Massachusetts Car Insurance Requirements

Updated August 10th, 2018

Minimum car insurance in Massachusetts

Massachusetts requires car owners to have three types of auto insurance: Liability, uninsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection (called PIP). But the state minimum requirements often aren't enough be sufficient coverage if there's an accident. Let's look at what's available so you can buy the right auto insurance for you.

Minimum liability insurance:

Liability insurance pays others for injuries and damage you cause. Drivers often buy more than a state's minimum liability requirements in case they're sued after an accident.

$20,000 bodily injury per person
$40,000 bodily injury per accident
$5,000 property damage per accident

This is often written as 20/40/5.

Minimum uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage:

UM/UIM coverage is required in Massachusetts. You must have limits of at least $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident (20/40). UM/UIM cover the injuries of you and your passengers if a driver with little or no insurance causes an accident.

More: Cheap car insurance in Massachusetts

Minimum personal injury protection (PIP):

In Massachusetts, you must buy $8,000 in PIP insurance. Massachusetts has a no-fault auto insurance system. That means you make small injury claims on your own policy, no matter who was at fault. PIP pays these claims. It also covers 75% of lost wages if you can't work, and services for tasks you can't perform, such as house cleaning.
PIP also covers you if you're a pedestrian and struck by a car.

Optional insurance types

Collision coverage: For damage to your car caused by hitting another car or an object, like a tree or sign post.

Comprehensive coverage: Covers theft of your vehicle or damage caused by hitting an animal, hail, flood, fire, vandalism, falling objects and explosions.

Rental reimbursement: Covers a rental car if yours is being repaired due to an accident.

You must show an insurance ID card (or other proof of financial responsibility) in Massachusetts when:

You renew vehicle registration

Penalties for not having Massachusetts auto insurance

Fine of not less than $500 and not more than $5,000, or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both a fine and imprisonment.

Source: Property Casualty Insurers Association of America

Insurance complaints against auto insurance companies

The Massachusetts department of insurance handles complaints against insurance companies that operate in the state. These national "complaint ratios" reflect the number of complaints against a company relative to its size of business.

Updated Aug. 10, 2018

Car insurance quotes

Gap insurance

Non-owner insurance