How to Know You're Spending Too Much for Auto Insurance in Newtonville

Scraping up a payment for overpriced auto insurance can empty your personal savings and put the squeeze on your family's finances. Doing a price comparison is a smart way to help make ends meet.

Since consumers have many online and local companies to choose from, it can be challenging to pick the most cost effective company.

The purpose of this article is to help you learn how to effectively get price quotes. If you currently have car insurance, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using these techniques. But Massachusetts consumers do need to know the way companies sell online and apply this information to your search.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but you can get discounts that you may not know about. Certain discounts will be applied at the time you complete a quote, but a few need to be manually applied prior to getting the savings.

Pay Now and Pay Less - If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
Senior Citizens - Mature drivers may receive better auto insurance rates.
Multiple Cars - Having all your vehicles on the same auto insurance policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Anti-theft System - Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
Paperwork-free - Some insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up online.
Own a Home - Simply owning a home may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
Driver's Ed - Have your child successfully complete driver's ed class if offered at their school.
Accident Waiver - Some insurance companies will forgive one accident before raising your premiums if your claims history is clear for a certain period of time.
Memberships - Being a member of a professional or civic organization could qualify you for a break when shopping for auto insurance.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates you could get a free auto insurance policy, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will help reduce your premiums.

To see a list of insurance companies with discount auto insurance rates in Massachusetts, follow this link.

Free Quotes for Auto Insurance in Newtonville, Massachusetts

There are multiple methods to compare auto insurance quotes, but there is one way that is easier and takes less work. You can waste a lot of time talking to agents in Newtonville, or you could save time and use online quotes to get the quickest rates.

Many insurance companies enroll in a system that enables customers to only type in their quote data once, and each company provides a quote determined by their information. This eliminates the need for quote forms to each individual auto insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

The one downside to pricing coverage this way is you can't choose which carriers to get quotes from. So if you want to choose individual companies for rate comparison, we have a page of auto insurance companies in Massachusetts. Click here to view list.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just make darn sure you compare apples-to-apples quote information with every price quote. If your comparisons have mixed coverages it will be impossible to find the best deal in Newtonville. Just a small difference in insurance coverages may cause a big price difference. And when comparison shopping, obtaining a wide range of quotes provides better odds of finding a better price.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that will entitle you to better auto insurance rates.

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

Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates - Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention devices such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.
Mature drivers pay less - Youthful drivers in Massachusetts have a tendency to be careless and easily distracted when driving so auto insurance rates are higher. Having to add a youthful driver to your auto insurance policy can really hurt. More mature drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel.
Increase deductibles and save - Your deductibles define the amount you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. Coverage for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, insures against damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply would be running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, or theft. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive.
Consolidate policies to earn discounts - Some companies provide better rates to insureds who buy several policies from them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, you still need to compare rates to ensure the best deal.
Your spouse saves you money - Having a spouse helps lower the price when buying auto insurance. Having a significant other means you're more mature than a single person and it's proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone's needs are different and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether or not you might need an agent's assistance.

What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

The auto insurance bait and switch

Auto insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO consistently run ads in print and on television. They all say the same thing that you'll save big if you change to their company. But how can every company claim to save you money?

Different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that is profitable for them. For example, a driver they prefer might be between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile receives the best rates and therefore will save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don't measure up to this ideal profile will be quoted a more expensive rate which usually ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. This is how companies can advertise the way they do.

This emphasizes why drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Affordable insurance is out there

When shopping online for auto insurance, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Discount auto insurance can be sourced both online and also from your neighborhood Newtonville agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

Much more information about auto insurance in Massachusetts can be found on the website for the Massachusetts Division of Insurance located here. Visitors are able to view a list of available companies, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, report car insurance fraud, and read consumer alerts.

Additional helpful sites include this page for auto insurance prices in Massachusetts and this list of insurance agents in Newtonville, MA.