Pennsylvania, like most states, requires all vehicles on the road to be properly registered and insured. The minimum auto insurance requirements in PA are:
Note that PA auto insurance minimums address liability coverage only. In other words, these coverages will pay for damage you might cause to others, but not damage you cause to your vehicle. Nor will minimum auto insurance policies cover things like theft of your vehicle, hail damage, or uninsured motorists striking your car.
Key Takeaways
When shopping for auto insurance in PA, you might hear minimum auto insurance policies described as “15-30-5.” Those numbers refer to the amount of liability coverage you must carry to drive legally within the state.
Remember, policies like this only cover your basic financial responsibility towards others. And many drivers feel more comfortable buying more insurance.
In insurance-speak, the word “liability” means financial responsibility. If you cause damage to another person or their belongings, your liability coverage will come into play to help cover those damages.
In PA, a “15-30-5″ policy is the bare minimum of the coverages you need to drive, legally. And PA drivers must always keep proof of insurance handy in the vehicle.
If you’re caught driving without insurance, the penalties in PA can be severe. The first time you’re convicted of this offense, you’ll pay a fine (usually about $500.) If you’re caught driving without insurance again within a 12-month period, your license will be suspended.
Many PA drivers prefer to carry more insurance than required by the state. That makes sense, $5,000 doesn’t go very far to pay for damages to another vehicle or structure, and medical care costs for injured people have also skyrocketed in recent years.
Other auto insurance coverages you might appreciate include:
The Pennsylvania minimum insurance requirements exist to protect you from lawsuits, and to provide victims of accidents with the funds they deserve for medical care or auto repairs. Let’s explore them in detail
$15,000 Injury or Death of One Person
If you cause an accident, this coverage will pay up to $15,000 for one person to have medical care or funeral expenses. Any costs beyond $15,000 will be your responsibility.
$30,000 Injury or Death of More Than One Person
If you injure more than one person (or cause multiple fatalities and injuries) this coverage comes into play. It will pay up to $30,000 for injuries you cause to others or their funeral needs.
$5,000 Property Damage Liability Coverage
This coverage pays for damage you might cause to someone else’s property. It covers things like vehicles, structures, fences, and so on.
Many drivers feel that PA’s minimum auto insurance requirements need to be updated to reflect the increasing costs of medical care and auto repair. Imagine accidentally rear-ending your neighbor’s $80,000 Porsche with the family inside. Will $5,000 cover the damage to the car? Will $30,000 cover the whole family’s medical treatment? Remember, whatever costs aren’t covered by insurance will be your responsibility.
As of 2023, Pennsylvania is paying closer attention to drivers who don’t pay their turnpike tolls. If you owe four or more unpaid tolls, or tolls totaling $250 or more, your vehicle registration may be suspended.
Also new in 2023, fentanyl test strips have been decriminalized in PA. This means law enforcement can test for this dangerous substance at the site of an accident. DUI charges and convictions may increase in PA.
Pennsylvania auto insurance minimums exist to protect your and other drivers. And PA law enforcement takes insurance very seriously. If you’re caught driving without insurance, your first infraction will earn you a minimum fine of $300.
Depending on the situation, you may also lose your driver’s license for three months, and your vehicle may lose registration for three months. No one will be driving that vehicle, and you won’t be driving at all, either.
The expenses continue to pile up, too. When it’s time to re-instate your license and tags, you’ll pay another $94 for your license and $202 for a commercial driver’s license (CDL.)
All insurers base their rates on driver behavior, the value of a vehicle, local claims amounts, driver age, driver gender, marital status, and more.
If you’re looking for more affordable auto insurance, the best thing you can do is shop around every few years. Insurance companies slowly increase their rates over time, while other insurers will offer you an attractively low price to earn your business.
Read More: 8 Simple Ways to Save You 90% On Your Car Insurance
Insurers consider many factors about a driver and a vehicle when creating premiums. Then, based on these details, they place autos and drivers into “risk pools” to determine their prices.
Some insurers offer discounts for things like safe driving behavior, multi-policy packages (“bundles”), good grades or profession. Be sure to ask your insurance agent if these apply.
PA Auto Insurance Rates by Carrier
We scoured the internet to find the most affordable liability insurance policies in PA. But remember, your price can be affected by all the points we listed above. If you’re shopping for affordable auto insurance, try these providers first.
| Insurance Company | Monthly Premium for Liability-Only Policy |
| Erie | $26 |
| State Farm | $26 |
| Travelers | $33 |
| Geico | $38 |
Below you’ll find the answers to the most common questions we hear about auto insurance in PA.
Is auto insurance required by law in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Your vehicle must be registered and insured to drive legally in PA. Furthermore, you must always keep proof of insurance handy in the vehicle and provide it to law enforcement when asked.
Which insurance companies are most affordable in PA?
Our research suggests Erie, State Farm and Travelers to be the most affordable PA for a safe driver in a passenger vehicle. But remember, shopping around every few years will help you keep your prices low.
Pennsylvania Auto Insurance Department
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