Car insurance companies in Massachusetts
Forty insurer groups are licensed to write car insurance in Massachusetts, but ten of them write 85.97% of the market. Commerce, Progressive and GEICO are the three largest, ahead of Safety, Plymouth Rock and Arbella. The best company for you is the one that offers the right coverage at the best price for your profile, which only quotes can tell.
Contents
- The ten largest car insurance companies in Massachusetts
- How to read these market shares
- All insurer groups licensed for car insurance in Massachusetts
- Companies with restrictions
- Group programs: discounts tied to who you are
- Three ways insurers sell car insurance
- How to choose the best company for you
- How companies use your driving record
- Checking a company or an agent
- Questions to ask each company
- If no company will insure you: the MAIP
- FAQ
The ten largest car insurance companies in Massachusetts
| Rank | Insurer group | Exposures | Market share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commerce | 311,675 | 18.44% |
| 2 | Progressive | 224,480 | 13.28% |
| 3 | GEICO | 192,658 | 11.40% |
| 4 | Safety | 150,214 | 8.89% |
| 5 | Plymouth Rock | 140,461 | 8.31% |
| 6 | Arbella | 113,151 | 6.69% |
| 7 | Travelers | 107,729 | 6.37% |
| 8 | Liberty Mutual | 95,299 | 5.64% |
| 9 | USAA | 68,687 | 4.06% |
| 10 | Amica Mutual | 48,858 | 2.89% |
Source: Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers (CAR), the official statistical agent for motor vehicle insurance in Massachusetts, private passenger exposures for April 2026 (total 1,690,328), as published by Agency Checklists in July 2026. An exposure roughly corresponds to one insured car.
Market share tells you who insures the most cars here, not who will be cheapest for you. Several of the largest groups, such as Safety, Plymouth Rock and Arbella, are Massachusetts companies: make sure your comparison includes them, for example by asking a local agent for quotes as well as the big direct writers. Our guide on how to compare car insurance quotes shows how to line them up fairly.
How to read these market shares
The ten largest groups insure 85.97% of the private passenger cars counted by CAR, which leaves 14.03% for the remaining licensed groups. A large share means a company insures many Massachusetts drivers, so it is likely to quote most profiles, but it says nothing about the price you will be offered. Smaller companies can be very competitive for specific drivers, and some sell only through local agents, so they rarely show up unless you ask.
All insurer groups licensed for car insurance in Massachusetts
The Division of Insurance publishes the list of insurer groups licensed to write private passenger auto (PPA) insurance in the Commonwealth:
| Insurer groups licensed for PPA in Massachusetts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ACE | Allstate | American Family Connect P&C | Amica |
| Arbella | AIG Property Casualty Company | Ameriprise | Berkley |
| Cincinnati | Electric | Esurance | Farm Family |
| Farmers Property and Casualty (Metropolitan) | Foremost | Foremost P&C | GEICO |
| Green Mountain | Hanover | Harleysville | Hartford |
| Incline Casualty | Liberty | MAPFRE | National General (Integon) |
| Nationwide | National Grange | Norfolk & Dedham | Permanent General |
| Plymouth Rock | Preferred Mutual | Progressive Direct | Progressive Casualty |
| PURE Insurance | Quincy Mutual | Safeco | Safety |
| State Farm* | Travelers | USAA* | Vermont Mutual |
* Licensed in Massachusetts but may not be writing new policies or may restrict who can buy one; USAA membership is limited to service members and their families. Source: Massachusetts Division of Insurance, “Companies Writing Private Passenger Automobile Insurance in Massachusetts”, consulted October 2026.
Companies with restrictions
Two groups on the Division of Insurance list carry an asterisk: State Farm and USAA. The asterisk means the company is licensed in Massachusetts but may not be writing new policies or may restrict who can buy one. For USAA, membership is limited to service members and their families. If you are eligible, ask; if not, there are still 38 other licensed groups to quote you.
Group programs: discounts tied to who you are
Many insurers offer reduced rates to members of approved groups, sponsored by an employer, a civic organization, a motor club, an association, a trade union or a credit union. Many group plans also charge no interest and require no initial deposit. Each company has its own list of approved groups, and the size of the discount varies, so when you call agents of several insurers, ask which of your groups each one discounts. Any member of an approved group is eligible for the group savings.
Three ways insurers sell car insurance
| Channel | How it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Direct | The company sells by mail, phone or online | Drivers comfortable buying and managing a policy themselves |
| Exclusive agents | Agents who only represent one company | Drivers who already know which company they want and like a local contact |
| Independent agents | Agents who represent several companies | Getting several quotes in one conversation; ask how many companies they represent and which ones |
Every licensed company must offer an online quote tool or a phone number for quotes, although some will send you to an agent. Insurance companies and agents must both be licensed to sell insurance in Massachusetts; the state offers an agent lookup to check a license.
