Generally, car insurance quotes in Massachusetts are more affordable than the national average. Your unique situation and state-specific factors can make your car insurance more expensive in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts requires mandatory uninsured motorist insurance, which can affect your premiums. Massachusetts is also a no-fault state. All drivers involved in a collision need to file a claim with their respective insurers regardless of who caused the crash.
MoneyGeek’s sample driver for our quotes is a 40-year-old with a clean record and full coverage.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
In addition to liability coverage, Massachusetts requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection.
Insurance rates in Massachusetts are elevated due to the high population density in its urban areas.
While insurance in Massachusetts can be expensive, MoneyGeek found ways you can lower your rates.
Why Massachusetts Car Insurance Rates Are so High
You might have noticed that car insurance rates have been rising across the country, including Massachusetts. MoneyGeek found that high driver density, mandatory coverage for uninsured motorists and other factors can increase premiums.
Drivers in Massachusetts must also have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. That means that insurers include PIP — which can increase premiums — when offering minimum coverage.
Higher-than-Average Highway Density
Massachusetts has a highway density of 11.60, meaning that the number of drivers on its highways is higher than average. With more drivers on the road, crashes are more likely to occur, affecting auto insurance premiums.
High Urban Population Density
Another reason car insurance is expensive in Massachusetts is the state’s high urban population density. Roughly 92% of the state’s residents live in its urban areas, which increases the likelihood of accidents, theft and vandalism.
No-Fault State
Drivers are mandated to have the minimum car insurance coverage in Massachusetts. Because Massachusetts is a no-fault state, you must file a claim with your insurer in case of a crash, regardless of who caused it.
Mandatory UM/UIM
Another Massachusetts minimum requirement is uninsured motorist coverage. Unlike states that only require liability coverage, Massachusetts law mandates that drivers carry uninsured motorist coverage, which protects you if you’re in a collision caused by a driver without insurance.
Mandatory PIP
Massachusetts requires drivers to have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. PIP insurance is also known as no-fault insurance and helps cover the policyholder’s and passenger’s medical bills should they get into an accident, regardless of who is at fault.
Why Car Insurance in Massachusetts Might Be Expensive for You
While the details previously listed are state-specific, personal factors can also affect your premiums, including which city you live in, your insurer, your age, driving history, car model and more. Insurers in Massachusetts don’t look at your credit score when computing your auto insurance rates.
Where You Live
Your location plays a role in determining your premiums. The average auto insurance rate in Massachusetts is cheaper than the national average. However, you could be paying increased rates because of where you live.
MoneyGeek’s data shows that Springfield has the most expensive auto insurance rates, averaging $1,274 annually. Meanwhile, you can get the cheapest premiums in Cambridge, with rates averaging $962 per year.
Average Car Insurance Rates in Massachusetts: State & Cities
Location | Annual Premium |
---|---|
MA’s State Average | $1,112 |
Boston | $1,112 |
Cambridge | $962 |
Lowell | $1,033 |
Springfield | $1,274 |
Worcester | $1,133 |
Insurance Company
The insurer you choose can affect the cost of your auto insurance. If cost isn’t your only consideration, you may want to select one of the best auto insurance providers in Massachusetts that balances both quality service and affordability. MoneyGeek also ranked the cheapest car insurance options in Massachusetts.
Use MoneyGeek’s Massachusetts car insurance calculator to get a close estimate of your premiums.
Compare Auto Insurance Rates
Ensure you are getting the best rate for your insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Age
Age affects your auto insurance costs. Insurance companies consider drivers under the age of 25 to be high-risk compared to their 40-year-old counterparts. A 16-year-old pays almost twice the rate of an average driver.
Average Car Insurance Rates by Age in Massachusetts
State | Average Driver (40-Year-Old) | 16-Year-Old | 25-Year-Old |
---|---|---|---|
Massachusetts | $1,112 | $3,134 | $1,247 |
Driving Record
Drivers with a clean record generally pay lower premiums than drivers with a DUI or other traffic violations. To most insurance companies, a driver with a DUI is considered high-risk and is more likely to file a claim, resulting in increased rates.
Average Car Insurance Rates by Driving Record in Massachusetts
State | No Violation | Speeding Ticket | Accident | DUI |
---|---|---|---|---|
Massachusetts | $1,112 | $1,384 | $1,788 | $1,986 |
Credit Score
Massachusetts is one of three states in the U.S. that don’t use credit scores to calculate your auto insurance costs. According to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, insurance companies can’t deny your application based on your credit information.
Car’s Make and Build
Auto insurance providers also consider your car’s make and model when calculating your premiums. For instance, older cars are cheaper to insure than newer models, while sports car owners usually pay higher premiums than sedan or minivan drivers.
You can check our Massachusetts car insurance calculator to see how your car’s make and model affect your rates.
Auto Insurance Calculator
See how the Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates vary with the options chosen.
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 an insurer below to visit their review page or continue to your personalized quote.
How to Save on Car Insurance in Massachusetts
Although the average annual rate for auto insurance is relatively cheap in Massachusetts, it’s always a good idea to shop around for the best deals. You can save by bundling your car insurance with other types offered by the same insurer, like home insurance, increasing deductibles, trying pay-per-mile insurance, utilizing discounts and determining how much insurance you need.
Shop Around for Quotes
Shopping around for quotes and comparing insurance companies based on service and affordability will help you find the best insurer for you. You can use our tool to choose the best insurer that fits your individual needs.
Bundle Your Home & Auto Insurance Policies
Bundling is a great way to save on your insurance premiums. Most insurance providers offer bundling for your home and auto insurance.
Ask About Discounts
Many insurance companies offer optional discounts for their policies. However, you can find car insurance discounts that lower the cost of your premiums. Some insurers offer age, behavior and technology-based discounts.
Raise Your Deductible
If you increase your deductibles, the cost of your policy decreases. However, you’ll need to pay more out-of-pocket if you file a claim.
Consider Pay-Per-Mile Insurance
You may benefit from a pay-per-mile policy if you don’t drive frequently or drive fewer than 12,000 miles each year. In these cases, purchasing a pay-per-mile policy could mean a significant decrease in your premiums.
Drop Unnecessary Coverage
It’s important to determine if you need comprehensive and collision coverage before purchasing a full coverage policy. If your premiums cost more than 10% of your car’s cash value, it might be wiser not to get comprehensive coverage. However, be aware this could leave you underinsured.
Frequently Asked Questions
You might be wondering why car insurance is so expensive in Massachusetts. MoneyGeek answered commonly asked questions to help you understand how premiums are priced and the factors that affect them.
About Mark Fitzpatrick

sources
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts. "Massachusetts Consumer Bill of Rights for Automobile Insurance." Accessed April 18, 2022.