if something happens to that property. Even equipment and computers can add up quickly if they are damaged or stolen. Contact us to talk to an independent agent for more details today.

Can a credit be obtained for GSM home Alarm System in my House in Wayzata, Minnesota?

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You may be able to get a credit of ten or even twenty percent on your home insurance in Wayzata, Minnesota. Installing a GSM home alarm system will lower the risk of loss from perils such as fire and smoke as well as provide security against home intrusion and burglary.

Any measures that you take to make your home safer and more secure will help your family feel more protected and secure. Smoke detectors and dead bolt locks are a good start, but installing a GSM home alarm system provides an additional level of protection.

GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communication and is basically an advancement in technology from the days when alarm systems worked through telephone lines. Such systems are wireless and use the same technology as your cell phone to communicate. A 24/7 remote monitoring center can alert you to any dangerous condition such as an attempted break-in or the presence of smoke in your home. You can also monitor your home from yourself from, your smartphone or a computer.

All home insurance companies are different, but as a general rule, they all offer some type of discount to homeowners who choose to install a monitored alarm system in their home. Some may also offer a discount for smoke alarms and other devices that are not connected to an independent monitoring system.

While it is still possible to suffer a loss from fire or other problem detected by an alarm system, it is also more likely that the damage or loss will be minimized with early notification. If the police are notified immediately, they may be able to catch the intruder before he has a chance to escape with your valuables. Every minute counts when a fire breaks out and a quick response by the Wayzata Fire Department can minimize the loss.

If you have been considering the purchase of a GSM home alarm system, please give us a call. An independent agent can give you a good estimate of how much you could save in home premium payments by making your home more safe and secure.

Will there be any discounts on my Auto insurance policy if I am the single driver,in Wayzata,Minnesota?

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When you go to buy auto insurance, one of the questions you must answer before your application can be processed is whether you are the only person who will be driving the car. If you are married and your spouse also drives, he or she will be added to the policy. That may be a good thing and actually result in a lower premium than if you were a single driver.

Premiums on auto insurance in Wayzata, Minnesota are based on risk. Auto insurance companies know from past experience that individuals who are married are generally more cautious and take fewer risks when driving. Thus, because you are not in the higher single-driver risk group, your policy premiums might be less.

If you are single, you may still qualify for a number of different discounts, but not usually based on the fact that you are single. Anyone can get a safe driver discount or a discount for having several policies with the same insurance company. You may be single and get a discount because you are over 25, but not because you are the only driver of the car.

Discounts are based on such things as age, driving record and the number of years you have driven without filing a claim. There may be some auto insurance companies that market to single drivers in order to get more clients. They may target a group such as college students. College students are typically single drivers and may get student rates.

Premiums and discounts are based on statistical probability and risk assessment. Anyone can park under a tree and suffer windshield damage when the branch falls. Anyone can get into a car accident. Being a single driver may not qualify you for a special discount, but, you can still get a favorable rate if you fall into a preferred risk group.

As your independent agent, we will work with you to find out all of the different discounts you may be eligible to receive. Some auto insurance companies offer more discounts than others. Please give us a call and an independent agent will be happy to contact a numberr of different carriers and get you the best possible quote on auto insurance.

Is Auto theft insurance available in Albertville,Minnesota?

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Regardless of whether you live in a big city or if you happen to live in a small town like Albertville, Minnesota, it pays to have auto insurance coverage that protects you in the event of a potential loss. Although the town boasts a property crime rate that’s 62 percent lower than the state average according to recent statistics, it’s no reason not to have your vehicle covered in case it’s stolen. After all, statistics also show that one motor vehicle theft occurs every 44.1 seconds in the U.S.

Don’t bother looking at your liability coverage – it does not handle car theft, contrary to popular belief. Instead, the same coverage that takes care of windshield damage is what covers the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle in the event it is stolen. Comprehensive coverage protects your vehicle under a wide variety of scenarios that don’t involve a collision with another vehicle, including fire, natural disasters, vandalism and of course, theft.

If you’re looking for car theft coverage, you won’t have to look far. Practically every insurance agency offers protection against theft under the comprehensive coverage. However, it’s up to you to add optional comprehensive coverage to your auto insurance policy. There are plenty of other steps you can take to protect your vehicle from thieves and vandals, from installing an immobilizer to etching your VIN number on your window glass. You may even receive discounts just for making your car safer and less attractive to thieves.

As your independent agent, we’re happy to lend our assistance if you have any questions about your current insurance coverage. We can also help you at comprehensive coverage to your current insurance policy. Don’t forget that we can also help you find discounts that can help lower your annual insurance premiums.