Best Cheap Auto Insurance in Massachusetts 2024

Massachusetts insurance laws require drivers to carry car insurance. Still, car insurance can be an expensive purchase if drivers don’t take the time to look for the cheapest car insurance in Massachusetts.

Because companies are all different in what rates they charge, drivers need to look through an overview of cheap car insurance based on their driving records and get Massachusetts auto insurance quotes to see which company offers the best rates. 

If you don’t know where to start with car insurance companies in Massachusetts, don’t worry. We will go over everything you need to know about companies’ rates for a wide array of different drivers, as well as pertinent information about Massachusetts insurance laws. 

Read on to learn more about how to find cheap Massachusetts car insurance. 

Cheapest Car Insurance in Massachusetts 

Before we dive into the different Massachusetts auto insurance companies rates, we want to note that — just because a company is cheap for one driver does not mean it will be the cheapest for a different driver.

For example, a company that is cheap for drivers with a DUI may be extremely expensive for drivers with normal driving records. Therefore, we recommend looking at the company’s rates based on your major driving record factors.

Cheapest Companies for Minimum Liability Insurance 

Minimum liability insurance is important insurance coverage and is required in the majority of states. If you cause an accident that injures another driver or damages their car, liability car insurance protects you by paying their bills up to the policy limit. 

The average car insurance cost in Massachusetts for liability insurance is $40 per month or $480 per year. However, average rates will vary among companies, as you can see from the table below. 

Average Minimum Coverage Monthly Rates for the Top Auto Insurance Companies

State Farm, Geico, and Travelers have the cheapest liability rates for drivers with good records. These companies tend to have rates around or below the state average for the majority of drivers. 

Companies that will be more on the expensive side will be companies that are over the state average, such as Liberty Mutual or Allstate. 

Cheapest Companies for Full Coverage Insurance 

Full coverage auto insurance includes comprehensive and collision insurance in addition to liability insurance. If you get into an accident, full coverage will cover your accident bills, so you aren’t stuck paying out of pocket. 

However, you can expect to pay more on average for the additional financial protection that comes with full coverage insurance. On average, full coverage insurance will cost $114 per month or $1,368 per year in Massachusetts. 

Below, you can see how different companies’ average rates compare to the state average. 

Average Monthly Full Coverage Rates for the Top Auto Insurance Companies

Geico, State Farm, and Travelers are also some of the more economical options for full coverage policies for drivers with clean records. Companies that will cost more are companies like Allstate and Liberty Mutual. 

Cheapest Companies for Young Drivers 

No matter what insurance company you choose, you can expect companies to increase rates when insuring young drivers. This is due to the fact that young drivers are more inexperienced, making them more likely to be in an accident and file a claim with the insurance company. 

The best way to reduce auto insurance rates is to shop around and see which insurance companies offer the cheapest rates on average. Find out the best auto insurance companies for teenage drivers.

Monthly Full Coverage Teen Auto Insurance Rates for the Top Insurance Companies

If you are a young driver purchasing your own auto insurance policy, some of the cheaper options will likely be Geico or State Farm. Companies to stay away from would be Travelers and Progressive. 

One tip for saving on car insurance for young drivers is to have them join a parent’s policy rather than purchasing their own. It is much cheaper to add a young driver as long as they are still living at home or away at college.

Some insurance companies will allow college students to also stay on a parent’s policy and offer a discount, as long as the college student doesn’t bring a car with them to school. 

Cheapest Companies for Drivers With Bad Credit 

The majority of states allow auto insurance companies to use drivers’ credit scores as a rating factor. Drivers with poor credit scores are charged more than drivers with good credit scores, as poor credit scores suggest a driver is more likely to miss payments on auto insurance. Find out which auto insurance companies don’t check credit.

To see how much more insurance companies charge on average for poor credit scores, take a look at the table below. 

Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates by Credit Rating

Drivers with poor credit scores should look into Geico or Travelers first to see if they can get cheaper auto insurance rates. Liberty Mutual and Allstate will have more expensive rates, so these companies should be avoided at first when shopping for auto insurance quotes. 

Finding an auto insurance company with cheaper rates is important so drivers don’t have to struggle with missing payments and can get their credit scores back on track. The last thing you want is to miss a payment and have your insurance coverage canceled, as you may face even higher insurance rates if you drive without insurance. 

Cheapest Companies for Drivers With Traffic Tickets 

As anyone who has gotten a traffic ticket can confirm, insurance companies will increase rates for any moving violations on your driving record. 

Some examples of tickets that will raise your auto insurance rates are speeding tickets, reckless driving tickets, failure to yield tickets, and more. Tickets like these tell insurance companies that these drivers are riskier to insure, as they are more likely to crash due to poor driving behaviors. 

If you have a traffic ticket or two on your driving record, it can be helpful to shop around to see if any other insurance companies offer a cheaper rate. Take a look at the table below to see how much Massachusetts companies charge on average. 

