Save Money on Lincoln MKZ Insurance in Boston

No car owner gets a kick out of paying for insurance, especially when they know it costs too dang much.

It’s an obvious statement that car insurance companies want to keep you from comparing prices. Drivers who rate shop once a year are highly likely to move their business because they have good chances of finding more affordable rates. Surprisingly, a recent survey revealed that drivers who regularly compared rates saved $3,500 over four years as compared to drivers who don’t make a habit of comparing rates.

If finding low prices for Lincoln MKZ insurance is your goal, then having some insight into how to quote and compare car insurance can save money and time.

Online insurance companies like GEICO, Farmers Insurance and State Farm all claim big savings, bombarding you with advertising and it is challenging if not impossible to see past the geckos and flying pigs and find the best price available.

When comparing insurance rates, know that comparing more prices helps you find a better price.

The companies in the list below provide comparison quotes in Massachusetts. If you want to find cheap car insurance in Boston, we suggest you click on several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.

Save a ton by taking advantage of discounts

Insurance is expensive, but you might find some hidden discounts to help offset the cost. Certain discounts will be applied when you quote, but once in a while a discount must be manually applied in order for you to get them.

• Waiver for an Accident – Not necessarily a discount, but a handful of insurance companies allow you one accident without getting socked with a rate hike so long as you are claim-free for a set time period.
• Professional Organizations – Having an affiliation with a civic or occupational organization in Boston is a simple method to lower premiums on your next insurance statement.
• Good Student Discount – Getting good grades can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last until age 25.
• Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Keeping the miles down on your Lincoln could earn lower prices on the low mileage vehicles.
• Driving Data Discount – Insureds who allow driving data collection to study driving habits through the use of a telematics system such as State Farm’s In-Drive could possibly reduce rates as long as the data is positive.

It’s important to understand that most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. If you do the math and it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won’t be that lucky.

The illustration below illustrates the comparison of Lincoln MKZ insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The price estimates are based on a male driver, no accidents, no driving violations, Massachusetts state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with safe-driver, marriage, multi-policy, multi-car, claim-free, and homeowner discounts applied.

A few popular companies and a selection of discounts include:

• Farmers Insurance offers discounts for good student, alternative fuel, switch companies, mature driver, business and professional, multi-car, and pay in full.
• State Farm may have discounts that include safe vehicle, Steer Clear safe driver discount, multiple autos, defensive driving training, accident-free, good student, and anti-theft.
• Liberty Mutual may include discounts for new vehicle discount, good student, new graduate, exclusive group savings, teen driver discount, and newly married.
• MetLife includes discounts for accident-free, good student, defensive driver, good driver, multi-policy, and claim-free.
• Progressive discounts include homeowner, good student, continuous coverage, online signing, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and online quote discount.

If you want cheaper Boston car insurance quotes, ask each insurance company which discounts you qualify for. Some discounts might not apply in Boston. To find providers that offer discounts in Boston, click here.

Lincoln MKZ insurance analysis

The data table displayed next outlines estimates of policy rates for Lincoln MKZ models. Having a good grasp of how insurance policy rates are established can assist in making decisions on the best policy coverages.

Premium data assumes single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Massachusetts minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Estimates do not factor in vehicle location which can influence premium rates noticeably.

Policy deductibles

When shopping for insurance, a common question is where should you set your physical damage deductibles. The following insurance rates lay out the rate differences of buying low and high policy deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $250 deductible for physical damage and the second price table uses a $500 deductible.

Table data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Massachusetts minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-policy. Rate information does not factor in specific zip code location which can modify coverage rates greatly.

Based on this data, we can arrive at the conclusion that using a $250 deductible costs approximately $16 more each month or $192 a year averaged for all MKZ models than requesting the higher $500 deductible. Since you would have to pay $250 more to file a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you usually have at least 16 months between claims, you would save more money if you choose the higher deductible. The illustration below shows an example of how this decision is made.

The information below illustrates how choosing a deductible and can affect Lincoln MKZ insurance costs for different age categories. The information is based on a married male driver, comp and collision included, and no policy discounts are applied.

Cost difference between full coverage and liability

The example below illustrates the comparison of Lincoln MKZ car insurance rates with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The data assumes no claims or violations, $500 deductibles, single marital status, and no additional discounts are factored in.

When to drop comp and collision

There isn’t a written rule for phasing out full coverage on your policy, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of coverage is more than about 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.

For example, let’s assume your Lincoln MKZ replacement cost is $4,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most you would receive is $3,000 after paying your policy deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $300 annually for full coverage, then it might be time to buy liability only.

There are some circumstances where only buying liability is not in your best interest. If you haven’t paid off your loan, you have to carry full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest. Also, if your finances do not allow you to purchase a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should keep full coverage on your policy.

How Your MKZ Insurance Prices are Determined

Many different elements are part of the calculation when premium rates are determined. Some are pretty understandable like a motor vehicle report, but other factors are less apparent like your vehicle usage and annual miles driven. One of the most helpful ways to save on auto insurance is to to have a grasp of the rating factors that are used to determine auto insurance rates. If you understand what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this helps enable you to make changes that may result in cheaper rates.

