Help with Boston car registration

November 7, 2005 12:33 PM

I'm trying to register my van in Boston Mass. and the insurance laws are crazy. I have insurance already with my car in Colorado but it won't due in Boston. I really don't want to pay an arm and leg to insure and register this van because I will probably sell it in the next year or so. What is the most inexpensive way to go about this?
posted by Viomeda to law & government (9 comments total)

1. Sell it within a week of arriving in Boston, while you can still use your old address and be legit.

2. Just get it insured for the minimum. You'll technically be paying for a year of insurance, but you can cancel anytime and pay a fairly small cancellation fee (a couple percent) and get anything extra refunded to you. Registration will cost $50. If you've had a driver's license for 6 or more years, the cost of a half a year's insurance shouldn't be more than $500.
posted by rxrfrx at 12:45 PM on November 7, 2005

Welcome to the great Socialist Republic of Massachusetts. Our Motto - "Want GEICO? Fuck you!"

If you've had a driver's license for 6 or more years, the cost of a half a year's insurance shouldn't be more than $500.

I believe that matters not in MA. If you're under 25, you're going to get nailed on insurance. Try Safety.
posted by SweetJesus at 1:28 PM on November 7, 2005

Yeah, I have no helpful advice, but this is one of the bad things about living in Mass. Welcome to the club. (My wife and I saw a GEICO billboard recently, and indulged in fantasies that maybe there was a change coming...)
posted by languagehat at 1:29 PM on November 7, 2005

What's your situation? Are you a student here?
Mass RMV has provisions if you are a student. Here is the form(pdf).

This should allow you city parking permits, etc.

If you aren't a student, what everyone else said.
posted by zerokey at 1:48 PM on November 7, 2005

It's true, GEICO is working on insuring in MA again - the laws are crazy there, but the same was true for NJ, and they began to insure there again last year. All hope is not lost!

If it's an older van, just go with the state minimums, liability only, with the cheapest policy you can find from an agency that has a reasonably good reputation (you still want to make sure that any claims you have will be paid).

Good Luck!
posted by mewithoutyou at 1:50 PM on November 7, 2005

I believe that matters not in MA. If you're under 25, you're going to get nailed on insurance. Try Safety.

It matters indeed. For people under 65, there are three Classes, based on years licensed. 0-3, 3-6, and 6+. Premiums go down significantly as one progresses from one to the next.

As far as insurance companies, I've had great experiences with a Commerce agent, and bad experiences (poor customer service) with Liberty Mutual.
posted by rxrfrx at 1:55 PM on November 7, 2005

Some of the insurance companies will give you a discount if you're part of a special "group" like AARP or Raytheon employees or something. Last I knew, Commerce cut their rates 10% below the standard (state-defined) rates by claiming all their insured were part of a special group.

If you can find a way to register it outside the city, you'll save a bundle. $500 for a vehicle in Boston is probably impossible.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 2:54 PM on November 7, 2005

I forgot to mention, in the provisions for students and temp residents above, you can maintain out of state insurance as long as your coverage matches state requirements (listed on the form).
posted by zerokey at 3:21 PM on November 7, 2005

Try Fireman's Fund insurance. They had the best rates going when I was insured while living in Boston (and parking on the streets... egads). Be prepared to bend over.

The absolute cheapest route would be to simply drive uninsured. Unfortuantely, MA is all computerized nowadays, and the minute your insurance lapses, your registration is invalidated. Which means you'll be driving around without insurance OR registration. Which means, in case you don't know, On the Spot Execution* if you're pulled over.

*Where "on the spot execution" = immediate impounding of vehicle and a free trip to the local jail.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 3:41 PM on November 7, 2005