It is important that people driving cars in Massachusetts know about the reason car insurance is so expensive in the state as much as they ought to be insured if they drive.
Drivers without insurance in Massachusetts are penalized and may be sent to jail when caught, a practice that bolsters the state’s no-fault insurance system. Something we’ll come to in a bit.
With this consideration, we have put some credible pieces of information together to create this piece for drivers on why Massachusetts car insurance is so expensive and how to save on it—getting it cheaper.
Why is Massachusetts Car Insurance So Expensive?
Car insurance in Massachusetts seems more expensive than is usual in other states across the country due, in large part, to the following reasons:
1. The Coverage
The coverage required from drivers in Massachusetts state entails a lot. Aside from liability coverage and personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, drivers in Massachusetts are also expected to carry the coverage of uninsured motorists and their personal injury protection.
The good part of this is that all drivers involved in an accident are entitled to file claims regardless of who caused the crash. It also makes sure that motorists who are part of an accident are catered to even if they are not insured.
2. Population
As is the case with some highly populated places like Rhode Island city in the United States, one reason Massachusetts Car insurance is really expensive is its dense population.
The dense population of the place—where about 92% of the residents of the state live in Urban areas—is a huge cause of the tendency of car theft, vandalization, and accidents.
Massachusetts’ population, also, has a direct impact on the occurrence of accidents because it makes the number of drivers on its highways higher than is usual in most other states.
3. Age and Driving Records
While it offers no-fault insurance, Massachusetts strongly considers driving records and like other states, age too.
Young drivers (who are very often considered callow and careless) of about 20-29 are charged more than drivers of older ages.
The reason is clear: older drivers tend to drive more carefully and are usually more experienced.
As to the driving records, this goes hand-in-hand with age, in a way and Massachusetts looks into it to determine individual driver’s rate.
For instance, drivers who have been involved in accidents before (once or more) are charged more than drivers with clean driving records.
Similarly, the insurance rate for drivers who have a record of driving under the influence of some alcohol or drugs that have been abused is higher than for drivers in the other aforementioned infractions.
Age | Clean Driving Record | One at-fault Crash | After a DUI |
20 | $657/yr | $818/yr | $908/yr |
30 | $862/yr | $1,236/yr | $1,404/yr |
40 | $817/yr | $1,220/yr | $1,402/yr |
ALSO READ: Why is Rhode Island Car Insurance so Expensive? The Hidden Truth
How to Save on Massachusetts Car Insurance
We shall now look into some of the ways to get car insurance cheaper than the next driver, in Massachusetts.
1. Request Discounts
Some people get insurance discounts on behavior, age, and so on, depending on their insurers. Hence, it is advisable that you speak with your insurers about it and see how they will help.
2. Opt for pay-per-mile insurance
People who do not drive frequently are in the best position to enjoy this insurance since driving fewer than 12,000 miles a year can significantly reduce the rate of a driver’s premiums.
3. Increase your deductible
Full coverages are just an option with insurers, deductible is another one like it. By raising your deductible, you agree to make out-of-pocket expenses when you file a claim, but this also means your insurance cost will be reduced.
We suggest that you do this if carrying full coverage at once is too much for you.
4. Shop around for car insurance quotes
Insurance companies in Massachusetts do not have the same rate—aside from the fact that rates vary from driver to driver.
As a result, shopping around for rates from different companies is a practical way to get cheaper insurance. I’m sure this is so understandable.
Shop around for car insurance quotes while implementing the things you have learnt about saving on insurance here.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It is not uncommon to hear people who read about the expensiveness of Massachusetts car insurance also ask about:
The Cheapest Car Insurance in Massachusetts?
With just about five major insurance companies in the state, Geico has been said to be the cheapest car insurance company in Massachusetts.
Reports have shown that their rates are very different from other companies’ rates in the state—one reason it was used for our sample when discussing age and driving records.
Their rate goes from $40 monthly minimum coverage to as much as thousands of dollars for yearly full coverage. What this means is that car insurance you can catch up with awaits you at Geico.
The state minimum requirement in Massachusetts?
Drivers are to have $8,000 worth of coverage for Personal Injury Protection and for motorists that may be uninsured with similar coverages. The law also holds that drivers purchase liability limits of at least 20/40/5.
Bear in mind that some insurers may cut the minimum requirement down while others may work with it; there is every reason to research and find the cheapest car insurance company in the state.
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Conclusion
It is not certain whether Massachusetts also slightly reduces insurance rate for female drivers since male drivers have more tendency to be involved in accidents, but they definitely consider age, one’s driving records, the state’s population, and the number of coverages each driver should meet in coming up with a rate.
Note that, among others, driving records, dense population, and coverage (liability, Personal Injury Protection, and uninsured motorist coverages) are the major reasons Massachusetts car insurance is expensive.