Best car insurance companies in Mass? (Boston, Cambridge: buy, inspections, living in)

[jemesuvien]

I'll be living in Cambridge or Brookline...for you drivers, what car insurance companies are the best for MA? I know Geico and Progressive don't even offer coverage there.

[doog123]

actually progressive just started offering coverage in Massachusetts

[crickitty]

Hi

I'm moving to Boston in about 2 weeks, so I've been shopping around a little for Mass car insurance, myself. I tried to get State Farm (my current provider in Wa state) to cover me in Mass--and they will, but they gave me a lot of stipulations and did NOT believe that I am going to basically garage my car and not drive it very much after my move (Boston mass transit rocks, so why drive?). I've never been a big driver anyway--the car is 3 years old and has less than 17k miles on it, even though I drive to work daily here in Seattle. State Farm wants me to go through 2 rounds of safety inspections--this year and next year--and submit the odometer readings to them *before* they will lower my rates to the lowest driving amount. And, no, they won't do it retroactively. Cripes.

At any rate, I called Liberty Mutual and not only were they helpful, and not only did they believe that I would only be driving for pleasure (and not daily to work), but they were also at least 10% cheaper.

crickitty

[fido_dido]

I recently moved to boston from chicago and have been shopping around for car insurance. I had geico in chicago and they do not provide service in MA. I have got a quote from progressive and Liberty mutual. Insurance in boston is about 50% more than chicago. LM was cheaper of the two.

[smarty]

Massachusetts drivers tend to pay more for auto insurance than residents of other states because they get in more accidents and buy more expensive cars. The state also requires drivers to purchase more coverage than drivers in other states.

Mass. 4th most expensive for auto insurance in '05 - The Boston Globe

[Akhenaten]

I use Commerce Insurance for my car and my home. They're good.

[nishokie]

i used to live in TN and recently moved to boston. i used to have statefarm insurance in TN and when I moved to boston they doubled my quote for annual premium...i got similar prices from geico and progressive.

and then i called Amica and i got the same rate as what i used to pay in TN. they're pretty cheap and direct provider.

[funlol]

I used to live in the Harvard Square area. Like every other highly populated NE city, the insurance rates are gonna be through the roof. I suggest that you compare quotes and find the best company to work with that way. When I was in Boston, I insured with MetLife. They were always fair to me.

A good place to see the minimum requirements in the area and to also compare quotes is Massachusetts Auto Insurance Guide - Getting Car Insurance In MA

Like I said, get a bunch of quotes and don't be afraid to "shop around". With every other major purchase, I'm sure you can find good prices if you get your feet wet.

[Beachcomber4]

Arbella. I saved 25% over Commerce for same exact coverage. Not all agents use the same carriers so it might take some legwork but it could be worth your while.

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by Beachcomber4

Arbella. I saved 25% over Commerce for same exact coverage. Not all agents use the same carriers so it might take some legwork but it could be worth your while.

I was with Arbella until I moved to NH. I found them to be fair and I would have stayed with them but they don't underwrite in New Hampshire.