Boat Insurance Coverage Options in Ramsey, MN

Figuring out what type of boat coverage you need to protect your vessel in Ramsey, MN can seem like a pain. Boats face an entirely different set of risks than any other vehicle you operate and insure, so understanding the types of coverage available starts with a bit of a learning curve. This quick overview will help give you an idea of what you’re looking for.

Liability

Like auto insurance, the most basic type of boat coverage is liability; that is, coverage for people who are injured or other people whose property is damaged on or around your watercraft. That includes bodily injury coverage and property damages your boat causes to docks or other boats in the water.

Comprehensive Coverage

Also like auto insurance, comprehensive coverage is a sort of umbrella policy for your boat, filling in the gaps that other policies leave behind. Comprehensive insurance typically covers the following:

  • theft of your boat
  • vandalism
  • fire damage
  • flood damage
  • other weather-related damage and damages caused incurred when you’re not in the water

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Your can also choose to purchase insurance that will cover your boat if you’re in an accident with an uninsured boater.

When is my boat covered?

When your boat is in the water or at the dock, your boat insurance policy covers it. When your boat is being towed, on the other hand, it’s covered by your auto insurance policy instead, and the details of that coverage depend on your auto insurance itself.

Depending on the details of your homeowner’s policy, your boat may or may not be protected when it’s parked at home. If it is, chances are the property you have on board is not. An independent agent in the Ramsey area will be able to look at your existing policy and help you decide just what type of coverage you need.

Does Motorcycle Insurance Cover Theft in Saint Michael, MN

Buying motorcycle insurance in Saint Michael, MN does not automatically mean that every possible problem is covered and that the protection is appropriate for the needs of the individual. Even though the state does have strict laws when it relates to liability, uninsured motorist and under-insured motorists, the minimum standards do not require coverage for theft or damages to a personal motorcycle.

Basic Plans

If you have purchased a basic policy, then it is unlikely that your plan will protect against theft. Most basic plans are designed to meet the state standards for liability protection. Even if the policy offers some extra coverage, it may not provide protection against theft.

You should always read the policy to determine the coverage if you are not sure about the protection that you have purchased. The policy will explain the specific details that may apply to your plan.

Comprehensive Plans

In many cases, a comprehensive policy will cover theft, vandalism or other actions that are not within your personal control. Keep in mind that every comprehensive plan differs, so the exact details will vary.

When you have purchased a plan for liability protection and coverage against collisions, it is unlikely that you will have any coverage for theft. Collision protection will pay for damages to your personal motorcycle, but will not usually cover any damages that are not related to an impact with another object.

A motorcycle insurance policy may or may not offer protection against theft. The details of the policy and the exact type of plan that you purchased will usually dictate the amount of coverage that you have available and the situations that are covered. To learn more about protecting your motorcycle from theft or other crimes, contact us to talk to an agent.

Home Insurance Company in Minnesota

It could be a snowy day in January when someone knocks on your door and wants to sell you the world’s greatest vacuum cleaner. Since you already have a perfectly good vacuum cleaner, you politely turn them away. Disappointed, the ambitious sales person turns around, takes two steps, and then slips and falls on an icy patch of concrete on your property. If they get injured, you could be responsible for their medical bills.

That is just one reason why you need home insurance. Your Minnesota home insurance policy not only covers liability claims resulting from injuries sustained by visitors to your property, but also covers damage to your house or loss of personal property.

Not every insurance company sells home insurance and companies that do sell home insurance charge different rates for a policy. When you have a mortgage, your lender will require you to carry home insurance. Even if you own your house free-and-clear and are not obligated to carry a home insurance policy, it is usually a smart idea to still maintain coverage. If you don’t have coverage and you suffer a loss to your dwelling or property, you alone will be forced to bear the expense of repairing or replacing what was lost. Worse yet, if someone is seriously hurt on your property and you are found liable, you could face a lawsuit for hundreds of thousands, or even a million dollars. If a judgment goes against you, you could be wiped-out financially. You could even lose your house!

It is important to select the right insurance company when you are buying home insurance. You want a company that is fair when you suffer a loss. Some insurance companies will deny valid claims or only pay you a portion of your loss. Some insurance companies charge rates that are significantly higher than other insurers. By using an independent agent who can get you quotes from a number of home insurance companies, you can get the best coverage for the most affordable rate.

Get Online Insurance Quotes for Business Insurance in MN

Small businesses are popping up all over the place, with many businesses run by owners who are not formally trained in the business world. One thing that a new small business owner may overlook is the type of insurance you need to keep your business going strong. If you don’t have insurance, you may end up bankrupting your company due to lawsuits that you don’t have protection against.

