Car Insurance Car insurance in Boston: Cheapest insurance and average rates Learn about Boston, Massachusetts' best and cheapest car insurance. State Farm has the cheapest car insurance in Boston at $916 per year for full coverage. View Carriers Please enter valid zip Compare top carriers in your area Written by Sarah Sharkey Sarah Sharkey Sarah Sharkey is a personal finance writer with a master’s degree in management from the Hough School of Business at the University of Florida. She enjoys helping readers find money solutions that work. She has written for numerous personal-finance publications including Money Under 30 and The College Investor. | Reviewed by Laura Longero Laura Longero Laura Longero is a content strategist and communications leader with more than 15 years of experience in content development in journalism, marketing and communications for start-ups to global companies. She started her career as a reporter and editor and honed her journalistic skills at the USA Today Network, working in several roles, as well as managing content and writing at MoneyGeek and XYZ Media. | Expert insight from Dr. James Brau Dr. James Brau Dr. Brau teaches finance principles, entrepreneurial finance, financial planning, and corporate finance at Brigham Young University’s School of Business. His research includes issues related to initial public offerings, financial education, real estate, and entrepreneurial finance.Go to comment | Updated on: September 5, 2024 Why you can trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing the timely, accurate and expert information consumers need to make smart insurance decisions. All our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. Our team carefully vets our rate data to ensure we only provide reliable and up-to-date insurance pricing. We follow the highest editorial standards. Our content is based solely on objective research and data gathering. We maintain strict editorial independence to ensure unbiased coverage of the insurance industry. Boston’s average full-coverage car insurance costs $2,103 annually or $175 per month. However, some companies offer better rates than others. In 2024, State Farm offered the cheapest full-coverage car insurance policy at $916 per year for full coverage. Boston is a storied city with a rich history, and around 650,000 people call the city home. Unfortunately for Boston residents, most face one of the worst commutes in the U.S., with an average commuting time of 32.6 minutes each way. If you live in Boston and owe a vehicle, car insurance will likely be a big-ticket item in your budget. So, for most drivers, seeking out the cheapest option is critical. We explore the most affordable options. Key Takeaways Full coverage car insurance in Boston is $2,103, higher than the national average of $1,895. The cheapest car insurance company for a full coverage policy in Boston is State Farm. Full coverage car insurance in Massachusetts costs an average of $1,726, which is significantly less than the average Boston driver faces. How to find the best car insurance in Boston You’ll need to shop around to find the best car insurance option in Boston. When you get quotes from at least three car insurance companies, you can compare costs to find the most affordable option. Before committing to a policy, ask the insurer if you qualify for discounts to lower costs. Cheapest car insurance company in Boston State Farm offers the cheapest car insurance coverage in Boston, with an average annual rate of $916 for a full coverage policy. The next cheapest company is Plymouth Rock Assurance, at $1,643 annually. Explore the other cheap car insurance options in Boston in the table below. Average annual rates from the largest U.S. insurers in Boston Company Average annual rates for state minimumAverage annual rates for full coverageState Farm$260$916USAA$398$1,706Plymouth Rock Assurance$405$1,643Safety Insurance$408$2,008Geico$471$1,337Farmers$530$2,198Amica Mutual$746$2,648Arbella Insurance$796$2,318Allstate$797$3,358Progressive$858$2,325Travelers$868$2,778 How much is car insurance in Boston per month? Since every driver has a unique situation, car insurance costs vary from driver to driver. But on average, Boston drivers pay $175 per month for full-coverage car insurance. A minimum coverage car insurance policy costs an average of $49 per month. The table below breaks down average car insurance premiums by insurance company and coverage level. Monthly rates for car insurance in Boston Company Average monthly rates for state minimum Average monthly rates for full coverageState Farm$22$76Plymouth Rock Assurance$34$137Safety Insurance$34$167Geico$39$111Farmers$44$183Amica Mutual$62$221Allstate$66$280Arbella Insurance$66$193Progressive$72$194Travelers$72$232 How do rates in Boston compare to other large cities in the U.S.? Car