Motorists searching for the cheapest car insurance in Massachusetts have plenty of car insurance companies to choose from. Auto insurance rates vary from company to company, so it’s wise to get quotes from multiple carriers and comparison shop before settling on one. Depending on how your own driving portfolio looks, you may be positioned to get the cheapest car insurance in MA and not even realize it.

For starters, you need to know how much coverage you actually need to buy versus how much you want to buy. In the state of Massachusetts, you are required to carry at least $20,000 of Bodily Injury Liability coverage per injured party up to $40,000 per accident, and at least $5,000 of Property Damage Liability coverage. You also must obtain at least $20,000 of Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage per person up to $40,000 per accident, and $8,000 of Personal Injury Protection coverage.

Massachusetts is a No-Fault state, meaning that an insurance company will pay your injury claims up to a specified amount, regardless of who is at fault. While this may seem like a good thing, but in some cases it isn’t. Under a No-Fault system, you could lose some rights to sue another party. No-Fault stipulations vary from state to state.

The average liability insurance premium in MA was $701.76; $352.91 and $150.09 for collision and comprehensive coverage, respectively. Factors impacting car insurance premiums in MA were DUIs, the state’s open container law, blood alcohol level and urban and highway speed limit. Therefore, a driver with a good driving record and a few years of driving under his belt will fare out much better at finding the cheapest car insurance in MA than a driver with a couple of DUIs on his record. If you have a spotty driving record, you may still be able to get insurance, but getting it cheap is out of the question.

In addition to a good driving record, a good credit history is also something insurance companies like to see. It’s a good sign that premiums will be paid promptly, and the insurance company won’t have to worry about canceling your policy because you didn’t keep up your payments.–at least until any violations fall off your driving record.

Take into consideration the type of car you drive when you start shopping around for car insurance. Driving around town in a sports car will cost you more than driving a dependable SUV or 4-door sedan. Sports cars are high-risk vehicles because they are more likely to be damaged in an accident. Count on paying more for insurance if you drive a luxury car as well. Luxury cars are more expensive to repair and replace. If your commute to work is a lengthy one, you may pay more insurance. If you park your car in an area that has a higher incidence of vehicle thefts, your premiums will reflect this. Any manner you use your car that could be considered high risk could result in a higher premium for you.

Finding some of the cheapest car insurance in Massachusetts is as simple as doing a search on the Internet and requesting some information from the companies that interest you. Speak to an agent from each company to get a feel for the kind of customer service they provide, especially when it comes to processing claims. Be sure to ask for any premium-reductions you qualify for, such as good driver or good student discounts.