Massachusetts Car Insurance

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Understanding Massachusetts Car Insurance

As the leading Massachusetts car insurance provider, MAPFRE knows how important it is to get the right coverage at an affordable price in the Bay State.

Learn about coverage options and Massachusetts insurance laws by working with a knowledgeable independent insurance agent. If you know what coverage you need, getting car insurance in Massachusetts is easy. Get your free Massachusetts auto insurance quote online.

Massachusetts Car Insurance Laws

Auto insurance in Massachusetts is legally required to operate a vehicle and is necessary to register a car in Massachusetts. There are four types of mandatory car insurance coverage in Massachusetts for all private-passenger vehicles. Mandatory coverage may also be called compulsory coverage. Each has a minimum limit, listed below.

What is the best car insurance in Massachusetts?

At MAPFRE, we know every single person has very specific needs when it comes to getting car insurance in Massachusetts. As the #1 auto and home insurer in Massachusetts, MAPFRE is here to help you protect what matters most.

More people insure their cars and homes in Massachusetts with MAPFRE because we deliver excellent service to our customers. You can read the reviews from thousands of customers on both Google and Trustpilot where MAPFRE has 4+ star ratings. AM Best, the leading provider of financial information for the Property/Casualty insurance industry, also gives MAPFRE Insurance a rating of “A (Excellent)”. So you can rest assured that MAPFRE Insurance will provide coverage made for real life to protect you, your car and your peace of mind.

Legal Minimum Limits for Car Insurance in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Required Auto Insurance Coverage Massachusetts Required Minimum Limits
Bodily Injury to Others (Liability) Coverage$20,000 per person
$40,000 per accident
Damage to Someone Else‘s Property (Property Damage) Coverage$5,000 per accident
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage$8,000 maximum per person, per accident
Bodily Injury Caused by an Uninsured Auto (Uninsured Motorist) Coverage$20,000 per person
$40,000 per accident

What does car insurance cover in Massachusetts?

Since insurance laws and coverage vary state to state, it’s important to know what compulsory coverage, or mandatory car insurance coverage in Massachusetts includes.

Bodily Injury Liability Coverage in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, Bodily Injury to Others liability coverage (sometimes abbreviated as BI) is necessary to legally operate a vehicle. This coverage can help cover injuries and medical expenses (up to the limit selected) for anyone the driver harms in an at-fault accident.

In Massachusetts, Bodily Injury to Others liability is locked at $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident, but only applies to accidents that occur within Massachusetts. Since this coverage doesn’t apply outside of Massachusetts and may not offer enough coverage for a serious accident, many drivers choose to increase their coverage by adding Optional Bodily Injury to Others.

Optional Bodily Injury to Others coverage is usually available from $20,000/$40,000 up to $500,000/$500,000 and can apply to accidents that occur anywhere in the U.S.

Damage to Someone Else’s Property Coverage in Massachusetts

Property Damage coverage can help cover repairs for property the insured damages in an at-fault accident, including damage caused to another vehicle. Be aware, the legal minimum limit for Property Damage coverage in Massachusetts is only $5,000 per accident. With the cost of parts, repairs and specialized labor on the rise, it’s important that drivers select limits that meet their needs.

Generally, coverage is available up to $250,000. Talk with an insurance agent near you to find the right limits for your specific Massachusetts insurance policy.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in Massachusetts

Personal Injury Protection, also known as PIP or no-fault coverage, is mandatory in Massachusetts. In Massachusetts, the maximum amount of coverage available is $8,000 and depends upon whether there is health coverage available. There are also deductible options to select from.

Personal Injury Protection typically covers medical expenses, funeral expenses and lost wages as a result of an accident, regardless of fault. It can cover replacement services as well, however, Personal Injury Protection depends on whether the injured party has health insurance.

In some cases where the individual has health insurance, PIP may only cover up to $2,000, unless it’s determined that the expenses are not covered by health insurance. PIP coverage in Massachusetts does not extend to motorcycle accidents, so many motorcyclists add Medical Payments Coverage or MedPay for that reason.

Bodily Injury Caused by an Uninsured Auto Coverage in Massachusetts

The final mandatory coverage in Massachusetts is Bodily Injury Caused by an Uninsured Auto, sometimes shortened to UM. In Massachusetts, the minimum UM coverage is $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident.

This helps cover injuries or medical expenses for the insured when the at-fault party does not have insurance or is unidentified, such as in a hit-and-run situation. In Massachusetts, where uninsured coverage is required, bodily injury settlements may be able to compensate for things health insurance typically does not, like pain and suffering.

