Wellesley Car Insurance

(Car insurance is required. Paying too much 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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Vehicle owners in Wellesley are required to have car insurance. From fender benders on Linden Street to more serious collisions on the Yankee Division Highway, a solid auto insurance policy can prevent you from facing large financial losses as the result of an accident.

Finding the best and most affordable car insurance is easy when you work with an independent insurance agent in Wellesley. These agents can help you obtain and compare customized car insurance quotes from a variety of reliable insurers. Contact an insurance agent near you to get started.

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Wellesley, MA?

The average cost of car insurance in Massachusetts is slightly higher than the national average. Comparing rates from a variety of insurance companies enables you to get your policy at the lowest possible price.

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

Of course, these averages can only give you a ballpark idea of what you might actually be expected to pay. Car insurance costs vary from one driver to the next because they are based on several specific factors. Your costs can be affected by such things as:

  • The make, model, and year of every vehicle you are insuring
  • Your age, occupation, marital status, and driving record
  • Your claims history and credit score
  • Details about the other licensed drivers in your household
  • Whether you own or rent your home
  • The amount of coverage you are purchasing
  • The size of your deductible

You can usually get rate reductions if you bundle your car insurance with other policies like home insurance or renters insurance. Many insurance companies also offer other money-saving benefits like good student discounts and safe driver discounts.

Contact an independent agent in Wellesley to learn more about potential discounts and to easily review customized quotes from a variety of top-rated insurance companies.

What Are the Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Massachusetts?

Every state has its own minimum coverage requirements for auto insurance. In Massachusetts, all car insurance policies must include:

  • Liability insurance: This is designed to cover other people’s damage and medical bills if you cause an accident. However, because Massachusetts is a no-fault state, the injured party’s personal injury protection insurance will offer the first line of coverage for incurred medical bills.
  • Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance:  This is designed to cover your own medical bills if you are injured in an accident regardless of fault. You can buy coverage for yourself only or for yourself and the members of your household.
  • Uninsured motorist insurance: This is designed to pay for medical treatment for your injuries if you are in an accident caused by an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver, and your costs exceed what your PIP can cover.

At a minimum, your Wellesley car insurance must include at least:

  • $20,000 in bodily injury liability per person
  • $40,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
  • $5,000 in property damage liability per accident
  • $8,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) insurance

A local independent insurance agent can help you secure a car insurance policy that meets or exceeds the state’s minimum coverage requirements.

What Else Can Wellesley Car Insurance Cover?

In addition to the mandatory coverage, your car insurance provider will also offer a variety of coverage options, many of which you may want to include in your Wellesley auto insurance policy. These options include:

  • Collision insurance: This is designed to cover the cost to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged or totaled in a collision, even if the accident was your fault. This coverage is typically required by lenders if you are still paying for your vehicle and by dealerships, if you are leasing.
  • Comprehensive insurance: This is designed to cover the cost to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged or totaled due to a non-collision event. This coverage is also typically required by lenders if you are still paying for your vehicle or by dealerships if you are leasing.
  • Uninsured motorist insurance: This is designed to cover your losses if you are in an accident that is caused by an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver.
  • Roadside assistance and towing: This is designed to cover the costs of assistance if your car becomes disabled while you are away from home, such as if you get a flat tire or run out of gas.
  • Gap insurance: This is designed to cover the gap between what your car is worth and what you currently owe for it in the event that it is totaled. New cars depreciate quickly, so this coverage may be particularly valuable during the first year or two of new-car ownership.
  • Rental car reimbursement: This is designed to cover the cost of renting a vehicle while your car is being repaired following a covered event.

Talk to your local insurance agent for help determining which, if any, of these coverage options is a good fit for you.

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What Is the Penalty for Driving without Insurance in Wellesley?

Driving without insurance in Massachusetts is illegal, and when it comes to enforcement, this state isn’t playing around. If caught, you will be charged with a civil motor vehicle infraction (CMVI) and this comes with some pretty tough penalties including:

  • A fine ranging from $500 to $5,000
  • The loss of your driver’s license for 60 days to one year
  • A fee of $500 to be paid to the state’s assigned risk plan (MAIP)
  • Incarceration for up to one year for repeat offenders

Because of these harsh consequences, this state has one of the lowest rates of uninsured drivers in the country:

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

If you are in a collision caused by an uninsured driver, that person is responsible for compensating you for medical costs that exceed your PIP coverage and for damage. However, this money can be extremely difficult to collect, especially if they simply have no money or assets.

Uninsured motorist insurance was created to ensure that you can receive timely compensation without the need to take legal action against the at-fault driver. After compensating you, your insurance company will try to collect the money owed from the at-fault driver, and will absorb the losses if unsuccessful.

Uninsured motorist insurance is required in Massachusetts.

Does Wellesley Car Insurance Cover against Auto Theft?

The auto theft rate in the state of Massachusetts is lower than the national average, and in Wellesley, the risk is even lower. This city sees fewer than 5 auto thefts every year.

  • National auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 2.28
  • Massachusetts auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 0.96
  • Wellesley auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 0.10

Even though your risk is low, you should be aware that you can only get compensation for a stolen vehicle if your car insurance policy includes comprehensive (or “other than collision”) coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers more than just auto thefts. It can also reimburse you for repair costs if your car is damaged in another non-collision event like a flood, garage fire, fallen tree, or hailstorm.

Talk to an independent insurance agent to find out how much it will cost you to include comprehensive coverage in your Wellesley car insurance policy.

Why Let an Independent Insurance Agent in Wellesley Help You?

You can ask a local independent agent for help when you are looking for the best auto insurance policy to meet your coverage and budgetary needs. These agents work for you, not for a particular insurance company, so they can shop around to find you the coverage you want at a price you can afford.

Contact an insurance agent in or near Wellesley to get answers to your insurance-related questions and 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