If your auto insurance policy has lapsed—whether from a missed payment, paperwork issue, or something else—it’s crucial to get it reinstated as soon as possible. Drivers in Minnesota can often restore coverage with a few simple steps, but acting quickly makes all the difference. Pizano Insurance, serving Wayzata, MN, explains what to do.

Start by Finding Out What Went Wrong

The first thing you’ll want to do is reach out to your insurance agent or company to understand precisely why the policy ended. Was it because of a late payment, or did the insurer need updated information about your vehicle or driving record? Knowing the real reason helps you figure out the best path forward.

Move Fast to Limit the Gap

A short lapse is much easier to rectify than one that lasts for weeks. Many insurance companies have a grace period where you can catch up on payments or submit missing documents without starting over. The quicker you handle it, the better chance you’ll have of avoiding steep rate increases tied to gaps in coverage.

You May Need to Sign a No-Loss Statement

Insurers often ask you to sign a no-loss statement before reinstating a policy. This document says you didn’t have any accidents or claims while your insurance was inactive. Be sure it’s accurate—if you had a crash and fail to disclose it, you could face serious problems down the road.

Rates and Rules Could Change

Depending on how long your policy has been inactive, your insurance company may apply a surcharge or adjust your terms. If the lapse continues for too long, you may even need to consider a new provider. A Minnesota insurance agent can compare policies for you and help find one that gets you legally back on the road without unnecessary costs.

Taking care of reinstatement promptly protects you from legal trouble and financial headaches, allowing you to drive again with peace of mind. Contact Pizano Insurance, serving Wayzata, MN, to learn more.

Insurance providers utilize a variety of data sources when assessing the risk involved in insuring an individual or a family. Factors such as your geographical location, driving history, number of vehicles in the household, demographic details of the drivers, and other relevant aspects are taken into account. These elements collectively influence the premiums charged to each individual or others with similar characteristics. If you have queries related to insurance, the Pizano Insurance team in Wayzata, MN, is here to assist. We’ll guide you in securing the most suitable auto insurance coverage for you and your family.

Factors Influencing Auto Insurance Risk

Insurance providers have access to extensive data about auto accidents, the drivers involved, and the subsequent payments for repairs and medical care. This information is categorized based on location, age, gender, marital status, and other characteristics to estimate the risk associated with each applicant. For instance, while it’s impossible to predict the safety level of a specific 16-year-old driver, historical data suggests that new drivers are more prone to accidents, leading to higher premiums for this age group.

In addition to a driver’s profile, their accident history and traffic violation record also influence the risk assessment. The type of vehicle insured also plays a role due to variations in safety ratings, repair costs, and accident frequency.

Your choice of coverage limits and deductibles also impacts your premiums.

Insurance providers also offer usage-based insurance (UBI). UBI employs vehicle telematics to monitor your driving habits, enabling them to adjust your premiums based on factors like your driving speed, frequency of hard braking, and miles and locations driven.

Collaborating with Pizano Insurance

The Pizano Insurance team, serving the Wayzata, MN, area, is ready to answer all your insurance-related queries. Visit our office or call us today at (952) 473-1880 in Wayzata or (763) 447-4977 in Albertville to formulate the insurance plan that best suits your needs.

After you’ve had a major accident with your car and you’ve filed a claim, your insurance company will make an estimation that may mean that your car will be totaled. However, car insurance companies don’t just automatically total a car after a major accident, as your insurance representative at Pizano Insurance serving Wayzata, MN will tell you. Much depends on the damage that would need to be repaired versus the car’s value. Here is some important information to help you understand the process.

What Does it Mean to Total a Car?

In essence, the phrase "total a car" refers to a process in which the car’s value is deemed to be less than the cost to repair it to a condition where it can be safely driven again. The auto insurance company would pay the lesser of the two amounts. If the car’s value exceeds the repair estimates, it is "totaled."

