DISCOUNTS Age 65
Or Older
|
A 25% premium discount for all coverages will
be applied after all other discounts and rating factors but
prior to the application of the Safe Driver Insurance Plan
rating step if: 1) the principal operator is 65 years or
older; 2) there are no inexperienced drivers (0-6 years of
driving experience); and 3) the automobile is not customarily
used in business. |
Passive Restraint |
A 25% discount applied to the premium paid
for Parts 2, 3, 6 and 12 is available if your automobile is
equipped with an air bag or automatic seat belts. |
Annual Mileage |
A 10% discount applied to the premium paid
for Parts 1-8 and Part 12 is available if your estimated
annual mileage falls between 0- 5000 miles. A 5% discount off
of the premium paid for Parts 1-8 and Part 12 is available if
your estimated annual mileage falls between 5001-7500 miles.
|
Antiques are not eligible for
this discount. |
Anti-Theft
|
Anti-theft discounts of up to 35% of the
premium paid for Part 9 are available for automobiles with
various types of qualifying anti-theft devices. Your insurance
company or agent can provide you with a list of the qualifying
anti-theft devices and the corresponding discounts available.
|
Multiple Cars |
A 5% discount applied to the premium paid for
Parts 7 and 8 is available if: 1) an individual or married
couple own two or more automobiles insured by the same
company; and 2) there are no inexperienced operators.
The discount applies only to automobiles that: 1) have no
listed inexperienced operators; and 2) are not customarily
used in business. |
Antiques are not eligible for
this discount. |
| Driver's Education |
A 10% discount applied to the premium paid for Parts
1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 is available for the first 3 years after an
inexperienced driver has completed an approved training
course.
|
| Public Transit |
A 10% public transit discount applied to the premium
paid for Parts 4 and 7 (up to a maximum of $75 per eligible
vehicle) is available if: 1) you provide your insurer with
evidence of purchase of 11 months of commuter passes from
qualified transit systems; and 2) you do not drive your
automobile to work or school more than 10 days or more per
month. Your insurance company or agent can provide you with a
list of the qualified transit systems. |
|
Rate Deviations |
Many insurance companies have been offering
discounts to their existing policyholders by filing requests
with the Commissioner of Insurance to "deviate" from the basic
insurance rate. These discounts have been offered
primarily to the Commonwealth’s safer drivers, usually to
those at SDIP steps nine through twelve.
Check with
your agent to see if your insurance company has been approved
to offer discounts to its safest drivers. If you are
eligible for a group and a safe driver discount, you can take
advantage of both! |
Group Discounts |
In recent years many insurers have been
offering discounts to numerous groups to attract new
customers. These discounts will decrease your entire
insurance premium. In addition, many group plans do not
charge interest or require an initial deposit.
Groups
can be sponsored by an employer, civic organization, motor
club, association, trade union, credit union, etc. You
may want to check with agents of several different insurers to
learn which groups the insurer has been approved to offer
discounts to and the size of the discounts. Any member
of an approved group is eligible for the
discount.
Group plans are not guaranteed to be renewed
or to be renewed at the current discount level. By law,
groups may be continued if after two years of operation the
group has 35% of its eligible members participating. If,
however, after three years a group’s loss and expense ratio
makes the group unprofitable it can not renew policies. |
Help Prevent Fraud |
Fill out the accident forms completely and
accurately, making sure to get all necessary information from
any other drivers and passengers. Keep a camera in your
auto and take snapshots at the scene. Report the name
and address of every person in the other autos, including
those who were not apparently injured.
Be sure your
body shop is registered with the Division of Standards (617)
727-3480.
If you suspect fraudulent conduct on the part
of anyone involved in your motor vehicle accident or your
insurance claim - the other operators or any passengers, the
repair shop, the appraiser, or any employee of the insurer -
please call the Insurance Fraud Bureau hotline
1-800-32-FRAUD. Another number to remember is the
Governor’s Auto Theft Strike Force Hotline 1-800-HOT-AUTO when
you have information about an auto theft. You will be
able to speak confidentially with an investigator about your
suspicions. |
Remember that this guide is not meant to
be a substitute for your Massachusetts Automobile Insurance
Policy. All information is current as of December 13,
1999. |
What You Should Know
About The Use Of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)
Parts In The Repair Of Your Vehicle |
OEM Parts Without Additional
Charge to Owner |
You are entitled to the use of Original
Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts in the repair of your
vehicle under any of the following circumstances: |
- Your vehicle has been driven for no more than 15,000
miles.
- The operational safety of the vehicle would otherwise be
impaired or
- After reasonable and diligent effort, an appropriate
rebuilt, aftermarket or used part cannot be located.
|
| OEM Parts With Additional Charge to
Owner |
If you do not meet any of the criteria listed
above, you can always require your auto repairer to use OEM
parts, but you must pay for the increased cost that may result
in repairing your vehicle. |
NOTICE |
Whenever repairs are to be made to a vehicle
using parts not made by the OEM, state law requires that
notice must be given by the appraiser and the repairer to the
owner prior to repairs being made.
|
|