MA Auto Insurance Archives - Page 2 of 5

MA Auto Insurance: Tips for Teen Drivers

New drivers are most at risk of auto accidents because they lack the experience and maturity to make intelligent decisions at critical times.

Insurance companies know this and charge their insurance premiums accordingly.

In the spirit of safe driving, http://www.MassQuotes.com recommends new drivers form good driving habits early.

Consider these sobering statistics on teen driving:

Automobile accidents are the number one killer of our nation’s youth.
Drivers under the age of 20 were involved in 13% of all accidents, yet they account for only 5% of all drivers.
5,000 teenagers die each year from auto accidents.
Alcohol is responsible for almost half of all teen motor vehicle deaths.
25% of all teen accidents involve speeding.
Half of all teenage traffic fatalities occur between 6:00 p.m. Friday and 3:00 a.m. Sunday.
In one year, drivers 19 and under were involved in close to 3 million motor vehicle accidents.

The price of a bad decision can include injury to yourself or others, loss of life, loss of life style or loss of personal freedom.

Ways to prevent MA auto accidents

Drive defensively. If you assume that other drivers are not as skilled and thoughtful as you are, you will instinctively become more careful and cautious when on the road.
Try not to speed. When you speed, you have less time to react, less time to make the right decision.
Never drink and drive. Alcohol can seriously impair your decision-making skills and reaction time.
Take the keys away from friends who have been drinking.

Adults can set an example by practicing safe driving habits.

Ways to keep MA auto insurance premiums for new, MA teen drivers as low as possible:

Number of years licensed, the longer the better.
driving record, the cleaner the better
driver’s education?
Full-time, good student?
AAA?
Advanced Driver Training?
Do you still live at home?
What is the value of your car?
Is there a lender?
What kind of liability limits do you carry?

All can be factors to help lower a new driver’s MA auto insurance rates.

Please call or click us at: MassQuotes.com.

MA Auto Policy: Optional Coverage

Parts 5 – 12 of the Massachusetts Auto Policy are known as “Optional Coverage.”

Let’s take a quick look see:

Part 5, Optional Bodily Injury to Others – Extends your liability protection (the basic $20,000/$40,000 limits under Bodily Injury to Others) up to the amount you purchase under this part. This option of Massachusetts Auto Insurance provides coverage for accidents beyond Massachusetts to anywhere in the United States, its territories or possessions, or Canada. This coverage also pays for damages suffered by guests in your auto.

Part 6, Medical Payments – Covers medical expenses for you, your household members and passengers, over and above amounts covered by Personal Injury Protection no matter who caused the accident. The minimum amount of Massachusetts Auto Insurance you can buy is $5,000 if insuring an automobile and $500 if insuring a motorcycle.

Part 7, Collision Coverage – Pays for collision damage to your auto, less any applicable deductible, no matter who causes the accident. If your car is financed, your lender may require this coverage as well as a particular deductible amount.

Part 8, Limited Collision – Also pays for collision damage to your car. You must not be more than 50% at fault and the owner of the other vehicle must be identified. Get limited collision with Massachusetts Auto Insurance today.

Part 9, Comprehensive Coverage – Pays for damage to or loss of your car, less any applicable deductible, resulting from perils such as fire, theft, vandalism, and striking an animal, but not collision. this coverage allows up to$ 15 a day (to a limit of$ 450) for substitute transportation (rental or other transportation costs including taxi, bus and train fare) until your stolen auto is recovered. personal property is not covered unless it is permanently installed in your car, such as a tape deck. If your car is financed, your lender may require this Mass Auto Insurance coverage.

Part 10, Subsitute Transportation – Reimburses up to $15 a day for car rental or transportation costs including taxi, bus and train fare (up to $450), while your car is undergoing collision or covered repairs. Coverage of up to $100 a day (up to a limit of $3,000) is available for an additional cost.

Part 11, Towing & Labor – Pays up to $50 for towing and labor charges each time your auto breaks down whether or not there is an accident involved. You are covered only for the on-site labor costs at the breakdown site (not any parts) needed to get your car running again. Massachusetts Auto Insurance coverage of up to $100 per disablement is available for additional cost.

Part 12, Underinsured Motorist Coverage – Pays for bodily injury damages to you, household members and passengers, unless they have a policy of their own, or are covered by an Auto Insurancepolicy of another household member with similar coverage. The accident must be caused by someone without enough bodily injury coverage. MA insurance pays you up to the difference between the total amount collected from the bodily injury liability insurance covering the owner and driver of the other car, and the limits you purchased for this coverage.

