This East Coast State Has Good Drivers and No Credit Checks, so Why Doesn't It Have Cheaper Car Insurance?
Hannah DeWitt
· 3 min read
Car insurance
prices rely on a variety of factors, which is why it’s hard to know whether or not you’re overpaying. State rules also impact insurance rates, making it unclear what exactly is making your premiums so expensive.This problem is especially prevalent if you’re looking for
car insurance in Massachusetts
. Despite their reputation, Massachusetts drivers ranked as some of the safest drivers in the country according to Jerry
data. However, their car insurance premiums are some of the highest in the nation.
Massachusetts has safe drivers
People on the
East coast
pay an average of $80 more per month on car insurance than those on the West coast. Considering the factors that go into determining car insurance premiums, this may seem unusual for Massachusetts drivers.According to our research, Massachusetts had the
least amount of driving violations
on average out of any state on the East and West coasts. Jerry found that only 4% of Massachusetts drivers have violations, which is 23% below the national average. California
and Washington are right around average, with 27% of drivers having violations.Massachusetts, along with California, Washington, and a few other states don’t allow insurance companies to take
credit scores
into account when pricing insurance policies. Our research shows that this typically lowers premiums in the state. Drivers in states that allow credit checks tend to pay at least 10% more than drivers in no credit check states.Why do Massachusetts drivers pay high car insurance premiums?
WalletHub
looked at reasons why drivers in the East coast have to pay so much for car insurance. According to data from WalletHub, people in Massachusetts are driving more. As we start to recover from the pandemic, traffic is returning to normal in some big cities. This means an increased number of accidents and insurance claims, and higher premiums as a result.
Car maintenance is also more expensive in Massachusetts. Newer cars are equipped with more technology which has increased the average cost of repairs in recent years, up almost $120 from 2012 to 2016.
Severe weather could be another contributing factor. Winter storms and floods have been on the rise, and due to their unpredictable nature, insurance companies might charge more to keep themselves protected financially.
This isn’t as much of an issue on the West coast. There are very few storms occurring in California and the Pacific Northwest is known for their mild weather.
Many Bay Staters also drive without car insurance, and the cost is passed on to insured drivers.
Save money on car insurance
There are several possible explanations to consider, but there isn’t a concrete reason why Massachusetts drivers pay so much more than their no credit check counterparts. But you don’t have to overpay for car insurance.
Wherever you live, insuring your car is important, but finding the right coverage can be a hassle.
Jerry
is the easiest and most effective way to find a car insurance policy that is customized for you.After providing you with a comprehensive cross-analysis of the best policies across providers, Jerry will handle the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals for your top pick so that you don’t have to. They even help cancel your old policy! So why do all that extra work when Jerry can do it better?
