It goes without saying that car insurance companies don’t want you to compare rates. Insureds who compare other prices will probably move their business because of the good chance of finding good coverage at a lower price. A recent survey discovered that people who routinely compared quotes saved over $865 a year compared to those who never compared rates.
If finding the lowest price on Chevy Bolt EV insurance in Boston is your intention, then having a good understanding the best way to shop and compare insurance can make it easier to shop your coverage around.
If saving the most money is your goal, then the best way to save on Chevy Bolt EV insurance in Boston is to compare quotes annually from companies that insure vehicles in Massachusetts. You can shop around by following these guidelines.
- Read and learn about what is in your policy and the modifications you can make to keep rates in check. Many rating factors that increase rates such as speeding tickets, careless driving and a not-so-good credit history can be controlled by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes. Later in this article we will cover information to find cheap prices and get discounts that may be available to you.
- Compare prices from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only provide price estimates from a single company like Progressive or Allstate, while agents who are independent can quote prices from multiple insurance companies.
- Compare the new rates to your existing coverage and determine if there is any savings. If you find better rates, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Tell your current company to cancel your current car insurance policy and submit a completed application and payment to your new agent or company. When you receive it, keep the new certificate verifying coverage with the vehicle registration.
The key thing to remember is to use the same physical damage deductibles and liability limits on each quote and and to get price quotes from all possible companies. Doing this provides a level playing field and maximum price selection.
The best way to compare insurance rates in your area is to know the fact most of the larger companies allow for online access to give you rate quotes. All you need to do is provide the companies a bit of rating information including if you lease or own, if you’re married, an estimate of your credit level, and level of coverage desired. That rating information is submitted instantly to multiple companies and you receive quotes almost instantly.
To compare multiple company affordable Chevy Bolt EV insurance rates now, click here and enter the information requested.
The companies shown below offer free quotes in Massachusetts. To get the best car insurance in Boston, MA, we suggest you visit as many as you can to get a more complete price comparison.
Cheap Boston car insurance rates with discounts
Some providers don’t list their entire list of discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the following list contains a few of the more common and the harder-to-find discounts that you may qualify for. If you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you are not getting the best rate possible.
- Full Payment Discount – If you pay your bill all at once as opposed to paying monthly you can avoid the installment charge.
- Telematics Devices – Policyholders that allow their car insurance company to scrutinize vehicle usage by using a telematics device such as In-Drive from State Farm or Allstate’s Drivewise system could see a rate decrease if they show good driving skills.
- Good Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates as compared to drivers with claims.
- Membership in Organizations – Affiliation with a professional or civic organization can get you a small discount when getting a Boston car insurance quote.
- Accident Forgiveness – This isn’t a discount exactly, but some companies like Allstate and GEICO will turn a blind eye to one accident before hitting you with a surcharge with the catch being you have to be claim-free for a specific time period.
- Good Student – Excelling in school may save you up to 25%. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.
As is typical with insurance, most discounts do not apply to the whole policy. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it appears all those discounts means the company will pay you, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.
Larger car insurance companies and some of their more popular discounts are:
- American Family may offer discounts for defensive driver, accident-free, TimeAway discount, bundled insurance, multi-vehicle, and Steer into Savings.
- Farm Bureau policyholders can earn discounts including good student, 55 and retired, driver training, safe driver, and multi-policy.
- State Farm has savings for safe vehicle, good driver, driver’s education, Drive Safe & Save, Steer Clear safe driver discount, defensive driving training, and student away at school.
- Travelers offers discounts for home ownership, save driver, IntelliDrive, payment discounts, and early quote.
- The Hartford offers premium reductions for anti-theft, vehicle fuel type, good student, bundle, and defensive driver.
- GEICO may include discounts for federal employee, air bags, anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, membership and employees, driver training, and seat belt use.
- Progressive includes discounts for online quote discount, homeowner, multi-policy, continuous coverage, and good student.
Double check with every prospective company which discounts you qualify for. Some discounts listed above might not be offered in your area. For a list of companies offering car insurance discounts in Massachusetts, click this link.
Three good reasons to insure your Chevy Bolt EV
Despite the potentially high cost of Chevy Bolt EV insurance, paying for car insurance is required for several reasons.
- Almost all states have minimum liability requirements which means state laws require a minimum amount of liability protection if you don’t want to risk a ticket. In Massachusetts these limits are 20/40/5 which means you must have $20,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $40,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you took out a loan on your Chevy, more than likely the lender will make it a condition of the loan that you buy insurance to guarantee loan repayment. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the bank may insure your Chevy at a much higher rate and require you to pay the higher premium.
