Name: Lakeview Insurance
Address: Calgary, AB
Telephone: 403-287-2521

While car insurance in Calgary may be a necessity, it doesn’t mean you should be breaking the bank every month in an effort to keep your vehicle street-legal.

Fortunately, there are several ways to save money on your car insurance, allowing you to put your savings into more exciting expenditures. Let’s explore some of your money-saving options below!

6 Ways To Save Money on Car Insurance

Shop Around

Surprisingly enough, prices often differ between companies. Therefore, it’s only practical to explore your options and get quotes from a handful of places.

If you’re not sure of which companies to start with, consider asking your friends and family for recommendations. While quotes are based on a range of factors, such as age, driving record, and type of vehicle, those close to you will be able to offer up information on what they pay on car insurance. This allows you to establish a baseline for what you can expect your payments to look like before you even speak with a broker.

As a note, the cheapest option may not necessarily be the best one. Ensure your car insurance in Calgary has adequate coverage, allowing you to feel secure whenever you hit the road.

Bundle Your Insurance

Insurance companies often offer discounts when you choose to purchase two or more types of insurance from them. Therefore, if you already have home insurance, consider reaching out to your insurance company to explore car insurance savings.

Take A Driving Course

Some insurance companies offer discounts on car insurance if you have taken a driver’s education or defensive driving course. This is because you have taken steps to prove that you have added competency behind the wheel, thus decreasing any likelihood of risk.

Have A Clean Record

The cost of your car insurance in Calgary often correlates with your driving record. More accidents and violations? Expect your insurance to go up. But if you steer clear of any trouble, your car insurance company will often reward your spotless record by decreasing your car insurance after a few years.

Bundle Vehicles

If you have several drivers and several vehicles in your household, consider insuring them all together. Many insurance companies will offer bulk rates, thus making it more cost-effective to insure three cars together than separately.

Review Your Coverage

Many types of coverage are more important than you may think, so speak to your broker before altering your auto insurance plan. However, older cars may not be worth collision or comprehensive coverage, as the value of the car may not hold up against what you’re actually paying.

Lakeview Insurance Brokers Ltd. has been a highly dedicated member of the Independent Brokers Association of Albert and has been family-run since 1979. Our brokers take the time to ensure you get the best policy that suits your needs. Contact us today to get started at 403-287-2521 or send an email to [email protected].

We want to protect our loved ones, even after we’re gone. One such way in which we can accomplish this is by purchasing life insurance. By contacting a Calgary insurance broker, you can feel confident that your family will be looked after, despite your absence.

But what exactly is life insurance, and what does it cover? Let’s explore that below.

Understanding Life Insurance & Its Coverage

What is life insurance?

Life insurance aims to protect your family financially. By purchasing a policy, you are forming an agreement with a life insurance company, in which they will bestow a lump sum of tax-free money to the person of your choosing if you die. In exchange, you pay the life insurance company a set amount of money periodically; this amount is known as your insurance premium.

It is up to you how much money would be paid out to your beneficiary upon your death, which in turn impacts your insurance premium. Naturally, the more your policy is worth, the higher your premium will be.

What can life insurance be used towards?

Your beneficiary is able to use the life insurance death benefit in any way they choose. However, the money is usually put towards financial responsibilities that the policyholder would have contributed to while alive, such as the mortgage, bills, tuition, and other costs of living. The money also typically goes towards covering funeral costs.

What types of death are covered by life insurance?

Life insurance policies cover the majority of deaths, with few exclusions. As long as your policy is active and up-to-date at the time of your death, life insurance will cover:

Natural causes: This can include old age, illnesses such as cancer, and unexpected health conditions, such as a heart attack.

An accident: This can include a car accident or an accidental overdose on prescription drugs.

Suicide: This is typically covered, provided it occurs after the policy’s “suicide clause” period has ended. If your policy has this clause, its average lifespan is approximately two years.

Homicide: This is applicable unless the beneficiary has played a role in the policyholder’s murder.

What does life insurance not cover?

There are a few instances in which your own actions, or failure to act, can impact your life insurance coverage. You will not be covered if you die while engaging in criminal activity and may not be covered if you die while participating in a dangerous hobby, such as skydiving. Additionally, your eligibility is put at risk if you allow your policy to lapse or lie on your application.

It may surprise you how affordable life insurance is. For more information, reach out to your Calgary insurance broker today!

No one likes to think of travel plans going awry when they’re dreaming of adventure and relaxation. However, being prepared and planning ahead can save you money in the long run, ensuring a bump in the road doesn’t ruin your entire vacation.

