Average Car Insurance Costs for Massachusetts
Rates as of August 31, 2026: Massachusetts car insurance averages $182 a month ($2,178 a year) for full coverage and $69 a month ($831 a year) for state-minimum coverage for one benchmark driver, based on insurers’ filed rates. That’s 22% below the national average. See how Massachusetts compares with every state · How we calculate these rates
- On average minimum liability for Massachusetts drivers is $69 a month or $831 a year. Full coverage policies cost around $182 a month or $2,178 a year.
InsuranceQuotes cost rates are pulled from our real-time auto insurance database from recent quotes in MA – Rates are based on a used car driver who is single, middle aged & has a clean driving record. Read on to learn about the cheapest local rates filtered by insurance providers, new cars, vehicle types and age.
Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Massachusetts
- In Massachusetts on average the cheapest car insurance providers are Plymouth Rock, Arbella Mutual and GEICO. The cheapest state minimum liability car insurance averages about $55 a month ($659 a year) with Plymouth Rock. The cheapest full coverage car insurance for our benchmark driver averages about $145 a month ($1,740 a year) with Plymouth Rock.
Here is a breakdown of average costs from the cheapest local insurance providers in MA from our cost data set of used-car drivers who are single, middle aged and have a clean driving record:
| Insurance Provider: | State Minimum: | Monthly: | Full Coverage: | Monthly: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth Rock | $659 | $55 | $1,740 | $145 |
| Progressive | $1,070 | $89 | $1,925 | $160 |
| GEICO | $691 | $58 | $1,928 | $161 |
| Safety Insurance | $820 | $68 | $2,525 | $210 |
| Arbella | $916 | $76 | $2,772 | $231 |
Massachusetts Car Insurance Rates by City
| Massachusetts City: | State Minimum: | SM Monthly: | Full Coverage Policy: | FC Monthly: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $955 | $80 | $3,591 | $299 |
| Brockton | $1,415 | $118 | $4,494 | $375 |
| Cambridge | $835 | $70 | $2,903 | $242 |
| Fall River | $982 | $82 | $3,363 | $280 |
| Framingham | $843 | $70 | $2,908 | $242 |
| Haverhill | $793 | $66 | $2,812 | $234 |
| Lawrence | $948 | $79 | $3,326 | $277 |
| Lowell | $911 | $76 | $2,945 | $245 |
| Lynn | $1,148 | $96 | $3,960 | $330 |
| Malden | $1,066 | $89 | $3,803 | $317 |
SEE OUR LIST OF POPULAR MA CAR INSURANCE COST GUIDES
MA State Minimum Liability Coverage
The state has a Consumer Bill of Rights for Automobile Insurance. This bill of rights spells out all your rights when shopping for auto insurance in the state. It says that you cannot be turned down for insurance for discriminatory reasons and that a company has to explain its reasoning if they refuse coverage.
Under the bill of rights, you can buy the minimum auto insurance required in the state. It also says that agents have to offer you the minimum coverage of:
- $20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident bodily injury
- $20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident bodily injury by an uninsured vehicle
- $8,000 personal injury protection per person for each accident
- $5,000 property damage liability for each accident
You are still able to buy supplemental insurance for things like medical payments, but it does pay to shop around.
Massachusetts Auto Rates by County & Vehicle Type
The average cost of car insurance in Massachusetts varies between drivers. Here is the breakdown of the amount you can expect to pay on car insurance costs by county for vehicle type below for a minimum state policy of the average driver:
| Auto Insurance Costs by County: | Sedan: | SUV: | Coupe: | Truck: | Hybrid: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable | $717 | $501 | $666 | $625 | $582 |
| Berkshire | $717 | $501 | $666 | $604 | $582 |
| Bristol | $809 | $586 | $751 | $714 | $654 |
| Dukes | $717 | $501 | $666 | $625 | $582 |
| Essex | $717 | $501 | $666 | $625 | $582 |
| Franklin | $717 | $501 | $666 | $597 | $582 |
| Hampden | $717 | $501 | $666 | $625 | $582 |
| Hampshire | $717 | $501 | $666 | $625 | $582 |
| Middlesex | $717 | $501 | $666 | $625 | $582 |
| Nantucket | $717 | $501 | $666 | $624 | $582 |
Competition of Massachusetts Auto Insurance System
The state’s managed competition system keeps insurance rates down. Keep in mind that your rates vary based on your driving record, where you live, and other rating factors approved by the Commissioner. This is why it’s important to maintain a good driving record.
