Sudbury Car Insurance

(What you need to know before you purchase an auto insurance policy)

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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North Carolina Car Insurance

Even the most careful drivers in Sudbury sometimes get into accidents. That’s why there’s car insurance. From fender benders on Union Avenue to more serious collisions on Boston Post Road, a solid auto insurance policy can prevent you from facing large financial losses as a result.

Independent insurance agents make it easy to find the best policy to meet your coverage and budgetary needs. For answers to your insurance-related questions and start comparing a selection of customized car insurance quotes, contact an insurance agent with an office in or near Sudbury.

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How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Sudbury, MA?

The average cost of car insurance in Massachusetts is higher than the national average. By taking the time to shop around and compare rates from multiple insurers, you can potentially save yourself hundreds of dollars a year.

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

The quotes you get from insurance companies will differ, not just from the average rate listed above, but from each other. That is because each insurance company has its own proprietary way of assessing risk and assigning rates. Your quoted costs will be based on a number of factors such as:

  • The make, model, and year of the 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 coverage like home insurance or renters insurance, you can often qualify for significant discounts on each of your policies. You may also be entitled to other discounts such as if you have a safe driving record or are a student with good grades.

Let a local independent insurance agent help you compare rates so you can get all the coverage you need at the lowest offered price.

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What Does Sudbury Car Insurance Cover?

Car insurance policies are a mixture of required and optional coverage. As a resident of Sudbury, 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. Additionally, if you are still paying for your car, your lender will likely require you to carry comprehensive and collision insurance as well.

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

  • Liability insurance (required):  This covers other people’s injuries and damages 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 medical expenses for you and your passengers if you are injured in a collision, regardless of fault. Your policy must include at least $8,000 in personal injury protection insurance.
  • Uninsured motorist insurance (required): This pays for otherwise non-covered injuries you may suffer if you are in a collision with an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver. Your policy must include bodily injury coverage of at least $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident.
  • Collision and comprehensive insurance (partially optional): Both cover damages to your vehicle, regardless of fault. Though optional by law, these coverage types are often required by lenders until your car is paid off and by dealerships if you have your vehicle on a lease.
    • Collision insurance: This pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged in a collision.
    • Comprehensive insurance: 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 necessary 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 replacement vehicle while repairs are being made to your car following a covered event.

Additionally, if you want even higher liability limits than your car insurance company can offer, you can also purchase an umbrella insurance policy. This is an affordable way to significantly boost all of your liability coverage. 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.

What Is the Penalty for Driving without Insurance in Sudbury?

Driving without insurance is illegal in Massachusetts. If caught driving an uninsured vehicle, you can face the following:

  • A civil motor vehicle infraction (CMVI) conviction on your record
  • 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

This state has some of the toughest penalties for uninsured driving in the nation. It should therefore come as no surprise that it also has one of the lowest percentages of uninsured drivers.

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

Because you have uninsured motorist insurance in your car insurance policy, you can rest assured that if an uninsured driver is responsible for a collision with your vehicle, you will receive the compensation you are entitled to without needing to go through expensive lawyers or time-consuming lawsuits.

How High Is the Auto Theft Rate in Sudbury?

The auto theft rate in Massachusetts is lower than the national average; and in Sudbury the rate is extremely low. Residents of this city average about one auto theft per year.

  • National auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 2.28
  • Massachusetts auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 0.96
  • Sudbury auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 0.11

Though your chances of experiencing an auto theft are low, it is important to be aware that you cannot be reimbursed for an auto theft unless your car insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage. This optional coverage is designed to cover a wide range of non-collision damages.

If you are still paying for your car or are leasing it, you probably already have comprehensive 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 Sudbury, MA?

Independent agents can be extremely helpful when you are looking for the best auto policy to meet your coverage and budgetary needs. These insurance professionals can explain your many coverage options, answer your insurance-related questions, and help you review offerings from multiple providers.

Discover the many benefits of working with an independent agent. Set up a one-on-one consultation with an insurance agent near you, and you can start comparing customized car insurance quotes in no time.

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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