Scituate Car Insurance

Car insurance is required. Overpaying for it is not.

Written by Meg Stefanac
Written by Meg Stefanac

Financial blogger and business owner, Meg Stefanac, has more than 15 years experience working in the financial services industry and enjoys helping individuals make solid financial decisions. Meg has extensive experience writing about insurance and finances and is a key contributor to TrustedChoice.com.

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Scituate Massachusetts Car Insurance

Accidents can happen anytime, anywhere, and to anyone. That is why car insurance is so important in Scituate, MA. From fender benders on Front Street to more serious collisions on the Route 3A Corridor, a good car insurance policy can prevent you from facing large financial losses as a result.

Independent insurance agents can help you find the best and most affordable coverage. These agents are free to obtain customized quotes from multiple providers to help you be certain that the policy you are buying is offered at a competitive price. Find an insurance agent near you to get started.

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Scituate?

The average cost of car insurance in Massachusetts is higher than the national average rate. Shopping around for the best price has the potential to save you hundreds of dollars a year.

  • National average annual car insurance cost: $1,311
  • Massachusetts average annual car insurance cost: $1,460

You can expect that the quotes you receive from insurance companies will differ, not just from the rate listed above, but from each other. This is because every insurance company has its own way of assessing risk and calculating rates. Your price will be based on a number of factors such as the following information.

  • The make, model, trim, and year of every vehicle(s) you are insuring
  • Your age, gender, occupation, and marital status
  • Your driving record and credit score
  • Information about other licensed drivers in your household
  • Whether you own or rent your home
  • The amount of liability insurance you are purchasing
  • The coverage options you are including in your policy
  • The size of your deductible

If you are bundling your car insurance with other policies like homeowners insurance or renters insurance, you can often get significant discounts on each of your policies. You may also qualify for other discounts such as a safe driver discount or a good student discount.

What Does Scituate Car Insurance Cover?

Car insurance policies are a mixture of required and optional coverage. As a resident of Scituate, your policy must meet or exceed the minimum coverage requirements in Massachusetts.

You can expect your insurance provider to offer the following types of coverage.

  • Liability insurance (required):  This covers other people’s injuries and property damage if you cause an accident. Your policy must include the following.
    • Bodily-injury liability coverage of at least $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident
    • Property damage liability coverage of at least $5,000 per accident
  • Personal injury protection (PIP) (required): This pays for your medical expenses if you are injured in a collision, regardless of fault. Your policy must include at least $8,000 in injury coverage.
  • Uninsured motorist insurance (required): This pays for medical costs that go beyond what your PIP insurance can cover if you are injured in a collision caused by an uninsured driver. Your policy must include the following coverage.
    • Uninsured bodily injury coverage of at least $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident.
  • Collision insurance (optional): This pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged in a collision, regardless of fault.
  • Comprehensive insurance (optional): This pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it is lost or damaged due a non-collision event such as a flood, windstorm, or garage fire.
  • Gap insurance (optional): This can bridge the gap between what your car is worth and what you still owe for it if it is totaled in a covered event.
  • Roadside assistance and towing (optional): This covers the cost of assistance if your vehicle becomes disabled while you are out on the road, such as if you get a flat tire or run out of gas.
  • Umbrella insurance (optional): This pays for liability expenses that go beyond what your car insurance liability coverage can cover.
  • Rental reimbursement coverage (optional): This pays for the cost of renting a vehicle while repairs are being made to your car following a covered event.

The state only requires you to carry liability, PIP, and uninsured motorist coverage. However, if you are still paying for your car or you have it on a lease, your lender or dealership may also require you to carry collision and comprehensive coverage.

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What Will Happen if I Am Caught Driving without Insurance in Scituate?

Driving without insurance is illegal in Massachusetts. If caught, you can face some pretty severe penalties, such as the following.

  • Fines up to $5,000
  • The suspension of your driving privileges for up to one year
  • The need to pay a $500 reinstatement fee to get your license restored
  • Up to a year in jail if you are a repeat offender
  • Higher car insurance rates

Because of these tough penalties, Massachusetts has an exceptionally low rate of uninsured motorists.

  • Percentage of US drivers who are uninsured: 12.6%
  • Percentage of Massachusetts drivers who are uninsured: 6.2%

Though it is optional in many states, Massachusetts requires residents to carry uninsured motorist insurance.

Having this coverage lets you rest assured that if you are injured in an accident caused by an uninsured driver and your medical costs exceed what your PIP can cover, you will receive the extra funds needed to pay for your treatments without needing to go through expensive lawyers or time-consuming lawsuits.

How High Is the Auto Theft Rate in Scituate?

The auto theft rate in Massachusetts is lower than the national average, and in Scituate, the rate is even lower. This is not to say that the risk does not exist. Residents of Scituate reported five auto thefts in one previous year.

  • National auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 2.29
  • Massachusetts auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 0.96
  • Scituate auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 0.27

Although your car is unlikely to be stolen in this town, you should know that you can only be reimbursed for an auto theft if your car insurance includes comprehensive coverage, which is optional.

If you are still paying for your car or you have it on a lease, you probably have this coverage already. If not, you may want to look into how much it will cost for you to add this useful “other than collision” coverage to your auto insurance policy.

Why Work with an Independent Insurance Agent?

Independent agents can be a great source of information when you are looking for the right car insurance policy for you and your family. These insurance professionals can explain your coverage options, answer your insurance-related questions, and help you review rates from multiple providers.

It doesn’t cost anything to talk to an independent agent. Contact an insurance agent near you to start comparing customized car insurance quotes.

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https://www.city-data.com/city/Scituate-Massachusetts.html
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/understanding-auto-insurance