Car Insurance Requirements in Pennsylvania (2024)
Pennsylvania’s minimum car insurance requirements are 15/30/5. Here’s what that means and what coverages you have to purchase.
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Written byNick Dauk
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6+ years writing about insurance, travel, and personal finances
Contributor to brands like Credible
In addition to insurance, Nick specializes in writing about business, entrepreneurship, personal finance, and travel. He’s been featured in myriad web publications, including Fox Business.
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Edited byCourtney Mikulski
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Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content
Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score
Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.
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Updated November 21, 2024
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Table of contents
Pennsylvania is one of the many states that require drivers to maintain minimum car insurance coverage, but it’s important to know exactly what those minimum coverages are. In Pennsylvania, drivers must purchase 15/30/5 liability coverage, which translates to $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for bodily injury liability and $5,000 per accident for property damage liability.[1]
Since Pennsylvania is a no-fault state with full-tort and limited-tort coverage options, it’s especially important to understand how these state laws affect your car insurance policy as you shop for quotes.[2] Here’s what you need to know about Pennsylvania car insurance requirements.
Pennsylvania car insurance requirements
All drivers in Pennsylvania must maintain at least the following coverages:[1]
$15,000 per person for bodily injury liability
$30,000 per accident for bodily injury liability
$5,000 per accident for property damage liability
$5,000 for medical benefits
Bodily injury liability
Bodily injury liability insurance is coverage for the injuries you cause another person when you’re the at-fault driver. So if you cause an accident, this coverage pays for the other parties’ medical expenses from the incident.
In Pennsylvania, all drivers are required to have at least $15,000 for bodily injury insurance for the injury or death of one person and $30,000 for the injuries or deaths of two or more people in one car accident.[1]
While this coverage is part of your Pennsylvania auto insurance policy, it doesn’t provide payment or reimbursement for your own injuries after an at-fault accident.
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Property damage liability
Property damage liability insurance is similar to bodily injury liability insurance: Both pay for the expenses you cause in an at-fault accident. The difference is that property damage liability pays for the physical damages you cause another person’s property, including vehicles, houses, and other structures, like bridges and roadways.
In Pennsylvania, all drivers must maintain at least $5,000 of property damage liability insurance for each accident.[1]
Medical benefits
Medical benefits coverage pays for your injuries after an accident, regardless of who was at fault. It also applies to any passengers in your car. The minimum required amount in Pennsylvania is $5,000.
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Pennsylvania full-tort and limited-tort options
Pennsylvania operates under a no-fault system, which means after an accident, drivers file claims with their own insurance companies for bodily injuries.[3] However, Pennsylvania is also a tort state, so drivers can choose a full-tort or a limited-tort option for their car insurance coverage.
Full-tort coverage gives the driver unrestricted rights to bring a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. But with a limited-tort option, you can’t sue for pain and suffering, only medical and property damage expenses. Because limited tort restricts some of your options, it’s generally the cheaper type of policy.[2]
Do you need more than state-minimum coverage in Pennsylvania?
Liability-only policies cover the injuries, deaths, and damages you cause another person or property. They provide the lowest level of legally acceptable coverage, which is why they’re generally the cheapest auto insurance policies you can find.
You don’t legally need more than liability insurance to drive in Pennsylvania, but these minimum coverages are just that: minimums. It may not be enough coverage to fully protect you and your assets on the road.
People can purchase full-coverage policies, which are liability-only policies with additional coverages, like comprehensive coverage, collision coverage, and roadside assistance. If you finance or lease your car, the lienholder may require you to purchase comprehensive and collision coverages.
Good to Know
You may want full-coverage car insurance in Pennsylvania if you drive a newer, high-value vehicle that you couldn’t afford to replace. But you may be fine with liability-only coverage if you want to pay as little as possible for insurance and drive an older car that’s worth less than the cost of a major repair.
The cost of liability-only car insurance in Pennsylvania
The average cost of liability-only car insurance in Pennsylvania is $93 per month. Although you must meet certain minimums, you can take out higher liability limits than what Pennsylvania law requires for more protection.
Remember, the minimum required coverages in Pennsylvania don’t cover any damages to your vehicle or property.
