Car Insurance Laws
State minimum insurance requirements in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, the state minimum coverage requirements are as follows:
Liability
- Bodily Injury $15,000 per person
- Bodily Injury $30,000 per accident
- Property Damage $5,000 per accident
First Party Medical Benefit
- $5,000 per person
Tort Option
- Full or Limited
Optional coverage in Pennsylvania (varies by carrier):
- Accidental Death Benefit
- Extraordinary Medical Benefit
- Funeral Expense Benefit
- Income Loss Benefit
- Combined First Party Benefit
- Comprehensive
- Collision
- Loan/Lease Payoff
- Rental Car Reimbursement
- Roadside Assistance
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury
Liability coverage is legally required in Pennsylvania and pays for injury and lost wages that you cause to another driver or their passengers as well as damage to the other driver’s vehicle in the event that you are considered “at fault” in an accident. The coverage limits are determined by each individual state and normally split into three categories. In Pennsylvania, the minimum is listed as 15/30/5 and explained below:
$15,000 bodily injury coverage per person. This is the maximum dollar amount that pays for a single person that you injure in an auto accident.
$30,000 bodily injury coverage per accident. This is the maximum dollar amount that pays for all injuries that you cause in an accident if more than one person is hurt.
$5,000 property damage per accident. This is the maximum dollar amount that pays for damage that you cause in an accident.
First Party Benefit provides coverage for medical costs that you and your passengers incur in an accident regardless of fault. FPB will cover medical expenses such as hospital bills, medical, dental, and nursing services resulting from an accident. In Pennsylvania, minimum FPB coverage of $5,000 per person is required on your policy.
The Tort Option in Pennsylvania will determine the policyholder’s right to sue another driver for pain and suffering. Selecting a limited Tort option restricts your right to sue another driver for non-monetary damage except for extreme circumstances concerning death or permanent disfigurement in return for a lower premium. Choosing a full Tort option allows the policyholder to sue for any post-accident related pain and suffering and usually comes with a higher premium.
These numbers reflect the minimum limits required in Pennsylvania but higher coverage amounts are available with most companies.
Pennsylvania is a no fault state!
What does this mean for you?
Put simply, a no-fault insurance laws system requires that drivers carry their own protection. When an accident happens, no matter who is at fault, your own insurance foots the bill. Each driver takes care of his or herself, and theoretically, the chances of someone suing or raising a hissy fit over culpability are lessened. And bonus? It guarantees every driver immediate medical treatment in the event of an accident.
Top Pennsylvania Car Insurance Companies
The Zebra compares over 200 companies & 1,800 products, so you can save way more than 15%.
Car Insurance FAQs
Are digital insurance cards accepted in Pennsylvania?
What does this mean for you?
If you happen to find yourself pulled over by a police officer in Pennsylvania you won't have to rifle through your glovebox wondering if you remembered to replace that expired insurance card last month. Instead, you can provide proof of coverage with your smartphone.
Do I need uninsured motorist coverage in Pennsylvania?
Uninsured Drivers in Pennsylvania
7%
12%
Did you know?
Uninsured motorist coverage protects you from damage caused by other drivers without insurance and hit-and-runs.How much does car insurance cost in Pennsylvania cities?
| Rank | City | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $2,017 |
| 2 | Drexel Hill | $1,519 |
| 3 | Chester | $1,407 |
| 4 | Levittown | $1,393 |
| 5 | Norristown | $1,294 |
| 6 | Allentown | $1,119 |
| 7 | Erie | $1,093 |
| 8 | Reading | $1,088 |
| 9 | Easton | $1,080 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh | $1,074 |
| 11 | Municipality of Monr | $1,070 |
| 12 | Wilkes-Barre | $1,068 |
| 13 | Plum | $1,068 |
| 14 | Hazleton | $1,067 |
| 15 | Bethlehem | $1,066 |
| 16 | Scranton | $1,060 |
| 17 | New Castle | $1,036 |
| 18 | Altoona | $1,022 |
| 19 | Harrisburg | $1,005 |
| 20 | Bethel Park | $999 |
| 21 | Lancaster | $985 |
| 22 | Williamsport | $976 |
| 23 | Lebanon | $941 |
| 24 | York | $935 |
| 25 | State College | $887 |
Recent Pennsylvania Car Insurance Questions and Answers
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Driving Laws
Pennsylvania Texting and Driving Laws
- Ban on text messaging for all drivers
Alcohol Related Fatalities
409
Per Year in PennsylvaniaAnnual DUI Arrests
Pennsylvania53,319
US Average23,438
DUI Legal Limit
0.08%
Blood Alcohol ContentAverage DUI Cost
10k
Nationally, For First OffendersWhat does this mean for you?
Driving with a blood alcohol content higher than the number above will put you at risk of being arrested for driving under the influence. If arrested you’ll face harsh consequences and may face varying degrees of jail time, fines, driver’s license suspensions, and reinstatement requirements.
If convicted of a DUI, you can expect the financial obligations to extend beyond the DUI ticket to court costs, attorney fees, higher insurance rates, and potentially the installation of a Ignition Interlock Device to serve as a breathalyzer test each time you start your vehicle.Cheap Car Insurance
It's expensive to get car insurance in Pennsylvania!
Dang! Pennsylvania is definitely not one of the cheapest states for car insurance. Dont worry, we got your back!
At The Zebra we're all about helping you save money on car insurance. Since Pennsylvania might have cheaper premiums that makes our job a breeze! It's easy to get started—we just need some basic information.What's the cheapest car insurance in Pennsylvania?
| Rank | Company Name | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Casualty | $733 |
| 2 | Travelers | $795 |
| 3 | USAA | $801 |
| 4 | Erie | $808 |
| 5 | Penn National | $824 |
| 6 | Auto-Owners | $983 |
| 7 | Amica | $1,002 |
| 8 | Atlantic States | $1,026 |
| 9 | Donegal Mutual | $1,080 |
| 10 | GEICO | $1,134 |
| 11 | Allied | $1,167 |
| 12 | State Farm | $1,186 |
| 13 | Cal Casualty | $1,210 |
| 14 | State Auto | $1,254 |
| 15 | Encompass | $1,371 |
| 16 | Harleysville | $1,424 |
| 17 | Mutual Benefit Group | $1,425 |
| 18 | Progressive | $1,443 |
| 19 | Nationwide | $1,462 |
| 20 | Chubb | $1,567 |
| 21 | MetLife | $1,708 |
| 22 | Mercury | $1,770 |
| 23 | National General | $1,916 |
| 24 | Motorists Mutual | $2,110 |
| 25 | Liberty Mutual | $2,432 |
| 26 | American Independent | $2,515 |
| 27 | Safe Auto | $2,531 |
| 28 | Allstate | $3,083 |
| 29 | Sentry | $3,322 |
| 30 | Safeco | $5,639 |
