The Cheapest Car Insurance in Massachusetts for 2022

Drivers in Massachusetts get the cheapest minimum liability car insurance coverage from State Farm and the cheapest full coverage insurance from Safety Group.

However, your cost of car insurance will vary significantly based on several factors, including your coverage amount, driving record and age. For example, if you have a DUI, the cheapest provider is Plymouth Rock Assurance, while drivers with tickets get the cheapest car insurance coverage from GEICO.

If you're looking for an even more local solution, we also broke down the cheapest companies by city, as well as the best car insurance companies in Massachusetts if you're looking to balance quality service and cost.

To find out how MoneyGeek calculated the cheapest car insurance in Massachusetts, read our methodology."

cheapestauto insuranceMassachusetts2022

The Cheapest Car Insurance in Massachusetts

Cheapest for minimum liability - State Farm

Cheapest for full coverage - Safety Group

Cheapest for drivers with a DUI - Plymouth Rock Assurance

Cheapest after an accident - Plymouth Rock Assurance

Cheapest for drivers with a ticket - GEICO

Cheapest for senior drivers - State Farm

Cheapest for student drivers - State Farm

In Massachusetts, the cheapest car insurance is a liability coverage plan that meets the state’s minimum car insurance requirements. Liability insurance only covers the cost of injuries and damage you cause to other drivers in an at-fault accident and does not pay for your vehicle repair and medical expenses.

The least expensive car insurance firms in Massachusetts for minimum coverage are:

• State Farm: $323 per year
• Plymouth Rock Assurance: $337 per year

Travelers is the costliest provider for minimum coverage, with average annual prices of $1,183.

Cheapest Minimum Car Insurance in Massachusetts

These prices are only estimates based on rates for an average Massachusetts driver and should not be used to compare insurance prices.

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A full coverage plan with higher liability limits, comprehensive insurance and collision insurance insures you for most off-road and road accidents in Massachusetts. The rate of a full coverage policy is generally higher than the cost of minimum coverage, but it protects against the expense of damages to your car — not just others. However, you can save money by comparing car insurance quotes from several companies to find the lowest rates.

The cheapest car insurance companies for full coverage in Massachusetts are:

• Safety Group: $730 per year
• Plymouth Rock Assurance: $778 per year

The most expensive car insurance for full coverage is Travelers, costing $2,356 annually, on average.

Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in Massachusetts

Keep in mind that the price of your insurance will vary from these examples. Costs are for a policy with comprehensive and collision insurance and $100,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $300,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident and $100,000 in property damage coverage per accident.

You can easily get an accurate quote through most insurance providers’ websites. Identify how much coverage you require so you can compare carriers using consistent limits. For instance, if you get a quote with one insurer for $50,000 in bodily liability insurance per accident, make sure to use the same limit when obtaining quotes from another company.

Massachusetts drivers can compare car insurance quotes using the MoneyGeek calculator. For personalized quotes, you will need to provide more personal information. In Massachusetts, State Farm, Plymouth Rock Assurance and USAA are the three cheapest car insurance providers. MoneyGeek recommends you start your search by comparing quotes with these companies to obtain low rates and quality coverage.

Auto Insurance Calculator

State

Massachusetts

Age

30-65

Driving Record

Clean

Credit Score

Excellent

Vehicle Type

Compact

Vehicle Year

2020

Liability Coverage

State Min

Comprehensive and Collision Insurance

None

Gender

Female

Add Student Driver

Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates

Click the section of the wheel in your price range to see options.

low end

on average

high end

Click your preferred price range to see company options.

Click an insurer below to visit their review page or continue to your personalized quote.

Company

Average Annual Rates

1.

State Farm

$401

2.

Plymouth Rock Assurance

$418

3.

USAA

$484

4.

MetLife

$497

5.

Safety Group

$502

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Car insurance for high-risk drivers, like those caught driving under the influence (DUI), is a lot more expensive because carriers consider these drivers riskier to insure. The average car insurance rate for drivers with a DUI in Massachusetts is $1,986 per year compared to $1,112 for those with a clean record.

The most affordable car insurance providers in Massachusetts for a driver with full coverage and a DUI charge are:

• Plymouth Rock Assurance: $1,226 per year
• GEICO: $1,365 per year

Although Safety Group offers the cheapest full coverage for Massachusetts drivers with a clean record, Plymouth Rock has lower rates for those with a DUI.

Average Car Insurance Rates With a DUI

The costs of a DUI on your car insurance rates could carry over the long term, so it’s important to get quotes from a variety of Massachusetts car insurance companies each year when it’s time to renew your policy. Because each company weighs a DUI differently in their evaluation, rates will vary from insurer to insurer.

