To switch to a Saskatchewan driver's licence and licence plates you will need to prove your identity and that you are now a Saskatchewan resident. Your identity is defined by and includes the three following factors:

1. Legal Name
2. Complete Birthdate
3. Signature

You will need to provide a minimum of two pieces of original identification to establish your identity. A list of acceptable documents can be found here  As well you will need to provide two documents to establish your residency in Saskatchewan. The complete list of acceptable documents can be found here To register your vehicle in Saskatchewan you will have to have a Light Vehicle Inspection completed by an SGI Accredited body shop and provide the passed inspection certificate with your proof of identity.

NOTE: You have 90 days from the time you establish residency in Saskatchewan to transfer everything over.

The first step is to contact SGI. Their toll-free number is 800-647-6448 or you can call directly to the SGI Claim Centre that is located most conveniently to you. Or you can now file your claim online services through - eclaim.

Reporting your claim by telephone or online will help you avoid a long wait at the claims center and is the fastest way to get your vehicle repaired. When you report the claim, SGI will set up an appointment to have your vehicle appraised and the damage assessed. To help you avoid delays, please don't visit your claims center for an appraisal without first calling.

If you choose to use the eclaim service, an SGI adjuster will contact you via telephone often in the same day. You can also provide your statement and witness names on the eclaim form, as well as book your appointment at the claims centre of your choice to have the vehicle appraised and the damage assessed. If your vehicle is not drivable, you will make arrangements with an adjuster. Your vehicle will be towed to a location where the damage can be appraised. To speed up the process when you go online or call, have the following information on hand: your driver's license, the vehicle registration and auto insurance policy number. SGI will also need the driver's license number of other drivers and license plate numbers of other vehicles involved in the collision, and the police file number if they were called.

Accidents must be reported to the police under any of the following circumstances:

• If the collision results in injury or death
• If it's a hit and run
• If a driver is impaired
• If any of the vehicles involved have to be towed from the scene
• If the collision involves an out of province vehicle

If you have suffered a property loss (anything you own besides a vehicle or part of a vehicle), immediately call your broker. Your broker has the information about your insurance coverage and will record the details of the claim you're filing. Your broker will advise on how to start the claims process.

If your property has been damaged, you should take steps right away to prevent further damage by covering broken windows, securing broken doors, etc. You may wish to call a restoration company and get their advice. Taking these extra steps will not hinder the settlement of your claim. It can also be a good idea to take digital photos of the damage to keep a record.

Don't throw away any damaged property before your adjuster arrives. The adjuster needs to see all the damage, so he or she can make an accurate calculation of your loss. It's also a good idea to keep receipts for any major purchases. That way, if you ever have to file a claim, it's easier for the adjuster to determine the value of your belongings.

The time it takes to settle your claim depends on how complicated it is.

In order to set up your MySGI account to enable online transactions with SGI you will have to contact our office via telephone. We will confirm your identity by asking you various questions. Once we have confirmed your identity we will register your email address to your account and send an authorization code to your email with instructions of how to create a username and password for your account.

The best way to sign into your new MySGI account is through our website www.hoffmannholderinsurance.ca  to ensure you are NOT redirected to an unknown brokerage page. Book mark our website for ALL your return sign ins.

With your MySGI account you can complete vehicle renewals, including eligibility declarations for autopay registrations, cancel license plates, update some personal information, order drivers abstracts and pay invoices and annual driver's license fees.

Yes. There is an admin fee for photo ID issued for a non-driver. SGI does allow us to waive this fee should you be over age 65. Please call our office to ask about the ID requirements in place to receive a photo ID card, the requirements change frequently and without notice.

To register your vehicle as an antique it must meet these requirements:

• The vehicle must be model year 1987 or older
• You must own or drive a primary-use vehicle that is registered: in your name, or in your spouse’s name, or jointly registered in the names of yourself and your spouse, or in the name of a corporation for your personal use.
• The vehicle needs to be registered in either Class PV or LV.
• The vehicle must be for your private use only and not for commercial or farm use.

RATES

Reduced rates are available for vehicles registered as antiques. Annual cost to plate a vehicle as antique includes an $85 insurance premium + PST, as well as a $68 registration fee. If the vehicle is a 1941 model or older the annual cost includes an $85 insurance premium + PST, as well as a $5 registration fee.

Vehicles registered with antique use are limited to a maximum of $800 for physical damage coverage along with liability coverage of $200,000. If the vehicle is worth more than $800, you can discuss extension coverage options with your insurance broker.

The deductible for a vehicle registered as antique is $500.

