Pennsylvania runs a choice no-fault system: every driver picks between limited tort and full tort when buying a policy, and that choice, not just the coverage limits, shapes what happens after a crash. The minimum limits themselves are 15/30/5: $15,000 bodily injury per person, $30,000 per accident, and $5,000 property damage, plus a required $5,000 in first-party medical benefits that pays your own medical bills regardless of fault.
Those liability minimums are among the lowest in the country. A $5,000 property damage limit doesn't go far against a modern vehicle, which is why the more useful comparison is usually what higher limits cost across carriers, not the price of the bare legal floor.
The figures below explain the policy structure used in Pennsylvania. They do not predict an individual premium. For a broader view of how state rules differ, use our national car insurance directory.
Pennsylvania minimum car insurance requirements
Most quotes begin with liability coverage. Bodily injury liability addresses covered injury claims made by other people when you cause a crash. Property damage liability addresses covered damage to their vehicles or other property. The legal minimum keeps a policy compliant, but it does not say how much financial risk a household can comfortably retain.
- Coverage
- Bodily injury liability, one person
- Required amount or rule
- $15,000
- What it generally addresses
- Covered injuries to one other person
- Coverage
- Bodily injury liability, one accident
- Required amount or rule
- $30,000
- What it generally addresses
- Total covered injuries in one accident
- Coverage
- Property damage liability
- Required amount or rule
- $5,000
- What it generally addresses
- Covered damage you cause to other property
- Coverage
- PIP or medical coverage
- Required amount or rule
- First-party medical benefits: $5,000 (required)
- What it generally addresses
- Initial covered injury benefits under the no-fault system
- Coverage
- Accident framework
- Required amount or rule
- No-fault
- What it generally addresses
- Your own injury coverage may respond first
- Coverage
- SR-22 filing
- Required amount or rule
- This state does not use the SR-22
- What it generally addresses
- Applies only when ordered after qualifying events
| Coverage | Required amount or rule | What it generally addresses |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability, one person | $15,000 | Covered injuries to one other person |
| Bodily injury liability, one accident | $30,000 | Total covered injuries in one accident |
| Property damage liability | $5,000 | Covered damage you cause to other property |
| PIP or medical coverage | First-party medical benefits: $5,000 (required) | Initial covered injury benefits under the no-fault system |
| Accident framework | No-fault | Your own injury coverage may respond first |
| SR-22 filing | This state does not use the SR-22 | Applies only when ordered after qualifying events |
What the state minimum covers, and what it leaves with you
A minimum policy is designed to satisfy state law. It is not designed around the value of your car, the size of a possible injury claim or the amount of savings you want to protect. Those are household decisions, so they need a separate review.
A financed or leased vehicle commonly needs collision and comprehensive coverage under the contract even when state law does not require them. For plain-language definitions and buying context, visit our insurance guides before selecting limits.
Rules and risks that matter in Pennsylvania
State law is only the starting point. These Pennsylvania-specific details show what to confirm before you compare coverage or buy a policy.
Limited tort vs. full tort
Full tort preserves your unrestricted right to sue an at-fault driver for pain and suffering and other non-economic damages. Limited tort trades most of that right away in exchange for a lower premium, you can still recover medical bills and lost wages, but non-economic damages are off the table unless the injury meets the law's serious-injury exceptions (such as death or permanent serious disfigurement).
The premium gap between the two options isn't fixed: each carrier prices the tort election differently. Getting the same policy quoted both ways, from more than one carrier, is the only way to see what the choice actually costs in your case.
The $5,000 medical benefit, Pennsylvania's no-fault layer
Every Pennsylvania policy includes at least $5,000 of first-party medical benefits: your own insurer pays your medical bills after a crash, regardless of who caused it. Higher medical benefit limits are available, and $5,000 is a modest cushion against today's treatment costs.
The no-fault part of Pennsylvania's system stops there. Vehicle damage and injury claims beyond the first-party benefits still run through the liability system, the at-fault driver's coverage, filtered by each injured person's tort election.
No SR-22 in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is one of eight states that don't use SR-22 certificates. After a suspension, PennDOT runs its own restoration process and its own proof-of-financial-responsibility requirements, your insurer certifies coverage to PennDOT directly rather than filing the SR-22 form used elsewhere.
If you move to a state that does use SR-22s while carrying a qualifying Pennsylvania violation, you may still need a filing there. Either way, a serious violation reprices your policy, and because carriers surcharge the same record very differently, that's exactly when comparing quotes pays off most.
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Start a Pennsylvania quote requestWhat affects car insurance rates in Pennsylvania?
Average annual expenditure for auto insurance in Pennsylvania was $1,018 in 2022. This is a historical statewide expenditure benchmark from NAIC average expenditure data, via the Insurance Information Institute. It combines many types of drivers and policies, so it should be used for market context rather than as a current quote estimate.
Insurers apply their filed rating plans to the household in front of them. Two neighbors can see different prices, and the same household can receive a wide range from different companies because each insurer weighs the inputs differently.
Garaging location
Claim frequency, traffic, repair costs, theft and weather exposure vary across Pennsylvania ZIP codes.
Drivers and record
Age, driving experience, citations, accidents, claims and continuous insurance history can affect price and eligibility.
Vehicle and use
Repair technology, vehicle value, annual mileage, commute and business use change the potential cost of a claim.
Coverage choices
Liability limits, collision, comprehensive, optional benefits and deductibles determine what the policy is being asked to pay.
Household details
Other licensed drivers, additional vehicles and bundling opportunities can change the account-level price.
Company fit
Insurers target different customer profiles. No one company is consistently cheapest for every driver in every territory.
Before you switch
Read the declarations, not only the price.
The declarations page shows drivers, vehicles, limits, deductibles and selected benefits. Match those fields before deciding that one quote is better.
Learn how a quote becomes a policy →How to compare Pennsylvania car insurance quotes
Keep the drivers, vehicles, limits, deductibles, dates and payment method the same. Then compare the full-term cost and change only one choice at a time.
Compare insurance companies on price, coverage and service
A familiar name is not automatically the best fit. Compare how each insurer sells and services policies, which optional programs it offers and whether it writes your profile in Pennsylvania. Availability and underwriting can vary by state.
See how Progressive sells and services policies →
See how GEICO sells and services policies →
See how State Farm sells and services policies →
See how Allstate sells and services policies →Company marks link to independent editorial reviews. They do not identify quote partners or a personalized match.
Browse all company reviews →Compare car insurance by Pennsylvania city
State law applies across Pennsylvania, but the garaging address can add a more local rating layer. Use a city guide to review ZIP related factors, vehicle details and the quote worksheet, then return here for the state requirement source.
Check the facts
Rules and market data used on this Pennsylvania page
The minimum-coverage table is paired with a first-party state reference, and the legal authority named in the guide is 75 Pa.C.S. §1702, §1711 (Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law); Pennsylvania Insurance Department. Historical premium context is labeled by year and linked to the underlying publication. These sources do not replace a policy contract or individualized legal advice; rules and forms can change, so confirm current requirements with the regulator, insurer or a licensed professional.
State requirement source
Pennsylvania Insurance Department — Auto insurance ↗Official state consumer hub for Pennsylvania auto insurance requirements and policy choices.
Historical market data
NAIC — 2022 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement ↗Historical statewide average-expenditure data published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in June 2024.
Regulator directory
NAIC — State insurance department directory ↗Directory of state insurance regulators for current consumer guidance, licensing checks and complaints.
Checked by Show my rates · Last updated August 3, 2026
Pennsylvania car insurance FAQs
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