Massachusetts drivers pay an average of $1,246.08 per year for car insurance according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), that’s about $103.84 per month. Massachusetts drivers pay about 5% more than the countrywide national average of $1,189.64.
The NAIC takes into account all car insurance policies within the state such as drivers who select only state minimum coverage, as well as policies that include various levels of comprehensive and collision coverage. Because car insurance rates are influenced by personal factors, you could find yourself paying significantly less.
Massachusetts car insurance quick facts
Minimum liability requirements
20/40/5
Average annual car insurance cost according to the NAIC
$1,246.08
No-fault state
In no-fault states, each driver pays for their own injury-related expenses.
Massachusetts state minimum car insurance requirements
Drivers in Massachusetts are required to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage to legally drive. You may see it written as 20/40/5, but we’ll break down what that means.
Massachusetts bodily injury liability
$20,000 bodily injury liability per person
$40,000 bodily injury per accident
Massachusetts requires $20,000 in bodily injury liability per person and $40,000 of bodily injury per accident. That’s on the lower end of requirements for this type of coverage across the US, with most states requiring at least 25/50.
This means $20,000 is the most your insurer will pay for a single person injured by you in an at-fault accident. And $40,000 is the maximum amount your insurer will pay if there is more than one person injured by you in an at-fault accident. Any costs outside of your bodily injury limit are required to come out of your pocket.
Massachusetts property damage liability
$5,000 property damage liability
Massachusetts requires drivers to carry $5,000 of property damage liability to legally drive. This is the lowest required property damage limit across the US, with only two other states with required limits this low.
This means $5,000 is the maximum amount your car insurance company will pay towards damages you cause to another person’s car or property, such as repairs to a car, fence or building. You’ll have to pay out of pocket for any costs beyond your property damage liability limit.
Massachusetts uninsured or underinsured motorist
$20,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
$40,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
$5,000 uninsured motorist property damage
Massachusetts requires all drivers to carry $20,000 of uninsured motorist bodily injury per person, $40,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident and $5,000 in uninsured motorist property damage to legally drive. Near half of the states across the US require some sort of uninsured motorist coverage, though some other states let you opt-out.
This coverage protects you if you get hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver. It pays for your car’s damage or medical bills to you and your passengers.
Massachusetts personal injury protection
$8,000 personal injury protection
Massachusetts drivers are required to carry $8,000 worth of personal injury protection to legally drive.
This coverage helps pay your or your passenger’s medical expenses if you’re injured in an accident, regardless of fault. It can also help with up to 75% of lost wages replacement services up to your $8,000 limit.
Finder tip: State minimum coverage isn’t enough
These state-mandated requirements are the lowest amount of coverage you need to legally drive in Massachusetts, but may fall short if you’re in a major accident. To avoid high out-of-pocket costs after an accident, consider raising your liability limits by balancing coverage, your budget and what you can afford to pay out of pocket for certain damage.
In Massachusetts, drivers pay for their own injury expenses
Massachusetts is a no-fault state, which means that you pay for your own medical bills, lost income and other injury expenses after an accident, no matter who’s at fault. File a claim under your personal injury protection for these expenses. However, the state’s no-fault laws don’t apply to property damage like car repairs, according to the legal website Nolo.
For property damage, Massachusetts considers whether drivers are partially at fault under a law called modified comparative fault. Under this law, both drivers are assigned a percentage of fault. Drivers with less than 50% of fault can get paid for damage caused by other drivers.
For example, if you’re 80% responsible for an accident, your insurance will pay 80% of the other driver’s property damage. However, since you’re over 50% at fault, the other driver isn’t required to pay for your property damage.
Cheapest rates by age in Massachusetts
Shopping around is paramount to finding the best deal for young drivers in Massachusetts. For drivers under age 25, rates can vary as much as $136 per month based on the company.
USAA stands as a top contender for its cost, although Allstate might offer lower rates for other ages.
Age
Allstate
Progressive
Geico
USAA
16-24
–
$314.08
$278.40
$177.63
25-34
$145.61
$187.25
$168.98
$147.25
35-44
$107.13
$160.72
$146.37
$149.07
Sample rates in Massachusetts from major car insurance companies
Allstate comes the closest to the state’s average insurance cost, according to cost information from Savvy. With Allstate, you also can join its safe driver or rewards programs to lower your costs further.
Company
Allstate
Progressive
Geico
USAA
Rate
$127.35
$181.01
$172.68
$157.98
Best car insurance for Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, you have a variety of major and local companies to choose from. To get started, we recommend our top company picks in the area.
