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Cheap Massachusetts Auto Insurance

Are you looking for cheap auto insurance in Massachusetts? Are you looking for easy ways to save time and money? Then, you’ve found the right place …

Are you looking for cheap auto insurance in Massachusetts? Are you looking for easy ways to save time and money? Then, you should learn more about combining the various types of insurance you have with one insurance company to take advantage of a multi-policy discount.

You may qualify for a multi-policy discount if you have one or more cars and an apartment or home. But it might be up to you to ask your independent insurance agent about the discounts available to you. Let’s see what kind of insurance policies you can bundle, why it’s beneficial to get a multi-policy discount, and what you can expect to save by consolidating your insurance premiums under one provider.

What Policies Can You Bundle with Auto Insurance?

Chances are that you have more than just auto insurance, but what other kinds of policies can you ask your insurance company about bundling to get the most out of a multi-policy discount? Here are a few examples:

Home: Whether you rent or own your home, the insurance you buy to protect your dwelling is very commonly bundled with auto insurance.

Boat: Enjoy your adventures on the high seas, rivers or lakes more than ever while knowing you’ve done all you can to save money on insurance.

RV: A recreational vehicle is your home away from home. Insure it and other “toys” you drive with the same insurance company and save.

Life Insurance: Depending on the insurance company you are working with, you can get a multi-policy discount on life insurance, which most people consider essential to protect their family in the event of an untimely death.

Why Get a Multi-policy Discount?

When you’re already paying several insurance premiums to different providers, it makes sense to bundle the rates. The best reasons to switch your current insurance policies to one company are that you will save time and you will save money.

It’s Convenient to Bundle Insurance Policies

It’s simple, if you have multiple policies with one insurance carrier, you’ll see less paperwork and fewer bills. You’ll not only save yourself time, but your insurance company saves time too, which is one reason they offer the discount in the first place. When you’ve got a multi-policy discount, you’ll conveniently be paying just one insurance provider for your insurance needs.

How Much Money Can You Save?

The multi-policy discount you receive will depend on which policies and how many you bundle with your insurance company. Your discount will also vary from provider to provider. Usually, your multi-policy discount could save you up to 15 percent or more on your insurance rates.

We Help You Find the Best Multi-policy Discount

There are plenty of things you value in life: your car, your home, your health. Insuring yourself against the worst is important, but it doesn’t have to be time-consuming. When you bundle your insurance policies, you’ll save money on the things that are important to you.

MassAutoQuote can help you save money on your insurance. We will help you take the fuss out of paying for multiple policies and find the provider that will give you the best multi-policy discount for you. Call or click us today to find out what policies you have that qualify for a multi-policy discount.

Is a Disappearing Deductible a Magic Trick?

A disappearing collision deductible discount is not a magic trick. It can be a way for you to save money on your car insurance premium, if you qualify …

A disappearing collision deductible discount is not a magic trick. It can be a way for you to save money on your car insurance premium, if you qualify. Essentially, the vanishing deductible is an incentive that rewards “safe” drivers by reducing the amount of their deductible, or out-of-pocket expenses if they do file a claim.

Insurance companies know that safe drivers have fewer car accidents and get fewer speeding tickets. Safety conscious car drivers tend to follow the rules of the road. They make fewer insurance claims. This can save insurance companies a significant amount of money every year. Insurance companies like to have safe drivers as policyholders for just this reason.

Vanishing Deductible Saves Safe Drivers Money on Deductible

Some big insurers offer “safe” drivers a special incentive, called the vanishing deductible discount. While each insurance company’s specific safe driver program varies, the programs generally subtract some of the cost of the deductible for each year a driver qualifies as a safe driver. Auto insurance companies also tend to reward driver loyalty.

It is important to realize that your insurance company does not take this safe driver deductible discount off the cost of your car insurance premium. Rather, this money is money saved out-of-pocket on the amount of your deductible if you have a car accident and file a claim.

How Does The Vanishing Deductible Work?

