Are you looking to see if you qualify for a safe driver discount on your MA auto insurance? Well the first thing you’ll need to check is your driving record. The Massachusetts Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP) is a program aimed at providing incentives to drivers with clean records and ensuring that unsafe drivers pay higher premiums. Many insurance companies use the SDIP to determine discounts, however those who do not use this specific system have their own merit-based systems in place. So what are safe driver discounts for MA auto insurance and how do you qualify?
Safe Driver Insurance Plan
The SDIP program uses a merit-based system that rates drivers on a scale of 00 to 45 according to their driving record over the last 6-years. Certain items on your driving record results in surcharges. Examples are accidents and moving violations. The number of surcharges depends on the particular incident. Major accidents, for example, will have more surcharges than minor moving violations. The more surcharge points you accrue, the more you will pay on your auto insurance. Or, conversely, the cleaner your record, the more eligible you become for certain discounts.
The program is comprised of three levels. The requirements for qualification are as follows:
- Excellent Driver Discount Plus: Must have 6 years of driving experience and have no surcharges in that 6 year period.
- Excellent Driver Discount: Must have 5 years of driving experience and have no surcharges in that 5 year period.
- Excellent Driver Discount: Must have 5 years of driving experience and have ONLY 1 (non-criminal) surcharge in a 6 year period that is at least 3 years old.
Calculation of Safe Driver Discounts for MA Auto Insurance
Since MA is a competitive auto insurance market, safe driver discounts will vary from company to company. Typically, the discount ranges from 7% to 17%. This, along with other discounts for which you may qualify, could result in significant savings.
If you do not currently qualify for safe driver discounts for MA auto insurance, there is a possibility to reduce your points and clean up your record through surcharge point forgiveness. To learn more about how forgiveness works, check out the RMV page SDIP and Your Auto Insurance Policy. Another option to improve your safety record and potentially receive a discount on your auto insurance is by voluntarily participating in a Defensive Driving course offered through the state. If you have any questions on whether you qualify for safe driver discounts for MA auto insurance, contact us for a free quote.