How To Get Massachusetts Auto Insurance

How To Get Massachusetts Auto Insurance –

In MA, insurance & your vehicle’s Registration go “hand-in-hand.” You cannot have one without the other. Massachusetts is also a “Title state” so in order to get new MA Plates you must also get a new Mass Title.

In order to get the insurance ball rolling, we recommend you get a auto quote from us. By utilizing MassQuotes.com, you will be accessing numerous companies and you will be provided with different coverage & premium options by a licensed, professional, independent insurance agent.

Your Mass Driving Record (& your Massachusetts insurance rate) depends on your driving record including such variables as: how many years you have been licensed (if less than three years then also whether or not you have completed a certified Mass Driver’s Education Training Course), over the past six years have you had any “at-fault” accidents or any moving violations (speeding tickets etc.).

Massachusetts’ Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP) rewards drivers with clean driving records and ensures that drivers that collect surcharge points pay more for auto insurance. SDIP is used by all Mass Auto Insurers and applies to any policy that covers private passenger vehicles.

Massachusetts Auto Insurance Coverage Review

Every year we spend a lot of money on auto insurance. It’s important to know what you’re spending it on and it’s important to know your coverage. Following please find MA auto insurance coverage explanation. The more you know about your Massachusetts Auto Insurance choices, the better prepared you’ll be in the future.

Part 1 – Compulsory, Bodily Injury To Others

Massachusetts Auto Insurance pays for damages (e.g. medical expenses, pain and suffering) to anyone injured or killed by your car only in an accident that occurs in Massachusetts, up to a basic limit of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident. Injuries to the driver or passengers in your car are not covered under this Part; please refer to Personal Injury Protection (Part 2 of Massachusetts Auto Insurance) for information about that Massachusetts insurance.

If you drive outside of Massachusetts or in places where the public has no right of access, or if you drive with guests in your car, please see Optional Bodily Injury to Others(Part 5), for coverage that will protect you in such situations.

You could be sued for much more than the required ($20,000/ $40,000) limits for Bodily Injury to Others. Buying higher limits under the Optional Bodily Injury to Others (Part 5) coverage may protect you from large losses. The limits you select will depend on your personal financial situation; limits of $100,000 per person, $300,000 per car accident are commonly selected.

Part 2 – Personal Injury Protection (PIP)Mass Auto insurance pays up to $8,000 to you or anyone you let drive your car, anyone living in your household, passengers and pedestrians, no matter who causes the accident. Personal Injury Protection insurance pays for medical expenses, replacement services and 75% of any lost wages.Your PIP Massachusetts Auto Insurance coverage pays for medical expenses in excess of $2,000 that are not paid for by your medical insurance only after these expenses have been submitted to the medical insurer to determine what it will and will not pay. Your PIP insurance coverage will not pay for expenses over $2,000 that your medical insurer would have paid if the injured person had sought treatment in accordance with the terms of your health plan.

Your health insurance may not cover all of your medical expenses from an auto accident such as cosmetic and dental services, co-payments and deductibles. Also, your disability policy may have long waiting periods. The small savings from the larger deductible may not be worth it.

The driver and passengers, while riding a motorcycle, are not covered by PIP. However, the owner of the motorcycle must purchase this coverage to protect other people who may be injured by the motorcycle.

You can save on your premium by excluding yourself, or yourself and household members, from some or all of this coverage. You should consider this option in Massachusetts Auto Insurance if you have a medical and disability income plan. The portion of each claim you have agreed not to be covered for is called a “deductible.”

*Note: Personal Injury Protection covers owners of cars and motorcycles, and members of their households, if they are injured while occupying or struck by a car that does not have Mass Compulsory Insurance.

Part 3 – Un-Insured Motorist ProtectionProtects you, anyone you let drive your auto, household members and passengers (unless covered by another MA Auto Insurance Policy with similar coverage) against losses caused by an uninsured or unidentified (“hit and run”) driver. A minimum auto insurance limit of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident is required. This coverage does not pay for property damage or damage to your auto.

Part 4 – Property DamagePays for damage to another person’s property and costs associated with the loss of use of that property, when you, a household member or another authorized driver cause an accident. A minimum limit of $5,000 is required for Massachusetts Auto Insurance.

With the rising costs of autos and property repair, it may make sense to purchase more than the required $5,000 minimum auto insurance limit. This can be done at minimal cost. Car insurance limits of $50,000 or $100,000 are frequently purchased. Note that only 3% of all drivers purchase the $5,000 minimum for Massachusetts car insurance.