We vetted these companies for their coverage, discounts and perks like local agents or a user-friendly online experience. We also checked ratings from J.D. Power, Better Business Bureau, AM Best and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Best for safe, low-mileage drivers: Allstate Drivewise or Milewise
We love that Allstate offers one of the steepest potential discounts for safe driving. You can try before you buy, and you can get Allstate Rewards points on top of your discount to exchange for gift cards or merchandise. Its app gets solid customer ratings, although the Android app gets a lower score than the iPhone version.
Since Allstate is a major brand, save extra by bundling your policies. Or try Allstate Milewise if you're a low-mileage driver so that you only pay for the miles you drive.
Pros
Discount up to 40% + cashback for driving safely
Try Drivewise before becoming a customer
Won't raise rates if you're not deemed a safe driver
App can find your parking spot or nearest gas station
Cons
Focuses on few driving behaviors,which could skew results
Among all the national companies to choose from, many Massachusetts drivers find the best prices from Geico. Plus, this company offers a well-rounded suite of coverage like accident forgiveness or rideshare coverage, and you can bundle it with many other types of insurance for convenience.
Geico's user-friendly app also gets thousands of nearly 5-star ratings on app stores. Access your insurance card, file photo claims, get maintenance reminders and more
Pros
Known for offering low prices to most drivers
Discount up to 25% for multiple vehicles
One of the highest-rated insurance apps
Cons
Online-focused customer service
Few local agents available, mostly in major cities
Locals praise Arbella for its competitive prices and top-notch customer service in Massachusetts. Arbella may be the small insurance office on the block, but it has decades of experience in helping with policies and claims. Its website says that it has a 96% claims satisfaction rating, and J.D. Power confirms its solid customer experience.
Arbella also offers options like gap coverage and accident forgiveness. Plus, qualifying policies will get free coverage like new car replacement, extended roadside assistance and more.
Pros
Free coverage like new car replacement with qualifying policies
No.10 for customer satisfaction in New England by J.D. Power
Personalized support through local agents
Over 30 years of industry experience
Cons
Not lenient with blemishes on your driving record
Could work on its Android app's user-friendliness
Roadside assistance
Optional
7 factors that affect Massachusetts car insurance rates
Factors are characteristics specific to you that car insurance companies use to set how much you’ll pay for car insurance. The less risky each of your factors is the less you pay, the riskier you are the more you’ll pay. We’ll break down Bay Stater’s rating factors to keep in mind.
Factor
How it affects your rates
Age
How old you are is a top factor in determining your car insurance rates. With each passing year, you earn more experience on the road. More experience can equal cheaper rates. Teen drivers pay the most, but rates begin to level off around your 20’s with drivers over 50 paying the least.
Gender
Massachusetts is one of seven states that bans the use of gender in calculating car insurance premiums. Insurers rely on factors such as age, location, driving record and what type of car you drive.
Location
Where you live affects your rates, including where you park your car. High theft rates, high traffic and a high number of uninsured drivers could mean higher rates.
Massachusett’s vehicle theft rate stands at 99.2 vehicle thefts per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the FBI’s most recent report on vehicle theft rates. That’s well below the national average of 246 vehicle thefts per 100,000 inhabitants, and ranks fifth lowest in the US.
As for uninsured drivers, 3.5% of Bay Staters on the road are uninsured. That’s the second lowest percentage of uninsured drivers in a state across the US according to Insurance Information Institute.
Vehicle and mileage
Your car’s make, model and trim directly affect how much you’ll pay for car insurance. Things like its cost, safety ratings, the likelihood of theft and sportiness all help insurers determine its cost to insure.
Safer and cheaper vehicles score the lowest rates, with luxury vehicles with higher repair costs resulting in higher premiums.
And, the more you’re on the road, the more at-risk you are to get in an accident, which means higher premiums. However, according to the Bureau of Transportation, Bay Staters drive an average of 31.2 miles per day, that’s slightly below the average across the US of 36.1 miles per day.
Credit score
Massachusetts is one of five states that can’t use your credit score against you when setting rates. This means you won’t be penalized for bad credit, but you also won’t see any favorable rates for holding a high credit score.
Coverage
The more coverage you get and the higher limits you choose, the more protection you’ll have and the more you’ll pay in monthly premiums. And, if you opt for full coverage car insurance that includes comprehensive and collision, the amount of your deductible weighs into your costs too, higher deductibles mean lower monthly premiums.
Driving Record
The better your driving record, the lower your premium. If you’re in an at-fault accident you could see rates increases from 20% to 50%. And DUI’s in Massachusetts can increase your rate by around 67%. These types of violations typically stay on your record for about three years.
