Liability car insurance is required in every state except New Hampshire. Designed to protect the other drivers involved in accidents that you cause, liability insurance is an important part of your overall car insurance
policy. As a licensed insurance broker
and the easiest comparison shopping app, Jerry
has compiled everything you should know about liability insurance so you can purchase with confidence. What is liability car insurance?
Liability car insurance is the part of your car insurance policy that provides protection to other drivers on the road when you’re at fault in an accident. So if you hit another person’s vehicle or property, your liability coverage will help cover the cost of any medical bills and/or property damage up to the limits stated in your policy.
Liability car insurance cost
Getting liability insurance on its own is relatively cheap, and the price varies according to where you live, your age, and other important factors.
Here are the average annual rates for liability car insurance in every state, plus the District of Columbia.
If you’re not sure how much you should be paying for liability insurance, sign up with Jerry
. A licensed broker, Jerry can compare prices from over 40 major insurance companies to find you the right coverage at the best price. What does liability car insurance cover?
When you damage another vehicle or another person’s property with your car, the other person involved will file an insurance claim. Depending on the claim, either your bodily injury liability or property damage liability will then pay to cover any costs up to your policy limits.
If your insurance doesn’t cover all of the costs, then the other party can take you to court to cover any remaining expenses above and beyond the maximum coverage amount. But what exactly does each of the liability insurance types cover?
Bodily injury liability: The BIL portion of your liability insurance policy covers you as the at-fault driver, paying the bodily injury costs stemming from an accident you cause. These costs include any ongoing medical expenses, funeral costs, or lost income. BIL also helps cover any legal fees arising from a lawsuit.
Property damage liability: The other component of liability insurance, PDL helps cover the costs associated with repairing vehicles and property damaged in an accident that you cause. Covered property can include buildings, signs, and other roadside objects.
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What does liability insurance not cover?
While liability car insurance is great at protecting you in the event that you’re found to be at fault for a car accident, it won’t do anything to protect you or your property, including your own vehicle.
For that you’ll need comprehensive coverage
or collision coverage
, depending on how the damage was caused. RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
How much liability insurance should I carry on my car?
Above and beyond the minimum amount of coverage
required by your state, the amount of liability insurance you should get varies for every driver. Designed to protect your assets, liability insurance will only cover those assets up to your policy maximums. For anything over that, the other driver and their passengers can sue you for damages in court.
If you have a high net worth, you should consider getting additional liability insurance coverage to protect your assets. For drivers with a lower net worth, extra liability coverage might not be necessary, but it's still a good investment if you can afford it. Every driver is different, but many drivers can double their bodily injury liability coverage for as little as $5 a month!
Liability coverage limits
In most cases, there is a dollar limit to how much your liability car insurance will cover for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident.
Fortunately, you can purchase additional liability insurance coverage if you need it. Of course, any additional liability insurance you buy will cause your premiums to go up.
Do you need liability car insurance?
Unlike collision and comprehensive coverage, liability car insurance is required in almost every state in the U.S. This means that just about every driver in the nation should have liability insurance.
If you do not, you could face severe penalties and fines, up to and including jail time. In many cases, the penalties and fines for violations increase with repeated offenses.
Additionally, each state in the U.S.–except for Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania–requires that those caught driving without insurance file an SR22 certificate
. While the certificate is relatively cheap to file, an SR22 puts you into a higher-risk category, which means that you will pay more for insurance.
Plus, on average, drivers with an SR22 have to keep it on file for at least three years in most states, which means that the higher insurance premiums can really add up over time.
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What states require liability coverage?
All states other than New Hampshire
require drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability car insurance. The amount of coverage you need to have varies by state. You can find the minimum amount of liability car insurance required by each state below.
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$50,000 bodily injury liability per person
$100,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$15,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$15,000 bodily injury liability per person
$30,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$5,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$15,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$10,000 property damage liability per accident
$15,000 personal injury protection per person
$30,000 personal injury protection per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$10,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
$50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident
$5,000 uninsured motorist property damage coverage per accident
$10,000 property damage liability per accident
$10,000 personal injury protection
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$20,000 bodily injury liability per person
$40,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$10,000 property damage liability per accident
$10,000 personal injury protection
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$15,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$20,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
$50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$20,000 bodily injury liability per person
$40,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$15,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
$50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident
Also required: personal injury protection, including $4,500 in medical expenses, up to $900 per month for a year for disability or loss of income; $25 per day for in-home services; $2,000 for funeral burial or cremation costs; and $4,500 for rehabilitation survivors benefits, including up to $900 per month for a year for disability or loss of income and $25 per day for in-home services.
