Why Auto Insurance is a Requirement
Even though it’s not necessarily cheap to insure a vehicle in Boston, buying car insurance is not optional due to several reasons.
First, most states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a minimum amount of liability insurance if you drive a vehicle. In Massachusetts these limits are 20/40/5 which means you must have $20,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $40,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
Second, if you bought your car with a loan, more than likely the lender will force you to buy full coverage to protect their interest in the vehicle. If the policy lapses, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your vehicle for a much higher rate and require you to pay much more than you were paying before.
Third, car insurance preserves both your vehicle and your assets. It will also cover medical transport and hospital expenses for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, also covers legal expenses if someone files suit against you as the result of an accident. If you have damage to your vehicle as the result of the weather or an accident, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay to repair the damage minus the deductible amount.
The benefits of having car insurance are definitely more than the cost, specifically if you ever have a liability claim. Despite what companies tell you, the average driver overpays more than $855 a year so compare rates at every renewal to ensure rates are inline.
Whether you pay high or low rates for car insurance coverage is dependent on many factors, but the average price in Boston is approximately $1,300 every 12 months. On average, the rest of the U.S. pays about $1,200, so Boston residents pay roughly $100 more each year than drivers in surrounding states.
The cost of auto insurance in Boston depends on many different variables, but one of the primary factors is your choice of vehicle. The rate data below shows estimated prices for some of the more popular vehicles that Boston drivers insure.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Malibu LTZ | $946 | $473 | $79 |
| Ford Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $912 | $456 | $76 |
| Ford Fusion Hybrid 4-Dr Sedan | $1,114 | $557 | $93 |
| Honda Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $746 | $373 | $62 |
| Honda Civic LX 4-Dr Sedan | $912 | $456 | $76 |
| Hyundai Sonata SE 4-Dr Sedan | $992 | $496 | $83 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 S 2-Dr Coupe | $1,008 | $504 | $84 |
| Volkswagen Jetta S 4-Dr Sedan | $882 | $441 | $74 |
| Get a Custom Quote for Your Car Go | |||
Table data assumes married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Massachusetts minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, and claim-free. Prices do not factor in vehicle location which can decrease or increase rates substantially.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Colorado LT Extended Cab 4WD | $746 | $373 | $62 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD LTZ Crew Cab Diesel 2WD | $1,030 | $515 | $86 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LT Regular Cab 2WD | $944 | $472 | $79 |
| Dodge Ram 2500 Crew Cab SLT 2WD | $1,074 | $537 | $90 |
| Dodge Ram Crew Cab SLT 2WD | $960 | $480 | $80 |
| Ford F-150 Lariat King Ranch 4WD | $964 | $482 | $80 |
| Ford F-250 XL Crew Cab Cabela Package 2WD | $1,056 | $528 | $88 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Extended Cab 2WD | $1,056 | $528 | $88 |
| GMC Sierra SLT Extended Cab 4WD | $946 | $473 | $79 |
| Toyota Tundra SR/5 Crew Max 4WD | $1,026 | $513 | $86 |
| Get a Custom Quote for Your Truck Go | |||
Table data assumes married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Massachusetts minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, homeowner, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Information does not factor in your specific Boston location which can influence rates noticeably.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Traverse LS 2WD | $764 | $382 | $64 |
| Ford Escape XLS 2WD | $746 | $373 | $62 |
| Ford Explorer Limited AWD | $898 | $449 | $75 |
| GMC Acadia SL 2WD | $816 | $408 | $68 |
| GMC Terrain SLE AWD | $812 | $406 | $68 |
| Honda CR-V EX 4WD | $764 | $382 | $64 |
| Honda Pilot EX 2WD | $850 | $425 | $71 |
| Hyundai Tucson Limited 4WD | $882 | $441 | $74 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 4WD | $946 | $473 | $79 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sport Islander Package 4WD 2-Dr | $816 | $408 | $68 |
| Nissan Pathfinder SE 4WD | $834 | $417 | $70 |
| Toyota 4Runner Sport 4WD | $828 | $414 | $69 |
| Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD | $964 | $482 | $80 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 2WD | $882 | $441 | $74 |
| Get a Custom Quote for Your SUV or Crossover Go | |||
Table data represents married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Massachusetts minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Rates do not factor in specific garaging location which can alter rates significantly.
AUTO INSURANCE FACT
Brand loyalty may be costing you hundreds every year. Compare rates now and save.
Tickets and at-fault accidents raise rates
The diagram below illustrates how violations and accidents can influence auto insurance rates for different ages of insureds. The information is based on a married male driver, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.
How to find cheaper Boston car insurance rates
The recommended way to find better pricing on auto insurance prices is to do a yearly price comparison from insurers in Boston. You can compare prices by following these guidelines.
- Read and learn about individual coverages and the factors you can control to prevent expensive coverage. Many rating factors that cause rate increases such as getting speeding tickets and a less-than-favorable credit score can be controlled by making lifestyle changes or driving safer.
- Quote rates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give rate quotes from one company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while agents who are independent can quote rates from many different companies. View prices
- Compare the price quotes to the price on your current policy to see if a cheaper price is available. If you find a lower rate and switch companies, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Notify your current company to cancel your current auto insurance policy and submit a down payment along with a completed application to the new company. Make sure you put the new proof of insurance paperwork in a readily accessible location in your vehicle.
One important bit of advice is to make sure you enter the same deductibles and limits on each quote request and and to get price estimates from as many companies as possible. This enables a level playing field and maximum price selection.