INSPECTIONS

An antique vehicle is not subject to an inspection if:

• It's a light vehicle (Class LV) registered for personal use
• has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 4,500 kg
• has been given an exemption by Vehicle Standards and Inspection
• This exemption is available to antique vehicles last registered anywhere in Canada or the U.S., unless they have a salvage (hulk), abandoned, unsafe or unfit status

The Saskatchewan plate insurance will apply only if the vehicle is being operated in accordance with the motor vehicle licensing regulations of Saskatchewan as well as the jurisdiction in which the vehicle is being operated.

You have to do two things – SGI must be told that the vehicle is no longer in the province. You must call the Licensing Department in the other province or state and find out whether you can use your Saskatchewan License Plate and Driver's License or if your student will be required to change their Registration and Driver's License.

Call our office or stop by and we can give you the information you need to call the Provincial Offices Administering Drive's Licenses and Motor Vehicle Registration Laws. You must be in compliance with the jurisdiction the vehicle is in at all times.

Vehicles Purchased in Canada

It is best to contact our office and discuss your specific situation. The following are the general guidelines that apply.

We suggest a Saskatchewan VIN search, which can be found at www.sgi.sk.ca/vin as well as a national VIN search for used vehicles, a fee applies to the national search. This may show previous insurable damage, or if the vehicle has a "status" which may prevent it from being registered.

You will need to purchase a Temporary Insurance Card from our office before you leave for a fee. This provides the same Insurance Coverage as basic Saskatchewan License Plate Insurance. You will need a permit from your purchase location and each state/province you will be travelling through.

You may want to consider a "trip transit" auto insurance policy which will provide coverage while you are driving the vehicle back to Saskatchewan and while it is parked in your driveway. It will also help lower your deductible and increase the liability provided by the Temporary Insurance Card. You must purchase a Saskatchewan Permit to drive the vehicle until it is licensed.

To license a used vehicle, you will need to provide:

• Light vehicle inspection certificate for a first time registered vehicle
• Original Bill of Sale
• Saskatchewan PST will be due on the value of the vehicle

Vehicles Purchased in the USA

It is best to contact our office and discuss your specific situation. The following are the general guidelines that apply.

• Review information found at www.riv.ca
• Check the Transport Canada website
• Check the vehicle's VIN at www.nicb.org (Theft and Fraud Awareness – VIN Check)

We suggest a free Saskatchewan VIN search as well as a national VIN search for used vehicles, a fee applies to the national search. This may show previous insurable damage, or if the vehicle has a "status" which may prevent it from being registered.

Check with the state that the vehicle is purchased in, and also with the states you will be traveling through on your way home, for permit/licensing requirements. You will need a permit from your purchase location and from each state/province you will be travelling through. You will need to purchase a Temporary Insurance Card from our office before you leave for a fee. This provides the same Insurance Coverage as basic Saskatchewan License Plate Insurance.

Check with Canada Customs Re: GST and importing of a vehicle

• GST – 5%
• K22 (Form 1) vehicle import form – must have 2 RIV stamps before the vehicle can be registered
• Federal Government Import Fee - $195 + tax

Purchase a permit for transporting the vehicle from Canada Customs to your home. If the permit you received from the US does not provide for travel direct to your home in Canada, a fee and a copy of the bill of sale is required to purchase a permit.

There may be up to a two-week delay between crossing the border to when you receive the Federal Government stamp that allows you to license the vehicle in Saskatchewan.

You may want to consider a "trip transit" auto insurance policy which will provide coverage while you are driving the vehicle back to Saskatchewan and while it is parked in your driveway. It will also help lower your deductible and increase the liability provided by the Temporary Insurance Card. You must purchase a Saskatchewan Permit to drive the vehicle until it is licensed.

To license a new vehicle, you will need to provide:

• Certificate of origin
• Vehicle import form 1 (K22) at the border - must have 2 RIV stamps before the vehicle can be registered
• Bill of Sale
• Federal Vehicle Inspection Form, the second stamp on the K22, this may take up to 2 weeks

To license a used vehicle, you will need to provide:

• Light vehicle inspection certificate for a first time registered vehicle
• Vehicle import form 1 (K220 at the border - must have 2 RIV stamps before the vehicle can be registered
• Bill of sale
• Federal vehicle inspection form, the second stamp on the K22, this may take up to 2 weeks
• NOTE:  PST applies to out of country purchases.

The registered owner must be present and sign to cancel license plates; therefore is best for the owner to visit the office. If the registered owner is unavailable they can write an authorization letter authorizing a third party to cancel their plates on their behalf.

