If you’re looking for cheap car insurance in Massachusetts, and want to find out about SR-22 in the state-we’ve got all the answers you need!
The roads in Massachusetts are notoriously bad, particularly in Boston. Potholes and icy road conditions are the norm, as are frequent roadworks.
To locals and out-of-state drivers alike, this state can be very challenging to drive in.
Maybe you have heard of SR-22 insurance before and with the roads being so difficult to navigate, you may be wondering about it.
You may also be asking these questions:
- What is SR-22 insurance?
- Is SR-22 insurance needed in the state of Massachusetts?
- Why do I need SR-22 insurance?
In this article we will answer these questions for you and share everything that there is to know about SR-22 car insurance in Massachusetts.
So What Is SR-22 Car Insurance and Why Do You Need It?
An SR-22 certificate (or endorsement) is often referred to as SR-22 car insurance.
While SR-22 insurance is not actually a car insurance at all, this term is often used to describe car insurance coverage for those people who need an SR-22 form.
This SR-22 form proves that a high-risk driver has the insurance cover to meet the minimum auto liability requirements of the state that they are driving in.
Key Point: Minimum Auto Liability Coverage Auto liability coverage is a type of insurance that helps to pay for any damage you may cause to property or the injury/death of a third party while driving. Each U.S. state has different minimum liability requirements, but there are always three key aspects that are included:
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If you do not have car insurance or another way of meeting your financial responsibilities following a car accident, you will face fines and lose the right to drive your vehicle.
While having car insurance is absolutely essential, SR-22 insurance proves to authorities that you have the minimum required car insurance coverage.
Key Point: What Are Liability Limits? Liability limits are the maximum dollar amount for damages (‘indemnity’) an insurance carrier will pay out on your behalf. |
The required minimum limits of your liability car insurance in Massachusetts are:
Liability:
- $20,000 bodily injury to others per person.
- $40,000 bodily injury to others per accident.
- $5,000 damage to property per accident.
Personal injury protection:
- $8,000 per person.
Bodily injury caused by an uninsured motorist:
- $20,000 per person.
- $40,000 per accident.
The above amounts are the minimum coverage that you need and your insurer will pay up to that amount in the event of a claim.
You can also purchase higher coverage amounts.
Car accidents can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages, so it is a good idea to protect yourself and your family with adequate coverage.
Do You Need SR-22 Insurance in Massachusetts?
A DUI (driving under the influence) is one of the most common reasons for U.S. drivers needing an SR-22 form. This offense in Massachusetts is called an OUI (operating under the influence).
You do not need an SR-22 certificate in Massachusetts, but you might need one if you have been charged a serious driving offense and are moving to another state.
“Even though SR-22 certificates are not required in Massachusetts, but you are licensed in the Massachusetts Registry and commit a serious traffic violation in a state where SR-22s are the norm, you might need to get one.”
Each state has its own list of violations for which SR-22 insurance form filing is needed.
The following are examples of serious traffic violations that may have you needing an SR-22 certificate in other states:
- Leaving the scene of an accident.
- Using a vehicle to commit a felony.
- Vehicular homicide/vehicular manslaughter.
- Driving without a license or driving with a suspended license.
- Driving without car insurance.
- DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol).
- Failing to pull over for emergency vehicles.
- Excessive speeding.
Minor offenses are traffic violations that every driver commits at some stage in their driving career. If you have committed a minor offense, which is otherwise known as a common traffic violation, you generally won’t need SR-22 insurance.
Some minor offenses can include the following:
- A speeding ticket.
- Stop signs and traffic light tickets.
- Distracted driving tickets (using a cellular phone).
- Driving without a driver’s license in your possession.
- Failure to signal direction while driving.
How Do You Get SR-22 Insurance in Massachusetts?
An SR-22 car insurance form is not required in Massachusetts and there is no alternative to this insurance form in the state either.
If you are moving or driving to another state, and have committed a serious traffic violation in Massachusetts, the state that you are relocating to may need an SR-22 endorsement.
Note that you will always need car insurance in every state in the U.S., so you will need to take along your proof of car insurance and your SR-22 endorsement (if needed).
If you are a resident of Massachusetts, you will need to ask your insurer to issue your SR-22 form for you.
Some car insurance providers may be reluctant to do this in Massachusetts, because they are not required to process SR-22 endorsements for the state.
To meet the SR-22 requirements of the state that you are relocating to, you will need to ask your insurer to send the necessary paperwork to the state’s DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles).
Note: Your insurer is obliged to submit the application for the SR-22 to the DMV of the state you are going to.
What Types of SR-22 Insurance Are There?
When you apply for SR-22 insurance, you will need to specify the exact type of SR-22 insurance you need, depending on your circumstances.
Non-owner SR-22 insurance
If you do not own a car but still drive a friend or family member’s car, you will need to file for non-owner car insurance. This is for drivers who:
- Don’t plan to own a car.
- Don’t share a household with someone who owns a car.
- Still want to drive on occasion (e.g. a rental or borrowing a friend’s car).
Owner SR-22 insurance
Owner SR-22 insurance is for drivers who:
- Already own a car or plan to buy one.
- Share a household with someone who does own a car.
- Want to reinstate their driver’s license.
Owner/operator SR-22 insurance
If more than one car is registered in your name or you need to drive cars you do not own as part of your job, you will need to carry owner/operator SR-22 insurance.
Where Can You Get Cheap Car Insurance in Massachusetts?
