20+ years in insurance and personal finance content creation
Contributor to top brands like USA Today
John specializes in insurance, personal finance, real estate, and health and wellness. In 2022, he authored a guide on content marketing for beginners.
Featured in
7+ years in content creation and management
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
Featured in
30+ years in financial services
Clinical Professor of Finance, University of San Diego
Dan is a well-recognized and widely quoted financial services expert, regularly appearing in a variety of national and local media as a subject matter expert.
Updated November 21, 2024
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
Table of contents
Rush hour in Boston can be a headache, and that’s without taking into account some of the region’s frustrating rotaries. In 2022, traffic navigation company TomTom parked Boston at fourth on its list of the worst U.S. metro areas for the amount of time that drivers waste in traffic.[1]
While there’s plenty to worry about in Boston traffic, your car insurance doesn’t have to be one of those concerns. Boston drivers pay an overall average of $114 per month for car insurance, which is lower than the national monthly average of $154.
But drivers should compare car insurance quotes from multiple companies to find the best coverage at an affordable price.
Safeco and Liberty Mutual are the cheapest car insurance companies in Boston.
Full-coverage insurance in Boston costs an average of $133 per month, and liability-only coverage averages $96 per month.
The percentage of fault in a Massachusetts accident determines if a driver is at fault.
Best car insurance companies in Boston
The best car insurance company for you is the one that meets your unique needs. For instance, it might be the one that offers the best rates for your teen driver. Or it might supply discounts that other insurance companies don’t offer.
The three insurance companies below are a great place to start your search.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ | Best For ▲▼ |
---|---|---|---|---|
GEICO | 9.0 | $119 | $54 | Cheap rates |
USAA | 9.4 | $99 | $45 | Military families |
Allstate | 8.9 | $133 | $61 | Discounts |
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
Best insurer for cheap rates: GEICO
User Reviews | 4.0 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.0 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $54/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $119/mo |
Drivers appreciate the excellent customer service and initial low prices but dislike the frequent price increases.
Drivers appreciate the excellent customer service and initial low prices but dislike the frequent price increases.
George
November 19, 2024
Service
James
November 19, 2024
Unsatisfactory Experience with Geico
Edward
November 18, 2024
Experience with Geico
GEICO is one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S. by market share, and it also offers low rates for Boston drivers. You can personalize your car insurance policy to meet your needs, and many optional coverages are available, including emergency road service, rental reimbursement, and mechanical breakdown insurance.
Some of the lowest rates in Boston
A++ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best
Above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in New England
Accident forgiveness not available in Massachusetts
Doesn’t offer gap insurance
Below-average J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating
Best insurer for military families: USAA
User Reviews | 4.9 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.4 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $45/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $99/mo |
Drivers appreciate the ease of working with the carrier, competitive rates, and responsive service but dislike the price increases and lack of rideshare add-ons in some areas.
Drivers appreciate the ease of working with the carrier, competitive rates, and responsive service but dislike the price increases and lack of rideshare add-ons in some areas.
Gloria
November 15, 2024
Not Good for Claims
Martin
November 11, 2024
Price Shopping
Rena Sabine
November 8, 2024
Disappointing and inflexible service
USAA could be a good choice for the more than 277,000 veterans living in Massachusetts. The insurer works exclusively with active-duty military members, veterans, and their family members. It offers competitive rates and special discounts for military members, including up to 15% for garaging your car on base.
Relatively low rates in Boston
A++ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best
J.D. Power consistently rates it highly for customer and claims satisfaction
Available only to active-duty military, veterans, and their immediate families
Limited customer service
No gap insurance
Best insurer for discounts: Allstate
User Reviews | 4.0 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 8.9 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $61/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $133/mo |
Drivers appreciate the initial pricing and overall service but dislike the frequent rate increases and misleading pricing tactics.
Drivers appreciate the initial pricing and overall service but dislike the frequent rate increases and misleading pricing tactics.
Rodney
November 20, 2024
Lower Insurance
Lyudmila
November 14, 2024
No Discount for Seniors
Latonya
November 12, 2024
Not Recommended
Boston drivers who want to save on their car insurance policy should look to Allstate, which offers numerous discounts. You could be eligible for a discount if you bundle multiple policies, install safety features in your car, pay your premiums in full, drive a new car, and more.
Above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in New England
Many available discounts to help you save
Pay-per-mile insurance available in Massachusetts
May not have the cheapest rates in Boston
Below-average J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating in New England
Negative customer reviews on Trustpilot
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Boston
The price you pay for car insurance is a result of many factors, including your driving record, age, gender, location, the kind of car you drive, and more. Fortunately, you can save on your car insurance in many ways as well.
