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Pennsylvania law dictates the minimum requirements for insurance coverage that all drivers must carry. Drivers in Pennsylvania must carry 15/30/5 in bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident. Additionally, drivers can pick from a long list of additional coverages for added protection.
Quick Facts
Car insurance is required by law in Pennsylvania.
Drivers in Pennsylvania must carry 15/30/5 in bodily injury and property damage.
If caught driving uninsured, drivers face $300 in fines and other penalties.
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Pennsylvania
The minimum car insurance requirements in Pennsylvania[1] are:
$15,000 for bodily injury liability per person
$30,000 for bodily injury liability per accident
$5,000 for property damage liability per accident
Pennsylvania is unique in that it uses both at-fault and no-fault car insurance laws. You can choose to opt in or out of no-fault car insurance laws. If you decide to opt in, you’ll receive benefits from your own insurance company after an accident, no matter who is at fault. If you opt out, you’ll have to prove fault of the other driver to file a claim with their insurer.
Why is car insurance required in Pennsylvania?
Auto insurance protects drivers from financial liability in the event of an accident. Depending on a policy’s specific coverage limitations, car insurance may cover everything from vehicle damage to medical bills.
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 Pennsylvania.
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 Pennsylvania.
Personal Injury Protection
Personal injury protection, also known as PIP, covers medical bills, lost wages, and replacement services for you and other members of your household if you’re injured in a car accident. PIP provides coverage regardless of who is at fault for an accident. Personal injury protection is required in Pennsylvania.
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Is state minimum car insurance enough in Pennsylvania?
The minimum required car insurance coverage in Pennsylvania provides drivers with a solid foundation of auto insurance coverage, but it may not be enough for everyone. The Keystone State has one of the lowest minimum car insurance liability limits in the country, so investing in additional coverage is a good idea. It can protect you financially after a serious accident.
Optional Car Insurance Coverage for Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania drivers who want to be protected in any situation should consider bolstering the 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 Pennsylvania, 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.
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. If the at-fault driver surpasses their bodily injury liability coverage limits, your underinsured motorist coverage will cover the rest of your medical expenses.
Other Supplemental Coverage
Medical payments coverage, or MedPay, can help cover medical expenses for you or your passengers, even if you’re at fault for an accident. These may include doctor visits, hospital stays, ambulance and EMT fees, and more. Rental car reimbursement may be beneficial if your car requires a repair after a covered accident and you need a rental car to get around.
There’s also roadside assistance, which can assist you in emergency situations on the road. While every plan is different, most charge a yearly fee and include towing, battery jump starts, fuel delivery, lockout services, tire changes, and transportation assistance for stranded drivers and passengers.
It is illegal to drive in Pennsylvania without the minimum car insurance coverage[2].
Fines: You may pay up to $300 in fines.
Driver’s license suspension: The state can suspend your license for three months.
Vehicle registration suspension: You might face a months-long suspension.
Under Pennsylvania law, you may waive your registration suspension. To do so, you must pay a $500 civil penalty fee and an $88 reinstatement fee. While your driver’s license will still be suspended, your family members will still be able to drive the vehicle. This is only an option once every 12 years.
Minimum Requirements for High-Risk Drivers in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is one of the few states that don’t require an SR-22 filing to reinstate your driving privilege after a serious violation. However, if you are convicted of an offense like a DUI, hit-and-run, or reckless driving, you should expect your car insurance rates to go up. You can also expect other penalties like fines, a license suspension, and vehicle registration suspension.
More Information for High-Risk Drivers in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
With Insurify, you can find cheap car insurance coverage in Pennsylvania. Once you fill out a short form and share a few details about yourself and your vehicle, you’ll be able to compare car insurance quotes. This can help you choose the best car insurance policy for your particular budget, driving behaviors, and preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is car insurance mandatory in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Drivers in the Keystone State must carry 15/30/5 in bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident. Since these limits are fairly low compared to those in other states, additional coverage is worth considering, especially if you drive frequently or wish to avoid high out-of-pocket costs after an accident.
Is Pennsylvania a no-fault state?
Yes. But Pennsylvania is unique in that it’s also an at-fault state. Drivers have the option to purchase a car insurance policy that follows no-fault or at-fault laws. If you choose the at-fault route, you’ll be able to go after the at-fault party’s insurance company for financial compensation for losses like medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
Does Pennsylvania require uninsured motorist protection?
Uninsured motorist protection is not required in Pennsylvania. While insurance companies must offer it, you may reject the coverage in writing. If you want to protect yourself when getting into an accident with an uninsured driver, however, uninsured motorist coverage may be worthwhile. It can protect you financially if the driver is deemed liable for the accident.
Do you need car insurance to register a car in Pennsylvania?
According to Pennsylvania law, you must prove you have the minimum required liability insurance to register a car. You can go through the registration process at the closest DMV office. Once you submit the required documents, like your state license or ID card and proof of ownership, and pay the applicable fees, you will receive your title and registration in the mail.
How can I find cheap car insurance in Pennsylvania?
If your goal is to lock in the cheapest auto insurance coverage in Pennsylvania, Insurify can come in handy. You may use it to comparecar insurancequotes from a variety of car insurance providers in the state. Just fill in some basic information about yourself and your vehicle to get started.
Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page. The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers' vehicles, driving records, and demographic information. Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Service's database of auto insurance rates. With these insights, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation . "Insurance Law." Accessed June 16, 2022
Anna BaluchInsurance Writer
Anna Baluch is a Cleveland-based personal finance and insurance expert. With an MBA from Roosevelt University, she enjoys writing educational content that helps people make smart financial decisions. Her work can be seen across the internet on many publications, including Freedom Debt Relief, Credit Karma, RateGenius, and the Balance. Connect with Anna on LinkedIn.