While you will not need an SR-22 in Massachusetts, your insurance premium will still be affected if you are considered a high-risk driver.
We compared the insurance quotes of Midvale and MAPFIRE.
These comparisons will give you some insight into what you will be paying for car insurance as a driver with a clean driving record.
Cheap Car Insurance in Massachusetts for Drivers with Clean Driving Records
Drivers with a clean record are able to find cheap car insurance fairly easily. They are considered drivers who:
- Have not been the cause of any car accidents.
- Have no traffic offenses.
- Have a good credit score.
- Have no speeding tickets.
- Have no reckless driving charges.
- Have no DUI convictions.
To save you more money, many car insurance companies also offer a good driver discount on your car insurance rates.
Midvale and MAPFIRE provided the best rates and a good indication of what you can expect to pay for car insurance in Massachusetts.
Cheapest Car Insurance for Good Drivers (Clean Driving Records) in Massachusetts | ||||||
| Provider | Middlesex County | Worcester County | Suffolk County | Essex County | Norfolk County | Average |
| Midvale | $129.00 | N/A | N/A | N/A | NA/ | $129.00 |
| MAPFRE | $262.00 | $82.00 | $330.00 | $188.00 | $207.00 | $213.80 |
Cheap Car Insurance in Massachusetts for High-Risk Drivers
Car insurance companies use the term ‘high risk’ to describe drivers who are more likely to make a claim against their car insurance policy.
Some of the offenses that may lead to being considered a high-risk driver in Massachusetts, include:
- Receiving a DUI conviction.
- Reckless driving.
- Speeding tickets.
- Having too many points on your driving record.
- Driving without meeting the minimum liability coverage requirements.
- A poor credit score.
- Unpaid child support payments.
- Unpaid insurance policy premiums.
If you are a high-risk driver, Massachusetts car insurance companies are likely to increase the cost of your insurance.
Why Is My Car Insurance Premium So High?
The amount of money you will pay for your car insurance premium is directly influenced by a number of different factors.
Here’s a list of what commonly determines the bottom line of your car insurance policy in Massachusetts:
Your driving record:
If you have had accidents or traffic violations, it is likely that you will pay more than someone with a completely clean driving record.
How much you use your car:
The more miles you drive and the more often you drive those miles, the more chance for accidents, and so your premium will increase accordingly.
Your location:
Due to higher rates of vandalism, theft, and accidents, drivers in urban areas pay more than those living in small towns and rural areas.
Your age:
Mature drivers tend to have fewer accidents than younger ones, which means that their car insurance may be cheaper.
Your gender:
Statistically, women get into fewer accidents than men and have fewer traffic violations overall, so women often pay less for car insurance.
The car you drive:
The cost of your car is a key factor in what you’ll pay to insure it. Any enhancements will attract a higher fee, as will the popularity of the vehicle for theft.
Your claims history:
How often you have claimed from insurance will impact your insurance rates. This can drive up your car insurance premiums.
At the end of the day, we all pay different insurance rates and what we have provided in this article is a guide so that you can see which insurers are generally the most affordable in Massachusetts.
Why not get a personalized car insurance quote for your car insurance today with CheapInsurance.com?
Apart from Car Insurance in Massachusetts, What Else Will I Need to Have in Place?
The official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts covers everything that you need to know about car insurance in their state.
In order to drive in Massachusetts, you will need to at least purchase the auto coverages and limits in the following table:
| Required Coverage | Required Minimum Limit |
| Bodily injury to others | $20,000 per person; $40,000 per accident |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | $8,000 per person, per accident |
| Bodily injury caused by an uninsured auto | $20,000 per person; $40,000 per accident |
| Damage to someone else’s property | $5,000 per accident |
Collision and comprehensive insurance are optional in Massachusetts.
These are useful kinds of insurance to have in the event that you get into a car accident, or your vehicle is in any way damaged.
Collision and comprehensive insurance will settle the repair costs to your car.
FAQs about SR-22 Car Insurance in Massachusetts.
To help you find cheap SR-22 car insurance in Massachusetts, we at CheapInsurance.com rounded up the questions that we have been asked most frequently.
Here they are:
Do I need Personal Injury Protection in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is one of a handful of states that makes personal injury protection (PIP) car insurance mandatory for all drivers. This cover will pay for any medical costs relating to a car accident irrespective of who was at fault.
Do I need SR-22 insurance in Massachusetts?
An SR-22 form is not needed or even easily available in Massachusetts.
If you live in Massachusetts and are a high-risk driver, you will need an SR-22 certificate when moving to another state.
Your insurance provider will need to apply for the SR-22 for you with the Department of Transportation in the relevant state.
What is an SR-22 in Massachusetts?
The term SR-22 refers to a certificate of insurance or financial responsibility. Because Massachusetts has compulsory liability insurance requirements, SR-22 certificates are not needed.
My insurer won’t issue my SR-22. What should I do?
Because SR-22 certificates are not a requirement in Massachusetts, some insurers are either unfamiliar with them or are unwilling to issue them.
Under the rules and regulations of the Massachusetts Automobile Insurance Bureau, however, issuing an SR-22 certificate is mandatory on request.
Are You Looking for Cheap Car Insurance in Massachusetts?
Are you moving to Massachusetts? Or are you looking for a competitive car insurance quote as a resident? Maybe you are looking for an insurer that will provide you with SR-22 insurance in Massachusetts?
We can help you.
Get a personalized car insurance quote with us and select the option best suited to your individual needs.
