Brookline, MA Auto Insurance Buying Tips You Aren’t Supposed to Know

I can’t think of a single person who enjoys paying for auto insurance, particularly when the cost is too high.

With consumers having so many auto insurance companies to choose from, it can be hard to choose the right insurer.

It’s a good habit to check auto insurance prices quite often since insurance rates are usually higher with each renewal. Even if you think you had the lowest price two years ago you can probably find a better price now. There is a lot of bad information regarding auto insurance online but we’re going to give you a bunch of ideas how to reduce your auto insurance bill.

These discounts can lower your rates

Car insurance companies don’t always publicize all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find both well-publicized as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using.

• Safe Driver Discount – Drivers who don’t get into accidents may save up to 50% more than drivers with accident claims.
• Homeowners Savings – Simply owning a home can save you money because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
• No Charge for an Accident – Certain companies will allow you to have one accident without raising rates if your claims history is clear for a particular time prior to the accident.
• Payment Method – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save up to 5%.
• Seat Belts Save – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt could cut 10% or more off your medical payments premium.
• Anti-lock Brakes – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can avoid accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Federal Employees – Being employed by or retired from a federal job may qualify you for a discount with a few auto insurance companies.
• Paperwork-free – Certain companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up on their website.
• Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles with anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Just because you may think it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

For a list of providers offering auto insurance discounts in Brookline, click this link.

Brookline Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to big savings.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine prices.

• Policy add-ons can waste money – There are quite a few add-on coverages that can waste your money when buying auto insurance. Things like rental car reimbursement, accident forgiveness and term life insurance may be costing you every month. They may seem good at first, but if they’re wasting money remove them from your policy.
• Multiple policies with one company can save – Most companies will award you with lower prices to policyholders who buy several policies from them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even though this discount sounds good, you may still want to compare rates to ensure the best deal. You may still be able to find a better deal by buying insurance from more than one company.
• Please use or commuting – The more miles you rack up on your car every year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Most companies apply a rate based on their usage. Cars left parked in the garage can get a lower rate than those used for commuting. Make sure your auto insurance policy properly reflects how each vehicle is driven, because it can save money.
• Better crash test results mean better rates – Vehicles with high crash test scores get lower rates. These vehicles protect occupants better and any reduction in injury severity means less money paid by your insurance company and lower rates for you.
• Sex matters – Statistics have proven women tend to be less risk to insure than men. Now that doesn’t mean women are better drivers. Women and men are in accidents in similar percentages, but men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also get cited for more serious violations such as DWI and reckless driving.

Different people need different coverages

When choosing adequate coverage, there isn’t really a single plan that fits everyone. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover whether you could use an agent’s help.

• Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
• Are my friends covered when driving my vehicle?
• How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in Massachusetts?
• Who is covered by my policy?
• Am I getting all the discounts available?
• How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
• Do I need roadside assistance coverage?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Massachusetts insurance information

Even more information is available at the Massachusetts Division of Insurance website. Visitors are able to find disaster information, learn about specific coverages, find a variety of consumer forms, and learn about insurance regulations.

Compare but don’t skimp

We just showed you some good ideas how to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more quotes you get, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may even discover the lowest premiums are with an unexpected company. These smaller insurers can often insure niche markets at a lower cost as compared to the big name companies such as GEICO and State Farm.

While you’re price shopping online, don’t be tempted to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many cases where an insured dropped physical damage coverage and discovered at claim time they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford.