Basics of boat insurance

For small motor boats insurance is not required in Minnesota, but for boats with engines of more than 50 horsepower, liability insurance at minimum is required. Even if not required, some liability insurance is a good idea, according to Pizano Insurance in Wayzata, MN. Non-motorized boats, like canoes, and most personal watercraft like jet skis, do not need insurance. Boats kept in state parks have to have liability insurance regardless of engine size.

Boat insurance is very similar to automobile insurance in how it operates, though you do need a separate policy for your boat. Liability insurance covers any damage you might cause in an accident. There is also medical insurance that will cover injuries whether or not you are at fault.

There is also physical damage coverage, similar to collision insurance on a car. You may also get coverage for uninsured boaters, so if someone else damages your boat and is not insured, you can still recoup your losses.

There is also insurance to cover fuel spills or the cost of cleanup, should your boat sink. Other add-on’s may also be available to meet your individual needs.

Another item to keep in mind is the value of your boat. When you get your policy, you will agree on the amount of coverage. The value of boats depreciates just like it does with automobiles. If your boat is damaged or destroyed you can receive the amount it was insured for, as opposed to the market value, which could be much lower.

Stop by or call Pizano Insurance in Wayzata, MN to get more information about getting insurance for your boat. Our professional staff can help you make sure you have the coverage you need, so you can be safe and worry-free when you are on any of the lakes or waterways of Minnesota.

What You Need in a Home Insurance Policy

The most valuable asset that you will ever own will likely be your home. Since it is such a big part of your life and financial net worth making sure it is very well and it is extremely important. For those that are in the Wayzata, MN area, picking the right home insurance policy is very important.  There are a variety of different types of coverage that should be included in your policy.  

Property Coverage

The first item that should be included in your home insurance policy is an adequate amount of property coverage. Property coverage will provide you with insurance coverage in the event your home is damaged or destroyed by storm, fire, vandalism, or other significant loss. This part of your home insurance policy should ideally also include and amount of money to cover temporary housing in the event you have to move out of your home.

Liability Coverage

Another type of coverage to include in your policy is liability insurance. Whenever you have somebody visit your home, you are taking on some responsibility for them. If they happen to get hurt on your property, even if it is not your fault, you could end up being sued for liability. Your liability insurance part of the homeowner’s policy will provide you with coverage for this.

Additional Personal Property

If you have available personal items, such as jewelry or collectibles, they may not be covered under your base policy. If this is your situation, you must make sure that you kept an additional policy to cover these items specifically.

For those that own property in the Wayzata, MN area, being properly covered by a home insurance policy is very important.  To ensure you are adequately covered, it would be a good idea to reach out to Pizano Insurance. Pizano Insurance is well experienced in helping people determine their insurance needs and get into a policy that provides the right level of coverage.  

Benefits of Having Auto Insurance

Having car insurance in Wayzata, MN is a requirement of the state. With the right level of coverage, it offers financial protection in case your car is involved in an accident, or it is damaged. It also caters for expenses such as treatment of injuries and damages to other passengers, drivers, and pedestrians. Accidents happen all the time, and they are unpredictable. It is therefore wise to know that you are financially prepared for such incidents. Pizano Insurance provides you with comprehensive auto insurance offering you with many options for you to choose the best.

Auto insurance comes with numerous importance which includes;

Helps you to protect your finances

In a scenario where you are liable for an accident, you will be held responsible for expenses associated with the crash. These include medical fees if there are any bodily injuries involved, lost compensation and legal cost. Liability policy helps you pay for such expenses. Without the coverage, you will be needed to go back to your pocket to cater for the losses.

Helps you protect your passengers

The medical payments policy and personal injury coverage help to cater for your medical bills if you get injured in an accident. It also assists you to pay for your passengers’ damages due to the crash. It may cater for doctor bills, surgery, and hospital visits.

It helps to satisfy loan or lease requirements

If you plan on leasing your car, or you want to finance it with a loan, you may require having a collision and comprehensive policy. The coverage is to help you protect your investment since during the period, your leasing agent or lender is the holder of your vehicle. Having auto insurance will help for repair or replace the car if it is damaged during the period.

Having the right auto insurance coverage goes beyond fulfilling the state’s legal requirement. Auto insurance policy helps you protect your vehicle, your finances and offers you peace of mind. If you are in Wayzata, MN, and seeking to buy auto insurance, contact us at Pizano Insurance and let us help you decide on which policy will work best for you.

Does Motorcycle Insurance Include Mopeds?

Mopeds are becoming more popular due to their low cost and gas savings. If you drive a moped, you may or may not be required to insure it. Currently, only 24 of the 50 states require mopeds being driven on the road to have insurance. However, even if your state does not require it, it is always wise to invest in insurance to protect yourself if there is an accident or your moped is stolen. One of the questions that we at Pizano Insurance, serving the greater Wayzata, MN area are asked, is whether a moped can be insured using motorcycle insurance. Here is some information for you regarding this question. 

