Wilmington, MA 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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Even the best drivers can sometimes get into accidents. That is why vehicle owners in Wilmington are required to have car insurance. From fender benders on Main Street to multi-car collisions on the Northern Expressway, a solid auto insurance policy can save you from large financial losses.

Shopping for car insurance is easy when you work with an independent insurance agent. These agents can help you obtain and compare customized car insurance quotes from a variety of insurers so you can be sure you are getting the coverage you need at a great price. Contact an insurance agent near you to get started.

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Wilmington, MA?

The average cost of car insurance in Massachusetts is higher than the national average. Shopping around for the best rate can potentially 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, these average rates can only give you an estimate 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 factors. When calculating your rate, insurance companies will take into account 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 amount of your deductible

You can often get rate reductions if you bundle your car insurance with other policies like home insurance or renters insurance. Contact an independent agent in Wilmington to learn more about this and other potential discounts for which you may qualify.

What Are the Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Massachusetts?

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

  • Liability insurance: This covers other people’s damage and injuries if you cause a collision. Massachusetts is a no-fault state, so the injured person’s own policy’s personal injury protection insurance will offer the first line of coverage for medical bills.
  • Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance: This covers your own injuries if you are in an accident, regardless of fault.
  • Uninsured motorist insurance: This provides coverage for medical bills that exceed what your PIP will cover if you are in an accident caused by an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver.

Massachusetts requires your car insurance to include, at a minimum, the following amounts of coverage:

  • Bodily injury liability insurance: $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability insurance: $5,000 per accident
  • Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance: $8,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist insurance: $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident

A lot of Wilmington drivers have a lot to lose. That is why many opt to purchase car insurance that has higher-than-required liability limits. Some residents of this city also purchase umbrella insurance in order to get even more liability coverage than their policy will allow.

Your local insurance agent can help you find the liability and personal injury protection coverage you want at the price you can afford.

What Else Can Wilmington Car Insurance Cover?

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

  • Collision insurance: This covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle if is it 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.
  • Comprehensive insurance: This covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged or totaled due to a non-collision event like a fallen tree or vandalism. This coverage is also typically required by lenders if you are still paying for your vehicle.
  • Roadside assistance and towing: This covers 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 covers 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 necessary for the first year or so of ownership.
  • Rental car reimbursement: This covers 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 an Uninsured Vehicle in Wilmington?

Driving without insurance in Massachusetts is illegal, and when it comes to enforcement, this state isn’t playing games. Penalties for driving an uninsured vehicle can include:

  • 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 (MAIP)
  • Jail time for up to one year for repeat offenders

These tough penalties are the main reason that 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 and your passengers for resultant damage and necessary medical treatment that go above what your PIP insurance covers. However, this money can often be difficult to collect.

Uninsured motorist insurance was created to ensure that you can you 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 costs if unsuccessful.

Does Wilmington Car Insurance Cover against Auto Theft?

The auto theft rate in Massachusetts is lower than the national rate, and in Wilmington, the risk is even lower. This is not to say the risk does not exist. Residents of this city report about 10 vehicle thefts a year. 

  • National auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 2.28
  • Massachusetts auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 0.96
  • Wilmington auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 0.38

Even though your car is unlikely to be stolen, 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, or hailstorm.  Talk to an independent insurance agent to find out how much it will cost you to include comprehensive coverage in your Wilmington car insurance policy.

Why Let an Independent Insurance Agent in Wilmington Help You?

You can ask an 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 an 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 Wilmington 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