Here are the cheapest liability car insurance quotes in Pennsylvania.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Friday, November 1 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $51 |
| Mile Auto | $53 |
| Erie | $59 |
| Auto-Owners | $63 |
| Plymouth Rock | $65 |
| National General | $66 |
| Travelers | $77 |
| GEICO | $79 |
| Progressive | $80 |
| Foremost | $86 |
| Allstate | $89 |
| Safeco | $94 |
| Direct Auto | $95 |
| The General | $95 |
| Nationwide | $101 |
| USAA | $104 |
| Chubb | $120 |
| Bristol West | $125 |
| Dairyland | $127 |
| CSAA | $132 |
| State Auto | $139 |
| Liberty Mutual | $162 |
| Hugo | $181 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
The cost of full-coverage car insurance in Pennsylvania
The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in Pennsylvania is $173 per month. No exact definition of full-coverage car insurance exists, but it typically includes the state-required coverage plus collision and comprehensive coverages.
Because full-coverage insurance has more protections for drivers, it’s usually a more expensive policy than liability-only coverage. But here are the cheapest full-coverage quotes in Pennsylvania to start your search.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Friday, November 1 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
|---|---|
| Mile Auto | $74 |
| State Farm | $110 |
| Erie | $127 |
| Plymouth Rock | $136 |
| Auto-Owners | $139 |
| National General | $155 |
| Safeco | $157 |
| GEICO | $165 |
| Travelers | $165 |
| Progressive | $168 |
| CSAA | $175 |
| Allstate | $187 |
| Direct Auto | $188 |
| Foremost | $207 |
| Nationwide | $213 |
| USAA | $217 |
| Liberty Mutual | $218 |
| Bristol West | $232 |
| Infinity | $238 |
| The General | $243 |
| Chubb | $253 |
| Dairyland | $295 |
| State Auto | $302 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
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Penalties for driving without proof of insurance in Pennsylvania
The state of Pennsylvania may penalize you if you drive without insurance or without proof of insurance. Although the state doesn’t impose criminal penalties, the civil penalties and expenses could include:[4]
Minimum $300 fine
Three-month driver’s license and vehicle registration suspension
Restoration fees for vehicle registration, driver’s license, and commercial driver’s license
Optional car insurance coverages to consider
Whether you commute on the Pennsylvania Turnpike or hardly leave your ZIP code, you may want to consider purchasing more than the state-minimum coverage so you can drive with the level of financial protection you need.
Here are some coverages you can consider:
Collision insurance
Collision coverage pays for your vehicle damages when you hit another vehicle or stationary object, regardless of fault.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive coverage pays for vehicle damages from non-collision events, like floods, theft, vandalism, falling objects, severe weather, and more.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
About 6% of Pennsylvania drivers don’t have coverage.[5] Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage provides you with financial compensation if an at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance or enough insurance to cover the injuries or damages you sustained.
Gap insurance
Gap insurance covers the difference between your auto loan balance and insurance payout in the event of a total loss.
Pennsylvania car insurance requirements FAQs
Driving without meeting Pennsylvania’s minimum coverage requirements can result in fines or license and registration suspension. Here’s some additional information about Pennsylvania insurance laws to help you better understand what your auto insurance policy must include.
Does Pennsylvania require car insurance?
Yes, Pennsylvania requires all drivers to maintain car insurance.[1]
What are the minimum auto insurance requirements in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania requires 15/30/5 minimum auto insurance coverage, which translates to $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for bodily injury liability and $5,000 per accident for property damage liability. It also requires $5,000 in medical benefits coverage.[1]
Do you need car insurance to register a car in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Pennsylvania state law requires you to provide proof of car insurance when you initially register your vehicle.[4]
Does insurance follow the car or the driver in Pennsylvania?
Your car insurance policy typically insures your vehicle and anyone who drives your vehicle with your permission. However, your policy may have certain exclusions or limitations, so you should ask your insurer about when it does and doesn’t provide coverage.[6]
Sources
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. "Insurance Overview."
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department. "Automobile Insurance Guide."
- Nolo. "Your Guide to Pennsylvania Auto Insurance."
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. "Insurance Law Overview and Frequently Asked Questions."
- III. "Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists."
- III. "8 auto insurance myths."
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Nick Dauk
Nick Dauk is a freelance writer specializing in business, entrepreneurship, personal finance, and travel. His work has been featured in Fox Business, BBC, The Edge, Business Insider, and Bisnow. Nick is a first-generation college graduate, having majored in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Central Florida. His eclectic coursework, combined with previous managerial roles in the retail and broadcast television industries, have helped him develop an interdisciplinary approach to writing.
For nearly a decade, Nick has created content for mom-and-pop businesses and global corporations. As a travel writer, his global adventures have also been featured on Inside Hook, Houston Chronicle, Culture Trip, and Matador. When he's not traveling, Nick can be found in Orlando spending time with his wife and toddler.
Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content
Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score
Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.
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