How to Lead: Maine Insurance
Living up to the state motto, “I lead,” takes a little creativity. Your fellow Pine Tree State residents have already cornered the markets on blueberries and toothpicks. Stephen King’s sales records would scare anyone away. And lobsters? Forget about it. Maybe the right tactic is to take charge of what you know and love, and to protect it against any danger. Maine insurance is the perfect place to start.
Car Insurance Is the Law
If you want to take the family to Acadia National Park safely, familiarize yourself with state requirements. According to state law, every driver must purchase a policy with 50/100/25 minimums: bodily injury liability limits of $50,000 per injured person, up to a total of $100,000 per accident, and property damage liability coverage of $25,000. Maine is a tort state, which means that someone will be found at fault in an accident, and then be responsible for the damages. To protect against uninsured and underinsured drivers, the state also requires coverage for these motorists of $50,000 and $100,000, respectively. You’re also required to purchase a medical payment policy of at least $1,000. If you overlook any of these coverages, or allow them to lapse, you’ll likely receive a fine, possibly be charged with uninsured operation, and face higher Maine auto insurance quotes when you try to rectify the problem. You might also face suspension of your registration and license.
Consolidating Your Costs
Just as shipping blueberries in bulk saves money, consolidating policies can save you hundreds of dollars. A 40-year-old single man in Portland who drives a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 20 miles a day, will pay $421 for the state minimum coverage. If the same man gets married, and adds his wife’s 2006 Honda Pilot to his policy, they’ll pay $530 per year-a significant savings per driver. And remember, the less time you’re on the road, the less your car insurance company will worry. If you decide to carpool, or take public transportation, you’ll not only save money on gas, but you’ll most likely find lower Maine insurance quotes. You can also save hundreds of dollars by combining your auto insurance, life insurance, homeowners insurance, and business insurance policies-and adding a health or life policy.
How to Afford Home Insurance
Even if you live in a picture-perfect coastline cottage, never accept the first Maine home insurance quotes you find. You can easily lower your premium by making your home safer from fire damage and theft. The average premium for home insurance in Maine is about $566 per year, but if you install deadbolt locks and a burglar alarm, you can lower that cost to $510. To save another 15%, equip your home with fire extinguishers and smoke alarms. Once insurers believe you’ve decreased the chance of damages, they’ll respond with lower Maine insurance quotes.
Responsibility Pays Off
To receive lower Maine insurance quotes, convince insurers that you’re responsible. In Augusta, a 25-year-old waitress who drives a 2007 Toyota Prius to work, with an average daily commute of 16 miles, will pay around $615 a year for the state-required minimum. But a mistake as minor as a turning violation six months before might drive her annual premium over $900. If she let her insurance lapse the previous month, her new premium will likely jump at least $200. In the end, the most responsible choice you can make is to shop around. Whether you wade through the many offers or take advantage of a free service like NetQuote.com, you owe it to yourself to insure the life you love at a price you can afford.