Trip cancellation insurance is a great way to protect yourself and your finances. But exactly what does this type of insurance do for you? Let’s take a look.

Exploring Trip Cancellation Insurance

What is trip cancellation insurance?

Unfortunately, we can’t see into the future when we’re booking our vacations. This means that, despite best efforts, issues can arise, whether due to our own fault or to uncontrollable circumstances. That’s where trip cancellation insurance comes in.

Trip cancellation insurance protects your trip before departure. This means it reimburses you for non-refundable and/or non-transferable deposits on prepaid travel arrangements and cancellation penalties that a hotel, airline, transportation provider, or tour operator may charge.

This means you can be sure that you’re not losing money on extra fees that are designed to make cancelling a hassle.

Does trip cancellation insurance cover expenses during your trip?

Trip cancellation insurance only covers you before you leave. That’s why it’s often bundled with trip interruption insurance, which protects you after departure.

Happy mature woman exploring her travel destination before going on a journey

Trip interruption insurance covers extra costs if you need to return home earlier or later than you had planned and reimburses you for non-refundable and/or non-transferable portions of used, prepaid travel arrangements.

Cutting your trip short is already stressful enough; don’t worry about adding additional cancellation fees to your plate as well.

How much does trip cancellation insurance cost?

The cost of trip cancellation insurance is largely dependent on the price of your vacation. When purchasing travel insurance in Calgary as a package, which includes trip cancellation, trip interruption, and medical insurance, you can expect to pay between 4% and 10% of your trip costs. This means that you might pay between $40 and $100 for a $1000 trip.

If you are hoping to simply purchase trip cancellation insurance, rather than the entire bundle, then it will naturally cost less. For a more definite quote, it’s recommended that you contact a trusted travel broker.

Trip cancellation insurance allows you to take some of the uncertainty away that can come with planning in the future. If you are wondering if it makes sense for you, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional and ask for advice.

As a business owner, it’s important to protect your company and its finances. You’ve invested a lot of time and money into your business, so it would be a shame to put that at risk. Accidents can happen on and off the job site, so it’s critical to ensure you’re covered if such an event occurs.

Commercial general liability insurance is one measure you can take to prevent additional hardships and to protect your investments.

We elaborate on how commercial general liability insurance can benefit you and what the cost of such insurance might be.

Understanding the Cost of Commercial General Liability Insurance

What is commercial general liability insurance?

Commercial general liability insurance (CGL) is a type of insurance policy. It provides financial coverage to businesses and corporations for bodily harm, personal injury, and property damage that occurs on the company’s premises. Said injury or damage can also be a result of interacting with the business’s operations, equipment, or products.

How much does commercial general liability insurance cost?

Some business owners grimace at the idea of having to spend additional money to maintain the operation of their company. However, this extra cost can save you from thousands or even millions of dollars worth of legal fees in the long run.

The cost of CGL does vary depending on the insurance plan you decide on. There are several options when it comes to the level of coverage that your CGL can provide.

Insurance agent explain consulting with customer to signing the policy form.

Some coverage levels focus primarily on the premises, which includes any worker injury that occurs on the property. Other levels extend to damages that are a result of finished products or services done off-site. Naturally, the latter will cost more, as your insurance coverage will need to have a greater reach.

Purchasing CGL can feel intimating due to the amount you can be insured for. If you are insured up to $1 million, most may assume the monthly rate will be incredibly high. However, the average yearly amount that companies pay is around $450. Therefore, when broken down into monthly payments, it can seem much more manageable.

How much should I be paying?

As the Insurance Bureau of Canada notes, you want adequate coverage without being over-insured and overpaying. Some aspects to consider when looking into CGL are:

The value of your property
Your potential liability exposure
Past losses

Speaking with an insurance broker regarding commercial general liability insurance can help you determine the level of coverage you need and gain a better understanding of the cost.

Your bags are packed and you’re ready to hit the road! But did you make the necessary plans and arrangements?

No one likes to consider the possibility of a mishap occurring during their vacation, but you can’t always bank on optimism. Purchasing travel insurance is an important step to include while planning out your trip.

We examine what travel insurance entails and why it’s so important.

Why Should You Get Travel Insurance?

What is travel insurance?

Unfortunately, medical emergencies can occur while you’re out of the country. Travel insurance covers emergency medical costs while you are outside of Canada, potentially saving you thousands of dollars.

What if I already have Canadian health insurance?

It is not guaranteed that your Canadian health insurance will cover your medical fees while you are out of the country, as you are not utilizing Canadian hospitals or services at the time. Additionally, provincial or territorial governments may only cover a partial amount of the costs, at best.

