Auto Insurance

Driving Tips for the Holiday Season

Posted on by Martinson Agency

Driving Tips for the Holiday Season

November 12th, 2015 — Martinson Agency LLC — Chaska, MN

Winter is the most challenging season for drivers, and the challenge is even greater around the holidays. If you’re setting out on a holiday road trip, you can likely look forward to more traffic and worse weather than usual. Throw in the fact that everyone seems to be in a rush to arrive at the celebration on time, and you will find yourself in some very unsafe driving conditions. To avoid these, here are some tips to keep in mind:

  1. Make Sure the Car is Ready: Check to be sure that your tires are properly inflated, that your gas tank is full and that your windshield wipers are functioning properly. Also, make sure that you have a window scraper, a flashlight and a shovel in case of an emergency situation.
  2. Stay Charged: Make sure you bring your cell phone as well as your phone charger along for the trip. If you have your phone, you can call for help in the event of an emergency. As always, don’t use it while operating your vehicle. Keep the contact information for roadside assistance handy as well.
  3. Leave Early: Before you go, take time to check the weather and learn your route in advance. Leave early enough to give yourself plenty of time and always plan for traffic. On the road, keep your younger passengers occupied to reduce distractions and always expect the unexpected from other drivers.
  4. Don’t Hurry: You’ve left early, so you don’t need to worry about arriving on time. Now give yourself time to react to danger by slowing down. Stay within the speed limit, or even below it if the weather and road conditions are poor.
  5. Designate a Driver: DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE! Have a plan before the party starts and stick to it. Calling a cab is always a better option than driving if you have been drinking.

Plan ahead and keep your cool, and this year the road trip could turn out to be as memorable and enjoyable as the rest of the season. Happy Holidays!

Don’t leave your insurance to luck! Call today!

Phone: (952) 314-4400

Email: jphagen@aibme.com

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New Carrier Alert: Acuity Insurance

Posted on by Martinson Agency

New Carrier Alert: Acuity Insurance

November 5th, 2015 — Martinson Agency LLC — Chaska, MN

We are proud to announce that we have added a new carrier to our stable. We are now appointed with Acuity Insurance based out of Sheboygan, Wisconsin to write home, auto, umbrella and commercial insurance policies. Acuity offers a great selection of products and we wanted to take a moment to share some facts about our new partnership.

Facts about Acuity:

  1. 96% of claimants rate the award winning claim service as “very good” or “excellent”.
  2. Acuity was named the #3 large company to work for in America.
  3. Rated A+ by both AM Best and Standard & Poor’s
  4. Acuity has been in business since 1925 and is listed as the 62nd largest insurer in the nation, with over $3.5 billion in assets.
  5. They write a broad spectrum of property and casualty coverages for families and businesses in 24 states including Minnesota and Wisconsin.
  6. Named to Ward Financial Group’s list of the 50 best run insurance companies in the nation for 15 straight years.
  7. Named one of the top 500 technology companies in the nation by Information Week.
  8. Won more ACORD technology awards than any other carrier in the country in the past 13 years.
  9. With turnover of less than 2%, they attract and retain motivated, experienced and dedicated professionals who are looking to develop a long term relationship with you and your family.

If you are interested in having our agency provide you a quote from Acuity Insurance please contact us at (952) 314-4400 or visit our website, www.martinsonagency.com today!

Don’t leave your insurance to luck! Call today!

Phone: (952) 314-4400

Email: jphagen@aibme.com

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Avoiding Deer Collisions

Posted on by Martinson Agency

Avoiding Deer Collisions

October 8th, 2015 — Martinson Agency LLC — Chaska, MN

Picture this: You’re driving along a winding country road enjoying the beautiful fall foliage and all of a sudden a huge buck runs in front of your vehicle. How would you react? Fall is peak time for deer-vehicle collisions thanks to deer mating season which begins in the fall and runs through January. During this time deer are very active and on the move. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), large animal-vehicle collisions result in an average of 187 fatalities annually.

Back to the question — how would you react? Not sure? Here are some helpful tips on how to avoid a collision:

1. Say “no” to swerving — Never ever swerve. Swerving is especially dangerous because it puts the driver at risk for a head-on collision with oncoming traffic, trees or even a ditch and confuses the deer as to where to go.

2. SLOW DOWN — Slow down if you’re driving through an area with high deer populations. If you drive defensively, you’ll have more time to break if you cross paths with a deer.

