Massachusetts takes driving without insurance seriously. You are legally required to show proof of insurance if you’re stopped by law enforcement while driving. If you don’t have it, you might receive fines or jail time. Repeat offenders may even have their license suspended. Insurance’s legal implications as well as the financial protection it offers is why insurance experts recommend that you carry at least the minimum insurance required. Bankrate’s editorial team explains the consequences of driving without insurance and highlights your options for coverage.
Massachusetts car insurance laws
Like most other states, Massachusetts has minimum car insurance requirements. Minimum requirements represent the least amount of insurance you can carry to stay compliant with state law. As a no-fault state, Massachusetts’ minimum requirements are a bit more extensive than the basic liability coverage required in many other states. For example, Massachusetts mandates uninsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection insurance.
New car insurance minimums took effect in MA as of July 1, 2025. These reforms will apply to new policies and policy renewals. Now, Massachusetts insurance laws include the following:
- $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person per accident
- $50,000 in bodily injury liability total per accident
- $30,000 in property damage liability per accident
- $25,000 in uninsured motorist bodily liability per person per accident
- $50,000 in uninsured motorist bodily liability total per accident
- $8,000 in personal injury protection (PIP)
Personal injury protection, or PIP, is a type of insurance that covers you and your passengers if you’re injured in a car accident, regardless of who is at fault. It may pay for medical bills, lost wages, funeral costs and essential services, such as child care. PIP coverage is found most often in no-fault states.
Keep in mind that minimum coverage may not be enough to pay for all costs following a serious accident. If you are seriously injured in an accident and need ongoing treatment, for example, $8,000 may not be enough to cover all of your accident-related medical needs. You may want to consider purchasing full coverage car insurance, as well as higher levels of liability and PIP insurance, to better protect your finances.
Penalties for driving without insurance in Massachusetts
If you own a personal vehicle in Massachusetts, you must obtain the minimum insurance requirements before driving your car. The penalties for driving without insurance in Massachusetts are outlined below:
| Penalty | Penalty description |
|---|---|
| Pay a fine | If you are found guilty of driving without insurance in Massachusetts, you could receive a fine between $500 and $5,000, according to state laws. If you get caught driving without insurance multiple times, you could face even higher fines. |
| Jail time | According to Massachusetts state laws, if you are found guilty of driving without insurance, you may have to serve up to two and a half years in jail. |
| Revoked driving privileges | In addition to fines and potential jail time, you may also have your driver’s license and registration suspended. If you are convicted of driving without car insurance, your driving privileges will be suspended for 60 days. After two or more offenses, you could have your license restricted for longer. |
| Reinstatement fee | When your driver’s license or registration is suspended, you will have to reinstate it and pay a fee. In Massachusetts, the fee to reinstate a suspended license is between $100 and $1,200. The exact fine depends on the type of suspension. |
| Additional fees | In addition to the fines and reinstatement fees, you could also be responsible for additional fees. For example, if you want to appeal a Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) decision, you must pay a $50 fee. If you request a court hearing, you have to pay a filing fee of $25, which you get refunded if you win the hearing. |
Fees from Massachusetts’s online insurance verification system
The Massachusetts RMV partnered with Boston Software Corporation to provide an online service enabling insurance agents to renew and reinstate vehicle registrations. With this online insurance verification system, insurance companies, drivers and the authorities can confirm that a vehicle is adequately insured. This system was created to ensure that all vehicle owners carry the minimum requirements for insurance before driving on the road.
| Reason for fee | Fee amount |
|---|---|
| Requesting a hearing to dispute civil motor vehicle infraction citation | $25 |
| Late fee for failure to respond within 20 days | $40 to $45 |
| First offense driving uninsured | $500 |
| Second offense driving uninsured | $500 to $5,000 |
| Reinstatement fee for driver’s license or registration after suspension | $100 to $1,200 |
Getting into an accident without insurance in Massachusetts
If you get into an accident without car insurance in Massachusetts, there are several potential consequences.
Massachusetts car insurance laws are defined by its status as a no-fault state. In this type of state, each party’s insurance company initially pays for their own medical bills and lost wages regardless of which driver caused the accident. However, no-fault does not mean no one is responsible for causing an accident.
If you are found to be more than 51 percent at fault for the incident, you are responsible for all damage you caused to the other party’s vehicle, and any additional costs above and beyond what their PIP insurance covers. This is the case even if you don’t have insurance. Remaining uninsured means you would have to pay for these costs 100 percent out of pocket and could be personally sued.
You would still be subject to fines and other penalties as stated in the Massachusetts civil code. You might also be required to carry an SR-22 certificate for several years. All of this might place you in a difficult situation financially, and is one more reason why driving without insurance in MA is never a good idea.
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