Category Archives: Business Insurance

Everything You Need to Know About Insurance Filing As A Motor Carrier

Posted on by

Have you wanted to file your insurance as a motor carrier, as a freight forwarder, or a broker but couldn’t understand how? Then this article is what you need.

Apart from applying operating authority, applicants for freight forwarder, motor carrier, and broker authorities must have specific legal processes and insurance agent documents on their files before the FMCSA issues them these authorities. 

These filings will vary, based on the registrations involved. There is a list of pre-registration forms below, and it’s followed by a description of which registrants must file those forms. 

If you’re insurance filing for the first time, then please note that first-time applicants with FMCSA need to apply using the Unified Registration System (URS) as of December 12, 2015. 

However, existing registration-holders or authority-holders may apply for authorities using the OP-series forms until a later date. The FMCSA has published a Federal Register notice on the 17th of January with more details on the suspension of the URS effectiveness date.

Furthermore, you may submit cargo insurance and liability forms directly/online through the home office of the insurance company that is furnishing the coverage. The FMCSA does not provide insurance forms’ copies.

Requirements for Insurance Filing

FormDescriptionAuthorities Subject to Filing
BMC-91 or BMC-91XPublic liability insurance (bodily injury/property damage/environmental restoration)Motor CarrierFreight Forwarder (Note: Non-vehicle operating freight forwarders may seek a waiver of this requirement)
Freight: $750,000 – $5,000,000, depending on commodities transported; $300,000 for non-hazardous freight moved only in vehicles weighing under 10,001 lbsPassengers: $5,000,000; $1,500,000 for registrants operating only vehicles with a seating capacity of 15 or fewer passengers.
BMC-34 or BMC-83Cargo insurance–$5,000 per vehicle$10,000 per occurrenceIn addition to BMC-91 or BMC-91XHousehold Goods Motor CarrierHousehold Goods Freight Forwarder
BMC-84 or BMC-85The Surety Bond amount is $75,000Trust Fund Agreement amount is $75,000Freight ForwarderBroker of Freight
BOC-3Service of Process AgentsAll Authorities
MCS-90Endorsement for Motor Carrier Policies of Insurance for Public Liability under Sections 29 and 30 of the Motor Carrier Act of 1980Hazmat Safety Permit Carriers

Insurance Filing and You 

You should be prepared to contact your agents to request the filing of the required forms immediately after obtaining your designated docket number. These filings must be received within 90 days after the FMCSA has published a public notice of intention to register you as an applicant (applicants will be notified by letter of their docket number and date of publication in the FMCSA Register).

Applicants are cautioned to ensure that the name and address of the business as set out in all pre-registration filings match with the same name and address provided in their application for operating authority filings. 

Any deviations will result in the rejection of the supplemental pre-registration filings.

Where Should I Go For My Insurance Filing?

Insurance companies are to file forms BMC-91, 91X, 34, and 84. While financial institutions need to file form BMC-85. 

Only insurers (insurance underwriters, that is), not insurance agents, and financial institutions can establish e-filer accounts to electronically file insurance forms (BMC-91,91X, 34, 84, 85, and others). These filer accounts are exclusively designated for financial institutions and insurance underwriters.

You can visit this link to see a template at the end of the page to set up your electronic filing account. It has been specifically designed to efficiently gather all necessary information required for the establishment of your account.

It’s suggested that the completed template be copied and pasted onto your company letterhead and attached as a PDF to be submitted to the Financial Responsibility Filings Division. Application documents will only be accepted via postal mail or email at FMSCAInsurance@dot.gov, using an official company e-mail address. 

Please ensure that all fields in the provided template are completed accurately and comprehensively. Failure to provide complete information may result in delays in processing your account set-up request. Once the required information is completed and gathered, you can submit e-filer applications to FMCSAInsurance@dot.gov.

