CheapInsurance.com has put together expert tips and quote comparisons to help you find cheap car insurance in Massachusetts.
The
average cost of car insurance in Massachusetts is $1,296 per year for full coverage and $446 per year for minimum coverage in 2022.
This amounts to an average monthly cost of $108 per month for full coverage insurance and $37 per month for minimum coverage policies.
Bay State Cruising: Updates & Insurance Insights for Cheap Car Insurance in Massachusetts 2024
Get ready to explore Cape Cod dunes or Boston’s historic streets with these key updates for Massachusetts drivers in 2024:
Massachusetts Vehicle Code Changes:
- Updated electric vehicle (EV) incentives: Existing tax credits and rebates for EV purchases continue. Stay updated through the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. (Source: MA Department of Environmental Protection)
- Hands-free law expanded: As of July 1st, holding a phone while driving becomes completely prohibited, even at stoplights. Hands-free devices remain acceptable. (Source: MA House Bill 840)
- Automated lane changing regulations: New provisions govern the use of autonomous lane-changing features in vehicles. (Source: MA Registry of Motor Vehicles)
Remember: These are just highlights, and other changes may apply. Visit the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles website for complete information. (Source: MA Registry of Motor Vehicles)
Average Auto Insurance Rates in Massachusetts (2024):
(Sources: The Zebra, ValuePenguin)
| Company |
Full Coverage |
Minimum Coverage |
| State Farm |
$1,863 |
$476 |
| GEICO |
$1,701 |
$421 |
| Progressive |
$1,934 |
$408 |
| Farmers |
$1,983 |
$445 |
| Liberty Mutual |
$2,032 |
$470 |
Remember: Individual rates in Massachusetts can vary significantly based on driving history, location, vehicle type, and chosen coverage.
Rates vary on an individual basis, depending on:
- Driving history.
- Credit history.
- Marital status.
- Age.
- Gender.
- Vehicle type.
- Insurance provider.
- Location within the state.
- Coverage type.
- Set deductible.
To help you find cheaper car insurance in Massachusetts, we’ve compared quotes from car insurers in these five Massachusetts counties:
- Middlesex County.
- Worcester County.
- Suffolk County.
- Essex County.
- Norfolk County.
We’ve compared quotes from Midvale and MAPFRE Massachusetts car insurance companies to help you find the most affordable auto insurance in Massachusetts.
Because the cost of car insurance is highly dependent on your individual driving profile, we’ve gone a step further and compared the costs of Massachusetts auto insurance for these types of drivers:
- Good drivers (those with a clean driving record).
- Bad drivers (those with a history of traffic violations).
- Young drivers (those aged between 16-25).
Is It Legal to Drive without Car Insurance in Massachusetts?
It’s a crime to operate a vehicle without proper insurance in the state of Massachusetts.
Being caught violating this law can result in an initial fine of $500 and, depending on your driving history, jail time.
Your license and registration could be suspended for 60 days and may cost $500 to reinstate.
Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is a no-fault state, meaning that both parties auto insurance providers will pay for related expenses, regardless of which party caused the accident.
In order to register a car in Massachusetts, you must have automobile insurance.
The Massachusetts minimum car insurance standards set by state law are a bit more extensive than in other states.
We have found that Midvale offers the cheapest car insurance rates for minimum liability coverage, which on average costs $129.00.
To satisfy the state’s minimum coverage requirements, Massachusetts drivers need to purchase the following:
Bodily injury to others insurance
Bodily injury to others protects you, or someone you allow to drive your car, from legal liability if you accidentally injure or cause the death of someone else while operating your car.
It only covers losses if the accident occurs in Massachusetts. It does not cover the injuries or death of a passenger in your car.
You must purchase coverage of at least $20,000 per person and $40,000 if more than one person is hurt.
Personal injury protection
Also known as PIP, this type of car insurance covers medical expenses, up to 75% of lost wages, and replacement services up to a limit of $8,000.
Massachusetts is a no-fault state which means no matter who caused the accident, PIP will pay these expenses for you or anyone else you permitted to drive your car.
Bodily injury caused by uninsured auto driver
This type of vehicle insurance in Massachusetts protects you or anyone you let drive your car, as well as household members and passengers (who are not covered under another similar Massachusetts policy), against losses caused by an uninsured or unidentified (“hit and run”) driver.
You must purchase a policy of at least $20,000 per person and $40,000 in total to cover all people injured by the uninsured auto in the accident.
