Top 6 Ways to Save on Auto Insurance in Quincy Massachusetts

Saving money on Quincy auto insurance can seem to be challenging for consumers new to buying insurance online. There are so many choices that it can be a ton of work to compare prices in Quincy.

If you have car insurance now, you will be able to lower your premiums substantially using this strategy. This information will teach you how to effectively get price quotes. But Massachusetts drivers must learn how the larger insurance companies sell online and apply this information to your search.

Do you qualify for a discount?

Auto insurance companies don’t list all available discounts very well, so we break down both well-publicized and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings.

  • Military Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit could mean lower rates.
  • Employee of Federal Government – Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount depending on your company.
  • Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems prevent accidents and will save you 10% or more.
  • New Car Discount – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
  • Pay Upfront and Save – If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can actually save on your bill.
  • Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Drivers who require all occupants to buckle their seat belts can save 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.

Drivers should understand that many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

To choose insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in Quincy, click here.

When should I talk to an agent?

When choosing proper insurance coverage, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.

Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining whether or not you may require specific advice.

  • Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
  • Can I afford to pay high deductible claims out of pocket?
  • Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?
  • Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
  • Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
  • Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
  • Will my rates increase for filing one claim?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form.

Can’t I compare rates from local Quincy agents?

A small number of people just want to buy from a local agent and that is a personal choice. The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is you may find the best rates but also keep your business local.

After completing this simple form, the coverage information is immediately sent to local insurance agents in Quincy who will give you bids for your business. You won’t need to leave your computer since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier! It’s the lowest rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.

Deciding on an insurance company shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

  • How long has their agency been open in Quincy?
  • Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?
  • If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
  • Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
  • Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
  • What insurance companies do they work with?
  • How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?

Best auto insurance agent in Quincy

If you’re trying to find a reputable insurance agent or broker, you need to know there are two different types of agents to choose from. Agencies in Quincy can either be independent (non-captive) or captive.

Captive Agents

Captive agents write business for a single company and some examples include AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance and Allstate. Captives cannot compare other company’s rates so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captives receive extensive training on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers often buy from captive agents mainly due to the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.

Shown below are captive agencies in Quincy willing to provide comparison quotes.

  • Allstate Insurance – 4 Batterymarch Park – Quincy, MA 02169 – (617) 328-3905
Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company but instead can place your coverage with many different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To move your coverage to a new company, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparing rates, it’s recommended you get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to ensure the widest selection of prices. They also have the ability to place coverage with smaller companies which can save you money.Quincy car insurance quote

The following are Quincy independent agents who can help you get price quote information.

  • Adams Agency Inc – 1212 Hancock St – Quincy, MA 02169 – (617) 376-9935
  • Imaginative Insurance Prod Inc – 511 Washington St – Quincy, MA 02169 – (617) 773-0205
  • Fireman’s Fund Insurance – – Quincy, MA 02169 – (617) 691-4100

To view a complete directory of Quincy insurance agents, visit this site.

After getting acceptable answers for all questions you ask and a good coverage price, most likely you have located an auto insurance agent that is a good match to adequately provide auto insurance.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

State Farm and Allstate continually stream television and radio advertisements. All the companies have a common claim about savings after switching your coverage to them. How does each company make the same claim? This is how they do it.

All the different companies can use profiling for the type of customer that is profitable for them. An example of a preferred risk might be over the age of 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has a high credit rating. Any new insured that hits that “sweet spot” is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Drivers who fall outside the “perfect” profile will have to pay higher premiums which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads say “drivers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much. That’s the way companies can state the savings. Because of the profiling, you absolutely need to get quotes from several different companies. You cannot predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Informative consumer insurance sites

Additional detailed information is available at the Massachusetts Division of Insurance website. Massachusetts drivers can discover disciplinary actions, find out which companies have the most complaints, and view a list of available companies.

Other informative sites include this page for Massachusetts auto insurance and see this list of insurance agents in Quincy.

Specific coverage details

Understanding the coverages of your policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. Auto insurance terms can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement.

Coverage for collisions

This covers damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage protects against claims such as hitting a mailbox, colliding with a tree and hitting a parking meter. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

Comprehensive insurance coverage covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as damage from a tornado or hurricane, theft, a broken windshield, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and hail damage. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Liability auto insurance

This coverage provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people that is your fault. It protects you against other people’s claims, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see values of 100/300/100 which stand for a $100,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Quincy car insurance quote

Liability coverage pays for things such as medical expenses, funeral expenses, court costs, legal defense fees and loss of income. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is your choice, but buy higher limits if possible. Massachusetts state law requires minimum liability limits of 20,000/40,000/5,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy better liability coverage.

UM/UIM Coverage

This provides protection when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.

Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (20/40/5 in Massachusetts), their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important.

Medical costs insurance

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for expenses such as rehabilitation expenses, dental work and X-ray expenses. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers both the driver and occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

In Summary

Affordable auto insurance is available both online and with local Quincy insurance agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

You just read a lot of techniques to lower your auto insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from an unexpected company.

Consumers who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as not issuing a premium refund, questionable increases in premium, policy non-renewal and even high rates after DUI convictions. Whatever your reason, choosing a new company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.