Hanover 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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Even the most careful drivers can sometimes get into car accidents, especially in the winter when road conditions can be hazardous. From fender benders on Washington Street to serious collisions on Pilgrims Highway, a reliable car insurance policy can shield you from facing large accident-related expenses.

Independent insurance agents in Hanover make shopping for the best car insurance stress-free. These agents can explain your various options and can provide you with a selection of customized auto insurance quotes that you can compare together. Contact an insurance agent near you to learn more.

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Hanover, MA?

The average cost of car insurance in Massachusetts is higher than the national average. Taking the time to request and compare competing quotes can therefore be quite beneficial. Comparison shopping 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

Of course, car insurance rates can vary significantly from one driver to the next, so these figures only offer a ballpark idea of what your actual costs might be. Insurance companies will base your rates on a number of different factors such as:

  • The make, model, and year of the vehicles you are insuring
  • Your age, occupation, driving record, claims history, and credit score
  • Whether you own or rent your home
  • The approximate number of miles you drive each year
  • Which, if any, coverage options you include in your policy
  • How much coverage you are purchasing and the amount of your deductible
  • The accident and auto theft rates in the vicinity of your home

You are likely to get much lower rates if you have a long, safe driving record or are a student with good grades. You can also get policy discounts if you bundle your coverage with another policy like home insurance or renters insurance.

Independent insurance agents can make sure that you get any discounts you are entitled to and that the policy you purchase is offered at a competitive price.

What Are the Massachusetts Minimum Car Insurance Requirements?

If you cause a car accident, you are responsible for medical expenses and property damage losses you cause to others. Liability insurance is designed to cover these costs.

Massachusetts is a no-fault state, so the other driver’s personal injury protection (PIP) insurance will cover their medical bills to a certain point before your responsibilities kick in. Uninsured motorist insurance ensures that you have coverage for bodily injuries if an accident is caused by an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver.

In Massachusetts, your car insurance must include, at a minimum, the following:

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

If you cause an accident and your liability coverage is not high enough to fully cover your financial responsibilities, you will be expected to make up the difference out of pocket. That is why many Hanover residents opt to purchase higher liability limits than the state requires.

If you want to have even more liability coverage than your Hanover car insurance policy will allow, you can also purchase umbrella insurance. This is an affordable way to significantly increase all of your liability coverage. Talk to a local insurance agent to learn more.

What Else Can Hanover Car insurance Cover?

In addition to the minimum state requirements, you can purchase optional insurance coverage, including:

  • Collision insurance:  This pays for the cost to repair collision-related damage to your vehicle, regardless of fault. This may be required by your lender if you are still paying for your car or by the dealership if you have the vehicle on a lease.
  • Comprehensive insurance: This covers the cost to repair non-collision damage to your vehicle.  This may be required by your lender if you are still paying for your car or by the dealership if you have the vehicle on a lease.
  • Towing and roadside assistance insurance: This can pay for the costs associated with receiving assistance if your vehicle breaks down while you are out on the road.
  • Rental car reimbursement insurance: This can pay for you to get a rental car while your car is in the garage being repaired following a covered event.

Talk to your local insurance agent to learn more about your various coverage options and to find out how much each will cost to add to your policy.

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What Is the Penalty for Driving without Insurance in Hanover?

If you are caught driving without insurance in Massachusetts, you will be charged with a civil motor vehicle infraction (CMVI). This comes with some harsh penalties. You can find yourself facing:

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

Simply put, driving without insurance in this state is just not worth the risk. 

Because this state requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist insurance, you can rest assured that if an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver crashes into you, you will have the coverage you are entitled to without the need to go through lengthy court proceedings.

Does Hanover Car Insurance Cover Auto Thefts?

The good news is that the auto theft rate in Massachusetts is lower than the national rate, and in Hanover, it is even lower. This isn’t to say that the risk doesn’t exist. Residents of this city report about five auto thefts a year.

  • National auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 2.94
  • Massachusetts auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 1.18
  • Hanover auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 0.28

Be aware that your car insurance will not cover you against auto theft unless you have included comprehensive coverage in your policy.

This optional insurance covers far more than just vehicle theft. It can also cover other non-collision damage such as that caused by hazards like floods, fallen trees, garage fires, and vandalism.

Talk to an independent insurance agent near you to learn how much it will cost you to include comprehensive coverage in your auto insurance policy.

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

As a vehicle owner in Hanover, you can turn to a local independent insurance agent for help when you are looking for a car insurance policy that meets your coverage and budgetary needs.

These agents are free to work with several different insurance companies so they can obtain a variety of customized car insurance quotes that you can review together. Contact an insurance agent with an office in Hanover to get started.

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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