Having an at-fault accident on your driving record can cause your car insurance premiums to spike significantly. If you have an at-fault accident, you will pay an average of $1,745 per year.

The most affordable car insurance providers in Massachusetts for drivers with at-fault accidents are:

• Plymouth Rock Assurance: $1,176 per year
• State Farm: $1,186 per year

Cheapest Car Insurance With an At-Fault Accident

Massachusetts drivers with even minor driving violations in their history tend to be charged higher rates by insurers than those with a clean record. In this state, you’ll pay $1,384 per year (on average) for car insurance coverage if you have a speeding ticket on your record, compared to $1,112 for drivers without any violations.

The least expensive car insurance carriers in Massachusetts for a driver with a speeding ticket and full coverage are:

• GEICO: $892 per year
• State Farm: $893 per year

GEICO has lower rates for those with a speeding ticket on their record than Plymouth Rock Assurance, the second cheapest company for drivers with a clean record.

Average Car Insurance Rates With a Ticket

Moving violations like speeding or distracted driving tickets can lead to higher car insurance premiums. Drivers with these tickets on their records are seen as higher-risk drivers in the eyes of the insurance companies. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in Massachusetts, there were 343 accidents in 2018 related to distracted driving, another factor the insurance companies take into account when determining risk and, thus, insurance rates.

There’s no set timeframe for how long a speeding or distracted driving ticket can affect car insurance rates, but it definitely will have short-term effects. To keep rates affordable, check with a number of Massachusetts car insurance companies for personalized quotes based on your individual factors before renewing your policy each year.

Unlike in most other states, insurance providers in Massachusetts cannot use a person’s credit score to determine their premiums. However, it’s still crucial to maintain a good credit score, as it can help you obtain loans, rentals and more. For Massachusetts, the average credit score is 723, which is higher than the national average of 703 for 2019. A good credit score is generally considered to be 700 and higher.

While many states use a driver’s credit score to impact rates, Massachusetts state law protects drivers from rate increases based on credit score. For Massachusetts, the average credit score is 723, higher than the national average of 703 for 2019. A good credit score is generally considered to be 700 and higher. While a lower score shouldn’t inform your car insurance rates in Massachusetts, it could impact other areas of your finances, like home loans and credit lines. Raising your credit score could help you improve your finances overall.

In most states, car insurance providers typically charge senior drivers slightly higher rates than middle-aged and young adult drivers. However, in Massachusetts, senior drivers pay less than an average 40-year-old driver. The average annual cost of car insurance is $986 for a senior driver compared to $1,112 for the average driver who is not a senior.

The cheapest car insurance companies in Massachusetts for senior drivers with full coverage are:

• State Farm: $453 per year
• GEICO: $607 per year

While Safety Group is the cheapest provider for full coverage for the average non-senior driver, State Farm offers lower rates for senior drivers.

Average Car Insurance Rates for Seniors

Keeping older drivers safe is a goal for everyone to achieve. In Massachusetts, 12.6% of drivers involved in fatal traffic crashes in 2017 were age 65 or older, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Although Massachusetts does not revoke driving privileges due to age, it does require all drivers age 75 and older to take an in-person vision test or to provide a vision screening certificate.

Auto insurance for seniors in Massachusetts can be higher due to their elevated risk for accidents, something every car insurance company considers when quoting rates.

Car insurance costs more for younger Massachusetts drivers since they are less experienced than senior drivers. 16-year-old drivers pay an average of $2,623 per year for car insurance. 25-year-old drivers, on the other hand, pay only $1,043 for the same duration.

The cheapest car insurance for young drivers between the age of 16 and 25 in Massachusetts is from State Farm. MoneyGeek discovered that State Farm was the most affordable for seven out of the ten ages in this range.

Annual Car Insurance In Massachusetts for Young Drivers

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• Age
  Average Cost
  Cheapest Company
  Company Cost
• 16
  $2,623
  State Farm
  $1,974
• 17
  $2,534
  State Farm
  $1,974
• 18
  $2,442
  State Farm
  $1,974
• 19
  $2,474
  GEICO
  $1,427
• 20
  $2,249
  GEICO
  $1,364
• 21
  $1,904
  GEICO
  $1,263
• 22
  $1,268
  State Farm
  $777
• 23
  $1,163
  State Farm
  $777
• 24
  $1,116
  State Farm
  $777
• 25
  $1,043
  State Farm
  $777

Show more

Teen drivers with a learner's permit do not need to be listed on the policyholder's insurance in the state of Massachusetts. Once they obtain their junior operator's license (JOL), they must be listed under the parent's policy, which can also help cut car insurance costs. Additionally, young drivers who take measures to be safes drivers, including attending driver courses and driving a midsize vehicle and get good grades at school can also help keep car insurance premiums low.

