Massachusetts requirements

Massachusetts runs its auto insurance system on rules that are different from most other states. Every registered driver must carry a specific set of coverages at state-mandated minimum limits, and a few rating practices common elsewhere are banned here. Understanding the required pieces helps you tell what's non-negotiable on your policy from what's optional protection you're choosing to add.

The five compulsory coverages

Every Massachusetts auto policy must include five coverages at or above the state-mandated minimum limits:

• Bodily Injury to Others — $20,000 per person / $40,000 per accident for injuries you cause.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) — $8,000 for medical bills, lost wages, and related costs for you, your passengers, and pedestrians, regardless of fault.
• Bodily Injury Caused by an Uninsured Auto — $20,000 per person / $40,000 per accident when an uninsured driver injures you.
• Damage to Someone Else's Property — $5,000 for property damage you cause to others.
• Optional coverages like collision, comprehensive, higher liability limits, and underinsured motorist are added on top.

No-fault for injuries

Massachusetts is a no-fault state for injury claims. That means PIP pays your medical bills and related costs quickly after an accident regardless of who was at fault — you don't have to wait for a fault determination to get treatment covered. For more serious injuries that meet certain thresholds, you can step outside the no-fault system and pursue an at-fault driver for additional damages. Vehicle damage is still handled through fault-based coverages like collision and property damage liability.

What's banned or different

Massachusetts does not allow credit-based insurance scores to be used in auto pricing, unlike most other states. The state also uses the Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP), which applies standardized surcharges and credits based on your driving record — so the impact of a ticket or at-fault accident is set at the state level rather than varying by carrier.

How to think about the minimums

The state minimums are widely considered low relative to the cost of a serious accident. Meeting them keeps your registration legal; they don't necessarily protect your assets. Most drivers benefit from raising Bodily Injury limits well above 20/40, and from adding underinsured motorist coverage — which is not part of the compulsory set. Confirm current required limits with a licensed agent, as they can change.