pennsylvania car insurance

We have good news and bad news. First, the bad news: Pennsylvania car insurance is different (and arguably more confusing) than in other states. The good news? We'll break it all down for you here.

Pennsylvania car insurance

State-required coverages in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania drivers are required to carry bodily injury liability coverage, property damage liability coverage, and medical benefits coverage with at least the following limits:

$15,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person
$30,000 bodily injury liability coverage per accident
$5,000 for property damage liability coverage
$5,000 medical benefits coverage (unless combined first-party benefits coverage is on your policy)

Bodily injury liability can help cover medical expenses for those injured in an accident you cause. Property damage liability helps cover damaged property or car repairs (not including your own car) that you're responsible for. And medical benefits coverage can help pay for your medical expenses after an accident, regardless of fault.

When you choose coverages on your Pennsylvania car insurance policy, you can select higher limits than what's legally required.

How fault and the right to sue work in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is a no-fault state, which means that your insurer will initially help pay your medical expenses regardless of who caused the accident. That part's simple.

Less simple is your choice between limited right to recover damages and full right to recover damages. If you select the limited option, your premium will likely be lower but you won't be able to sue an at-fault driver for pain and suffering unless the injuries reach a certain severity.

Full right to recover damages allows you to sue for any post-accident expenses plus pain and suffering, which is considered "non-monetary" damage in car-insurance speak. Selecting the full right to recover damages typically increases your premium.

No-fault doesn't apply to property damage (like a dinged-up car). The at-fault driver will generally be responsible for paying damages, which is where property damage liability can step in to help.

First party benefits medical coverage

"First party" refers to you and those covered by your policy. First party benefits coverage (FPB) offers financial protection in case you're injured in a car accident (regardless of who caused the accident).

Your FPB can be used to help pay for:

Medical and dental treatments
Hospitalization expenses
Nursing services
Prostheses

Pennsylvania drivers are legally required to maintain at least $5,000 in FPB medical coverage. Esurance customers can choose a limit as high as $100,000.

Uninsured drivers in Pennsylvania

A recent report from the Insurance Research Council estimated that 7 percent of Pennsylvania's drivers were uninsured. That's among the lowest rates in the nation.

No proof of insurance

Uninsured drivers can face the following punishments for a first conviction:

Minimum $300 fine
3-month suspension of license and registration
Vehicle impoundment
Additional post-suspension restoration fees for registration and license

Pennsylvania car insurance rating factors

Your PA car insurance rate is determined, in part, by:

Your driving record and claim history
The make and model of your car
Your ZIP Code
Your credit-based insurance score

Alternative insurance options

The state's Assigned Risk Plan is designed to help drivers who can't find car insurance coverage through a typical company. You can call 1-800-477-6146 for more info.

Esurance in Pennsylvania

Esurance has offered car insurance to drivers in the Keystone State since 2000.

Optional Esurance coverages in Pennsylvania

Esurance offers a variety of additional optional coverages:

First party benefits – accidental death
First party benefits – extraordinary medical benefits
First party benefits – funeral
First party benefits – income loss
Combined first party benefits coverage
Comprehensive coverage
Collision coverage
Uninsured motorist (UM) bodily injury liability coverage
Underinsured motorist (UIM) bodily injury liability coverage
Rental car coverage
Towing and labor
Gap (loan/lease) coverage
Customized parts and equipment coverage

Stacking uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage

These optional coverages protect you from uninsured drivers. With Esurance, you can choose to "stack" your uninsured motorist coverage if you have at least 2 cars on your policy.

Here's an example of how stacking works:

If you stack $25,000/$50,000 of coverage per person/per accident on 2 cars, you have $50,000/$100,000 of coverage after an accident
If you stack $25,000/$50,000 of coverage per accident on 3 cars, you have $75,000/$150,000 after an accident

In exchange for the added financial protection, your premium will likely increase if you select the stacking option.

Esurance discounts offered in Pennsylvania

When you become an Esurance policyholder, you could qualify for these money-saving discounts:

Multi-Car discount
Claim-Free discount
Paid in Full discount
Homeowners discount
Fast 5^® discount (you can get this for starting a quote online)
Switch & Save^® discount
Good Student discount
Anti-Theft discount
Safety Device discount
Driver Improvement discount

Of course, these discounts are subject to eligibility. If you're a current Esurance customer with questions about your car insurance discounts, give us a call at 1-800-ESURANCE
(1-800-378-7262).

Certified Esurance repair shops in PA

Esurance customers who take their cars to a shop in our E-star^® network have repairs guaranteed and can track progress through RepairView^®. Find one near you.