insurance companies take many factors into consideration when determining your auto insurance premiums. In general, urban drivers in large cities pay more for car insurance than drivers in more rural areas. That’s because big cities tend to have higher rates of vandalism, theft, and accidents, all of which pushes car insurance costs higher. James Brau, professor of finance at Brigham Young University, says that the more risk the insurance company must bear, the higher the premium they must charge to stay in business and make a profit. “Large cities tend to present more risk to the insurance companies than rural areas. Large cities have more people, more cars and higher chances of getting in wrecks or having other damage done to vehicles,” Brau says. “As such, insurance firms must charge higher premiums in cities. Cities that are relatively more dangerous, in turn, must charge higher premiums than cities that are not as risky. Insurance companies study damage losses per metropolitan area and assign premiums depending on the number of wrecks in an area.” See how much you can expect to pay for car insurance in several major U.S. cities in the table below. CityFull-coverage costChicago$1,930Dallas$2,278Houston$2,317Los Angeles$3,149New York$2,600Philadelphia$2,782Phoenix$2,251San Antonio$2,181San Diego$2,324San Jose$2,406Las Vegas$2,594Baltimore$2,345Boston$2,103Charlotte$,1824Columbus$1,597Denver$2,337Detroit$2,987El Paso$2,112Fort Worth$2,030Indianapolis$1,627Jacksonville$2,692Memphis$2,161Nashville$1,708Oklahoma City$2,373Portland$2,033San Francisco$2,777Seattle$1,910Washington$2,157 Here’s what you need to know when driving in Boston With one of the worst commutes in the nation, making your way around this city isn’t always enjoyable. Here’s what to know about driving in Boston for a smooth and safe experience. Rush hour runs from 7-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. If possible, avoid the roads during these times. While you might know where you are going, use a map app to navigate around traffic. If you’re renting a car, rent a compact vehicle, which will make it easier to navigate Boston’s narrow streets. As you navigate the city, keep these rules in mind: Boston’s default speed limit is 25 mph, which means you can’t go faster unless you see a higher limit posted. A flashing red light indicates that you should treat the intersection like a stop sign. You cannot drive on any streetcar tracks. Watch out for bicyclists and pedestrians, especially along the narrow streets of central Boston. How much car insurance do I need in Boston? Drivers in Boston must carry a minimum amount of car insurance. Below is a breakdown of the state’s minimum auto insurance requirements: $20,000 in bodily injury per for a person involved in an accident; $40,000 for bodily injury for two or more people in an accident $5,000 in property damage coverage per accident $8,000 in personal injury protection per person, per accident $20,000 in bodily injury caused by an uninsured auto per person, $40,000 per accident You’ll need an auto insurance policy with these minimum coverage requirements. But depending on your situation, you may need more insurance coverage. For example, drivers who want help repairing or replacing their own vehicle after an incident might want collision and comprehensive coverage. Average cost of car insurance in Boston Drivers in Boston pay an average of $593 for a state minimum coverage policy. But drivers who want more financial protection pay an average of $2,103 for a full coverage policy. In contrast to the national average cost of $1,895 for a full coverage policy, Boston drivers pay significantly more. The average cost of a full coverage policy in the state of Massachusetts is $1,726 per year, which means drivers in Boston also pay more than drivers around the state. Annual average rates in Boston, for state minimum coverage and full coverage Coverage levelAverage annual ratesState minimum coverage$593Full coverage$2,103 How much does car insurance in Boston cost with violations? Car insurance costs often increase after you receive a traffic violation. You should expect to pay more for car insurance if you receive a violation in the form of a speeding ticket, at-fault accident, or DUI conviction. For example, Boston drivers see their rates increase by an average of 54% after an accident. If you are caught speeding, that ticket could push your car insurance rates up by an average of 22%. DUIs also lead to higher costs, with an average rate increase of 84%. See rate increases in Boston in the table below by violation. Violation% increaseAt-fault accident54%DUI84%Speeding22% Cheapest car insurance in Boston by age Car insurance for teens in Boston is very expensive – the annual rate for an 18-year-old is $5,589 per year for a full coverage policy. Rates start to head down at