Massachusetts Car Insurance

In Massachusetts, driving without insurance is illegal. All drivers must maintain certain coverages on their Massachusetts auto insurance policies lest they face the punishments for breaking the law. Let’s check out the mandated coverages in the state, how to get a policy from one of the state’s top insurers, and how you can stretch your dollar to get excellent coverage for cheap so you can use your savings to buy something much more fun than a car insurance policy, like the tastiest lobster roll money can buy. 

Whether you’re getting a policy for the first time, are interested in getting a policy from one of the state’s top insurers, or are looking for excellent coverage within your budget, doing your research is a great way to ensure your safety on the roads and secure your savings in your bank account. Finding the right policy for you is all about finding one that will meet your needs. To find a policy that meets your needs, you’ll first have to narrow down what you value more in a policy: cost or coverage.

Those who value cost over coverage will likely opt for a minimum coverage policy from an insurer that offers lower-than-average base rates. Those who value coverage over cost will likely opt for a full coverage policy from an insurer that offers many additional, optional coverages. Those who value coverage and cost equally will likely opt for a full coverage policy from an insurer that offers lower-than-average base rates and plenty of discounts. 

There are many ways to preserve your savings while still maintaining excellent coverage. Let’s check out how you can get the best policy for your budget that meets the state’s minimum coverage requirements and even exceeds them.

The best auto insurance in Massachusetts is often subjective to the driver, but objectively, a full coverage policy is the best policy. While every driver’s needs differ, a full coverage policy generally offers much better coverage. The best full coverage policy will likely be from one of the state’s top insurers that offers low base rates, additional coverages, and plenty of opportunities for discounts. A full coverage policy in the Old Bay State will typically have liability coverage that exceeds the minimum requirements, uninsured motorist coverage that exceeds the minimum limit, and optional coverages like collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, and medical payments coverage (MedPay), among others. 

It’s crucial to keep in mind that what may be best for one driver may not be best for another. It’s always important to build your policy to meet your specific needs, whether that means it fits your budget or it ticks all your boxes for coverage. However, a full coverage policy is often the best choice since it offers such expansive protection, and many insurers provide discounts policyholders can stack to save on their premiums. 

Many insurance companies in Massachusetts offer fantastic coverage at lower-than-average rates. Some of the top insurers in the state are State Farm, Geico, Progressive, Allstate, and Travelers, as they offer great base rates for all types of drivers and excellent opportunities for stackable discounts. Each insurer offers competitively low rates for full coverage policies, some falling nearly 20% below the state average cost.

Car insurance rates in Massachusetts average at about $1,330 annually for a full coverage policy or about $665 annually for a minimum coverage one. However, it’s essential to remember that the average rate is a ballpark, and premiums differ based on the driver. 

Insurers determine a driver’s premiums by assessing the risk of them filing a claim. Insurers use driving and non-driving factors to determine a policyholder’s risk and statistics about drivers in the state. Insurers may use a driver’s insurance history, driving record, gender, age, and ZIP code, among several other factors, to determine their premiums. 

Insurers use these factors to determine if a driver has a higher-than-average risk of filing a claim. Insurers translate an increased risk of filing a claim into higher premiums. For example, according to the CDC, teenage boys are the most likely age group to cause accidents. Thus, they tend to pay more in premiums than their peers, even with a clean driving record. 

The average cost of auto insurance in Massachusetts is about $1,330 annually for a full coverage policy and $665 for a minimum coverage one. It’s crucial to remember that the premium isn’t the only cost associated with an auto insurance policy. One must always ensure they have enough money saved to pay their premiums on time, but they must also remember that in the event of filing a claim, they will have to pay their deductible before receiving the full amount of their insurance benefits.

Typically, a policy with a low premium will have a high deductible, and a policy with a high premium will have a low deductible. When binding your policy, your insurer should offer whichever combination makes more sense for your budget. 

One of the best ways to find cheap car insurance in Massachusetts is to find an insurer with lower-than-average base rates and plenty of discounts available. Many insurers in the state offer both criteria-based and enrollment-based discounts, allowing drivers to come close to binding the cheapest policy in the state. Criteria-based discounts require minimal effort from the policyholder and just require them to meet specific standards. Enrollment-based discounts, however, require the policyholder to actively participate in their savings by enrolling in a program or taking a class with their insurer. 

Insurers commonly offer criteria-based discounts like a multi-car discount for those who insure multiple cars on one policy, a good student discount for young drivers who earn good grades, or a bundling discount for drivers who purchase multiple insurance products from the same insurer. 

Enrollment-based discounts vary based on the insurer but often carry savings as significant as 20% off one’s premiums. Many insurers offer a good driver discount for those who enroll in a safe driving course or a usage-based discount for those who consent to tracking and sharing their driving data with their insurer. Some insurers even offer a pay-per-mile discount for those driving less than the national average of 12,000 miles annually. 