General liability insurance is the first stop for any new business owner, small or large. This is blanket coverage that covers a large amount of perils that a business faces lawsuits over. A good example of something commercial liability covers is if a customer gets injured when browsing your retail store. They sue for medical bills and damages. Instead of you covering this payment out of your operating account, your insurance covers it.

If you have vehicles and property that you use wholly for commercial businesses, you need commercial insurance to cover them. Residential insurance options do not allow you to make claims for business related accidents or damage.

Workers compensation is a necessary type of insurance if you have a certain number of employees, which is regulated by the state that you’re doing business in. This insurance provides compensation for employees who are injured while working. This also covers medical costs related to the accident. If you don’t have this insurance when you have enough employees, the state will fine your business heavily.

Look up online insurance quotes to find out how much necessary insurance costs your business. It may cut into your overhead a bit, but it’s worth it for the financial protection.

Boat Insurance Agents in Albertville, MN

Every summer, thousands of fishermen and recreational boaters hitch their boat trailers up to the back of their SUVs or pick-up trucks and head to one of the many beautiful lakes in Minnesota. While your homeowners insurance policy may provide a limited amount of coverage for damage to your boat, the motor, or the trailer, it is usually not enough to be fully protected. To be fully protected, you need to buy a separate boat insurance policy.

Boat insurance provides some of the same types of coverage you may see on an automobile insurance policy. You can buy property damage and bodily injury liability insurance that covers other people who are physically injured or suffer personal property damage. Liability insurance covers guests aboard your boat as well as people in other boats or around your boat. A typical boat policy may also include medical payments for injuries you, the boat owner, suffer. Boat insurance can pay for damage to your boat from collision or other perils such as fire or wind.

In general, power boats that are capable of high speeds will cost more to insure than a sailboat because they can do a great deal more damage if they collide with another boat or immovable object (like a dock) while traveling at high speed. Think of the cost as being the difference between insuring a fast sports car versus a family sedan.

Insurance agents that sell boat insurance can answer all of the questions you may have. Do you have to pay for boat insurance for the year if you only use your boat for three months of the year? They can tell you ways to save money on a policy such as taking a boat safety course, getting a multi-policy discount, or installing safety devices on your boat. Before you select just any policy, let your independent agent get you some quotes. That way, you can compare rates and get the most affordable boat insurance policy that meets your needs.

What Does Motorcycle Insurance Cover in Elk River, MN?

If you are an Elk River, MN resident who is planning to insure your motorcycle, you are probably wondering exactly what your new motorcycle insurance policy will cover. Actually, the answer can be different for every person since you have the ability to customize your insurance policy. However, there are several different basic coverage types that you will probably choose to include in your plan for the fullest coverage. Those include:

Liability Coverage

The law in Elk River, MN and all other areas in the state requires you to maintain liability insurance on your motorcycle. This coverage gives you protection in the event that you are the cause of an accident. The state does set minimum levels of liability coverage. For example, damage to one person must be insured in the amount of $30,000, damage to two people must be insured in the amount of $60,000, and you must also maintain property damage coverage for vehicle repairs in the amount of $10,000.

Underinsured and Uninsured Coverage

The law also requires MN residents to hold both underinsured and uninsured motorcycle coverage. Underinsured coverage takes over paying for damages you sustain if the other (at fault) driver doesn’t have enough insurance. This coverage must be maintained for $25,000 for one-person injures and $50,000 for two-person injuries.

The uninsured coverage will cover your medical damages if the driver responsible for the accident did not have insurance. This coverage must be held in the same amounts as the underinsured motorist coverage, $25,000 and $50,000.

You may also want to get other optional coverage types that protect your vehicle, namely comprehensive and collision. Collision coverage can pay for repairs to your vehicle in accidents while comprehensive is there to cover the damages that don’t happen on the road.

It is quite easy to get the best motorcycle insurance coverage for your budget by comparing insurance quotes with Pizano Insurance over the Internet in just minutes.

Does Home Insurance Policy Cover Smoke Damage in Minnesota?

When a fire occurs and your house is damaged from the smoke, it may be necessary to file a claim with your home insurance provider. Although many policies will cover any damages that are related to a fire, including the damages from smoke, the exact details relating to the plan can vary.

Type of Policy

Before you assume that your insurance provider will pay for all of the damages to your property, look at the type of policy that you purchased. Be aware of the method of replacing or repairing the damages. Generally, insurance providers will either provide the replacement cost of the item or the market value based on depreciation rates.

The type of policy that you purchased can impact the amount that you receive after filing a claim and the details related to the damages that are covered.

