Auto Insurance New Bedford, MA: Do You Have Enough Coverage?

It can be difficult to know if you have enough coverage to protect you if you are ever in a car accident. There are requirements made of insurance companies in New Bedford, MA, according to the minimums necessary to satisfy the State of Massachusetts. There are also often minimums needed for lenders, to ensure that the vehicle they are financing will be covered if it is damaged or totaled in an accident. It is important to work with an MA auto insurance agent that you can trust. The truth is that not all auto insurance agencies are equal. Some will sell you more insurance than you need, while others in a desperate attempt to offer the lowest rates, will sell you cut-rate insurance that won’t cover you fully in an accident.

Borden Auto Insurance in New Bedford, MA has proudly served the Southcoast communities since 1909. That’s over 110 years of experience in a family-owned and operated agency that has a stellar reputation for providing quality insurance coverage for home, life, and auto. Our goal as an independent agency is to ensure that our customers have the best coverage that insurance companies in New Bedford, MA have to offer at a price that they can afford. We can show you the ins and outs of how policies work, answer any questions that you might have about coverage, premiums, and deductibles to help you make an informed decision. Our agents can offer advice that will help you protect your vehicle in any eventuality.

The Basics: Common Insurance Terms

One of the reasons why consumers are so confused about auto insurance in New Bedford, MA, is that they don’t understand the terminology. When you work with Borden Insurance, you will have an MA auto insurance agent at your disposal who can answer all of your questions, cut through the nonsense, and provide you with insurance that satisfies all of your needs. Our blog features lots of tips, information, and advice that you can also use to effectively maintain your vehicle and maximize the protection that you get from our auto insurance agencies. We provide you with the tools you need to get the most out of insurance companies in New Bedford, MA, and the surrounding Southcoast area.

• Deductible – You will hear a lot of about the deductible when you get an auto insurance policy. This is the amount that you need to pay in a claim before the insurance company begins paying for repairs. If you have a deductible of $1,000 and the cost for repairs in a covered accident is $2,500, that means that you will pay the first $1,000 and the insurance company will pay the remaining $1,500 to get the vehicle fixed. The higher the deductible, the lower your monthly premium. However, it is in your best interest to get a deductible from your MA auto insurance agent that you can afford to pay if you are in an accident.
• Premium – We mentioned the fact that your deductible amount can impact your premium. The premium is the amount that you would pay for auto insurance coverage. Depending on the auto insurance agencies, this amount might be monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. Some agencies provide a six-month premium with monthly payments. The premium is based on several factors, including your age, driving record, the make, model, and year of your vehicle, and the type of coverage that you choose.
• No-Fault or At-Fault – Massachusetts is a no-fault state, which means that your auto insurance will automatically pay toward your claim for any medical payments for you, your family, and other passengers, up to a certain limit. This is regardless of whether you are “at-fault” or not for the accidents. Massachusetts is one of only 12 states where the “no-fault” rule applies. Every person who drives in the State of Massachusetts is required to carry a minimum insurance policy. For details on minimum coverage and no-fault payments, speak with a trusted MA auto insurance agent at Borden Insurance.
• Coverage Limit – The amount of coverage that is the maximum to be paid on your policy is part of the type of coverage that you have. To protect yourself and your other assets, such as a home or business, it is a good idea to get the maximum coverage from auto insurance agencies. Any accident that exceeds the coverage limit will become your responsibility, so the more coverage you have, the better protected you will be in a covered incident.

Basic, Liability, Comprehensive, and Collision

These are the various types of coverage that you can get for auto insurance in New Bedford, MA. You can even look into extended coverage and other additional options to protect you even further. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is required in Massachusetts and 14 other states, providing more comprehensive coverage and higher coverage limits than basic medical expenses coverage or another similar type of policy. PIP can be a huge advantage for vehicle owners, ensuring coverage for things like medical expenses, funeral costs, physical therapy, occupational therapy, substitute services, lost wages, and even protections for self-employed individuals.

Laws and requirements regarding insurance companies in New Bedford, MA change all the time, so it is important to schedule an appointment with an agent to discuss your current policy and review your options to ensure the best possible coverage. Contact Borden Insurance by calling 508-999-3636 and speak with an MA auto insurance agent about your existing policy or to get a FREE quote for auto insurance in New Bedford, MA, and the surrounding Southcoast communities.