How to Find Your State's Auto Insurance Requirements

Auto policy insurance requirements vary greatly from state to state. Most states mandate a minimum liability coverage which includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability, but the minimums vary. For example, when it comes to having property damage liability, Pennsylvania mandates a minimum of $5,000 while Maryland requires a minimum of $15,000.

Also, some states may mandate specific types of insurance coverage. Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which covers medical expenses and wage losses from an accident, is mandatory in some states like Maryland, Florida, New Jersey, New York, and many more.

Some states also require uninsured motorist coverage, which pays for your damages if an uninsured or underinsured motorist causes damage to your vehicle.

Some states have a no-fault policy that allows you to claim the maximum possible coverage under your policy irrespective of whether you were at fault or not in an accident. States like Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania have this policy. In states without such a policy, insurance companies pay based on the assessed degree of fault in an accident.

The best place to get accurate information on your state auto insurance requirements is the state's department of motor vehicle administration. Most states have this information on their vehicle administration website. You should also be able to call your local motor vehicle administration office at their customer service number for this information.

You can also find out about your state auto insurance requirements from your insurance company. Your insurance policy may also describe your state's requirements in a sheet attached to the declarations page of your policy.

You can also find this information online at commercial sites like Auto Insurance Remedy or Insure. Your car dealer should also have your state's auto insurance requirement readily available.