Auto Coverage in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Auto Insurance
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation laws require that drivers carry an auto insurance policy and keep proof of insurance with them at all times while they're driving. In Pennsylvania,
if you're pulled over by a traffic officer or involved in an unfortunate collision, then you'll need to show proof of auto insurance. If you are shown not to have coverage, then you could be stuck with a fine – and you may even lose your right to drive in Pennsylvania.
Minimum Pennsylvania auto insurance
In the Pennsylvania, drivers need to have at least the following amounts of auto insurance coverage. If you're not sure that you meet the requirement, check with your insurance provider and make sure you have at least the following amounts in coverage:
- Bodily Injury and Death: $15,000 to cover one person in any one accident, and $30,000 to cover all injuries
- Property Damages: $5,000
- Personal Injury Protection: $5,000
Pennsylvania also follows a tort system that kicks in, in case of an accident. Usually, a tort system means that one of the drivers involved in an accident must be found to have caused the collision, and the at-fault driver will need to pay the damages for both parties in the accident.
In Pennsylvania, the tort system works a bit differently than other states, in that drivers choose whether they prefer a Full Tort or Limited Tort. If they choose full tort, this option requires that the victim must be compensated for all financial losses for injuries caused by the at-fault driver.
Pennsylvania doesn't require uninsured motorist protection, but you may opt to purchase some coverage for uninsured motorists, considering that 7% of Pennsylvania's drivers have no auto insurance coverage (according to 2007 Insurance Research Council statistics).
Penalties without Pennsylvania auto insurance
If you're caught driving without auto insurance in Pennsylvania, you can be fined heavily – about $300 – and have both your driving privileges and vehicle registration suspended for three months. In some cases, your vehicle can also be impounded. In addition to the aforementioned penalties, you'll also need to pay yet another fee to get both your licen se and registration reinstated.