The most affordable car insurance in Massachusetts may come from State Farm or Geico, with the average annual full coverage premiums costing about $1,210 and $1,390, respectively. These insurers have lower-than-average base rates for all types of drivers, whether you have a clean driving record or a history of an SR-22. Plus, these insurers offer plenty of stackable discounts for drivers with tight budgets.

In Massachusetts, no-fault car insurance is required, as it’s a no-fault state. No-fault states like the Old Bay State often require drivers to carry a first-party medical benefit (FPMB), and in the Old Bay State, the required FPMB is personal injury protection (PIP). No-fault states require drivers to carry an FPMB because the nature of a no-fault law requires drivers to default to their own insurance coverage in the event of an accident.

In a tort state or at-fault state, drivers depend on each other for insurance coverage in the event of an accident. Tort states require at least one driver in an accident to accept fault and cover the victim’s expenses with their liability coverage, as many tort states require a minimum limit of the coverage type. 

The minimum auto insurance in Massachusetts is a policy with at least $20,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $40,000 in bodily injury liability per accident, $5,000 in property damage liability per accident (20/40/5 liability coverage), $20,000 in uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person, $40,000 in uninsured motorist boldly injury coverage per accident (20/40 UMBI), and $8,000 in PIP per person per accident. Those who lease or finance their vehicles may be legally required to have comprehensive and collision coverages on their auto insurance policies. 

All drivers in the state must always maintain an active and adequate auto insurance policy. Those caught driving without insurance coverage will face legal repercussions, like fines, fees, license and registration suspension, or even jail time. While going without insurance in the name of savings may be tempting, the penalties for driving uninsured are often far more expensive than a year’s worth of minimal insurance coverage. 

The auto insurance requirements in Massachusetts mandate all drivers to have at least 20/40/5 liability coverage, 20/40 UMBI coverage, and $8,000 in PIP. Any policy with minimum coverage is considered sufficient in the eyes of the law, but a minimum coverage policy may not be enough regarding one’s safety.

It’s always important to maintain a legally adequate policy to avoid any penalties associated with driving uninsured in the state. However, such a policy doesn’t always offer the best coverage. A minimum coverage policy will only cover up to $8,000 in the policyholder’s medical expenses. If you’ve ever been to an American hospital, you know surpassing that number isn’t hard. Plus, if a minimum coverage policy doesn’t cover the full total of the accident victim’s expenses, the at-fault policyholder will be on the hook for the remaining balance.

Yes, uninsured motorist coverage in Massachusetts is required. Drivers in the Old Bay State must have at least 20/40 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI). Although Massachusetts has a much lower number of uninsured drivers than the national average, as only about 3% of drivers in the state are uninsured compared to the national average of 12%, the state still requires drivers to carry some coverage for uninsured motorists.

UM coverage protects insured drivers from those who make poor choices behind the wheel. If an uninsured driver causes an accident, the accident victim’s UMBI coverage will help cover their medical expenses, as will their legally mandated PIP coverage. 

In Massachusetts, personal injury protection, or PIP, is legally required. All drivers in the Old Bay State must have at least $8,000 in PIP per person per accident, and policyholders cannot have PIP coverage that exceeds $8,000. Since Massachusetts is a no-fault state, drivers must carry PIP as their no-fault coverage.

In the event of an accident in Boston, Cape Cod, or Cambridge, drivers will default to their PIP coverage to begin to cover their medical expenses. PIP may cover expenses like hospital stays, doctor’s visits, diagnostic testing, ambulance rides, prescription medications, or funeral expenses, among other expenses. However, if you’ve ever been to an American hospital, you know it’s easy to exceed $8,000 in expenses. Many Old Bayers who elect to carry a full coverage policy end p carrying an additional first-party medical benefit (FPMB) called medical payments coverage or MedPay. 

Driving without a sufficient auto insurance policy is illegal in the Old Bay State. Those caught driving without an adequate policy may require SR-22 insurance in Massachusetts. SR-22 insurance isn’t actually a type of policy or insurance coverage, but rather it’s a form filed by an insurer on behalf of the policyholder. An SR-22 certifies with the state that a policyholder has an active and adequate policy and that they maintain financial responsibility for their premiums and any expenses they may owe in the event of an at-fault accident.

Drivers caught driving uninsured or being otherwise reckless on the road may require an SR-22. This form is typically doled out to high-risk drivers before committing a traffic violation severe enough to have their incense or registration suspended. Upon reinstatement, high-risk drivers may need their insurers to file an SR-22 on their behalf. 

Whether you’re new to the Old Bay State, cruise about what types of auto insurance policies are out there waiting for you, or are a young Old Bayer getting a policy for the first time, the best way to view all your options in one place is to get and compare quotes online. By gathering and comparing several quotes from the state’s top insurers, you can bind the policy that best suits your needs and budget.

Luckily, you’ve come to the best place around for quotes. Here at Clovered, we have a free quoting tool to access your unique quotes in minutes. If you’d like to chat with a professional about your quotes or all things Massachusetts auto insurance, feel free to contact us at 833-255-4117 or [email protected], and one of our licensed agents will be happy to assist you.