Average Monthly Rates for the Top Insurance Companies After a Traffic Ticket

State Farm has some of the cheapest average rates if you have a traffic ticket. On the other hand, Liberty Mutual, Allstate, and Farmers have some of the more expensive rates for drivers with traffic tickets. 

If you do have a traffic ticket and can’t find cheaper auto insurance rates, keep in mind that your rates will go down over time as long as you keep a clean driving record. You may also be able to apply for discounts to lower your rates at your current auto insurance company. 

Cheapest Companies for Drivers With At-Fault Accidents 

Your auto insurance rates won’t increase if someone rear-ends you, but if you cause an accident, you will see an increase in your auto insurance rates. Once you cause an accident, insurance companies will view you as more likely to get into another accident in the future and raise your rates to offset this risk. Learn more about how car insurance rates change after an accident. 

Below, you can see what Massachusetts car insurance companies charge on average for drivers with at-fault accidents on their records. 

Average Monthly Rates for the Top Insurance Companies After an Accident

State Farm will have some of the cheapest rates for drivers with at-fault accidents. In contrast, Liberty Mutual and Allstate will have some of the most expensive rates. 

We want to note that some of the companies on the list may offer accident forgiveness, which means your rates won’t be increased after your first at-fault accident. At some companies, you may need to pay a small fee to join the program, while others just require drivers to remain accident-free for a few years. 

Either way, these accident-free programs are a great perk for drivers who are normally safe drivers, as they will save drivers from years of increased auto insurance rates after their first accident. 

Cheapest Companies for Drivers With DUIs 

A DUI will always raise your auto insurance rates, no matter what insurance company you are with. However, you may be able to switch companies after a DUI for a cheaper rate on auto insurance. Find out how to get insurance after a DUI.

Take a look at the table below to see if any companies might have cheaper rates than your current auto insurance company for a DUI offense. 

Average Monthly Rates for the Top Insurance Companies After a DUI

Per usual, State Farm is one of the better companies if you get a DUI, with some of the cheapest auto insurance rates. 

While Progressive is normally one of the more expensive companies for auto insurance, it is cheaper for DUI drivers. In fact, its average tends to fall below Travelers for DUI drivers, which is one of the cheaper companies for insurance. 

These differences show how important it is to shop around for car insurance in Massachusetts based on your driving record. Companies that are normally cheap can be extremely expensive in one of the driving record categories and vice versa. 

Cheapest Cities in Massachusetts for Car Insurance 

If you’ve moved before, you’ve probably noticed that your auto insurance rates changed. Auto insurance companies will always recalculate your auto insurance quotes when you move, as there may be new risk factors in your area that increase your likelihood of filing a claim. 

Some of these area risk factors are as follows: 

• Local crime. Rates may increase if you live in an area where cars are frequently vandalized or stolen. 

• Local traffic and crash records. Rates may increase if you live in an area where there are heavy traffic patterns or a high record of crashes. For example, you may live near a busy intersection with a history of frequent crashes. 

• Local weather. Areas with extreme weather that can contribute to crashes will have higher insurance rates, such as areas with lots of snow. 
• Local wildlife. If you have comprehensive insurance, you may see your rates increase if you live in an area that is prone to wildlife crashes, such as states with high numbers of deer. 

Now that you have an understanding of why your rates might change as you move around Massachusetts, we want to go over average insurance rates at major Massachusetts cities.

Springfield, Massachusetts, is one of the more expensive cities on average for car insurance. As one of the largest cities in Massachusetts, Springfield’s higher auto insurance rates could be due to more drivers on the road, as more drivers will often result in more crashes in the area. 

If you are moving to Springfield, Massachusetts, we recommend getting some auto insurance quotes from different companies to see if your current insurance company will still offer the best rates at your new address. 

How to Save Money on Massachusetts Car Insurance 

Shopping around for auto insurance quotes is definitely one of the best ways to find savings quickly. If you have already picked a good company with cheap rates and are looking for additional saving tips, there are a few other things you can do to lower your car insurance rates. 

Take a look at our best tips for saving on car insurance in Massachusetts below. 

• Apply for discounts offered by your insurance company. There may be additional discounts you can qualify for by participating in a safe driving program or taking a defensive driving course that can save you money. 

• Drive a car that is cheaper to insure. Choosing a car that is cheaper to insure will save you money in the long run. Get quotes for cars that have good safety ratings and parts that are cheap and easily available. 

• Drive safely and keep a clean driving record. Even if you have had an accident or ticket in the past, driving safely will help reduce your auto insurance rates significantly over time. 

• Reduce your auto insurance coverage. If you have extras like roadside assistance or rental car reimbursement, you may want to consider getting rid of them to reduce your rates if necessary. 

• Raise your insurance deductible. If you need to reduce your auto insurance rates further, you can always raise your insurance deductible. Just don’t raise it beyond an amount you would be unable to pay after an accident. 
• Work on improving your credit score if applicable. If you have a poor credit score, working on improving your credit score will help you reduce your auto insurance rates. 

Additionally, we want to note that if your car is older than ten years and greatly depreciated in value, you may want to consider carrying just a minimum liability auto insurance policy. 

