Massachusetts car insurance requirements
Massachusetts car insurance requirements come down to four compulsory coverages you must carry to register a car. Since July 1, 2025, the minimum limits are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries you cause, $30,000 for property damage, $8,000 of Personal Injury Protection and $25,000 / $50,000 for injuries caused by an uninsured driver.
Contents
- The four compulsory coverages at a glance
- Part 1: Bodily Injury to Others
- Part 2: Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and no-fault
- Part 3: Bodily Injury Caused by an Uninsured Auto
- Part 4: Damage to Someone Else's Property
- Optional coverages and when they make sense
- What happens to your premium after an accident or a ticket
- Policy term and stolen cars
- Who is covered when someone else drives your car
- FAQ
The four compulsory coverages at a glance
| Coverage | Minimum since July 1, 2025 | Minimum before | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1: Bodily Injury to Others | $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident | $20,000 / $40,000 | Your legal liability if you injure or kill someone while driving in Massachusetts |
| Part 2: Personal Injury Protection (PIP) | $8,000 | $8,000 | Medical bills, up to 75% of lost wages and replacement services, whoever caused the accident |
| Part 3: Bodily Injury Caused by an Uninsured Auto | $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident | $20,000 / $40,000 | Your injuries when an uninsured or hit-and-run driver is at fault |
| Part 4: Damage to Someone Else's Property | $30,000 | $5,000 | Damage you cause to another person's car or property |
Sources: Massachusetts Division of Insurance, “Basics of Auto Insurance” and “Consumer Bill of Rights for Automobile Insurance”. The previous minimums are those replaced by the 2024 law signed in December 2024.
Without these four coverages, the Registry of Motor Vehicles will not register your car. You can always buy higher limits than the minimum, and most drivers should: an accident can easily cost more than $25,000 per injured person or $30,000 of property damage, and anything above your limit can come out of your own pocket. When you compare car insurance quotes, ask every company for the same limits.
Part 1: Bodily Injury to Others
This coverage protects you, and anyone you allow to drive your car, against legal liability if you accidentally injure or cause the death of someone else while driving. It has two important limits that surprise many drivers:
- it only covers accidents that happen in Massachusetts;
- it does not cover the injury or death of a passenger in your own car.
The optional extension of Bodily Injury to Others (Part 5) fixes both gaps. Every company offers it: it can raise the limit to $40,000 per person and $90,000 per accident, covers passengers in your car, and covers you if the accident happens outside Massachusetts, anywhere in the U.S. and Canada. If you drive to New Hampshire, Rhode Island or New York, make sure your quote includes it.
Part 2: Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and no-fault
Massachusetts is a no-fault state for injuries. Whoever caused the accident, PIP pays up to $8,000 for:
- medical expenses;
- up to 75% of lost wages;
- replacement services, such as help at home you can no longer do yourself.
PIP covers you, anyone you let drive your car, anyone living in your household, the passengers in your vehicle and pedestrians you hit. Because PIP pays first regardless of fault, you deal with your own insurer for these first $8,000 rather than waiting for the other driver's company.
Part 3: Bodily Injury Caused by an Uninsured Auto
This coverage pays for injuries to you, people you let drive your car, household members and passengers (if they are not covered by another similar Massachusetts policy) when the accident is caused by an uninsured driver or by a hit-and-run driver who cannot be identified. The minimum is $25,000 per person and $50,000 for everyone hurt in the accident.
It does not help when the other driver is insured, but only for a small amount. That is the job of underinsured motorist coverage, which is optional. Example from the Division of Insurance: with $50,000 of underinsured coverage per person, if you collect $25,000 from the at-fault driver's Bodily Injury coverage, the most you can collect from your underinsured coverage is the remaining $25,000.
Part 4: Damage to Someone Else's Property
Property damage coverage pays for damage that you, a household member or a driver you allow to use your car cause to someone else's property: their car, a fence, a storefront. The minimum went from $5,000 to $30,000 on July 1, 2025. It was the first increase in the mandatory minimums since 1988.
Damage to your own car is not covered by any compulsory coverage. To repair or replace your car after a crash you caused, you need collision coverage.
