Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage
Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage, also known as no-fault insurance, helps pay medical expenses, lost wages, substitute services, and funeral costs that result from an accident, regardless of who is at fault. PIP insurance does not cover property damage and is not a substitute for other forms of core coverage. Personal injury protection coverage is required in 17 no-fault states, even if you have health insurance to cover injuries resulting from an accident.
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Written by
D. Gilson, PhD
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Reviewed by
Leslie Kasperowicz
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UPDATED: Feb 18, 2021
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- Personal injury protection covers medical expenses, lost wages, substitute services, and funeral costs that restul from an accident, regardless of who is at-fault
- Personal injury protection does not cover damages to property
- Personal injury protection is currently required in 17 no-fault states
You’re shopping around and getting ready to compare car insurance and someone mentions personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. Or maybe you live in a no-fault state and recently discovered PIP insurance is required to legally drive.
Just what is PIP insurance? What does it cover and why might you need it? Read this article to find out the answers to these and other PIP insurance questions.
Ready to start shopping for affordable personal injury protection car insurance? Just use your ZIP code in the free tool on this page to get started comparing personal injury protection car insurance quotes today.
What is personal injury protection car insurance?
Personal injury protection insurance, which is also referred to as no-fault insurance, is coverage that provides financial assistance for medical bills, lost wages, and funeral costs that result from an accident, regardless of who is found to be at-fault.
So how does PIP coverage work? Keep reading for more.
What is and is not covered by personal injury protection?
Personal injury protection primarily covers medical expenses, lost wages, funeral expenses, and what is referred to as “substitute services.” This means in some cases, you may be able to get coverage for the cost of services you would ordinarily complete yourself (like cleaning) but are unable to because of injuries from the accident.
Personal injury protection does not cover damages to your vehicle, damages to anyone else’s vehicle(s), or medical expenses beyond the limits set for your policy (this limitation also applies for the other items PIP does cover).
How do you set, add, or adjust the limits of your personal injury protection coverage?
When you’re considering the limits for your PIP coverage, one factor is your existing health insurance. If your health insurance already includes sufficient coverage for injuries resulting from an accident, you may be able to choose the minimum limits safely. However, if your health insurance coverage is not sufficient (or you don’t have health insurance), higher limits are a good idea.
If you decide at any point that you have too much or too little PIP coverage, contact your insurance agent to make the necessary adjustments to your policy limits.
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What’s the difference between personal injury protection and bodily injury liability coverage?
As we noted earlier, PIP covers your medical expenses (up to your policy limits) regardless of who is at-fault in an accident. By contrast, bodily injury liability coverage only covers the medical costs of others involved in an accident for which you are at fault.
What are the personal injury protection coverage requirements in your state?
PIP is not required in every state, and in most cases is only required in no-fault states (hence the term no-fault insurance) as a part of the coverage necessary for residents to drive legally in the state.
We used data from the Insurance Information Institute (III) to compile a list of states in which PIP is required to legally drive. Take a look.
| State | Requires Personal Injury Protection Coverage |
|---|---|
| Alabama | No |
| Alaska | No |
| Arizona | No |
| Arkansas | Yes |
| California | No |
| Colorado | No |
| Connecticut | No |
| Delaware | Yes |
| District of Columbia | No |
| Florida | Yes |
| Georgia | No |
| Hawaii | Yes |
| Idaho | No |
| Illinois | No |
| Indiana | No |
| Iowa | No |
| Kansas | Yes |
| Kentucky | Yes |
| Louisiana | No |
| Maine | No |
| Maryland | Yes |
| Massachusetts | Yes |
| Michigan | Yes |
| Minnesota | Yes |
| Mississippi | No |
| Missouri | No |
| Montana | No |
| Nebraska | No |
| Nevada | No |
| New Hampshire | No |
| New Jersey | Yes |
| New Mexico | No |
| New York | Yes |
| North Carolina | No |
| North Dakota | Yes |
| Ohio | No |
| Oklahoma | No |
| Oregon | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | Yes |
| Rhode Island | No |
| South Carolina | No |
| South Dakota | No |
| Tennessee | No |
| Texas | Yes |
| Utah | Yes |
| Vermont | No |
| Virginia | No |
| Washington | No |
| West Virginia | No |
| Wisconsin | No |
| Wyoming | No |
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The exact amount of PIP required varies by state. For example, as a no-fault state, Hawaii’s car insurance laws require drivers to carry PIP of at least $10,000. By contrast, Delaware car insurance laws state drivers must carry PIP with a minimum of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident.
Personal Injury Protection: The Bottom Line
Personal injury protection, also referred to as no-fault insurance, covers medical expenses, lost wages, substitute services like childcare or cleaning, and funeral costs that result from an accident. The amount of coverage you’ll receive depends on your policy limits. This coverage is currently required to legally drive in 17 states, including Hawaii.
Before you go, get ready to buy personal injury protection car insurance by using your ZIP code in our free tool to start comparing personal injury protection car insurance rates today.