What Are Minnesota’s Auto Insurance Minimums?

Many Rochester, MN drivers who buy the legal minimum of insurance don’t put much thought into it. You simply go to Safechoice Insurance Agency, ask them for liability, and assume that they can work it out from there. But what does that liability protection actually cover? Let’s break it down simply:

  • $30,000 in bodily injury per person per accident
  • $60,000 in bodily injury total per accident
  • $40,000 in PIP, Personal Injury Protection
  • $25,000 in uninsured motorist coverage per person per accident
  • $50,000 in uninsured motorist coverage total per accident
  • $25,000 in underinsured motorist coverage per person per accident
  • $50,000 in underinsured motorist coverage total per accident

Roughly half of all US states require uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. It’s sort of ironic that the law states that those of us who buy insurance have to cover for those of us who do not, but so it goes.

The legal minimum is a good starting point, but it’s not really the best idea to settle for that. You would rather not settle for minimum wage, minimum portions, minimum effort, so why settle for the minimum mandatory insurance? The least amount of insurance legally possible will help you to keep from being bankrupted in the event of an accident that was your fault, but you will at least need comprehensive and collision if you want to protect your car, and you may want to consider gap insurance and replacement cost coverage if you’re still paying a new vehicle off.

If you’re still shopping around for auto insurance in Rochester, MN, get in touch with Safechoice Insurance Agency. Call us up or visit the Safechoice Insurance Agency website and we’ll connect you with the coverage you need.

Health Insurance for Rochester, MN Residents

Let’s face it – understanding health insurance is hard. From providers to plans, there’s so much information that it can be difficult to figure out where to start. That’s where the agents at Safechoice Insurance Agency in Rochester, MN come in. The agents at Safechoice Insurance Agency have more than fifteen years of experience helping clients select and customize insurance plans. With their guidance and expertise, deciphering health insurance policies will be a smooth and simple process for you. Ready to get started? Just pick up the phone or stop by Safechoice Insurance Agency in Rochester, MN today!

Why choose Safechoice Insurance Agency? When you choose Safechoice Insurance Agency, you will be working with agents who are dedicated professionals. Not only are they are committed to providing superior customer service to every client, but they genuinely have your best interests in mind. The agents at Safechoice Insurance Agency understand how important it is to have health insurance, and the peace of mind it brings should anything unexpected happen. That’s why they take the time to listen to your concerns and answer your questions. No matter what age or stage you’re at in life, you can rest assured the agents at Safechoice Insurance Agency in Rochester, MN will aid you in selecting or customizing a health insurance plan that meets your unique needs.

Why purchase health insurance? Just like home insurance, health insurance protects you. Even if you only go to the doctor once a year, having health insurance can save you a substantial amount of money in the event of an accident, emergency, or other unforeseen circumstance. Choose from policies that provide limited to comprehensive coverage. Contact the agents at Safechoice Insurance Agency in Rochester, MN today to learn your options and find your ideal health insurance policy!

Everything You Need To Know About Recreational Toy Insurance

During the long winter months, many people spend their time dreaming of their summer activities. Taking the RV out on the road with the family, riding their ATV down adventurous trails, or cruising their boat on the water. While you are making preparations for these fun activities, don’t forget that your recreational toy insurance is a vital part of enjoying these activities safely. At Safechoice Insurance Agency, serving Rochester, MN, we are here to educate you on these important insurance topics.  

Why You Need Rec Toy Insurance

Recreational vehicles such as RVs, jet skis, boats, bikes, and ATVs can be a whole lot of fun, but they can be dangerous too. In order to operate these vehicles in a safe and responsible way, it is important that owners have proper training and education in operating the vehicle as well as maintaining insurance in case something goes wrong. Even the safest operator can run into trouble. When that happens, your insurance policy is there to keep your out of pocket expenses low.

You have invested in these vehicles and you want to know that if they are damaged or stolen you can repair or replace the vehicle. In addition to this, insurance also protects you in the event that you injure someone else or cause damage to someone else’s property.

What Does Rec Toy Insurance Cover?

Policies can be customized to suit your specific needs, but in general, recreational toy insurance will cover a few different things.

Collison- This protects against loss or damage to the vehicle.

Liability- This protects against the event that your vehicle causes injury or property damage.

Emergency roadside or waterside assistance- This type of coverage kicks in if you have problems with your vehicle while you are out. It can include things such as repairs and towing.

If you would like to learn more about recreational toy insurance, please contact our friendly staff at Safechoice Insurance Agency, serving Rochester, MN today.  

Common Myths About The Significance Of Life Insurance

Safechoice Insurance Agency’s primary goal is to provide excellent customer service to all of our clients in the Rochester, MN area. We are an independent insurance agency that is committed to helping our clients find the best coverage at an affordable price.

Common Life Insurance Myths

Safechoice Insurance Agency understands the importance of life insurance. Life insurance can help families heal as they deal with the aftermath of losing a loved one. While many people understand the importance of purchasing a life insurance policy, inaccurate information has caused some people to underestimate the significance of having life insurance. Here is a look at some common myths regarding the significance of life insurance.

