How to Save on Subaru Forester Insurance in Boston

The most effective way to get cheaper auto insurance rates is to start doing a yearly price comparison from insurers in Boston. You can compare rates by following these guidelines.

First, try to comprehend individual coverages and the things you can change to prevent high rates. Many risk factors that increase rates such as distracted driving and a not-so-good credit history can be rectified by making lifestyle changes or driving safer. Keep reading for the details to find cheap rates and get discounts that may be available to you.

Second, request price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give prices from a single company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agents can quote prices for many different companies.

Third, compare the new quotes to your current policy premium to see if you can save by switching companies. If you find a lower rate and decide to switch, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.

A good tip to remember is to use similar limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to get price quotes from as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this provides an apples-to-apples comparison and a good representation of prices.

It’s safe to assume that car insurance companies don’t want you to look at other companies. Drivers who shop around for the cheapest price are very likely to switch insurance companies because there are good odds of finding a more affordable policy. A recent study showed that consumers who shopped around every year saved $72 a month compared to drivers who never compared other company’s rates.

If finding budget-friendly insurance in Boston is the reason you’re here, then having some insight into how to choose a company and compare insurance can help make the process easier and more efficient.

What Impacts Subaru Forester Insurance Rates?

Multiple criteria are part of the equation when premium rates are determined. Some are obvious such as your driving record, but some are less apparent like where you live or your commute time.

Shown below are some of the major factors used by companies to determine prices.

• Gender impacts rates – Over the last 30 years, statistics show that females take fewer risks when driving. Now that doesn’t mean males are worse at driving than females. Both genders have accidents at a similar rate, but the male of the species have accidents that have higher claims. Men also statistically receive more costly citations such as driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving recklessly.

  The example below shows the difference between Subaru Forester car insurance rates for male and female drivers. The prices are based on no claims or driving citations, full physical damage coverage, $1,000 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are applied.

• Drive less and pay lower prices – The more you drive annually the higher your rate. A lot of insurance companies rate vehicles partially by how you use the vehicle. Autos that have low annual miles receive better premium rates than those used for commuting. An improperly rated Forester may be wasting your money. Ask your agent if your insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle, because it can save money.
• How credit rating affects insurance prices – An insured’s credit rating will be a significant factor in determining what you pay. People with excellent credit scores tend to be less risk to insure as compared to drivers with lower ratings. So if your credit score is not that good, you could save money insuring your Subaru Forester by repairing your credit.
• Drive a safer car and pay less – Vehicles with high crash test scores get lower rates. Vehicles engineered for safety reduce injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into savings for insurance companies which can mean better rates for you.

• Claims statistics for a Subaru Forester – Insurance companies include the past claim history for a vehicle when they calculate premium prices for each model. Models that the statistics show to have high amounts or severity of claims will have higher premium rates.

  The data below shows the historical loss data for Subaru Forester vehicles. For each coverage type, the claim amount for all vehicles, as a total average, equals 100. Values that are under 100 imply a favorable loss record, while numbers above 100 indicate more frequent claims or an increased chance of a larger loss.

  
  

  Subaru Forester Insurance Loss Statistics

  Vehicle Model	Collision	Property Damage	Comp	Personal Injury	Medical Payment	Bodily Injury
  Subaru Forester 4dr 4WD	71	80	108	72	76	68
  Subaru Forester 4dr 4WD with Eyesight	74	66	118	77	78	53

  BETTER

  AVERAGE

  WORSE

  Statistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years

Subaru Forester insurance coverage information

The coverage table shown below covers different coverage costs for Subaru Forester models. Learning as much as possible about how insurance premiums are formulated can help drivers make smart choices when selecting a policy.

Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Massachusetts minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Estimates do not factor in specific Boston garaging location which can modify premiums considerably.

The information below demonstrates how choosing different deductibles and can influence Subaru Forester insurance prices for each age group. The rate quotes are based on a married female driver, full physical damage coverage, and no discounts are applied.

Difference between full coverage and liability only rates

The chart below illustrates the comparison of Subaru Forester car insurance costs with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The rates are based on no violations or claims, $250 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no other discounts are factored in.

When to stop buying full coverage

There is no set rule to exclude physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is more than 10% of replacement cost minus your deductible, then you might consider buying liability only.

For example, let’s assume your Subaru Forester settlement value is $3,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most you would receive is $2,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If you are paying over $200 a year for physical damage coverage, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.

There are some scenarios where eliminating full coverage is not in your best interest. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not eliminate full coverage.

Affordable rates with discounts

Auto insurance companies do not list the entire discount list very well, so we researched both well-publicized and the more hidden discounts that you may qualify for.

• Drivers Ed for Students – Require your teen driver to enroll and complete driver’s education if it’s offered in school.
• Accident Forgiveness – This isn’t a discount exactly, but some insurance companies permit an accident before they charge you more for coverage so long as you haven’t had any claims for a certain period of time.
• Savings for New Vehicles – Insuring a vehicle that is new can cost up to 25% less because newer models have to meet stringent safety requirements.
• Discounts for Responsible Drivers – Insureds without accidents can save as much as half off their rates compared to rates paid by drivers with frequent claims.
• Driver Safety – Taking part in a course teaching defensive driver skills could cut 5% off your bill and easily pay for the cost of the class.
• Multiple Cars – Insuring several vehicles with the same company can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
• Theft Deterrent – Anti-theft and alarm system equipped vehicles help deter theft and that can save you a little bit as well.

Policy discounts save money, but some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Just because you may think it’s possible to get free car insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.

The illustration below shows the comparison of Subaru Forester car insurance rates with and without discounts. The costs are based on a female driver, no claims or violations, Massachusetts state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-car, claim-free, multi-policy, marriage, safe-driver, and homeowner discounts applied.

A list of companies and a selection of discounts are outlined below.

• State Farm has savings for defensive driving training, Steer Clear safe driver discount, multiple policy, multiple autos, accident-free, and passive restraint.
• American Family offers premium reductions for early bird, defensive driver, good student, accident-free, and air bags.
• GEICO has discounts for defensive driver, driver training, daytime running lights, membership and employees, five-year accident-free, and multi-vehicle.
• 21st Century includes discounts for air bags, student driver, early bird, theft prevention, driver training, automatic seat belts, and teen driver.
• Progressive may have discounts that include homeowner, good student, online quote discount, online signing, and multi-vehicle.

Check with each company or agent how many discounts you can get. Savings might not be offered on policies everywhere. For a list of providers that offer multiple discounts in Boston, click here.

Frequent quotes can save

We just covered many ways to lower your Subaru Forester insurance prices in Boston. It’s most important to understand that the more rate quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Drivers may even discover the lowest prices come from a small local company.

More affordable insurance in Boston can be sourced from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Boston, and you should compare rates from both to have the best selection. A few companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and usually these smaller providers sell through independent agents.

As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s very important that you do not reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The aim is to find the BEST coverage at the best possible price and still be able to protect your assets.

Other resources

• Keeping Children Safe in Crashes Video (iihs.org)
• How Much are Auto Insurance Rates for a Subaru Impreza in Boston? (FAQ)
• How Much are Boston Auto Insurance Quotes for Young Drivers? (FAQ)
• How Much is Car Insurance for Single Moms in Boston? (FAQ)
• What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Veterans in Boston? (FAQ)
• Understanding Rental Car Insurance (Insurance Information Institute)
• Five Steps to Filing an Auto Insurance Claim (Insurance Information Institute)
• Credit and Insurance Scores (Insurance Information Institute)