Do You Need Car Insurance To Register a Car In Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania requires proof of insurance to register your car in the state. Additionally, your insurance must meet the state’s minimum requirements.

What Is “Basic” Car Insurance in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania requires that all drivers have at least 15/30/5 in liability insurance and personal injury protection coverage. This coverage includes at least $15,000 in bodily injury coverage with a $30,000 limit per accident, $5,000 in property damage coverage and $5,000 in personal injury protection coverage.

Does Insurance Follow the Car or Driver in Pennsylvania?

Your auto insurance policy in Pennsylvania will follow the car. If a relative or friend is driving your vehicle and gets into an accident, they are covered.

Can You Get Car Insurance Without a License In Pennsylvania?

You can buy auto insurance in Pennsylvania without a license. This scenario applies to model car owners and individuals who own a car for someone else in the family to drive.

Is Pennsylvania a No-Fault State, and What Does This Mean?

Yes. Pennsylvania is a no-fault state. The term "no-fault state" means that Pennsylvania requires at least $5,000 of personal injury protection coverage, which pays for any driver and passengers' medical bills — even if they aren’t at fault in an accident.

Is PIP Coverage Required in Pennsylvania?

Yes. Pennsylvania state requires each driver to have at least $5,000 in personal injury protection coverage.

Does Pennsylvania Require Uninsured Motorist Insurance?

No. Pennsylvania does not require uninsured motorist insurance, but MoneyGeek highly recommends that drivers add this coverage to their policy. This type of insurance can help pay for your medical bills or damages if you get into an accident with an uninsured driver.

Does Pennsylvania Allow for Diminished Value Compensation After an Accident?

Yes. Pennsylvania laws allow drivers to request diminished value compensation after an accident. "Diminished value" refers to the difference in the value of your vehicle before and after an accident.

How Do Car Insurance Requirements Change After a DUI in Pennsylvania?

While facing a DUI in Pennsylvania will result in strict fees and penalties, drivers do not need to apply for SR-22 insurance as a condition for driver’s license reinstatement.

What Is CARCO Inspection, and Is it Required?

No. Pennsylvania does not require CARCO inspections. This process involves a vehicle photo inspection that evaluates the car before insurance registration. It collects information on the mileage, the physical condition of the card and any accessories. This coverage can protect the policyholder and the insurer from fraud.

Pennsylvania Minimum Car Insurance Requirements, Penalties and Other Auto Insurance Laws

Q: Is Car Insurance Required In Pennsylvania?

Yes. Pennsylvania drivers need to have at least 15/30/5 in liability limits and $5,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) coverage to drive around the state.

Pennsylvania’s minimum car insurance requirements include 15/30/5 in liability insurance and personal injury protection coverage. This coverage includes $15,000 in bodily injury per person, $30,000 in bodily injury per accident and $5,000 in personal property insurance. Each individual must also receive coverage for a minimum of $5,000 personal injury protection. These requirements ensure that drivers can mitigate the risk of financial ruin in case of an accident. Without car insurance, drivers risk getting penalized or fined and will have to shoulder the costs of accidents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Pennsylvania
How Much Does Minimum Car Insurance Cost?
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Pennsylvania
FAQs

What Is the Minimum Car Insurance Requirement in Pennsylvania?

If you’re wondering how much car insurance you need in Pennsylvania, the state requires liability insurance with a limit of at least 15/30/5, which amounts to the following coverage:

$15,000 in bodily injury per person
$30,000 in bodily injury per accident
$5,000 in property damage
$5,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) coverage

These limits are only the minimum required by the state. If you need more, you can opt for additional coverage or increased limits.

What Does This Minimum Coverage Mean?

Pennsylvania’s car insurance laws require all drivers to have at least 15/30/5 in liability insurance and $5,000 in personal injury protection coverage to drive in the state.

Liability insurance includes bodily injury and property damage coverage. Bodily injury coverage pays for the medical bills and rehabilitation expenses of any third party involved. Property damage insurance covers any damage you make to a third party’s property due to the accident. Drivers in Pennsylvania should have at least $15,000 in bodily injury per person, with a $30,000 limit per accident and $5,000 in property damage coverage.

Individuals must also purchase $5,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) coverage in Pennsylvania. This insurance covers damages to you and any of your passengers, regardless of who is at fault in the accident.

How Much Does the Minimum Car Insurance Cost in Pennsylvania?

Insurers use several factors to determine car insurance premiums in Pennsylvania, including age, zip code, driving history and credit score. Each company weighs these considerations differently, which means your choice of insurer can affect your premiums, as well.

According to MoneyGeek's research, Pennsylvania’s cheapest insurer is USAA, with policies averaging $374 per year. However, their services are only available for military families. For other drivers in Pennsylvania, GEICO features the next-best prices, with auto insurance policies averaging $543 per year.

These prices are only estimates based on rates for an average Pennsylvania driver and should not be used to compare insurance prices.

Auto insurance rates mentioned from insurers in Pennsylvania were collected based on the state’s minimum requirement of 15/30/5 in liability limits and $5,000 in personal injury protection. We used a profile of a 40-year-old Pennsylvania resident with a good driving record and credit score driving a 2010 Toyota Camry.

If you're instead looking for a policy that balances quality with affordability, MoneyGeek also ranked the top car insurance companies in Pennsylvania.

What Is the Minimum Car Insurance Requirement in Pennsylvania While Leasing a Car?

In Pennsylvania, car lease insurance requirements typically differ from state requirements for ownership. Leasing companies will often require full coverage insurance and a minimum of 100/300/50 in liability limits. Contact your financial leasing company to determine minimum requirements.

In Pennsylvania, 6% of drivers are uninsured. To ensure you have enough auto insurance coverage to face anything on the road, MoneyGeek recommends that drivers in Pennsylvania should have at least 50/100/50 in liability limits and full coverage insurance. This coverage can protect against the cost of damage to your vehicle and ensures you have enough to handle any third-party medical bills with less risk of out-of-pocket expenses.

Penalties for Driving Without Car Insurance in Pennsylvania

Car insurance is required in Pennsylvania — without it, you may face penalties and fines that can halt your ability to drive legally. Drivers should always keep substantial proof of insurance in their cars, such as an insurance identification card or a copy of the declaration page of your insurance policy.

If you are stopped by law enforcement in Pennsylvania and caught without proof of insurance, you are liable to face the following penalties and expenses:

Minimum $300 fine
Three-month suspension of vehicle registration
Three-month suspension of driver’s license
Restoration fee for vehicle registration and driver’s license
No driving of the vehicle while registration is suspended

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Insurance in Pennsylvania

To help new drivers in Pennsylvania, MoneyGeek has answered a few commonly asked questions.

Learn More About Car Insurance

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick is a senior content director at MoneyGeek with over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, conducting original research and creating content that can be personalized for every buyer. He has been quoted on insurance topics in several publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Mark earned a master’s degree in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his economics and insurance knowledge to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.

sources

CARCO. "CARCO FAQs." Accessed September 19, 2021.
Department of Motor Vehicles Pennsylvania. "Insurance Overview." Accessed September 19, 2021.
Department of Transportation Pennsylvania. "Fact Sheet: Insurance Law." Accessed September 19, 2021.
Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists." Accessed September 19, 2021.
PennDOT Driver & Vehicle Services. "08 DUI Legislation." Accessed September 19, 2021.