In addition, you should shop around for the best policy for your needs. Many companies offer discounts on your car insurance and some of the discounts are required under state law. This includes discounts for passive restraint systems, anti-theft devices, and drivers who are 65 years old and older. Some companies also offer discounts for:
- Members of a group program
- People who take advanced driver training courses
- Multi-vehicle policies
The best thing to do is compare rates and discounts offered by several different companies. This will help you figure out which discounts you may qualify for.
How Much Does a DUI Increase Car Insurance in Massachusetts?
A DUI is the single largest violation surcharge in Massachusetts — 2026 rate data shows it adding around $94 a month to a policy, raising the average premium from roughly $108 to $202 a month, an increase of 61% to as much as 93% depending on the carrier. That’s a meaningful jump even before factoring in Massachusetts’s already-elevated urban rates around Boston. Since Massachusetts doesn’t allow credit score to affect your premium the way most states do, a clean driving record is one of the few levers Massachusetts drivers have real control over, making it especially valuable to protect after a DUI by avoiding further violations for the several years the surcharge typically remains in effect.
How Much Does a Speeding Ticket Raise Car Insurance in Massachusetts?
A speeding ticket is a meaningfully smaller hit than a DUI, but it still adds up in Massachusetts. Rate studies from 2026 show speeding violations raising the average premium from around $108 to somewhere between $130 and $145 a month — roughly a 20% to 34% increase, depending on the carrier and how many points the ticket carries. Because Massachusetts doesn’t factor credit score into pricing, a speeding ticket carries more relative weight here than in states where a strong credit profile can offset a moving violation.
How Much Does an At-Fault Accident Raise Car Insurance in Massachusetts?
An at-fault accident typically raises Massachusetts premiums more than a speeding ticket but less than a DUI — from around $108 to between $155 and $175 a month, a 43% to 61% increase based on 2026 carrier data. Because Massachusetts is a no-fault state for medical claims (PIP covers your own injuries regardless of fault) but still allows insurers to surcharge for fault in a collision, an at-fault accident affects your premium even though it doesn’t affect who pays your medical bills.
Are Massachusetts Car Insurance Rates Going Up or Down in 2026?
Massachusetts is bucking the national trend in 2026. While insurance costs are climbing in most states, Massachusetts rates actually declined about 5% in the first half of 2026, and full-year 2026 rates are projected to finish roughly 4% lower than 2025 — driven largely by a 31% drop in vehicle thefts in 2025 and Massachusetts insurers posting lower-than-average losses. That makes Massachusetts one of the few states where waiting to shop for a new rate isn’t costing you money — though comparing quotes is still the only way to capture the savings, since not every carrier passes the decline through evenly.
Moving to Massachusetts: Important Information
You will need to convert your out-of-state license as soon as you are a resident if you are moving to Massachusetts. You will need to take your old license to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. You will also need proof of your birth date, that you live in the state, and your Social Security card.
There are several steps you need to do to convert your out-of-state vehicle registration. You will need to go to a licensed state insurance agent and get an auto insurance policy in the state. Then, you need to go to a Registry of Motor Vehicles branch office. Be sure to bring your out-of-state title and registration and fill out an application.
Understanding Driving Laws in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has traffic laws that say you must drive the speed limit and wear a seat belt just like other states. In addition, state law says that infants and children must ride in federally approved child passenger restraints. They have to use them until they are at least 8 years old or 57 inches tall.