The items below are just a few of the factors auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

• A auto insurance policy lapse can increase rates – Having an insurance coverage lapse is a sure-fire way to increase your renewal premiums. In addition to paying higher rates, being ticketed for driving with no insurance might get you a revoked license or a big fine. You could then be forced to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with the Massachusetts motor vehicle department.
• Theft deterrents save – Selecting a car model with an alarm system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft devices such as OnStar found on GM vehicles, advanced tracking like LoJack, and vehicle immobilization systems all help stop auto theft and help lower rates.
• Choose high IIHS safety ratings and save – Safer cars tend to have better insurance rates. Vehicles built for safety protect occupants better and better occupant protection translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims passed on to you as lower rates. If your Lincoln MKZ earned at least an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website it may cost less to insure.

• Gender and insurance premiums – Over time, data shows that females tend to be a little less risky than males. It does not mean males are worse at driving than females. Females and males cause fender benders at about the same rate, but the males tend to have higher claims. In addition to higher claims, males also receive more major tickets such as reckless driving. Young men ages 16 to 20 are most likely to cause an accident and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.

  The diagram below compares Lincoln MKZ car insurance rates for male and female drivers. Data assumes no accidents, no driving violations, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, drivers are single, and no additional discounts are factored in.

• Lincoln MKZ insurance loss data – Insurers include the past claim history for a vehicle to help calculate premium prices. Vehicles that have higher prevalence or dollar amount of losses will cost more for specific coverages.

  The data below shows the historical insurance loss data for Lincoln MKZ vehicles. For each policy coverage, the statistical loss for all vehicles, regardless of make or model, is set at 100. Percentage values below 100 indicate a favorable loss history, while numbers above 100 point to more losses or a tendency for losses to be larger than average.

  
  

  Lincoln MKZ Insurance Claim Statistics

  Vehicle Make and Model	Collision	Property Damage	Comp	Personal Injury	Medical Payment	Bodily Injury
  Lincoln MKZ 4dr 2WD	137	85	107	95	89	75
  Lincoln MKZ 4dr 4WD	140	82	126	99
  Lincoln MKZ Hybrid 4dr	148	84	100	74	82	76

  BETTER

  AVERAGE

  WORSE

  Empty fields indicate not enough data collected
  Statistics Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years

Shop online but buy locally

Many people still prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is a smart decision The best thing about comparing rate quotes online is you can get lower rates and still buy from a local agent.

After completing this simple form, your insurance coverage information is submitted to agents in your area who can give free rate quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. You won’t need to even leave your home because quoted prices will be sent immediately to your email address. You’ll get the best rates AND a local agent. If for some reason you want to quote rates for a specific company, you just need to search and find their rate quote page and complete a quote there.

Selecting a company needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price quote. You should also get answers to these questions.

• Will you work with the agent or an assistant?
• How are they compensated?
• Are they primarily personal or commercial lines agents in Boston?
• 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?

There’s no such thing as the perfect auto insurance policy

When quoting and choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Your financial needs are unique.

These are some specific questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• Where can I find DUI or SR-22 insurance?
• When should I not file a claim?
• How can I force my company to pay a claim?
• What if an uninsured driver hits me?
• Can I insure my car for more than it’s worth?
• Does my policy cover me if I wreck while driving under the influence?
• Am I covered if I break a side mirror?
• Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form.

How to find a good Boston auto insurance company

Selecting the top auto insurance company is difficult considering how many companies there are to choose from in Boston. The ranking information shown next can help you select which auto insurers you want to consider comparing rates with.

Top 10 Boston Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Value

1. The General
2. The Hartford
3. Farmers Insurance
4. Titan Insurance
5. Mercury Insurance
6. 21st Century
7. Safeco Insurance
8. AAA Insurance
9. State Farm
10. Travelers

Auto insurance savings summarized

As you quote Boston car insurance, do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are a lot of situations where an insured dropped liability coverage limits only to discover later that it was a big mistake. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price, but do not skimp to save money.

Drivers switch companies for any number of reasons including unfair underwriting practices, questionable increases in premium, lack of trust in their agent or even extreme rates for teen drivers. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, switching auto insurance companies is easier than you think.

Some companies may not have the ability to get quotes online and these smaller providers work with independent agents. Affordable Lincoln MKZ insurance in Boston is attainable both online as well as from independent agents in Boston, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best rate selection.

How to find low-cost rates for Lincoln MKZ insurance in Boston

If saving money is your primary concern, then the best way to find the cheapest price for car insurance rates is to regularly compare price quotes from providers in Boston.

• First, get a basic knowledge of the coverage provided by your policy and the measures you can control to lower rates. Many factors that cause rate increases like speeding tickets, accidents and poor credit rating can be remedied by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
• Second, compare prices from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Direct and exclusive agents can give quotes from a single company like Progressive or Allstate, while agents who are independent can give you price quotes from multiple companies.
• Third, compare the new rate quotes to your existing policy to see if a cheaper price is available. If you find a lower rate and decide to switch, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.

The most important part of shopping around is to make sure you enter identical limits and deductibles on every price quote and and to get price estimates from as many different insurance providers as possible. Doing this ensures an accurate price comparison and a better comparison of the market.

Additional auto insurance information is available at the links below

• Alcohol Impaired Driving FAQ (iihs.org)
• How Much are Car Insurance Rates for Electric Cars in Boston? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for Low Income Drivers in Boston? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for a Ford Explorer in Boston? (FAQ)
• Vehicle Safety Ratings (iihs.org)
• Should I Purchase an Umbrella Liability Policy? (Insurance Information Institute)
• Insurance Losses by Make and Model (iihs.org)