Category: Auto Insurance

College Car Insurance: What Might Affect Your Premiums

College is a new milestone that comes with more responsibility. If you are a parent deciding to keep your child on your plan or a college student driving a car to school under your parents’ insurance, it is important to understand the insurance terms and how you or your child is protected. So today, we will uncover the importance of safe driving, where you drive, and the decision to stay on your parents’ plan. 

Car Insurance: Terms & Definitions

To understand how your car insurance protects you, it is vital to know what premiums, deductibles, and policies are, as well as the types of car insurance coverage that college students should have.

  • Premium – The price you pay to an insurance company in exchange for coverage of your car and yourself.
  • Policy – The plan itself that offers several types of coverages for automobile situations.
  • Claim – Is what you “file” by calling your car insurance company, letting them know you will need to use your policy to cover accident damages. This allows the insurance company to help pay for a portion of the damage.
  • Deductible – The money you pay before the insurance company covers the rest of your claim. Deductibles are usually chosen at the time of choosing a policy.
    • For example, if your deductible is $500, and the cost to repair your car is $2000, you pay the $500 upfront before the insurance company pays for the remaining $1500.
  • Coverage – Is what protects you and your car from damage, ranging from liability, uninsured/underinsured, comprehensive, collision, and personal injury protection.

How to Decide to Stay or Leave a Parent’s Policy

This decision is on a case-by-case basis. Overall, the cheapest option is to stay on your parents’ plan. But this might not be the most convenient given your new location. If you move to a rural area, policy rates might be cheaper compared to a metropolitan area. Also, if your parents do not have the best driving record, getting your own might lower policy costs if you are a safe driver. The best way to decide is by getting car insurance quotes from agencies, as there may be discounts for college students. 

Ready to start exploring insurance policies? Check out our blog on debunking myths on auto insurance to help you choose the right plan! Also, be sure to check out our blog, What Affects the Cost of Your Car Insurance Premiums?, for more information. At Safeside, we are committed to providing quality service to suit everyone for their long-term protection and well-being. Learn more about us and contact us today to get started!

Does Personal Auto Insurance Cover Rideshare and Delivery?

As driving for rideshare companies and delivery services has become more popular, it is important to assess how using your personal vehicle for employment can affect your auto insurance. Generally, most insurers do not allow you to use your personal auto insurance for business purposes. It is important to know the risks before partaking in employment through driver services. In this blog, we will go over what your auto insurance covers and what precautions you should take to avoid out-of-pocket expenses.  Continue reading Does Personal Auto Insurance Cover Rideshare and Delivery?

What Factors into an Insurance Quote?

When you’re shopping for insurance, one of the first things you’ll do is get a quote. But what exactly goes into determining that number? Insurance companies consider a variety of factors when calculating a quote, each of which helps assess the level of risk you pose as a policyholder. Understanding these factors can give you a better idea of what to expect and how you might be able to lower your premium. Let’s break down the key elements that influence an insurance quote.  Continue reading What Factors into an Insurance Quote?

Exploring RMV Alternatives for License Plates

There are many jokes about having to go to the Registry for Motor Vehicles (RMV) in Massachusetts or other states’ equivalent. And while they might be jokes, there’s a nugget of truth to most of them. So, instead of having to drive to the nearest center that’s open and getting in a line, what are your RMV alternatives for license plates? Today, we’re going to highlight how stopping by Safeside Insurance in Worcester saves time and provides a better experience when it comes to new plates, transfers, and renewals. Continue reading Exploring RMV Alternatives for License Plates

Driving in Rain and Floods in New England

While New England might be best known for its Nor’easter winters and autumn leaf-peeping season, the area—including Massachusetts—is also home to seasonal flooding, with torrential downpours, fall storms, and spring snowmelts. So, when driving in New England, you may also be driving in rain and floods. In this blog, we’re going to look at the risks these pose, provide driving and safety tips, and discuss how Massachusetts’s auto insurance should factor into your drive. Continue reading Driving in Rain and Floods in New England

What Affects the Cost of Your Car Insurance Premiums?

What goes into premium cost changes for your automotive insurance after a claim, a life event, or a yearly increase? It’s essential to understand the various factors at play, what drives them, and the things you can and cannot control that can cause increases or decreases in the cost of your car insurance premiums. Today, we will look at everything from the top down on situations, life choices, and driving habits so you can make better buying and driving choices when it comes to insurance. Continue reading What Affects the Cost of Your Car Insurance Premiums?

Reviewing Your Current Insurance in the New Year

A new year means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. New personal or financial goals, dealing with new purchases from the holidays, or a new business year. Regardless of your situation or plans, one thing everyone should do in the new year is revisit their insurance. Whether it’s homeowners, renters, auto, or business policies, reviewing your current insurance alongside your ambitions for this year is the first step to meeting your resolutions. Continue reading Reviewing Your Current Insurance in the New Year

Preparing Your Car and Home for Winter in New England

Even in New England, winter weather can sneak up on you, especially with the often milder fall days. But when it does hit—especially that first Nor’easter blizzard—if you’re unaware, your home and car are often the first to suffer for it. Whether you suddenly find an ice dam forming on your roof or are stuck in your car during a storm, learn how to mitigate the risks by preparing your car and home for winter when it strikes in Massachusetts. Continue reading Preparing Your Car and Home for Winter in New England