Provide Appropriate Paperwork

Although you may be able to make a claim, it is important to file the appropriate paperwork. You may be asked to provide details related to the items that were damaged from the smoke. Furthermore, you will be asked to provide official reports and any details that are relevent to the situation.

Insurance providers can ask for a variety of documents, so make sure that you provide as many details as possible so that your claim will go through. The details that are required can vary between policies and insurers.

There are a variety of factors that contribute to making a claim on your homeowner’s policy, but most plans will protect against damages from smoke or fires. The exact amount of coverage that is available may vary based on the plan that you purchased. To learn more about filing a claim after a fire, contact us to talk to an agent today.

Can Insurance be Transferred to a New Car in Saint Michael, MN?

When you buy a new car in Saint Michael, MN, you may need to make changes to your car insurance policy. Although the coverage that you carry may be appropriate, it is important to transfer the policy to the new car so that it is properly covered.

Contact the Insurance Provider

Before you take any steps to change the insurance, contact a representative of the insurance provider and ask about your options. You may decide that transferring the policy is not appropriate because you are still driving the old car or you may need to consider a new plan if the cost of your coverage increases with the new car.

Expect some changes based on the vehicle that you have purchased and the details of the situation. Generally, you can expect the rates to change slightly.

Provide Appropriate Data

After you trade the old car in, you are no longer required to carry any coverage for the vehicle. Explain the situation to a representative of the insurance provider and then provide the updated information.

The insurance company will need the new VIN number as well as details related to the make, model and year of the car. The new policy will be applied to the vehicle when all of the data is provided. Most insurance providers will either fax a new policy or allow you to print a temporary copy of the plan until the official documents are sent in the mail.

It is not hard to transfer the auto insurance policy that you maintain to a new car, but you will need to make sure that you have all of the details and paperwork in order before making the change. To learn more about your options, contact us today.

Compare Cheap Car Insurance Quotes in Albertville, MN

Every insurance company claims that they have the lowest rates in town, but obviously, that can not be true. The only way that would happen is if there was a law that mandated that all insurance companies had to charge the same rates. In order for you to have confidence that you are really getting the lowest rate when you buy a policy in Albertville, MN, you need to get insurance quotes from a number of different providers.

You can not expect to get really cheap rates on a car insurance policy if you are categorized as a high-risk driver. The best you can hope for is to find a carrier that will not charge you an incredibly high premium because of some blemishes on your driving record. There are companies that cater to high-risk drivers and they are willing to charge less than other insurers in order to attract more business. If you have received points on your license, been involved in a recent at-fault accident, or had other transgressions on your driving record, getting multiple insurance quotes can save you a good deal of money.

Even if you have a spotless driving record and have never filed an insurance claim since you first got behind the wheel, the premium you are charged can be quite different, depending on the car insurance company you choose. Each insurer has their own way of assessing risk and calculating rates. Where one company may charge young drivers a higher rate than older drivers, another company may give discounts to members of the military.

Independent agents have a good idea of which auto insurance carriers offer the cheapest rates because that is their business. While they always get quotes, their experience and knowledge of the current market, is reassuring to clients who want the cheapest rates for the coverage they need.

Does a home security system lower my homeowners insurance premiums?

If you’re concerned about the high cost of homeowners insurance premiums, there are things you, a homeowner, can do to lower your rates, add value to your home, and increase your sense of safety at home. As your independent agent in Albertville, MN, we will help you understand every factor that might impact your homeowners insurance premium rates, and show you what you can do to cut those rates.

Safety Factors

We look at things that might impact our bottom line. A secure home is less likely to be a target for burglars. Realtor.com encourages all homeowners to look for discounts on homeowners insurance they may be missing. One of the most common missed discounts relates to home security. People who live in gated communities, for example, may be eligible for discounts on their premiums because the gated enclosure gives them added security.

As MSN Real Estate explains, it doesn’t occur to most people that insurance companies look at the crime rate in their neighborhood. You may be living in a well-built, secure home, but if all your neighbors live in less secure homes, and many of the homeowners have filed claims with their insurance companies lately, that could really impact your home insurance rates.

The government’s Insurance Information Institute suggests that you can cut your premiums by five percent by installing dead bolts, smoke detectors and burglar alarms. The institute goes on to add that some companies will cut rates by as much as 15 to 20 percent for homeowners who have automatic sprinkler systems, or home security and monitoring systems that automatically contact the police or fire department if an alarm is triggered. These are not cheap systems, so it is important to weigh the cost of the system against the long-term savings you’d get on your home insurance rate.