Best Car Insurance in Massachusetts
Last Updated on December 22, 2022
Drivers in Massachusetts pay lower-than-average rates for car insurance. Compared to the rest of the United States, Massachusetts drivers pay approximately 15% less for car insurance than the nationwide average. The average driver in MA pays approximately $1,312 per year for full coverage car insurance.
However, rates vary widely across the state. A driver in the city center of Boston pays different insurance premiums than a driver in a rural area. That’s why we want to help by explaining everything you need to know about the best car insurance in Massachusetts.
Table of Contents
- Best Auto Insurance Companies in Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Auto Insurance Requirements
- Driving Without Insurance in Massachusetts
- Car Insurance in Massachusetts with a DUI
- Car Insurance in Massachusetts with At-Fault Accidents
- Car Insurance in Massachusetts with Speeding Tickets
- Car Insurance in Massachusetts for Young Drivers
- Car Insurance in Massachusetts with Poor Credit
- SR-22 Insurance in Massachusetts
Top 10 Auto Insurance Companies in Massachusetts
Car insurance companies in Massachusetts pay lower than average rates for car insurance, but some Massachusetts insurers charge even lower rates than the MA average. All of the insurers listed below offer a combination of cheap insurance premiums and strong customer service or claims satisfaction, making them among the best car insurance companies in Massachusetts for drivers with all different needs.
1. Plymouth Rock
Plymouth Rock isn’t as large as GEICO or USAA, but the company frequently appears near the top of Massachusetts state car insurance company rankings. Plymouth Rock has a longstanding reputation for charging competitive prices without compromising on customer service and claims satisfaction. The average Plymouth Rock customer in Massachusetts pays around $842 per year for full coverage car insurance.
| Plymouth Rock Assurance | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 581 Main St Woodbridge, NJ 07095 |
| Phone Number | 1-855-993-4470 |
| Website URL | https://www.plymouthrock.com/ |
2. GEICO
GEICO is often the cheapest insurance company in many states, and it’s frequently among the best cheap insurance companies in Massachusetts. Although GEICO has middle-of-the-road ratings for claims satisfaction and customer service, the company continues to exceed expectations among Massachusetts drivers, charging as little as $934 per year for full coverage car insurance, on average.
| GEICO | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 5260 Western Avenue Chevy Chase, MD 20815 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-861-8380 |
| Website URL | https://www.geico.com/ |
3. USAA
If you qualify for membership with USAA, you get highly-rated car insurance at a reasonable price. USAA car insurance is flexible and affordable, customized to your unique needs while providing superior claims satisfaction. The average USAA customer pays even less than the average GEICO customer in Massachusetts, paying approximately $879 annually for full coverage car insurance.
| USAA | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 9800 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio, TX 78288 |
| Phone Number | 1-210-531-USAA |
| Website URL | http://www.usaa.com/ |
4. Safety Insurance
Safety Insurance charges average rates of around $902 per year for drivers in Massachusetts. Although it lacks the amenities of other large insurance companies on this list, Safety remains one of the best car insurance providers in Massachusetts for drivers with all different driving histories.
| Safety Insurance | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 20 Custom House Street Boston, MA 02110 |
| Phone Number | 1-617-951-0600 |
| Website URL | https://www.safetyinsurance.com/ |
5. The Hanover
The Hanover frequently appears near the top of J.D. Power’s rankings for New England and other subregions for its strong customer service and claims satisfaction. Although rates tend to be slightly higher than they are with competing providers, many drivers in Massachusetts are willing to pay a little more for superior customer service. Our model drivers received average quotes of around $1,001 per year with The Hanover.
| The Hanover | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 440 Lincoln St Worcester, MA 01653 |
| Phone Number | 1 (800) 922-8427 |
| Website URL | https://www.hanover.com/ |
6. MetLife
MetLife is one of the world’s largest insurance companies, managing employee benefits and insurance programs for people worldwide. Today, MetLife offers a competitive suite of auto insurance products to drivers in Massachusetts.
| MetLife | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 200 Park Avenue New York City, NY 10166 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-638-5433 |
| Website URL | https://www.metlife.com/ |
7. Progressive
Like other large insurers rounding out the bottom of our list, Progressive insures millions across the country – including thousands of Massachusetts drivers. Our model drivers in Massachusetts received an average quote of around $1,132 per year for full coverage car insurance with Progressive in Massachusetts, making it one of the top 10 best car insurance companies in the state.
| Progressive | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 6300 Wilson Mills Road Mayfield Village, OH 44143 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-776-4737 |
| Website URL | https://www.progressive.com/ |
8. Travelers
Travelers is available in most states, providing cheap prices on car insurance for drivers of all backgrounds and demographics. Travelers is not preferred significantly by any particular demographic in Massachusetts, although the company does offer low rates across the state. According to our analysis, an average Massachusetts driver pays roughly $1,199 per year for full coverage car insurance with Travelers.
| Travelers | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 485 Lexington Ave 10th Fl New York, NY 10017 |
| Phone Number | 1-866-218-5589 |
| Website URL | https://www.travelers.com/ |
9. State Farm
As the largest insurance company in the United States, State Farm frequently ranks among the cheapest insurance companies in Massachusetts and other states. Although State Farm has mixed ratings for customer service and claims satisfaction, it ranks similarly to other large insurance companies in the country. Expect to pay around $1,201 per year for full coverage car insurance with State Farm in Massachusetts.
| State Farm | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 1 State Farm Plaza Bloomington, IL 61701 |
| Phone Number | 1-309-766-2311 |
| Website URL | https://www.statefarm.com/ |
10. Allstate
Allstate is another large insurance company with average ratings but below-average prices for drivers in Massachusetts. Allstate is particularly attractive if you already insure multiple products with the company – like homeowners insurance. It costs around $1,232 per year for full coverage car insurance with Allstate in Massachusetts.
| Allstate | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 2775 Sanders Road Northbrook, IL 60062 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-255-7828 |
| Website URL | https://www.allstate.com/ |
Massachusetts Insurance Requirements
Massachusetts, like most states, requires drivers to have insurance to legally drive on public roads. Drivers who drive without insurance and get caught face severe penalties.
Overall, Massachusetts has similar car insurance liability limit requirements to most other states, although the state also requires drivers to have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage and uninsured driver insurance – two things that are not required in all other states.
Here are all car insurance requirements for drivers in Massachusetts:
- $20,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person and $40,000 per accident
- $8,000 of personal injury protection per person, per accident
- $20,000 of uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person and $40,000 per accident
- $5,000 of property damage liability coverage
Massachusetts, being a no-fault state, is one of the few states that require drivers to carry personal injury protection coverage, also known as PIP. PIP covers medical bills, bodily injury expenses, and similar costs after an accident, regardless of fault.
You don’t have to worry about these limits when buying car insurance in Massachusetts: any licensed insurer in the state that sells a policy will match these limits, at minimum.
Driving Without Insurance in Massachusetts
It’s illegal to drive without insurance in Massachusetts, just like it’s illegal to drive without insurance in most states. If you are caught driving without insurance in Massachusetts, you could face fines, license suspension, or even imprisonment, among other penalties.
The severity of your punishment varies depending on whether it’s your first offense or not:
First Offense: $500 fine, additional $500 fine or one full year of auto insurance (whichever is higher), $45 late fee, license and registration suspension for 60 days, $500 license and registration reinstatement fee, up to one year in prison, and a $25 filing fee if you choose to request a hearing.
Second and Subsequent Offenses: $500 to $5,000 fine, additional $500 fine or one full year of auto insurance (whichever is higher), $45 late fee, license and registration suspension for one year, $500 license and registration reinstatement fee, up to one year in prison, and a $25 filing fee if you choose to request a hearing.
These fines sound steep – and they are. Massachusetts has some of the strictest penalties for driving without insurance. It’s one reason why Massachusetts has some of the lowest rates of uninsured drivers in the country.
These fines are only part of the problem for uninsured drivers. Being caught without insurance is a serious offense, and your insurer views it as high-risk behavior. In addition to the fines above, your insurance will rise significantly.
Drivers can dispute the charges. You must pay a $25 filing fee to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) within 20 days of the offense. If you do not challenge the offense within 20 days, you are considered guilty.
Car Insurance in Massachusetts with DUI
Massachusetts, like most states, has strict penalties for drivers caught driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated (DWI), or operating under the influence (OUI).