Part 5 – Optional Bodily Injury to Others

(Liability)Extends your liability protection (the basic $20,000/$40,000 limits under Bodily Injury to Others) up to the amount you purchase under this part. This option of Massachusetts Auto Insurance provides coverage for accidents beyond Massachusetts to anywhere in the United States, its territories or possessions, or Canada. This coverage also pays for damages suffered by guests in your auto.

Optional coverage.

Your automobile is not covered in any country other than the U.S. and Canada.

You could be sued and may be liable for much more than the $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident limits required under Bodily Injury to Others ( Part 1).

Buying higher limits under the Optional Bodily Injury insurance to Others coverage may make good sense if you have assets you wish to protect.

Part 6 – Medical Insurance Payments CoverageCovers medical expenses for you, your household members and passengers, over and above amounts covered by Personal Injury Protection no matter who caused the accident. The minimum amount of Massachusetts Auto Insurance you can buy is $5,000 if insuring an automobile and $500 if insuring a motorcycle.

Part 7 – Collision (Deductibles)(Optional) – Insurance pays for collision damage to your auto, less any applicable deductible, no matter who causes the accident. If your car is financed, your lender may require this coverage as well as a particular deductible amount.Selecting Your Deductible:Your Massachusetts Auto Insurance deductible will be set at $500 unless you select a different amount. You can always save on your premium by choosing a larger deductible where one is offered. In determining the amount of deductible that is right for you, decide how much you can afford to pay out of your own pocket in the event of an accident or loss in which you are at fault, or the other driver is unidentified. The deductible you choose is the amount you should expect to pay if you use this coverage option. Information regarding Selecting Your Deductible also applies to Limited Collision coverage (Part 8 ) and Comprehensive coverage (Part 9).Waiver of Deductible for Auto Insurance:Buying Collision coverage with a “waiver of deductible” means that the collision deductible you choose will not apply when an accident is caused by another identifiable driver. This is most helpful when there is an uninsured, identifiable driver. If you are in an accident caused by another identifiable driver who is insured, their Part 4 coverage (Damage to Someone Else’s Property) will pay your automobile’s damages to the limit they purchased. You will not have to pay the deductible amount.If you are in an accident caused by another identifiable driver who is uninsured, the waiver of deductible will pay the collision deductible you selected; however, you must pay additional premium for this option.Find out what your car is worth today. If you have a car of low dollar value, it may be a wise economic choice not to buy the Collision and Comprehensive coverage unless a lender requires it.However, if your automobile has substantial value because of its exceptional condition, such as an antique, classic or restored automobile, you should have it appraised and then consider insurance coverage in light of the appraised value.

Part 8 – Limited Collision (Deductibles)Also pays for collision damage to your car. You must not be more than 50% at fault and the owner of the other vehicle must be identified. Get limited collision with Massachusetts Auto Insurance today.

Part 9 – Comprehensive Insurance (Deductibles)Pays for damage to or loss of your car, less any applicable deductible, resulting from perils such as fire, theft, vandalism, and striking an animal, but not collision. this coverage allows up to$ 15 a day (to a limit of$ 450) for substitute transportation (rental or other transportation costs including taxi, bus and train fare) until your stolen auto is recovered. personal property is not covered unless it is permanently installed in your car, such as a tape deck. If your car is financed, your lender may require this Mass Auto Insurance coverage.

If your automobile is stolen, you must report it to the police and your insurance company. You will be reimbursed for transportation costs after the first 48 hours following the report.
You may be denied Comprehensive cover-age or required to pay a higher extra-risk rate if you own a high-theft vehicle which does not have a qualifying anti-theft or recovery device. Coverage may be denied or priced higher under certain other conditions.

Part 10 – Substitute Transportation CoverageInsurance reimburses up to $15 a day for car rental or transportation costs including taxi, bus and train fare (up to $450), while your car is undergoing collision or covered repairs. Coverage of up to $100 a day (up to a limit of $3,000) is available for an additional cost. Even if you have this coverage, some car rental agencies may refuse to rent to you if you are under a certain age, are a poor credit risk, do not have an acceptable credit card or have an unacceptable driving record. Get started with a Massachusetts Auto Insurance Quote and start saving money today.

Your Collision, Limited Collision and Comprehensive coverage will apply to any other car you rent or use with the consent of the owner, except a vehicle owned or regularly used by your spouse or a house-hold member.
If you can afford to take a cab or rent a car when your car is in the shop for collision repairs, you may not need Substitute Transportation coverage.

