Auto Insurance in Massachusetts

The state of Massachusetts has powerful policies against bad driving and driving violations. It’s one of the safest places to live if you’re looking for a life without risk. If you’re not a tactful driver, apart from having to face strict rules and requirements, you may also have to spend a lot on fines and fees. Read on to know more about auto insurance requirements in Massachusetts.

Basic requirements

The state of Massachusetts mandates four different types of auto insurance.

Bodily injury to others:

  • $20,000 coverage for every individual involved in an accident.
  • $40,000 coverage for every accident.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP):

This insurance acts as a no-fault insurance. It means, your car insurance will cover your medical expenses no matter which party caused the accident.

  • $8,000 coverage for every individual involved in an accident.

Bodily injury caused by an uninsured vehicle:

  • $20,000 coverage for every individual involved in an accident.
  • $40,000 coverage for every accident.

Damage to someone else’s property:

  • $5,000 coverage for every accident

Specialty

In Massachusetts, you don’t have to submit your insurance card to buy an auto insurance. Your car registration will act as proof and every car registration will involve your auto insurance company.

Special discounts and rules

The Massachusetts Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP) encourages safe driving by offering discounts to safe drivers and charging higher premiums for unsafe drivers.

If your insurance company follows the SDIP guidelines and you’re a safe driver, you may get the following benefits. A percentage of the amount will be deducted from your premiums depending on your credit codes.

Excellent Driver Discount Plus (Credit code 99 – 17% discount)

  • You must have at least 6 years of driving experience.
  • You mustn’t have had any surcharges in the last 6 years.

Excellent Driver Discount (Credit code 98 – 7% discount)

  • You must not be eligible for the Excellent Driver Discount Plus.
  • You must have at least 5 years of driving experience.
  • You mustn’t have had any surcharges in the last 5 years.

Excellent Driver Discount (Credit code 98 – 7% discount)

  • You must have at least 5 years of driving experience.
  • You must have had only one surchargeable incident for a non-criminal minor traffic violation in the last 6 years. But it should be at least 3 years old.

Apart from these discounts, insurance companies may also consider the following criteria to calculate your premium.

Your age

  • Driving experience
  • The area you live in
  • The make and model of your car

However, it’s illegal for insurance companies to consider the following to determine your premium.

  • Credit score
  • Gender
  • Marital status
  • Race
  • Job
  • Whether or not you’re a homeowner

What you don’t need

In Massachusetts, you can obtain these additional insurances, but they aren’t mandatory.

  • Underinsured Motorist – This covers expenses when the other driver is at fault but doesn’t have insurance.
  • Medical Payments – This covers medical and funeral expenses to you and/or your passengers injured in an accident.
  • Collision – This covers repair expenses to your damaged vehicle.
  • Comprehensive – This covers repairs and replacement of your vehicle damaged by thefts, storms, or similar natural causes.

Violation

If you don’t have an auto insurance or are a habitual offender of the law, your driving license may be suspended. The duration of your suspension may vary from anything between 30 days to 60 days. To reinstate your suspended license, you’ll have to pay between $50.00 and $1,200 in fines depending on your offense.

Driving Under Influence – DUI

It’s illegal throughout the United States to drive with a Blood Alcohol Content of over 0.08 percent for adults. The DUI penalties for offenses in Massachusetts are:

For your first offense, you’ll be charged:

  • Up to 30 months in prison.
  • Between $500 and $5000 in fines.
  • Maximum 1 year of license suspension.

For your second offense, you’ll be charged:

  • Between 30 days to 30 months in prison.
  • Between $600 and $10,000 in fines.
  • 2 years of license suspension.
  • A court order to blow into an apparatus before you can start your vehicle – ignition interlock device.

For your third offense, you’ll be charged:

  • Between 150 days to 5 years in prison.
  • Between $1000 and $15,000 in fines.
  • 8 years of license suspension.
  • A court order to blow into an apparatus before you can start your vehicle – ignition interlock
  • device.

For your fourth offense, you’ll be charged:

  • Between 1 to 5 years in prison.
  • Between $1,500 and $25,000 in fines.
  • 10 years of license suspension.
  • A court order to blow into an apparatus before you can start your vehicle – ignition interlock
  • device.

For your fifth offense, you’ll be charged:

  • Between 2 to 5 years in prison.
  • Between $2,000 and $50,000 in fines.
  • Permanent license suspension.

Top 10 auto insurance companies in Massachusetts

  • USAA Group
  • State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
  • Main Street American Group
  • Quincy Mutual Group
  • Arbella Insurance Group
  • Plymouth Rock Insurance Group
  • Norfolk & Dedham Group
  • Commerce Insurance Company
  • Liberty Mutual Group
  • Allstate Insurance Company

Help and support

If you have difficulty buying an auto insurance, you can approach the Massachusetts Auto Insurance Plan (MAIP). The MAIP will assign you to an insurance provider. Because you are MAIP-assigned, that provider cannot refuse to insure you.

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