It can get costly if you’re not up to date on your minimum car insurance required in Pennsylvania. With rates skyrocketing and money tight, it’s important to understand what’s needed to file a claim and keep your costs down.
Did you know that you need proof of liability insurance on your vehicle in addition to having a valid driver’s license? You’ll also need an SR-22 form (depending on your state), which renews after 3 years. The SR-22 form ensures that if you make a claim, your car will be repaired or replaced with the same model for as long as possible.
In PA, you will need an SR-22 form if you have had three violations.
If you want to drive a car on the road, state or federal law requires that you carry minimum car insurance. These are called liability insurance or third-party coverage, and they help cover the costs drivers make for people in other vehicles in the event of an accident.
It’s also important to note that even if you’re not driving your vehicle but rather riding as a passenger, you’ll need liability coverage too. The lack of such insurance can result in many penalties, from financial to legal, which can cause many problems and even lead to the revocation of the driver’s license.
If you want to learn about the PA minimum insurance requirements, continue reading.
How much auto insurance do you need to purchase?
It depends on the state in which you live. For example, some states require that drivers carry a liability of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. If someone were to get seriously injured in an accident caused by your vehicle and needed hospitalization, their medical bills would be covered up to this amount.
This can often mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in care costs, depending on the severity of their injuries. Some states have different amounts for the minimum car insurance coverage.
In PA, the segments of the minimum coverage plan are as follows.
- Bodily injury liability segment – $15,000 for each individual, $30,000 per incident
- Property damage segment – $5,000
- Uninsured motorist coverage in Pennsylvania – $15,000 per individual and $30,000 per incident
- Underinsured motorist segment – $15,000 per individual and $30,000 for the incident
- First party benefits – $5,000
Remember that insurance companies can have portions for medical expenses, benefits, and other elements. But your auto insurance policy will charge premiums for more coverage options.
Also, the Pennsylvania assigned risk plan is an option for those unable to obtain Pennsylvania car insurance due to the costs associated with auto insurance policies.
What qualifies as acceptable liability insurance?
Insurance companies use a variety of factors to determine a customer’s needs and what car insurance coverage they will have. The most important elements include your driving history, vehicle, age, and marital status. But many other factors make up a customer’s personal car insurance needs.
For example, suppose you’re at fault in an accident in which injury or property damage claims were made against you. In that case, the company might add on additional coverage fees to make up for any other expenses they might incur due to that accident.
Typically, a minimum coverage car insurance policy includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage, but some states also require additional coverage types. Minimum coverage car insurance can be a way to save on insurance premiums.
Need help in filing minimum car insurance?
In many states, all you have to do is register your car and purchase liability insurance. But in other states, you need more than just an insurance policy – good evidence that you meet all the state’s basic requirements for car ownership.
These, and a few other overly complicated legal requirements, make it hard for drivers to get liability insurance after their cars turn 15 years old or older (though many drivers might not even realize this). Because you have many other obligations, most drivers prefer not to do these tasks themselves but to turn to professionals who can do it for them.
Legal advisors can help concerning Pennsylvania auto insurance as potential medical expenses or medical costs from a car accident can be a significant problem and a legal headache in some cases.
Contact a Professional Insurance Agent That Can Help You
As with everything else, turning to professionals makes your life easier, as they know all the procedures and save you time. Most likely, a professional will inform you that you need to fill out a “formal” application. In some states, a vehicle inspection is now a prerequisite for obtaining liability insurance, but everything is up to you after this first step.
Additionally, be sure to ask the agent if they make online applications or if they require the use of a fax machine. Some agents will only accept a hard copy of your application, so be sure to ask how they prefer to be contacted.
You need to provide the agent with evidence that your car meets state minimum requirements for safety. In most states, these include:
1. A working horn
2. A windshield
3. Brake lights and tail lights
4. Pedal brakes (i.e., foot brakes) that can be operated on both the left and right sides of your car
5. A rear-view mirror
6. Two stop signs
7. Two red reflectors
8. One red and one amber (or yellow) taillight
9. A gas gauge that works
10. A car with a registered length of at least 6 feet long, or that’s based on the manufacturer’s measurements (this should be stamped somewhere on your car or its title).
Once you provide this information to the agent, they will take care of everything else, and you will not have to bear the consequences of not having the minimum insurance.
Find Out How Our Team at Frischman & Rizza Can Help In A Car Accident
Our team at Frischman &Rizza is here to help when it comes to your auto accident cases.
We have considerable experience in assisting clients concerning Pennsylvania insurance matters and assisting Pennsylvania drivers in simplifying the process of obtaining the necessary compensation.
If you are looking for legal assistance regarding car accidents, contact our legal team today.
