Here's what you need to know when driving in Massachusetts
Across the Bay State, there are 76,200 miles of road just waiting to be driven. We’ll get you prepped, then you take the wheel.
Affordable Insurance Premiums in Massachusetts
What's the cheapest car insurance in Massachusetts?
| Rank | Company Name | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norfolk and Dedham | $1,195 |
| 2 | Plymouth Rock | $1,235 |
| 3 | MAPFRE | $1,275 |
| 4 | Travelers | $1,323 |
| 5 | MetLife | $1,425 |
| 6 | Arbella | $1,467 |
| 7 | Quincy Mutual | $1,525 |
| 8 | Progressive | $1,651 |
| 9 | National Grange Mutual | $1,709 |
| 10 | Vermont Mutual | $1,776 |
| 11 | Hanover | $1,945 |
Compare quotes from over 20 insurance companies that provide coverage throughout Massachusetts. Enter your ZIP code below to get started.
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Cheap insurance for good drivers in Massachusetts
Drivers with good driving records typically enjoy lower car insurance costs than drivers with histories of speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, or DUI citations. Massachusetts drivers without a recent at-fault accident typically save 41% on their car insurance premiums, which beats the US average by 9%. In addition to earning a cheaper premium for driving incident-free, you may qualify for a safe-driving bonus through your car insurance company. The amount of these discounts may vary, but they typically run between 5 and 10%.
| Rating Factor | $ Savings | % Savings |
|---|---|---|
| No Traffic Tickets | $290 | 20.12% |
| No Accidents | $810 | 41.31% |
| Good Credit | $0 | 0.00% |
Cheap insurance for young drivers in Massachusetts
Young drivers — those between the ages of 16 and 25 — pay relatively high auto insurance rates, with those aged 16 to 19 paying the most expensive premiums of all. Because of the risk presented by inexperienced drivers, teens pay more than three times the national average for car insurance. Massachusetts is a relatively affordable state for teen drivers: the typical teen driver pays $4,210 per year — about $700 less than the national average for teens, but still four times more than the average driver in Massachusetts.
| Age | Annual Rate with Parents | Annual Rate Alone |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | $4,612 | $5,046 |
| 17 | $4,321 | $4,507 |
| 18 | $4,104 | $4,334 |
| 19 | $4,104 | $2,656 |
Cheap car insurance for bad drivers in Massachusetts
If you avoid at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and DUIs, you can save money on car insurance. Insurance companies use your driving record as a way to predict the level of risk you present, so maintaining a spotless driving record will lead to lower premiums. It's especially important to avoid at-fault accidents, speeding tickets and DUI citations in Massachusetts, one of the states in which insurance companies penalize poor driving most severely. In fact, a single speeding ticket could raise your car insurance rates by 20% in Massachusetts — and a DUI could raise your premiums by as much as 49%.
| Rating Factor | Annual Rate | % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| At-Fault Accident | $1,961 | 41.31% |
| DUI | $2,293 | 49.80% |
| Speeding Violation | $1,441 | 20.12% |
| Bad Credit | $1,151 | 0.00% |
Best Car Insurance Companies in Massachusetts
Every car insurer advertises its low premiums. But just like with any product or service, the cheapest choice is not always the best selection. Considering the stakes, it's worth doing the due diligence to find an insurance policy that protects your vehicle completely in the event of a collision. Exercise some patience and look for a great value, rather than settling for the most affordable car insurance in your state.
Compare major auto insurers' financial strength and claims satisfaction ratings to better understand the quality of service you'll receive. Claims satisfaction — measured by J.D. Power — is ranked on a scale of 2 to 5, with 5 being "among the best" and 2 being "the rest." Financial strength — calculated by A.M. Best and ranging from "Superior" to "Poor" — determines an insurer's financial strength and ability to satisfy its contractual and policy obligations.
| Insurance Company | Claims Satisfaction (J.D. Power) | Financial Strength (A.M. Best) |
| Allstate | 3 | Superior |
| Arbella | Not Rated | Excellent |
| Commerce Insurance | Not Rated | Excellent |
| Encompass | Not Rated | Superior |
| GEICO | 3 | Superior |
| Hanover | 3 | Excellent |
| Liberty Mutual | 3 | Excellent |
| MetLife | 3 | Superior |
| Norfolk and Dedham | Not Rated | Excellent |
| OneBeacon | Not Rated | Excellent |
| Progressive | 3 | Superior |
| Quincy Mutual | Not Rated | Superior |
| State Farm | 3 | Superior |
| Travelers | 3 | Superior |
| USAA | 5 | Superior |
See insurance rates for Massachusetts' best companies!
What is the best auto insurance coverage in Massachusetts?
The minimum required level of insurance in Massachusetts is $20,000 Bodily Injury per person, $40,000 Bodily Injury per accident, and $5,000 Property Damage per accident.
If you carry the legal minimum coverage level in Massachusetts, you'll pay an average of $609 yearly. These premiums are cheaper than the nationwide average by 7%. If you choose more comprehensive coverage, you can select a policy with comprehensive and collision coverage, insuring against damages caused by car-vs.-car collisions, theft, or weather incidents. It's worth noting that better car insurance comes with a price: in Massachusetts, a comprehensive insurance policy with a $1,000 deductible costs $983, 61% more than basic liability-only coverage. For a comprehensive policy with a $500 deductible, you can expect to pay 93% more than you would for a liability-only policy.
Compare mean rates for basic, better, and best coverage levels below.
| Location | Liability-Only | Comprehensive — $1,000 Deductible | Comprehensive — $500 Deductible |
| Massachusetts | $608.85 | $982.70 | $1,174.98 |
| National Average | $657.66 | $1,241.26 | $1,397.94 |
Massachusetts Auto Insurance Laws
State minimum insurance requirements in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, drivers are required to carry liability, uninsured motorist, and personal injury protection coverages at the below minimum levels:
Liability
- Bodily Injury $20,000 per person
- Bodily Injury $40,000 per accident
- Property Damage $5,000 per accident
Uninsured Motorist
- Bodily Injury $20,000 per person
- Bodily Injury $40,000 per accident
Personal Injury Protection
- $8,000 per person
Optional coverage in Massachusetts (varies by carrier):
- Comprehensive
- Collision
- Limited Collision
- Loan/Lease Payoff
- Medical Payments
- Rental Car Reimbursement
- Roadside Assistance
- Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury
- Optional Bodily Injury (OBI)
Learn more about car insurance regulations in the state of Massachusetts.
Driving Laws in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Texting and Driving Laws
- Ban on all cell phones for school bus drivers
- Ban on all cell phones for drivers <18 years
- Ban on text messaging for all drivers
Massachusetts DUI Laws
There is no maximum lookback period in Massachusetts. This means all past OUI convictions are taken into account when a court decides an offender’s sentence and penalties. Additionally, most penalties are applicable to OUI violators of all ages.
Penalties may also vary slightly based on the specifics of an impaired driver’s OUI offense. In Massachusetts, third and subsequent OUI charges are felonies.
First-time DUI offenses in Massachusetts lead to:
- Up to two-and-a-half years in jail
- $500 to $5,000 in fines
- License suspension for one year
- Possible attendance in an alcohol education program
Ticket Impact on Auto Insurance Rates in Massachusetts
If you get a ticket, your auto insurance costs will probably rise. How much your rates rise depends on the violation, your insurance company's pricing strategy, and differing local insurance risks and regulations. That's why tickets may have a different impact on insurance in your state compared to the national average.
Below is a snapshot of average car insurance rates in Massachusetts after a few common violations.
| Violation | Avg. Annual Auto Insurance Rate | % Insurance Rate Increase | $ Insurance Rate Increase |
| Hit and Run | $2,520 | 97% | $1,243 |
| Refused Breathalyzer/Chemical Test | $2,424 | 90% | $1,147 |
| DUI | $2,454 | 92% | $1,177 |
| Racing | $2,464 | 93% | $1,187 |
| Reckless Driving | $2,520 | 97% | $1,243 |
| Driving with a Suspended License | $2,552 | 100% | $1,275 |
| At-Fault Accident | $1,984 | 55% | $707 |
| Driving with an Open Container | $2,403 | 88% | $1,126 |
| Operating a Vehicle Without Permission | $1,627 | 27% | $350 |
| Passing a School Bus | $1,640 | 28% | $363 |
| Improper Passing | $1,640 | 28% | $363 |
| Following Too Closely | $1,640 | 28% | $363 |
| Speeding | $1,622 | 27% | $345 |
| Failure to Stop at a Red Light | $1,640 | 28% | $363 |
| Illegal Turn | $1,640 | 28% | $363 |
| Driving Wrong Way/Wrong Lane | $1,640 | 28% | $363 |
| Failure to Yield | $1,640 | 28% | $363 |
| Speeding in a School Zone | $1,624 | 27% | $348 |
| Driving Too Slowly | $1,624 | 27% | $348 |
| Distracted Driving | $1,600 | 25% | $323 |
| Driving with Expired Registration | $2,159 | 69% | $882 |
| Failure to Show Documents | $2,159 | 69% | $882 |
| Not-at-Fault Accident | $1,300 | 2% | $23 |
| Failure to Use Child Safety Restraint | $1,307 | 2% | $30 |
| Failure to Wear a Seat Belt | $1,376 | 8% | $99 |
| Driving Without Lights | $1,307 | 2% | $30 |
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Massachusetts Car Insurance FAQs
Who really has the cheapest car insurance in Massachusetts?
Regional companies offer the cheapest car insurance in Massachusetts. Norfolk and Dedham offer the cheapest rates, at $597 for a six-month policy, and Plymouth Rock offers the second-cheapest: $617.
What is the best car insurance in Massachusetts?
The best insurance in MA is the policy that matches your needs. The only way to find that is to shop around with national and regional companies. Use our comparison calculator to see rates in Massachusetts.
Why is car insurance so expensive in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts car insurance rates are 18% cheaper than the average rate in the U.S. This changes if you're in a bigger city, such as Boston, where the average rate is 26% more expensive than the U.S. and 50% more expensive than the statewide average.
How much does car insurance cost in Massachusetts cities?
Car insurance companies calculate your rate based on many factors, location of the vehicle being an important one. The cheapest car insurance is found in Waltham, Massachusetts, and the most expensive in Brockton, Massachusetts.
| Rank | City | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brockton | $2,437 |
| 2 | Revere | $2,365 |
| 3 | Lynn | $2,160 |
| 4 | Malden | $2,149 |
| 5 | Springfield | $2,019 |
| 6 | Lawrence | $1,983 |
| 7 | Worcester | $1,864 |
| 8 | Fall River | $1,850 |
| 9 | New Bedford | $1,833 |
| 10 | Medford | $1,779 |
| 11 | Boston | $1,766 |
| 12 | Quincy | $1,764 |
| 13 | Somerville | $1,723 |
| 14 | Lowell | $1,654 |
| 15 | Peabody | $1,650 |
| 16 | Weymouth | $1,649 |
| 17 | Taunton | $1,625 |
| 18 | Chicopee | $1,593 |
| 19 | Cambridge | $1,579 |
| 20 | Brookline | $1,570 |
| 21 | Framingham | $1,552 |
| 22 | Haverhill | $1,531 |
| 23 | Newton | $1,502 |
| 24 | Waltham | $1,492 |
Recent Massachusetts Car Insurance Questions and Answers
Can you insure a leased vehicle out of state?
Is it worth filing a claim for a scratch on my car that happened when it was parked?
Why is my insurance so high if I have no accidents?
Will non-moving violations impact my insurance premium?
