Tightwads Tips for Saving on Saugus Car Insurance

Are you tired of not being able to afford each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other drivers in Massachusetts.

Consumers have many to pick from, and although it's nice to have a selection, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

Buying the lowest cost car insurance coverage in Saugus is simple if you know the tricks. Just about every vehicle owner who has to buy car insurance stands a good chance to be able to save money. Nevertheless, Massachusetts car owners do need to know how the larger insurance companies determine prices and take advantage of how the system works.

These discounts can lower your rates

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but there could be available discounts to help offset the cost. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked for prior to getting the savings.

Drivers Education - Have your child successfully complete driver's ed class in high school.
No Accidents - Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts when compared to bad drivers.
Pay Upfront and Save - If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
Multiple Policy Discount - When you combine your home and auto insurance with one insurance company you will save up to 20% off your total premium.
Good Students Pay Less - A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts up to age 25.
Discount for Life Insurance - Larger companies have a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Paperwork-free - Certain companies will give a small break simply for signing over the internet.
Low Mileage Discounts - Keeping the miles down can qualify you for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears it's possible to get free car insurance, companies don't profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down the cost of coverage.

To see a list of insurance companies with the best car insurance discounts in Massachusetts, follow this link.

Comparison of Car Insurance in Saugus

Most companies like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO quote prices online. The process is quite easy as you simply type in as detailed in the form. Once you submit the form, their rating system will obtain credit information and your driving record and returns a price quote determined by many factors. This simplifies rate comparisons, but the time required to go to several different sites and complete many quote forms can get tiresome after awhile. But it's very important to do this if you are searching for better car insurance pricing.

There is an easier way!

The preferred way to lower your car insurance bill utilizes a single form that gets prices from several different companies. The form is fast, eliminates form submissions, and makes price shopping online much more enjoyable. After sending your information, it is quoted and you are able to buy any one of the price quotes you receive.

If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, you can simply submit the application and purchase the new policy. It takes just a few minutes to complete and may result in a nice savings.

If you want to find out what other companies charge, click here to open in new window and input your coverage information. If you have a policy now, it's recommended you enter deductibles and limits identical to your current policy. This makes sure you will get rate comparison quotes based on the exact same insurance coverage.

You have some control over your rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that come into play when calculating your car insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates enables informed choices that will entitle you to lower car insurance prices.

An active claims history can cost you - If you are a frequent claim filer, you can definitely plan on either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Companies in Massachusetts provide lower rates to policyholders who are claim-free. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Rates may be lower depending on your job - Careers like doctors, architects and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates in part from job stress and lengthy work days. Conversely, occupations such as farmers, engineers and the unemployed receive lower rates.
Special features that cut premiums - Driving a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder your car from being stolen.
Where you live is a factor - Being located in a rural area can save you money when it comes to car insurance. City drivers have traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Lower population translates into fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
How's your driving record? - A bad driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than people who have multiple driving citations. Just one citation can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. If you have severe violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may find they need to submit a SR-22 form with their state motor vehicle department in order to drive a vehicle legally.
Drive less and save money - The more you drive every year the higher your rate. Most insurance companies rate vehicles determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles left parked in the garage can get a lower rate than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your car insurance policy shows the correct driver usage, because it can save money.
Marriage brings a discount - Being married actually saves money when buying car insurance. Having a significant other means you're more mature and responsible it has been statistically shown that drivers who are married are more cautious.
Do you need the policy add-ons? - There are a lot of extra bells and whistles that can waste your money on your policy. Coverages for rental car reimbursement, accident forgiveness and term life insurance are examples of these. They may seem good when talking to your agent, but if they're wasting money eliminate them to save money.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Car insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO regularly use ads on television and other media. They all say the same thing of big savings if you move to their company. How does each company make the same claim? This is how they do it.

All companies can use profiling for the driver that is profitable for them. An example of a driver they prefer could be between the ages of 40 and 55, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A customer who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and as a result will probably save when switching.

Potential customers who are not a match for these standards will be quoted a higher premium which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "drivers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. That's why insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings.

This emphasizes why drivers must get quotes from several different companies. Because you never know the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Final considerations

As you prepare to switch companies, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

Cost effective car insurance is possible from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Saugus agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who may not provide the ability to get a quote online and these smaller companies work with independent agents.

Additional car insurance information is available on the website for the Massachusetts Division of Insurance. Click here for link. Consumers can download brochures, read industry bulletins, view a list of available companies, and view agent and company licensing information.

Additional helpful sites include this site for car insurance rates in Massachusetts and this list of insurance agents in Saugus, MA.