age 25 and back up in your late 60s. Annual rates for state minimum and full coverage car insurance in Boston by age AgeState minimum coverageFull coverage18$1,689$5,58925$645$2,39440$593$2,10365$489$1,737 Compare auto insurance rates in Boston by ZIP code Where you live within Boston also has an impact on your car insurance costs. In Boston, the cheapest ZIP codes for car insurance are 2163 and 2222. In contrast, the most expensive are 2128 and 2127. See the tables below for the cheapest and most expensive ZIP codes in Boston. Cheapest annual car insurance rates in Boston, by ZIP code ZIP codeAverage annual rate for full coverage2163$2,0562222$2,0672108$2,0822109$2,0822110$2,0822111$2,0822113$2,0822114$2,0822115$2,0822116$2,082 Most expensive annual car insurance rates in Boston, by ZIP code ZIP codeAverage annual rate for full coverage2128$2,4412127$2,1862108$2,0822109$2,0822110$2,0822111$2,0822113$2,0822114$2,0822115$2,0822116$2,082 Our recommendations: Car insurance for drivers in Boston On average, Boston drivers get the cheapest coverage by purchasing a policy with State Farm. But Plymouth Rock Assurance and USAA also tend to offer relatively cheap rates. It’s worth noting that purchasing coverage based on pricing alone can be a mistake. A cheap policy isn’t worth much if it does not include the coverage you want and need. So, shop around and gather quotes from several insurance companies. This is the best way to get the coverage you need at the best price. A full coverage insurance policy with liability limits of 100/300/100 is the best option for most drivers. Consider increasing your liability limits as you accumulate wealth and your net worth increases. Purchasing as much car insurance as you can afford will give you peace of mind as you navigate the roads of Boston. What our expert says Q. Why do insurance rates vary from city to city? Dr. James BrauJoel C. Peterson Professor of Finance Brigham Young University “Large cities tend to present more risk to the insurance companies than rural areas. Large cities have more people, more cars and higher chances of getting in wrecks or having other damage done to vehicles. As such, insurance firms must charge higher premiums in cities. Cities that are relatively more dangerous, in turn, must charge higher premiums than cities that are not as risky. Insurance companies study damage losses per metropolitan area and assign premiums depending on the number of wrecks in an area.” Resources & Methodology Sources: Census Bureau “Boston” Accessed January 2024. Insurance Information Institute. “What determines the price of an auto insurance policy.” Accessed January 2024. Boston Herald. “Boston commute 5th worst in the U.S.” Accessed January 2024. City of Boston. “Traffic Regulations.” Accessed January 2024. Mass.gov. “Understanding Auto Insurance.” Accessed January 2024. Methodology In 2024, Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to pull rates for a 40-year-old who has a 12-mile commute and drives a 2023 Honda Accord LX 10k miles annually. The hypothetical driver has full coverage, carrying policy limits of 100/300/100 with $500 deductibles for comprehensive and collision coverages. We analyzed 51,088,003 insurance quotes from 167 companies across 34,588 ZIP codes in every state and Washington, D.C. Sarah SharkeyContributing Researcher | . .Sarah Sharkey is a personal finance writer with a master’s degree in management from the Hough School of Business at the University of Florida. She enjoys helping readers find money solutions that work. She has written for numerous personal-finance publications including Money Under 30 and The College Investor. In case you missed it Best Car Insurance Companies of 2024 Car insurance rates by state in 2024 What is full coverage car insurance? How much does car insurance cost for seniors in 2024? A complete guide to adding a teenager to your car insurance policy in 2024 What to do after a car accident that’s not your fault Total warfare: What to do when your auto insurer totals your car Car insurance claims: Who gets the claims check? 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Part 1: How insurance companies spot bogus claims Insurance options for rideshare drivers 10 things that are illegal but shouldn’t be 1/1 On this page How to find the best car insurance in BostonCheapest car insurance company in BostonHow much is car insurance in Boston per month?How do rates in Boston compare to other large cities in the U.S.?Here’s what you need to know when driving in BostonAverage cost of car insurance in BostonHow much does car insurance in Boston cost with violations?Cheapest car insurance in Boston by ageCompare auto insurance rates in Boston by ZIP codeOur recommendations: Car insurance for drivers in BostonWhat our expert saysResources & Methodology ZIP Code Please enter valid ZIP See rates