Cheapest car insurance in Massachusetts in 2023

The cheapest car insurance companies in Massachusetts

Whether you are looking for minimum coverage, a full coverage policy with add-ons or something in between, comparing sample rates may be helpful when weighing your options. Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services and third-party sources to identify the cheapest car insurance companies with both financial strength and high customer satisfaction ratings, which may help guide you in making a more informed decision.

Cheapest company for minimum coverage

Cheapest company for full coverage

Cheapest company for adding a teen driver

Cheapest company for getting a speeding ticket

Cheapest company for being in an at-fault accident

Cheapest company after a high-risk incident

The cheapest car insurance companies in Massachusetts by coverage level

Drivers in Massachusetts are legally required to carry a minimum amount of car insurance to drive on public roads. Laws aside, every driver also has different needs regarding their coverage. For instance, if you finance your vehicle, you’ll probably need full coverage to meet the terms of your finance agreement. Although most insurance professionals advise carrying more than minimum coverage to avoid a possible hefty out-of-pocket expense in an at-fault accident, knowing your options can be essential in finding affordable car insurance in Massachusetts. 

In the table below, you’ll see the companies that offer some of the cheapest car insurance in Massachusetts for both minimum and full coverage.

Cheapest cities in Massachusetts for car insurance

Car insurance companies use many rating factors to determine how much to charge for coverage. Although Massachusetts law prohibits carriers from using some of these factors (your insurance-based credit score, for instance), car insurance companies are allowed to use your zip code as an underwriting tool. This means that where you live can impact your car insurance premium.

Generally, drivers who live in more urban areas may see higher premiums than those in suburban or rural areas. A higher population density means a higher frequency of car accidents, and a higher frequency of car accidents means a higher risk of a claims payout for the insurance company. To compensate for this elevated risk, your company may charge a more expensive premium. Additionally, theft and vandalism may be more of a problem in bigger cities, which could lead to more expensive premiums for comprehensive coverage.

If you’re planning on moving to Massachusetts (or moving to a different city within Massachusetts) and are concerned about the cost of your car insurance, the tables could help.

Factors that impact cheap rates in Massachusetts

After you secure a policy, there are numerous life events and circumstances that can occur and impact your premiums. These may include:

Insuring a teen driver

Getting a speeding ticket

Getting into an at-fault accident

Being deemed a high-risk driver

Minimum coverage requirements for Massachusetts drivers

Massachusetts requires residents to maintain a minimum amount of insurance coverage. This minimum coverage requirement includes:

• $20,000 in bodily injury liability per person
• $40,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
• $5,000 in property damage liability coverage per accident
• $20,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $40,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $8,000 in personal injury protection (PIP)

While it may be tempting to purchase the minimum auto coverage legally required in Massachusetts, doing so could put you at greater financial risk. For instance, if you’re the driver in an at-fault accident and carry a state minimum policy, you’ll likely face a high out-of-pocket expense if you cause more than $20,000 in injuries to the other party. There are numerous options for cheap car insurance in Massachusetts, and opting to purchase a more robust policy will give you better protection. 

Additionally, if you lease or finance your vehicle, you will likely be required to carry full coverage to protect the lender from financial damages that occur to the vehicle.

How to get the cheapest car insurance in Massachusetts

Luckily, average car insurance rates in the Bay State are much lower than the national average (although your rates can vary from the average, based on your personal rating factors). Still, in today’s economic times, it may be important to do whatever you can to save on car insurance in Massachusetts. Employing some of the strategies below could help you bring down your already lower-than-average rates: 

Compare quotes

Comparing quotes can be a powerful tool to ensure you get the most competitive rate possible. However, requesting quotes can seem daunting, especially since Massachusetts has so many different insurers. To narrow your search, it can be helpful to consider your individual circumstances. For example, if you have a 15-year-old getting ready to take their driver’s test, you might want to seek out companies that generally offer low rates for teens. Perhaps you’re planning on moving to a different city. If so, researching average rates for the zip code you are relocating to could help you save. Just be sure that when you are comparing, that you request the same (or similar) coverage levels from each company to keep the playing field level. 

Maintain a clean driving record

Practicing safe driving habits and remaining free from tickets and accidents might be the most impactful way to enjoy the cheapest car insurance in Massachusetts. Those with clean records are usually afforded the lowest base premiums, and some companies offer an additional safe driving discount to those who qualify. 

Consider telematics

Not all companies offer a telematics program in Massachusetts, but some do (Progressive’s Snapshot, for instance, is available here). If your company offers telematics, this program might be something to consider. You could lower your premium by downloading an app or plugging a small device into your vehicle and prove yourself as a safe driver. Telematics could also be a good choice for drivers who don’t drive in the very early morning or late at night or work from home.

Car insurance discounts in Massachusetts

Each insurance company offers its own set of unique discounts, but you may want to check into some of the more common ones below while on your search for cheap auto insurance in Massachusetts:

• Young driver discounts: Insuring a teen comes with its own challenges, but it’s still possible to find Massachusetts car insurance savings through young driver discounts. If your young driver is a full-time student with a B average or better, they could qualify for a good student discount. Or, you might ask about a distant student discount if your older student is at college without a vehicle. 
• Safe driver discounts: One of the best ways to find low-cost car insurance in Massachusetts might be to practice safe driving habits. Keeping your record clean could help you avoid costly insurance surcharges, higher base rates and you might earn a safe driving discount, too. 
• Bundling discount: Another popular savings opportunity across carriers includes bundling, which could net you a discount for carrying your home or renters and your auto policy with the same company. 
• Vehicle safety discounts: Driving a car with safety features like automatic seatbelts, lane assist or adaptive headlights might also be an easy way to earn additional vehicle-related discounts. 
• Defensive driving discount: Some companies may also give you a discount for completing a defensive driving class, although you may have to be a certain age to qualify.

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2023 rates for ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state's requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2021 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes. 

Bankrate Scores

Our 2023 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories. 

Like our previous Bankrate Scores, each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. This year, our 2023 scoring model provides a more comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and better highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, 2023 quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best and the NAIC, were analyzed.
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.