If you cause a car accident, your liability coverage will pay for other injured persons’ medical bills and repairing or replacing any damaged property.
If your vehicle gets damaged, your full coverage car insurance
policy will pay for the cost of repairing or replacing it, regardless of who’s at fault. Liability insurance vs full coverage
Liability car insurance
is the minimum coverage required in most states. It typically includes bodily injury liability
and property damage liability
coverage to pay for any medical expenses and property damages following a car accident that resulted from your negligence. In some states, liability also includes uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
, medical payments coverage (MedPay)
, and/or personal injury protection (PIP)
.Full-coverage car insurance
doesn’t actually cover every possible scenario. Instead, it’s a catch-all term for any policy that includes liability coverage to pay for damages you cause and collision insurance
and comprehensive insurance
to pay for physical damages to your car, regardless of fault. Full coverage policies also allow drivers to add optional coverages and perks, like Here’s a breakdown of the differences between a liability and a full coverage policy:
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| | |
Pays for personal injury and property damage for other drivers after an accident you caused | | |
Pays for damage to your own vehicle | | |
| | |
Allows optional add-on coverages | | |
Liability and full coverage policies also differ in terms of policy limits.
Liability limits vary and must meet or exceed those set by your state.
Full coverage limits typically equal your car’s actual cash value (ACV).
Liability-only vs full-coverage insurance costs
On average, state-minimum liability coverage costs around $928 per year while full coverage insurance runs about $1,985 per year. But your auto insurance rate will depend on factors such as your location and insurance provider.
Liability insurance vs full coverage cost by state
State-wide factors can impact the cost of your car insurance premiums. But rates can vary widely even within the same state—drivers in rural areas generally pay lower liability insurance rates than drivers in major cities, for instance. Insurance providers also consider the climate and crime rate when calculating full coverage insurance prices.
Here's an overview of how where you live affects your average annual premiums for liability and full coverage:
Average cost of liability insurance vs full coverage by popular provider
Each insurance provider has its own formula for calculating insurance rates
. The rate you’re quoted by one company may be much higher (or lower) than quotes from other providers. Let’s look at the average insurance rates from some of the best car insurance companies:
Just as not all insurers are the same, not all drivers are the same. Your driving record, demographics, and location all play a role in your auto insurance rates.
To compare rates customized to you and your driving profile, head to Jerry
. Within minutes of downloading the app you’ll have a selection of free quotes for liability and full coverage policies from top providers to choose from—plus, you can select and bind your policy right in the app. 4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars 4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers Liability vs full coverage requirements
Required by most states, liability car insurance
is the basic minimum coverage that pays for the other driver’s medical expenses and vehicle damage in the event of an at-fault car accident. Even in states where drivers have other options for proving the financial responsibility required to drive legally, most choose to purchase liability coverage. No state requires full-coverage car insurance, but lenders will typically require it for drivers who lease or finance a car. Plus, most drivers find it worth the added expense since it not only helps minimize post-accident out-of-pocket expenses but also offers options for additional coverage, like roadside assistance and rental reimbursement coverage.
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Liability car insurance vs full coverage: Which is better?
Full coverage is better than liability-only car insurance coverage in almost every way:
It covers more expenses, such as medical treatments and car repairs
It applies in more scenarios
You can file a claim even if you’re at fault
The only disadvantage to full coverage is its comparatively higher car insurance cost. However, most drivers will find the extra premiums more than worth it.
You need full coverage if…
You’ve financed or leased a used or new car.
You have an inexperienced and accident-prone teen driver on your policy.
You’re a senior driver worried about vision, hearing, and reflex losses.
You live in a highly-congested city with an equally high accident rate.
You’ve invested in a high-end vehicle, trim, or package.
You live in a city with a high crime or motor vehicle theft rate.
You live in a coastal or mid-western region known for extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, or natural disasters, like volcanoes.
Your car is a vintage collector’s item you want to preserve.
You can skip full coverage if…
You can easily afford to repair or replace your vehicle on your own if it’s damaged, stolen, or declared a total loss.
The bottom line: Unless you can afford to shoulder the financial burden of repairing or replacing your vehicle if it’s damaged, stolen, or declared a total loss, you need full coverage car insurance.
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FAQ
Is liability the same as full coverage?
No, liability coverage and full coverage car insurance are not the same. Liability insurance pays for bodily injuries and property damages to the other driver and their passengers if you’re at fault in an accident. On the other hand, full-coverage car insurance builds on liability coverage but adds extra protections with collision and comprehensive coverage, which pays replacement or repair costs for your car no matter who is at fault.
How much is liability insurance vs full coverage?
On average, liability car insurance is about $928 per year, while full coverage is about $1,985 per year. But insurance companies take many factors into consideration to determine your insurance costs, such as your driver profile and location.
When should I drop full coverage on my car?
You should drop full coverage if you have an older vehicle or it has a low actual cash value. Basically, your car should be worth 10 times the amount it costs for insurance every year.
Should I only have liability insurance?
It depends! If you own an older car, live in a rural area, and/or have a hefty savings account—liability-only car insurance might be for you. But if you live in a congested city with high crime rates or in a region prone to extreme extreme weather, you should think about purchasing full coverage car insurance for your financial peace of mind.