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Auto Insurance Coverages

Disclaimer - Coverage descriptions have been abbreviated for your convenience. Please refer to the Massachusetts Automobile Insurance policy for a more detailed description of coverages.

COMPULSORY Limits Description Recommendation
1. Bodily Injury to Others $20,000 per person $40,000 per accident Pays for damages to anyone injured or killed by your car only in Massachusetts. Coverage is compulsory. All policies have a limit of $20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident.
2. Personal Injury Protection $8,000 per person Pays for medical expenses, replacement services and 75% of lost wages to yourself and passengers in your vehicle when injured in an accident. Coverage is Compulsory. All policies have a limit of $8,000 per person.
3. Bodily Injury Caused By An Uninsured Motorist up to $250,000 per person $500,000 per accident Provides bodily injury benefits to yourself and passengers in your vehicle when an accident is caused by an uninsured or unidentified (“hit and run”) driver. This coverage does not pay for any property damage to your vehicle. The number of drivers in Massachusetts with no insurance is staggering. If you are involved in an accident where the other party is at fault and the owner of the vehicle has no insurance, you can receive bodily injury benefits from your own policy. This is an inexpensive way to protect yourself from uninsured drivers. We recommend a limit equal to Part 5 Optional Bodily Injury.
4. Damage to Someone Else’s Property $100,000 per accident Pays for damage to another person’s property and costs associated with the loss of use of that property. Property damage associated with multiple vehicle accidents, especially those that involve luxury automobiles, require adequate protection. We recommend a limit of $100,000 per accident.
OPTIONAL Limits Description Recommendation
5. Optional Bodily Injury to Others up to $250,000 per person $500,000 per accident Extends your liability protection (Part #1) up to the amount that you purchase under this part. This coverage provides coverage for accidents beyond Massachusetts to anywhere in the US and Canada. This coverage also pays for damages suffered by guests in your auto. In the event that you cause bodily injury to others that exceeds the amount that you are insured for, you can be held personally liable. Your personal assets (savings, property, retirement) and wages are an easy target for lawsuits. Choose a limit that will provide adequate coverage to protect yourself and your personal assets. We recommend a limit of $250,000 per person/$500,000 per accident. Additional limits are also available up to $5 Million dollars with a Personal Umbrella policy. Click here for more details on the Umbrella Coverage.
6. Medical Payments $5,000, $25,000 or $100,000 per person Covers medical expenses for you, your household members and passengers, over and above amounts covered by Personal Injury Protection (Part #2) no matter who caused the accident. If you have no health insurance coverage this coverage is a must. Those insureds with quality health insurance coverage could choose to forgo this coverage.
7. Collision Actual cash value (subject to deductible) Pays for collision damage to your vehicle, less any deductible, no matter who causes the accident. If your vehicle is financed or leased the coverage is required. Always carry collision coverage unless you feel the book value of your vehicle does not warrant the expense. Most insureds consider dropping collision on vehicles over 10 years old (except for antique vehicles in mint condition) because the book value is so low.
8. Limited Collision Actual cash value (subject to deductible) Pays for collision damage to your vehicle if you are less than 50% at fault and can identify the party that hit you. Cost effective way to insure vehicles that might not carry the full collision coverage under Part #7.
9. Comprehensive Actual cash value (subject to deductible) Pays for damage to your vehicle, less any applicable deductible, resulting from perils such are fire, theft, and vandalism. Comprehensive coverage also included coverage for glass at no deductible. If your vehicle is financed or leased the coverage is required. Always carry comprehensive coverage unless you feel the book value of your vehicle does not warrant the expense. Remember, without comprehensive coverage you have no glass coverage.
10. Substitute Transportation Up to $30, $45 or $100 a day, maximum $900 Provides $30, $45 or $100 per day to rent a substitute vehicle in the event that your vehicle is involved in a covered loss and is not drivable or is getting repaired. If you are not able to get around with public transportation or by using a second vehicle in the household, this coverage is a must. Choose a limit of at least $30 per day. If you drive a minivan, SUV or luxury vehicle you should consider $45/day.
11. Towing Up to $50, $75 or $100 for each disablement Pays up to $100 per tow and labor charges each time your vehicle is disabled, whether there is an accident or not. If you have no other form of towing coverage, choose a limit of at least $100 per tow.
12. Bodily Injury Caused by Underinsured Motorist up to $250,000 per person $500,000 per accident Provides bodily injury benefits to yourself and passengers in your vehicle when an accident is caused by an another vehicle that has insurance coverage, but not enough to pay for your injuries. This coverage does not pay for any property damage to your vehicle. A large majority of the drivers in Massachusetts carry just the compulsory limit of $20,000-$40,000 Bodily Injury Coverage. If you are involved in an accident where the other party is at fault and the owner of the vehicle does not have enough insurance to pay for your injuries, you can receive bodily injury benefits from your own policy. This is an inexpensive way to protect yourself from underinsured drivers. We recommend a limit equal to Part 5 Optional Bodily Injury.