Let’s say that you have an insurance premium that includes a $1000 deductible. This means that in the event of a car accident in which there is $10,000 worth of damage to your auto, you will have to pay the first $1000 out-of-pocket. Your insurance provider will then cover the remaining cost of repair.

Typically, if you are in a vanishing deductible discount program, each year that you do not file a car accident claim, your insurer will drop your deductible by $100. If you went for ten years without an accident, depending on the maximum vanishing deductible credit your insurance company provides, you could, theoretically wind up with a zero deductible.

What Makes a Safe Driver?

Each insurance provider has different criteria for qualifying as a safe driver. The most important factors that insurers may consider include your driving history, history of traffic violations, car accidents, and other factors. Even if you have a less than stellar driver’s record, it may still pay to ask your insurance agent if you qualify or how you can qualify in the future.

Do You Qualify for the Vanishing Deductible Discount?

To learn whether your insurance coverage includes the disappearing deductible discount, give us a call or fax or e-mail us a copy of your Massachusetts Auto Insurance Coverage Page.

Get in touch with an agent who will take the time you need to understand your options. Call or click Massautoquote.com.

Massachusetts Auto Insurance: Towing & Labor Coverage

You might think you don’t need the policy because you’ve got a brand-new car, and it’s unlikely to break down. But anyone can get a flat or run out of gas, so Towing & Labor Coverage might be of value to you …

Car towing and labor insurance is a simple add-on to your auto insurance policy. As the name implies, it covers the cost of having your car towed for repairs.

The labor portion of the coverage is a little less clear, but it means the insurance company will pay for labor needed at the spot where your car needed assistance. It doesn’t cover labor done at an auto repair shop once it’s been towed there.

You’d use this policy to cover your expenses in cases such as:

A flat tire
A dead battery
An empty gas tank
A car stuck in the snow or mud
A car with the keys locked inside

So, for example, if your car wouldn’t start and the issue was a dead battery, the car towing insurance would pay for the person arriving at the scene to replace the battery on the spot if possible (but not for the battery itself. If the battery wasn’t the problem and the car needed to be towed to an auto repair shop, the policy wouldn’t pay for the work performed there.

Who Needs Car Towing Insurance

You might think you don’t need the policy because you’ve got a brand-new car, and it’s unlikely to break down. But anyone can get a flat or run out of gas, so it might be of value to you.

But the people who don’t need car towing and labor insurance are people who are already enrolled in a roadside service program, such as AAA. Those memberships cover everything a car towing and insurance policy covers – and more.

For example, if you’re riding with a friend and his car breaks down, you can use your AAA membership to get help. Towing insurance only covers the vehicle for which it is purchased.

In some cases, the towing insurance is a little less expensive than other roadside assistance programs. Be sure you know what is covered, though. Insurance companies vary in what is included. Also, you most likely will need comprehensive insurance on your auto policy in order to be eligible for a car towing and labor coverage.

The typical cost on the Massachusetts auto insurance policy is $8 per year for $50 of towing and labor reimbursement coverage. $16 per year for $100 of towing & labor coverage.

MassAutoQuote Can Help

Your independent insurance agent can help you sort out what’s your best option in your situation. Call MassAutoQuote today and we can review your Massachusetts auto insurance coverage.

what to do if in an auto accident

Lynnfield, MA – January 9, 2015 MassAutoQuote Web Log –

Did you know that if you are involved in a minor fender bender and leave the scene of the accident without contacting the police, you may be breaking the law? …

Lynnfield, MA – January 9, 2015 MassAutoQuote Web Log –

Did you know that if you are involved in a minor fender bender and leave the scene of the accident without contacting the police, you may be breaking the law?

Knowing what to do if you are involved in a car accident will help you to remain calm. Knowing what is expected can help make a stressful and unpleasant situation more bearable and help you avoid unnecessary liability, time and expense.

1. Call the police. If you are involved in an auto accident, either you or someone who is with you needs to call 9-1-1 immediately. Even if you have not sustained injuries or property damage that you are aware of, you must still wait for the police to arrive so that you can report the accident.

2. Do not talk about the incident to anyone. Speak only to the responding police officer. And call your insurance agent right away.