3. Leader of the pack — Deer rarely travel alone so if you see one it’s likely another is close behind. (Ask our good friend Cory Poppitz about this one.)

4. Put your foot on the brake — If you cross paths with a deer, brake firmly while staying in your lane and blow your horn to frighten the deer away.

5. Green eyes — At night watch for the shine of eyes along the side of the road (their eyes usually look green.)

6. Sun up, sun down — Deer are most active at dusk and dawn.

7. Center lane — The center lane on a multi-lane road is the safest place to drive because it gives deer space and drivers additional time to react.

8. Faulty products — There are many products on the market that claim to protect against possible collisions with deer (whistles, repellent ect.) Unfortunately these products have not been proven to reduce the risk of an accident.

Remember deer collisions can happen to even the best of drivers. It you strike a deer never touch the animal. Pull over to the side of road as soon as you can, call the police immediately and report the damage to our agency as soon as possible.

Don’t leave your insurance to luck! Call today!

Phone: (952) 314-4400

Email: jphagen@aibme.com

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Paperless Discounts & Benefits

Posted on by Martinson Agency

Paperless Discounts & Benefits

July 30th, 2015 — Martinson Agency LLC — Chaska, MN

Recently, insurance companies have started offering a paperless billing option. By electing to go paperless, you will stop receiving your bills and documents by mail. Instead, you will receive them via your preferred e-mail. This helps to reduce clutter, provides 24/7 access to your account and can also help you save on your premium. Many insurance companies are now offering a discount for anyone who chooses to go paperless.

Reduce Clutter & Save Paper

The most obvious advantage that a paperless policy provides is the fact that it saves paper & benefits the environment. All of your important insurance documents are stored securely online and can be printed whenever you need them. Enrolling in a paperless program will benefit the environment while providing convenience for you at the same time.

24/7 Access

A paperless policy also means you aren’t stuck waiting for important documents to arrive via U.S. Mail. Whenever you make a change to your policy a confirmation message will be sent directly to your e-mail inbox. This means you will have 24/7 access to new insurance identification cards, payment receipts and billing schedules. When you enroll in the paperless program you will create a unique user ID and password and will be able to access your account from any computer or mobile device.

Automatic Payments

Enrolling in an automated monthly payment plan is another way to save money on your auto insurance. By choosing an automated payment plan you will no longer need to send a payment by mail. Instead, your monthly payment will be automatically deducted from a credit card or a checking/savings account on its due date. This is a discount that will stay with you throughout the life of the policy.

Call Today!

Adding a paperless discount and automatic payments to your current policy can help you save now and in the future. If you have any questions about how to add these discounts or to receive a comprehensive insurance review, please give the Martinson Agency in Chaska, MN a call today!

Don’t leave your insurance to luck! Call today!

Phone: (952) 314-4400

Email: jphagen@aibme.com

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Driving Under the Influence Will Cost You

Posted on by Martinson Agency

Driving Under the Influence Will Cost You

September 25th, 2015 — Martinson Agency LLC — Chaska, MN

Nothing good comes from getting behind the wheel of a car while you’re intoxicated. You put other people as well as yourself in danger. Also, if you are pulled over, you will be faced with numerous fines and future expenses. Increased cost of your auto insurance is just one of those expenses.

What kind of impact will a DWI have on your car insurance premium? It can cause your rate to be increased by more than three times what you are currently paying. Many companies will even terminate your coverage and make you find an auto insurance policy elsewhere. You should know that depending on the carrier it can take up to FIVE years before your policy can be rewritten. Also, in certain states, penalties for a DWI can double if your BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) is over a .16.

The best way to avoid a DWI violation is to refrain from driving after you have been drinking. (DUH!) If you have been drinking you should consider having a designated driver, calling a taxi or even riding the bus in order to get from once place to another. Any of these options will make the road a safer place for not only you and your friends, but for the entire community as well.

Call Martinson Agency in Chaska today with any further questions you may have about acquiring auto insurance after getting busted for a DWI violation. We have numerous resources available for you and have tons of experience dealing with policies written specifically for individuals with a DWI on their record.

Don’t leave your insurance to luck! Call today!

Phone: (952) 314-4400

Email: jphagen@aibme.com

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Save More on Auto Insurance!

Posted on by Martinson Agency

Save More on Auto Insurance!

July 16th, 2015 — Martinson Agency LLC — Chaska, MN

Whether you drive an old beater or cruise around in a brand new ride, having auto insurance is required by law in the state of Minnesota. This means you should be looking for ways to save money on your insurance. Here are some cost-saving tips to keep in mind when purchasing auto insurance.

