Pennsylvania requires $15,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $30,000 per accident, $5,000 of property damage liability and $5,000 of medical benefits coverage. Those are among the lowest minimums in the country.
Pennsylvania also asks you to make two important choices: whether to keep uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and whether to choose “full tort” or “limited tort,” which affects your right to sue after a crash.
Key Takeaways
- Pennsylvania requires 15/30/5 liability coverage plus $5,000 of medical benefits.
- Insurers must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. You can reject each one only on a signed, dated form, and stacking applies unless you reject it.
- You choose between full tort and limited tort. Limited tort costs less but restricts pain-and-suffering claims, and you’re treated as choosing full tort unless you elect limited tort.
- Driving uninsured brings a $300 fine and three-month suspensions of your registration and license. A lapse alone can suspend your registration.
Pennsylvania Minimum Car Insurance at a Glance
| Coverage | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $5,000 per accident |
| Medical benefits | $5,000 |
| Uninsured and underinsured motorist | Must be offered. You can reject each on a signed, dated form. |
| Collision and comprehensive | Not required by law, but usually required by lenders and lessors |
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department lists these minimums, and they’re set in Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. A 15/30/5 policy pays up to $15,000 per injured person, $30,000 per accident and $5,000 for property damage. RateFrog’s guide to liability limits explains how those numbers work, and why a $5,000 property damage limit may not go far.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Pennsylvania law requires insurers to offer uninsured (UM) and underinsured (UIM) motorist coverage, but buying them is optional. To reject either one, the first named insured has to sign and date a rejection form. Each coverage has its own form, and a form that doesn’t follow the law’s requirements is void.
Pennsylvania also uses stacking, which multiplies your UM and UIM limits by the number of cars on your policy. The Insurance Department’s auto insurance guide says, “By law, stacked coverage applies unless you reject it,” and rejecting it lowers your premium. RateFrog’s guide to uninsured motorist coverage explains how UM and UIM work.
Full Tort vs. Limited Tort
Pennsylvania is a choice no-fault state, which means you pick how much of your right to sue you keep:
| Full tort | Limited tort | |
|---|---|---|
| Right to sue for pain and suffering | Unrestricted | Only for a serious injury, or when another exception in the law applies (for example, the at-fault driver was uninsured or was convicted of DUI for the crash) |
| Medical and out-of-pocket expenses | Can recover | Can recover |
| Premium | Higher | Lower |
The Insurance Department’s guide says limited tort “offers you significant savings on your premium,” but you can’t recover certain damages, like pain and suffering, unless your injury meets one of the law’s exceptions. If you don’t choose, you get full tort. The guide says, “If you fail to specially elect limited tort, you will be deemed to have elected full tort.” RateFrog’s guide to PIP and no-fault insurance explains how other no-fault states handle lawsuits.
You can also buy optional first-party benefits beyond the $5,000 medical minimum, including income loss, funeral, extraordinary medical and accidental death benefits.
Proof of Insurance in Pennsylvania
You can show proof on your phone. Pennsylvania law allows a financial responsibility ID card “in paper or electronic form,” and a police officer may view only what’s needed to confirm your coverage. PennDOT’s insurance FAQs list other acceptable proof, including your declarations page, an insurance binder and a letter from your insurer on company letterhead.
Insurers must tell PennDOT within 10 days when a policy is canceled or terminated, so a lapse gets noticed. PennDOT also says it accepts policies from insurers licensed to write coverage in Pennsylvania, even if the company is based elsewhere.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Pennsylvania
PennDOT spells out the penalties for driving uninsured:
- A fine of at least $300
- A three-month suspension of your vehicle registration
- A three-month suspension of your driver’s license
If an uninsured vehicle is in a crash that has to be reported to police, PennDOT suspends the owner’s driving privilege and revokes the vehicle’s registration.
A Lapse Can Cost You Even If You Don’t Drive
According to PennDOT, “A lapse in insurance coverage results in the suspension of your vehicle registration privilege for three months,” unless an exception applies. The law makes exceptions if you can show the car wasn’t driven during a lapse of less than 31 days, if you’re in the armed services and coverage lapsed while you were on temporary emergency duty and the car wasn’t driven, or if the lapse began when or after a seasonal registration expired.
Instead of serving the three-month registration suspension, you may be able to pay a $500 civil penalty, no more than once in a 12-month period. You also have to pay the restoration fee and show proof of insurance. The easiest way to avoid all of this is to surrender your plate before your coverage ends. PennDOT’s cancellation page says, “If you surrender your registration plate immediately, nothing happens.” RateFrog’s guide to what happens when insurance lapses covers the broader risks.
Does Pennsylvania Use SR-22 Filings?
RateFrog didn’t find an official Pennsylvania page describing SR-22 filings. If you don’t pay a court judgment from a crash and it’s reported to PennDOT, Pennsylvania law suspends your license until the judgment is resolved and you provide proof of financial responsibility. If PennDOT asks you for proof, ask exactly what form it needs. For how SR-22 filings generally work, see RateFrog’s SR-22 guide.
If You Can’t Find Coverage
The Pennsylvania Assigned Risk Plan provides coverage to drivers who can’t get it on their own. You must certify that you tried and failed to buy insurance in Pennsylvania within the previous 60 days, and you apply through a licensed producer certified by the plan. The plan’s customer service line is (401) 946-2800.
How Pennsylvania Insurers Use Credit
The Insurance Department’s consumer guide says some companies may use your credit history when setting your premium, but they can’t use it to raise your rate when you renew. If your insurer cancels for nonpayment, Pennsylvania law generally requires at least 15 days’ notice.
Is Pennsylvania’s Minimum Coverage Enough?
Pennsylvania’s minimums are among the lowest in the country. A $5,000 property damage limit may not cover much damage to a newer car, and a $15,000 per-person injury limit can run out quickly. If a claim is more than your limits, you could owe the rest. RateFrog’s guide to how much car insurance you need can help you choose, and you can compare car insurance quotes at several coverage levels.
Where to Get Help
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department takes questions at 1-877-881-6388 and accepts complaints online through its consumer help page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Minimum Car Insurance in Pennsylvania?
$15,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $30,000 per accident, $5,000 of property damage liability and $5,000 of medical benefits.
Should I Choose Full Tort or Limited Tort?
Limited tort costs less but restricts your right to sue for pain and suffering unless your injury is serious or another exception applies, such as a crash caused by an uninsured driver or by a driver convicted of DUI. Full tort keeps your full right to sue. It’s a trade-off between premium savings and legal options after a crash.
What Happens If My Insurance Lapses in Pennsylvania?
Your registration can be suspended for three months, even if you didn’t drive. Lapses of less than 31 days without driving are an exception, and surrendering your plate before the lapse avoids the suspension.
Can I Show Proof of Insurance on My Phone in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Pennsylvania accepts electronic insurance ID cards, and the officer may view only what’s needed to confirm your coverage.
Sources
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department: Auto Insurance
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department: Auto Insurance Guide (PDF)
- Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 75, Chapter 17
- PennDOT: Insurance Overview
- PennDOT: Penalties for Cancelling Insurance
- PennDOT: Insurance Law FAQs
- PennDOT: Financial Responsibility FAQs
- AIPSO: Pennsylvania Assigned Risk Plan
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department: Complaints and Help