melloInsurance

Serving our clients, Serving our community

Our Blogs

How to get your homebuilt trailer or trailer without a serial number, on the road.

In Saskatchewan, we are the “Jack of All-Trades” province. We know how to handle warm summers, long winters, heavy snowfalls, heavy equipment and relentless mosquitos. We are not afraid to get our hands dirty, whether it’s pulling wrenches or plowing a garden. With that same mindset, people are taking it upon themselves to build their own trailers – Homebuilt trailers.

There are many ways to design and create your homebuilt trailer. When you start your build,  it is important to follow the Saskatchewan Regulations for Vehicle Standards. In this guide, it indicates the safety requirements you have to follow when building a vehicle (dimensions, material, brake lights, turn signals, etc).

Now that you’ve built your road-worthy trailer, how do you get this registered so that it is legal to drive on our “Holey” highways? #potholeprovince.

  • We need to apply for a serial number (VIN) to your new trailer. In order to do this, you need to apply through assignedvin.ca. This is new as of 2020 as SGI recently partnered with VIN Verification Services Inc to provide this service to their customers. 
  • Every VIN examiner is a former or current law enforcement agent. These staff members are experienced and have substantial training in their field. The collective knowledge represented by VIN verification services includes investigations related to stolen vehicles, cloned or fraudulent VINS, polygraphy, economic crime and organized crime.
  • Sometimes we have trailers that no longer have a serial number, they’ve worn off over time or the decals have fallen off. When this happens, you may need to contact assignedvin.ca or your local law enforcement to find out the proper protocol is.
  • Once it is registered, we always recommend adding additional liability coverage to this trailer, that way if it ever disconnected while driving, or some other situation arose, that the trailer caused injury or damage to someone’s property, you would have adequate coverage.

Make sure you have adequate limits and coverage for your trailer. Sometimes values go down, sometimes they go up. You can choose your value, make sure it is as accurate as you don’t want to pay too much or be underinsured. SGI’s standard personal trailer deductible is $500. You can bring this down on your auto pak as well, if you choose to.

If you have a trailer, you are thinking about purchasing a trailer or you are wanting to build a trailer, make sure you know what you’re getting into. Call your broker ahead of time, to help advise you on the process, so you are prepared for the obstacles. Take Care.

Purchasing a vehicle outside of Saskatchewan?


Many people take the opportunity, of our neighbours out west, to purchase a vehicle at a lower price. However, there may be some implications when doing so. We have outlined the process of what it takes to purchase a vehicle out of province, as well as the regulations you need to follow when bringing the vehicle back into Saskatchewan.

One common misunderstanding is that you will save money on the PST. This is not the case. When you bring in your bill of sale to register your vehicle with SGI, you will be asked if the PST was collected on the vehicle (which would be indicated on the bill of sale), if it does not show the collected PST by the seller, you will be charged PST on the red book value or bill of sale value, whichever is greater (some exclusions apply). If you have questions about PST, visit our PST blog here or contact the Saskatchewan Ministry of Finance.

You will also likely want to do a lien check and VIN search on the vehicle to make sure there aren’t any outstanding liens or damage/claims status on that vehicle.

You’ve made the deal and purchased a vehicle. How are you bringing it home?

Here are a few options to consider.

  • Permit – You can purchase a temporary insurance card (TIC) from our office prior to purchasing your vehicle out of province. The TIC insures you for 7 days for your newly purchased vehicle. This can be applied to any (one) vehicle you purchase – So if you change your mind and purchase a different vehicle than you originally planned, this TIC will still insure it. Then you can take that Temporary Insurance Card and your bill of sale, into an Alberta registry (or other province) to get your permit to legally drive home. The TIC is approximately $11 for this type of transaction.
  • Plate – SGI has allowed a temporary 28 day registration for vehicles purchased out of province. This is not available to all vehicle types, so make sure you ask prior to purchase. This plate allows you to travel legally back into Saskatchewan. You will not be able to renew this registration after it expires, unless you’ve completed the required inspections (if applicable).
  • Plate transfer – If you are trading a vehicle in, to an out of province dealer, you can take your plate off your traded in vehicle and put it on the newly acquired vehicle. With this transfer you have 7 days of coverage without having to notify SGI. You need to keep a copy of your bill of sale showing the disposal of your old vehicle and the acquisition of the new one. You need to keep a copy of your old registration and you will need to also purchase the temporary insurance card ahead of time to be insured out of province for 7 days. The TIC for this transaction is approximately $2. So it is relatively inexpensive.
  • If you are a dealer and have access to a dealer plate, you can use this to put on your newly acquired vehicle, however the dealer plate can only be used for 48 hours out of province. So keep that timeline in mind.

I’ve got the vehicle home, now what?