Meanwhile, the cost of treatment as a foreigner can be incredible, with some international hospitals requiring payment before treatment. If you are without payment or insurance, some countries will refuse to treat you.

What should be travel insurance policy include?

According to the Government of Canada, travel insurance should always include the following aspects:

Medical evacuation

Should the country where you’ve injured yourself not have adequate treatment methods, your policy ensures you’re transported to a country that can properly care for you.

Pre-existing medical conditions

It’s recommended that you get a written agreement regarding your policy covering your pre-existing condition. Travel insurance is often denied in cases of pre-existing conditions that are not disclosed before travelling. Therefore, confirm with your insurance broker or travel agent that the policy will cover you should something happen while you’re out of the country.

Repatriation in case of death

The plan should cover expenses related to bringing your remains back to Canada.

When buying your travel insurance, there is no such thing as too many questions. Take the time to be thorough, for the more advanced planning you do, the less you’ll have to worry while out of the country.

As an employer, one of your top priorities is the safety of your workers. That said, accidents can happen, leading to the injury of your employees or property.

Ensuring you have financially protected your company in the event of such injury is an important consideration to make. Commercial general liability insurance is one measure you can take, giving you a certain peace of mind in times of crisis.

But what is commercial general liability insurance, you may ask? We break down the term below and explore its coverage.

Learning About Commercial General Liability Insurance

What is commercial general liability insurance?

Does CGL cover all claims resulting from injury or damage?

Overall, CGL is considered to be comprehensive business insurance. However, this answer may be dependent on the level of coverage your CGL provides. As a business owner, you have the choice of the degree of coverage you feel your company requires.

Business woman examining insurance policy

Speaking with a professional insurance broker is always a great start in deciding which coverage level is right for you.

Are there different types of CGLs?

There are two types of commercial general liability policies:

Occurrence

For the claim to be valid, the injury, harm, or damage must have taken place during a specific period of time.

Claims-made

These claims are covered during any period of time, as there are no restrictions surrounding when the injury, harm, or damage must have taken place.

Taking care to ensure your company is protected if the worst happens is a smart precaution to take. Don’t hesitate to talk to an insurance broker about getting commercial general liability insurance or whether your current coverage level is the right one for you.

You cannot really watch television or any of your streaming services today without seeing some type of advertisement for home insurance. You have an insurance company in your face so much that you might have started to believe that it’s all just a marketing ploy. This is especially true for people who live in relatively tranquil areas of the globe. They often ask themselves, “Why would I need home protection through insurance?”

No matter how you might feel about this subject, however, having homeowners insurance is really important. Here are a few different reasons why you should be seeking the best home insurance in Calgary has to offer you.

Why Invest in Home Insurance

An Investment to Protect

First and foremost, your home is something worth protecting. Even if you live in a peaceful area where tornadoes or earthquakes aren’t a threat, time is still going to take its toll. You just never know when a pipe might burst and flood your entire home. Nobody can truly prepare for an issue with their home’s electrical panels, which may end up causing a fire. Finding the right insurance company to protect your home is a must. In fact, most mortgage companies today are going to require that you have some sort of homeowners insurance, so it’s best to start looking for a good package with a low insurance payment, so you know you’re protected.

Your Valuable Items Within

Having the best home insurance in Calgary can offer also protects the items within your home. People spend a whole lot of money on high-end televisions, surround sound systems, kitchen appliances, etc. A home burglary can see these items disappear because they’re so valuable. This can even include pieces of jewelry that you keep inside of your home. One of the best aspects of getting affordable insurance is that you also get full home coverage, which specifically protects these sorts of items. So if expensive jewelry comes up stolen, you’re fully covered for it.

Protection Against Mother Nature

While it’s true you might not live in an area that deals with natural disasters like tornadoes, earthquakes or hurricanes, you’re still dealing with a lot of bad elements in areas like Calgary. Blizzards can easily damage homes by harming roofs, and the melt can cause flooding, which could take over your basement or the ground level of your home. You can find an affordable insurance package to protect against Mother Nature.

The fact is simply that everyone needs insurance. You should be able to find a great package that still has a low monthly insurance payment. Just make sure you go with the right company for protection.

Many Canadian homeowners may be confused about home insurance. With auto insurance, you must have a policy in place no matter what. But is that the same case with home insurance? Here are the facts.

Home Insurance in Calgary & Canada

The short answer to the big question is that home insurance is different from auto insurance. It is not mandatory to have home insurance in Calgary. You are not coming into contact with other people that may possibly get hurt as with an automobile.