You are also able to cancel license plates through your MySGI account by visiting www.hoffmannholderinsurance.ca. You may need to call us (306-252-2282) in order to register for an account the first time you sign in.

The dwelling value shown on your policy is estimated on the current reconstruction costs of your home. This amount may not reflect current market values but rather estimated labour and material costs including compliance with current building codes to build a new home on the same site should you suffer a total loss. Also included is the demolition of the damaged structure and removal of the debris prior to construction of the new home. The value of the lot/land is not included in the dwelling value on the policy.

Generally, one loss in a 5 year period results in the loss of the claims free discount for 3 years. Having a second loss in the same 5 year period can result in a rate change on your policy or a surcharge to your rates. Companies can also apply restrictions to coverage or impose increased deductibles.

Home and Auto claims free discounts may vary among insurance companies. Please contact our office for specifics.

Policy premiums reflect the loss history over the preceding 3 to 5 years. Discounts may be applied in cases where the policy has not been used. When a policy is used for a loss of any type, the premium may be affected for the next renewal periods. In some cases insurance companies will also ask that you install preventative measures to avoid future losses, such as installing a sump pump and in-line backwater valve to prevent sewer backup losses or a monitored alarm system to reduce theft losses.

Generally, one claim in a 5 year period results in the loss of the claims free discount for 3 years. Having a second loss in the same 5 year period can result in a rate change on your policy or a surcharge to your rates. Companies can also apply restrictions to coverage or impose increased deductibles.

Insurance Premiums are adjusted annually by all Insurance Companies. Rates are based on increased rebuilding costs and inflation factors and also on the frequency and costs of claims in the previous year in each region as well as globally.

There are generally three types of home insurance policies, known in the industry as Standard (basic), Broad (a combination of basic and all risk), and Comprehensive (or all risk).

The Standard policy provides protection against a number of named perils, which might cause damage to the dwelling and its contents. Named perils often include such things as fire, lightning, windstorm, hail, theft and certain types of water damage.

The Broad policy improves on the Standard policy by offering a combination of All Risk and Basic coverage for the dwelling and the contents. Insurance companies treat this differently and you'll need to ask your broker to explain this further.

The Comprehensive policy provides all risk coverage on both the dwelling and the contents. This is usually the best coverage that you can buy because it covers you for "All Risks of loss or damage" subject to certain limitations and exclusions.

The Condominium Corporation is usually responsible to cover your unit for the value as originally built. If you, or a previous owner, have done renovations and improved the value of your condo by replacing with higher quality materials, you are responsible to insure the betterment value on your condo insurance.

Most condo policies automatically cover betterments or improvements to a specified limit. This limit may need to be adjusted depending on the extent of upgrades. Please check your policy or call our office for assistance.

It is a good idea to obtain a copy of your Condominium Corporations Bylaws to determine what insurance coverage is provided by the Condo Corporation's Master Policy.

Yes! If you own or rent personal property, insurance will protect you if the property is damaged or destroyed. Personal property insurance, such as home or tenant insurance, reimburses you for your financial loss arising from mishaps that are generally "sudden and accidental" and hard to predict or prevent. There are many different insurance options available to you, so it's important to have your broker explain them to you.

Also, if you cause damage to your own apartment or to other apartments; if you had a grease fire on your stove or if you let the tub run over, you could do serious damage to the building or to other tenant's belongings. A tenant policy not only protects your belongings, but also provides liability insurance to protect against lawsuits as a result of damage or injury you have caused to others.

Any unmarried student(s) attending school and residing away from your dwelling who is dependent for support and maintenance from you their parent, is considered an insured on your own home insurance. Check with your insurance broker if there is an age limit applied.

Also extended to be considered an insured is: any spouse, mother, father, grandmother, grandfather or child of the person(s) named on your Cover page, while residing away from your dwelling in an approved nursing or care home.

Vacant means the dwelling is not occupied, meaning lived in and sleeping overnight, regardless of the presence of furnishings.

During any heating season there are concerns of power outages and furnace failures. To protect your home from Water Escape and Rupture, if you are away from your premises for more than 4-10 consecutive days (pending your Insurance Company) during a normal heating season you must do one of three things.

1. Shut off the water supply to your dwelling and/or private structures and drain all pipes, attached fixtures, and appliances.
2. Have your dwelling electronically monitored 24 hrs per day by a company that monitors and responds to a low temperature signal.
3. Arrange to have a reliable person enter your dwelling and/or private structures while you’re away to ensure that heating was maintained. How often required to be checked can vary pending the Insurance company therefore you should check with your broker.