3. Be polite, even if you are really upset. When people get in car accidents, they are often more reactive than normal. Don’t start blaming the other driver. And if the other driver is rude to you, get in your car, lock the door, and wait for the police to come.

If there is a question about who was at fault in your accident, being overly emotional may potentially bias the reporting police officer against you to the point that he or she could give the other driver the benefit of the doubt.

4. Get all contact information from all drivers:

Full name
Address
Phone number and email
Insurance company’s name (and phone number if possible)
Insurance policy number

5. Be respectful to the police officer completing the accident report. You don’t need to go into great detail about what happened. It is probably better not to, because you may not be thinking straight and these reports are very hard to change after the fact. They will, however, be used as evidence by the insurance companies. Be cooperative and calm.

6. Take photographs of both vehicles and the scene of the accident. If one or both cars were totaled and you have no camera or cell phone, you can find out from the reporting officer where the cars are going to be towed and go to the lot later and take photographs of both the inside and outside of the cars. Pictures can help either prove damage or disprove damage.

7. Call your insurance agent or insurance company and report the accident as soon as possible with detailed specifics. You will need to tell your insurance company the following:

How the accident happened
Time and location of accident
Motor vehicles in the accident – cars, trucks, bikes, etc. Include the make and model of each car involved
Contact information for those in the accident
Injuries sustained in the accident
Witness contact information
Police report number, police jurisdiction in which the accident occurred; your insurance company will need the police report number to investigate any claim

8. See a physician immediately or as soon as possible after the accident. Even if you believe you have only a few bruises, it is important to document all injuries, no matter how minor.

If you have sustained serious injuries, documenting the injuries, including taking photographs of the injuries, can play a significant role in any insurance settlement.

The above information will help you streamline what can be a complicated, scary and confusing process.

We Are Here for You Before, During and a Car Accident

www.MassAutoQuote.com’s Independent Massachusetts Insurance Agents are with you every step of the way. Our Agents will make sure you have the proper auto insurance and help you through the claims process should you be involved in an accident.

To learn more about what to do after a car accident, please feel free to call us at: 781-246-8699.

Teen Drivers & MA Car Insurance

When teens are about to turn 16, chances are they’re dreaming of carefree days behind the wheel with the windows down and the wind in their hair. As the parent of a new teen driver, your dreams may be clouded with worry and higher insurance rates …

Talking to your insurance agent is a first step in dealing with both topics. Knowing that you have adequate car insurance coverage can offer peace of mind when you hand over the keys to your teenager. Your agent can help you design a policy that protects your family and meets your budget.

When to Add Your Teen Driver to Your Car Insurance

Every driver must be insured, even while they are driving with their learner’s permit. And in most cases, it’s more cost-efficient to add your child to your policy rather than buy a separate policy. Usually the new teenage driver will need to be designated as the primary driver on one of the family vehicles. If you are buying a new car as the number of drivers in your family increases, have your teen drive one of the older ones since newer cars cost more to insure anyway.

What Teen Drivers Mean for Your Insurance Rates

Typically adding a new teen driver will increase your car insurance premium somewhat since teen drivers add more risk. It’s common knowledge that teen drivers cause more accidents and tend to be more easily distracted behind the wheel. Since insurance companies need to protect against those risks, it usually costs more to insure new teen drivers. But while your rates are likely to increase, there are ways to make your car insurance more affordable.

Several Ways To Save

While the thought of having a new teen driver may send your blood pressure skyward, there are several ways to lower the cost of insuring them.

Raise your deductible. It’s an effective way to offset the cost of insuring a teen driver, but be aware that teens have more accidents, so you may not want to take on more risk than you can handle.

Share the family car. Having your teen drive one of your existing family vehicles may limit their driving time, which reduces your risk in the eyes of the insurance company. If you buy a car just for your teen, that unlimited access may mean more time behind the wheel.

Choose a new car wisely. If you need to buy a car for your new driver, you may want to research which ones cost less to insure. Your insurance agent can help.

Get good grades. Many insurance companies view responsible students as responsible drivers and reward the family with lower insurance rates.

