Finding the lowest cost Chicopee auto insurance on the web can be impossible for consumers new to buying insurance online. Since there are so many companies in the marketplace, how can Chicopee drivers effectively compare the different rates to find the best pricing?
If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to cut costs considerably using these techniques. This information will help educate you on how to effectively get price quotes and some tips to save money. But Massachusetts car owners can benefit by having an understanding of the way insurance companies market on the web and use this information to your advantage.
Save big with these discounts
Car insurance is not cheap, but companies offer discounts that you may not know about. Most are applied at the time of quoting, but some may not be applied and must be asked about before you will receive the discount.
- Use Seat Belts – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could cut 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
- Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save up to 5%.
- Multiple Cars – Buying insurance for all your vehicles on one policy qualifies for this discount.
- Anti-theft Discount – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Employee of Federal Government – Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
- Driver’s Ed – Have your child successfully complete driver’s ed class in high school.
- Anti-lock Brake Discount – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and will save you 10% or more.
- Paperless Signup – Certain companies will give a small break simply for signing online.
- Discount for Life Insurance – Some companies give better rates if you take out auto and life insurance together.
Keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way. But any discount will bring down your overall premium however.
Educated Consumers Know How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper
It’s important that you understand the different types of things that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.
The following are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine rates.
- Lower rates come with age – Young drivers in Massachusetts have a tendency to be less responsible behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Adding a teen driver to your auto insurance policy can be quite pricey. Older drivers tend to be more responsible, file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel.
- Safe vehicles cost less to insure – Safer cars can get you lower premiums. Safe vehicles result in less severe injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.
- Rates may be higher depending on your occupation – Did you know your job can affect your rates? Occupations such as doctors, executives and stock brokers are shown to have the highest rates in part from stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. On the other hand, professions such as farmers, students and homemakers pay the least.
- Being married can save on auto insurance – Getting married can actually save you money on auto insurance. Marriage translates into being more responsible and it’s proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
- How’s your driving record? – Even a single citation can bump up the cost twenty percent or more. Drivers who don’t get tickets tend to pay less for car insurance than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who get severe violations like DUI or reckless driving may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with the DMV in their state in order to drive a vehicle legally.
When should I talk to an agent?
When choosing coverage for your vehicles, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s needs are different.
These are some specific questions might point out if you could use an agent’s help.
- Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
- Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
- Is pleasure use cheaper than using my vehicle to commute?
- Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
- Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
- Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
- Does my insurance cover my expensive audio equipment?
- Should I buy more coverage than the required Massachusetts minimum liability coverage?
- Do no-fault laws apply in Massachusetts?
If you can’t answer these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form.
Can’t I compare rates from local Chicopee agents?
A small number of people would rather visit with an insurance agent and that is OK! The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain lower rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying from local businesses is definitely important in Chicopee.
By using this short form, your insurance coverage information gets sent to insurance agents in Chicopee who will give you bids for your coverage. You won’t need to drive around because quoted prices will be sent immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier! You’ll get the best rates and work with a local agent.
Different types of Chicopee auto insurance agents
If you’re trying to find a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are two different agency structures from which to choose. Insurance agencies in Chicopee can either be independent (non-captive) or captive.
Independent Agents
Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company but instead can place your coverage with lots of companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, they simply move the coverage in-house and that require little work on your part. When shopping rates, you should always get quotes from at least one independent agent to ensure the widest selection of prices.Most can insure with lesser-known insurance companies which can be an advantage.
Listed below is a short list of independent agents in Chicopee that can give you pricing information.
- Robb Insurance Inc – 317 Broadway St – Chicopee, MA 01020 – (413) 594-4797
- First American Insurance Inc – 510 Front St – Chicopee, MA 01013 – (413) 592-8118
Captive Insurance Agents
These agents write business for a single company and some examples include Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. These agents are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so keep that in mind. These agents are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers sometimes purchase coverage from captives mostly because of the brand legacy and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.
Choosing an insurance agent should depend on more than just the premium amount. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
- Who are their largest clients?
- If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
After getting positive responses for all questions you ask in addition to an acceptable price estimate, chances are good that you have found an insurance agent that can insure your vehicles.
Do auto insurance companies bend the truth?
Companies like Progressive, Geico, Allstate and State Farm consistently run ads on television and other media. All the ads have a common claim about savings if you change to their company. How does each company say the same thing? It’s all in the numbers.
All companies can use profiling for the driver they prefer to insure. For example, a preferred risk could possibly be between 30 and 50, has no driving citations, and has great credit. Any driver who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and therefore will cut their rates substantially.
Drivers who don’t qualify for these standards will have to pay higher rates and ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. That’s the way companies can truthfully make those claims.
Because of the profiling, you need to get quotes from several different companies. It’s impossible to know which company will give you the biggest savings.
More information can be read on the Massachusetts Division of Insurance website. Click here for link. Massachusetts consumers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, download brochures, read industry bulletins, and view a list of available companies.
Buy online or local, you save
When trying to cut insurance costs, never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In too many instances, drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits and learned later they didn’t have enough coverage. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage for the lowest price.
People leave their current company for any number of reasons including being labeled a high risk driver, extreme rates for teen drivers, delays in responding to claim requests or even not issuing a premium refund. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch choosing a new insurance company is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.
Low-cost auto insurance is definitely available on the web in addition to many Chicopee insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best selection. Some auto insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.