Best Cheap Car Insurance in Massachusetts for 2019

If you’re looking for cheap car insurance in Massachusetts, comparison shopping is key. Which insurance company has the best price will often vary depending on your situation.

NerdWallet researched rates from the 10 largest auto insurance companies in the Bay State for several driver types.

Cheapest for good drivers

Plymouth Rock comes in cheapest for drivers with clean records in Massachusetts, at $52 per month, on average. Mapfre and Safety round out the list of cheapest carriers for good drivers.

For this calculation, NerdWallet averaged rates for 40-year-old men and women with a clean driving record and good credit. With the exception of age, a large portion of drivers are closest to this profile, which carries standard "full coverage" insurance, including state-required coverage.

Cheapest for drivers with one at-fault crash

For Massachusetts drivers with a recent wreck, Plymouth Rock was the cheapest carrier we saw, at $94 per month, on average. Mapfre and Arbella come in second and third, respectively, and far below their competitors — six of 10 carriers had average rates of $200 or more per month.

To get these figures, we averaged rates for 40-year-olds with one recent at-fault crash and the typical "full coverage" insurance. Your rates will remain high for three to five years after you cause an accident or have a moving violation. If you fall into this category, be sure to shop for new insurance rates just after the three-year and five-year anniversaries of your infraction.

Cheapest for low-mileage drivers

Plymouth Rock was cheapest for low-mileage drivers in Massachusetts, at an average rate identical to its price for good drivers, $52 per month. Mapfre and Safety also make the list, giving lower rates to folks who drive less.

Whether you're retired, work at home or often use public transportation, you may be able to get cheaper car insurance simply because you drive less. The rates above are for 40-year-olds with typical "full coverage" insurance and a clean driving record who drive 5,000 miles per year instead of the standard 12,000.

Cheapest for minimum coverage

Plymouth Rock has the cheapest minimum coverage auto insurance we found in Massachusetts, at just $22 per month, on average. The Hanover and MetLife both come in under $40 per month, on average, rounding out the cheapest three.

We calculated these numbers by averaging rates for 40-year-old good drivers who have only the minimum mandatory insurance in their state. Such light coverage isn't typically recommended, since it might not cover all the bills resulting from a car accident, but it's better than nothing — especially if you can't afford much more.

Minimum coverage requirements in Massachusetts

Bay State drivers are required to carry liability insurance, uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage and personal injury protection, or PIP, in at least the following amounts:

• $20,000 bodily injury liability per person.
• $40,000 bodily injury liability per crash.
• $5,000 property damage liability per crash.
• $20,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person.
• $40,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per crash.
• $8,000 PIP.

Check out NerdWallet’s guide to minimum car insurance requirements by state to learn how the key pieces of your Massachusetts auto policy work and how to select coverage limits for your situation.

For more help finding cheap car insurance in Massachusetts, use NerdWallet’s rate comparison tool.

Car insurance for high-risk drivers

If you’re unable to buy car insurance on the voluntary market due to a spotty driving record or other factors, an insurance agent can submit an application for you to the Massachusetts Automobile Insurance Plan. This is the system for providing insurance to risky drivers. All car insurers in Massachusetts must take a portion of the state’s high-risk drivers.

Here’s a summary of where you’ll find the cheapest insurance in Massachusetts, by category: