Car insurance requirements by state

The auto insurance coverages you need

Each state has its own requirements when it comes to car insurance. In general, in the U.S., those who own or drive a vehicle need to have:

Bodily injury liability: When you’re at-fault while operating your automobile, this coverage pays for bodily injury to another person.

Property damage liability: When you’re at-fault while operating your automobile, this coverage pays for damage to another person’s property.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist protection: This coverage applies when you’re injured in an accident involving an at-fault driver who doesn’t have insurance or enough insurance to pay for your loss, and can help pay for your bodily injury. Many states require this coverage to be offered, but allow the insured to opt out or reject the coverage in writing.

There are good reasons why you need to meet state minimum insurance requirements. They’re in place as a measure of financial responsibility for drivers. Each state has its own requirements as to the minimum limits for the coverages listed above. For example, one state might have a $15,000 minimum limit for bodily injury liability and another might have a minimum of $25,000 for the same coverage.

To learn more, view each state’s minimum car insurance requirements below.

Remember, these are just the minimum requirements. There are other auto coverages available to protect you further.

Understanding insurance coverage limits

You get a lot of numbers thrown at you when getting a car insurance quote. Somewhere along the way, you’ve no doubt seen in your insurance documents the set of numbers in between forward slashes. For example, 25/50/15 or $25,000/$50,000/$15,000. Do you know what these numbers mean?

These numbers reflect the insurance coverage limits in your car or auto insurance policy:

The first number is the amount covered per person for bodily injury liability

The second number is the amount covered per accident for bodily injury liability

The third number reflects the amount per accident for property damage liability

One thing to keep in mind: While states have a minimum coverage limit, they might not cover all the costs of an incident. Be sure to understand the risks of your coverage limits, and choose an amount that is best suited to your situation.

No matter who your provider is, be sure to review your entire auto insurance policy with your insurance agent, and ask questions if you don’t understand something.

Have questions about your Dairyland® policy? Click-to-call us at 800-334-0090, and we’ll work to get the best coverage for you.

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Dairyland® brand property and casualty coverages are underwritten by a member of the Sentry Insurance Group, Stevens Point, WI. For a complete listing of companies, visit the Underwriting Company page.

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