If you're one of the approximately 3,500 active-duty military personnel stationed in Massachusetts, or even if it's already your home state, chances are military discounts on auto insurance are available to you and your family. Veterans qualify, too.

The state attorney general's office offers tips on buying auto insurance in Massachusetts as well as the solid suggestion to get all premium quotes in writing as you compare car insurance rates. Once your insurance is covered, you can register the vehicle at the DMV. If you are a disabled veteran, you won't have to pay registration fees or property taxes on your vehicle. If you bought and registered a car or truck in your home state, you don't have to re-register in Massachusetts. You'll still have to carry at least the mandated minimum insurance under Massachusetts law while deployed here. There is one twist in the law: if you bought and registered a vehicle outside your home state and are then stationed in Massachusetts, you've got 30 days to register it in the state.

Average Rates for Massachusetts service members

25 years$1,703
50 years$1,515

25 years$1,703
50 years$1,515

Every driver in Massachusetts is required to have auto insurance or an approved alternative. Your car insurance must include four types of coverage:

• Liability insurance for injuries
• Liability insurance for property damage
• Personal injury insurance
• Insurance against uninsured motorists

All licensed drivers in the household must be listed on a car's insurance plan unless they submit an exclusion form to their insurance company.

Proof of Insurance in Massachusetts

To register a car in Massachusetts, drivers must first insure it. From that point forward, they do not need to carry an insurance card — their insurance information will be on their registration, which should be kept inside the vehicle. Drivers need to show their registration when a police officer asks to see it, when they register their vehicle and after a car accident.

Minimum Liability Insurance Requirements in Massachusetts

Here's the breakdown of the minimum amounts needed on a Massachusetts car insurance policy:

• $20,000 per person for third-party bodily injury
• $40,000 per accident for third-party bodily injury
• $20,000 per person for injuries caused by an uninsured driver
• $40,000 per accident for injuries caused by an uninsured driver
• $8,000 of personal injury protection per person/accident
• $5,000 of property damage protection per accident

These are just the minimum requirements, and experts recommend carrying more liability insurance coverage.

Alternatives to Insurance in Massachusetts

The commonwealth of Massachusetts encourages motorists to get traditional auto insurance, but drivers can skip this requirement if they put down at least $10,000 as a cash deposit or liability bond. This money will be used to settle claims should the driver cause an accident, but it's unlikely to meet the total costs. Drivers who choose this route should be aware that other parties can pursue their assets if they don't have auto insurance.

How Much Coverage Do You Need in Massachusetts?

Cheap car insurance is great — provided you never crash your car. When accidents happen, the minimum level of insurance likely won't be enough to cover costs. According to the Insurance Information Institute, drivers should aim for $100,000/$300,000 of injury liability coverage, far above the levels mandated by Massachusetts.

And while collision and comprehensive coverage are optional, if you have a newer model car, you may want to consider getting those as well.

Massachusetts requires insurance companies to offer discounts to drivers with a history of careful driving. The state also requires discounts for drivers over the age of 65 and for cars with certain safety and security features, including anti-theft devices. Individual insurance companies may offer their own discounts in addition to those listed.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Massachusetts by City

The cost of car insurance usually varies depending on where you live. For example, drivers who stay in Boston pay an average of $1,112 per year, while those in Worcester pay $1,133 per year. That means if you stay in Boston, you will pay lower rates than the three cities included in MoneyGeek’s research, including Springfield.

You can get more information about auto insurance rates for your area by clicking on your city.

Average Insurance Rate by City in Massachusetts

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• City
  Annually
  Monthly
• 1.
  Boston
  $1,112
  $93
• 2.
  Cambridge
  $962
  $80
• 3.
  Lowell
  $1,033
  $86
• 4.
  Springfield
  $1,274
  $106
• 5.
  Worcester
  $1,133
  $94

To help you find the right car insurance service, MoneyGeek answered frequently asked questions about coverage and costs.

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Ensure you're getting the best rate for your auto insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.

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About the Author

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Karon Warren is a professional journalist who has covered personal finance, health insurance, home insurance, car insurance, mortgages, banking and more for two decades.

Karon earned her bachelor of arts degree in journalism from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is also a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Karon uses her journalist skills to create in-depth, well-researched finance stories that educate people so they can make informed financial decisions that best serve their financial goals.

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