Process Agent Designation and Insurance Filing

Public liability Insurance (Form BMC-91 or BMC 91X) and cargo insurance forms (Form BMC-34 or BMC83) are to be submitted electronically by a registered electronic filer (a representative of a surety company, insurance company, or a financial institution.) FMCSA does not furnish copies of these insurance forms.

This is the link to the site that has the forms for process agents and insurance.

Summing Insurance Filing Up

By following the aforementioned steps, you;ll able to get your form(s) submitted to the FMCSA in the required manner, but they’ll also be read and pursued by the FMCSA.

What is A Performance Bond?

Posted on by

This article explains in detail about what is a performance bond and what are the roles of all three major parties in it. 

A construction job of any kind requires a performance bond. In essence, they provide an assurance that the contractor carrying out the work will honour their contractual duties to the project’s owner or general contractor. In the end, this ensures that the work is completed according to schedule.

A performance bond involves these three parties:

  • The contractor who will do the job and furnish the bond is the principal.
  • The project owner or general contractor is the obligee.
  • And the surety: This is the business that provides the performance bond, which assures the contractor’s work.

It’s simple to mix together performance bonds and insurance. After all, surety or bond companies—also known as insurance companies—are the ones who formally issue performance bonds. 

Three Important Ways Performance Bonds and Insurance Differ

It’s simple to mix together performance bonds and insurance. After all, through insurance brokers, insurance companies—also known as surety or bond companies—issue performance bonds. Surety agents are those organizations that focus on surety.

Performance bonds and the majority of insurance products differ in three key ways:

1. There is no immediate gain for the contractor (principal) submitting the performance bond application. Rather, the principal is employed by a third party (obligee), such as an owner or general contractor, for whom the bond offers benefits.

2. Surety businesses underwrite and price performance bonds with the intention of avoiding losses in theory. Consequently, surety firms are able to complete the task.

3. Contractors are required by surety firms to compensate and cover the surety for any damages resulting from the performance bonds. When compared to the majority of insurance products, such as workers’ compensation and general liability, this is a significant difference. 

A contractor using those items is exempt from having to pay back the insurance company for a covered loss. That would negate the insurance’s purpose. That’s not the case with surety, which functions more like a banking credit extension. 

How to Apply for and What Are the Requirements for Performance Bonds

Surety firms will examine various financial records and features of your business expertise in order to grant a performance bond. The size of the performance bonds you require and the total number of bonds you will have outstanding at any given moment will determine the requirements.

Bonds under $750k: These are frequently available with a straightforward one- or two-page application, depending on the company’s excellent credit history and prior completion of projects of a comparable scale.

Bonds worth more than $750K to $2 million will need to provide financial accounts for both the business and the owners. If the financials are accurate and in order, they are typically acceptable when first created.

Where to Get a Performance Surety Bond for a Contractor

Choosing a performance bond provider can be one of the most significant decisions a contractor makes. Construction performance bond providers are numerous, but their levels of experience and capacity to assist contractors in reaching their objectives for bonding capacity and business expansion differ significantly: 

A Representative for Insurance

Remember that insurance agents aren’t surety experts, even if they can seem like a suitable alternative if you need a performance bond—especially if you’ve worked with an agent in the past. 

Since they don’t handle bonds exclusively, they don’t have the same calibre of relationships or access to surety businesses, nor do they have the knowledge or experience with California surety bonds that would facilitate a smoother bonding procedure. 

They may lack the means to generate prospects or the knowledge necessary to pair a contractor with the ideal assurance provider because they don’t have these industry relationships. 

An Expert in Surety

An specialist who focuses only on surety bonds is known as a surety agent. Regardless of your company’s stage, they may use their expertise to make the bonding process far more seamless by anticipating future developments. 

Surety agents get access to exclusive programs and business connections because they exclusively deal with surety bonds. Additionally, they establish strong bonds with surety suppliers, which better enables them to match your requirements with the ideal assurance firm. 

