Massachusetts Auto Insurance...
Getting the Most for Your Money
 Am I
getting all of the discounts to which I am entitled?
If you have seen your
rates creep up over the years, call your agent and see what ideas he or she
may have. Are you taking full advantage of the discounts that the company
offers? If you have your home and auto insurance with the same company, are
you getting a discount? Some other questions to ask and issues to discuss
are:
-
I have two cars; am
I getting a multi-car discount?
-
Does it make sense
to increase my deductibles? If your collision deductible is currently at
$100, does it make sense to increase that to $500? Would you really turn
in a $100 claim? Think about your own budget and what makes sense for
you. Ask your agent how much money this will save you.
-
Do my cars really
need full coverage insurance? On an older car (over six years old) you
may want to drop collision and/or comprehensive coverage and carry
liability coverage only. Ask your agent what makes sense..
-
Does my company give
discounts for my being a nonsmoker? A non-drinker?
-
Did you know that my
daughter made the Dean's List? It's not just bragging, you know...your
company may give discounts to youthful operators for academic
achievement.
-
Did you know that my
car has anti-lock brakes; airbag; theft deterrent system?
-
Did you know that my
son took Driver's Education?
-
Does the company
like to write policies in my area?
-
Am I with a standard
carrier?
-
Does the company
"target" for business in my area? Do my autos fit its "preferred
profile?"
-
Have I received credit for
my excellent past driving/claims history? (Assuming that is the case.)
Your bargaining power is much better when you have a good driving record
and claims history. After you have an accident is about the worst time
to call around for new rates.
Overall, you want to be
able to trust your agent and be able to be honest with him or her. Be
completely honest and try not to leave anything out of your past five years
or driving experience. Listen carefully to the questions that the agent
asks; they usually aren't being nosy when they ask for information.
"Forgetting" pertinent details (past tickets, accidents, violations) will
only create headaches for you down the road. "Forgetting" details can result
in a letter of cancellation and an agent that may not be too receptive to
your dilemma. If you do get a cancellation letter and it seems to be in
error (or you really
forgot something) call the agent immediately. Erroneous information has been
known to appear. Getting it cleared up immediately is crucial.
After you have
discussed some or all of the above, if you are still not satisfied, perhaps
you should do some comparison shopping.
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