Car Insurance Requirements in Delaware (2024)

It’s important for Delaware drivers to understand the specific insurance requirements in the First State. You must purchase a minimum of bodily injury and property damage liability insurance to help cover the other party’s damage and injury if you cause a car accident. Delaware also requires you to buy PIP coverage for the injuries and losses of you and your passengers.

Delaware drivers caught driving without insurance can face significant penalties because it’s illegal to drive without a minimum amount of coverage. For more protection, some drivers may choose to purchase more coverage to better protect their finances.

Here’s what you need to know about car insurance requirements in Delaware.

Delaware car insurance requirements

Delaware requires drivers to carry the following types and amounts of car insurance to drive legally in the state:

• Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident

• Property damage liability: $10,000 per accident

• Personal injury protection (PIP): $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident^[3]

Bodily injury liability

Delaware drivers must carry a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage. If you cause an auto accident, this coverage helps you pay for the other party’s injuries.

For example, if you cause an accident that injures another driver, the insurer will cover up to $25,000 in medical bills for that person. If another person in the other vehicle also requires medical treatment, the insurance policy would cover up to $50,000 for the entire accident.

Property damage liability

Property damage liability insurance pays for property damage you cause during an accident. If you cause a car accident, this type of insurance will help the other driver pay to repair or replace their vehicle.

This type of insurance coverage won’t help you repair or replace your own vehicle after an accident you cause. If you need an insurance policy designed to help you replace your own vehicle, then you should consider a full-coverage policy with both collision coverage and comprehensive coverage.

Personal injury protection

Delaware law requires drivers to carry at least $15,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) per person and $30,000 per accident. Although Delaware requires PIP coverage — something typical in no-fault states — it’s still an at-fault state because injured parties retain the unlimited right to sue for damages.

PIP coverage can help cover a wide range of your and your passengers’ costs after an accident, including medical expenses, lost wages, child care, household expenses, funeral expenses, and more.^[4]

For example, if you have an injury from a car accident, PIP coverage might kick in to cover your lost wages or hospital bills until you recover. Keep in mind the policy will only cover costs up to the limit. So if you have $20,000 in medical bills, you’ll need to pay $5,000 of that if you choose the minimum coverage limit of $15,000.

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Do you need more than state-minimum coverage in Delaware?

A liability-only policy meets the state’s minimum coverage requirements. But this option might not provide enough protection for your situation. With a liability-only car insurance policy, the insurer will help you cover the costs of repairing or replacing the other driver’s vehicle. But it might not be enough to cover all the damage, and it won’t cover damage to your own vehicle.

For example, let’s say you cause a bad accident that seriously damages both vehicles. If you have a minimum-coverage policy, your insurance policy will only pay $10,000 toward repairing the other person’s vehicle, which means the leftover balance will come out of your pocket. Plus, you need to cover the costs to repair or replace your own vehicle.

Most insurance experts recommend buying a policy beyond the minimum coverage. The limited support from a minimum-coverage policy might provide enough coverage for drivers who can cover repairs after an accident. But buying full coverage can help you pay for repairs after an incident. And your lender or leasing company may require you to purchase this type of policy.

Although paying for more robust coverage is the right choice for many drivers, it does mean you’ll face higher premiums. In Delaware, the average cost of a full-coverage policy is $210 per month, which is significantly higher than the $154 per month average cost for a liability-only policy.

The cost of liability-only car insurance in Delaware

Delaware drivers pay an average of $154 per month for a liability-only car insurance policy. USAA has the cheapest liability coverage in Delaware, with an average monthly premium of $54.

The table below shows the average cost of liability-only car insurance policies by company in the state of Delaware.

The cost of full-coverage car insurance in Delaware

A full-coverage auto insurance policy costs an average of $210 per month for Delaware drivers. This type of policy includes both comprehensive and collision insurance. After your vehicle sustains damage in an accident or other covered event, a full-coverage policy will help you pay for your repairs.

The table below breaks down the average costs for a full-coverage policy by insurance companies in the state.

Penalties for driving without proof of insurance in Delaware

If you receive a conviction for driving without the minimum amount of car insurance in Delaware, you can face severe penalties. Below is a closer look at the penalties you might face for driving without a minimum amount of insurance:

• Fines: Uninsured drivers face a penalty of at least $1,500 for a first offense. Subsequent offenses can result in a fine of $3,000.

• Suspended vehicle registration: The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles can suspend your driving license and privileges for six months if you drive without a minimum amount of insurance.

Optional car insurance coverages to consider

Beyond minimum-coverage car insurance, Delaware drivers can choose to purchase optional coverage types. Opting for additional coverage can better protect your finances, but it comes at a cost.

Here are a few common coverage add-ons you can consider:

• 

  Collision coverage

  Collision coverage pays for damages to your car after a collision with another vehicle or object. If your vehicle is a total loss, collision coverage will reimburse you for the actual cash value of your vehicle.

• 

  Comprehensive coverage

  Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle that occurs during a non-collision event. This may apply in situations of vandalism, theft, weather damage, or a run-in with an animal.

• 

  Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

  If an uninsured (or underinsured) driver causes an accident and you suffer bodily injury, uninsured motorist coverage will cover your medical expenses.

Delaware car insurance requirements FAQs