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

No one likes paying for auto insurance, especially knowing the cost is way too high. Numerous battle for your business, and it can be difficult to compare rates to get the lowest rate

It's important to shop coverage around periodically since insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price last year the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because I'm going to let you in on the secrets to one of the best ways to find better coverage at a better price.

If you have a current auto insurance policy or need new coverage, you can follow these tips to find the best rates while maximizing coverage. Finding affordable coverage in North Billerica is easy if you know what you're doing. Massachusetts vehicle owners just need to know the most effective way to compare rates over the internet.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies that sell car insurance don't always publicize all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find some of the best known and the more hidden auto insurance savings. If they aren't giving you every credit you qualify for, you're paying more than you need to.

Bundle and Save - When you combine your home and auto insurance with one company you may earn 10% to 20% off each policy.
Good Student - A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
Senior Discount - Mature drivers may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Student Driver Training - Have your child complete a driver education course if it's offered in school.
Driver Safety - Taking a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
Payment Method - If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you could save up to 5%.
Memberships - Affiliation with certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break on auto insurance.
Federal Employees - Being employed by or retired from a federal job can earn a discount up to 10% with select insurance companies.
Accident Forgiveness - A few companies permit an accident before raising your premiums as long as you don't have any claims for a certain period of time.

Drivers should understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free auto insurance policy, companies wouldn't make money that way.

To see a list of companies who offer auto insurance discounts in North Billerica, follow this link.

North Billerica Auto Insurance Comparisons

Finding cheaper auto insurance prices is surprisingly easy. Consumers just need to invest a little time getting comparison quotes provided by online insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

The best way to find low rates is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This method eliminates the need for separate forms for each company. Just one form will get you rate comparisons from several companies.
A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online requires you to visit the website for each individual company and fill out their own quote form. For sake of this example, let's assume you want to compare , and . You would have to spend time on each company's site and enter your policy data, which is why most consumers use the first method.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in North Billerica, click here.

Whichever way you use, be sure to compare the exact same coverage information for every quote you compare. If you enter unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be impossible to determine the best price in North Billerica.

Tips to Get Lower North Billerica Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that help determine auto insurance rates. Understanding what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" used by your company to calculate rates.

Your location affects your rates - Living in a small town can be a good thing when buying auto insurance. Fewer drivers means a lower chance of having an accident. Urban drivers tend to have much more traffic to deal with and much longer commute distances. Longer commute distances means higher likelihood of an accident.
Traffic citations inflate rates - Just one moving violation can bump up the cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who don't get tickets receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have flagrant citations like DUI or reckless driving may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.
Men pay higher rates - Statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Men and women have accidents in similar percentages, but the males have costlier accidents. They also get cited for more serious violations like reckless driving and DUI. Teenage male drivers are several times more likely to be in an accident and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
Safe vehicles cost less to insure - Safer cars are cheaper to insure. These vehicles protect occupants better and better occupant protection means less money paid by your insurance company and lower rates for you.

Insurance agents can help

When choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Everyone's needs are different so your insurance needs to address that. For example, these questions may help highlight whether your personal situation would benefit from professional advice.

What are the best liability limits?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Massachusetts?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
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?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Massachusetts drivers can't get away from ads for cheaper car insurance from the likes of GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to say the same thing that you'll save big after switching your coverage to them.

How do they all say the same thing?

Different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that is profitable for them. For example, a desirable insured might be profiled as a mature driver, a clean driving record, and has great credit. A propective insured who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't qualify for the "perfect" profile will have to pay higher prices which usually ends up with business not being written. The ad wording is "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. That is how companies can advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, drivers must get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

A tidy conclusion

As you prepare to switch companies, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, someone dropped physical damage coverage only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The ultimate goal is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate.

In this article, we covered many ways to compare auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better chance you'll have of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the best price on auto insurance is with an unexpected company. These smaller insurers may only write in your state and offer lower rates compared to the large companies like .

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be bought on the web as well as from independent agents in North Billerica, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who don't offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

More detailed Massachusetts auto insurance information can be found at the Massachusetts Division of Insurance website. Massachusetts drivers can view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about a company, learn about insurance regulations, and find disaster information.