Look for safe driver programs. Ask your insurance agent about safe driving programs. They often require the participants to sign contracts indicating they will not participate in risky behavior such as drinking and driving. They are a way to reduce your insurance premiums and also teach your child safe driving habits that could potentially save their lives.

Don’t Skimp on Coverage to Save a Few Dollars

Shaving a little off your liability coverage may seem like a way to compensate for a higher premium, but ultimately it may not be the best choice. In the event of a serious accident, skimping on your liability coverage would leave you footing the bill for anything beyond your liability limits, which could potentially put your financial security at risk.

In fact, teen car crashes are more likely to result in high-judgment lawsuits, so many insurers recommend adding an umbrella policy when insuring a new teen driver. Umbrella policies offer protection above and beyond the standard limits of your primary policies. And because umbrella policies are designed for those ‘perfect storm’ instances, they are relatively inexpensive.

MassAutoQuote Can Help

Having a new teen driver in the house can be a stressful time, but it doesn’t have to be. Contact your independent insurance agent when your teen is about to get behind the wheel. We’ll help you find out how to get affordable, dependable coverage so you’re prepared when you hand over the car keys to your child. Call, click, or stop by MassAutoQuote.com.

MA Auto Insurance Discounts

Multi-policy Discounts Can Save a Bundle on Auto Insurance Rates

Are you looking for easy ways to save time and money? Then, you should learn more about combining the various types of insurance you have with one insurance company to take advantage of a multi-policy discount …

Multi-policy Discounts Can Save a Bundle on Auto Insurance Rates

What Policies Can You Bundle with Auto Insurance?

Home: Whether you rent or own your home, the insurance you buy to protect your dwelling is very commonly bundled with auto insurance.

Boat: Enjoy your adventures on the high seas, rivers or lakes more than ever while knowing you’ve done all you can to save money on insurance.

RV: A recreational vehicle is your home away from home. Insure it and other “toys” you drive with the same insurance company and save.

Why Get a Multi-policy Discount?

It’s Convenient to Bundle Insurance Policies

How Much Money Can You Save?

We Help You Find the Best Multi-policy Discount

MassAutoQuote.com will help you take the fuss out of paying for multiple policies and find the provider that will give you the best multi-policy discount for you. Contact us today to find out what policies you have that qualify for a multi-policy discount.

What Makes My Massachusetts Auto Insurance Rate Go Up?

Driving safe is something that insurance companies love their customers to do. It saves the insurance providers a significant amount of money if their insured clients do not ever have accidents …

Driving safe is something that insurance companies love their customers to do. It saves the insurance providers a significant amount of money if their insured clients do not ever have accidents. Thus, they tend to favor safe drivers with lower policy premiums and incentives like a disappearing deductible for each year they do not file an auto accident claim.

On the other hand, those who are involved in car accidents or who have received a moving violation may be due for a car insurance increase when it comes time for the annual policy renewal. If a car accident involved little or no property damage, there may not be a car insurance increase in the premium. Moving violations, in most cases, do trigger an increase in car insurance.

Factors That May Cause Car Insurance Increases

Type and number of moving violations you receive
Seriousness of a car accident that you are involved in
Cost of the insurance claim you or the other involved driver files
Your level of fault in the car accident, unless you live in a “no-fault” state
Appearance of the moving violation on your Motor Vehicle Report (MVR); or the accident on the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (L.U.E.), which is a database that records claims information.
Number of years you have been with the company without an auto accident

Minimize Moving Violation Cost with Safe Driving Courses

There are ways to minimize the “cost” of a moving violation. For instance, if you take a safe driver’s course to gain insight into driving safe, some insurance companies may decide not to raise your insurance rates. In some cases, your moving violation may be changed to a non-moving violation, so the insurance company will not raise your rates. Each company has its own set of rules for determining just what will trigger a car insurance increase and what factors go into determining driving safe benefits.

Driving Violations and Car Insurance Increases

Drivers with one-car, single driver policies whose driving record included one violation paid 18 percent more on average for car insurance then did drivers who had no moving violations, according to an Insurance.com analysis of more than 30,000 insurance policies purchased in 2010.

