Liability car insurance, which refers to bodily injury (BI) and property damage (PD) liability coverage, helps pay for other people's injuries and property damage resulting from an auto accident you cause. Additionally, liability coverages help with your accident-related legal expenses if you're sued.
Bodily injury liability coverage financially protects you if you (or someone on your policy) cause a car accident that injures another person(s), paying for their medical expenses and, if needed, your legal services. More specifically, this may include:
Imagine this potential real-life scenario: You're at fault in a rear-end collision. No one is seriously injured, but the other driver complains of wrist pain, and his passenger has a forehead cut. An ambulance takes them to the emergency room for treatment, which your insurance covers along with their medical costs.
Property damage liability coverage helps protect you from the costs you may be responsible for if you damage someone else's property in an auto accident.
Typically, this involves damage to another person's car, but it might also include other property, such as a guardrail, fence, mailbox, home, or commercial property. For example, it can help pay for the other persons:
Imagine this potential real-life scenario: You rear-end another car while following too closely, which swerves and hits someone's mailbox. Depending on your property damage liability limit, your insurance would pay to have the other vehicle and damaged mailbox repaired or replaced.
All drivers in states that mandate auto insurance need liability insurance, which usually includes property damage and bodily injury liability coverages. In Florida, drivers must have personal injury protection (PIP) to cover their own and their passengers' accident-related injuries, and the state's SR-22 certification law requires drivers to purchase bodily injury liability. It's a good idea to adequately protect yourself with both types of liability coverages beyond the state minimum requirements.
In addition, if you use your vehicle for work or own a fleet for business purposes, you might need commercial auto insurance with liability coverage. Motorcycle owners also need a policy with liability insurance to ride.
You must meet your state's minimum limits, or you can select higher limits for more financial protection. Your policy's liability limits determine the maximum amount your car insurance company will pay if you need to use your coverage.
Limits are represented as two numbers. For example, you could choose bodily injury liability coverage with a minimum limit of $25,000/$50,000.
Like bodily injury liability, you must meet the minimum property damage liability coverage limits set by your state. You also have the option to select higher limits for increased financial protection. For instance, if your state mandates $25,000 in property damage liability coverage, you can choose that amount or carry $50,000 or more instead. Any property damage you cause beyond your coverage limit will be your responsibility to pay.
Liability insurance coverage offers no protection for your own medical bills or vehicle repairs. If you have liability-only coverage and you're in an accident, you’ll be responsible for paying those costs out of pocket. Additionally, if your car is vandalized or stolen, you'll have to pay for your vehicle to be repaired or replaced.
If you’re concerned about covering your own expenses in the event of a car accident, you should consider getting medical payments coverage and both comprehensive and collision insurance.
Liability-only insurance generally refers to the most basic level of coverage that you can purchase for a vehicle. Sticking to liability-only car insurance is one way to keep your insurance costs low, but it's not an option for every driver. For instance, if you're leasing or financing your vehicle, you may be required to carry coverage that goes beyond minimum liability insurance. On the other hand, if you don’t drive much or have an older paid-off vehicle, it may not make financial sense to purchase these optional coverages.
Enter ZIP code to find a DLInsure Auto location near you.
Enter ZIP code to start your quote.
We want to raise the standard for service in our industry, so we offer customized coverage, in language you can understand.
© 2025 DLInsure | All Right Reserved