Tightwads Tips for Saving on Westfield Car Insurance

Are you tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other drivers in Massachusetts.

Consumers have many to buy insurance from, and although it's nice to have multiple companies, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

It's important to compare rates before your policy renews due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best price last year a different company probably has better rates today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because we're going to demonstrate the only way to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

Pricing affordable coverage in Westfield is quite easy. Basically, every vehicle owner who has to buy car insurance stands a good chance to be able to save money. Nevertheless, Massachusetts consumers do need to know the way insurance companies price online insurance and apply this information to your search.

Take advantage of discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but there could be available discounts that many people don't even know exist. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you quote, but less common discounts must be asked for prior to getting the savings.

Save with a New Car - Putting insurance coverage on a new car is cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
Employee of Federal Government - Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% with select insurance companies.
Anti-lock Brakes - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.
College Student - Youth drivers who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have a car may qualify for this discount.
Life Insurance Discount - Larger companies have a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
Service Members Pay Less - Being deployed with a military unit could mean lower rates.
Passive Restraints - Factory air bags may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
Good Students Pay Less - Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.

Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So despite the fact that it appears you could get a free car insurance policy, companies don't profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down your overall premium however.

You have some control over your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what determines base rates enables informed choices that may reward you with better car insurance rates.

Where do you drive? - The more miles you rack up on your car every year the more you will pay for car insurance. Most insurance companies charge to insure your cars determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars that are left in the garage qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Verify your car insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven.
Small claims can cost you - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Car insurance companies in Massachusetts generally give lower rates to policyholders who are claim-free. Car insurance is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Multiple policies with one company can save - Most insurance companies will give a discount to insureds who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, it's still a good idea to compare other company rates to ensure the best deal. You may still be able to find better rates by buying car insurance from a different company.
Older drivers pay less - Youthful drivers in Massachusetts are statistically proven to be more careless in a vehicle so they pay higher car insurance rates. Mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations.
Protect your assets with liability insurance - Liability insurance will protect you if ever you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It will provide for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
Bad driving skills means higher rates - Your driving citation history has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Careful drivers get better rates than bad drivers. Even a single citation can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Drivers who have serious citations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to file a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
How credit affects car insurance rates - Credit score is a big factor in your rate calculation. So if your credit score is lower than you'd like, you could potentially save money when insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers who have good credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers with poor credit.
Battle of the sexes - The statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn't necessarily mean that men are worse drivers. Men and women tend to get into accidents in similar percentages, but the males cause more damage. They also get more serious tickets like DUI and reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 are the most expensive to insure and therefore are the most expensive to insure.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

Car insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. They all seem to have a common claim of big savings if you switch to their company. How does each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies can use profiling for the driver that earns them a profit. For example, a desirable insured might be a mature driver, is a homeowner, and drives newer vehicles. Any driver that hits that "sweet spot" will get very good rates and most likely will save when switching.

Potential customers who don't qualify for these standards will have to pay a higher premium and this can result in the customer not buying. The ads say "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much. That's why insurance companies can confidently claim big savings.

Because of the profiling, drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. You cannot predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Additional car insurance information can be found on the website for the Massachusetts Division of Insurance found here. Visitors are able to file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, download brochures, read consumer alerts, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

When trying to cut insurance costs, it's very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many instances, an accident victim reduced physical damage coverage only to discover later that it was a big mistake. The ultimate goal is to find the BEST coverage at the best price.

Cost effective car insurance can be found both online and also from your neighborhood Westfield agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. A few companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.