To find the cheapest car insurance in Boston:
Shop around. Obtaining quotes from at least three different companies puts you in a better position to find the right policy for you.
Check out discounts. You may be able to score a discount if you pay for a year’s worth of coverage up front, buy car insurance and homeowners insurance from the same company, or maintain a clean driving record.
Raise your deductible. Increasing your deductible should lower your premium. But it also means you’ll pay more out of pocket when you file a claim.
Complete a defensive driving course. Some insurers will reduce your premium if you graduate from a course that teaches you how to drive defensively.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Boston: Safeco
Massachusetts requires drivers to carry liability coverage. This includes bodily injury to others, bodily injury caused by an uninsured auto, and property damage.
Overall, liability coverage pays for other peoples’ medical expenses and damage you cause in a car accident. It doesn’t cover damage to your car or injuries suffered by you or your passengers.
Because of its limited coverage, you’ll generally find liability-only coverage rates to be far less expensive. Liability insurance costs an average of $96 per month in Boston.
Here, you can see average monthly quotes from several top insurers in Boston.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
Safeco | $88 |
Liberty Mutual | $134 |
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Boston: Safeco
Full-coverage car insurance can provide more financial peace of mind than liability-only coverage. While liability coverage applies to just the damage you cause to other peoples’ property or bodily injuries you cause, full-coverage car insurance includes liability coverage and also covers damage to your own car and passengers.
Boston drivers pay an average of $133 per month for full-coverage insurance. In the table below, you can see a list of average monthly quotes for full coverage in Boston.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
Safeco | $206 |
Liberty Mutual | $252 |
Cheapest recent rates near Boston, Massachusetts
Drivers using Insurify have found quotes as cheap as $52/mo for liability only and $123/mo for full coverage in Boston and other Massachusetts cities.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Boston, Massachusetts within the last 10 days. Last updated on November 21, 2024
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Boston, Massachusetts within the last 10 days. Last updated on November 21, 2024
Car insurance requirements in Massachusetts
Your coverage must meet the following minimum requirements in Massachusetts:[2]
Bodily injury liability
$20,000 per person
$40,000 per accident
Property damage liability
$5,000 per accident
Personal injury protection (PIP)
$8,000 per person, per accident
Bodily injury caused by uninsured motorist
$20,000 per person
$40,000 per accident
Kristen Gryglik, senior sales representative at Comparion Insurance Agency in Boston, cautions that meeting only the state’s minimum requirements for liability coverage might be inadequate. “Insurers recommend higher limits to bulk up coverage in case you’re involved in a serious crash,” she says.
For example, if you cause a crash that results in $30,000 of unpaid medical bills for the other driver, and you only have the state’s required $20,000 of bodily injury coverage, you could be on the hook for the remaining $10,000.
Optional coverage includes collision and comprehensive. If you finance or lease a car, the lender or leasing company might require you to purchase collision and comprehensive coverages, though.
Collision coverage pays for damage when your car hits an object, such as a telephone pole or a fence. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your car caused by something other than a collision. For instance, it covers run-ins with deer or the theft of an airbag.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
In many cases, a car insurance company will raise your rates if you’ve been involved in some sort of traffic incident. This incident could be a speeding ticket, an at-fault accident, or being convicted of DUI.
In the sections that follow, you’ll see how each of these incidents can affect the rates you’ll pay for car insurance.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Safeco
A speeding ticket will usually cause your car insurance rates to go up. But you may be able to escape a rate hike if it’s your first offense.
Boston drivers with a speeding ticket pay a monthly average of $100 for liability insurance. Here, you can see how a speeding ticket will affect your quotes in Boston.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With Speeding Ticket ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Safeco | $88 | $100 |
Liberty Mutual | $134 | $163 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Safeco
An at-fault accident may trigger an increase in your car insurance premium. But in Massachusetts, you have the opportunity to appeal an at-fault determination.[3] And some companies offer accident forgiveness coverage that ensures your rate won’t increase after a single accident.
Liability policies cost $137 per month, on average, for drivers in Boston with an at-fault accident.
Here, you can see the monthly quotes for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With At-Fault Accident ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Safeco | $88 | $118 |
Liberty Mutual | $134 | $193 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Safeco
While many states use the terms DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving while intoxicated), this violation is called an OUI (operating under the influence) in Massachusetts. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is among the most serious incidents in the eyes of insurers.
If you’re cited for OUI, your insurer will almost certainly raise your rates and may drop you altogether. If that weren’t enough, you might also face jail time, fines, and revocation of your driver’s license, as well as legal fees.
