Allowing a friend, relative or even the babysitter to borrow your car in Albertville, Minnesota does not necessarily mean that you are taking unnecessary risks. In many cases, insurers will still cover your vehicle while a loved one or a friend is driving the car. Even though you may still be covered, certain situations may impact your auto coverage and might limit the funds that you are provided.

Lending to Individuals in the Same House

If you live with the individual who is borrowing your vehicle, then you may not be covered for the damages unless the person is mentioned under your policy. The reason is that the individual may drive the vehicle more often and has a higher risk of getting into an accident as a result.

When a loved one lives in the same house, it may be wise to put them under your current account to avoid complications if an accident occurs.

Lending to Others

Offering your car to a friend, relative or acquaintance who does not live in the same house means that you are still covered under most policies. Keep in mind that every insurer is different, so it is important to evaluate your particular policy before you allow a loved one to drive your car.

Read your policy to find out what situations may be classified as an exception to the basic rules. If there are times when you are not covered, then identify those situations to avoid problems if you must make a claim.

In most cases, you are covered if you lend your car to another individual. Contact Pizano Insurance to talk to an independent agent about your coverage options and the situations that may not be covered by a basic policy.

Court cases related to auto accidents can cause a variety of complications for drivers and the court system, which is why insurers offer limited tort and full tort coverage in Wayzata, Minnesota. By understanding the differences between the policies, it is easier to determine the best option for your goals and needs.

Full Tort

A full tort policy means that you have the right to sue a negligent driver when he or she crashes into your vehicle. Regardless of the coverage that you select, the driver of another vehicle who crashes into your car and causes injuries is responsible for your medical bills and the repairs to your vehicle.

In the case of major injuries, you may decide that you want to sue the driver for your pain and suffering rather than just the medical bills. If you have a full tort insurance policy, then you have the right to sue in this situation.

Limited Tort

A limited tort policy means that you are not allowed to sue for pain and suffering in an auto accident. Your coverage allows you to submit your medical bills and the cost of your repairs to the other driver’s insurance company for compensation.

The insurer will usually pay the full amount of your bills up to a certain amount, which will vary based on the other driver’s liability plan. When you opt for a limited tort policy, you cannot sue for your pain and suffering, regardless of the extent of your injuries.

Limited and full tort auto policies are not the same. If you opt for a limited tort plan, then you are giving up the right to take the other driver to court for additional compensation after an accident. Contact Pizano Insurance to talk to an independent agent for more details.

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.

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.

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.

If you have a family member who drives your car on a regular basis in Wayzata, Minnesota, it’s generally a good idea to have them listed on your auto insurance policy. This helps protect your vehicle in the event of an accident and makes it easier to cover incidents such as windshield damage, plus it also protects those behind the wheel. However, you might be wondering whether adding an additional driver or two will have any effect on your premium.

Placing additional drivers on your policy can potentially have an effect on your premiums, based on the number of drivers added and their driving records. For example, adding a driver who has received several speeding tickets in the previous year will likely cost your premium to increase, whereas adding an older driver with a spotless record may trigger a reduction in your premiums.

Each insurance provider has its own method of calculating a premium for each auto insurance policy. In addition to driving records, the provider may also take into account the type of vehicle to which additional drivers are added and average annual mileage, just to name a few additional factors.

Don’t forget that if a family member has their own auto insurance, their policy is likely to cover them if they occasionally drive your vehicle. By talking to an independent agent, you can find out more about how adding family members to your car’s coverage affects your policy. It’s important to get in touch with us for more details on your specific policy.

When driving past the seemingly peaceful forests surrounding Albertville, Minnesota, it pays to keep an eye out for the unexpected, such as a run-in with a deer or any other wild animal. According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, over 20,000 deer-vehicle accidents occur on a yearly basis. Hitting a wild animal can do more than just give you a scare – it can also result in significant damage to your car, depending on the size of the animal. Windshield damage, broken headlights and crunched fenders aren’t uncommon when dealing with animal collisions.

You might assume that any accident involving a wild animal will be covered by your policy’s collision coverage. However, your insurer will likely cover such an accident under your comprehensive coverage. This coverage also covers damage caused by vandalism, theft, natural disasters and falling objects.

