How to Know You're Wasting Money for Auto Insurance in Plymouth

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy high-priced auto insurance? Believe me when I say there are many Plymouth consumers feeling the pinch from expensive auto insurance.

Insurance companies such as GEICO and Progressive promote their brand names with ad campaigns and it is difficult to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates at least once a year because insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the best deal a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Starting right now, block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you're about to learn the proper way to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.

More discounts equal less premium

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you can get discounts that you may not even be aware of. A few discounts will automatically apply when you purchase, but some must be manually applied before being credited.

Air Bag Discount - Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
Defensive Driver - Completing a course in driver safety could possibly earn you a 5% discount and easily recoup the cost of the course.
No Accidents - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts compared to bad drivers.
Resident Student - Youth drivers who live away from home and do not have a car may be able to be covered for less.
Homeowners Discount - Being a homeowner can save you money because owning a home requires personal responsibility.

It's important to note that some credits don't apply the the whole policy. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So when it seems like it's possible to get free car insurance, you're out of luck. But any discount will reduce your premiums.

To see a list of providers offering auto insurance discounts in Plymouth, click here.

How to Compare Plymouth Auto Insurance Costs

Most companies allow you to get coverage prices online. Getting online rates is pretty painless as you simply enter the coverage amounts you desire into the quote form. Once you submit the form, the company's rating system will obtain your credit score and driving record and returns a price quote based on many factors. Online quotes helps simplify price comparisons, but the process of having to visit many different websites and type in the same information gets old quite quickly. Unfortunately, it is important to get many rate quotes in order to find a lower rate.

There is a better way!

The preferred way to find better auto insurance pricing uses one simple form that analyzes rates from more than one company. It's a real time-saver, reduces the work, and makes online price comparison much more enjoyable. As soon as you send your information, it is rated and you can choose your choice of the price quotes you receive.

If the quotes result in lower rates, you can click and sign and buy the new coverage. The entire process only takes a few minutes and could lower your rates considerably.

To save time and find out how much you're overpaying now, click here and submit the form. If you have a policy now, it's recommended you enter the coverages exactly as shown on your declarations page. This makes sure you're receiving rate quotes based on the exact same insurance coverage.

Plymouth Rates are Influenced by These Factors

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates enables informed choices that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

Traffic violations increase rates - Your driving record has a huge affect on how much you pay. Even a single speeding ticket can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Careful drivers receive lower rates than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
Policy add-ons can waste money - There are many extra coverages you can purchase on your auto insurance policy. Insurance for personal injury protection, better glass coverage and term life insurance are some examples. These coverages may sound good at first, but if they're wasting money eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
Credit scores impact auto insurance rates - Your credit score is a large factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. Therefore, if your credit history is lower than you'd like, you could pay less to insure your by improving your credit score. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than those with poor credit.
Your occupation can affect rates - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupations like doctors, social workers and dentists tend to have the highest average rates attributed to high stress and lengthy work days. Other jobs such as actors, historians and homemakers receive lower rates.
Mature drivers pay less - Older insureds tend to be more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel. Teen drivers are statistically proven to be less responsible when behind the wheel and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
Optional equipment can affect rates - Choosing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart auto theft.
Having a spouse can save you money - Being married can actually save you money on auto insurance. Marriage means you're more mature and it's statistically proven that being married results in fewer claims.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate constantly bombard you with ads in print and on television. All the ads have a common claim that you can save if you switch to their company. How can each company make almost identical claims?

All companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that is profitable for them. An example of a preferred risk could possibly be between 30 and 50, has no tickets, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A driver that hits that "sweet spot" is entitled to the best price and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Consumers who do not match the requirements will be charged higher prices and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "people who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That's the way insurance companies can advertise the way they do.

That is why drivers must quote coverage with many companies. It is impossible to predict which auto insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Final considerations

In this article, we presented a lot of ways to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Drivers may discover the best prices are with an unexpected company. These smaller insurers often have lower prices on specific markets as compared to the big name companies such as .

Lower-priced auto insurance is available online and also from your neighborhood Plymouth agents, so compare prices from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some auto insurance companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

More information is available on the website for the Massachusetts Division of Insurance through this link. Massachusetts consumers can file complaints about a company, discover disciplinary actions, find out industry alerts, and read industry bulletins.