MAPFRE Insurance also offers optional coverages to Massachusetts drivers including Comprehensive coverage, Collision and Limited Collision coverage, Medical Payments, Underinsured coverage and Optional BI to Others. It’s possible to customize your policy further with MAPFRE’s variety of value programs like Accident Forgiveness, Substitute Transportation and Towing and Labor.

Car Insurance Companies in Massachusetts

A variety of national and local car insurance companies offer coverage in Massachusetts. S&P Global reported the top 10 writing companies by market share for private passenger auto insurance in Massachusetts through December 2022 (as reported in May 2023). The top auto insurance carriers in Massachusetts are listed below, based on statistically reported data only.

 

Company NameMarket Share (%)
1. MAPFRE Insurance19.4%
2. GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Co)16.1%
3. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co8.5%
4. Arbella Mutual Insurance Co7.7%
5. Safety Insurance Co7.1%
6. Plymouth Rock Assurance Corp7.0%
7. Progressive Casualty Insurance Co 5.1%
8. Travelers Insurance Co4.3%
9. USAA (United Services Auto Association)3.4%
10. The Hanover Insurance Group2.9%

Massachusetts Car Insurance Discounts

Although Massachusetts falls somewhere in the middle for average car insurance cost by state, it pays to research discounts. Find affordable car insurance in Massachusetts by browsing discounts, or by chatting with an independent insurance agent.

MAPFRE Massachusetts Car Insurance Discounts

Clean In Three Discount

If you have not had any accidents or violations during the last three years immediately preceding the policy effective date, your Merit Rating points are between 1 and 4, and there has been no lapse in coverage within the last 12 months, you could save on your MAPFRE Insurance policy.

Good Student Discount

If you are an inexperienced driver, a full-time high school, home study, or college student and meet scholastic requirements, you could save on your MAPFRE Insurance policy.

Marketing Partner Discount

If you’ve made a donation of $50 or more to the Pan Mass Challenge within the last 12 months, you could save up to 2.5% on your MAPFRE Insurance policy. Also, If you’re a MAPFRE policyholder and you participate as a rider in the Pan Mass Challenge, you could save an additional 5% on your policy.

 

MAPFRE Insurance offers a variety of other discounts that make car insurance affordable. Talk with an agent to see which you may be eligible for.

Find a Massachusetts Insurance Agent Near You

Working with an independent insurance agent can help you find additional discounts and save you the hassle of comparing MA car insurance rates. MAPFRE Insurance is proud to partner with local independent insurance agents throughout the Bay State. To find an insurance agent closest to you, search our Agent Locator or select a city below:

MAPFRE Insurance is committed to making buying car insurance in Massachusetts a simple process. Find an agent closest to you, or start a quote online to find out if you could be saving on your Massachusetts car insurance by switching to MAPFRE.

Common Questions about Massachusetts Car Insurance

Can you drive without insurance in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, drivers cannot legally operate a motor vehicle without car insurance.
What car insurance is required in Massachusetts?

The legal minimum limits for mandatory car insurance coverage in Massachusetts is:

  • Bodily Injury to Others Coverage: $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident
  • Damage to Someone Else’s Property Coverage: $5,000 per accident
  • Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage: maximum of $8,000 per person, per accident
  • Bodily Injury Caused by an Uninsured Auto Coverage: $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident
Does insurance follow the car or driver in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, insurance follows the vehicle, not the driver.
How much will car insurance in Massachusetts cost?

You can find out how much car insurance in Massachusetts may cost you by getting an online quote or by talking with a Massachusetts insurance agent.

What happens if you can’t get insurance in Massachusetts?

If a Massachusetts driver can’t find insurance in the voluntary market, they’ll be assigned an insurance company through the Massachusetts Auto Insurance Plan (MAIP).

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Please Note: This content is not intended to describe any specific coverage offered by MAPFRE Insurance. No coverage is provided, bound or guaranteed by this article. Available coverages, credits and discounts vary from state to state and are subject to eligibility criteria and policy terms/conditions, which will control in the event of conflict between this article and your insurance policy. For information about your policy, please review your individual policy contract and speak with your insurance representative.

MAPFRE Insurance® is a brand and service mark of MAPFRE U.S.A. Corp. and its affiliates, American Commerce Insurance CompanySM (Cal. COA 4928-8); Citation Insurance CompanySM; The Commerce Insurance CompanySM; Commerce West Insurance CompanySM (Cal. COA 1372-2); and MAPFRE Insurance CompanySM (Cal. COA 3039-5). Not all products available in all states.