It is also against the law to use any mobile electronic device while driving. This means you can’t use a cell phone to write, read, or send messages while driving. In addition, drivers who are under 18 years old can’t use a mobile electronic device for any reason while driving. The only exception is to report an emergency.
FAQ: Massachusetts Auto Insurance
For our benchmark driver, full coverage car insurance in Massachusetts averages about $182 a month ($2,178 a year), and state-minimum coverage about $69 a month ($831 a year), based on insurers’ filed rates as of August 31, 2026. That’s 22% below the national full-coverage average of $2,806 a year, making Massachusetts the 15th-cheapest state in our data.
Yes. Massachusetts is a no-fault state. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) of $8,000 per person is mandatory and pays for your own medical expenses after an accident regardless of fault. Massachusetts uses a modified tort system — you can sue the at-fault driver for serious injuries exceeding the PIP threshold. The minimum liability requirements in Massachusetts are 20/40/5, which are among the lowest in the country, but most drivers should carry 100/300/100 limits given the state’s dense traffic and high medical costs.
Yes — Massachusetts is one of only a few states that prohibits insurers from using credit scores to set car insurance rates. Along with California, Hawaii, and Michigan, Massachusetts bans credit-based insurance scoring entirely. This means drivers with poor credit pay the same rate as drivers with excellent credit, all other factors being equal. Massachusetts also prohibits gender-based pricing, making it one of the most consumer-protective states for insurance rating factors.
For our benchmark driver, Plymouth Rock has the lowest average full-coverage rate in Massachusetts, at about $145 a month ($1,740 a year), based on insurers’ filed rates as of August 31, 2026. Plymouth Rock is also cheapest for state-minimum coverage, at about $55 a month. Prices vary by driver and ZIP code, so compare quotes from several insurers.
Eastern Massachusetts — particularly Boston, Cambridge, Worcester, and the I-95 and Route 128 corridors — has significantly higher car insurance rates than central or western Massachusetts. The reasons: higher traffic density in the metro area increases accident frequency, Boston has higher vehicle theft rates than rural MA, and urban repair shops charge higher labor rates. A driver moving from Springfield in western MA to Boston can see their premium increase by 30 to 50 percent for identical coverage. ZIP code is one of the strongest rate determinants in Massachusetts even within the same city.
Massachusetts has one of the most regulated car insurance markets in the country. Key features: the state uses a managed competition system where insurers must file their rates for approval, credit scoring and gender are banned as rating factors, PIP coverage is mandatory at a minimum of $8,000, and Uninsured Motorist coverage is compulsory. Massachusetts also does not require SR-22 filings — a form required in most other states for high-risk drivers — making it unique in that regard as well.
The fastest way to compare car insurance quotes in Massachusetts is to submit one form and get rates from multiple carriers at once. InsuranceQuotes.com pulls quotes from providers like Plymouth Rock Assurance, Safety Insurance, and Mapfre — consistently among the cheapest in the state. Massachusetts drivers who compare car insurance quotes from at least three insurers typically find rates from $99/month for minimum coverage up to $150-$175/month for full coverage in 2026, so shopping around directly affects what you pay.
A speeding ticket typically raises Massachusetts car insurance from around $108 to between $130 and $145 a month — roughly a 20% to 34% increase, depending on the carrier and how many points the ticket carries. That’s a smaller hit than a DUI, but it adds up faster in Massachusetts than in states where a strong credit score can help offset the increase, since Massachusetts doesn’t factor credit score into pricing at all.
Massachusetts is bucking the national trend in 2026 — rates actually declined about 5% in the first half of the year, and full-year 2026 rates are projected to finish roughly 4% lower than 2025. The drop is driven largely by a 31% decline in vehicle thefts in 2025 and insurers posting lower-than-average losses. Comparing quotes is still the only way to capture the savings, since not every carrier passes the decline through evenly.
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Michael Giusti is a senior insurance analyst, business journalist, and university professor with over 20 years of experience. He serves as department chair at Loyola University New Orleans and contributes to Insurance Thought Leadership, U.S. News, and other leading financial outlets.
