Auto Insurance

(2) Compulsory Coverages:

BI Liab=Bodily injury liability

PD Liab=Property damage liability

UM=Uninsured motorist

PD=Physical damage

Med=First party (policyholder) medical expenses

UIM=Underinsured motorist

PIP=Personal Injury Protection. Mandatory in no-fault states. Includes medical, rehabilitation, loss of earnings and funeral expenses. In some states PIP includes essential services such as child care.

FR=Financial responsibility only. Insurance not compulsory.

(3) The first two numbers refer to bodily injury liability limits and the third number to property liability. For example, 20/40/10 means coverage up to $40,000 for all persons injured in an accident, subject to a limit of $20,000 for one individual, and $10,000 coverage for property damage.

(4) a. Insurer must notify Department of Motor Vehicles or other state agency of cancellation or nonrenewal.

b. Insurer must verify financial responsibility or insurance after an accident or arrest.

c. Insurer must verify randomly selected insurance policies upon request.

d. Insurers must submit entire list of insurance in effect, which may be compared with registrations at a state agency. Also known as a computer data law.
Also includes cases where insurers are required to report new issues and/or renewals.

(5) Insured must provide evidence of insurance at some point after the accident to the Department of Insurance, other state agency, or law enforcement officer. Deadlines vary among the states.

(6) Penalties are provided for in the law but may not be mandatory for first offenses.

(7) Proof of insurance must be presented within 30 days of registration.

(8) Low-cost policy limits for low-income drivers in the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan are 10/20/3.

(9) Instead of policy limits, policyholders can satisfy the requirement with a combined single limit policy. Amounts vary by state.

(10) In addition, policyholders must also carry at least $1,000 for medical payments.

(11) May be waived for the policyholder but is compulsory for passengers.

(12) Basic policy (optional) limits are 10/10/5. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverge not available under the basic policy but uninsured motorist coverage is required under the standard policy.

(13) In addition, policyholders must have 50/100 for wrongful death coverage.

*The system must be operational by July 1, 2008.
**SB 1670, effective September 1, 2005 requires the Texas Department of Insurance to establish a vehicle insurance verification system.


Source: Property Casualty Insurers Association of America; state departments of insurance and motor vehicles.

(1) “Choice” no-fault state. Policyholder can choose a policy based on the no-fault system or traditional tort liability.
(2) Verbal threshold for the Basic Liability Policy, the Special Policy and the Standard Policy where the policyholder chooses no-fault. The Basic and Special Policies contain lower amounts of coverage.
(3) The District of Columbia is neither a true no-fault nor add-on state. Drivers are offered the option of no-fault or fault-based coverage, but in the event of an accident a driver who originally chose no-fault benefits has 60 days to decide whether to receive those benefits or file a claim against the other party.

Source: American Insurance Association.

(1) Surveys used by states must be actual observation of shoulder belt use by drivers and front seat passengers.
(2) Primary enforcement means police may stop a vehicle and issue a fine for noncompliance with seat belt laws. In other states, the law provides for secondary enforcement. This means that police may issue a fine for not wearing a seat belt only if the vehicle has been stopped for other traffic violations.
(3) Applies to motor vehicle operators and passengers who are 16 years old and older. Damage mitigation means that a violation may result in damages, a legal term meaning court awarded compensation for injury, being reduced up to a certain percentage. Fines are the maximum allowed by law.
(4) All seats if driver is under 18.
(5) Primary enforcement for children; ages vary.

NA=Data not available.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation; Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

(1) On-the-spot drivers license suspension or revocation if BAC is over the legal limit or the driver refuses to take a BAC test.
(2) Mandatory penalty for violation of the implied consent law, which means that drivers who refuse to take a breath alcohol test when stopped or arrested for drunk driving will have their license revoked or suspended.
(3) Prohibits unsealed alcohol containers in motor vehicle passenger compartments for all occupants. Arresting officer not required to witness consumption.
(4) Applies only to the driver.
(5) With limitations or conditions.
(6) Not specifically for drunk driving; Attorney General has established a no plea bargain policy.
(7) Administrative license suspension lasts until prosecution is complete.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Insurance Institute for Highway Safety; Property Casualty Insurers Association of America; Insurance Information Institute.

(1) Periodic retests. Some states will waive vision retests for mail renewal or clean-record drivers.
(2) Physicians must report physical conditions that might impair driving skills.
(3) Retesting only for cause, e.g., after specific number of accidents or other points and infractions, for specific physical conditions; sometimes at examiner’s discretion.
(4) Specifically requires doctors to report a diagnosis of dementia.
(5) 8-year vision re-examination.
(6) Vision tests are required at first renewal at age 40; at every second renewal after age 40; at every renewal after age 62.
(7) Except for in-state renewals by mail, unless applicant is over 70.
(8) Renewing by mail.
(9) 10 percent of all renewals are screened.
(10) 10 percent of drivers at or over 45 randomly chosen for medical and/or vision test.
(11) Random re-examination at specified age.
(12) Will retest at renewal for nonspecified cause.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration; AARP; American Automobile Association; American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators; Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

(1) Designed to aid young novice drivers between the ages of 15 and 18 gain driving experience. To date they apply only to drivers under the age of 18. All states have lower blood alcohol content laws for under-21 drivers which range from none to 0.02, in contrast with 0.08 for drivers over the age of 21 in all states.

(2) Graduated licensing as defined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

(3) Vary by state with regard to age of driver, night hours that driving is restricted, and who must accompany driver during night hours. Exceptions may be made for work, school activities or emergencies.

(4) Limits the number of passengers a young driver may have in the vehicle to eliminate distractions.

(5) Laws ban all drivers from using handheld cell phones.

(6) For the first six months, newly licensed teen drivers must not transport under-21 passengers unless a licensed driver over age 21 is present. During the next six months, teen drivers may transport only one under-21 passenger.

(7) Required for a shorter period if driver has taken a drivers education course.

(8) Driver education required of all licensed applicants under age 18 unless there is no program within a 30-mile radius of the applicant's residence.

(9) New Hampshire does not issue learner’s permits. The minimum holding period refers to the intermediate license for 16-and 17-year-olds for the first 3 months only.

(10) Minimum holding period applies to the limited junior driver license for permit holders who pass a road test and certify 20 or more hours of practice; with some restrictions.

(11) For the first six months after a learner’s permit is issued. Thereafter there are no restrictions.

(12) For drivers younger than 18.

(13) Drivers under age 17 may operate a vehicle between the hours of 12:00 am and 5:00 am if driving directly to the driver's residence from a school-sponsored activity for which transportation to and from the school property was provided.

*Effective July 1, 2008.

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety; U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; National Conference of State Legislatures; Insurance Information Institute.