This does mean that you can go without a home insurance policy if you want to save money. But it’s important to understand what can happen if something happens and you are not covered. Your home is one of the biggest investments that you’ve made.

Natural disaster, wear and tear, and accidents can lead to you having to pay for huge repair expenses. One good example is roof damage. Roof damage is one of the more common issues that homeowners deal with. Even if your roof is in good conditions, fluctuating weather conditions and storms can lead to damage.

This will only cost you a few hundred dollars if you have home insurance in Calgary. But it may cost you thousands of dollars in repair costs without insurance. In many cases, the home insurance policies will more than pay for themselves.

When getting home insurance, it’s important to understand what kind of coverage you’re getting. Some homeowners assume that they are going to get coverage if they deal with flooding. However, this is not the case.

There may be a separate flooding premium that you may have to get on top of an existing home insurance policy. This is the same case if you deal with sewage issues. It’s important to ask your insurance company on the specifics and options you have available.

In addition to actual damage to your home, you want to see how much coverage you get for personal property. Many plans will come with coverage for your belongings. You want to get an idea of how much protection the specific plan provides you with.

In conclusion, home insurance isn’t mandatory in Canada. However, it’s probably something you don’t want to go without as damage will often result in you paying far more for necessary home repairs.

Whether you want to change your current home insurance policy or you’re about to buy a new home, you want to make sure that you get a plan that’s affordable. When looking at different options, you may run through the necessities only to be stuck with a certain price point. That’s why you need to think about how to get the best rates early on in the process. Here are some solid tips to go about doing that.

1. Shop Around for Quotes

While every home insurance in Calgary will be based on various factors unique to you, you should still shop around. Talk to different home insurance providers to get a list of rates. Just make sure that you get all the coverage that you’d need as some policies may exclude some important things.

2. See If Providers Offer Special Discounts

Did you know that providers often offer discounts? For example, having installed smoke alarms can cut down your rates. So can replacing an old roof. Ask the provider about what kinds of discounts can be had and see just how many you can take advantage of.

3. Pay a Higher Deductible

Paying a higher deductible up front will often result in lowering your rates. And when you do have to make a claim for damage incurred on your home, you’ll have to pay lower rates on deductibles for high claims to get the full coverage.

Child Drawing and Mother Working at Home in Time of COVID-19

4. Bundle Multiple Policies Together

Some insurance providers will give you discounts if you take out multiple policies with them. For example, if you combine auto insurance with business insurance, you may get a better rate on not only your home insurance in Calgary, but also all of your other policies.

5. Make Your Home Disaster Resistant

Do you live in a high risk area? This can affect how much you end up paying for your home insurance. Things like heavy storms, flooding, and rampant theft negatively impacts your rates. But there are things that you can do such as installing storm shutters, securing against flooding, setting up security cameras, and more. Ask the provider what you can do to counteract your risks and lower your rates.

Add Your Heading Text Here

You know you need home insurance to cover you in case of worst-case scenarios. But you’re probably worried about how much it’s going to end up costing you. Here is a general idea of what you can expect to pay in the Calgary area.

How To Find The Cost of House Insurance in Calgary

Start with Proper Coverage

If you’re looking for home insurance in Calgary, you want to make sure that the plans provide the coverage you need. The insurance plans should cover things like theft, fire, water damage, and general damage to your home.

For example, if a storm floods your basement or if your roof gets damaged, the insurance plan should cover the costs. These kinds of events can end up costing you thousands, even tens of thousands of dollars depending on the extent of the damage. You do not want to be caught without insurance in these scenarios.

Average Rates in Calgary

In general, the average rate for home insurance in Calgary is around $80 to $100 a month. This works out to around $1100 annually. At the same time, your rates will be based on many different factors.

Factors that influence your rates include the condition of your roof, the location of your house, insurance claim history, credit score, age of your home, and more. The biggest factors will most likely be the state of your home and your personal financial history.

There Are Many Kinds of House Insurance

House insurance isn’t just limited to residential homes. It’s important for you to know that you can get insurance for condos, mobile homes, detached homes in your property, and even home-based business insurance if you run a business out of your home.

In addition, you can also opt to get renters insurance if you are renting your current place. This can cover things like theft, damage to personal property, and living expenses if you need to vacate the home due to a wide variety of issues.

Get the Best Rates

As with everything, you want to contact Calgary insurance brokers for quotes. While rates are important, you also need to consider the coverage and reliability of the company. You want to go with a company that’s going to provide great coverage and have a reputation for paying out the full amount you require.