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MA Auto Insurance Coverages and Recommendations


Part 1: Bodily Injury to Others (compulsory)

Pays for damages to anyone killed or injured by your auto in Massachusetts only, up to $20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident.

Part 2: Personal Injury Protection (compulsory)

Pays for medical expenses, replacement services, and 75% of any lost wages for you, anyone you let drive your auto, household members, passengers, and pedestrians, no matter who causes the accident, up to a limit of $8,000. Coordinates with health insurance. Does not apply to motorcycle use.

Part 3: Bodily Injury Caused by an Uninsured Auto (compulsory)

Protects you, household members, and passengers against medical expenses and lost earnings caused by an uninsured or unidentified driver. The minimum limits are $20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident.
We recommend not less than $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident.

Part 4: Damage to Someone Else's Property (compulsory)

Pays for damage to someone else's property and costs associated with that loss if you, a household member, or other authorized driver causes an accident. $5,000 is the minimum required in MA.
We recommend at least $100,000 for this coverage.

Part 5: Optional Bodily Injury to Others (optional unless required by leasing company)

Extends the liability coverage provided in Part 1 above the basic limits of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident; provides coverage for accidents off public ways and outside of MA to anywhere in the United States or Canada; automatically meets the minimum required bodily injury limits of any other state or Canadian province; pays for injuries suffered by guest occupants in your auto.
We recommend not less than $100,000/$300,000. Many personal umbrellas require $250,000/$500,000.

Part 6: Medical Payments (optional)

Covers medical expenses for you, household members, and passengers over and above the amount provided in Part 2: Personal Injury Protection. The minimum limit available is $5,000.
We recommend a limit of at least $25,000. Even if you have excellent health insurance coverage, your passengers may not.

Part 7: Collision Coverage (optional unless required by lienholder or leasing company)

Pays for collision damage to your vehicle up to its actual cash value no matter who causes the accident.
We recommend the standard $500 deductible with waiver of deductible; this means the deductible you choose will be waived when the accident is the fault of another identified driver. Other deductible amounts are available.

Part 8: Limited Collision Coverage (optional)

Pays for collision damage to your vehicle up to its actual cash value only if you are not more than 50% at fault. There would be no payment for a one car accident or if the other party is not identified. No deductible.

Part 9: Comprehensive Coverage (optional unless required by lienholder or leasing company)

Pays for losses not caused by collision up to the vehicle's actual cash value. Examples: fire, theft, vandalism, wind, glass breakage, hitting an animal. In case of theft, includes $15 per day substitute transportation until the stolen auto is recovered up to a limit of $450. Deductible does not apply to glass breakage unless specifically chosen.
We recommend the standard deductible of $500. Other deductible amounts are available.

Part 10: Towing and Labor Coverage (optional)

Pays up to $25 each time your car breaks down. You are covered for on-site labor costs needed to get your auto running, or the towing fee. Coverage of $50 per occurrence is also available.
The insurance company is not required to offer this coverage.

Part 11: Substitute Transportation Coverage (optional)

Pays up to $15 a day up to $450 for car rental, taxi cab fares, and other transportation costs while your auto is undergoing collision repairs (not routine maintenance). Coverage of up to $100 a day up to $3000 is available.

Part 12: Bodily Injury Caused by an Underinsured Auto (optional)

Pays for bodily injury to you, members of your household, and passengers (unless covered by MA policy with similar coverage) when the accident is caused by someone without enough insurance. It pays up to the difference between the total amount collected from Bodily Injury liability insurance covering the owner and driver of the other auto and the limits you purchased.
We recommend not less than $100,000/$300,000


False Information

Claims for optional coverages may be denied if caused by an unlisted household member or customary operator, or if false, deceptive, misleading or incomplete information, including the place of garaging, has been given.

If an operator is rated on another Massachusetts personal auto policy and the appropriate premium paid, there is no additional charge on your policy. The operator is listed on your policy but "deferred" to the other policy.


Disclaimer - the minimum limits we "recommend" may not be adequate. In the event of a serious accident, even the maximum available limits may not be enough. The MA Commissioner of Insurance suggests that "buying higher limits may make good sense if you have assets you wish to protect." You may wish to purchase additional liability coverage through an "umbrella" liability policy.

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