How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in Marlborough

Nobody I know cherishes buying auto insurance, especially knowing their premiums are through the roof. Consumers have many to buy insurance from, and although it's nice to have a choice, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

It's important to compare rates occasionally since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the lowest rates a couple years back you may be paying too much now. So forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because it's time to teach you the tricks you need to know to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

Finding Auto Insurance Deals in Marlborough, MA

Most major insurance companies like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive provide prices on their websites. Getting online quotes is quite easy as you just type in your coverage preferences into the quote form. Behind the scenes, their system will obtain credit information and your driving record and generates a price. Quoting online simplifies rate comparisons, but the time required to go to a lot of sites and type in the same information is repetitive and time-consuming. Unfortunately, it is important to compare as many rates as possible if you want to find a lower rate.

A less time-consuming method to get multiple rate quotes requires only one form that obtains quotes from several different companies. It's a real time-saver, eliminates form submissions, and makes quoting online much simpler. Immediately after you send the form, it gets priced with multiple companies and you can pick any one of the returned quotes.

If a lower price is quoted, you can simply submit the application and purchase coverage. The whole process takes less than 15 minutes and you'll know if lower rates are available.

To quickly find out how much you're overpaying now, click here and complete the simple form. To compare your current rates, we recommend you type in your coverages identical to your current policy. This way, you will receive a fair comparison based on similar coverages.

You have some control over your rates

It's important that you understand the factors that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

Big city or small town - Living in small towns and rural areas can be a good thing when buying auto insurance. Urban drivers have to deal with much more traffic and longer commute times. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accidents.
One company can mean more discounts - Some insurance companies will give a discount to people 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 shop around to ensure the best deal.
Do you need those extra coverages? - There are quite a few additional coverages that you can buy if you aren't careful. Coverages for personal injury protection, towing coverage and term life insurance are some examples. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but if they're wasting money eliminate them to save money.
Lower deductibles cost more - Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are a windshield shattered by a rock, damage from fire, and burglary. The deductibles are how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be.

More discounts equal less premium

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but there could be available discounts to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be applied when you quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked about prior to getting the savings. If you're not getting every credit you qualify for, you're just leaving money on the table.

Bundle and Save - When you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles with anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and will save you 10% or more.
Drive Less and Save - Low mileage vehicles can earn a substantially lower rate.
Homeowners Savings - Owning a house in Marlborough can save you money because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
Federal Employees - Simply working for the federal government could cut as much as 10% off with select insurance companies.
Life Insurance Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase life insurance.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, auto insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will bring down your premiums.

For a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates in Massachusetts, click here.

It's not one size fits all

When it comes to choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a single plan that fits everyone. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if you might need an agent's assistance.

What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?

If you can't answer these questions, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It's fast, free and can help protect your family.

Additional information can be found on the website for the Massachusetts Division of Insurance located here. Massachusetts drivers can view agent and company licensing information, read consumer alerts, discover disciplinary actions, and report car insurance fraud.

And the best car insurance company is...

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, never reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, an insured cut uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the savings was not a smart move. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford.

Cheap auto insurance is attainable on the web and also from your neighborhood Marlborough agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies may not provide online quoting and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.