For most of the 19th century, Westfield made the thing that moved horse-drawn traffic: buggy whips. United States Whip Company, headquartered here, was the largest whip manufacturer on earth, and the industry peaked around 1915 pulling in about $2 million a year for the city.

Then the automobile arrived and did what automobiles do to horse-and-buggy industries. By 1920, nearly all 13,000 carriage-related manufacturers nationwide were gone. Westfield kept the nickname "Whip City" anyway — and today it insures the machines that ended the trade, at rates that run below the Massachusetts average.

Westfield Auto Insurance at a Glance

  • Minimum liability required: 25/50/30 (statewide floor, same everywhere in Massachusetts)
  • Average premium: ~$91.81/mo (~$1,102/yr), below the state's ~$111/mo minimum-coverage average
  • Cheapest carrier on average: State Farm, around $49.87/mo
  • Population: roughly 40,400
  • Notable rate factor: motor vehicle theft about 70% below the national average
  • Fault system: No-fault, with mandatory $8,000 PIP

A City Named for the Industry the Car Killed

Titus Pease and Thomas Rose started making whips here in 1801 out of white oak and sheepskin. By the time United States Whip Company consolidated the local manufacturers in 1892, Westfield was producing the majority of the world's buggy whips, and the trade earned the city its nickname.

The last purpose-built whip factory in Westfield went up in 1917 — right as the industry it served was collapsing. Four of the old whip factories are now on the National Register of Historic Places, standing monuments to a business the automobile made obsolete within a generation.

What Every Westfield Policy Still Has to Carry

The whip factories are gone, but the state's coverage floor doesn't bend for local history: 25/50/30 liability — $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, $30,000 property damage — plus mandatory $8,000 Personal Injury Protection and 25/50 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, none of which can be waived off a policy.

Massachusetts runs no-fault, so that PIP pays a driver's own medical bills and lost wages first after a crash. Our Massachusetts car insurance guide covers how the rest of the no-fault system works statewide.

A Low Theft Rate That Shows Up in the Bill

Motor vehicle theft in Westfield runs about 84.8 per 100,000 residents, compared with a national average of 284 — roughly 70% lower. Insurers price comprehensive coverage partly off local theft claims, and a rate this far under the national norm is a meaningful reason Westfield's average premium sits below the state's minimum-coverage benchmark.

Barnes Air National Guard Base, home to the 104th Fighter Wing and its F-15 fighter jets, sits on the north side of the city and shares runways with Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport. It brings steady military and civilian traffic through the Hampden Plains area — and USAA's standing among Westfield's more affordable carriers reflects how many local households have a military tie. Westfield State University adds another layer: a resident student population that keeps younger-driver rates part of the local mix.

Next Step for Westfield Drivers

Confirm a policy carries at least 25/50/30 liability and the mandatory $8,000 PIP — that floor doesn't change regardless of ZIP code. Beyond it, comparing a few quotes still pays off in Westfield, since carriers like State Farm, Preferred Mutual, and USAA can land tens of dollars apart for the same driver. Our guide to lowering your premium covers the levers worth pulling.