  • You will likely need to complete the “First-Time Registered (FTR) inspection for the newly acquired vehicle as it was purchased out of province. SGI requires that the vehicle be inspected to meet their vehicle standards and safety requirements. SGI explains the different types of inspection requirements here.
  • Some vehicles that are brought into Saskatchewan are exempt from undertaking an inspection. If the owner of the vehicle is moving to Saskatchewan and the vehicle was previously registered in AB or BC, they could potentially use the inspection exemptions under the New West Partnership Agreement created in 2010 between Alberta, BC and Saskatchewan, which is: If the light vehicle is less than 4 years old from the date of manufacture or has been inspected by a NWP government inspection program in the last 90 days they are exempt from an additional mechanical inspection in Saskatchewan. 
  • Don’t know where to start with an inspection? Here are some certified vehicle inspection stations.
  • Once you’ve completed the inspection (or you were exempt), you can bring in the bill of sale, NVIS (if it is a brand new vehicle) and inspection certificate into an SGI Issuing office to get your vehicle registered and insured. Purchasing an extension policy should be part of this process as you will want additional liability and you’ll likely want to lower your deductible, purchase glass coverage or add replacement cost coverage to your new vehicle.

What if my vehicle fails inspection?

Unfortunately, if the vehicle fails the inspection, this will be on your dime to fix. You will need to make the recommended repairs and take your vehicle for a second inspection. This is why it is important to do a VIN search prior to purchasing to see if there could be any potential issues/damage with the vehicle prior to purchasing it.

Can I tour around the countryside on my 7 day in-transit permit?

You’d have to ask the jurisdiction you’ve purchased the permit from, but typically the in-transit permit, is designed to get you from Point A to Point B and you aren’t allowed to deviate from the most direct route home. You do not want to be touring around on a permitted vehicle way off course and have an accident, this could cause serious issues during the claim process.

Many questions arise from the sale or purchase of a vehicle outside Saskatchewan. It is important to always contact your broker prior to leaving to make sure you have the necessary documents in place ahead of time. We want you to enjoy your new purchase, so let us help you cross your t’s and dot your i’s, so you aren’t scrambling during the sales process.

Contractors Insurance – Let us build a policy to fit your business

Being a contractor, you have your hands into a lot of different pies. Whether it is new construction, demolition, renovation, trenching, landscaping, or building roads, homes, commercial shops or apartment buildings. You need to know a lot of information about building codes, fire codes, and there is always OHS breathing down your neck. (Which is important for safety, so don’t take that comment in vane).

The last thing you want is to have something go wrong on a job-site and find out you don’t have any insurance coverage. This could be theft of tools, negligence on the job site and damaging someone else’s property or having the building you are constructing burn down. This is why it is important to carry a contractor’s insurance policy. We have easy, simply designed insurance products to make sure you are properly covered for your contracting business. SGI Canada has the toolbox floater for those who are operating out of their trucks and trailers.

This toolbox floater covers the following:

  • Tools and supplies whether on the job site or in the shop.
  • Replacement Cost coverage on your tools
  • Up to $2 million liability in protection in case you are sued for property damage or personal injury due to your negligence.
  • Get a quote here!

If you have a more complicated business which has a shop location, a few crew-chiefs and a number of employees. You may want to increase your package to a Commercial Contractor’s Policy. We have many insurance companies that have great contractor’s policies. We have a great “Contractor’s Choice” policy. You can read about the options here. There are 3 levels of coverage depending on the type of contractor and the value in coverage the contractor requires. On top of the basic coverages for your: shop insurance, tools, equipment and business interruption insurance; the top tier package – “Contractor’s Choice Plus” – includes additional coverages such as:

  • Bonding
  • Business Contents
  • Business Income
  • Extra Expense Coverage
  • Rip & Tear Coverage (For Concrete, etc.)
  • Signs
  • Contract penalty coverage
  • Crane Liability
  • Loss of use for machinery and equipment
  • Property off premises and in-transit
  • Etc, Etc, Etc.

Contractors may also be responsible for insuring the building they are constructing. We can offer builders risk insurance policies to insure the dwelling under construction or commercial building and make sure it is properly insured during the course of construction. This policy also covers on-site liability and we can add contents coverage as well to insure appliances and other contents are insured during construction. Please contact us to find out more about builders risk coverage.

Construction is complicated and there are many things going on every day. You may not have time to make sure you have all the necessary coverage. We can help you with that. Please reach out and we will take care of this so it is convenient for you and you can focus on what matters to your business.

 

Spring allergies, are there any natural remedies?