How to choose the best company for you
- Price for identical coverageCompare the same coverages, limits, deductibles and policy term. A low price with lower limits is a different product.
- Discounts you actually getCheck which discounts each company applies to you: some are required by law, others vary. See our list of discounts in cheap car insurance in Massachusetts.
- Merit rating planCompanies treat accidents and tickets differently: some use the state Safe Driver Insurance Plan, others their own approved plan. With an incident on your record, this can matter more than anything else.
- Claims handling and financial healthThe Division of Insurance suggests weighing claims handling reputation, the location of the agent or direct writer, and the company's financial health alongside price.
- Service you wantOnline only, phone, or a local agent who can re-shop your policy at renewal.
How companies use your driving record
Every company has its own rules, called a merit rating plan, to adjust your premium for years of incident-free driving, accidents and traffic violations. These plans must be approved by the Commissioner of Insurance, and they cannot use an accident or violation more than six years old, or raise your premium for one for more than five years.
Insurers must report all at-fault accidents to the Merit Rating Board, part of the RMV. A company may get accident and claim information from the board, or from another reporting company. Before you ask for quotes, you can request your own driving record from the RMV so you know what each insurer will see.
Checking a company or an agent
- License: insurance companies and agents must be licensed in Massachusetts. Use the state's agent lookup to check an agent's license before you buy.
- Quote access: if a company doesn't quote you directly, ask which agents in your area represent it.
- Coverage explanations: agents and companies must explain your coverage options in simple language when you apply, and whenever you ask.
- Help with a problem: the Division of Insurance Consumer Service Unit answers questions about auto insurance (617-521-7794, Monday to Friday, 8:45 am to 5:00 pm).
Questions to ask each company
- How do you sell?Online, by phone, through exclusive agents or through independent agents.
- Which merit rating plan do you use?The state Safe Driver Insurance Plan or your own, and how would one at-fault accident change my price?
- Which discounts apply to me?Safety features, 65+, multi-car, bundling, low mileage, good student, group programs.
- Is the one-year term available?Every company must offer a one-year policy if you ask.
- How do claims work?Who handles them, how to report one, and whether rental or towing are included in the quote.
If no company will insure you: the MAIP
Massachusetts guarantees access to car insurance. A company can refuse you on non-discriminatory grounds but must tell you why, and it cannot refuse you because of your sex, race, creed, national origin, marital status, religion, age, occupation, income, garaging location, education, homeownership or credit information. If no company will issue you a policy, an agent can help you apply to the Massachusetts Automobile Insurance Plan (MAIP), which assigns you to a company that will insure you for up to three years. MAIP policies use the Safe Driver Insurance Plan for surcharges and credits.
New drivers are not usually refused, but they often pay more: see car insurance for new drivers in Massachusetts.
FAQ
What is the biggest car insurance company in Massachusetts?
According to the Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers (CAR), the state's official statistical agent, Commerce had the largest share of Massachusetts private passenger auto insurance in April 2026, with 18.44% of exposures, followed by Progressive (13.28%) and GEICO (11.40%).
How many companies sell car insurance in Massachusetts?
The Division of Insurance lists 40 insurer groups licensed to write private passenger auto insurance in Massachusetts. Some of them may not be writing new policies or may restrict who can buy one.
Which is the best car insurance company in Massachusetts?
No company is best for every driver, because each one prices risk differently and uses its own merit rating plan. Compare quotes for the same coverage, then weigh price against claims handling reputation, the company's financial health and how you want to be served: online, by phone or through a local agent.
Do Massachusetts insurers have to give me a quote?
The Division of Insurance requires every company licensed to write private passenger auto insurance to have an online quoting tool or a phone number for quotes. Some companies do not quote directly and will refer you to an agent.
What if no insurance company will cover me in Massachusetts?
You can get coverage through the Massachusetts Automobile Insurance Plan (MAIP). An insurance agent helps you apply, and the MAIP assigns you to a company that insures you for up to three years.
Related
- How to compare quotesHow to compare car insurance quotes in Massachusetts step by step: what to prepare, what to ask, how to read quotes and when to switch.
- Cheap car insuranceCheap car insurance in Massachusetts without cutting the wrong corners: compare identical coverage, raise your deductible and claim every discount.
- New driversCar insurance for new drivers in Massachusetts: why experience counts and age doesn't, adding a teen within 60 days, and how to keep costs down.
Updated October 8, 2026