How Much Car Insurance Do You Really Need in Pennsylvania?

State law requires at least $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 per accident, and $5,000 of property damage — often written as '15/30/5' — plus $5,000 in first-party medical benefits.

Those numbers sound fine until you consider that a single ER visit, surgery, or a totaled late-model vehicle can blow past them quickly.

If you cause an accident that injures others or damages an expensive vehicle, and the costs exceed your limits, you can be sued personally for the difference — putting your savings, wages, and assets at risk.

That's why many Pittsburgh drivers step up to 100/300/100 (or higher). The increase in premium is often smaller than people expect, because the first dollars of coverage are the most expensive.

A meaningful share of drivers carry little or no insurance. Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage protects YOU and your passengers when the at-fault driver can't pay.

It's one of the most valuable and overlooked coverages on a Pennsylvania policy — we almost always recommend carrying solid UM/UIM limits.

Collision covers your car in a crash; comprehensive covers theft, weather, and animal strikes (common on Pittsburgh's wooded roads). If your car is financed or newer, you'll generally want both.

Choosing a higher deductible lowers your premium — just pick an amount you could comfortably pay out of pocket if you had a claim.

Carry enough liability to protect your assets and income, add strong UM/UIM, and set deductibles you can afford. If you own a home or have savings, the minimum is rarely the right call.

We'll compare A-rated carriers and show you the real cost difference between limit levels so you can protect yourself without overpaying.