Their knowledge extends beyond the bonding procedure; they also understand how to properly organize your money to expand your company’s bonding capacity.  

Summing Performance Bonds Up

In conclusion, performance bonds are a crucial tool in the construction and contracting industries, providing a financial safeguard that ensures projects are completed as per the agreed terms. By reducing the risk of non-performance and financial loss, they protect project owners and investors, creating trust and stability in contractual relationships.

Subcontractor’s Warranty Endorsement

Posted on by

Those who are contractors, construction companies, maintenance companies, or other companies that use subcontractors may encounter “Subcontractors’ Warranty Endorsement” on their Commercial General Liability policies. This endorsement requires contractors to obtain additional insured status on the CGL policy of their subcontractors and to make their policies secondary to their subcontractor’s. In addition, contractors may face significant consequences if they do not meet the endorsement’s requirements.

The language of the “Subcontractors’ Warranty Endorsement” can differ among insurance providers, but the main terms of an endorsement mostly remain the same. A subcontractor’s policy must list the contractor as an additional insured and as a requirement for coverage for any insured under this policy the insured must ensure that all subcontractors maintain Commercial General Liability insurance from a company with a “A” rating and minimum liability limits of  $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate and  $2,000,000 products and completed operations aggregate. Additionally, the insured must be listed as an additional insured on all such subcontractors’ commercial general liability policies.

The endorsement may also require the contractor to secure an indemnity agreement from the subcontractor in addition to having additional insured status on the subcontractor’s policy.

Insurance Loss Runs: How Do They Work?

Posted on by

An insurance loss run is a report that lists all claims made on a particular insurance policy over a specified period of time. Loss runs are typically requested by insurance underwriters when evaluating an insurance application or renewal, and they can also be used by policyholders to help identify trends or potential issues with their insurance coverage. Loss runs typically include information about the date and type of loss, the amount of the claim, and the status of the claim (e.g., open, closed, pending). They may also include details about the policyholder’s insurance coverage.

Depending on the number and type of open claims on your report, there will be a section with a reserve fund. An insurance company sets aside a certain amount to cover claims. Nevertheless, the final cost of a claim can vary from the set aside amount.

What Is Railroad Protective Liability insurance – Explained

Posted on by

Contractors performing work on or around railroad tracks, railroad right-of-ways, or railroad property are required to have Railroad Protective Liability insurance.

Contractors are also offered this coverage in addition to other types of insurance required of contractors. Due to the fact that this coverage is not included in commercial general liability (it’s excluded), it is offered separately.

Railroad operations can be disrupted or even damaged by construction and demolition along the railroad’s right-of-way. As a result, railroads often require their contractors to take over the railroad’s liability. These policies protect railroads from potential financial risks and hazards. The standard commercial general liability (CGL) policy excludes work within 50 feet of railroad property.

A COMMERCIAL AUTO INSURANCE POLICY COVERS WHAT?

Posted on by

In the event of an accident, an auto insurance policy for your business could help pay for vehicle repairs or medical bills for a driver. The deductibles and limits of your policy will apply to claims covered by your policy. You should talk to your Safepro Insurance Services Business Insurance agent about coverage availability and requirements in your state. Here are a few examples of typical business auto insurance coverages:

LIABILITY COVERAGE: In a business auto policy, carriers offer two types of liability coverage: bodily injury liability and property damage liability. Every state requires auto liability coverage. Having bodily injury coverage is important if your employee is driving a company vehicle and causes an accident. Property damage coverage can help you cover other drivers’ car repair bills.

COLLISION COVERAGE: After a covered accident, collision coverage can help you repair your company car or replace it if it’s totaled.

COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE: When your business vehicle is damaged by something other than a collision (such as theft, fire, vandalism, or hail), comprehensive coverage pays for the repairs. As an example, comprehensive coverage may help pay for repairs to your company car if hail damages it during a storm.

