You Can Get Lower Auto Insurance Rates - Deregulation of Massachusetts Auto Insurance

Massachusetts drivers can choose from a variety of auto insurance companies including some new insurers in this very competitive auto insurance coverage industry. Deregulation of the Massachusetts Auto Insurance market began on April 1, 2008. With deregulation of the auto insurance industry in Massachusetts, this law promises to not only bring down auto insurance rates, by adding more competition, but it also serves as a test of Deregulation of State Policy that has been in effect for almost thirty years.

Auto Insurance Rates won't be set by the State

Auto insurance rates will not be set by the state; however, the controversy over who gets to insure the State's worst drivers will remain an issue. The newest Auto Insurance Providers which are going to start marketing in Massachusetts, might be exempt from covering high risk drivers with poor driving records, for three more years. This will allow new insurers to build up a competitive edge when competing against the current auto insurance providers in the state.

More Options for Low Cost Auto Insurance for Consumers

The Commissioner of Insurance will still approve rates for auto insurance premiums, the changes will allow Auto Insurance companies in Massachusetts to offer many new insurance plan options. Consumers will be able to select more customized auto insurance plans and so the new law creates more insurance choices. The new auto insurance plans include new limits for plans and more range in deductibles which will allow insurers to be able to customize auto insurance plans.

Advantages from this deregulation may include:

• Lower premiums for good drivers

• Credit based pricing decisions - so, if your credit is good you could pay less

• Surcharges can be defined by the Insurer instead of the State (in a competitive situation this could lead to lower surcharges for good drivers)

• Deductibles that can vary depending on circumstances, your history

• Rates based on family size

How do you find the Best Auto Insurance Company?

At the time this article was written, there were nineteen Auto Insurance companies offering auto insurance in Massachusetts. Most of the state's licensed auto insurance agents only represent a few of these companies. So in order to find out who is offering the best plans, you may want to look to several different resources while doing your auto insurance plan research.

The Internet provides you with a considerable amount of disorganized but relevant information. You can do online research, if you know how to do sift through lots of web sites to find what you need to know. But we all have searched online and spent hours looking at what we needed. With so many Auto insurance companies in Massachusetts having web sites online, you can search online for hours and not find the best low cost auto insurance plans.

If you want to trim down your search you may want to visit us for more information on the new updates to Massachusetts Insurance plans as they become available. We offer free information on the latest developments for insurance plans of all types. Need more information on your state insurance, individual, health, ppo or hmo plans?

Please visit us for a free guide on "How to Buy Insurance Online"
You can find this guide and many other helpful tip guides on insurance right here: [http://www.BusinessHealthInsurance.com]

Tis the Season for Oktoberfest

Tis the season for leaves changing colors, cool brisk evenings, scary costumes, pumpkin carving contests and OKTOBERFEST!  I have to admit, I'm not a beer drinker.  But, many, many of you out there are.  And judging from how many people attended Campbell's Oktoberfest festival this year, there are NO shortage of people drinking and loving their beer. 


Let's say you are one of the vendor's at an Oktoberfest festival or event.  How do protect your business from the typical mishaps that occur at a festival?  Can't think of any examples on how your business would be at risk for a pesky two day festival?  Here are a few of the top claims that occur from these events:

1.) WEATHER - We can't control it and sometimes, it doesn't cooperate.  You can control this financial risk by getting weather insurance for an event.  Whether it's snow, rain, adverse weather, wind, event cancellation, these types of perils are all insurable.  If you were a food vendor and purchased thousands of sausages for an Oktoberfest event only to find out that the event was cancelled....how would you recoup your cost?  Because let's be honest, where else are you going to need thousands of sausages?

2.) LIQUOR CLAIMS - The vendors serving beer can control how much a festival attendee drinks on site.  But the unfortunate thing is, most eager festival attendees pre-party.  And vendors that are serving alcohol typically don't know how much they've had prior to coming to the event.  If a person at the event gets in a fight, breaks a stores window, or drives off and gets in an accident, the person who served the patron could be sued for the damages.  Make sure that your business is covered by purchasing Liquor Liability if you are in the business of serving alcohol to event goers.  If you are not a bar, tavern, liquor store, etc., you still have an exposure if liquor is being served on your site.  In order to properly protect your business, purchase host liquor liability, a type of policy tailored to someone who is not in the business of alcohol sales, production, or service, but who needs liability coverage for hosting the event.  Liquor liability is normally excluded on all general liability policies unless requested to be included by your agent.

3.) SLIP AND FALLS - This is one of the most typical claim that pops up at events.  Someone trips over uneven payment or a curb...or an extension cord that is helping power one of the vendors stands.  If you are hosting the event, make sure a solid safety procedure is in place for events such as Oktoberfest.  All vendors should be required to sign off on a safety manual prior to setting up shop.  Everything from security, to sanitation, to crowd management, to first aid protocol should be covered in this document.  Whether you have EMS services on stand-by, have a standing first aid station, or both, make sure vendors know who to call or what to do if someone trips and falls or an unfortunate emergency occurs.

4.) VANDALISM - Anyone remember an old cheer?  Let's get a little bit rowdy, R-O-W-D-Y!  This is exactly what happens when you cram a bunch of people drinking alcoholic beverages into a roped off concrete street.   Sounds like fun, right?!  Not if you're a local store that gets it's window broken by a few rowdy festival goers.  If you're a local business owner and know a festival is coming up in the near future, it may be smart to double check your insurance policy to confirm what your glass deductible is let alone your property/general liability deductible.  Secondly, look around the store, do a quick estimated value total for all property in the store and check that against what your business personal property limit is on your current policy.  Most business owners don't have time to update their policies every year so making sure that limit is adequate saves a lot of headaches down the road. 

In short, it pays to be prepared.  Don't gamble on a two day festival by not protecting your business properly.  If your current general liability policies doesn't cover specific events, such as an Oktoberfest, secure event insurance.  It's cheap, easy to obtain and protects against most, if not all of the perils, listed above!  Happy Oktoberfest month!