If You Are Healthy, You Don’t Need Life Insurance  

While you may be healthy at the moment, you have no idea how your health may change as you age. That’s why it is important to purchase life insurance so that you’ll be protected in the event that something happens. Plus, the price of a life insurance policy changes as you age.

If You Don’t Have A Family, Life Insurance Doesn’t Have To Be A Priority

Many single people believe that they don’t need life insurance. While life insurance is certainly beneficial to people who are married and have children, life insurance can be an asset if you are single as well. Having a life insurance policy can help pay for your burial costs and also prevent your loved ones from having to possibly manage any debt that you may have.

It’s Better To Simply Save Your Money

While it’s very important to save money to secure your financial future in the long run, that should not come at the expense of life insurance. Life insurance is relatively inexpensive, so ideally, you can purchase a policy while still saving money for the future.

Safechoice Insurance Agency Can Help You

Safechoice Insurance Agency assists residents throughout Rochester, MN by helping them find the best life insurance policy. Head to our website to learn how we can assist you.

Does A Company With No Physical Building Require Commercial Insurance?

The truth is that the building your company is situated inside is one of the smallest concerns for a commercial insurer. In fact, it might not even be on your policy in your first place if you’re renting. These days we’re seeing more and more businesses with no physical location. Stores that exist entirely online. Software developers comprised of work-at-home freelancers from around the world. It’s very easy to run a business without ever meeting a client, colleague, or customer face to face. But it’s very hard to run a business with no liability whatsoever.

Liability is the Big Concern

It’s good to have insurance on business equipment, but if you’re running a successful enterprise, chances are you can cover most minor to moderate damages out of company funds. Liability is where you start facing the kind of expenses that can bankrupt you, and liability doesn’t care if you have a physical location or not.

If someone is injured using one of your products and they sue you, or if your spreadsheet software glitches up and they lose thousands of dollars over it, you’ll be glad that you had an insurer like Safechoice Insurance Agency backing you up. Liability costs can total hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars, and those of us who run a brick-and-mortar business in Rochester, MN are no more or less at risk than those of us who work entirely from the home office.

If you run any kind of business in Rochester, MN, chances are you’re inviting some form of liability. Get in touch with Safechoice Insurance Agency, let us know what kind of risks you need covered, and they’ll get you set up with the protection you need.

3 ways to prepare for a home insurance claim

We all wish to live happily in safe homes free of fires, burglaries, storms, and other natural disasters. But when the dreaded happens, it is crucial to understand what to do and how to file a claim successfully. At Safechoice Insurance Agency serving Rochester, MN, we recommend reviewing your policy with a professional insurance agent to ensure that it is up to date with your present situation.

1. Ask as many questions as possible to have the correct information

 Your claim preparation involves contacting your insurance company as soon as possible. If the peril is a fire that hinders you from entering the house, you can search online for Nationwide numbers to help you reach your insurer. In the initial call, confirm your deductible and ask as many questions as possible. You should also notify your insurer whether you will need to relocate or not.

2. Document the damage

Your insurance provider may not get to you right away, use this time to document the damage. Take pictures and videos and match your losses with your inventory (you should have your inventory ready before any accident). This acts as proof that you owned the items.

3. Make the necessary replacement and repair arrangements.

Depending on the damage, do what you need to do to save the situation and notify your insurer. If it was a broken pipe that led to the accident, you can fix it or find someone to do it for you before the insurance company gets to you.

The home insurance claim process can be stressful, mentally-draining, and lengthy. However, knowing what to do, acting promptly, and handling the situation like a pro helps get your home back into shape faster. To get more tips on how to prepare for a home insurance claim, contact Safechoice Insurance Agency in Rochester, MN, and we will help be happy to assist you.

How Much Auto Insurance is Needed with an Outstanding Car Loan?

Insurance concepts are challenging for many consumers driving the highways and suburban roads in the Rochester, MN area. Things become even more confusing when consumers try to understand the insurance requirements for those cars bought on time.

Yet, having a full understanding of this insurance coverage issue is critical if you are to secure the right insurance protection for yourself while having an outstanding car loan.

According to the insurance experts at Safechoice Insurance Agency, it is essential to understand the definition of the loan amount before deciding on the amount of coverage you need. Remember, the loan balance can exceed the total monies borrowed, because closing costs and loan fees are often financed.

The outstanding balance of a loan is typically the bare-bone, basic minimum insurance required by the lienholder, although each lender can set their criteria. It is common, and prudent, for car owners to insure their cars for more than the loan amount – because this allows them to protect their investment in the vehicle – the down payment. 

Consider this quick example-

  • You bought a car and have a loan of $25,000.
  • Your car insurance covers your vehicle for cash value only. 

In the event of an insurance payout in the above scenario, the claim will pay the cash value, which in this example is $22,000. Who would be responsible for the shortfall of $3,000? ($25,000-$22,000=$3,000)

The short answer is – you, the insured, would responsible for the shortfall if you did have gap insurance.  Gap insurance is a type of policy that covers any shortages if the insured amount falls short of the outstanding loan balance.