Basically, if you would pay your car’s value with comprehensive and collision insurance in a few years, you can get rid of full auto insurance coverage and carry just a minimum liability insurance policy without much financial risk if your car were to be totaled. 

Massachusetts Car Insurance Laws and DUI Penalties 

Massachusetts car insurance laws can affect how much you pay for car insurance, as some states require drivers to carry significantly more coverage than other states. DUI penalties can also make it more difficult to afford increased auto insurance rates after a DUI, so we want to cover all these factors in detail for Massachusetts drivers. 

Minimum Car Insurance Required in Massachusetts 

In Massachusetts, drivers are required to carry a few different auto insurance coverages in order to drive. These coverages are bodily injury liability insurance, property damage liability insurance, personal injury protection (PIP), and bodily injury uninsured motorist insurance.

For each of these insurance coverages, you will have to carry the minimum amount required in Massachusetts. 

According to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, these minimum limits are as follows: 

• Bodily injury liability insurance: $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident 

• Property damage liability insurance: $5,000 per accident 

• PIP insurance: $8,000 per person 
• Bodily injury uninsured motorist insurance: $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident 

These limits are the maximum amount that your insurance company will pay in a covered claim. 

Because the property damage liability insurance limit is low in Mass., we do recommend purchasing a higher insurance amount if you are able to afford to. This is because if you cause a crash that causes more than $5,000 worth of damages, you will have to pay the rest of the amount out of pocket. 

Optional Car Insurance in Massachusetts 

The state of Massachusetts doesn’t require any other coverages besides the ones listed in the previous section. The exception is if you have a lease or loan on your car — your lender will require you to carry full coverage on your vehicle in order to protect your assets. 

If this applies to you, you will have to carry comprehensive and collision insurance in addition to Massachusetts’s required insurance. 

For the most part, however, you can choose whether you want to carry the following auto insurance coverages.

• Collision insurance 
• Comprehensive insurance 
• GAP insurance 
• Modified car insurance 
• New car insurance 
• Rental car reimbursement insurance 
• Roadside assistance insurance 
• Umbrella insurance 
• Underinsured insurance 

Out of all these auto insurance coverages, the two coverages we recommend that most drivers carry are collision and comprehensive auto insurance. Both of these auto insurance coverages will insure your vehicle repairs after a wide range of different car accidents, from hitting a deer to running into another vehicle. 

DUI Penalties in Massachusetts 

You already learned that DUIs would raise driver’s auto insurance rates substantially, but there are a number of other possible penalties that will cost you time and money if convicted of a DUI in Massachusetts.

DUI penalties in Massachusetts are

• Driver’s alcohol education program
• Fines 
• Forfeiture of your vehicle 
• Ignition interlock device (IID)
• Inpatient treatment programs
• Jail time 
• License suspension 
• Probation 

The penalties you’ll face will depend upon the number of DUIs on your record and how severe the charges are. For example, a first DUI offense will have much lighter penalties than a third DUI offense, just as your Massachusetts automobile insurance rates will also increase with each DUI offense. 

SR-22 Insurance Certificates in Massachusetts 

SR-22 insurance certificates prove that a driver carries Massachusetts’ required auto insurance coverages. Drivers often need to file SR-22 at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to reinstate their driver’s license after a serious driving offense. 

Some examples of drivers who might need SR-22 from their auto insurance companies include the following.

• Drivers who were caught driving under the influence. 
• Drivers who were caught driving without insurance coverage. 
• Drivers who were caught driving with an expired or suspended driver’s license. 
• Drivers with multiple points on their driving record.

If you already have an auto insurance company, you can simply contact them and ask it to file the SR-22 certificate. Your company may charge a small fee, as there is a filing fee with the DMV. 

If you don’t have an auto insurance company, then make sure you let any insurance companies you apply to know you need an SR-22 certificate. Otherwise, you risk being dropped by your new auto insurance company if it finds out you omitted important details about your driving record when it runs a background check on driving records. 

If you cannot find a car insurance company willing to insure you, you can apply for guaranteed auto insurance through the Massachusetts Automobile Insurance Plan (MAIP). This should only be used as a last resort, as the state program is always more expensive than other local companies.

You may wonder how to get SR-22 insurance if you don’t have a car. In these cases, you will need to buy non-owner car insurance. Not all insurance providers offer this coverage, so you may have to look a little harder for good rates. However, this coverage will meet Massachusetts state requirements, so you can get your SR-22 certificate and get back out on the road. 

The Final Word on Cheap Auto Insurance in Massachusetts 

If you live in Massachusetts, you may find that auto insurance rates are a little more expensive than in other states. However, you can actively work to reduce your car insurance rates. From applying for car insurance discounts to keeping a clean driving record, there are plenty of ways for you to reduce your Massachusetts auto insurance rates. 

The best way to quickly find cheap rates is to shop around and compare Massachusetts car insurance quotes from different companies. You can use our free auto insurance quote comparison tool to find the best rates from companies in your area.