Tightwads Guide for Saving on North Truro Auto Insurance

Are you sick and tired of paying out the nose each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as many other drivers in Massachusetts. Big companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive promote their brand names with ad campaigns and it can be hard to sift through the bull and do the work needed to find the best deal.

It's important to compare rates once or twice a year because insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest rates two years ago you may be paying too much now. So just forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're about to learn the tricks you need to know to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

If you have insurance now or are looking for a new policy, you can use these techniques to find better prices and possibly find even better coverage. Finding the best rates in North Truro is not that difficult. Massachusetts consumers only need to know how to buy auto insurance online.

How to Compare Auto Insurance Costs in North Truro

Most major insurance companies provide prices on their websites. Getting online rates is quite easy as you simply enter the amount of coverage you want as detailed in the form. Behind the scenes, the company's rating system will obtain your credit score and driving record and returns a price quote. Online quotes simplifies rate comparisons, but the time required to go to several different sites and complete many quote forms is monotonous and tiresome. But it's very important to compare as many rates as possible if you want to find the best price on auto insurance.

A less time-consuming method to find cheaper rates uses one simple form that analyzes rates from more than one company. The form is fast, reduces the work, and makes rate comparisons much more enjoyable. As soon as the form is sent, it gets priced and you can choose your choice of the returned quotes. If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, you can simply submit the application and purchase the new policy. The whole process takes less than 15 minutes and you will find out if you're overpaying now.

To save time and find out if lower rates are available, click here to open in new window and submit your coverage information. To compare your current rates, we recommend you input your coverages as close as possible to your current policy. This way, you will have comparison quotes based on similar coverages.

You have some control over your rates

It's important that you understand the factors that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

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

How credit affects auto insurance rates - Your credit score is a huge factor in your rate calculation. If your credit history is lower than you'd like, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your credit score. Drivers who have high credit ratings tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have poor credit.
Optional equipment can affect rates - Driving a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder auto theft.
Multi-policy discounts can save money - Most insurance companies give discounts to customers who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to 10 percent or more. Even if you're getting this discount it's in your best interest to shop around to ensure the best deal. You may still be able to find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.
Little extras can really add up - There are many extra bells and whistles you can purchase on your auto insurance policy. Insurance for rental car reimbursement, better glass coverage and term life insurance are some examples. These may sound like a good investment when talking to your agent, but if they're wasting money eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
Battle of the sexes - The statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. That doesn't necessarily mean that men are worse drivers. Both sexes are in accidents in similar percentages, but men cause more damage. Men also get more serious tickets such as DWI and reckless driving. Youthful male drivers tend to get in the most accidents and thus pay the highest rates.
Low deductibles can be expensive - Insurance for physical damage to your car, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply could be running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, and rolling your vehicle. The deductibles are the amount of money you are willing to pay before your auto insurance pays a claim. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
Lower miles equals lower premium - The more miles you rack up on your car every year the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Double check that your auto insurance policy is rated on how each vehicle is driven.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Car insurance companies don't always list every available discount in a way that's easy to find, so we break down both well-publicized and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving. If you aren't receiving every discount available, you're just leaving money on the table.

Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Vehicles with factory air bags can qualify for discounts of 20% or more.
Service Members Pay Less - Being deployed with a military unit could mean lower rates.
Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles with anti-theft systems help deter theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Drivers Ed for Students - Require your teen driver to take driver's ed class in school.
Defensive Driver - Successfully completing a course in driver safety could save 5% or more depending on where you live.
Multi-policy Discount - When you have multiple policies with one insurance company you will save at least 10% off all policies.
Payment Discounts - By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you may reduce your total bill.

A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky.

For a list of providers offering auto insurance discounts in North Truro, click here.

Even more information can be found at the Massachusetts Division of Insurance website. Massachusetts consumers can find out industry alerts, view a list of available companies, read consumer alerts, and discover disciplinary actions.

Best coverage at the best price

In this article, we presented a lot of techniques to lower your auto insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even find the lowest premiums are with a smaller regional carrier. Smaller companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as .

When buying insurance coverage, it's not a good idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many cases where an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your goal should be to buy enough coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.