Spring is an exciting time. Birds are chirping. Golf courses are getting prepared. Snow is disappearing and we can start our forgetfulness that winter ever existed. Time to enjoy our great summer. However, some of us have allergy issues as the snow mould reveals itself, plants begin to bloom and dust/pollen start to float around. What can we do about it?

There are some great over the counter drugs that can quickly help you with such issues: Claritin, Reactine, etc. However, if you’re looking for a more natural remedy, here are some suggestions:

  • Change your air filter in your home. Check if you  have a high quality hepa-filter installed in your furnace. These remove 99% of particles that are 0.3 microns in size. However, not all furnaces have the force to blow through such a thick filter, therefore you have to check into the MPR rating to find an Allergen Defense Furnace Air Filter. The Filtrete MPR 2200 has a 4.5 star rating on Amazon for an elite one or Nordic Pure if you are looking for more quantity.
  • Butterbur can be consumed as a tablet or in tea form. The extracts are used for headaches, fever and nasal allergies. It blocks the chemicals that cause swelling in the nasal passage, similar to an antihistamine but without the drowsiness. Other options to consume: Stinging Nettle Leaf tea or sip some Apple Cider Vinegar.
  • Probiotics – these are most known for our gut health and balancing our bacteria; probiotics have shown support to the immune system in children who suffer from allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
  • Nasal irrigation – flushing your nose with a “Hydrasense” system or “Neti Pot” will flush out the mucus and other bacteria caught in your nasal passage.
  • Breating in eucalyptus oil – this scented oil that comes from dried leaves of the plant, provides allergy relief due to its ability to reduce inflammation. It was beneficial to those who had respiratory issues such as asthma.
  • Acupuncture – this chinese medicine has proven to be effective in muscle tension relief along with helping patients with allergic rhinitis.

These are just some suggestions that may help you with this transition from winter to spring. Talking to a naturopath or doctor will provide much better results for any allergy issues you may have. This is generic information for everyone, where they will provide you with more specific advice that will directly apply to you and your needs. Take care of yourself and we will talk to you next week.

Do I need Flood Coverage, what is it good for?


With the warm weather, which is amazing by the way, comes the potential risks of “run-off” season. All the snow from our backyards, the roads and ditches to the top of the mountains is all going to be melting very quickly. With temperatures reaching 10 degrees by the weekend, it is safe to say this snow will all be gone in a hurry. This opens us up to the risks of flooding.

Many towns and communities are not designed or prepared for the event of a flood. Every year it seems like a new community is in distress to flooding circumstances. Recently, social media has been blowing up about the flooding in Nebraska. It is heartbreaking to see the people, homes, towns, animals that are all affected by the high waters and the damage it is causing. I’m sure nobody thought this would happen to them, and it is happening.

“So what can we do about this?”

There are small things that can be done to prevent damage to your home and vehicles. Such as removing snow from the perimeter of your home and shoveling off your roof to prevent ice damming, collapse and water seepage issues, connecting your downspouts and directing them away from your dwelling. Taking this a step further, during the spring and summer months, make sure the landscaping and slope of your yard is directed away from your home.

Another preventative measure would be to install a sump pump in your basement (if you haven’t already). By having a sump pump, it will remove the ground water from the high water table below your dwelling, and pump it out onto your lawn. This way any potential seepage issue of  water coming through your foundation, is eliminated. Adding a battery backup is important in case the sump pump is needed during a thunderstorm/downpour of rain and the power cuts out.

An in-line backup water valve is also important to prevent sewer backups. Sometimes the cities and town storm drain systems are unable to keep up with the water pouring into the system. This could cause a simultaneous backup of multiple homes around town/city. By having an inline valve, it will force shut when water comes back up the sewer pipe. This will block water from re-entering the dwelling and preventing a sewer backup.

Lastly, you can purchase sewer/water protection coverage on your home policy. This coverage is available with most insurance companies. The amount of coverage and the price varies on: your location, your previous claims history and the history of the dwelling you reside in. If the home has a history of water claims, coverage for sewer backup or flood may be difficult to obtain, so it is important to have the above preventative measures in place. If you haven’t had a claim, and you have the above measures in place, please notify your broker as you may be able to reduce your premium for the water protection coverage.

Heavy rains, spring run-off and a high water table are some common cases of flooding and seepage issues. Risk management is important to prevent these types of losses. If you have any questions about these coverages, please contact your broker or feel free to give us a call. We want to make sure you have the best coverage available to you to properly protect your assets.  

Snowmobile Insurance, Safety & Underage Drivers


Well it seems like the winter season wants to continue to hang on. Like that toddler that won’t let go of your leg, or your ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend that keeps blowing up your text messages. “JUST LEAVE ME ALONE ALREADY!”

Since it’s still here, let’s talk about something winter related….again. Snowmobiling rules and insurance regulations. AWE FUN! Let’s do it with a fun Q&A format.