Optional coverages and when they make sense
| Optional coverage | What it pays for | Worth considering if… |
|---|---|---|
| Collision | Damage to your car from contact with another vehicle or object, whoever caused the accident | Your car has real value, or a lender requires it |
| Comprehensive | Theft, vandalism, fire, falling objects, hitting an animal, glass breakage not caused by a collision | Same as collision; a used car may need an inspection first |
| Optional Bodily Injury (Part 5) | Higher limits, your passengers, accidents outside Massachusetts | You ever drive out of state or carry passengers |
| Underinsured motorist | Your injuries when the at-fault driver's limits are too low | You want protection beyond the at-fault driver's coverage |
| Medical payments (at least $5,000) | Medical and funeral costs for people in your car | You don't have health insurance |
| Substitute transportation | A rental car while yours is repaired after a covered claim | You can't easily do without a car |
| Towing and labor | Towing and roadside labor when the car breaks down | You are not already a motor club member |
Insurers may also offer accident forgiveness, roadside assistance, gap insurance for a loan or lease, and pet coverage. Collision and comprehensive come with a $500 deductible unless you choose another amount; a higher deductible lowers your premium. Our guide to cheap car insurance in Massachusetts explains which optional coverages you can safely drop.
When a lender sets the rules
State law makes collision and comprehensive optional, but your loan or lease contract may not. If you have a loan on the car, you may be required to buy collision and comprehensive coverage. Check your loan or lease contract before you drop them to save money.
Used car inspections for comprehensive coverage
If you insure a used private passenger car, the insurer may require an inspection before providing comprehensive coverage. The inspection can be deferred for ten calendar days, not counting legal holidays and Sundays. If the car is not inspected in time, the coverage is automatically suspended.
What happens to your premium after an accident or a ticket
Each company uses a merit rating plan, approved by the Commissioner of Insurance, to adjust premiums for accidents and traffic violations. Many follow the state Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP), which adds surcharge points for incidents and credits for clean years. Four coverages are subject to SDIP adjustments: Bodily Injury to Others, PIP, Damage to Someone Else's Property and Collision.
Policy term and stolen cars
Most Massachusetts policies run for one year; some companies also offer six-month terms or terms of up to two years. Every company that agrees to insure you must provide a one-year policy if you ask for it. If your car is stolen, comprehensive coverage pays to repair it if it is recovered, or its actual cash value at the time it was stolen.
Higher limits and optional coverages raise your premium. Your agent or company must explain your coverage options in simple language when you apply, and at any time afterwards if you ask, including how each option affects your premium.
Who is covered when someone else drives your car
In most cases, your policy covers an accident involving your car even when someone else drives it with your permission. It does not cover injuries or damage when someone drives your car without your consent. You must list every licensed member of your household and anyone who regularly drives the car; if a child in your household gets a license, tell your insurer within 60 days. Giving incomplete or false information about drivers or garaging can lead your insurer to refuse claims under the optional parts of your policy.
FAQ
What is the minimum car insurance required in Massachusetts?
Four coverages: Bodily Injury to Others ($25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident), Personal Injury Protection ($8,000), Bodily Injury Caused by an Uninsured Auto ($25,000 / $50,000) and Damage to Someone Else's Property ($30,000). These minimums apply since July 1, 2025.
Did the Massachusetts minimum insurance limits change in 2025?
Yes. Since July 1, 2025, the minimum for Bodily Injury to Others went from $20,000 / $40,000 to $25,000 / $50,000, and the minimum for Damage to Someone Else's Property went from $5,000 to $30,000. Insurers raise the limits on minimum-coverage policies when they are issued or renewed.
Is Massachusetts a no-fault state?
Yes. Personal Injury Protection pays medical expenses, up to 75% of lost wages and replacement services, up to $8,000, no matter who caused the accident. It covers you, people you let drive your car, household members, passengers and pedestrians.
Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Massachusetts?
Yes. Bodily Injury Caused by an Uninsured Auto is one of the four compulsory coverages, with a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. It also applies to hit-and-run drivers who cannot be identified. Underinsured motorist coverage, for drivers who carry too little insurance, is optional.
Is full coverage required in Massachusetts?
No. Collision and comprehensive, often called full coverage, are optional under state law. A lender or leasing company will usually require them if your car is financed or leased.
Does my Massachusetts insurance cover me in other states?
The compulsory Bodily Injury to Others coverage (Part 1) only applies to accidents in Massachusetts. To be covered elsewhere in the U.S. and Canada, you need the optional Part 5, even if you only want the minimum limit.
Related
- Surcharge points (SDIP)How Massachusetts surcharge points work: 2 to 5 points per incident, Excellent Driver discounts, the “Clean in 3” rule and how to appeal.
- Cheap car insuranceCheap car insurance in Massachusetts without cutting the wrong corners: compare identical coverage, raise your deductible and claim every discount.
- 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.
Updated October 8, 2026