Staying Safe During The Summer Driving Season

Summer is synonymous with road trips, vacations, and outdoor activities. But while the sun and heat provide some welcome break from the season’s colder weather, summer also brings with it road hazards such as heat stroke, fatigue, and poor driving conditions.

Safechoice Insurance Agency of Rochester, MN is here to prepare you for the summer driving season. Read on to learn more!

What To Do Before You Leave

  • Get a maintenance check done on your vehicle. Even basic servicing can help prevent breakdowns and keep you and your family safe on the road.
  • Plan your route. Map out your route before you leave. Know where you are going and what road conditions you’re likely to encounter. Also, be aware of the weather conditions that could affect your route.
  • Stock up on emergency supplies. Keep a roadside emergency kit in your vehicle at all times. Your kit should include water, nonperishable food, a first aid kit, a flashlight and extra batteries, a blanket, a cell phone and charger, tire-changing tools, and jumper cables. Be sure to bring the necessary medications and medical equipment.
  • Make sure your insurance is up-to-date. Check with your insurance agent to ensure your policy covers common summer road hazards. You may also want to consider buying a roadside assistance plan.

What To Do On The Road

  • Avoid distractions. Risky driving behaviors such as texting and talking on the phone while driving may be tempting, but they can be deadly. If you must use your phone, use a hands-free device or pull over to make the call.
  • Stay alert. Plan to take breaks every two hours or so. Get out of the car, stretch your legs, drink plenty of water, and rest if necessary.

Let Safechoice Insurance Agency be your trusted partner on the road. We are here to serve all of Rochester, MN!

Are my backyard structures covered by home insurance?

Homeowners insurance is the primary insurance policy that protects your home and possessions against financial losses due to covered risks. It typically includes coverage for physical damage and loss of use of your home due to a covered occurrence. SafeChoice Insurance Agency wants to inform you of another aspect of homeowners insurance that Rochester, MN residents often overlook: coverage for other structures.

Protecting Structures Outside Your Home

Your home insurance policy not only protects your home but also protects other structures on your property. This can include fences and driveways. Detached structures may also be covered, including garages, sheds, and guest houses.

The types of structures that are protected by your policy depend on what your insurer considers a "structure" instead of "personal property." For example, if you have a detached garage, the "other structures" portion of your policy will protect the building itself, but not the contents inside. That means your vehicle and other belongings will depend on a different type of coverage.

Luckily, home insurance policies often contain an assortment of coverage options as a standard. Most of the time, other structures coverage is included. However, it’s important to examine your policy and discuss your options with your agent. Particularly if you have highly valuable or unique structures on your property whose cost might otherwise outweigh the limits of your policy.

Are you a resident of Rochester, MN interested in learning more about what a home insurance policy can cover? Are you getting a new outdoor structure for your property and want to ensure your existing policy covers it? Contact SafeChoice Insurance Agency by phone, email, or through our website to learn more!

What Factors Should You Consider When Buying Health Insurance?

Safechoice Insurance Agency, serving the greater Rochester, MN area, can help you with your health insurance policies. However, one of the things that our agents have noticed is that many people have no idea what factors they should be considering as they go about buying health insurance. Here are three crucial things to keep in mind when selecting a policy. 

Which Providers and Hospitals Are In the Provider Network

When looking at health insurance policies, one of the first things to consider when looking at health insurance policies is which providers and hospitals are considered in-network. This is important if you want to keep treating with the medical professionals who may already be caring for you or if you want to use the hospital closest to your home. 

Deductibles, Co-Pays, and Premiums

When shopping for a health insurance policy, always take the time to learn the meaning of deductibles, co-pays, and premiums. Many people use these words interchangeably, but they all have different definitions. You need to consider each of these factors as you shop for a health insurance policy. 

What Is and Is Not Covered

Finally, take the time to learn what is covered by the health insurance policy and what may not. For example, one policy may cover prescriptions while another may not. Learning what is and is not covered helps you budget and find a health insurance policy that covers what you need to be covered. 

Here at Safechoice Insurance Agency, serving the greater Rochester, MN area, we can help you find an ideal insurance policy for your needs or your family’s needs. Reach out to us today and let one of our agents answer any questions you have and help you select a new health insurance policy that meets your needs. 

What Types of Vehicles Are Covered Under Toy Insurance Policies?

Safechoice Insurance Agency, serving the greater Rochester, MN area, knows that the term toy insurance policy can be confusing. Most people hear this term and think that this type of policy is designed to cover children’s toys or even collectible toys. However, this term refers to toy vehicles. Here are a few vehicle types that are typically covered under toy insurance policies. 