Boston drivers with an OUI pay monthly averages of $98 for liability coverage and $135 for full coverage.
The following table provides some insight into the monthly rates you might pay with an OUI conviction on your record.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With OUI ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Safeco | $88 | $107 |
Liberty Mutual | $134 | $179 |
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: Safeco
Seniors generally have the lowest car insurance rates of any age group. But because of their heightened risk of being involved in a car crash, motorists in their 70s and beyond might pay more for coverage. Drivers typically start noticing their rates going up around the time they turn 70. In some states, though, insurers must give discounts to older drivers who complete a defensive driving course.
Senior drivers in Boston pay an average of $69 per month for liability-only insurance.
Here, you can see how insurance quotes shift for older drivers.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Safeco | $71 | $165 |
Liberty Mutual | $106 | $198 |
Cheapest car insurance for teens: Safeco
Insurers typically charge higher premiums for young drivers because their inexperience makes them more likely to be involved in an accident. In fact, 16- to 19-year-olds run a greater risk of getting into a car crash than any other age group.[4]
Liability insurance costs $178 per month for teen drivers in Boston, and full coverage costs $247 per month.
To reduce the cost of car insurance for teens, parents can:
Keep a teen driver on their car insurance policy rather than have the teen maintain a separate policy.
Shop around for coverage, and obtain quotes from several insurers to find the best deal.
Look into good student discounts. Some insurers offer discounts, perhaps as high as 25%, for students who earn good grades.
Choose a vehicle that has good safety ratings and lower repair costs. For example, a mainstream sedan will likely be cheaper to insure than a luxury SUV.
The following table shows examples of monthly car insurance costs for Boston teens who obtain their own car insurance policies.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Safeco | $177 | $413 |
Liberty Mutual | $241 | $453 |
Is car insurance more expensive in Boston?
Car insurance in Boston is less expensive than statewide insurance costs. Full coverage costs about $133 per month in Boston, which is much lower than the statewide average of $231 per month.
Boston’s full-coverage cost is also significantly cheaper than the rates paid in New York.
More cities in Massachusetts
See how monthly liability and full-coverage rates compare in six other Massachusetts cities in the table below.
City ▲▼ | Average Quote: Liability Only ▲▼ | Average Quote: Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Boston | $96 | $133 |
Brockton | $123 | $222 |
Cambridge | $91 | $122 |
Fall River | $131 | $146 |
New Bedford | $119 | $152 |
Quincy | $72 | $114 |
Somerville | $103 | $117 |
Boston car insurance FAQs
If you still have questions about car insurance in Boston, the answers presented below can help. Read on to find the information you need to make the best decision for you.
How much is car insurance in Boston?
The average cost of liability-only car insurance in Boston is $96 per month. Full coverage costs an average of $133 per month. While this makes Boston an expensive city for car insurance in Massachusetts, Bostonians still pay lower car insurance rates than residents of New York.
What are the best car insurance companies in Boston?
GEICO, USAA, and Allstate rank as the top insurers in Boston. All three offer rates below the average, with GEICO and USAA offering the lowest rates. Each insurer also boasts a commendable Insurify Quality Score, with GEICO scoring a 9.0, USAA a 9.4, and Allstate a 8.9. Lastly, each has been recognized for its customer satisfaction, mobile offerings, or financial stability.
Is car insurance more expensive in Boston?
Car insurance is less expensive in Boston than in the rest of the state, according to Insurify data. It’s also cheaper than New York and several other major metro areas across the country.
Does Massachusetts let insurers use your credit score to set rates?
No. Massachusetts forbids insurers from reviewing your credit scores before setting your rates. In states where this is legal, people with lower credit scores are likely to pay higher rates than people with higher credit scores.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
Related articles
More cities in Massachusetts
Sources
- TomTom. "TomTom Traffic Index."
- Mass.gov. "Basics of Auto Insurance."
- Mass.gov. "Frequently Asked Questions About Appealing an Insurer's At-Fault Accident Determination."
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Risk Factors for Teen Drivers."
John Egan is a freelance writer and content marketing strategist in Austin, Texas. His specialties include personal finance, real estate, and health and wellness. John’s work has been published by outlets such as CreditCard.com, Bankrate, Forbes Advisor, Experian, Capital One, The Balance and U.S. News & World Report. He is the author of The Stripped-Down Guide to Content Marketing.
7+ years in content creation and management
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
Featured in
30+ years in financial services
Clinical Professor of Finance, University of San Diego
Dan is a well-recognized and widely quoted financial services expert, regularly appearing in a variety of national and local media as a subject matter expert.