If you need a vehicle to help maintain your business, then you will have to acquire commercial vehicle insurance. In Minnesota, like many other states, it is necessary for you to have insurance on your business cars and trucks.

Who Needs Commercial Vehicle Insurance?

You will need insurance if you are using a vehicle for any reason that is related to your business. If your company requires you to have several employees to drive, then you will need insurance to cover them and your company vehicles. For example, if your employees deliver pizza or other goods daily, they will need to be covered in case there is an accident.

Types of Commercial Auto Insurance

• Bodily Injury Liability – covers you if your employees hurt someone during an accident.
• Property Damage Liability – helps prevent you from paying for property or vehicles that are damaged.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist – gives you coverage if you are involved in an accident with a person who does not have enough insurance to cover the damage.
• Medical Payments – allows you to pay for your medical bills if you are injured during an auto accident.
• Collision Coverage – covers damage to your business vehicle if it is involved in an accident with another car or object, such as a building or telephone pole.
• Comprehensive Coverage – offers you coverage if your business vehicle is damaged due to something other than a collision, like vandalism, fire, or storm.
• Other Options – roadside assistance and rental reimbursement are options that you may consider when thinking about buying commercial auto insurance.

Get assistance and information from the independent insurance agents at Safechoice Insurance Agency. Located in Rochester, Minnesota, they can help you with your commercial auto insurance as well as providing options for home, life, health, and other insurance needs.

Motorcycle insurance provides the motorcycle owner with financial coverage in cases where he or she is involved in an accident. It not only covers their injuries, but provides coverage when damage is done to their or another person’s property. If you decide to purchase a motorcycle you are required by law in all states to purchase some type of motorcycle insurance, although the amounts of motorcycle insurance you are required to purchase may vary.

Types of motorcycle insurance

Every kind of motorcycle insurance has the same purpose, to financially protect the motorcycle rider and person harmed by the motorcycle rider, and their property. But not every kind of coverage insures the same scenarios. Some of the more popular coverages are:

• Property damage liability motorcycle insurance– This type of insurance helps you cover the damage to the other vehicle and property owned by the victim when you are at fault in a traffic accident.
• Medical Payment Insurance- This insurance covers the medical needs that regular liability does not cover, such as health insurance deductibles, dental care, funeral costs, prescription drugs, etc.
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage– This motorcycle insurance covers you, if you happen to be in an accident with an uninsured motorist.

Motorcycle coverage required in Rochester MN

In Minnesota motorcycle owners are not only required to purchase liability insurance, but are also required by law to carry underinsured and non-insured coverage as well.

Contact a Motorcycle insurance provider

Obtaining the right coverages, and the right amount of coverage, for your motorcycle in the Rochester, Minnesota area can be a complicated decision. It is important that you speak with a knowledgeable motorcycle insurance agent to assist you. Call the insurance agents at Safechoice Insurance Agency today for a no-obligation quote.

Motorcycle theft happens more often than people would like or even care to admit. It is relatively easy to steal a bike if it is not properly secured. For motorcycle owners, however, it is always a good idea to practice precaution to ensure that their property remains their property. Use these tips to keep your motorcycle safe and prevent theft. 

• Install a tracking system on your motorcycle before anything can happen. In the case that your motorcycle is stolen, you can easily track it and have a better chance of recovering it before anything bad happens to it. It is not enough to simply rely on alarms that are built in anymore because most people do not pay attention to car or motorcycle alarms anyway. Do yourself a favor and develop a better system to protect your motorcycle. 
• When parking in public, choose the parking spot wisely. You may be tempted to park in the spot that is surrounded by other cars because it might provide some visibility shelter. However, this is not the best place to park your motorcycle because if someone wants to steal it, they can also do so without many, if any, people seeing them. Instead, always park it where it is visible and near to a security camera or light if available. 
• Keep your motorcycle out of sight when at home. If you can, park it in a garage. If you do not have a garage, park it where it cannot be easily seen and cover it up with a cover that blends in. 

Even with the best-laid plans, there is always still a possibility that someone will try to steal your motorcycle. The best option you have would be to ensure you have motorcycle proper insurance. Contact Safechoice Insurance Agency serving Rochester, MN to explore your options. 