Do I need SR-22 insurance in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts doesn’t use SR-22 forms, but the state’s RMV will inform you if you need a financial responsibility form. Usually, this is required if you’ve been convicted of a DUI, have too many speeding tickets, or you’re found driving without auto insurance. Learn more about Massachusetts and SR-22 forms.
Coverage to consider in Massachusetts
Bay Starters pay slightly more on average for auto insurance, but they experience less vehicle theft and have a very small population of uninsured drivers compared to other states. If you’re a heavy commuter, rely on your car daily, or have room in your budget for additional coverage, we have some suggestions.
Collision coverage if you tack on the miles
The more you’re on the road, the higher likelihood of a vehicle accident – that’s where collision coverage can offer additional protection. It covers physical damage to your own vehicle and could help you replace your car if it’s totaled. Collision coverage could step in if you get into a vehicle accident, your car rolls or flips, or you hit a stationary object.
Consider collision coverage if . . .
If you’re financing and your lender requires it.
You have a long commute.
You live in a dense area with heavy traffic.
Special peril coverage if you live near the mountains
Bay Starters that live in mountainous areas, such as the Appalachians, may want to consider special peril coverage. Sometimes comprehensive coverage doesn’t cover major floods or landslides, which can happen in hilly or mountainous areas. Flood damage can be devasting to a vehicle and often needs to be replaced in severe cases, and special peril coverage could save the day if your comprehensive coverage doesn’t cover it.
Consider special peril coverage if . . .
You’re in a flood-prone area.
Your area has extreme weather.
Top 10 auto insurance companies in USA that serve Massachusetts
We’ve pulled the top 10 companies by market share that offer coverage in Massachusetts according to S&P Global. Compare top companies by three major rating agencies along with our overall score.
Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating measures how a business interacts with its customers, with the highest rating being A++.
J.D. Power determines customers’ overall satisfaction with their car insurer’s price, billing, claims and customer support. The higher the J.D. Power score out of 1,000, the better.
NAIC complaint index shows how a company’s number of complaints compares to similar companies of its size. Scores lower than 1.00 show the company receives less than the average number of complaints, and scores above 1.00 show more complaints than average.
Finder’s score shows you an overall look at the company by taking into account scores from each of these agencies as well as the coverage and discounts each company offers.
Which city has the cheapest car insurance in Massachusetts?
Of Massachusetts’s largest cities, Plymouth has the cheapest rates and Malden has the most expensive car insurance rates. Malden drivers could face rates 2 times more than Plymouth drivers.
Many insurers offer roadside assistance as an optional extra, and a few offer it free, typically when you buy collision and comprehensive coverage. Roadside help could come in handy when you’re driving in Mass, since the hilly roads and numerous potholes can do a number on your tires and shocks. The frequent construction to repair road conditions makes it even more likely you’ll hit a pothole, stray nail or misplaced road barrier, or have a run-in with someone swerving to avoid the same road conditions.
Bottom line
When you’re driving in Massachusetts, you’ll run into some of the busiest roadways in the country. The right car insurance coverage is important for your peace of mind. Carefully research your choices to get the best coverage for your family and budget. To learn more, from laws and regulations to how you can find the best values on coverage, visit our comprehensive guide to car insurance.
Common questions about Massachusetts car insurance
Each car insurance provider and policy varies, but it’s possible that your car insurance rates will go up if you file a claim. Some providers offer accident forgiveness programs that ensure your premium stays the same after your first accident. But in many cases, a claim on your policy raises your risk profile — and, in turn, your rates.
Drivers should contact the police regarding a car accident while they are at the scene, as soon safety concerns have been addressed. If a Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report is necessary, it must be submitted within five days of the accident.
No, your credit score doesn’t matter when it comes to car insurance here. Massachusetts is one of three states in the country — the other two are Hawaii and California — where insurance providers can’t use your credit score to calculate your rates. Elsewhere, a poor credit score will hurt your chances of getting a great insurance rate; this is because multiple independent studies have linked credit score to accident risk.
Megan B. Shepherd is a personal finance editor at Finder where she helps people navigate the financial world of loans.
Her personal finance expertise has been featured on Forbes, Nasdaq, MediaFeed, Fox News, Time, Reviews.com, and carinsurance.com, adding invaluable information related to personal loans, financial strategies and smart borrowing tactics.
Megan graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a BS in Business Administration with an entrepreneurial focus. She's worked as a certified financial adviser and has earned certificates of completion from A.D. Banker & Company.
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