Auto Insurance: Connecticut's General Rules

In the state of Connecticut, drivers are required to have car insurance. The minimum coverage requirements are:

- Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident

- Property Damage Liability: $25,000 per accident

- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident

Bodily Injury Liability covers injuries caused to others in an accident, while Property Damage Liability covers damage to another person's property, usually their vehicle. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your passengers if you are injured by a driver without insurance or with insufficient insurance.

Connecticut's minimum liability insurance requirements

Connecticut requires all drivers to carry liability insurance as well as mandatory uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. This means that drivers are financially responsible for all damages and expenses they create while operating their vehicle.

The minimum liability coverage limits are as follows:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person
• $50,000 bodily injury liability coverage per accident
• $25,000 property damage liability coverage per accident

Bodily injury liability insurance covers the cost of medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering for those injured in an accident you cause, up to the limits specified above. Property damage liability insurance covers the cost of repairs to another person's vehicle or property that was damaged in an accident you caused, up to the limit of $25,000.

In addition to liability insurance, Connecticut drivers are required to have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This type of insurance covers your expenses if you are in an accident caused by a driver who does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance to cover the cost of the damages. The required coverage for uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance is:

• $25,000 per person
• $50,000 total per accident

While these are the minimum requirements, it is recommended that drivers consider purchasing additional coverage to protect themselves financially in the event of a serious accident.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

If you are hit by an underinsured driver, your uninsured/underinsured coverage will only cover you up to your limit. For example, if your limit is $50,000 and you were involved in an accident with a driver who had $25,000 of liability coverage, and you suffered $75,000 worth of injuries, you would only be able to collect up to your limit of $50,000 without conversion coverage.

However, you can purchase underinsured motorist conversion coverage, which is an additional coverage that helps pay for damages beyond your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage limit. With conversion coverage, you can collect up to your UM/UIM limit plus the at-fault driver's liability limit. In the previous example, with conversion coverage, you could collect up to $75,000.

It is important to note that uninsured motorist coverage does not cover physical damage to your car. If you want to protect your vehicle, you will need collision coverage, which covers damage to your car caused by hitting another vehicle or object.

Collision coverage

When choosing collision coverage, you can select a deductible amount that suits your needs. Consider the cost of your car and the potential cost of repairs when deciding on the deductible. A higher collision deductible can lower your monthly premium, while a lower deductible provides more financial protection in the event of an accident.

In Connecticut, collision coverage is not mandatory, but it is a valuable addition to your auto insurance policy if you want to protect your vehicle investment. It is worth noting that nearly four out of five drivers in the U.S. choose to purchase collision coverage, demonstrating its importance to vehicle owners.

Comprehensive coverage

In Connecticut, comprehensive coverage is not required by law. However, if you lease or finance your vehicle, your lender or leasing company may require you to carry it. This is because comprehensive coverage helps protect their stake in the car.

When considering comprehensive coverage, it's essential to weigh the value of your car, your financial circumstances, and your personal preferences. While it can increase your overall protection, it may not be worth the additional cost if your vehicle's cash value is relatively low or if you have a higher deductible.

Connecticut requires drivers to maintain liability insurance and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Liability insurance covers bodily injuries and property damage caused to others in an accident. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects you if you are injured by a driver without sufficient insurance.

Underinsured motorist conversion coverage

In Connecticut, underinsured motorist conversion coverage is an optional form of insurance that can be purchased in addition to standard uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This type of coverage is designed to provide financial protection in the event that you are in an accident with an underinsured at-fault driver and your damages exceed their insurance coverage.

Under standard uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, if your damages exceed the at-fault driver's insurance limits, you may only be able to recover up to your own coverage limits, less any amounts recovered from the at-fault driver's insurance. This can leave you with significant out-of-pocket expenses.

Here's an example to illustrate how underinsured motorist conversion coverage works:

Let's say you have $300,000 in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and are involved in an accident with an at-fault driver who only has $200,000 in bodily injury liability coverage. You incur $400,000 in damages as a result of the accident. Without underinsured motorist conversion coverage, you would only be able to recover $200,000 from the at-fault driver's insurance and $100,000 from your own coverage, leaving you with $100,000 in unpaid damages. However, with underinsured motorist conversion coverage, you can recover the full $400,000 ($200,000 from the at-fault driver's insurance plus your full $300,000 coverage).

Frequently asked questions