Nebraska Car Insurance Laws and Requirements (2023)

Nebraska laws dictate the minimum requirements for auto insurance coverage that all drivers must carry. In Nebraska, you must hold 25/50/25 in liability insurance and 25/50 in uninsured motorist coverage. Additionally, you can pick from a long list of optional coverages for additional protection.

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Nebraska

The minimum car insurance requirements in Nebraska^[1] are:

• $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person

• $50,000 in bodily injury liability per accident

• $25,000 in property damage liability per accident

• $25,000 in uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person

• $50,000 in uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage per accident

Merely meeting these coverage requirements will not provide you with coverage for damages to your own property or vehicle. It also does not provide you with personal injury protection, which can help with medical payments if you and/or your passengers are injured in an accident you cause. You will have to add these coverages to your policy if you want them.

Bodily Injury Liability

Bodily injury liability is part of your liability car insurance coverage. If you cause an accident, this coverage will help cover the other party’s medical expenses. This type of coverage will not cover your own medical expenses for injuries sustained in a car accident you caused. Bodily injury liability coverage is required in Nebraska.

Property Damage Liability

Property damage liability is the other half of your liability car insurance. It covers repair costs and damage expenses to the other cars involved in an accident you caused. This coverage does not cover damage to your own car in an accident you were at fault for. Property damage liability coverage is required in Nebraska.

Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage

If you’re in an accident caused by an underinsured or uninsured driver, this coverage helps pay for medical bills and lost income for you and your passengers. Uninsured motorist coverage is required by Nebraska auto insurance laws. Drivers must have $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident in uninsured motorist bodily injury insurance.

Is state minimum car insurance enough in Nebraska?

The minimum required car insurance coverage in Nebraska provides drivers with a solid foundation of auto insurance coverage, but it’s likely not enough. If you cause an accident where the damages (both property and/or bodily) exceed the relatively low minimum requirements, you’ll be responsible for everything above the policy’s payout maximums.

Also, Nebraska’s minimum requirements don’t provide you with any coverage for injuries that you and your passengers sustain from an accident that you are responsible for. Healthcare is expensive—and potentially devastating to your financial future—so you might want to consider adding bodily injury coverage to your auto insurance policy.

Optional Car Insurance Coverage for Nebraska

Nebraska drivers who want to be protected in any situation should consider bolstering their policy beyond minimum car insurance coverage with the following supplemental car insurance coverages:

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage covers 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. This is a great addition to the required property damage liability coverage in Nebraska, which applies only to the damages to the other driver’s vehicle.

Comprehensive Coverage

Complementing your collision coverage, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle that occurs during an event that is not a collision with another vehicle or object. This may apply in situations of vandalism, theft, weather damage, or a run-in with an animal. Adding comprehensive and collision coverage together creates a full-coverage car insurance policy.

Other Supplemental Coverage

If you want coverage for medical costs for yourself and your passengers (in an accident that you cause), you’ll need to add personal injury protection or medical payments insurance. If you’re using your vehicle to drive for a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft, you will need separate insurance (often called “ride for hire”) for that.

Depending on your insurance company, you might also be able to purchase roadside assistance coverage (for things like towing or a battery jump) and even rental car reimbursement (if you need one while your vehicle is being repaired).

Penalties for Driving Uninsured in Nebraska

It is illegal to drive in Nebraska without the minimum car insurance coverage. Drivers must carry proof of insurance in the vehicle at all times and present it to law enforcement if asked. If you’re caught driving without insurance^[2]:

• Your driver’s license will be suspended immediately.

• You will have to file “proof of financial responsibility” with the DMV.

• You’ll incur a reinstatement fee of at least $50.

The “proof of financial responsibility”—usually in the form of an SR-22 Certificate of Insurance—will remain on file with the Nebraska DMV for three years, during which time you’ll face much higher insurance premiums. So even though the license reinstatement fee is only $50, you’ll end up paying much more than that in the long run.

Minimum Requirements for High-Risk Drivers in Nebraska

If your license has been suspended or revoked due to a conviction, accumulations of points, or another reason, you’ll have to file an SR-22 with the DMV. You must immediately notify your auto insurance company that you need this form submitted (either by mail or electronic filing). High-risk drivers should expect a steep increase in their insurance premiums.

More Information for High-Risk Drivers in Nebraska

DUI Insurance in Nebraska

SR-22 Insurance in Nebraska

Cheapest Minimum Car Insurance in Nebraska

Car insurance companies weigh different factors to determine what to quote drivers on their car insurance policies. Minimum coverage generally means lower car insurance rates. It also means low coverage limits, which may cost you if you’re ever involved in an accident. Here are the cheapest car insurance quotes for minimum coverage in Nebraska.

How to Find Cheap Car Insurance in Nebraska

To find the best rate, you should always shop around when looking for car insurance. Insurify can save you time with its price-comparison tool, which provides quotes from multiple insurance companies at once. We also offer free, objective assistance at 1 (866) 656-8440.