No one likes having to buy car insurance, especially when the price is too high. Having so many online and local companies to choose from, it can be hard to choose the best provider.
Finding Car Insurance in Fall River, Massachusetts
Finding a better price on car insurance is a fairly straight forward process. Consumers just need to take time comparing price quotes online with multiple companies. This can be done in a couple of different ways.
- One of the best ways to find the lowest comparison rates is an all-inclusive rate comparison like this one (opens in new window). This easy form keeps you from doing separate quote forms for each company you want a rate for. A single form gets you coverage quotes from multiple companies.
- A more time consuming way to analyze rates requires a trip to each individual company website and complete a new quote form. For sake of this example, we’ll pretend you want rates from Auto-Owners, Liberty Mutual and Allstate. To get each rate you have to take the time to go to each site and enter your information, and that’s why the first method is more popular. For a handy list of car insurance company links in Fall River, click here.
- The least recommended method of getting rate comparisons to insurance agents’ offices. The internet has reduced the need for local agents unless you prefer the personal advice that only a license agent can provide. However, consumers can comparison shop your insurance online but still have the advice of a local agent.
Whichever way you use, make sure you use identical deductibles and coverage limits on every quote you get. If the quotes have different limits and deductibles on each one you will not be able to decipher which rate is best in Fall River.
Drivers who switch save $458 a year? Really?
Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance by Progressive, Allstate and Geico. They all make an identical promise that you can save if you switch to their company.
How do they all make the same claim?
Different companies can use profiling for the right customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a profitable customer could possibly be between 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” will get very good rates and as a result will probably save quite a bit of money when switching.
Potential insureds who don’t meet the requirements will be charged higher prices which usually ends up with business not being written. The ads state “people who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much money. That’s why insurance companies can confidently make those claims.
That is why it is so important to get quotes from several different companies. Because you never know which car insurance company will fit your personal profile best.
Lower rates by qualifying for these nine discounts
The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but there are discounts available to help bring down the price. Most are applied when you purchase, but a few must be inquired about before being credited. If you don’t get every credit available, you’re just leaving money on the table.
- Sign Early and Save – Some companies give discounts for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiration. It can save you around 10%.
- Seat Belt Usage – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save up to 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
- Pay Upfront and Save – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save up to 5%.
- Multi-car Discount – Buying coverage for more than one vehicle on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
- Low Mileage – Driving fewer miles can qualify you for a substantially lower rate.
- Discounts for Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents may save up to 50% more than drivers with accident claims.
- College Student – Children who are attending college and do not have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
- Defensive Driving Course – Taking a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- Organization Discounts – Participating in certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates when shopping for car insurance.
It’s important to note that most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like all those discounts means the company will pay you, it doesn’t quite work that way. But any discount will help reduce your premiums.
For a list of insurers offering car insurance discounts in Massachusetts, click here to view.
But I prefer to buy car insurance from an agent
Some consumers would rather visit with an insurance agent and that is a personal choice. Educated insurance agents can answer important questions and help submit paperwork. One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is that you can obtain lower rates and still choose a local agent. Supporting local businesses is important particularly in Fall River.
To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, your insurance coverage information is instantly submitted to insurance agents in Fall River who will give you bids for your coverage. You don’t have to leave your computer since price quotes are sent directly to your email. It doesn’t get any easier!
If you wish to view licensed agents in Fall River, click here to link.
Selecting an insurance company needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Some important questions to ask are:
- How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
- Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
- How are claims handled?
- Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
- Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
After getting acceptable answers to all your questions and an acceptable price quote, you’ve probably found an provider that will provide car insurance coverage.
Your coverage should be tailored to you
When buying the best car insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s needs are different so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions could help you determine if your situation might need professional guidance.
- Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
- How much liability coverage do I need in Massachusetts?
- How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in Massachusetts?
- Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
- Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
- At what point should I drop full coverage?
- Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.
Car insurance coverages and their meanings
Understanding the coverages of your policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. Car insurance terms can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Below you’ll find the normal coverages offered by car insurance companies.
Medical payments and PIP coverage – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for short-term medical expenses like funeral costs, chiropractic care, prosthetic devices and doctor visits. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover you and your occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Collision coverages – Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your vehicle caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers things like hitting a parking meter, rolling your car and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage – This coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many Massachusetts drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (Massachusetts limits are 20/40/5), their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked. Normally these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Comprehensive auto coverage – This pays for damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things like theft, hitting a deer and hail damage. The maximum payout you’ll receive from a claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Liability – This can cover damage that occurs to other people or property. This insurance protects YOU against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show liability limits of 25/50/25 that translate to a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Another option is a combined limit which provides one coverage limit and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.
Liability coverage pays for things like loss of income, emergency aid and funeral expenses. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but you should buy as large an amount as possible. Massachusetts state minimum liability requirements are 20,000/40,000/5,000 but drivers should carry higher limits.
More information is located on the website for the Massachusetts Division of Insurance located here. Massachusetts consumers can file complaints about a company, read state legal mandates and laws, and learn about insurance regulations.
Additional helpful sites include III.org’s auto insurance page and this page where you can also get Fall River car insurance quotes.
More comparisons equals lower rates
In this article, we presented many ideas to reduce car insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more times you quote, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may even find the lowest priced car insurance comes from the least-expected company. These companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates compared to the large companies like Allstate or State Farm.
Cheaper car insurance is possible both online in addition to many Fall River insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies do not provide the ability to get a quote online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.