Inquire About All Available Discounts

Ask your agent about all of the discounts you may be eligible for. Many companies have started to offer a paperless discount. This means that all of your bills and documents would be sent to your preferred email address versus your home address. You can also reduce your monthly payments by having it automatically deducted from a checking or savings account. Additionally, many companies have an advance quote discount. This means that if you begin the quoting process 10 or more days prior to the policy being issued you can save as well.

Take A Defensive Driving Course

Safe drivers typically have the most affordable auto insurance. If you are 55+ and are looking for an easy way to save on your insurance, consider taking a defensive driving course. This course will be taught by a professional driving instructor and will teach you about avoiding danger on the road. Once you take the course simply provide us with a completion certificate and we will apply the discount to your existing auto insurance policy.

Bundle Your Insurance Policies

By packaging your auto insurance and your home insurance with the same company you will receive a multi-policy discount. This can provide significant savings on both products and often times provides additional perks such as a single deductible. A single deductible means that if you have a claim that impacts both policies you will NOT be stuck paying a deductible on both.

Bottom Line: You Have Options

Don’t get caught up with everything you see on TV. Many of the most well known carriers are “captive” companies and can only provide you with one quote. Our agency is independent, meaning we have more carriers than the competition. More carriers means more discounts. More discounts means you get to keep more of your hard earned money in your pocket.

Don’t leave your insurance to luck! Call today!

Phone: (952) 314-4400

Email: jphagen@aibme.com

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Progressive Snapshot: The Fair Way to Pay for Auto Insurance

Posted on by Martinson Agency

Progressive Snapshot: The Fair Way to Pay for Auto Insurance

June 25th, 2015 — Martinson Agency LLC — Chaska, MN

Snapshot is a usage based insurance rating program. This program allows customers to potentially save money based on their actual driving habits. Snapshot gives people more control over how much they pay for auto insurance, and can help people improve their driving habits.

Customers who enroll in the Snapshot Program will receive a small device that plugs into their vehicle’s OBD port. This device will track what time of the day you drive, how many miles you drive each day and how often you drive between the hours of Midnight and 4:00 am. It does not track your location or speed, however it does make note when you break quickly or stop abruptly.

Progressive requires the Snapshot device to be in your car for a minimum of six to eight weeks and in certain cases up to six months. Typically, people who have short commutes to work and rarely drive between the hours of midnight and 4:00 am score the best and end up receiving the best discount. The good news about the Snapshot program is that it cannot be used against you. At no time will your insurance premium increase because of the data gathered by the device.

Please give the Martinson Agency in Chaska, MN a call today in order to learn more about Progressive Auto Insurance and the Snapshot Discount!

Don’t leave your insurance to luck! Call today!

Phone: (952) 314-4400

Email: jphagen@aibme.com

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Auto Insurance & Road Trips: What You Need to Know

Posted on by Martinson Agency

Auto Insurance & Road Trips: What You Need to Know

April 23rd, 2015 — Martinson Agency LLC — Chaska, MN

Summer is right around the corner. This means that families are beginning to gear up for their much anticipated summer vacations. Nothing says family quite like ROAD TRIP! Eight in ten leisure trips are made by car according to the U.S. Travel Association. This means that there will be plenty of people traveling long distances by car. Before you head out you must be sure that your auto insurance is in check.

Adding roadside assistance could be a decision that saves your road trip. Imagine this, it’s late at night and you’re driving in the middle of nowhere. The rest of your family is sound asleep throughout the car and BOOM! Your front tire pops. What’s next? If you have roadside assistance on your policy, help is on the way. Roadside assistance is an extremely affordable coverage and it can get you out of an abundance of issues that would derail your road trip. Call Martinson Agency to make sure you have roadside assistance coverage on your auto insurance policy today!

Also, make sure that your auto insurance ID card is in your car. This card will provide you with any contact information that you may need in the event of an accident or a traffic violation. The reason you need your auto insurance ID card in situations like this is to prove that you are, in fact, insured. By failing to prove this, you could acquire another fine and ticket.

Road trips can be a great time for a family to bond and travel the country together. Before your departure, call Martinson Agency to make sure you will have the assistance in the nastiest of situations!

Don’t leave your insurance to luck! Call today!

Phone: (952) 314-4400

Email: jphagen@aibme.com

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