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What do the first post office, first phone call, first subway, and first college—Harvard—have in common? Each of these firsts can be attributed to the Bay State, Massachusetts. As a state with plenty of firsts, you want to ensure you have the right car insurance to avoid getting caught driving without!
But what is the right car insurance? Well, that depends on your car insurance wish list. For some drivers, it’s about affordability; for others, it’s all about protecting themselves and their vehicles from any and all car-related hazards.
And finally, if you call the state that gave us Dunkin’ Donuts home, is there anything you should know about getting car insurance in Massachusetts? Read on to learn all about auto insurance in Massachusetts.
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Before you get behind the wheel to drive through scenic Boston or Fenway Park to watch a Red Sox game, ensure you’ve got adequate car insurance! Every state has different liability requirements, so with that in mind, what are Massachusetts state minimums?
These are Massachusett’s car insurance minimums:
Only a few states require drivers to carry PIP, yet Massachusett, as a no-fault state, does. PIP is health insurance that will help cover accident-related costs. If you have health insurance already and get into an accident, you must submit your medical claims through PIP before your health insurance plan.
However, if you’re tempted to save money on your car insurance premiums by taking out liability-only insurance—don’t. Massachusett’s is a no-fault state, meaning you have liability, uninsured motorist protection, and PIP. Although, the coverage levels are far too low to protect you from paying out of pocket. So yes, you would save upfront on insurance costs, but even a minor fender bender will likely cost you as you only have $5,000 to cover the other driver’s vehicular repairs. If you want to protect your finances, you should consider upping your coverage limits or taking out a full coverage auto insurance plan in Massachusetts.
Did you know that chocolate chip cookies were invented in Whitman, Massachusetts? If you want to drive through Whitman for a cookie, here are the car insurance options to consider so you can confidently go to your destination.
These are your car insurance choices in Massachusett’s:
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Whether you live in Boston or Framingham, Massachusetts, one thing unites all drivers—the need for affordable car insurance. Fortunately, the average annual cost for full coverage car insurance is $1,300, while liability is $450 a year. Both of these amounts are well below the national average for car insurance!
According to autoinsurance.org, 14% of American motorists drive illegally without car insurance. While that number doesn’t seem too ominous, it means millions of people drive without car insurance. All it takes is just one of those drivers hitting you, and if you don’t have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, you’re responsible for paying for your damages.
However, to help thwart Americans from driving without car insurance, penalties and fines exist. In Massachusetts, a civil motor vehicle infraction (CMVI) is operating a vehicle without car insurance.
If you’re caught without car insurance in Massachusetts, you’ll face fines and penalties.
Penalty | First Offense | Second+ Offenses |
Fines | $500 fine or paying for 1 year of car insurance (whichever costs more) | $500-$5,000 fine and $500 payment or paying for 1 year of car insurance (whichever costs more) |
Fees | Respond to citation within 20 days or pay $45 late fee + $25 filing fee for requesting a hearing + $500 to reinstate driving privileges | Respond to citation within 20 days or pay $45 late fee + $25 filing fee for requesting a hearing + $500 to reinstate driving privileges |
Driving Privileges | License and registration suspended for 60 days | License and registration suspended for 1 year |
Imprisonment | Possible up to 365 days in jail | Possible up to 365 days in jail |
In Massachusetts, you must provide active car insurance at a traffic stop or an accident scene. The driver must show proof of insurance via an insurance card or electronically. Failure to produce valid car insurance will result in fines and penalties.
If you choose to dispute your citation, you have 20 days to request a hearing. Just be warned there is a $25 fee for requesting a hearing. If you do not respond to the citation in the 20 day window, you will be found guilty and charged a late fee. If you do not pay your fees (late fee and citation fee), your license will be suspended, leading to a spike in your insurance premiums.
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Insurance is a “just in case,” so many of us don’t have to fork over exorbitant amounts to pay for accident-related damages. Fortunately, there are ways to shrink your rates so your premiums don’t break the bank!
These are some of the best ways to save money on your car insurance:
If you’re ready to shop for car insurance quotes in Massachusetts, grab your free no-obligation quote from ConsumerCoverage now!
If you call Massachusetts, one of the original states, home, then it’s only natural you’ll want the best coverage at the right price. The trick to finding the best-priced car insurance is by first knowing what you want so you can compare car insurance quotes in Massachusetts. This means do you want liability only to save on rates, or would you prefer a more robust full coverage package?
Once you’ve settled on the best insurance coverage, you can start shopping around for the best car insurance rates by getting quotes from various insurers. As you collect car insurance quotes, a frontrunner should emerge—that’s when you know you’ve found the best provider for you!
So if you’re ready to get the ball rolling, stop on by ConsumerCoverage for a free, no-risk car insurance quote in Massachusetts now!
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Hollay Ghadery Hollay Ghadery is a writer and editor who is passionate about financial literacy as a means to personal fulfillment. Hollay has over 18 years of experience creating content about a range of topics related to personal finance, including insurance, investing, banking, and credit cards. When Hollay isn't writing, she's spending time with her four children, two dogs, and three goats.