Car Insurance in Pennsylvania: Understanding Your Coverage Requirements and Options
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Pennsylvania law requires all drivers to carry car insurance to make sure everyone is covered after an accident. If you drive without the minimum coverage, you risk facing penalties such as fines and suspensions.
Check out our guide to car insurance in Pennsylvania to learn more about the required coverage types and limits, as well as additional options for your car insurance policy.
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania car insurance requirements include the following coverages:
- $15,000 bodily injury liability for one person
- $30,000 bodily injury liability for two or more people
- $5,000 property damage liability per accident
- $5,000 personal injury protection (PIP) coverage
You will also have to choose whether you want a full tort or limited tort policy, which impacts your ability to sue at-fault drivers.
Review the insurance requirements of your state:
Understanding No-Fault Insurance and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Pennsylvania is a no-fault state, which means each driver’s insurance company covers their own expenses after an accident regardless of who is at fault. The no-fault policy is why Pennsylvania requires drivers to purchase PIP coverage.
After an accident, PIP coverage covers medical expenses for you, members of your family, non-family passengers, and pedestrians, whether you or another driver is at fault for an accident. Therefore, you would typically only sue if your expenses exceed your coverage limits and only in specific instances outlined by state insurance law.
Liability Insurance: Protect Yourself Financially
In no-fault states, at-fault drivers are still responsible for covering other people’s property damage. In addition, some injured parties will still be able to sue if their expenses exceed a certain amount or if they suffer from specific injuries as outlined by their insurance policies and Pennsylvania’s insurance law.
While Pennsylvania does require that you purchase liability insurance, this is simply a tool for you to protect your assets and your financial situation. When choosing how much liability insurance to purchase, consider how much you would feasibly be able to pay for damages and injuries out of pocket.
Comprehensive vs. Collision Insurance: What’s the Difference?
Additional coverage types are available for Pennsylvania drivers who want to purchase more than the minimum coverage. Collision and comprehensive coverages are two popular policies.
Collision coverage can pay for your own property damage after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. Comprehensive coverage will cover expenses related to non-accident incidents, such as theft or fire. While these policies aren’t legally mandated for car insurance in Pennsylvania, lenders may require them.
Penalties for Not Having Car Insurance in Pennsylvania
There are multiple penalties for driving without auto insurance coverage in Pennsylvania. You can get a fine of at least $300, depending on the severity of your violation and whether it’s your first offense. You may have your registration and driver’s license suspended for three months. Your vehicle can also be impounded. To recover your vehicle, and to restore your registration and driver’s license, you will need to pay the fees associated with these penalties.
Recent Tools for Pennsylvania Auto Insurance
If you’re looking for cheap car insurance in Pennsylvania, one of the best ways to save on your policy is to compare quotes from multiple auto insurance companies. Tools like EverQuote allow you to enter basic information to get Pennsylvania car insurance quotes and compare rates from many companies in one place for free.
Practical Tips for Choosing the Right Coverage
Pennsylvania drivers also must choose whether they want a full tort or limited tort insurance policy. A full tort policy gives you more rights for suing at-fault drivers, while limited tort will limit your ability to sue after an accident.
Ask yourself the following questions to decide whether full tort or limited tort is right for you:
- Are you able to afford the higher premiums that come with full tort, or would you like to prioritize finding the cheapest car insurance?
- Can you afford to cover your own medical expenses with your PIP coverage and health insurance?
- Do you want to reserve the right to sue for simple injuries, or are you comfortable limiting your rights to only serious injuries?
While full tort gives you more rights to sue at-fault drivers after an accident, limited tort will reduce your premiums.
How To Make the Best Choice for Your Auto Insurance Needs
You’re required to purchase specific types of coverage with minimum coverage limits. However, you may choose to buy additional coverage based on your needs. Pennsylvania drivers might consider collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, or stacked insurance for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
When choosing car insurance coverage, consider factors such as company reputation, deductible amounts, and available discounts. Start your research by learning about the largest auto insurance companies in Pennsylvania to find a company that provides the coverage you need.
Shop Around for the Best Quotes
Pennsylvania has relatively low car insurance coverage requirements, only requiring drivers to carry some liability and PIP coverage. However, some drivers may choose to pay a little more for higher coverage limits to ensure financial protection after an accident.
Regardless of how much coverage you need, you naturally want to find the most affordable coverage possible. Because prices vary by ZIP code and driver profile, the best way to get the right insurance is to compare your options. Use EverQuote’s free online comparison tool to get a car insurance quote in Pennsylvania.