Discussions

It was suggested that at my next MPI renewal I should look into an SMI extension through Sask. Mutual. Anyone know anything about this? What's the advantage?

We have had SMI coverage for the past few years. Better coverage for the same money. It is great if putting a vehicle on layup. Just cancel MPI and SMI covers. We had our motorhome in storage on layup when it was broken into. Cant say enough good about the service from SMI. They sent the adjuster to the location, didnt have to take to MPI. They waived the deductible for first claim and payments were prompt. I have recommended SMI to a number of friends.

Yes i have it as well. I believe is liability is higher as well vs mpi.  
Not everyone can be eligible for SMI.. i think you need to have a pretty good driving record, atleast that was a requirement when i was told about it a few years back. But for me overall its cheaper and i get more with smi extension.  
 
Correct me if Im wrong  
 
Edited by Iceman69, 2020-10-17 20:11:25

Yes it's better insurance for better price. Had it for years only had one claim besides windshields and no issues. Just get basic insurance ($500) through MPI and add on SMI

i have it and the huge bonuses are the deductibles for windshields etc for me. Driving on gravel roads is a detriment to mine lol so having $100 ded instead of 2-500 is way better and they are no harder to deal with. you just contact your insurance people they note it you go to the place to get it fixed and they will either contact smi or usually just your local insurer. used it twice in the past 2 years with no issues at all.

Is required if the vehicle is being used. While there are 2 premiums in total the cost is approximately the same for better coverage, lower deductibles and increased liability. Agents are able to give comparison costs. Worth looking into.

We also have SMI extension but weren't too happy when MPI gave a rebate last year due to people driving less but SMI didn't.  
 
We have also wondered why, if it is so good, there are only two brokers selling it?

You got a refund because MPI had a surplus. You got it regardless as long as you had a vehicle registered in Manitoba. Not sure why SMI would owe you anything... In fact MPI didn't owe you anything either but they decided to refund some money due to how large a surplus it was and to help people who may of been struggling due to COVID etc.  
 
Secondly, it is a good supplemental policy to your MPI one. Only 2 brokers sell it likely cause we live in Manitoba and they want you to buy MPI insurance. Be thankful you have the option at all instead of complaining.

Well I think that MPI is the greatest thing ever. I can insure my entire licensed fleet in one place in one hit, got a nice unexpected rebate this year and a $400 premium reduction at renewal. It works far better than dealing with private companies such as we had to do when we lived in the UK.

As the rebate was a percentage of what was paid, we lost out on the percentage of the extension portion paid to SMI. Just saying. We have SMI but wondered why other brokers didn't sell it if it is that good.

So it appears that there is bit of a mixup as to how MPI and SMI work in this convo. I'll break it down so it makes more sense. Insurance can definitely be tricky.  
 
In Manitoba, in order for a vehicle to be on the road, under the HTA and DVA (both provincial legislation), personal autos have to have the basic coverage under MPI. This i:ncludes $500 deductible, $200,000 third party liability. It's the law and it has to be through MPI. No matter what.  
 
Now, what many don't know is that anything above and beyond the basic coverage, you can get it through MPI or other carriers. Come in SMI insurance. Anything above and beyond is called Extension coverage. That's where all the deductible choices and increased liability come from. Like for example, MPI can offer $200 deductible and increase the liability to, say, $2 million. But then again...so can other insurance companies. SMI has the potential to offer you the same, if not better coverage for less than MPI on anything above and beyond the basic. SMI's layup, loss of use coverage, leased vehicle or new vehicle protection, lower deductibles (sometimes lower than $100), etc can end up being more affordable than MPI in the grand scheme of things.  
 
That's probably what the person that offered was talking about. However, the one thing I can tell you is that SMI usually provides better premium/price for more recent vehicles. If the vehicle is on the older side, MPI will usually come on top.  
 
I hope this clears things up. Working in the insurance industry for many years comes in handy sometimes. Hope all goes well with your vehicle insurance! Stay safe!  
 
Edited by Class&;, 2020-10-19 23:18:25

There are definitely more than 2 brokers in Brandon that offer SMI Insurance. Several in fact. Sadly, not all of them advertise it because MPI is more familiar to the public. I will say that if an agent goes out of their way to offer it to you, those are usually the best agents to deal with because they are truly familiar with SMI and the products they offer.

someone always has to complain about progress instead of being thankful. well i for one am happy to save the amount i have with having the smi option.

Cancel your SMI. Looks like you'll get another couple bucks from MPI if the PUB approves! However you'll likely pay more and have not as good coverage but could be an extra $20 for you!  
 
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-public-insurance-rates-wfpcbc-wfp-1.5769079

The original poster was asking for people's experience with SMI, and we expressed ours. Somehow that offended you? $20.00 is better in our pocket than theirs.

Which brokers are familiar with this? I'd like to learn more.

The thing when dealing with private and public together is when you switch vehicles (get a new car, exchange it for a new one) is that you cannot forget to remember update the coverage on you private extension policy. You might buy a vehicle in Winnipeg and get it registered but you have to remember to update you policy with your broker that holds your private extension policy as they are not notified that you have changed or purchased a new vehicle. I have seen a lot of instances where vehicles have been driven supposedly under coverage but not listed on policy when a claim is made.  
 
Another thing to consider yes they may have lower deductibles but most private insurance companies will increase your premium once a claim is made weather it is a at fault accident or stone chip repair. With MPI they have what call No Fault Insurance where things like stone chip repair and windshield replacement do not affect your premium as you discount is based on your driving record. I don't know how this particular extension works as I am not particular familiar with it but if you do have questions please as your local Broker.  
 
