Liability Car Insurance: What Is It? Do You Need It?

Liability car insurance protects other drivers in accidents you cause by covering medical bills and property damage—and it’s required in 49 states.
Written by Cheryl Knight
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Liability car insurance helps pay for property damage and bodily injury for the other drivers involved in accidents that you cause.
  • Liability car insurance is required in every state except New Hampshire.
  • Each state has a bare minimum level of liability coverage—but you can (and usually should) buy more.
  • A liability car insurance policy only covers other drivers, not you or your property.

What is liability car insurance?

Liability car insurance is an auto insurance policy that provides protection to other drivers on the road when you’re at fault in an accident. It’s made up of two basic components:
bodily injury liability
and
property damage liability
.
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 coverage in every state, plus the District of Columbia.

What does auto liability 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, your bodily injury liability or property damage liability will then pay to cover any costs up to your policy limits.
Bodily injury liability coverage: 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:
  • Ongoing medical expenses
  • Funeral costs
  • Lost income
  • Legal fees arising from a lawsuit
Property damage liability coverage: The other component of liability insurance, PDL helps cover damage like repairing vehicles and property defaced in an accident that you cause up to your property damage limit. Covered property can include:
  • Vehicles
  • Buildings
  • Signs
  • Other roadside objects
If your insurance doesn’t cover all of the costs, the other party can take you to court to cover any remaining expenses above and beyond the maximum coverage amount.

Liability insurance does not cover you or your property

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.

How much liability insurance should I carry on my car?

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: Consider getting additional liability insurance coverage to protect your assets. 
If you have a lower net worth: Additional 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 have a dollar amount

In most cases, there is a financial limit for how much your liability car insurance will cover for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident. Each state has a minimum level of liability coverage.
Example: The state minimum coverage for auto liability insurance in Washington is 25/50/10:
  • $25,000 for bodily injury coverage per person
  • $50,000 for bodily injury cover per accident
  • $10,000 for property damage coverage per accident
Fortunately, you can purchase additional liability insurance coverage beyond the state minimum liability limits for added protection. Of course, any additional coverage you buy will cause your insurance rates to go up.

Do you need auto liability coverage?

Unlike collision and comprehensive types of 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 adhere to the insurance requirements, 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
SR-22 certificate
.
While the certificate is relatively cheap to file, an SR-22 puts you into a higher-risk category, which means that you will pay more for insurance. And since drivers with an SR-22 have to keep it on file for at least three years in most states, those higher insurance premiums can really add up over time.

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.
Alabama
  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Alaska
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Arizona
  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $15,000 property damage liability per accident
Arkansas
  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability per accident
California
  • $15,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $5,000 property damage liability per accident
Colorado
  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $15,000 property damage liability per accident
Connecticut
  • $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
Delaware
  • $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
District of Columbia
  • $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
Florida
  • $10,000 property damage liability per accident
  • $10,000 personal injury protection
Georgia
  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Hawaii
  • $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
Idaho
  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $15,000 property damage liability per accident
Illinois
  • $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
Indiana
  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Iowa
  • $20,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $40,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $15,000 property damage liability per accident
Kansas
  • $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.
Kentucky
  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Louisiana
  • $15,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Maine
  • $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
Maryland
  • $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
Massachusetts
  • $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
Michigan
  • $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)
Minnesota
  • $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
Mississippi
  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Missouri
  • $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
Montana
  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $20,000 property damage liability per accident
Nebraska
  • $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
Nevada
  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $20,000 property damage liability per accident
New Hampshire
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
New Jersey
  • $5,000 property damage liability per accident
  • $15,000 personal injury protection
New Mexico
  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $10,000 property damage liability per accident
New York
  • $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
North Carolina
  • $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
North Dakota
  • $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
Ohio
  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Oklahoma
  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Oregon
  • $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
Pennsylvania
  • $15,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $5,000 property damage liability per accident
  • $5,000 medical benefits
Rhode Island
  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability per accident
South Carolina
  • $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
South Dakota
  • $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
Tennessee
  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $15,000 property damage liability per accident
Texas
  • $30,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Utah
  • $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
Vermont
  • $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
Virginia
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
Washington
  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $10,000 property damage liability per accident
West Virginia
  • $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
Wisconsin
  • $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
Wyoming
  • $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:
  • Theft
  • Vandalism
  • Damage from falling objects
  • Flood damage
  • Fire damage
  • 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.

Collision vs. liability 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 crash you cause
  • A collision with an object (including a tree, fence, or mailbox)
  • Your car rolling over
  • 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.
Did you know? When you combine collision and comprehensive coverage on an insurance policy, this is known as “full coverage.” 

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, use a
trustworthy insurance comparison tool
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Jerry
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