Some companies may even consider an animal strike as an “act of God,” which means you won’t have to pay a deductible and your rates remain the same. If you do have to pay a deductible, it’s important to have an estimate of the damage caused during the accident. If the repairs cost less than the deductible amount, you’re better off paying for the damage out-of-pocket.

If you’re not sure about your coverage, it pays to read the fine print before making a claim. As your independent agent, we can help you better understand your auto insurance policy and how it best protects you from life’s uncertainties. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you need more information about your policy.

Disclaimer: The content of these blogs do not represent any type of specific coverage’s offered by the agency.

When you make a claim in Albertville, Minnesota on an auto insurance policy, you may decide at a later date that it was unnecessary. The problem is that you will need to withdraw your claim if you determine that the minor accident wasn’t worth making the claim or you are concerned about your monthly rate increasing.

Early Withdrawal

If you withdraw a claim on your policy before a check is issued by the company, then you will not usually have any problems making the change. Call the company and ask to withdraw your claim. It may take a few days to process the request, but it will usually stop the check from being issued in the first place.

Problems After Receiving a Check

After receiving the check from your insurer, the problem becomes more complicated. In some cases, you may discover that your insurer will not agree. Other insurers may allow you to withdraw your claim, but only after you return the funds that were issued.

Variation in Companies

Since the cover you obtain on an auto policy differs between companies and specific plans, each insurance provider will differ. The process and ability to withdraw a claim will vary due to the different standards each company sets up. In some cases, it may be a simple matter of calling the company while other situations are more complicated and will not give the same level of flexibility.

It is usually possible to ask an insurer to put a stop to any claim you make on the policy, but the number of complications and possible issues that arise will vary. In general, making a request early will simplify the process. To learn more about dealing with an insurance provider, contact us to talk to an independent agent.

When you make a claim on your auto insurance policy in Albertville, Minnesota, you may not always get the amount that you expect. Depending on the situation, your claim and your current policy, you may be able to negotiate with your insurer.

Read the Policy Carefully

Before you try to negotiate with your insurer, read through all of the documents regarding the amount of cover the insurer is expected to provide. Find out if you have full coverage for that specific situation or if an exception is causing the dissatisfaction. If your current plan does not provide protection against a specific situation you are facing due to a clause or exception, then you might not be able to negotiate further.

Obtain Proof

In some cases, the reason you are dissatisfied with the amount provided by the insurance company is actually related to the proof that you’ve given. Provide an estimate of damages from your mechanic for any damage to the vehicle or give a copy of the police report to prove that you did not cause the accident. By providing more proof of responsibility, costs and other factors, you will have the necessary documentation to prove that the insurer is not following up on their side of the contract.

Talk to the Insurer

When you have proof, start the negotiation process. Do not rush through the process and point out every detail about the situation that you can. Use your policy to point out the mistakes.

Negotiating with an insurance company is possible, but it requires the proper steps and the appropriate proof to show that you’ve been given too little according to your policy. To learn more about negotiating with your insurer, contact us to talk to an independent agent.

Obtaining a discount on your auto insurance policy from your occupation may sound unlikely, but some insurers may allow a business owner or employee of a business with an occupational discount to apply the discount in cover to a personal account in Wayzata, Minnesota.

When Discounts Apply

Discounts do not apply to every situation, particularly when it is an occupational discount that is used for business reasons. In some cases, insurers may allow that discount to carry over to a personal policy, but it usually requires the same carrier for both business and personal use and may require individuals to use a personal vehicle for business reasons.

Variation Between Companies

Although discounts may apply in certain situations, it is rare and most companies will have strict divisions between personal and business vehicles, even when it relates to discounted coverage.

While the companies will have different rules and policies related to the situation, it may be possible to find companies that allow occupational discounts to carry over into personal coverage plans.

Finding the Right Plan

Even if an insurer does not apply a discount related to a specific occupation to a personal vehicle, you may be eligible for discounts that you’ve overlooked when searching for coverage. Different companies offer a wide range of solutions to help bring down the prices, so it is important to ask about any current promotions or possible reductions that may apply to a specific account.

Getting the right plan and policy is not always easy, but it is possible when you are willing to compare options. Since private insurers are different from business insurers, in most cases your occupational discount will not apply to the personal account. To learn more about getting better rates, contact us to talk to an independent agent.