Auto or car insurance coverage has two parts. The first is the liability section of the policy. It covers your financial responsibility for injuring others. Some liability coverage is required by most states.

The second part of auto insurance covers the car itself: comprehensive coverage reimburses losses from fire, theft or other perils; collision coverage pays to repair losses caused by an accident. Often this coverage is mandated by leasing companies or banks. There are also ancillary medical, car rental and other coverages which vary by state.

Utilizing high deductibles on the physical damage coverages can help reduce premiums. If you carry umbrella insurance, you must be sure that you carry the required amount of basic liability insurance to avoid a gap in coverage for a serious accident.

Pennsylvania Requirements Common Coverage Levels
In Pennsylvania

Bodily Injury Liability:

Liability coverage is what protects you if you’re at fault for an accident and you hurt someone or someone’s property. It’s made up of two components: bodily injury liability and property damage liability. This type of car insurance doesn’t cover your injuries or damage to your property.

• Covers expenses related to the injury or death of another driver or a pedestrian when an accident is your fault.
• $15,000 limit per person/ $30,000 limit per accident
• $100,000 limit per person/$300,000 limit per accident

Property Damage Liability:

Liability coverage is what protects you if you’re at fault for an accident and you hurt someone or someone’s property. It’s made up of two components: bodily injury liability and property damage liability. This type of car insurance doesn’t cover your injuries or damage to your property.

• Covers expenses related to the damage of another person’s property—like vehicles, homes, buildings and other structures when an accident is your fault.
• $5,000 limit
• $50,000 limit

Uninsured Motorist:

What if you’re in a car accident, the other driver is at fault. If that other driver doesn’t have car insurance, uninsured motorist coverage will help protect you. It will cover injury-related medical expenses/costs associated with repairing damage to your vehicle. If the driver who hit you has some auto insurance, but not enough, underinsured motorist coverage can coverthe difference between your bills and the driver’s coverage *up to the limits of your policy.

• Covers medical expenses if you’re in an accident, the other driver is at fault and doesn’t have any insurance.
• Not required
• $100,000 limit per person/$300,000 limit per accident

Underinsured Motorist:

Let’s say you’re in a car accident, the other driver is at fault. If that driver doesn’t have car insurance, uninsured motorist coverage will help protect you. It can cover injury-related medical expenses and costs associated with repairing damage to your car. If the driver who hit you has some auto insurance, but not enough, underinsured motorist coverage can cover the difference between your bills and the driver’s coverage up to the limits of your policy.

• Covers medical expenses if you’re in an accident, the other driver is at fault and doesn’t have enough insurance.
• Not required
• Not commonly added

Medical Expenses:

Medical payments coverage can help to cover the medical expenses associated with car accidents. It generally covers medical expenses for you, your passengers and any family members driving the insured vehicle at the time of the accident-no matter who’s found to be at fault. It can also help cover you or your family member, if you’re injured in another car or struck as a pedestrian.

You might think you don’t need this type of car insurance if you already have health insurance, but medical payments coverage will help cover your copays. Plus, this type of coverage may extend to your passengers, and your health insurance may not.

What Does Medical Payments Insurance Cover?

• Doctor visits
• Hospital visits and/or stays
• Surgery
• X-rays
• EMT &amp! ambulance fees
• Professional nursing service and care
• Prostheses