- Insurance safeguards your Chevy Bolt EV and your assets. It will also cover all forms of medical expenses for you, your passengers, and anyone else injured in an accident. Liability coverage will also pay attorney fees if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If your Chevy gets damaged, comprehensive and collision coverage will cover the repair costs.
The benefits of insuring your car definitely exceed the price paid, especially for larger claims. But the average driver in Massachusetts overpays as much as $820 a year so compare rate quotes every year to make sure the price is not too high.
Tailor your insurance coverage to you
Always keep in mind that when comparing coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance should reflect that
For instance, these questions might help in determining whether you might need an agent’s assistance.
- How much underlying liability do I need for an umbrella policy?
- Does coverage extend to my business vehicle?
- How many claims can I have before being canceled?
- If my Chevy Bolt EV is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
- How can I force my company to pay a claim?
- What if I total my Chevy Bolt EV and owe more than it’s worth?
- Are my friends covered when driving my car?
If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and you can get the answers you need.
Compare rates but buy from a local Boston insurance agency
Some consumers just prefer to talk to an insurance agent and that is not a bad decision Good insurance agents can answer important questions and will help you if you have claims. The best thing about getting free rate quotes online is that you can obtain cheap rate quotes and still have an agent to talk to. And buying from local insurance agents is important especially in Boston.
For easy comparison, once you complete this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is instantly submitted to local insurance agents in Boston who will return price quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. You won’t need to find an agent on your own as quotes are delivered directly to your email. In the event you want to get a comparison quote from a specific car insurance provider, you can always find their quoting web page and fill out the quote form the provide.
Different types of car insurance agents in Boston
If you are searching for a local Boston insurance agency, there are two types of insurance agents from which to choose. Agents can be described as either exclusive or independent. Either can write policy coverage, but it’s a good idea to understand the differences because it may have an impact on the selection process.
Independent Car Insurance Agents (or Brokers)
These type of agents are not locked into one company so they can insure your vehicles through many companies and find you cheaper rates. If they find a cheaper price, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you don’t have to do anything.
When shopping rates, you will want to include price quotes from at a minimum one independent agency for the best price selection.
Featured below is a partial list of independent agents in Boston that may be able to give pricing information.
Pilgrim Insurance Co
695 Atlantic Ave – Boston, MA 02111 – (617) 956-6000 – View Map
HR Hatch Insurance Agency
4401 Washington St – Roslindale, MA 02131 – (617) 325-5522 – View Map
MassDrive Insurance Group, LLC
241 A St – Boston, MA 02210 – (866) 963-8231 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Agents in the exclusive channel generally can only insure with one company like Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. Exclusive agents cannot compare other company’s rates so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents receive extensive training on sales techniques which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.
Below are exclusive insurance agents in Boston willing to provide price quote information.
AAA Boston
125 High St – Boston, MA 02110 – (617) 443-9300 – View Map
Allstate Insurance: Abner Joseph
571 Dudley St Ste A – Boston, MA 02125 – (617) 442-9490 – View Map
Finding a good auto insurance agent requires you to look at more than just the premium amount. Any agent in Boston should be willing to answer these questions.
- Which company do they place the most coverage with?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Omissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
- Do they get extra compensation for selling add-on coverages?
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
- Are they giving you every discount you deserve?
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
The coverage is in the details
Having a good grasp of your auto insurance policy helps when choosing the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. Shown next are the usual coverages found on most auto insurance policies.
Medical payments coverage and PIP
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for short-term medical expenses like rehabilitation expenses, funeral costs and EMT expenses. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. They cover all vehicle occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage
This coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Chevy Bolt EV.
Due to the fact that many Massachusetts drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (which is 20/40/5), their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Frequently your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Comprehensive coverage
This pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as fire damage, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, damage from a tornado or hurricane and theft. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Liability insurance
Liability coverage can cover damage that occurs to a person or their property in an accident. It protects you from legal claims by others. It does not cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 20/40/5 which means a $20,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $40,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $5,000. Another option is a combined limit that pays claims from the same limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.
Liability can pay for claims such as court costs, medical expenses, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and emergency aid. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but consider buying as large an amount as possible. Massachusetts requires minimum liability limits of 20/40/5 but you should think about purchasing more coverage.
The next chart shows why buying low liability limits may not be adequate.
Collision coverage
This coverage pays for damage to your Bolt EV caused by collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision insurance covers claims like crashing into a building, sustaining damage from a pot hole, colliding with a tree and rolling your car. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. You can also bump up the deductible on your Bolt EV to get cheaper collision coverage.