Damage to someone else’s property
This type of car insurance is also referred to as Property Damage.
It pays for damage to another person’s property when you, a household member, or another driver you allow to use your car, cause accidental damage to another person’s property.
You must purchase a policy that has a minimum limit of $5,000. Liability insurance is designed to protect third parties and their property from damage you may cause while driving. It does not cover any damages to your own vehicle.
If you’re involved in a car accident and do not meet the minimum liability insurance requirements detailed above, you will be held personally responsible for paying the other party’s medical bills, legal bills, and lost wages.
Find Cheap Comprehensive Car Insurance in Massachusetts
While a comprehensive car insurance policy is optional in Massachusetts, you should consider it unless you have enough savings to cover any damage to your vehicle in the following scenarios:
- Theft or theft of parts.
- Non crash damage (e.g. natural disasters, fire, flooding).
- Broken windshield.
- Car damage from hitting an animal.
Repairing car damage can cost thousands of dollars. Without comprehensive car insurance, you risk finding yourself in a situation where you can’t drive your car because you can’t afford to get it repaired.
To help you find the cheapest comprehensive car insurance in Massachusetts, we’ve compared the rates offered by Midvale and MAPFRE:
|
Cheapest Full Coverage Insurance in Massachusetts
|
| Provider |
Middlesex County |
Worcester County |
Suffolk County |
Essex County |
Norfolk County |
Average |
| Midvale |
$146.00 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
$146.00 |
| MAPFRE |
$284.00 |
$97.00 |
$358.00 |
$206.00 |
$226 |
$234.20 |
Inexpensive Car Insurance in Massachusetts for Drivers with Clean Driving Records
Good drivers (drivers with a clean driving record) are in a favorable position to find cheap car insurance. Car insurance companies consider good drivers to be people 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.
Some car insurance companies will offer an additional discount if you have completed an accredited defensive driving course.
We looked at the average car insurance rates offered by car insurance companies in Massachusetts for good drivers. Midvale and MAPFRE are the two best car insurance companies for good drivers.
| 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 |
Affordable 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 auto insurance policy.
Some of the offenses that may lead to being considered a high-risk driver, 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 automobile insurance.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Massachusetts for Young Drivers
Young drivers are, by default, less experienced than older drivers. Their inexperience poses a higher risk to insurance companies, so their car insurance is often more expensive.
We’ve also compared the cost of car insurance for young drivers to help you save on auto insurance costs.
|
Cheapest Car Insurance for Young Drivers in Massachusetts
|
| Provider |
Middlesex County |
Worcester County |
Suffolk County |
Essex County |
Norfolk County |
Average |
| Midvale |
$158.00 |
$63.00 |
$179.00 |
$124.00 |
$136.00 |
$132.00 |
Car Insurance in Other States?
Out-of-state insurance is illegal in almost all U.S. states and is considered to be insurance fraud. This means that your car insurance must be registered in the state you live in.
Some of the penalties for committing insurance fraud include:
- Up to five years in prison.
- A $50,000 fine.
If you plan to move from Massachusetts, you will need to find a new car insurance company in the state you move to.
You will usually have a 90-day grace period to cancel your car insurance and get car insurance in your new state.
Top Tips for Finding Cheaper Car Insurance
1. Take note of lender requirements
If your car is financed or leased, your lender is likely to require that you have liability insurance, comprehensive coverage, and collision insurance.
In fact, most car dealerships won’t let you drive the car off the lot until you can prove you have full coverage car insurance.
Full coverage car insurance protects your lender if you’re in a car accident or your car is stolen and you can no longer afford to meet your monthly payments.
Key Point: Full Coverage Car Insurance
Full coverage car insurance is made up of three different types of car insurance policies:
- Comprehensive coverage: This type of insurance will compensate you if your car is damaged or totaled due to a non-accident-related event (e.g. fire, flood) or if it’s stolen.
- Collision coverage: This type of auto insurance will compensate you if your car is totaled or damaged in a car accident.
- Liability insurance: This type of insurance covers you for damage you may cause to another person’s property or injury/death you may cause while driving.
|
If you lose your required insurance coverage, your lender could add single interest insurance to your loan in order to protect themselves.
You should avoid allowing your car insurance to lapse because single interest car insurance is much more expensive than standard car insurance.
Key Point: How Can I Lower My Car Insurance Rates for Full Coverage Insurance?
