Pennsylvania Drivers May See Minimum Liability Requirements Double

Posted & filed under insurance news, Pennsylvania Car Insurance.

Drivers in Pennsylvania may be paying more for auto insurance. Why? Because a bill was just introduced to the state senate which would result in the minimum liability amounts of auto insurance coverage being doubled.

Under current Pennsylvania insurance law, the minimum liability limits for bodily injury are $15,000 per person and $30,000 for a group of people while the minimum requirement for property damage liability is $5,000.

Under the proposed bill, which was introduced by Democratic Senators Vincent J. Hughes, Daylin Leach, Christine M. Tartaglione, Wayne D. Fontana, and Leanna M. Washington, motorists would have to have a minimum of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per group of people in bodily injury liability coverage, and at least $10, 000 in property damage liability.

What do area insurers think? Tim Burris, chairman of Insurance Agents and Brokers of Pennsylvania (IA&B) says his group is in favor of the change. “IA&B supports an increase in the minimum auto liability limits, although most of our members already advise their clients to take limits much higher than minimums to fully protect themselves.” He continued, “The current limits don’t stand up to today’s steep medical expenses. Plus, lower limits increase reliance on uninsured motorists’ coverage and shift the burden to adequately insured drivers, whose premiums increase.”