Bellingham Auto Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

If shopping for auto insurance online is new to you, it's easy to be confused by the vast number of auto insurance companies competing for business in Bellingham.

It's important to do rate comparisons occasionally because prices are constantly changing. Just because you had the best price a couple years back there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because we're going to demonstrate the proper way to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Bellingham

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

Careful drivers pay lower rates - Even a single moving violation can increase rates by twenty percent. Good drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
Your credit rating is important - Your credit score is a important factor in determining your rates. Therefore, if your credit history is lower than you'd like, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers who have poor credit.
Rate your vehicle for proper use - The more miles you rack up on your car each year the higher your rates will be. Most companies apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks left parked in the garage qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Make sure your auto insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven.
One company can mean more discounts - Most insurers give discounts to customers who buy several policies from them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal.

Bellingham Auto Insurance Quote Comparison

All major auto insurance companies like State Farm and Allstate provide pricing online. This process is pretty easy as you simply enter your coverage preferences into the quote form. After the form is submitted, the company's rating system will obtain credit information and your driving record and returns a price based on these factors.

This makes comparing rates easy, but having to visit a lot of sites and type in the same information gets old quite quickly. Unfortunately, it is important to perform this step if you want to find a lower rate.

Quote rates the easy way

The preferred way to get multiple rate quotes uses one form that analyzes rates from a lot of companies. It's a real time-saver, eliminates form submissions, and makes online price comparison a little more enjoyable. Immediately after you send the form, it gets priced and you can choose any one of the resulting price quotes.

If a lower price is quoted, it's easy to complete the application and purchase coverage. The whole process takes 15 minutes at the most and you will find out if you're overpaying now.

To find out how much you're overpaying now, click here and input your coverage information. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you input as close as possible to your current policy. This makes sure you're receiving a fair comparison for the exact same coverage.

More discounts equal less premium

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you may find discounts that you may not even be aware of. A few discounts will automatically apply when you quote, but a few need to be asked about before you get the savings.

Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. This can save 10% or more.
Anti-lock Brake System - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Good Student - This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Multi-car Discount - Having more than one vehicle with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Anti-theft Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and will save you 10% or more.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So despite the fact that it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will bring down your premiums.

To choose providers offering auto insurance discounts in Massachusetts, click here to view.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate constantly bombard you with ads in print and on television. All the ads make an identical promise about savings if you switch to them. How does each company make almost identical claims?

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a preferred risk could possibly be between 30 and 50, owns a home, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and therefore will save when switching.

Drivers who do not match these standards will be charged a higher premium and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save money. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

That is why you need to get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

It's not one size fits all

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a cookie cutter policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if you might need professional guidance.

Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
Should I buy only the required Massachusetts minimum liability coverage?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?

If you're not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an agent. If you don't have a local agent, fill out this quick form.

Additional information can be found on the Massachusetts Division of Insurance website located here. Massachusetts consumers can file complaints about a company, find out industry alerts, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Other informative sites include III.org's auto insurance page and this directory of insurance agents in Bellingham Massachusetts.

Final considerations

You just read many tips how you can compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even discover the best prices are with the least-expected company.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where an insured cut physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Cheaper auto insurance is available online and with local Bellingham insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best selection. Some auto insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.