“Am I legal to operate a snowmobile?”

If you were born before 1989, if you are 12 years or older, you are allowed to operate a snowmobile without a snowmobile safety course. If you were born after 1989, and do not have a driver’s license (ages 12-15+), you are required to have completed the snowmobile safety course. This snowmobile safety course is similar to the boaters exam. You can take it online here, at a charge of $45. Upon completion of the course, you will obtain a certificate which will allow you to drive immediately. If they are under the age of 15, they are required to operate under supervision of someone who has a valid driver’s license.

Children ages 12-15 cannot drive a snowmobile on any travelled portion of a road or street, except to cross it. Operators that are 15 and hold a Class 7 learner’s licence can operate on the travelled portion of the road when permitted by a local bylaw; as long as they are accompanied or supervised by someone who holds a valid driver’s licence. Other than on streets and roads, these underage operators can operate snowmobiles under the same conditions as a licensed driver, provided they have successfully completed a snowmobile safety course and are supervised by someone who holds a valid Saskatchewan driver’s licence.

“Are there any limits on what type or size of snowmobile I can drive? Like there are with motorcycles?”

Currently, there are no limitations or restrictions on what type or size of snowmobile you operate as long as you are abiding by the licensing requirements.

“If I buy a snowmobile, what are the steps to getting it registered?”

Once you have a bill of sale from purchasing your new or used sled, you can bring that bill of sale into any SGI issuers office and register the snowmobile under your name. Make sure you bring in your driver’s license for photo identification. The snowmobile will be registered under whomever’s name the purchaser is on the bill of sale. The seller’s signature, date, year, make, model and serial number must be on the bill of sale. Just remember, with the Saskatchewan Governments changes to PST, you will be responsible to pay PST upon registration as ALL snowmobile sales over $5000 will require PST, unless previously paid to a dealer.

When the registration is purchased, $110 of the registration is designated for the Saskatchewan trail permits, safety, grooming/trail maintenance and growing Saskatchewan snowmobiling across the province. Your registration also includes $200,000 liability coverage in the event that you were negligent and damaged someone’s property or caused bodily injury to someone while operating the snowmobile. The registration DOES NOT include any insurance coverage for your snowmobile. It also DOES NOT include any injury coverage to the operator of the snowmobile.  You will receive a license plate to mount to your snowmobile. Most people attach it to the snow flap, however, this usually gets ripped off from driving. Be sure to secure it to a place that will not be damaged.

“So if I don’t have any snowmobile insurance on the registration, how do I insure my sled?”

In order to insure your snowmobile for perils such as: Collision, Theft, Vandalism or Fire, you will need to purchase an extension policy or “auto pak” on your snowmobile. The coverage, deductible and liability limit can be added/increased on this extension policy and can be designed to fit your needs. SGI Canada and Got Toys Insurance are great options for insurance coverage on your snowmobile. If your snowmobile is purchased brand new from a dealer, you can purchase “Replacement Cost” coverage on the unit for the first 2 years.

These policies vary in price depending on: Drivers Claims Experience / Driving record, year, size of engine & value of snowmobile, coverage selected, deductible selected and liability limit selected. Please contact your broker to obtain a personalized quote.

“Now that I’m ready to ride, is there anything else I should know?”

As previously mentioned, snowmobile registration does not include any injury benefits with the registration. Typically this is covered under our “No Fault” insurance for our regular vehicles. However, they have excluded it under snowmobile registration and it is your responsibility to purchase injury/disability coverage on your own. Maybe your employer has coverage for you under your benefits package. Check with them to find out if their policy would cover your recreational activities outside of work.

Your snowmobile needs to be registered while operating on any crown land: Lakes, Rivers, Ponds, Roads, Ditches, Highways, etc. If you are unregistered and operate on any crown land, you can be fined for driving an unregistered vehicle AND if you cause an accident, you can be personally liable for ALL injuries and damages. Please make sure you are protecting yourself from these types of risks.

“What type of gear and safety measures should I be aware of?”

With our cold weather, it is important to wear multiple layers of clothing to keep yourself warm. There are different types of layering material that will benefit you. Many brands like “FXR” or “KLIM” will have a great selection of under layers, jackets, pants, boots, balaclavas and gloves to make sure you’re warm no matter what the weather. A good helmet is also important. Always carrying some food and an additional jerry can of fuel and matches is important to make sure you will be able to stay warm if you get stranded. Your phone may not always work in the areas you are riding, so make sure people are expecting you and know the route you are coming from. It is always best to be prepared and think ahead.

With that all being said, it is important to ride safe and enjoy the rest of the winter. I mean, it’s not going to last forever…..we hope. Have fun & take care!