Proven Ways to Save on Northfield Car Insurance

Nobody looks forward to paying for car insurance, particularly when their premiums are too high. Companies like GEICO and Progressive continually bombard you with TV and radio ads and it is difficult to sift through the bull and find the best price available.

It's important to compare prices periodically due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest price a year ago you can probably find a better price now. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because you're about to find out one of the best ways to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

If you have a current car insurance policy or need new coverage, you will benefit by learning to find the best rates while maintaining coverages. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Northfield is easy if you know what you're doing. Massachusetts vehicle owners just need to know the proper methods to find the lowest price over the internet.

How to Lower your Car Insurance Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine the rates you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get better car insurance rates.

Do you know you're credit rating? - Your credit history is a big factor in determining your rates. Therefore, if your credit score is not that good, you could save money insuring your by improving your credit score. People with good credit tend to be more responsible as compared to drivers with lower credit scores.
Bad driving skills means higher rates - Drivers who don't get tickets get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. Even a single ticket can bump up the cost twenty percent or more. Drivers who get flagrant violations like DUI or reckless driving may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.
Men pay higher rates - Statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Men and women cause accidents in similar numbers, but men have costlier accidents. Men also get more serious tickets like DUI and reckless driving. Teenage male drivers are the most expensive to insure and are penalized with high car insurance rates.
Your car insurance rates can be influenced by your job - Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for car insurance? Occupations like judges, social workers and dentists have the highest average rates due to stressful work requirements and long work hours. Other jobs such as scientists, historians and performers get better rates.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, but discounts can save money and there are some available to cut the cost considerably. A few discounts will automatically apply when you quote, but less common discounts must be specifically requested prior to getting the savings. If you aren't receiving every discount you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

Anti-lock Brakes - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can reduce accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Good Student - This discount can save 20 to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you well after school through age 25.
Senior Citizens - If you're over the age of 55, you may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
Federal Employees - Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% with certain companies.
Homeowners Savings - Being a homeowner can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
E-sign - Some insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.
Driver Safety - Taking a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
Passive Restraints - Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts of more than 20%.
Early Switch Discount - Some companies give discounts for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiration. It's a savings of about 10%.
Organization Discounts - Being a member of a civic or occupational organization may earn a discount on your policy.

Drivers should understand that some credits don't apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So even though they make it sound like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will reduce your premiums.

To choose providers who offer car insurance discounts in Northfield, click here.

The car insurance bait and switch

Consumers in Massachusetts can't ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance from the likes of Allstate and Progressive. All the ads have a common claim that you'll save big after switching your coverage to them.

How can each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that makes them money. For instance, a preferred risk might be between 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has excellent credit. Any driver that hits that "sweet spot" will get very good rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the requirements will be charged a higher premium and this can result in the customer not buying. The ads say "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much money. That is how companies can make those claims.

That is why you should get quotes from several different companies. You cannot predict which company will have the lowest rates.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When buying the best car insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Every situation is different and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether or not you might need professional guidance.

Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Massachusetts?
Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
When do I need to add a new car to my policy?

If you can't answer these questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.

Much more information about car insurance in Massachusetts is located on the website for the Massachusetts Division of Insurance found here. Visitors are able to find out industry alerts, file complaints about a company, learn about insurance regulations, and read industry bulletins.

In the end, you save

While you're price shopping online, it's a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. Too many times, someone dropped liability coverage limits only to discover later they didn't purchase enough coverage. The aim is to find the BEST coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

We just presented a lot of ways to save on car insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the better chance you'll have of finding lower rates. Consumers could even find that the best prices are with some of the smallest insurance companies. Some small companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates as compared to the big name companies such as .