jzief128

iTrader: (1)

Okay MA guys, I have a question for you. I am going to be moving up to the Boston area in a few months and wanted to know what the car insurance situation is like. So far, I have found nothing. All the major insurance carriers don't seem to insure in MA and apparently you can't get online quotes either. I have State Farm currently, and I'd like to keep them if I can. Its like a black art trying to figure this out.

Also, my understanding is that MA is a no-fault insurance state. Does that mean that if I get hit by someone else, completely his fault and no fault of my own, my insurance will pay for my damage (instead of his) and my rates will go up? I seem to get hit by other people (rear-ended in the 8 by a woman in a suburban talking on her cellphone) and don't wanna get screwed.

If anyone else has an tidbits of information about any other peculiarities of the state, just let me know. Thanks.

Clavius

We are like a blackhole for insurance haha..
Due to regulation by the state pretty much most of the major players dont participate in MA. To my knowledge there is only 3 companies in MA that do car insurance, Commerce being one of them (my own). I forget the other two at the moment.

The No-Fault pretty much means if you hit someone from behind 'cause they are bored and decided to say to themselves "I'm bored I'm gonna slam on my brakes" your at fault no matter what, you can't fight it with the officer at the scene but with the insurance company (heard you hardly win 'em). At times it does work in your favor when someone hits you just sucks if you hit someone and deep down its not really your fault at all.

Oh and supposedly next year or is it this year I forget our rates are going down by alot.

jzief128

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the quick reply. Hopefully those rates go done sooner rather than later. I only plan on being in MA for about a year, so it may not even help me. Oh well.

Do you know how MA rates compare to other states in premium amounts? I know they are somewhat hire, I just wonder how much so. Just curious if you had any idea. I pay about $1150 a year in VA for my '05 RX8, being 24 yo male, no accidents, licensed for 7 years. Thanks again.

Clavius

Not sure on the rates but you may be able to pay close to the same I'd imagine I've been driving only for 3 years and I'm paying 1875 a year (9 month plan to ). A few others on this board most likely will know tons more than I do so I'm sure by the end of tomorrow you'll have several replies

jzief128

iTrader: (1)

Sounds good...thanks again.

rodrigo67

The thing about the mass insurance scam is that no matter what company you go to in mass, it is the state that sets all the rates, so you will pretty much pay the same no matter who your with. Most major carriers won't deal with Mass.

Mass determines rates by not only your driving history, but by the type of car you drive as well as where you live. Some cities are rated as high theft and you will be paying more just because you live there and has nothing to do wiht your record. Also how much it cost to repair, so the bumper damage tests recently shown will not help us.

The rates are "suppose" to go way down next year but they were also suppose to go way down 2 years ago and mine went down exactly 9 dollars for the year. So, I wouldn't count on it.

Also, depending on where your coming from, the rates in mass are on the high side. I had full coverage on 2 new cars in Georgia and paid less then 1 car full coverage here. Ex. my 8 runs 13XX.00 per year with no accidents or driving violations on my record ( I'm the lowest you can get in this state), and over 25 years old. I also live in a higher theft city ( because of a mall on the other side of town), that is taken into account.

steelrain198

Live in New Hampshire and work in Mass. No state taxes here and we have real insurance companies. And you'll get called rude names by other states if you live in Mass. :-P

jzief128

iTrader: (1)

Oh I would love to live in any other New England state besides Mass, but it would kind of defeat my purpose of moving up there. That and I am not a big commuter-type person. Dealing with the traffic here in DC has already embittered my quite a bit.

tmak26b

Traffic in Boston is just as bad. Not enough roads, too many cars and idiots.

rodrigo67

Thats if you want to call them roads. Thier more like some even spots between potholes...

Clavius

What you call Traffic I call Survial of the Fittest

MrSuicideDoor

there are a few things i've picked up in regards to insurance. depending on what reason you're moving to taxachusetts you might not even need to change it. my friend is living here but is attending college, so he isn't considered a resident here, so he has california insurance. also i believe you have to live here for a certain amount of time (i've heard 2 years) before you are considered a resident. (e.g. i moved from newton to brighton, but i am still insured in newton, still vote in newton, etc etc) insurance rates suck here, i also have commerce insurance, i just got in an accident saturday, so i'll let you know how the experience is.

also: i noticed you're 24, i just turned 25. In massachusetts there is no insurance break for turning 25. they base it on the number of years you have been driving. i tried to get a '02 jaguar s-type insured through USAA and they quoted me 2500 a year. i lol'd on the phone and hung up.

jzief128

iTrader: (1)

Well, I'll be in Mass for about a year, maybe longer. The reason I am moving up there is to be closer to my girlfriend while she finishes up a contract job that will end in June 2008. After that, she'll be going to med school and we have no idea where. I may end up staying in the state, who knows.

Also, she lives in Somerville (all the way out northwest of Boston on the red line), so I am going to try to work someplace outside of Boston if I can. Any areas out that way to look at/look out for for housing or work? Thanks again guys.

rodrigo67

My wife works for an insurance company and she said that if you have a residence for longer then 30 days, you need to have mass insurance. You may be able top get away with the license for awhile but when you renew your auto insurance in a year, they will double check to see if your licensed at that time. If you are not, they will not renew your policy.

Welcome to mass....

HolyCross05

I'm 24 and last year I paid $1200 to insure the 8 with fireman's insurance. My insurance agent changed insurance companies and now I have Commerce insurance. This year my rate went up to 1450 a year because of an accident I got into in Nov of 2004 which increased my points a couple steps.

I don't know about you guys but I love live living in Mass. I've traveled around Europe, Africa, Asia, and most of the US but there's no other place I'd rather live in than this area.

Clavius

You just love being called a Masshole

jzief128

iTrader: (1)

Speaking of Masshole, the few times I've driven in the Boston area, people were honking left and right. If you didn't go instantly, or even before the light turned green, you got honked at. Also, when I've used the T, everyone zips in and out of there with no regard for anyone else. I've been walking side by side with my girl friend (like a few inches between) and people have butted between us to get were they were going. And I walk fast. Crazy. I thought people were pretty impatient in the DC area, but it was crazy

PS. Don't think I am hating, as I am voluntarily moving up there and subjecting myself to it in all its glory. No Sox or Pats for me though...go Phillies and Eagles. I'm still bitter about that Superbowl.

MrSuicideDoor

that sounds about right, but uh... have you been to new york?

jzief128

iTrader: (1)

Only been to NY, NY when driving through. I grew up in rural South Jersey and went to school in quiet the Shenandoah Valley in VA. I'm more of a slow mover in general (except in the 8).

Davey's RX-8

iTrader: (1)

Suggest you learn how to read a map. Somerville isn't northwest of anything let alone Boston.

jzief128

iTrader: (1)

Well, here is a map. You tell me how to read it. Looks to me that Somerville is to the north and to the west of Boston. That would make it Northwest. Am I wrong?

MrSuicideDoor

slum-erville

Clavius

haha.. Jzief.. that was yeah.. awsome major burn there bwahahaha...

jzief128

iTrader: (1)

Thank you...I just try to call 'em as I see 'em.

Spazzychaz

No fualt insurance does not apply to the damages caused to vehicle/fixed property in the accident. All that it means is that if there is someone injured that the health bills would be taken care of by that persons insurance not by the other drivers.