Watertown Car Insurance

(Don't pay more than you have to for your auto insurance coverage.)

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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Accidents can happen anytime, anywhere and to anyone. That is why car insurance is so important in Watertown, MA. From fender benders on Main Street to serious collisions on the Massachusetts Turnpike, a solid auto insurance policy can prevent you from facing large financial losses as a result.

Independent agents can help you find the best and most affordable policy to meet your coverage and budgetary needs. Find an insurance agent in Watertown to get more information and start comparing customized car insurance quotes from a variety of highly-rated insurers.

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Watertown, MA?

The average cost of car insurance in Massachusetts is higher than the national average. Shopping around and comparing rates 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 get from insurance companies will differ, not just from the average rate listed above, but from each other. This is because each insurance company has its own way of assessing risk and assigning rates. Your rates will be based on a number of factors such as:

  • The make, model, trim, and year of every vehicle 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 your deductible
  • The amount of liability insurance you are purchasing
  • The coverage options you are including in your policy

If you are bundling your car insurance with other policies like homeowners insurance or renters insurance, you can often qualify for significant discounts on each of your policies. You may also be entitled to other potential discounts such as if you have a safe driving record or are a Watertown High School student with good grades.

Let a local independent insurance agent help you compare prices and find all the discounts for which you qualify so that you can obtain the coverage you need at the most competitive rate.

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What Does Watertown Car Insurance Cover?

Car insurance policies are a mixture of required and optional coverage. As a resident of Watertown, your policy must meet or exceed the state’s minimum coverage requirements.

The state of Massachusetts requires drivers to carry liability insurance, personal injury protection insurance (PIP), and uninsured motorist insurance only. However, if you are still paying for your car, your lender is likely to require you to also carry comprehensive and collision insurance.

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

  • Liability insurance (required):  This covers other people’s injuries and damage if you cause an accident. Your policy must include bodily injury liability coverage of at least $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident; and 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. You can opt to cover yourself only or yourself and the members of your household.
  • Uninsured motorist insurance (required): This pays for medical costs that go beyond what your PIP insurance covers if you are injured in a collision that was caused by an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver. Your policy must include coverage of at least $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident.
  • Collision insurance (partially optional): This pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged in a collision, regardless of fault.
  • Comprehensive insurance (partially optional): This pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it is lost or damaged due a non-collision event such as a flood, falling object, or garage fire.
  • Roadside assistance and towing (optional): This pays for 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.
  • 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.

Talk to your insurance agent for help determining how much liability coverage you can reasonably afford and to discuss which coverage options may be right for you.

Why Is Uninsured Motorist Insurance So Important?

Driving without insurance is illegal in Massachusetts. If caught, uninsured drivers can face some pretty tough penalties, including fines of up to $5,000, suspension of their driving privileges for up to one year, and a $500 reinstatement fee. Additionally, repeat offenders can face up to a year in jail.

Perhaps because of these harsh penalties, Massachusetts has an exceptionally low rate of uninsured motorists.

  • Percentage of US drivers who are uninsured: 13%
  • Percentage of Massachusetts drivers who are uninsured: 6.2%

Though it is optional in many states, Massachusetts requires residents to include uninsured motorist coverage in their car insurance policies.

Uninsured motorist insurance lets you rest assured that if an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver is responsible for a collision with your vehicle, you will receive the compensation you are due without needing to go through expensive lawyers or time-consuming lawsuits.

How High Is the Auto Theft Rate in Watertown?

The auto theft rate in Massachusetts is lower than the national average. In Watertown, the rate is even lower. This is not to say that the risk does not exist in this city. Residents of Watertown report about 15 auto thefts a year.

  • National auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 2.28
  • Massachusetts auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 0.96
  • Watertown auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 0.41

Although your car is unlikely to be stolen in this city, you should know that in order for you to be reimbursed for auto theft, your car insurance policy must include comprehensive coverage, which is optional.

If you are still paying for your car, you probably already have this coverage. If not, talk to your insurance agent to learn how much it will cost you to add this useful “other than collision” coverage to your car insurance policy.

Why Work with an Independent Insurance Agent in Watertown, MA?

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

Be sure you are choosing a policy that offers you the best value for your money. Contact an independent insurance agent with an office in Watertown to start comparing customized car insurance quotes.

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http://www.naic.org/prod_serv/AUT-PB-14.pdf
http://www.city-data.com
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/understanding-auto-insurance