Those drivers with two violations paid 34 percent more for their auto insurance; drivers with three violations paid 53 percent more than whose drivers who had no violations. A DUI can result in an insurance company refusing to renew an insurance policy. It seems that driving safe pays off in more ways than one.

Types of Moving Violations Triggering a Car Insurance Increase

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol – DUI
Speeding
Reckless driving
Careless driving
Fleeing from law enforcement officers
Running red lights
Driving the wrong way on a one-way or a divided highway
Improper passing
Lack of child restraint
Unsafe U-turn

Does My Insurance Go Up Immediately?

Generally, increases due to a moving violation or a car accident happen at the time you renew your policy. If you have not told your insurance agent about the accident or the ticket, it may take longer to have an impact. Eventually, your ticket or accident will be discovered. If you decide to switch insurance providers, a claims history or driver’s record will reveal any tickets or accidents.

How to Avoid a Car Insurance Increase

If you have received notice of a car insurance increase at the time of your renewal, you can speak to an independent insurance agent who will help you shop for less expensive insurance. Independent insurance agents generally work with a wide range of insurance providers, so they can help you find a car insurance that meets your needs and your pocketbook.

Questions about Your Insurance Policy?

Talk to an independent insurance agent who has a deep understanding of the issues involved in car insurance increases and the benefits of driving safe. Call, click or stop by Massautoquote.com to learn more about getting the best insurance for the best rate available to you.

Reindeer Coverage?

Ho-ho-ho!

Those of us with children realize that, inevitably, there will come a day when our bright-eyed child asks:

Does our homeowner policy include reindeer coverage?

Ho-ho-ho!

Those of us with children realize that, inevitably, there will come a day when our bright-eyed child asks:

Does our homeowner policy include reindeer coverage?

Well, thankfully Virginia, Yes! The standard HO-3 homeowner insurance policy will, indeed give you coverage for reindeer damage, subject to deductible.

It will also, give you personal property coverage if the Fat Man himself decides to steal your stuff. (Cookies excluded.)

There are, however, special limits for special items on your standard home insurance policy.

Special limits, which in the event of a loss typically include: $200 on money, bank notes, bullion, gold, silver, platinum, coins and medals; $1,000 on securities, accounts, deeds, evidences of debt, letters of credit; $1,000 on watercraft; $1,000 on trailers not used with watercraft; $1,000 for loss by theft of jewelry, watches, furs, precious and semiprecious stones; $2,500 for loss by theft of silverware, silver-plated ware, goldware, etc.; $2,000 for loss by theft of firearms; $2,500 on property, on the residence premises used at any time or in any manner for any business purpose; $250 on property away from the residence premises used at any time in any manner for any business purpose.

To combat special limits and insure your special items up to their value, you can add items to your homeowner policy per appraisal.

If you have any questions about your Massachusetts home, auto, business, or life insurance, please call or click us at Massautoquote.com.

You’ll be glad you did.

MA Auto Insurance: Student Away at School Discount

Most auto insurance carriers consider you eligible for a student-driver away discount if your child attends boarding school or college at least 100 miles from home and does not have regular access to a vehicle. Some may also require the student to be under 23 years of age …

Student-Driver Away Discount – Do You Qualify?

Student-Driver Away Discounts help you save while they learn

Your child is away at school for the year and not using the family car regularly, so you may think it’s time to drop them from your auto insurance policy. That is certainly an option when your child leaves home, but the student-driver away discounts can be a better fit for your family than taking your child off the plan entirely.

Let’s see if you qualify for student-driver away discounts, why the discount is worth it and how much you’ll save.

Who Is a Student-Driver Away Discount For?

