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Drivers in Pennsylvania are required to carry minimum auto insurance to legally travel the roads. In addition to meeting state requirements, having auto insurance can help reduce costly out-of-pocket expenses if you get into an accident. Driving without insurance in Pennsylvania carries multiple penalties, including fines and possible license suspension.
Pennsylvania Auto Insurance Laws
Pennsylvania law requires all drivers to have car insurance. To meet the minimum insurance requirements in the state, you need 15/30/5 coverage, which means if you get into an accident, you’ll need insurance to cover the following:
First-party coverage typically pays for necessary medical expenses incurred by you or your passengers in the event of an accident. However, Pennsylvania has a unique approach to this coverage, treating it similarly to how other states treat personal injury protection (PIP): In Pennsylvania, first-party insurance must provide at least $5,000 in coverage for medical expenses, regardless of who is at fault for the accident.
Pennsylvania is one of the few states that has selective no-fault insurance. If you choose no-fault insurance, your insurance must cover your medical expenses and lost time injuries up to the policy limits, regardless of who is at fault for the accident. If they find you to be at fault for the accident, your insurance company cannot deny you compensation, and you typically cannot sue the at-fault driver.
In Pennsylvania, there are no restrictions on filing a third-party claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance or suing in court if the driver chooses to maintain at-fault insurance.
However, negligence insurance, also known as complete tort insurance, is usually more expensive than no-fault or limited tort insurance. Limited tort insurance can lower your premiums and reduce the number of lawsuits you face after an accident, but it also limits your options for seeking compensation if you’re involved in an accident that’s not your fault.
Penalties for driving without insurance in Pennsylvania
Despite the state’s requirements, some people still choose to drive without insurance in Pennsylvania. While this may save you money in the short term, it’s not the best financial decision because you’ll have to pay for it if you get into an accident and will likely face fines and a suspended license.
| fine | Minimum $300 |
| Registration suspended | 3 months + $112 repair fee |
| License suspension | 3 months + $94 repair fee |
The above penalties for driving without insurance are for a first offence. Subsequent offences may result in higher fines and penalties. Please note that you cannot drive for the three months while your license is suspended and no one can drive a car while your registration is suspended.
There is one alternative: you may be able to avoid having your driver’s license suspended by paying a $500 fee and remediation fee. This option can be done once every 12 months and requires you to provide proof of current insurance. Doing so will allow you to continue driving without a suspension, but it will cost you.
get into an accident without insurance
No matter where you live, getting into an accident is costly. Not having insurance to cover the costs of an accident can hit you even harder financially. Pennsylvania is one of the few states without an SR-22 requirement, which is proof of insurance that must be presented after an accident or traffic stop. Even without an SR-22 requirement, being uninsured and getting into an accident can have serious legal and financial consequences.
If you don’t have liability insurance, you may have to pay the other party’s medical expenses and property damages out of pocket, which could mean liquidating assets to cover those costs, putting your home and savings at risk, and exposing yourself to lawsuits from the other driver for being uninsured.
The cost of getting minimum car insurance in Pennsylvania can be significantly lower than the costs you could incur if you are uninsured and get into an accident. You may be able to find cheap car insurance companies in Pennsylvania with coverage options that fit your budget.