How Insurers Determine a Total Loss

An insurance company declares a car a total loss when the cost to repair it exceeds a certain percentage of its actual cash value (ACV). If repairs cost more than this threshold, the insurer will consider the vehicle totaled and offer a settlement based on its pre-accident market value. Factors that influence this insurance include:

• Pre-accident value
• Frame and structural damage
• Salvage value

As you can see, a major accident doesn’t always mean the auto insurance company will total the car. For help with your claims process and to get all your questions answered, contact your insurance representative at Pizano Insurance serving Wayzata, MN after any accident that you may be involved in with your car.

Being stranded on the side of the road with a broken-down vehicle is an unfortunate situation. When you’re dealing with car trouble, it’s crucial to resolve your problem quickly and efficiently. If you have the right type of car insurance policy, you can get help for free from your insurance policy.

If you have questions about your car insurance policy and whether roadside assistance is covered, the professionals at Pizano Insurance, serving Wayzata, MN, can help. We can answer your questions or provide a copy of your policy so you can find out more information yourself.

What Is Roadside Assistance?

Roadside assistance is a feature of full-coverage car insurance policies. While each policy may work differently, roadside assistance typically provides towing services if your car breaks down or has a flat tire.

Which Auto Insurance Provides Roadside Assistance?

Full-coverage car insurance often includes roadside assistance. If you’re interested in this option, talk to your insurance agent. It is a popular option among drivers with new vehicles.

If you’re buying a new car, your lender may even require you to get full coverage car insurance. Even if you pay for the car with cash, getting full coverage car insurance can help you avoid significant expenses in the event of an accident. Full coverage car insurance will pay to repair or replace your vehicle in various covered events, including car theft and major damage from a collision.

Do you want more information about roadside assistance and full coverage car insurance? The professionals at Pizano Insurance, serving Wayzata, MN, can help. Call today to learn more.

While many people view auto insurance as a means to pay for vehicle repair or replacement after a collision, other types of insurance can provide roadside assistance.

At Pizano Insurance, servicing Wayzata, MN, we can help you find the type of auto insurance that meets your needs. If you need auto insurance that offers roadside assistance, we can assist!

Which Insurance Can Help With a Flat Tire?

Full coverage auto insurance provides help with roadside assistance. Full coverage auto is the most comprehensive type of auto insurance available. Other benefits of full coverage auto insurance include:

• Payment for repair or replacement of your vehicle in the event of a collision, regardless of who is at fault
• Payment for repair or replacement of your vehicle when a covered event (like a fire) occurs
• Payment to replace your vehicle if it is stolen

Your lender will likely require this type of auto insurance if you get an auto loan for your vehicle. Even if you do not have an auto loan, it’s a great policy to consider if you have a high-value vehicle.

How Can I Get Full Coverage Auto Insurance?

You can get full coverage auto insurance by contacting the professionals at Pizano Insurance, servicing Wayzata, MN. We work with many insurance carriers to help our clients find the best policy for their needs. If roadside assistance is important to you, our full coverage policies may be the right option for you. Call today to learn more.

As the winter months approach and temperatures drop, your window for winterizing your vehicle will shrink. Here are three things you must do to get your vehicle through the winter.

1. Change and Top Off Fluids

Before it gets too cold, make sure the oil is changed in your vehicle so that fresh oil is circulating through the engine and there’s little debris causing potential damage. Also, top off the other fluids, like antifreeze, power steering fluid, and brake fluid. This keeps all your systems operational and protects the engine from freezing temperatures.

2. Inspect and Change Your Battery

If you haven’t changed your battery in a while, this is an excellent time to have it inspected and see if it needs to be changed. Winter can be brutal on old batteries that are getting weak. You don’t want to find out that your car won’t start, whether at home or in public, as this can be a stressful situation in the cold winter. If it’s time to change the battery, make sure you replace it before the weather gets too cold.

3. Inspect and Get Tires

Living in Minnesota means you need to get snow tires once the weather starts to stay around 45 degrees. These tires have chains and additional grips that will help you when traveling on the highways in the winter. There is lots of water, ice, and snow to be expected for several months in Minnesota, and without snow tires, you could be dangerously hurt. If you’re putting last year’s snow tires back on, inspect them first and install them before the weather gets too cold.

If you’re looking for a new auto insurance quote and live in the Wayzata, MN, community, or surrounding areas, contact Pizano Insurance today for your personal quote.