Pennsylvania Car Insurance Laws (2026)
Pennsylvania is a no-fault state for car insurance, where drivers choose their own tort option.
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Danny SmithInsurance Writer
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Katie PowersLicensed P&C Agent, Senior Insurance Editor
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John LeachLicensed P&C Agent, Chief Copy Editor
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Pennsylvania car insurance laws require all drivers to carry liability coverage and medical benefits. It’s one of the few states that lets drivers choose between “limited tort” and “full tort” coverage when buying a policy, which can affect your ability to sue for pain and suffering after a crash.
Pennsylvania also allows drivers to pay a civil penalty instead of registration suspension for a coverage lapse.[1]
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Auto insurance requirements in Pennsylvania
Before legally driving in Pennsylvania, all drivers must meet the state’s minimum auto insurance requirements:[2]
Bodily injury liability: $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident
Property damage liability: $5,000 per accident
First-party medical benefits (MedPay): $5,000
These required coverage limits are actually much lower than in other nearby states. For example, New Jersey requires $35,000 per person and $70,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage, along with $25,000 in property damage coverage. New Jersey law also requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist insurance.
Some other Pennsylvania-specific rules for car insurance include:
Drivers must pick between limited tort and full tort when buying a policy. If you choose limited tort, your premium will be lower. But you lose the right to sue for pain and suffering after an accident.[3]
Pennsylvania is a no-fault state. This means your own insurance company covers medical bills up to your policy limit after an accident, regardless of fault. Insurers in Pennsylvania must offer drivers age 55 or older a premium discount of at least 5% if they complete a driver safety course.[4]
Is state-minimum car insurance in Pennsylvania enough coverage?
While state-minimum car insurance is legally enough in Pennsylvania, the liability coverage limits are typically insufficient to protect most drivers financially. For example, your $30,000 per accident bodily injury limit can run out very quickly after an accident with a serious injury. You’d be responsible for paying the rest out of pocket.
The following car insurance coverages offer Pennsylvania drivers added financial security:
Collision coverage: If you get in an accident, collision coverage helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle.
Comprehensive coverage: This coverage helps pay for damages caused by something other than a collision, such as theft, severe weather, or animal strikes. Comprehensive coverage is especially important in Pennsylvania, since drivers have a 1-in-59 chance of being in an animal-related crash.[5]
Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance (UM/UIM): Nearly 10% of Pennsylvania drivers are uninsured, according to the Insurance Information Institute. UM/UIM insurance pays for your repair costs and injuries when you’re in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have any insurance or enough coverage.
Full tort coverage: This coverage allows drivers to sue for pain and suffering after an accident, while limited tort restricts your ability to pursue a settlement.
Higher liability limits: Increasing your bodily injury and property damage liability limits above the state minimum can offer added financial protection in a serious accident.
Penalties for driving without insurance in Pennsylvania
Driving without insurance in Pennsylvania comes with penalties, so it’s crucial to meet the state’s minimum liability car insurance requirements. If law enforcement catches you driving without insurance, you could face the following penalties:[6]
Penalty | Details |
|---|---|
| Fine | At least $300 |
| Driver’s license suspension | Three months |
| Registration suspension | Three months |
| Restoration fees | $11–$208, depending on the vehicle and duration |
| Vehicle use suspension | No one else can legally drive the vehicle with the registration suspended |
Pennsylvania also provides drivers with an alternative to serving the three-month registration suspension. You can pay a one-time $500 civil penalty, plus a restoration fee, instead.
You can only do this once in a 12-month window, and it won’t restore a suspended driver’s license. But after the state restores your registration, other drivers in your household can drive your vehicle.[7]
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Pennsylvania’s tort election system
Pennsylvania is one of the few states that requires drivers to choose between full tort and limited tort coverage. Your choice will determine how you and your insurer handle claims for pain and suffering after a crash caused by another driver. If you don’t make a choice in writing, Pennsylvania law assumes you’ve chosen full tort.
With limited tort, you can recover economic damages like medical bills and lost wages. But you lose your ability to sue for pain and suffering unless the injury meets certain legal thresholds. With full tort, your ability to recover damages for pain and suffering and other noneconomic damages is unrestricted, but coverage will cost more.
Pennsylvania insurance laws FAQs
Take a look at these answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Pennsylvania insurance laws.
Is Pennsylvania a no-fault state?
Yes. Pennsylvania is a no-fault state. The state requires drivers to carry first-party medical benefits, so your insurer will pay your medical costs after a crash, up to your policy’s limit, no matter who’s at fault.[8]
Can someone drive your car if they aren’t on your insurance in PA?
Usually, yes. In most cases, someone can drive your car in Pennsylvania if they aren’t on your insurance, as long as they have your permission and your policy doesn’t specifically exclude them. Check with your insurer to confirm how it handles other drivers.[9]
What are the minimum car insurance requirements in Pennsylvania?
The minimum car insurance requirements in Pennsylvania are $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident in bodily injury liability insurance, $5,000 in property damage liability insurance, and $5,000 in first-party medical benefits.
What happens if the other driver doesn’t have liability insurance in PA?
If a driver without liability insurance hits you in Pennsylvania, you’ll only have coverage if you have uninsured motorist coverage. If you don’t, you’ll need to pay out of pocket or pursue compensation from the other driver through legal avenues.
Sources
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. "Insurance Overview."
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. "Auto & Motorcycle Insurance."
- Justia. "2025 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes."
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. "Mature Driver Improvement Courses."
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. "Shapiro Administration Reminds Motorists to Stay Alert, Use Extreme Caution to Avoid Deer Collisions."
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. "Penalties for Cancelling."
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. "Insurance Law."
- Pennsylvania General Assembly. "Financial Responsibility."
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. "Insurance Law Overview and Frequently Asked Questions."
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Danny SmithInsurance Writer
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years in content creation and marketing
Featured in
Katie PowersLicensed P&C Agent, Senior Insurance Editor
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Featured in
John LeachLicensed P&C Agent, Chief Copy Editor
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Featured in