Unlike other states, Massachusetts considers Personal Injury Protection (PIP) as a mandatory coverage, along with Liability. Proof of Auto Liability Insurance policy is required to be with the vehicle at all times and may be requested upon being pulled over or if involved in an accident by any law enforcement officer of the State of Massachusetts.

The state requires minimum liability coverage for the following amounts:

• $20,000 per person for bodily injury or death
• $40,000 per accident for bodily injury or death, this amount is for to pay for all others involved in the accident
• $5,000 per accident to pay for any property damage
• As for Personal Injury Protection, the State requires a minimum of $8,000 for medical expenses or income loss, this can be for the insured, any pedestrian, passenger or person driving the insured vehicle.

Along with the mandatory coverage, other optional coverage types to broaden your auto insurance policy in Massachusetts are available.

Most common to be purchased are Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist with a minimum of $20,000 for one person and $40,000 for more than one person. Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist coverage helps the insured when the person responsible for an accident does not have enough liability coverage to pay for damage or injuries inflicted on to you or your passengers (underinsured) and / or for when the responsible of the accident completely lacks of liability insurance (uninsured). Uninsured motorist is often used for hit and run situations.

Comprehensive also falls into the complementary insurance coverage category, this will take care of expenses for damage caused by accidents not related to collisions, like falling objects or flying pieces of debris on a road, extreme weather such as floods, tornados, high winds, fires. Also comprehensive coverage helps pay when you are involved in an accident with wildlife, therefore it can be useful if you drive through wildlife crossing roads. Vandalism and theft (physical damage to your vehicle) are also included in this insurance coverage.

Similar to comprehensive, there is Collision coverage. Since all mandatory coverage is intended to pay for damage that you may cause on other's property, your own vehicle is left unprotected. Collision coverage will help pay for any reparations needed to fix physical damage caused to your vehicle in any type of collision, regardless if it was with another vehicle or if you bumped into a pole when backing up at the supermarket. Collision will help get your vehicle looking as it did before. Keep in mind that collision coverage will never pay for any medical or legal expenses that may result from the collision.

Owning the right auto insurance policy and for the right amounts can help protect your assets in the event of an accident of which you are held responsible, therefore, try to look at auto insurance as a safety net rather than an expense. While driving we are all exposed to accidents and the best way to be prepared is to shop around for auto insurance policies.