Why You Should Get a Student-Driver Away Discount

While it sounds tempting to remove your child from your auto insurance plan while they are at school, there are significant reasons to consider the student-driver away discount instead:

Driving During Breaks: Your child will likely come home from school to visit, and while they’re back, they might borrow the family car. Having your child on your policy means they are automatically covered in the unlikely event of a car accident.
Financial Responsibility: If you still declare your child as a dependent, then you assume financial responsibility for them. This means that, legally, you are their financial provider, no matter how much pocket money they have on the side. This is important because if your uninsured child drives a vehicle and gets into an accident, you are financially responsible for that accident, even though you weren’t involved. Medical and legal costs can be substantially more than paying for a student-driver away discount.
Better Future Rates: Auto insurance companies often give discounts to new clients who were previously dependents on their parents’ policy. Other carriers sometimes charge new clients a higher fee for joining as a young driver without that experience. Keeping your student on your auto insurance plan now can give them a foot up later.

How Can You Validate Your Child for a Student-Driver Away Discount?

Most auto insurance carriers will require verification that your child is at school. Providing your carrier with the correct validation for a student-driver away discount can be very easy. Here are some common ways to prove eligibility:

School Address: Providing the address of your child’s boarding school or college to your insurance agent is usually enough verification for some carriers.
Current Class Schedule: Providing your child’s class schedule shows that your student is currently enrolled in school.

How Much Money Will You Save?

Student-driver away discount rates can depend on which carrier you have. In most cases, you will save between 10 percent and 30 percent on your auto insurance. Though it might seem like a hassle to keep your child on your policy when they do not drive frequently, it may be smart over the long run.

Secure Your Student-Driver Away Discount Today

With a student-driver away discount, you won’t break the bank, and you’ll help your child start on the path to their own insurance policy one day. As your independent auto insurance agent, we take it upon ourselves to make sure that you and your family can drive safely with the peace of mind that you’re getting the best rates possible. Contact us today to find out if you qualify for a student-driver away discount, as well as other auto insurance discounts.

MA Auto Policy Review: Part 12, Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Considering the potential damage from an accident with an underinsured motorist, you should seriously consider buying as much coverage as you can afford and is allowable by the insurance company …

Millions of auto accidents occur every year. Given the high speeds and low weight of cars on the road, many crashes result in serious injuries. While medical advancements can do amazing things to treat injuries, treatment comes at a high cost. Medical bills for even minor injuries can run thousands of dollars.

If you’re hurt in an auto accident, you’re going to want treatment and rehabilitation that restores “normal life” to you and your family. Underinsured motorist coverage can provide the financial help needed when the at-fault driver’s car insurance runs out.

Underinsured motorist coverage is similar to Part 3 on the MA auto policy, uninsured motorist coverage.

Both types of coverage apply only if you are injured in an auto accident where another driver is at fault. Whereas uninsured motorist coverage applies if the at-fault driver either does not have liability insurance coverage or cannot be found, underinsured motorist coverage applies if the at-fault driver has liability coverage but does not have sufficient limits to fully compensate you for damages.

If you’re hurt in an accident and someone else is at fault, the coverage will pay if the other driver’s does not.

How Important Is Underinsured Motorist Coverage?

How many people do you think carry sufficient liability coverage to pay medical bills for serious injury? Many states only require $25,000 in liability limits, which is amazingly little when you consider the potential for serious injuries. In reality, bills from even a short hospital stay can surpass the limits of many drivers’ liability coverage, and your underinsured motorist coverage may be needed to pay the difference. When you consider the relatively low minimum auto liability limits required by most states, it’s easy to see that your potential costs from an accident with an underinsured motorist can be very significant.

How Much Coverage You May Need

The rule of thumb is that underinsured motorist limits, if provided separately, should be the same as the liability (and uninsured motorist) limits on the policy. The legal damages from an injury or a death in an accident can include areas like loss of income and other costs of recovery. These can exceed the direct bills from the doctor and hospital. A death claim can also include potential future earnings and loss of care and services to survivors.

Considering the potential damage from an accident with an underinsured motorist, you should seriously consider buying as much coverage as you can afford and is allowable by the insurance company.

Protect Yourself if Someone Else Is at Fault

Massautoquote would love to earn your Massachusetts auto insurance business. We welcome the opportunity to review your coverage and discount programs. Call, click or stop by today to help determine your insurance needs.