Is car insurance required in Tennessee?

Car insurance is mandatory in Tennessee. The state minimum requirement is 25/50/15 in liability coverage. Drivers can face fines, loss of driving privileges and jail time for not having insurance or failure to show proof of insurance when required.

Do you need car insurance to register a car in Tennessee?

You do not need to provide proof of insurance to register a vehicle in Tennessee. However, you need the state minimum liability insurance to be able to drive in the state legally. Therefore, you will not legally be able to drive your registered vehicle without the minimum insurance.

What is “basic” car insurance in Tennessee?

Basic car insurance in Tennessee means the state minimum insurance requirements, which is 25/50/15 liability coverage. This is the minimum insurance coverage that drivers in Tennessee must have to drive their vehicles legally.

Does insurance follow the car or driver in Tennessee?

Car insurance in Tennessee usually follows the car and not the driver. If you are involved in an accident driving another person’s car, that person’s auto insurance coverage would be the primary source of compensation.

Can you get car insurance without a license in Tennessee?

Having a license is not a legal requirement to purchase car insurance in Tennessee. However, individual insurance providers might insist on a driving license before providing you coverage.

Is Tennessee a no-fault state and what does this mean?

Tennessee is not a no-fault state. This means that if you are involved in an accident and incur costs due to bodily injury while another driver is at fault, you can recover damages through a personal injury suit from them and their insurance provider.

Is PIP coverage required in Tennessee?

No, PIP (personal injury protection) coverage is not required in the state of Tennessee.

Does Tennessee require uninsured motorist insurance?

Uninsured motorist coverage is not required in Tennessee. However, you can choose to purchase this coverage to be better protected from uninsured or underinsured motorists. If you decide to purchase UM insurance, the minimum requirement is a 25/50/15 limit.

Does Tennessee allow for diminished value compensation after an accident?

Tennessee does allow for <a href="https://www.collisionclaims.com/tennessee-diminished-value/#:~:text=Tennessee%20is%20a%20diminished%20value,motorist%20coverage%20for%20diminished%20value." target="_blank">diminished value compensation</a> after an accident. This means that an insurer can ask for compensation after a car accident according to its diminished market value due to the accident.

How do car insurance requirements change after a DUI in Tennessee?

There is no change to car insurance requirements in Tennessee after a DUI . However, your insurance costs might rise significantly and you might have to purchase additional SR-22 coverage.

What is a CARCO inspection and is it required?

A <a href="https://www.carcogroup.com/policyholder-resources/faqs" target="_blank">CARCO</a> inspection is a photo inspection of your car before filing for insurance. This ascertains the current condition of your vehicle by documenting the physical condition, the distance traveled, and the accessories the car may have. There are no additional fees for this inspection. Tennessee is not a state that requires CARCO inspections.

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

In Tennessee, car insurance laws state that drivers need to carry minimum coverage of 25/50/15 to register their cars. This means that your car insurance policy must include coverage of up to $50,000 for all persons injured in an accident with a limit of $25,000 per person, with $15,000 of property damage coverage. There are penalties for drivers failing to meet the state minimum insurance requirements, including fines, suspensions and even jail time. While the minimum coverage requirements protect third parties in an accident, you can opt for additional coverage and relevant add-ons which will protect you and your vehicle if you’re involved in an accident.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

What Is the Minimum Car Insurance Requirement in Tennessee?

How much car insurance do you need in Tennessee? According to state law, you need to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance to drive in Tennessee. This includes:

$25,000 per person for bodily injury
$50,000 per accident for bodily injury
$15,000 per accident for property damage

You might see these minimum liability requirements expressed as 25/50/15. However, you can choose insurance with higher coverage minimums at an additional cost for better financial protection.

What Does This Minimum Coverage Mean?

Most states, including Tennessee, require liability insurance coverage. Liability insurance covers the cost of injuries to other parties and damage to property if you are in an at-fault accident. In Tennessee, liability limits are set at 25/50/15. This means that you need a minimum of $25,000 per person for injuries or death, with a total of $50,000 per accident. Property damage liability covers property damage, like a home or a vehicle, that gets damaged in the accident. Therefore, you need a minimum of $15,000 property damage coverage in Tennessee.

How Much Does the Minimum Car Insurance Cost in Tennessee?

The cost of car insurance in Tennessee can vary based on several factors, including your age, driving record, ZIP code, the type of car you own, credit score and other factors. Costs can also vary among different car insurance providers in Tennessee.

The cheapest car insurance in Tennessee is from USAA and costs about $324 per year. However, USAA policies are only available to current and former military members and their families. The second cheapest option is GEICO, at $369 per year.

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

For this study, MoneyGeek compared car insurance rates with state minimum limits of 25/50/15 liability insurance for a 40-year-old male driver with a 2010 Toyota Camry, a clean driving record and a good credit rating.

MoneyGeek also ranked the best car insurance companies in Tennessee for those who want strong service and affordable rates.

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

While the state of Tennessee has minimum car insurance liability limits, a leasing company might have its own set of requirements if you opt for a lease. This is usually a full-coverage car insurance policy with 100/300/50 minimum liability limits for most leasing companies. Contact your leasing company to find out the minimum coverage that meets your leasing terms. When shopping for a leased car, make sure you fully understand the agreement terms and the minimum car insurance requirements you need to meet to satisfy the lease agreement.

If you are confused about how much car insurance you should purchase in Tennessee, MoneyGeek recommends full-coverage car insurance with at least 50/100/50 liability limits. Unfortunately, Tennessee has a high ratio of uninsured motorists at 23.7%. This means you might not be covered for property damages or injuries if an underinsured or uninsured motorist hits you, and you do not have a full coverage car insurance policy.

Penalties for Driving Without Car Insurance in Tennessee

Driving your vehicle without car insurance in Tennessee can attract penalties, financial or otherwise. Therefore, you need to carry proof of insurance at all times and provide it whenever asked to do so by a law enforcement officer. In most cases, this can be a policy declaration page, a printed ID, or electronic proof of insurance you carry on your phone.

Tennessee uses a web-based program to verify the insurance of drivers. Monetary fines and the loss of driving privileges may result if you drive without insurance. Since 2017, failure to provide proof of insurance during a traffic stop or an accident is classified as a Class C misdemeanor. Here are some of the repercussions drivers can expect for driving without insurance or proof of insurance:

A maximum fine of $300
Up to 30 days in prison
Your vehicle might get towed
Suspension of vehicle license and registration
The requirement to file SR-22 to confirm financial responsibility
Coverage failure fee of $30 in failing online check
Additional $100 fee, $50 fee to commissioner and $65 fee to reinstate driving privileges for no timely response to the above

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Insurance in Tennessee

Here are some answers to questions people sometimes ask about car insurance in Tennessee.

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 July 9, 2021.
CollisionClaims.com. "Tennessee Diminished Value Claims." Accessed July 11, 2021.
Insurance Information Institute. "2020 Insurance Factbook." Accessed July 11, 2021.
Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists." Accessed July 11, 2021.
Kelly Blue Book. "Penalties for Driving Without Car Insurance by State." Accessed July 11, 2021.
Tennessee Department of Revenue. "Why You Should Have Auto Insurance." Accessed July 11, 2021.