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Massachusetts Auto Insurance Quotes

Are you amongst those looking for great deals and price quotes on Massachusetts auto insurance? Prior to exploring the auto insurance options and the free quotes, it is important to understand more about the laws and regulations of Massachusetts auto insurance. That would help in budgeting better and making a well informed decision on which policy to take. There are plenty of options offered by licensed auto insurance providers who can also offer discounts if you negotiate well. It is also important to understand the penalties one would incur in Massachusetts for not carrying adequate insurance while driving on the roads.

Minimum insurance coverage is mandatory for those who lease or own a vehicle in the state of Massachusetts. As per the state laws a minimum amount of liability insurance coverage is required. This is because it is important for individuals to take financial responsibility while using the roads and highways, especially in the event of an accident. But you must be able to prove that you are in position to cover the cost of damage to life and property and to prove that you must have insurance cover.

One way to establish your financial responsibility in Massachusetts is by purchasing liability policy through any of the authorized carriers or insurance agents. The best way to do it would be by researching different types of coverage. You must first determine the value of the assets you wish to protect and the amount of coverage it would require. If it requires additional coverage you will have to purchase much more than the minimum requirement by the state.

Massachusetts Liability Insurance Requirements

Massachusetts requires that all motorists maintain valid liability insurance coverage on all registered vehicles.  The state also requires personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage.  The minimum coverage amounts for liability insurance are $20,000 per person for injuries sustained in one accident, $40,000 for all bodily injuries sustained in one accident, and $5,000 for property damage.  The minimum coverage amount for personal injury protection is $8,000.  This coverage will cover you, passengers, pedestrians, or anyone who is allowed to drive your vehicle.  The minimum required amounts for uninsured motorist coverage are $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident for bodily injuries.

Masachusetts Proof of Insurance

Proof of insurance must be maintained for all registered vehicles in Massachusetts.  When you apply for vehicle registration, your insurance company will provide you with an RMV-1 form.  Any proof of coverage provided by your insurance company should include your vehicle's description, vehicle identification number, limits of liability, and the effective and expiration dates of coverage.  You should keep proof of insurance in your vehicle so that you can provide it at the time of an accident or traffic stop.

Determining Financial Responsibility

Massachusetts is considered a no-fault state.  This means that your insurance company must pay your accident expenses regardless of who caused the accident.  However, there are some at-fault standards that require your insurance company to report you to the Merit Rating Board.  They include failing to signal, rear-ending another vehicle, failing to obey driving rules, and operating your vehicle in the wrong direction.

Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility - Penalties

If you allow your insurance coverage to lapse or if you fail to provide proof of insurance then you might have to face a traffic citation at some point in time. Under the present newly managed system, such violations could easily mean a hike in premium. The auto insurance provider will make adjustments in the policy based on the number of at-fault accidents where you were involved and the severity of the accidents, your driving record, as well as the traffic violations.

Safe Driver Insurance Plan

The insurers need not develop the Safe Driver Insurance Plan if they adopt the existing one. Driver with clean driving records will be rewarded with lower premiums, but the premiums will increase if drivers have had traffic violations or if they have been involved in the at-fault accidents.

You can obtain online auto insurance quotes from various auto insurance providers. It is important that you shop around and choose the policy that best fits your requirements.

Penalties for Lack of Auto Insurance in Massachusetts

The penalties for driving without insurance in Massachusetts are severe.  If convicted, you could be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or to pay a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $5,000.  You may be sentenced to both the imprisonment and the fine.  You will also have your driver's license suspended for 60 days and may also have your vehicle registration suspended.  Being convicted of this offense could cause your insurance rates to increase and it may be difficult to find affordable insurance.

Factors That Affect Insurance Rates

There are a number of factors that affect insurance rates in every state. Young drivers normally end up paying higher insurance rates and young men pay much more than young women, because they are considered to be far more risky than women. However, older women have higher premiums when compared to their male counterparts.

The driving record is another factor that can affect auto insurance premiums. If you have a good driving record, you will get substantial discounts on your premiums.

Credit history can play a significant role in your auto insurance rates. If you have stellar credit, then your premiums would be much less as you would be considered as a low-risk customer.

Students who obtain top grades can avail discounts as well. Insurers consider students with better grades to be more responsible and hence offer them a rebate on their premiums.

The car you own will certainly matter and that is a no-brainer. If you plan to insure your brand new sports vehicle, it would obviously cost much more than insuring a family sedan.

Installing safety devices such as air bags, anti-lock braking systems, burglar alarms, etc., will help in bringing the costs down. Anything that can help bring down the risks will help you get a discount.

Tips for saving on auto insurance in Massachusetts

Although many people think that Massachusetts is an expensive state to purchase auto insurance and it may even be partly true - there are ways you can beat the high premiums. All you need to do is to follow a few tips and learn where and how to shop for auto insurance. You should look for some of the best deals in auto insurance. So, even if you wish to take additional coverage you can get them at an affordable price by simply shopping around.

Very often people end up purchasing auto insurance from the very first company they approach as they tend to assume that all companies have the same rules. But that is absolutely false, and these rates vary to a very large extent from one provider to another. Since there are innumerable companies that provide auto insurance at the best price you can go online and shop around. There are a number of websites where you can do a cost comparison. All you have to do is to just type in the information giving all the relevant details and you will get a handful of quotes from some of the best auto insurance providers and you can easily choose the one that suits your requirements as well as your budget.

The golden rule is never to purchase coverage that is unnecessary. This is the most common mistake that motorists tend to commit. You must do your homework and purchase the cover that is absolutely necessary after understanding your individual needs.

When you shop around always negotiate for discounts. You will only get discounts when you ask for them. No company is going to come forward on their own to offer you all the discounts that you may be entitled to. Although some of them may offer a few discounts depending on your driving record or your age. Students who get good grades can avail discounts. If you have a perfect credit history, this is the time to put it to good use and avail discounts.

You can purchase the liability policy through any authorized Massachusetts insurance agent. If you have any further queries you can either contact your insurance provider or your auto insurance agent, to get your doubts clarified.