UNINSURED MOTORIST COVERAG AND UNDERINSURED: If you get into an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, this will protect you. This coverage must be provided by your insurance company. You must sign a waiver if you decide not to buy it. In the waiver, it states that the insurance cover was offered to you and you declined it.

THINGS NOT COVERED: Commercial auto insurance does not cover everything. Depending on where you live, Certain Claims and/or expenses are not covered: When an employee is driving a company vehicle, medical expenses that are unrelated to an accident. The contents of your business vehicle (for these they can be insured through Inland Marine coverage). The use of a personal vehicle for business purposes causes an employee to have an accident. Rental car repairs while you wait for your company car to be repaired after an accident.

REVIEWING YOUR POLICY DECLARATIONS: You’ll receive policy declarations when you purchase commercial auto insurance. You can use this document to “declare” the choices you’ve made for your commercial auto insurance policy, including your deductibles, limits and optional coverage. _You can contact your insurance agent with any questions you have regarding your policy declarations. Knowing what’s covered (and what isn’t) is essential to preparing for a claim.

An important benefit of contractor liability insurance

Posted on by

Extremely  Important: 

It is extremely important for many professionals who work in construction and development to have contractor insurance. Builders, developers, trade and artisan contractors that perform processes such as carpentry, plumbing, masonry, electrical, concrete, roofing, HVAC, as well as general contractors depend on contractors insurance. The protection provided by insurance has saved many contractors from ruining their businesses and their finances.

Contractor Liability Insurance Specialists

Insurance specialists who specialize in such products are the best sources for finding the most advantageous contractors insurance products. Prospects will be happy to know that most of the major providers of contractor insurance products are available online. Finding the best insurance products can be extremely easy and efficient with the use of online specialists. In addition to offering the most cost-effective solutions, agencies that specialize in these contractors’ insurance products can offer customized solutions that provide the coverage clients need without the overcharges they do not need.

California General and Artisan Contractors Insurance

California is a hotbed of building contractors as it is one of the states with the largest building and new construction development industries. Since so many contractors are working, there is a great need for contractor insurance protection at an affordable price. There is good news for these contractors since there are insurance carriers that offer the protection they need in California that are honest and dependable.

Different Types of Insurance Coverage for Contractors

Contractors need different types of insurance depending on the types of work they do, the risks involved, and the protection they wish to purchase. The purpose of contractor insurance is to provide financial backing to contractors who are liable to clients who hire them to complete a particular job. General liability insurance is the most popular type of contractor insurance. Contractor general liability offers the broadest protection of all insurance types, making it most useful for people or companies engaged in many facets of contract work. An insurance plan protecting contractors usually ensures that they won’t suffer financial loss caused by problems associated with their work. By combining some specific types of coverage with the general liability insurance, the most comprehensive protection can be achieved. We offer California contractor general liability insurance plans that are great for California contractors.

Workers Compensation Insurance for Contractors

Contractors’ workers’ compensation insurance is a common insurance policy purchased by many contracting companies. Worker’s compensation insurance is a mandatory policy. Employees are protected from financial burdens if they are injured at work by this protection. For workers injured in work-related accidents, workers compensation provides income, medical, and rehabilitation benefits. Survivors may also receive a death benefit under some plans.

Tools, Equipment and Installation Floaters Insurance for Contractors

Contractors can also obtain inland marine insurance. Inland marine insurance protects goods in transit. Often contractors transport materials and goods on a regular basis, which means they can anticipate the high cost of those items. Contractors should insure their tools, equipment, and installation floaters as inland marine insurance.

Surety Bonds, Performance Bonds, Bid Bonds, Contract Bond, License Bonds for Contractors

A surety bond is also a common form of protection for contractors. But a surety bond is not the same as a policy of insurance. Bonds are financial instruments used to guarantee performance. Building developers may sue general contractors who fail to do what they promised to do. If a contractor fails to complete a building on time or as agreed, the developer may sue. Bonds protect against this type of exposure. Cities, municipalities, and states require license and permit bonds. These bonds guarantee the adherence to local, state, or federal regulations. Consumers are also protected by requiring a license bond. In addition to worker’s compensation insurance, California contractors are required to have contractor license bonds.