Off-Road Vehicles

Off-road vehicles are the most common type of vehicle to be covered under toy insurance policies. Toy insurance policies can cover off-road vehicles such as golf carts, ATVs, UTVs, sand buggies, dirt bikes, and snowmobiles. In addition to covering the toy itself, the policy may also cover the trailers or towing equipment you use to transport the various types of toys you have. 

Recreational Vehicles, Trailers, and Pop-Ups

Another type of vehicle typically covered under toy insurance policies is recreational vehicles, trailers, or pop-up campers. The toy insurance policy you may need can vary based on whether your vehicle tows the trailer or pop-up camper or whether the RV has an engine and cab and functions on its own. 

Watercraft

Lastly, many small types of watercraft can be covered under toy insurance policies. This may include boats that are too small or do not meet the requirements for boat insurance, such as kayaks, or personal watercraft, such as jet skis. 

Are you looking to purchase a toy insurance policy in the greater Rochester, MN area? Safechoice Insurance Agency can work with you to ensure that all of your toys have insurance coverage. Reach out to us today to obtain an estimate or begin the process of insuring your toys. 

What to do when your home’s value changes

Rochester, MN area residents can count on Safechoice Insurance Agency for their insurance needs. We care about our community and want to ensure that you have the protection you need. If your house’s value has changed significantly, it may be time to update your homeowner’s policy. Give us a call today, and we can perform a comprehensive review of your current policy. 

Home values often fluctuate. Make sure that your insurance is keeping pace!

We all know how much our home values can fluctuate over the years. We recommend that all of our area customers take a close look at their home policy at least once a year. If it’s been a long time since you have even thought about your homeowner’s policy, now is the perfect time for such a review.  

Sitting down with a local agent is a great idea. Their expertise, knowledge, and experience can help you recognize and fix any gaps that there may be in coverage. Like many other things in our lives, our insurance needs can change over time. If your home value has changed significantly, it’s important to take the time to make sure that your home insurance policy is still adequate for your needs.

A home is a significant financial commitment, and it’s essential to protect that investment. Based on its current value, let’s find out if your current policy meets your current insurance needs.

We can help with all of your home insurance needs.

Safechoice Insurance Agency is ready to provide you with the insurance help you need. If you are a homeowner in the greater Rochester, MN area, we are here to help you with all of your home insurance needs. Give us a call today!

Why it’s a great idea to get roadside assistance with your auto policy

The team here at Safechoice Insurance Agency is proud to serve the insurance needs of the greater Rochester, MN area. If your auto policy isn’t cutting it anymore, we can help you with an upgrade! Our team is here to help you find the right policy for your needs. Get in touch today!

Benefits of roadside assistance

One of the most basic and obvious advantages of having a roadside assistance benefit included in your auto policy is that you will get the help you need if your car breaks down or is involved in an accident. Having this service through your auto insurance provides another layer of benefit.

When you are involved in a mishap or your car is inoperable due to a covered event, you will need to work with your insurance company to repair or replace it. If the vehicle is going to be fixed, your insurance company will probably have specific stipulations and requirements. If the tow truck you call takes your vehicle to an unapproved repair shop, the work may not be covered.

Using the roadside assistance that comes with your policy ensures that you work with approved vendors. This will help the claims process go much more smoothly. Getting your car fixed is already stressful enough. There’s no reason to add insurance issues to the process!

Give us a call today!

Rochester, MN area drivers can rely on Safechoice Insurance Agency for their insurance needs. If it’s time to upgrade your policy, give us a call or come by our office to find out more about the options available in our area. We look forward to working with you!

Why do people need life insurance?

Residents in the Rochester, MN area will always have different insurance needs. A type of coverage that should always be considered is life insurance. This type of coverage can provide a benefit to the dependents of the policyholder. There are various reasons that the typical person in this part of Minnesota will need to have a life insurance policy in place. 

Ensure Dependents Have Financial Protection

An important reason for anyone to have a life insurance plan is to ensure their dependents have financial protection. When you have people that rely on you for income and living expenses, it is important that you provide them with the necessary protection. With life insurance, you have the ability to build a plan that has a policy level and term that offers this coverage. This can provide necessary financial assurances and peace of mind. 

Alternative Investment Option 

When you are looking to prepare for your future, having a strong mix of investments is very important. A form of investment that many people do not consider is life insurance. With a whole life insurance plan, a portion of each payment made will lead to an accumulation of cash in a low-risk investment account. Over time, this will build up to a large sum of money that is liquid and can be accessed at will. You also can use it to collateralize various types of loans. 

As you are looking to get a life insurance plan in the Rochester, MN area, it continues to be important that you get proper coverage. With so many choices to make, calling the team with Safechoice Insurance Agency is a good option. The professionals with the Safechoice Insurance Agency can ensure you remain covered and have the support that you need to pick a plan that will give you the right coverage. 