There is not separate moped insurance policies that are sold. As such, most mopeds can be insured under a motorcycle insurance policy. If your moped has an engine that is 50 cc or larger or the bike goes over 30 miles per hour, it is considered by most states to be a motorcycle rather than a moped and needs to be insured under a motorcycle insurance policy. In most states, liability insurance is required for motorcycles. 

In addition to needing the insurance to be on the road if the engine has certain speeds, many lenders require you to carry motorcycle insurance on a moped even if the state you live in does not require it. This helps to protect their financial interest in the moped until the loan is paid off. 

If you are looking to insure a moped or a motorcycle in the greater Wayzata, MN area, Pizaono Insurance would love to help. Call us today to discuss your needs with one of our friendly agents and receive a free motorcycle insurance quote.

Umbrella Insurance: A Must for Newlyweds

Marriage is bound to bring many changes to your life as you take steps to combine households with your significant other. In addition to setting up a new home in Wayzata, MN, you should take time to reassess your insurance needs. At Pizano Insurance, we can help you determine insurance coverage that’s best suited to your new situation. As newlyweds, you may be very interested in what umbrella liability insurance has to offer.   

Protection of Valuable Assets

Marriage often increases a couple’s assets, providing them with additional savings, income, real estate property, and goods. Umbrella insurance provides extra liability coverage to protect these assets against lawsuits if you’re held liable for an accident at home or on the road.

A serious accident could cause injuries that surpass the liability limits of your home or car insurance policies. If you’re sued for additional costs, you could suffer financial ruin just when your married life is getting started. Umbrella insurance can provide you with an additional $1 million or more in liability coverage to protect your valuable assets in this new phase of your life.

Protection of Lifestyle

With umbrella insurance, you can have greater peace of mind to pursue the lifestyle you desire. Certain lifestyles and amenities such as a pool, boat or sports car increase the risk of being sued in the event of an accident. With umbrella coverage, you and your spouse can enjoy married life to the full without worrying about what may or may not happen as a result of your lifestyle.

At Pizano Insurance, Wayzata, MN, we can help you personalize your home, auto and umbrella coverage to suit your individual needs. Obtaining adequate insurance protection is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as newlyweds in establishing your financial future.

Motorcycle Insurance Requirements

People who live in Wayzata, MN and who ride on motorcycles are required by state law to purchase various insurances, ensuring the protection of everyone who travels on the road. The penalties are severe for those who drive without their proof of insurance, and uninsured people can face heavy fines. They can even be arrested and put into prison. In addition, a motorcycle operator can have his or her license suspended or revoked if they do not purchase insurance within the allotted period of time prior to their court date.

Insurances Required by Minnesota State Law

You are responsible for obtaining coverage that will pay for the damages rendered to another person’s vehicle or property that are found to be your fault. You also must carry indemnification that will pay for the medical bills related to the bodily injuries that result from a collision that is caused by you. 

The state of Minnesota sets forth requirements that motorcyclists also have underinsured motorist insurance. This provision ensures that a person is still protected when they are hit by somebody who does not have adequate insurance coverage, and each driver must have insurance that provides for his or her own bodily harm and for the physical losses sustained. 

In addition, Minnesota residents are mandated to purchase uninsured motorist coverage. This insurance will pay for the medical costs related to accidents that involve a person who does not have insurance. Personal Injury Protection, while a requisite for drivers of cars and trucks in Minnesota, is not a requirement for motorcycle operators.

Pizano Insurance Can Help You  Get Insured

Pizano Insurance has served the residents of Wayzata, MN for years, and we can find the right motorcycle insurance package for you. Call us, or visit our office to speak to one of our friendly agents today!

Does Your Commercial Insurance Cover Damage to a Third Party’s Vehicle While It’s On Your Property?

The agents of Pizano Insurance serve residents and business owners in Wayzata, MN. It’s important for business owners to have a commercial policy in place that protects their investment as well as prevents financial loss in case of an accident. Liability insurance is just one of many different types of policies that are included in commercial coverage insurance.

Third Party Liability

Third party liability involves coverages for damages to a third party’s property while it’s in your business. Liability coverage protects your business from financial loss if a person’s property is damaged or they are physically injured while on property owned by your company. The three parties involved in this type of coverage are the insurance agency, the business owner and the owner of the property in question. Most types of liability coverage are considered third party liability.