Making things even tougher for drivers with a DUI in Massachusetts is that the state has no maximum lookback period for DUIs. Your DUI remains on your record for life, and all previous OUI convictions are considered when calculating your penalties and sentence.
A single DUI in Massachusetts could lead to 2.5 years in jail, $500 to $5,000 in fines, a one-year license suspension, and mandatory attendance in an OUI education program, among other penalties. Drivers will also pay significantly higher car insurance premiums for several years.
Fortunately, some car insurance companies treat DUIs or OUIs less strictly than others in Massachusetts. The best insurance companies for drivers with a DUI in Massachusetts include:
- GEICO: $1,671 per year
- Allstate: $1,702 per year
- State Farm: $1,712 per year
- USAA: $1,801 per year
- Plymouth Rock: $1,899 per year
Car Insurance in Massachusetts with At-Fault Accidents
Car insurance companies charge higher premiums to drivers with an accident on their record. Fortunately, not all car insurance companies treat at-fault accidents the same way in MA. Some companies ignore a single accident, for example – especially if it’s a minor conviction. Others raise rates less than other providers.
The best car insurance companies in Massachusetts for drivers with at-fault accidents include:
- State Farm: $1,452 per year
- GEICO: $1,502 per year
- MetLife: $1,636 per year
- USAA: $1,638 per year
- Plymouth Rock: $1,701 per year
Car Insurance in Massachusetts with Speeding Tickets
While some Massachusetts car insurance companies see speeding tickets as serious offenses equivalent to at-fault accidents, other insurance companies view them as minor offenses that hardly impact insurance premiums.
If you have a speeding ticket – or several speeding tickets – on your Massachusetts driving record, consider requesting a quote from the following companies:
- USAA: $932 per year
- Plymouth Rock: $933 per year
- GEICO: $1,002 per year
- Safety Insurance: $1,025 per year
- The Hanover: $1,032 per year
Car Insurance in Massachusetts for Young Drivers
You can’t change your age. Unfortunately, young drivers in Massachusetts pay some of the state’s highest rates for car insurance. There is good news: some car insurance companies welcome young drivers to balance out their insurance pool, charging comparatively cheap rates to young drivers to attract their long-term business.
Some of the best car insurance in Massachusetts for young drivers include:
- Safety Insurance: $1,502 per year
- USAA: $1,749 per year
- GEICO: $1,811 per year
- Allstate: $1,923 per year
- Amica Mutual: $2,002 per year
Car Insurance in Massachusetts with Poor Credit
Massachusetts is one of three states in America that does not permit insurance companies to consider credit scores when calculating insurance premiums.
Statistically, drivers with low credit scores are riskier to insure than drivers with high credit scores. In most states, insurance companies check your credit-based insurance score, then use this number to calculate rates. Drivers with bad credit scores will pay more because they’re more likely to cause an accident or make a claim, statistically speaking.
Fortunately for drivers with low credit, Massachusetts is one of three states (along with Hawaii and California) that has banned using credit scores for insurance. Whether you have high or low credit, it won’t impact rates in Massachusetts. The top five companies below are the same as our top five companies at the top of our list:
- Plymouth Rock: $842
- USAA: $879
- Safety Insurance: $902
- GEICO: $934
- The Hanover: $1,001
SR-22 Insurance in Massachusetts
Drivers in Massachusetts may need to obtain a certificate of financial responsibility, also known as an SR-22 if they have a high-risk driver profile.
The SR-22 certificate verifies you have valid car insurance in Massachusetts. Drivers who were recently convicted of DUI, driving without insurance, or driving on a suspended license may be required to obtain an SR-22 certificate. Some drivers also need an SR-22 certificate after accumulating too many driver’s license points.
The Massachusetts RMV will notify you if you need to provide an SR-22 certificate.
Fortunately, thousands of drivers in Massachusetts require SR-22 insurance. Most major car insurance companies in the state provide SR-22 insurance. You’ll pay higher rates than you normally would, but you get valid car insurance and can legally drive.
Conclusion: How to Find the Best Auto Insurance in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is one of the best states for car insurance premiums, with drivers in Massachusetts paying relatively low rates for car insurance compared to drivers in the rest of the country.
By comparing quotes and shopping around, drivers in Massachusetts can pay even less for car insurance, obtaining the lowest possible rates on auto insurance regardless of driver history.