I hope my 2 cents worth has given some insight in to the world of private insurance. I particular like MPI as they do not surcharge if you have a bad driving license (I hope that never happens to anyone) and they give an awesome discount to good drivers up to 35%

I'm sorry to disagree with you but the information regarding MPI and SMI isn't entirely correct. As someone who has worked closely with both of those companies in the past, I can say, with sure confidence that any rate increases from SMI are the result of inflation and the insurance industry being in seasons of a hard market, as well as the affects of MPI's insurance premiums in the moment.. SMI will never increase their premium solely on having a claim with them. The result of the rate increase is the loss of discount one receives from losing points for their driving record based on the driver safety rating system.  
 
Actually, any increase in premiums that occur (whether SMI or MPI) is the result of MPI only. When the premium is affected through MPI, it affects the premiums for extension products added to the registered vehicle, that i:ncludes SMI.  
 
In addition, MPI is always making changes to rates as long as public utilities board approves. Moreover, the CLEAR rating system that is used to rate vehicles, and a person's driving record will always affect one's premium regardless of insurer. As for the 35% discount you are referring to, that is based off of the Driver Safety rating system, which will add surcharges to the driver's licence depending on where they are sitting. If one is sitting in the negative porting of that rating, the surcharges sky rocket! It's insane!  
 
So, to summarize, regardless of whether one chooses SMI or MPI, the premium increases are based on the what happens to the registered owner's driving record and how their vehicle is rated. Not for submitting a claim through SMI.  
 
I will say, both companies are excellent. But it is crucial to shop around for the best price. There so many factors that could make things better for one company over the other. Also, the part you mentioned about dealing with the broker that signed you up with SMI, that part is completely accurate.

I've attached a link from the SMI website that shows the brokers in Brandon that offer SMI.  
 
https://www.saskmutual.com/find-a-broker/  
 
As for the brokers that I've always had excellent service for SMI, here's my person list:  
-Western Financial Group (either locations)  
- Ficek Insurance Agency (especially the one in the Murray's dealership. They know their stuff!)  
- Guild Insurance (both locations)  
 
Edited by Class&;, 2020-10-20 22:14:28

by qdoba has a lady working there that is awesome with explaining everything to you. shes in her late 40's ish not one of the younger ones im referring to ..sorry cant remember her name

Just found out that Andrew Agencies started selling SMI auto extension this year. Hopefully other brokers will provide this option as well and the SMI broker location site will be updated to reflect the new additions.

"SMI will never increase their premium solely on having a claim with them. The result of the rate increase is the loss of discount one receives from losing points for their driving record based on the driver safety rating system. "  
 
That's effectively a rate increase. You can argue it as "it's a reduction of your discount", but the end result is the same. It's just a different way of calculating it.  
 
Wal-Mart claims it has "everyday low prices" and things never go on sale, but it has "limited time offer" with "new price"... in other words, a sale. The end result is the same for the consumer, regardless of the language used or fancy mathematical gymnastics they perform to get there.

The example given about Walmart and their "everyday low prices" would not be accurate in this situation because there isn't semantics involved when it comes to vehicle insurance in Manitoba. It involves government insurance and the public following the mandated laws. Walmart functions as a business, when MPI functions as a crown corporation governed by legislation. When these do business...only one of the two are requires by law to answer to the people of Manitoba. And it definitely isn't Walmart. For that reason, most people think they don't have a choice.  
 
Government laws and Insurance wordings are actually quite rigid. That's just a material fact. However, the intention in my explanation was to provide perspective, fact, and accuracy so others can be informed of the choices available to them and weigh the pros and cons of each. Not many know they have a choice other than MPI.  
 
The original poster and others on this thread were discussing the benefits of MPI vs SMI. One person mentioned that if a claim was made through SMI, SMI only would raise their prices. The truth is, because of the way our government auto insurance is set up in Manitoba, most rate increases will always be the result of government legislation. That's rigidity that is imposed by government.  
 
But you are correct when you were referring to the outcome of the consumer. At the end of the day, no matter how the premium is determined, the end result is the same. But at least now people know they have a choice and decide from there.

This all was talking about insurance on the vehicle. Lowest MPI will go is 0% on a vehicle. If you actually read this I was not talking about driver licenses.  
 
Also I mentioned the at I not familiar with this particular company, with the company I had worked with they did have different levels of discounts. say you had 3 years with out a claim, if you made a claim you go down a level. All insurance companies can be different, that is why dealing with on can be better.  
 
And you can be 16((and even younger as long as you have a MPI account) and register a car without (with a parent co-signature if under 18) with no issue.

LookingforaFriend...I did read everything that was written. And I also understood it. If I mentioned anything related to driver's licences ot is because the driver's licencd status is related to the insurance's premiums.  
 
Because it is government insurance, one's licence and vehicle insurance are mutually inclusive. When one visits a broker, the account they access i:ncludes both things.  
That is the only reason it was mentioned. Since I am 100% certain that legislation (MPI) affects premiums all the time, I was trying to describe a domino effect of the process, which affects SMI.  
 
Again to clarify, my intention is not to offend, but to inform with accuracy, while stating the facts. That is all. I have no desire to take personal shots or receive them. I am trying to relay information o:bjectively. And since I have done so, I'll stop responding to this thread.  
 
But to the original poster...I wish you all the best in your insurance journey. Good luck and stay safe!  
 
Edited by Class&;, 2020-10-22 09:44:19