Car Insurance Requirements in Louisiana (2024)

Like most states, Louisiana sets minimum requirements for car insurance that residents must purchase to register a car. Louisiana drivers must have at least $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage and $25,000 per accident in property damage liability coverage.^[1]

You may need additional coverage in some situations, but it’s important to have at least state-minimum coverage, or you may face penalties. You can typically find the cheapest rates in Louisiana if you compare quotes and shop around. Here’s what you need to know about Louisiana car insurance coverage.

Louisiana car insurance requirements

Louisiana state law requires all vehicle owners to purchase a policy with minimum liability limits of bodily injury and property damage liability coverage.^[1] Here’s what that means and what these coverages pay for.

Bodily injury liability

Bodily injury liability insurance reimburses someone for injuries and medical expenses from an accident that you cause.

In Louisiana, you must purchase bodily injury liability coverage with policy limits of at least $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident. That means if you injure two people in one car accident, your insurer will cover their medical bills up to $30,000.

Anything beyond that limit is your responsibility. If you cause an accident that results in more than $30,000 in injuries, you’re liable for paying the remaining costs out of pocket.

Property damage liability

Property damage liability coverage reimburses someone for any property you damage in an accident. This usually means the other parties’ vehicles, but it can include personal belongings inside a car, someone’s home, landscaping, buildings, and more.

Louisiana car insurance requirements state that you must purchase enough property damage coverage to reimburse someone for up to $25,000 if you damage their property with your car. For amounts more than that — such as if you damage someone’s new car worth $35,000 — you’re personally on the hook for the costs.

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  Louisiana’s ‘No-Pay, No-Play’ law

  Louisiana’s “No-Pay, No-Play” law penalizes uninsured drivers by restricting their ability to file insurance claims if they sustain damages and injuries in an accident, even if they weren’t the one at fault. 

  Uninsured drivers don’t receive the first $25,000 in property damage liability or $15,000 in bodily injury liability claims from the other driver.^[1]

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

The minimum liability coverage will protect you against financial losses up to a certain amount, but beyond that, you’re on the hook.

For this reason, you may purchase higher liability limits. Many financial experts recommend making sure you have at least enough coverage to match your financial assets since that’s the maximum amount of financial loss you might see. For example, if you have $100,000 in your financial accounts, $100,000 would be a good amount of minimum liability coverage to consider.

The cost of liability-only car insurance in Louisiana

Buying a policy with Louisiana’s minimum insurance requirements is the cheapest option, costing an average of $156 per month, according to Insurify data.

Here are the cheapest liability insurance companies in Louisiana for you to start your search.

The cost of full-coverage car insurance in Louisiana

Louisiana law doesn’t require full coverage, but your lender may require it if you finance or lease your car. A full-coverage policy typically includes two extra types of insurance products designed to protect your vehicle: collision and comprehensive. The average full-coverage policy costs $311 per month in Louisiana.

Collision coverage pays for damage to your car if you hit another vehicle or a stationary object, like a light pole or fence. Comprehensive coverage pays for damages from non-collision sources, like theft, fires, floods, falling trees, and storm damage.

Here are the cheapest insurers in Louisiana for full-coverage auto policies.

Penalties for driving without proof of insurance in Louisiana

Louisiana auto insurance laws outline penalties you may face if you drive without proof of insurance. The following fines and penalties may apply:^[1]

• Fine of $500 to $1,000

• Vehicle impoundment

• License plate cancelation

• Vehicle registration revocation

• Driver’s license suspension

• Forfeit the first $15,000 to $25,000 in claims after a not-at-fault accident

If and when you’re eligible to have your license and registration reinstated, you may pay additional costs and fees. You may need to purchase a high-risk car insurance policy and ask your insurer to file a form SR-22 with the office of motor vehicles for three years.

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Optional car insurance coverages to consider

While Louisiana law only requires bodily injury and property damage liability coverage, you may want more coverages. Consider the following endorsements you can add to your policy for more protection on the road:

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  Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

  Nearly 12% of Louisiana drivers are uninsured, meaning you won’t be able to file any bodily injury or property damage claim against them if they cause an accident. This coverage pays for your damages and injuries if someone without insurance or without enough insurance causes an accident.^[2]

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  Roadside assistance coverage

  Roadside assistance coverage reimburses you for help you need on the road, like gas delivery, towing, battery jump-starts, tire changes, and more.

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  Medical payments (MedPay) coverage

  Medical payments (MedPay) coverage pays for any medical expenses for you and anyone else riding in your car if you’re involved in an accident.

Louisiana car insurance requirements FAQs