Contractor Insurance Protection is a Must Have

There is no denying the fact that individuals and companies involved in building development need to protect themselves from huge financial liabilities. Even small businesses need protection, as any company can be targeted by a builder seeking retribution. The excellent contractors’ protection provided by many companies helps them attract top contracting talent. Construction can be challenging and dangerous at times. In the case of an injury on the job, workers need to be assured that they will be taken care of.

Contractors that either want more complete protection are want protection more customized to their limited needs might opt for other types of contractors insurance.

For contractor insurance quote, please call 888-4117679 or visit our website www.safeproins.com.

CA Used Car Dealer Insurance

Posted on by

Insurance for California used car dealers 

Managing a used car lot requires a lot of dedication and hard work. This is why having a comprehensive policy for your business is so important. The coverage needs to be tailored to the risks related to the dealership’s explicit liabilities and assets.

You can get top-rated insurance when you visit Safepro Insurance. Get a quote right now by calling 888-411-7679 or submitting an online form! 

What are the benefits of used car dealer insurance?

Getting dealership insurance is a simple matter of protecting your finances.

  • You could lose money if something goes wrong at your car dealership.
  • They might blame you if there’s a problem if they expect top-notch service from you.
  • You have a financial obligation to your employees to ensure a safe working environment.

Your dealership has daily obligations for which you are responsible. In the event of a problem that you can’t avoid and can’t prevent, having insurance can cover the costs of recovery. Thus, you will be able to have more assurances that such losses could be recovered. 

How do used car dealers manage their risks? 

Your dealership can be protected with insurance against accidents that occur unexpectedly. Listed below are some possible accidents that may happen at the dealership:

  • The business might be damaged by a hazardous incident like a fire, severe weather, or even burst pipes. Your office materials may be destroyed, your property damaged, and your cars may not be sold. Your losses could be substantial.
  • Theft of vehicles or vandalism of stock are possible on your lot. This can result in you losing another sale.
  • Clients may suffer injuries in your office or while test driving one of your vehicles. Dealerships may be sued for any harm caused.
  • Someone might accuse you of misrepresenting a sale and causing them financial loss. If that happens, you could face costly lawsuits.

You will be able to determine which policy best suits your dealership’s specific needs. 

Used car dealers need what type of insurance? 

A few dealers export cars, others wholesale them, some sell high-end cars, others have a large inventory, and others buy exotic cars. Each dealer requires different parts of commercial insurance. Discuss these with your insurance agent:

Garage Insurance: There are many varieties of garage insurance, but they all serve different functions.

  • A garage liability policy covers policyholders for property damage and bodily injury a third party may sustain when visiting your property. As well as in your garage, coverage is available when using insured vehicles.
  • Legal liability coverage for garage keepers: If a customer’s car is damaged while under your care, this coverage will pay for repairs or replacements. You are typically required to carry this coverage.
  • Insurance protection for garage keepers: This also includes cover for damage to vehicles owned by customers. Regardless of whether you are legally responsible for paying for the damage, this protection will kick in.

Vehicles owned by the business are covered under open-lot coverage. For example, here are the vehicles on your lot that you intend to sell. Depending on the policy, the insurance company may provide coverage for collisions and other occurrences such as thefts, hailstorms and vandalism.

A dealer’s drive-away coverage protects you in case of an accident when you take a vehicle off your lot, such as to a drop-off. In the event of damage, you can claim the coverage.

Insurance coverage for uninsured/underinsured motorists: If one of your vehicles sustains damage, the party at fault for the crash might not be covered by their liability policy. The policy can assist you in recovering without being at fault.

