Easy Ways to Cut Costs on Monson Auto Insurance

If you've never shopped for auto insurance online, it's easy to get confused by the sheer number of auto insurance companies all offering big savings in Monson.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates periodically because insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best deal a few years ago you will most likely find a better rate today. Starting right now, forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you're about to learn the only way to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but you can get discounts to help bring down the price. Some trigger automatically when you quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be manually applied prior to getting the savings.

  • Accident Forgiveness - A handful of insurance companies allow you one accident before your rates go up as long as you don't have any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
  • Passive Restraints - Factory air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts of 20% or more.
  • Drive Less and Save - Low mileage vehicles can qualify you for a substantially lower rate.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course if offered at their school.
  • Safety Course Discount - Taking part in a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more if you qualify.
  • Save over 55 - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive better auto insurance rates.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some credits don't apply to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like all those discounts means the company will pay you, auto insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will reduce the amount you have to pay.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Every situation is different.

For example, these questions may help highlight whether or not you would benefit from an agent's advice.

  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
  • Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
  • Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
  • Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
  • Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
  • Should I buy additional glass protection?

If you can't answer these questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form.

Is there truth in advertising?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive consistently run television and radio advertisements. They all seem to have a common claim about savings if you change to their company. How can each company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that earns them a profit. An example of a desirable insured could possibly be between 25 and 40, a clean driving record, and has a short commute. A driver that hits that "sweet spot" will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the requirements will have to pay a higher premium and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings.

Because of the profiling, you should get quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

Additional Massachusetts consumer information

Additional information is available on the Massachusetts Division of Insurance website found here. Massachusetts consumers can learn about insurance regulations, file complaints about a company, and find disaster information.

Massachusetts auto insurance

Affordable insurance is out there

Cheap auto insurance is attainable online and also from your neighborhood Monson agents, so you should compare both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

In this article, we presented a lot of ways to reduce auto insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the most savings is with some of the smallest insurance companies.

Drivers leave their current company for a variety of reasons including denial of a claim, poor customer service, delays in responding to claim requests and even extreme rates for teen drivers. Regardless of your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is less work than it seems.