No matter what type of insurance you’re looking to get for yourself or your family, making final coverage decisions can be difficult and complicated. In many cases, consumers assume that their best option is to go through one of the major companies they’ve seen advertised on TV, the majority of which are direct-writer insurance companies whose employees focus predominantly on bringing business to a single company. There is another option, however: an independent insurance agency (like Safechoice Insurance Agency), whose agents work one-on-one with customers to discuss their insurance options and legalities in greater detail. Independent insurance agents can also direct you to a variety of insurance companies rather than a single entity, depending on which is best for you. 

In their capacity as individuals representing the needs of the consumer, independent agents are well-versed in state law and strive to stay up-to-date with any changes. Because different types of insurance laws vary from state to state, it is important to make sure that they are always properly considered with regard to one’s situation and insurance needs. With so many subtleties and potential legal trouble if you do not have the appropriate insurance to meet state laws, it is quite convenient for you and your loved ones to be able to leverage the expertise of an independent agent who not only knows the law but can compare coverage for you. 

If you are looking for auto, home, commercial, life or other types of insurance, consider discussing your needs and options with an independent agent from Safechoice Insurance Agency. Your Safechoice Insurance agent will be able to work with you and your state’s laws (Safechoice Insurance Agency currently serves both Minnesota and Wisconsin) to determine the best, most affordable coverage options for you.

During the fall, many motorcycle enthusiasts like to take to the open roads in Rochester, Minnesota and enjoy the cool, crisp autumn weather. Although motorcycle riders need to be constantly aware of their surroundings, one particular hazard to watch out for is deer. In motorcycle crashes involving deer, there is a significant risk of the accident proving fatal for both the rider and the animal.

Basic Road Safety

Watching out for deer at all times while riding a motorcycle is a good idea, but be particular mindful at dawn and dusk. This is when deer activity is at its peak and the animals are more likely to run out onto the road. Since deer travel together, don’t assume if you avoid colliding with one, you’re in the clear. Always keep watch for the deer’s companions. This is why it’s important to ride in a staggered formation if you’re traveling with a pack of motorcycles. If you see a deer crossing sign while riding, reduce your driving speed, cover your brake, and use your high-beam headlights as a precaution.

Unavoidable Collision

Brake firmly if you see a deer in your cross hairs in lieu of swerving. If your motorcycle isn’t stable, you are more likely to sustain a serious injury. If you have the time, flash your headlights at the deer in order to hopefully startle the animal enough to move out of your path. Revving your engine and honking your horn may help too, but you shouldn’t completely rely on this method.    

As part of staying safe during deer season in Rochester, Minnesota, you need to have the right level of insurance coverage for your motorcycle. Safechoice Insurance Agency provides quick and easy quotes on motorcycle insurance policies. The agents can let you know what policies have you covered in case of a collision with a deer.

Having a roommate is a great way to cut expenses. But how does sharing an apartment or house with another person affect your insurance coverage? Here are three tips for understanding roommates and renters insurance.

Tip #1: Have the Discussion

It is important to discuss renters insurance with your roommate from the beginning and decide how to handle the process. Many people wrongly believe that only one of the tenants needs to have a policy in force for everybody in the household to be covered. It is also important to discuss the amount of coverage needed for both personal property and liability. By taking the time to make sure all parties have the right amount of insurance coverage, you can rest assured that you both will be taken care of if there is ever a claim.

Tip #2: Consider Separate Policies

Many renters insurance carriers allow two unrelated adults to be on one policy together. However, this can cause a problem if you every have a falling out or one roommate relocates. In addition, if two parties are on the same policy, they will both have to sign in order to cash any future claims checks. This is why it is important to consider having separate policies. This way, each roommate has adequate coverage to meet his or her needs without being completely tied to each other.

Tip #3: Understand What is Actually Covered

When it comes to roommate and renters insurance, it is important to understand what is actually covered. Instances where a bad roommate destroys or steals your personal property are often considered intentional acts—something that is usually excluded from coverage.

Learn more about renters insurance coverage and having a roommate. Contact our team at Safechoice Insurance Agency today for more details.