Umbrella Coverage

Umbrella coverage is a term given to a grouping of insurance policies that are used to protect a business from many different types of loss. This is sometimes considered an additional line of coverage that goes over and above what other types of policies cover. It generally pays for major claims that would cause a catastrophic financial loss for your company. It also includes coverage for situations that are not covered by traditional policies.

If you’re a business owner in Wayzata, MN and need answers about commercial insurance coverage, call the agents of Pizano Insurance today. They can evaluate your needs and find a policy that provides the right amount of coverage for your particular type of business. Call them today to schedule a review of your insurance policy!

What is Home Depreciation and How Can it Impact You?

Home depreciation is something that happens as a home ages. What this means is that over time, your home will start to lose some value if you do not make any upgrades or changes to the home. If it is left as is with no changes, there will be newer homes available on the market that have better features and will be worth more money as well. Your home starts to lose value when things break, are outdated, and more. This is an important factor in your home insurance policy and Pizano Insurance serving Wayzata, MN can help. 

Over time, your home will start to depreciate and it does not happen overnight. There are some other factors that can play a small role as well including the economy but it may not play as big of a role as many claim. You will want to make sure that your home insurance policy reflects depreciation and that you are not overpaying if your home as lost value. To ensure you are not paying too much, you will want to get your home assessed for depreciation. 

You do not want to get your home assessed simply for the purpose of potentially lowering your insurance premiums because this can lead to other problems for you later on. However, if you do want to have your home evaluated, you can do so through an easy process. You will need to get in touch with an appraiser or home assessor to come perform the task for you. It is best to have one come through your insurance agency. This process will help you determine the current value of your home and how much it will cost you to rebuild. They will then give this information to your insurance company.  Contact Pizano Insurance serving Wayzata, MN today to learn more.  

End of Summer is a Perfect Time for Car Care

As summer time ends and your summer activities are finished, it’s the perfect time to care for your car before winter arrives in the Wayzata, MN area. An untimely breakdown is never convenient, but during the cold weather, it can be dangerous. Now is the perfect time to review your vehicle’s owner’s manual to see if there are any manufacturer’s recommended schedules for service that need your attention. Beyond the recommendations, here are a few other items to consider.

  • Is it time for an oil change? Most recommend every 3,000 miles if the majority of your miles are stop-and-go short trips.
  • How’s the engine running? If you’re experiencing rough idling, stalling, less power, or a noticeable decrease in fuel economy, these issues can increase in cold weather.
  • Are there driveability issues? Are you experiencing hard stops, pulling to one side while stopping or driving, or if you hear noises when you’re driving, turning, or stopping that is new, then it’s time to have them checked.
  • It could be time to have the cooling system flushed and the belts, clamps, and hoses checked.
  • Depending on weather conditions where you live, your battery may need to be replaced or the fluid checked. Those in extreme temperature areas may need to replace their batteries more frequently and add water regularly.
  • Inspect your vehicle’s lights to make sure all are in working order.
  • Have the exhaust system checked for leaks.
  • Visually check your tires for uneven wear, tread, cracks in the sidewalls, and tire air pressure.

Pizano Insurance

At Pizano Insurance, we care about helping you protect your world. No matter what your insurance needs are, we provide insurance for those in the Wayzata, MN area. Contact us today to explore your auto insurance needs.

Factors to Consider When Selecting an Insurance Policy for Your Motorcycle

Owning a motorcycle is the easiest and most convenient way to move around Wayzata, MN. However, it can be disappointing when the two-wheeler causes property or bodily injuries to people, forcing you to pay huge bills to the parties affected by the accident. In this event, motorcycle insurance policy comes in handy to help in settling costs associated with riding damage or injury. Even Wayzata law clearly states that an insurance policy is necessary for any motorbike owner. This is why you need to head to Pizano Insurance and get an insurance policy for your motorcycle. Do you understand how to choose a policy for your bike? Here are the top considerations for selecting motorcycle insurance policy.

Cost of Premiums

This is the most important factor to consider when shopping for motorcycle insurance in Wayzata, MN. Premiums charged on each policy are different; therefore, for you to make a solid decision about the suitable policy, it is important to look at the benefits accruable from every policy and the respective cost of premiums. Ideally, choose a policy with cheaper premiums but carries more benefits such as discounts and bonuses.    

 Compare Different Policies

There is a variety of policies offered by Pizano Insurance. Each policy has different features and benefits. Taking a closer look at every policy will help you determine the type of policy that suits your motorbike. In-depth analysis of policies will also be beneficial in understanding the exclusions of each policy, giving you a chance to make decisions that are more informed.

Discounts

The most appropriate way to reduce your premium rates is to look out for a policy that comes with discounts. Discounts can range from multi-bike discounts to experienced riders discounts among others.

With these tips, finding an appropriate bike cover will not be challenging any more. Consult Pizano Insurance for a trouble free experience.