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$15,000 bodily injury liability per person
$30,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$50,000 bodily injury liability per person
$100,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
$100,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident
$30,000 bodily injury liability per person
$60,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$15,000 property damage liability per accident
$30,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
$60,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident
$15,000 uninsured/underinsured property damage coverage per accident
$20,000 bodily injury liability per person
$40,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$5,000 property damage liability per accident
$20,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
$40,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident
$8,000 personal injury protection
$50,000 bodily injury liability per person
$100,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$10,000 property damage liability per accident outside Michigan
$1 million property protection within Michigan
$250,000 personal injury protection (lower personal injury protection limits available for certain Medicare and Medicaid recipients)
$30,000 bodily injury liability per person
$60,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$10,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
$50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident
$40,000 personal injury protection
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
$50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$20,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
$50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$20,000 property damage liability per accident
If you purchase optional car insurance, these are the minimum limits:
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
$50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident
$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage
$1,000 medical payments coverage
$5,000 property damage liability per accident
$15,000 personal injury protection
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$10,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$50,000 liability for death per person
$100,000 liability for death per accident
$10,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person
$50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per accident
$50,000 personal injury protection
$30,000 bodily injury liability per person
$60,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$30,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
$60,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident
$25,000 uninsured motorist property damage coverage per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
$50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident
$30,000 personal injury protection
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$20,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
$50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident
$15,000 personal injury protection
$15,000 bodily injury liability per person
$30,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$5,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
$50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident
$25,000 uninsured motorist property damage coverage
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
$50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$15,000 property damage liability per accident
$30,000 bodily injury liability per person
$60,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$65,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$15,000 property damage liability per accident
$3,000 personal injury protection
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$10,000 property damage liability per accident
$50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
$100,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident
$10,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage per accident
If you purchase optional car insurance, these are the minimum limits (drivers who don’t purchase insurance pay a $500 fee):
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$20,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
$50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident
$20,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$10,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
$50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident
$25,000 uninsured motorist property damage coverage
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$10,000 property damage liability per accident
$25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
$50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$20,000 property damage liability per accident
Comprehensive vs liability car insurance
In addition to liability car insurance, you might also have comprehensive coverage. Unlike liability car insurance, comprehensive car insurance covers damage to your vehicle caused by the perils listed on your policy.
These perils usually include:
Damage from falling objects
Animal damage (from collisions)
Damage from natural disasters
Glass damage (such as a cracked windshield)
Also, unlike liability insurance, comprehensive coverage has a deductible you must meet before your coverage will kick in.
What are the differences between liability coverage and collision coverage?
Collision insurance is designed to cover any damage suffered by your vehicle in a collision, even in accidents you’re at fault for.
Collision insurance covers the following:
A collision with an object (including a tree, fence, or mailbox)
Another driver hitting your car if they don’t have any or enough insurance (if you don’t have uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage)
Just like comprehensive insurance, you must pay a deductible on your collision coverage before it will pay out anything following an accident.
How to get liability insurance
By shopping around, you can easily find the cheapest liability car insurance available. If you really want to speed up the insurance-shopping process, you can use the Jerry
app. Jerry uses AI technology to compare prices from dozens of top insurance companies and present you with affordable quotes. Local agents and other online shopping sites can only show you prices from five or six insurance companies.
On top of that, Jerry's live insurance agents will handle all the phone calls and paperwork if you decide to switch policies. It will even send you new car insurance quotes before every renewal.
This level of service has earned Jerry a 4.7/5 rating in the App Store. Check out what one user had to say in their five-star review:
"Within minutes I had quotes, made adjustments, and initiated a request for a final price. Within the half hour, they handled canceling my last policy and had me set up with my new policy. Saving almost $1,000 a year now with a better policy than before." - Satisfied Jerry User
Saved $725 annually
4.7