Schedule of covered vehicles : A schedule of covered vehicles adds a degree of more-specific protection. The policy will list specific vehicles on your lot. Those vehicles will be covered in accordance with the policy’s terms.

False pretenses and truth in lending: It is possible that people visiting your dealership will try to steal a car under false pretenses. You may even be presented with false documents to convince you that they deserve the car. You may be able to recover the car under this coverage.

Insurance for professional liability: This coverage protects you in case your customer is dissatisfied with your services (known as errors and omissions). They might accuse you of lying about a vehicle’s quality and demand compensation or bring a lawsuit against you. You should include this coverage in your policy:

  • Odometer errors and omissions: Rolling back the odometer on a car to make it look like it has fewer miles is unlawful. You may be faced with significant challenges should such allegations arise.
  • A title error or omission: Owning a car means owning the title to the vehicle. If the title is paid off, you transfer full ownership to that person. Having this coverage can protect you if you are accused of lying or fabricating a title.

Services that are tailored to your needs: At Safepro Insurance Services, when you come to us for insurance, we want to meet the following three goals:

  • Quick Insurance Quote: When you work with us, you will save time and money because we provide quick quotes, knowledgeable staff, and executives who understand your needs as well as policies that are tailored to your type of business. Getting covered with us means that you’ll receive both quality coverage and affordability.
  • Customer Service: Choosing an insurance agency you can trust means knowing that it is not about us. Instead, it’s about you. Your livelihood is too important to work with someone who treats you like a number. You should come to us for long-term relationships, respect, and advice.
  • Customer satisfaction: We want to make sure that you have the right commercial insurance at the end of the day.

You can reach one of our agents by calling 888-411-7679 right now. If you are looking to protect your business, we are ready to help. 

 

Personal and Advertising Injury Coverage – An Overview

Posted on by

Many risks your business might face are covered by a commercial general liability (CGL) policy. This is often referred to as damage to a person’s person or damage to a person’s property (covering injuries you accidentally cause to a third party).

It also has an entire coverage section dedicated to an aspect of business operations that businesses normally encounter. This coverage area is called Personal and Advertising Injury Liability Insurance.

CGL insurance includes advertising and personal coverage in two separate sections. One is personal injury liability insurance, while the other is advertising liability insurance.

Under Personal Injury Liability coverage, the insurer is responsible for claims arising out of intentional torts, including slander, false arrest, wrongful eviction, and privacy invasion.

Advertisement Liability covers claims for harm caused by misappropriation of advertising ideas, bad business practices, or infringement of copyright.

As a result of combining these two coverage sections, businesses are provided with more coverage than the usual bodily injury and property damage.

What Is Completed Operations Insurance?

Posted on by

Your business’ product or completed operations away from the location of your business are covered under the Products-Completed Operations coverage. Your business can be covered if it causes property damage or bodily injury.

General liability policies usually include coverage for completed products operations. Once operations are completed or abandoned, it covers liabilities arising from the insured’s products or business operations that are conducted off-premises.

When a contractor’s contracted operations have ended, completed operations insurance protects him or her from liability for property damage or injuries to third parties. Completion of operations insurance usually applies to construction products as well as goods and medicines made by consumers. Completion operations insurance is most commonly included in general liability insurance. Additional or separate policies may be purchased by contractors and manufacturers for losses and injuries incurred off their properties that exceed their general liability limits.

By purchasing completed operations insurance, contractors and manufacturers transfer their risks to a third party. In addition to completing work, contractors must take precautions to avoid liability expenses.

Contractors and manufacturers can maintain financial stability as they settle claims with completed operations insurance policies. It can defend you against claims of negligence and breach of contract. In the case of damage resulting from the work of the contractor or from their products, the coverage provides reasonable compensation. Punitive damages may be settled through indemnity insurance. In the event of a product recall, complete operations insurance isn’t applicable.

Insurance for Completion Operation Contractors’ insurance covers legal defense and any judgments or settlements resulting from accidents associated with completed work covered by the policy.