Protect your MN business with a comprehensive commercial policy

Safechoice Insurance Agency is here for the business community of Rochester, MN. We want to help you protect your business. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of a comprehensive commercial policy, give our office a call today!

Protect your business with a comprehensive commercial policy

Local business owners know the importance of protecting all of their efforts when it comes to insuring their businesses. If you are interested in upgrading your current commercial policy to one that is more comprehensive in nature, be sure to get all of the features that are needed. 

Protection for your entire business is possible with the right comprehensive policy.

  • Inventory
  • Equipment
  • Commercial vehicles
  • Office machinery
  • Buildings and real estate

You can also opt for a policy that provides:

  • Cash flow interruption protection
  • Key employee coverage
  • Worker’s compensation 
  • Increased liability

There are many options available when it comes to commercial insurance! There’s no reason to limit yourself to a basic property insurance policy. We recommend sitting down with a knowledgeable agent who can present all of the information you need to make an informed decision.

Now is a perfect time to review all of the available options to determine if you have the coverage and protection that you need. Protecting a commercial venture is very important, and the right insurance policy can make this possible. No one wants to find out that they are underinsured, especially after they have experienced a catastrophic event! Don’t let that happen to you.

We look forward to working with you!

Rochester, MN business owners can rely on the team at Safechoice Insurance Agency for all of their commercial insurance needs. Call our office today and schedule a consultation to learn more about the commercial insurance options available.

4 Benefits of RV Insurance

A recreational vehicle is a prized asset with unlimited fun, especially when touring a country. Undertaking a trip around the countryside in the comfort of a home is a magnificent experience for many Rochester, MN residents. Today, it’s not a must to have a brick-and-mortar dwelling to you regard as a home. Recreation vehicles have made this dream become a reality.

Irrespective of the breathtaking experience of recreational vehicles, it’s worthwhile not to forget RV insurance. Please get in touch with our experienced agents from Safechoice Insurance Agency and get a functional RV insurance that will consider your desires and budget. In the process, here are the benefits you will accrue.

Legal requirement

Similar to ordinary auto insurance, RV insurance is compulsory in Minnesota. As an RV owner, you must buy minimum liability requirements in your RV insurance to avert dire penalties and fines for non-compliance.

Liability protection

Imagine what transpires when you propagate bodily injuries and property damage in an accident with your RV? The damage can accumulate to thousands of dollars! From exorbitant medical bills to expensive legal fees, third-party claims can be a thorn in the flesh of your pocket. Luckily, these unexpected expenses are sorted out if you have RV liability coverage.

Protection of assets

Procuring an RV is a massive investment. Unfortunately, unforeseen situations like accidents, hail, or fire can throw your precious asset in disarray. Perils can cost you fortunes to repair or restore your RV without splendid RV insurance. Nevertheless, if you have RV insurance, it caters to either repairing or replacing your vehicle.

Instills peace of mind

The roads you use to cruise in your RV are full of all manners of drivers. From drunk, teenage, uninsured, and speeding drivers, accidents are never far from your RV. Although many risks are facing your RV, insurance makes you relaxed knowing that you are well-protected.

Are you an RV owner searching for RV insurance in Rochester, MN, to guard your precious asset? Don’t hesitate to contact our agents at Safechoice Insurance Agency for a customized, affordable quote.

Exploring The Benefits Of Motorcycle Storage Coverage

Safechoice Insurance Agency is an independent agency. We work closely with several carriers throughout the Midwest. We are committed to helping our clients find unique policies that will protect their assets. For over 15 years, we have helped Rochester, MN residents find coverage. You can expect to receive first-class customer service.

Exploring The Benefits Of Motorcycle Storage Coverage

Operating a motorcycle comes with significant risks. One accident can cause serious consequences. Motorcycle insurance is an asset. Motorcycle insurance covers your bike if it suffers damage through impact with another object. You can opt for comprehensive coverage, which covers your bike if it’s stolen or inclement weather moves through the area and damages your bike. Liability coverage protects you if you accidentally lose control of your bike, and it damages someone else’s property or causes bodily injury. You can also amend your policy to add extra coverage such as emergency roadside assistance, which covers you if your bike breaks down while you are on the road.

One of the other extra coverage options to consider is storage coverage. During the harsh winters in the Midwest, you will likely put your motorcycle in the garage to keep it safe since you aren’t using it. However, things could still happen. Perhaps your roof suffers damage which causes snow to build upon your motorcycle and damage the paint. Maybe an object falls and cracks a window. That’s why storage coverage is an asset. Storage coverage protects your motorcycle if an emergency occurs while you aren’t using it. It’s important to maintain some type of coverage, especially if there is a unique day during the winter in Rochester, MN when you feel like riding your motorcycle.

Safechoice Insurance Agency Will Help You Cover Your Asset  

Visit our website to learn more information about motorcycle insurance.