Swansea Car Insurance

Even the best drivers can be involved in collisions. That’s why vehicle owners in Swansea are required to have car insurance. From fender-benders on County Street to more serious collisions on I-195, a good auto insurance policy can prevent an accident from causing you large financial losses.

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

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Swansea, MA?

The average cost of car insurance in Massachusetts is higher than the national average. Comparing rates from a variety of insurance companies 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, the average rate listed above can only give you a ballpark idea of how much you will be expected to pay. Car insurance costs vary from one driver to the next because they are based on several factors. Your costs can be affected by the following things.

• The make, model, and year of the vehicle(s) you are insuring
• Your age, occupation, marital status, and driving record
• Your claims history and credit score
• The number of other drivers in your household and their driving records
• Whether you own or rent your home
• The amount of coverage you are purchasing
• The size of your deductible

In most cases, you can 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 incentives like good student discounts and safe driver discounts.

What Are the Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Massachusetts?

Every state has its own minimum coverage requirements for auto insurance. All car insurance policies must include the following in Massachusetts.

• Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance: This covers your own medical bills if you are injured in a collision, regardless of fault. Your policy must include at least $8,000 worth of PIP coverage.
• Liability insurance: This covers your financial obligations if you cause an accident. It can pay for other people’s property damage as well as their medical bills if they exceed their PIP coverage. Your policy must include the following.
  • Property damage liability coverage of at least $5,000
  • Bodily injury liability coverage of at least $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident
• Uninsured motorist insurance: This covers the cost of treating your injuries if you are in an accident caused by an uninsured driver and your costs exceed what your PIP can pay for. Your policy must include this coverage.
  • Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of at least $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident.

If you have a lot to lose and want to have even more coverage than your car insurance can provide, you may want to consider boosting your liability coverage with an affordable umbrella insurance policy.

What Else Can Swansea Car Insurance Cover?

In addition to the mandatory coverage mentioned above, car insurance providers typically offer a variety of coverage options. The following are some of the options you may want to include in your Swansea auto insurance policy.

• Collision insurance: This covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle if is it damaged or totaled in a collision, regardless of 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 covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged or totaled in a non-collision event. This coverage is also typically required by lenders if you are still paying for your vehicle and by dealerships if you are leasing.
• Roadside assistance and towing: This covers the cost of assistance if your car becomes disabled while you are on the road, such as if you get a flat tire or run out of gas.
• Gap insurance: This bridges the gap between what your car is worth and what you currently owe for it if it is totaled in a covered event. New cars depreciate quickly, so this coverage is usually a good idea during the first few years of new-car ownership.
• Rental car reimbursement: This covers the cost of renting a vehicle while your car is being repaired following a covered event.

You may want to look into how much it will cost to add each type of optional coverage to your policy so you can make an informed decision about which are a good value for you and your family.

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What Is the Penalty for Driving without Insurance in Swansea?

Driving while uninsured is illegal in Massachusetts. If caught, you can be charged with a civil motor vehicle infraction (CMVI) which is punishable by these penalties.

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

Additionally, this type of infraction can result in higher car insurance rates. The tough penalties may explain why Massachusetts currently has one of the lowest rates of uninsured drivers in the country.

• Percentage of US drivers who are uninsured: 12.6%
• 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 your property damage and for medical costs that exceed your PIP coverage. However, this money can be extremely difficult to collect, especially if the at-fault driver simply has no money or assets.

Uninsured motorist insurance, which is required in Massachusetts, was created to ensure that you can you receive timely bodily injury compensation without the burden of needing to seek legal action against the uninsured driver who hit you.

Does Swansea Car Insurance Cover against Auto Theft?

The auto theft rate in Massachusetts is lower than the national average; and in Swansea, the risk is even lower. There were only four auto thefts reported in this town in one recent year.

• National auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 2.29
• Massachusetts auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 0.96
• Swansea auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 0.24

In recent years, the auto theft rate, which was already low, has dropped significantly.

It is important to 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 by most non-collision events like a floods, garage fires, and hailstorms.

Why Ask an Independent Insurance Agent for Help?

You can ask a local independent agent for assistance 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 competitive price.

It doesn’t cost anything to work with an independent agent. Contact an insurance agent near you to get answers to your insurance-related questions and to start comparing customized car insurance quotes.