There are a couple of ways that you can ensure cheap auto insurance:
- Most insurance companies offer a bundling option, which allows you to combine your auto insurance with other products such as home insurance, life insurance, and other car insurance policies you have.
- Another option is to increase your auto insurance deductible. This is the amount of money you would have to pay out-of-pocket before your insurance kicks in. By increasing your deductible, you are essentially taking on more risk, but you can save significantly on your monthly premium.
|
2. Consider how you use your car
If you only drive to get to work, the grocery store, and social events, then most types of standard car insurance will meet your needs.
If, however, you have unique needs, you should check whether your car insurance company covers these requirements.
Unique needs can include:
- Multiple drivers sharing one car.
- Using your car for ridesharing.
- Using your car for deliveries.
- Wanting to consolidate all of your insurance policies under one provider.
3. Compare cheap car insurance quotes from different insurance companies
Even if you think you’ve found inexpensive car insurance, it’s always a good idea to shop around for a lower car insurance rate.
You can do this yourself, but going through an insurance agent can save you time and money.
The only way to be completely certain that you’re getting the best rates on your car insurance is to compare insurance quotes from multiple insurers.
It is a time consuming process. You’ll need to phone each car insurance company or fill out an online form for them to give you a
car insurance quote.
To save time, you can go through a licensed insurance agent or compare cheap auto insurance quotes from different insurance providers.
Best Car Insurance Companies in Massachusetts
Midvale
Midvale Insurance is part of American Family Insurance, widely known as AmFam. In the U.S. AmFam is:
- The 13th largest property and casualty (P&C) insurance group.
- The eighth largest homeowners insurance company.
- The ninth largest private passenger auto insurer, based on written premiums.
AmFam splits its product line into three sections: vehicle insurance, property and business, and added protection.
Under vehicle insurance, the firm covers cars, motorcycles, RVs, boats, ATVs, snowmobiles, and classic cars.
With over 90 years of experience, AmFam has built itself into one of the most popular U.S. insurance brands.
It has gained popularity by following up on its promise to provide excellent insurance coverage and support for its clients.
MAPFRE
MAPFRE Insurance offers friendly and efficient service and guarantees to take care of you and your family.
In 2007, the company purchased Webster, a commercial insurance group based in Massachusetts.
Webster is a major provider of vehicle insurance. MAPFRE was listed in the Fortune Global 500 list in its 2008 edition.
In the U.S., MAPFRE:
- Offers a wide range of insurance solutions for homes and vehicles.
- Is the 23rd largest Property-Casualty insurer.
- Is the 19th largest private passenger auto insurer.
- Has a network of more than 5,000 independent agents and brokers.
- Has a presence in 14 states.
- Is rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best.
Auto Insurance in Massachusetts FAQs
Is Massachusetts a no-fault state?
Yes. Massachusetts is a no-fault state, which means that drivers get coverage for car accident injuries from their own insurer without the need to determine who caused the accident.
Policies in no-fault states must include personal injury protection (PIP).
What car insurance is required in Massachusetts?
The following coverage is required by the State of Massachusetts to legally operate a motor vehicle:
- $20,000 / $40,000 bodily injury liability coverage.
- $5,000 property damage coverage.
- $20,000 / $40,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage.
- $8,000 personal injury protection.
In Massachusetts, does auto insurance cover you if you borrow a car?
The good news is that, in Massachusetts, the insurance follows the car, so if you let your friend borrow your car and they have an accident, in most cases, your policy would pay for the damages.
Do I need to buy underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage in Massachusetts?
There is no legal requirement in Massachusetts to maintain underinsured motorist coverage, but it can prove to be valuable protection.
Uninsured motorist coverage protects you if you’re hit by a driver who has no auto insurance.
It also protects you if you’re hit by a driver who doesn’t have enough coverage to pay for the damages or injuries they caused.
An object damaged my windshield and I don’t know how it happened. Am I covered for this cost in Massachusetts?
Yes. If you have comprehensive coverage on your auto policy you are covered after you’ve paid the relevant glass deductible of your plan.
While many companies by default have no glass deductible, a glass deductible is permissible in Massachusetts.
Having a glass deductible usually decreases the cost of full coverage car insurance and generally makes the overall cost of the policy lower.
However, this means you will be responsible for paying for the repair or replacement of your windshield up to your deductible, which may end up being expensive.
