Massachusetts Motorcycle Insurance Explained: 20/40/5 and the PIP Exclusion

Insurance is the most boring part of riding and the part that decides whether a bad day becomes a financial disaster. Massachusetts has rules that work very differently for motorcyclists than for drivers, and knowing them before a crash is worth more than any aftermarket upgrade.

What 20/40/5 actually means

Massachusetts minimum auto liability is just 20/40/5: 20,000 dollars per person and 40,000 per accident for injuries, and 5,000 for property damage. Those are the other driver's minimums too, and they are often far too little when a rider is seriously hurt. A single ambulance ride and ER visit can eat through 20,000 dollars fast.

The PIP exclusion every rider should know

Massachusetts is a no-fault state, but motorcycles are excluded from PIP. Car occupants get personal injury protection that pays their medical bills regardless of fault. Riders do not. Because bikes sit outside PIP, a rider's medical bills are not automatically covered the way a car occupant's are, which means going after the at-fault driver is everything.

Underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage: the quiet hero

Because so many drivers carry only the minimum, uninsured and underinsured-motorist coverage on your own policy is the quiet hero of serious claims. It steps in when the at-fault driver's policy runs out, and on a 20/40/5 minimum it runs out fast. Ask your agent about UM/UIM coverage by name.

What to do today

Pull up your declarations page and check three things: your liability limits, whether you carry uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and whether you have any medical payments coverage. If you are not sure what you are looking at, that is exactly the conversation to have before riding season hits full stride.

This is general information for Massachusetts riders, not advice for your specific policy or claim.