Part 11 – Towing & LaborInsurance pays up to $50 for towing and labor charges each time your auto breaks down whether or not there is an accident involved. You are covered only for the on-site labor costs at the breakdown site (not any parts) needed to get your car running again. Massachusetts Auto Insurance coverage of up to $100 per disablement is available for additional cost.

If you belong to a Motor Club in MA, you probably do not need this insurance coverage since many Motor Clubs’ services include towing and labor.

Part 12 – Underinsured Motorist ProtectionMassachusetts Insurance pays for bodily injury damages to you, household members and passengers, unless they have a policy of their own, or are covered by an Auto Insurancepolicy of another household member with similar coverage. The accident must be caused by someone without enough bodily injury coverage. Mass insurance pays you up to the difference between the total amount collected from the bodily injury liability insurance covering the owner and driver of the other car, and the limits you purchased for this coverage.

Since many people buy only minimum required auto insurance amounts for Bodily Injury to Others, selecting higher limits may protect you from incurring high personal injury expenses. You may purchase coverage up to, but no more than, the limits of the Bodily Injury to Others coverage you carry.

This Massachusetts Auto Insurance coverage will NOT pay for damage to property.

PLEASE REMEMBER:

Mass Insurance law requires a Pre-Insurance Inspection of used private passenger motor vehicles prior to providing coverage for Collision, Limited Collision or Comprehensive. In some cases, the required inspection may be deferred for seven calendar days (not including legal holidays). If your auto is not inspected within the required time, this coverage will be automatically suspended. Your premium will be adjusted if the suspension lasts more than ten days.

If you cancel your insurance policy, no refund will be issued until your Massachusetts insurance company receives a receipt showing that your license plates have been returned to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

It is your responsibility to make sure that your safety inspection sticker and your registration plates are current. If you fail to renew on time, you may be fined and surcharged. You must pay your premium to avoid cancellation of your insurance. On the effective date, cancellations are electronically reported to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

If you travel outside of Mass to another state or to Canada, it is a good idea to have your Mass insurance policy or proof of insurance with you. Your independent insurance agentor insurance company can provide these forms.

If any of your children who are household members obtain a driver’s license you must notify your insurance company within 60 days of that date. You must list all licensed household members and any other licensed person who will customarily operate your auto.

If you or someone on your behalf gives your insurance company false, deceptive, misleading or incomplete information concerning the description and place of garaging of the vehicles to be insured, the names of operators required to be listed and the answers given for all listed operators, your insurance company may refuse to pay your claims under any and all of the Optional Insurance Parts of your policy.

Request a Massachusetts auto insurance quote now.

Auto Insurance in Massachusetts

As a Massachusetts Independent Insurance Agency, over the past 40 years we’ve seen many changes including:

State-set auto insurance rates have gone and come and gone again.
Likewise, insurance companies have come and gone and come again.

Allstate Insurance left the MA auto insurance marketplace in 1987 because of the state-set auto insurance rate-making process.

Recently Allstate has come back to Massachusetts opening an office in North Andover, MA.

Allstate agents are captive agents. Similar to Liberty Mutual, State Farm, and Amica agents, the only write insurance products for one company.

Unlike our Massachusetts Independent Insurance Agency, they do not shop your insurance with multiple companies.

For many MA consumers, the new insurance landscape has provided savings and improved insurance programs, such as: accident forgiveness & disappearing deductibles.

However, for many disenfranchised, the new system can be extremely penal with companies requiring 100% annual premium payment for those with cancelled policies (& financial troubles). Some consumers are left with the troubling choice of financing their annual insurance or risking severe penalties (& registration revocation) letting their insurance cancel.

Your MA Independent Agent will be able to show you what your best options are for Massachusetts Auto Insurance.

Call or click us for your free, no obligation MA insurance review.

We will try to help you!

MA Auto Insurance Discounts

Some of the traditional Massachusetts automobile insurance discounts:

Age 65 or Older – A 25% discount for all coverage items will be applied after all other discounts and rating factors, but prior to the application of the SDIP rating step.

Passive Restraint discount– A 25% discount applied to the premium paid for Parts 2,3,6 and 12 is available if your auto is equipped with an air bag or automatic seat belts.

Annual Mileage discounts – A 10% discount applied to the premium paid for Parts 1-8 and Part 12 is available if your estimated annual mileage falls between 0 and 5,000 miles. A 5% discount is available if your estimated annual mileage falls between 5,000 and 7,500 miles.

Anti-theft discounts – Up to 35% of the premium paid for Part 9 (Comprehensive) are available for automobiles with various types of qualifying anti-theft devices. Many glass companies offer complimentary “window etching” which will qualify you for a 15% anti-theft discount, in lieu of any other device.

