Car Insurance from Massachusetts Professionals

What is Car Insurance?

Vehicles are a necessity for many people, but owning and operating one comes with a certain amount of risk. There are thousands of auto accidents every day, and drivers need to be prepared for the worst. Drivers in Massachusetts should obey all traffic laws and practice safe driving habits. They also should carry robust car insurance coverage.

Car insurance won’t keep people safe during an accident itself. That’s what seat belts, airbags and other safety features are for. A robust auto policy will help protect drivers from the financial fallout of covered accidents that they’re in, though.

Who in Massachusetts Needs Auto Insurance?

Most people and businesses that own vehicles which are driven on Massachusetts’ public roads must have auto insurance. Insurance is generally required by state law, and there are minimum amounts of certain coverages that a policy must provide. The state’s minimum coverage requirements apply to:

• Personal Injury Coverage, which may cover injuries that a driver or their passengers suffer
• Bodily Injury Coverage, which may cover injuries that other people suffer
• Property Damage Coverage, which may cover damage that other people’s property sustains
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage, which may cover accidents caused by improperly insured drivers

While the state has minimum requirements for each of these coverages, many drivers select higher limits than are required because they want additional protection.

What Other Coverages Do Auto Policies Offer?

In addition to the required coverages, there are many other protections that may be included in auto insurance policies. Some of these other coverages include:

• Comprehensive and Collision Coverages, which might cover damage that a vehicle sustains
• Rental Car Reimbursement Coverage, which might cover the cost of renting a car while repairs are being made after an accident
• Gap Coverage, which might cover the difference between a vehicle’s fair-market value and the balance on a loan or lease
• Pet Coverage, which might cover injuries that pets sustain in an accident

Many insurers also offer roadside assistance as an optional feature in their insurance policies.

Are There Different Kinds of Auto Policies?

Insurance companies offer a few different types of auto policies that meet different vehicle owners’ needs. Some of the more common auto policies:

• Standard personal auto policies, which are suitable for most individuals
• Classic car auto policies, which are generally for individuals who own classic vehicles
• Commercial auto policies, which are generally for businesses that own vehicles

Hired and non-owned auto policies, which are generally for businesses that use employee or rented vehicles

What is the Difference Between Comprehensive Coverage and Collision Coverage?

Comprehensive coverage and collision coverage both offer protection for an insured vehicle itself, paying to make repairs or to replace the vehicle after a covered incident. These two coverages differ in the types of incidents that they protect against, though.

Comprehensive coverage usually protects against damage that’s sustained in covered non-collision incidents. Within the insurance industry, these are normally defined as incidents that don’t involve two or more moving vehicles. For example, comprehensive coverage might extend to hitting a deer, a vehicle break-in or having a tree fall on a vehicle.

Collision coverage is so-named because it typically protects against damage that’s sustained in multi-vehicle collisions. Most accidents that involve at least one other moving vehicle fall under the domain of collision coverage.

What Factors Affect Drivers’ Auto Insurance Premiums?

Insurers take into account many different factors when setting auto insurance premiums, some of which drivers have control over and others that drivers can’t do much about. Some of the items that insurers might consider include the:

• Age, gender and marital status of the policyholder
• Driving record of the policyholder
• Year, make and model of the vehicle
• Location where the vehicle is most often stored
• Coverages and limits selected

Insurers weigh drivers’ credit scores in many states, but Massachusetts has outlawed this practice. Additionally, insurers don’t typically factor in the color of a vehicle.

How Can Drivers Get Car Insurance?

When shopping for car insurance, getting the right coverages is at least as important as getting a great rate. For help with both selecting coverages and finding low premiums, drivers should contact an experienced and independent insurance agent. An experienced agent will be able to make helpful coverage recommendations, and an independent agent can compare policies from different Massachusetts insurers.