The insurance professionals at Safechoice Insurance Agency serve the communities in and around Rochester, MN for all their car insurance needs, including gap coverage. Reach out to the insurance experts today!

Liability VS Comprehensive Motorcycle Coverage

If you own a motorcycle in Minnesota, you are required to carry a minimum of liability insurance. Liability insurance covers injury and damage to other people and their property should you be at fault for an accident. For Rochester, MN, liability includes:

  • $30,000 for bodily injury per person
  • $60,000 for bodily injury per accident
  • $10,000 for property damage per accident

Carrying this amount of insurance keeps you legal in the state. However, with the risk associated with driving at all, let alone driving a motorcycle, you should consider a higher level of coverage.

Comprehensive motorcycle coverage includes liability coverage, but it also adds on coverage for your own bike. It is designed to cover your bike in the event of an incident that is not a collision, such as vandalism, theft, weather damage, and more. It does not cover regular wear and tear, issues due to a lack of care, or any collision-related costs. It is also not a replacement for liability insurance in any way.

Adding comprehensive onto your motorcycle policy is a way to protect your bike from many things you cannot control, but it may not be enough coverage. There are other things you should consider adding, such as:

Collision Coverage- This is coverage that can help cover medical and damage expenses that are due to a collision with another vehicle, a light pole, an animal, and more.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist- If you happen to be involved in an accident in which the party at fault does not have insurance- or does not have enough insurance- this coverage can help cover what they cannot.

Safechoice Insurance Agency wants to help you protect your motorcycle with the right combination of coverage. If you are in or around Rochester, MN, stop by Safechoice Insurance Agency or give us a call today for your free, no-obligation quote!

Top Tips for RV Spring Maintenance

Spring has finally arrived in Rochester, MN, which means it’s time to take your RV out of storage and start planning those spring and summer road trips. Even though your RV has been parked in storage all winter, you’ll most likely need to do some maintenance before hitting the road. De-winterizing your RV ensures that it will be clean, fresh and in good condition while traveling. So, before heading out on your first RV road trip, spend an afternoon giving the RV the attention it needs to ensure you have safe, comfortable trips. To get you started, Safechoice Insurance Agency suggests you do the following de-winterizing tasks.

Sanitize/ Prepare Water System

After the RV has been sitting in storage, you’ll need to de-winterize the water system, check for leaks and sanitize it. If non-toxic antifreeze was used to winterize the system, you’ll need to run fresh water through the entire system until all the antifreeze is removed. If antifreeze was added to the freshwater holding tank, the first thing you’ll need to do is to drain all remnants of the antifreeze from the tank. Add fresh water to the tank, turn the water pump on and open all the water faucets. Leave the water running until the water runs clear through the system, then turn the pump and faucets off. Remember to replace all water filter cartridges that you removed before you put the RV in winter storage.

Maintain the Generator

The generator doesn’t require continuous attention, but it does require a little basic maintenance, especially after sitting in storage all winter. After taking the RV out of storage, you’ll need to exercise the generator, especially gas generators, because they may have fuel related issues after sitting idle while in storage. Moisture may build up and cause damage to the generator, so exercising will heat up the generator windings and eliminate the moisture buildup. To exercise the generator, simply start and run it with at least a 50% load for about two hours. It’s also helpful to review the owner’s manual to get acquainted with the load ratings specific for your unit.

The last thing you’ll want is to be riding in a hot, stuffy RV, so make sure to check the air vents and windows. Open all windows and air vents to ensure they are working correctly. Be sure to clean the air conditioner filter, which is generally located in the ceiling assembly of the RV. Simply clean it with mild soap and water, rinse and let the filter air dry before replacing it in the ceiling assembly.

Residents of Rochester, MN that are ready to hit the road in their RV should contact Safechoice Insurance Agency to review and/or update their RV insurance.

Can ATV Insurance Be Bundled?

There are many types of insurance on the market today. Most items having value or pose a hazard during operation are eligible for some type of insurance coverage. Those who own all terrain vehicles, or ATVs, have certain hazards they face, which require special insurance protection.

Bundling Insurance Products

One benefit of having multiple insurance needs is the ability to bundle those products for additional savings. Most insurance providers will provide significant discounts to those who purchase multiple insurance products and create one premium to cover all of the policies. Some insurance products that can be bundled are home insurance, auto, and even ATV insurance. This option can be especially helpful for families with additional recreational vehicles or vessels. Those who own an ATV should see if they can bundle their insurance products to see additional savings.

Seek Help From An Insurance Agent

A professional, skilled insurance agent can help bundle a variety of insurance products to help provide savings and make life easier. They can instruct shoppers on which policies work best and offer bundles that create additional convenience and savings. Individuals living near Rochester, MN who want to learn more about bundling insurance products should check out Safechoice Insurance Agency. They have agents who strive to help customers get the coverage they need to protect the important things. 

Working with an insurance agent has plenty of benefits, including insight about how to bundle insurance products and prevent gaps in coverage. Call or stop by Safechoice Insurance Agency, proudly serving Rochester, MN. They can answer questions about each type of coverage and offer common sense solutions that meet each need.