Multi-Car discounts – Available if an individual or married couple own two or more autos insured by the same company and there are no inexperienced operators.

Driver’s Education discount – A 10% discount applied to the premium for Parts 1,2,4,5, and 7 is available for the first 3 years after an inexperienced driver has completed an approved training course.

Public Transit discount – A 10% public transit discount is applied to the premium paid for Parts 4 and 7 (up to a maximum of $75 per eligible vehicles). This discount is available if you provide your insurer with evidence of purchase of 11 months of commuter passes from qualified transit systems and if you do not drive your auto to work or school more than 10 days per month.

In addition, other Massachusetts auto insurance discounts may include:

Account discount on your auto if you have a home, apartment or condominium policy with the same company.
Excellent driver & excellent driver plus discounts (99 & 98 drivers).
Pay in full discounts.
Hybrid vehicle discount.
Advanced driver training discount.
Alumni & professional group discounts.
Good student discount (“B”or better).
Student away at school discount.
Multi-vehicle policy & multi-car discounts.

Shop for MA Insurance with Massquotes

Massquotes.com is your internet insurance website for finding the most competitive Massachusetts Auto, Home & Life Insurance.

MassQuotes utilizes the power of your local, independent insurance agent to shop for the best coverage and the best rates with the best companies.

Your MA independent agent writes with numerous companies and will be able to package your policies for the best premiums.

Your insurance agent should be able to help you with the MA Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Your MA agent will advocate for you at claim or billing time.

To find the best Massachusetts auto, home or life insurance rate: call or click us today!

Your Massachusetts Independent Insurance Agent

Why a Massachusetts Independent Insurance Agent?

Some people think it doesn’t really matter where they buy their Massachusetts insurance. This misconception is most likely costing them money, service, and protection.

Buying a Massachusetts insurance policy isn’t like buying bread or milk. Insurance is an important safety net for your family, your home, your car and your business.

Don’t treat your purchase lightly!

There are three sources to go to for your Massachusetts insurance protection:

Captive Agents, who sell insurance for only one company.
Direct writers & telephone representatives, who can offer you the insurance of one company, and only on the internet & telephone.
Independent MA Insurance Agents, who represent an average of eight insurance companies, and shop to find you the best combination coverage and price.

Your Massachusetts Independent Insurance Agent:

Is a licensed professional with strong customer and community ties.
Gives you excellent service and competitive prices because your agent can access the insurance coverage from more than one company.
Unlike other agents, your Independent Insurance agent is not beholden to any one company; thus, you don’t need to change agencies as your insurance and service needs change.
Assists you when you have a claim.
Is your consultant, working with you as you determine your needs.
Offers you a choice of Massachusetts insurance plans and programs.
Is a value hunter who looks after your pocketbook in finding the best combination of price, coverage and service.
Offers one-stop shopping for a full range of products – Massachusetts home insurance, renters, Massachusetts car insurance, business, lifeand health.
Can periodically help you review your coverage to keep up with your changing insurance needs.
Treats you like a person, not just another number.
Customer satisfaction is the key to a Massachusetts independent agent’s livelihood. So, serving you is a very important concern.

There Is A Difference between Massachusetts Independent Insurance Agents and Captive Agents.

Call or click us at Massquotes to get your free MA insurance quote.

Personal Liability Umbrella Coverage

A Massachusetts Personal Liability Umbrella Policy “sits-over” your home and auto liability limits. Coverage limits start at $1,000,000 and provide you protection from lawsuits.

Coverage is relatively inexpensive to purchase.

$1,000,000 of coverage sitting over two autos and a home costs about $160 annually.

Umbrella Policies require underlying motor vehicle liability limits of $250,000 per person/$500,000 per accident.

In addition to coverage limits, insurance companies provide legal defense.

So, in essence, when you purchase higher limits you are also purchasing improved legal defense.

Please call or click us if you would like to discuss Personal Liability Umbrella Coverage.

Massachusetts Auto Insurance: Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Often overlooked on the MA auto insurance policy are Parts 3 & 12, Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Coverage.

These limits are important. So important, we recommend coverage be equal to your Part 5 coverage which, hopefully, is at least $100,000 per person/ $300,000 per accident.

Uninsured & Underinsured coverage protects you and occupants from other drivers. Coverage also extends to you and household members involved in an accident as a pedestrian.

A recent report from the Insurance Research Council (IRC) shows that there is a remarkable correlation between unemployed and being uninsured.

Please call to discuss your Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist coverage limits.