State guide
Car Insurance in Massachusetts
Updated August 2026
Massachusetts just went through its first minimum-limit increase since 1988. For policies written or renewing on or after July 1, 2025, the compulsory floor is $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person and $50,000 per accident (up from 20/40) — and property damage jumped from $5,000 all the way to $30,000. If you've carried a bare-minimum policy for years, the coverage on your renewal is materially different from what you bought.
The state also requires more than liability. Every Massachusetts policy carries four compulsory coverages: bodily injury to others, $8,000 of personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured-motorist bodily injury at 25/50, and the new $30,000 property damage limit. Because every carrier must sell the same compulsory package, the real differences show up in price and in the optional layers — which is exactly what quote comparison surfaces.
| Coverage | Required minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability (per person) | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury liability (per accident) | $50,000 |
| Property damage liability | $30,000 |
| PIP / medical | PIP: $8,000 per person |
| Additional requirements | Uninsured motorist bodily injury: $25,000/$50,000 (compulsory) |
| No-fault state | Yes |
| SR-22 used | Yes |
Source: M.G.L. c. 90, §34A (limits effective July 1, 2025); Massachusetts Division of Insurance
Average annual expenditure for auto insurance in Massachusetts was $1,181 in 2022, per the NAIC. (NAIC 2022 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement)
The July 2025 increase, and why it matters at renewal
The old $5,000 property damage minimum dated to an era when it could actually replace a car. The new $30,000 limit is a six-fold jump, and bodily injury floors moved to $25,000/$50,000 at the same time. Carriers repriced minimum-coverage policies accordingly, and the increases didn't land evenly — some insurers absorbed the change more gracefully than others.
That uneven repricing is the practical takeaway: a rate that was competitive in Massachusetts in 2024 may not be after the new limits flowed through. A renewal notice with a higher premium is a reasonable trigger to compare current quotes rather than assume every carrier moved the same amount.
How no-fault works in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is a no-fault state in the limited sense: after a crash, your own PIP pays first — medical bills, up to 75% of lost wages, and replacement services — up to $8,000 per person, regardless of who caused the accident. Claims against the at-fault driver are reserved for more serious injuries that clear the state's tort threshold.
Uninsured-motorist bodily injury coverage is also compulsory at $25,000/$50,000, so every insured Massachusetts driver has a baseline of protection when the other driver carries nothing. Nationally, 15.4% of drivers were uninsured in 2023, per the Insurance Research Council — the compulsory UM layer is Massachusetts' answer to that gap.
Merit rating and high-risk drivers
Massachusetts runs a Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP): at-fault accidents and traffic violations add points that surcharge your premium for years, and clean years earn credits. Because the state verifies insurance electronically through the RMV at registration, routine SR-22 paperwork plays a smaller role here than in most states — filings generally come up for drivers with out-of-state violations or specific reinstatement situations.
For drivers carrying surcharge points, the spread between carriers tends to be widest — insurers weight the same driving record very differently, which makes comparing quotes most valuable for exactly the drivers paying the most.
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Frequently asked questions
What car insurance is required in Massachusetts?+
Four compulsory coverages: bodily injury to others of $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident, $30,000 of property damage, $8,000 of personal injury protection (PIP), and uninsured-motorist bodily injury of $25,000/$50,000. These limits apply to policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025.
What changed in Massachusetts car insurance in 2025?+
Effective July 1, 2025, the state's minimum limits rose for the first time since 1988: bodily injury went from 20/40 to 25/50, and the property damage minimum jumped from $5,000 to $30,000. The PIP requirement stayed at $8,000.
Is Massachusetts a no-fault state?+
Yes, in a limited form. Your own PIP coverage pays first for medical bills and lost wages up to $8,000 regardless of fault; lawsuits against the at-fault driver are reserved for more serious injuries.
Does Massachusetts use SR-22 filings?+
Rarely in-state. Because insurance is compulsory and the RMV verifies coverage electronically at registration, SR-22 filings in Massachusetts mostly arise from out-of-state violations or particular reinstatement cases rather than as a routine requirement.
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