Car insurance in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is a choice (no-fault or tort option) state with a minimum liability requirement of 15/30/5. Here's what that means, what it costs, and what to check before you buy.
What the minimums actually mean
$15,000 per injured person, $30,000 total per accident for injuries, and $5,000 for property damage - among the lowest minimums in the country - plus $5,000 in mandatory first-party medical benefits. Pennsylvania drivers choose between 'full tort' (retains full right to sue, costs more) and 'limited tort' (restricts lawsuits for pain and suffering except in serious-injury cases, costs less); the policy defaults to full tort if no active election is made.
Insurers must offer UM and UIM, but purchase is optional - a named insured can reject both in writing, subject to strict statutory requirements for a valid rejection form.
Estimated cost
$539 a year for minimum coverage, $2,472 for full coverage2
Average annual premiums in Pennsylvania for a 40-year-old with a clean record and good credit, driving a 2023 Toyota Camry. Full coverage here means 100/300/50 liability plus collision and comprehensive.
Why this is an average, not a quote
SR-22 & high-risk filings
UNCERTAIN: sources conflict on whether PennDOT requires a standard SR-22 after a DUI or serious violation, versus handling financial responsibility through other direct penalties - verify directly with PennDOT before publishing as settled fact.
Local conditions worth knowing
Philadelphia is known for elevated auto-insurance-fraud rates and higher urban premiums within the state, and Pennsylvania's full-tort/limited-tort election is a well-known quirk that materially affects both premiums and post-accident legal rights.
Frequently asked
- What is the minimum car insurance requirement in Pennsylvania?
- Pennsylvania requires liability limits of at least 15/30/5. $15,000 per injured person, $30,000 total per accident for injuries, and $5,000 for property damage - among the lowest minimums in the country - plus $5,000 in mandatory first-party medical benefits. Pennsylvania drivers choose between 'full tort' (retains full right to sue, costs more) and 'limited tort' (restricts lawsuits for pain and suffering except in serious-injury cases, costs less); the policy defaults to full tort if no active election is made.
- Is Pennsylvania an at-fault or no-fault state?
- Pennsylvania is a choice (no-fault or tort option) state for car insurance claims.
- Do I need an SR-22 in Pennsylvania?
- UNCERTAIN: sources conflict on whether PennDOT requires a standard SR-22 after a DUI or serious violation, versus handling financial responsibility through other direct penalties - verify directly with PennDOT before publishing as settled fact.
- Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Pennsylvania?
- Insurers must offer UM and UIM, but purchase is optional - a named insured can reject both in writing, subject to strict statutory requirements for a valid rejection form.
Sources
- MoneyGeek, Minimum car insurance requirements by state, October 1, 2026.
- Bankrate, using Quadrant Information Services rates (November 2025), Average cost of car insurance, updated June 5, 2026.
Figures checked against these sources on October 2, 2026.
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