Thanks! Please confirm your subscription from your email inbox
Error! Please enter a valid zip code
Delaware is an at-fault (tort) state. Drivers must carry at least 25/50/10 + PIP in coverage, and the average full-coverage premium is $3,510 a year, 20% above the national average of $2,922. This guide covers what Delaware requires, what drivers pay, the rules on fault, uninsured drivers, penalties, teen drivers and phone use, and how to pay less.
| Minimum coverage | 25/50/10 + PIP |
| Fault system | At-fault (tort) |
| Average full coverage | $3,510 a year ($292 a month), 20% above the national average of $2,922 |
| Uninsured drivers | 17.6% (2023), the 13th highest rate of 51 |
| Filing after serious violations | Proof of financial responsibility, if ordered |
Delaware requires $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 property damage liability, plus personal injury protection (Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, "Insurance Requirements").
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Required on every Delaware policy: at least $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident. Pays medical costs and some other losses whoever caused the crash. Delaware still lets you sue the at-fault driver, so it isn't a no-fault state. |
The minimums are a legal floor, not a recommendation. Property damage limits in particular don't go far when a new car can cost more than the limit to replace, and anything above your limits is your personal responsibility. See how limits and deductibles work and every type of coverage explained.
The average full-coverage premium in Delaware is $3,510 a year, 20% above the national average of $2,922. That makes Delaware the 9th most expensive of 49 (48 states plus D.C.; Alaska and Hawaii aren't in the data) (Experian, "Car Insurance Average Costs by State," published September 9, 2026; full coverage, 12 months to August 2026).
Within Delaware, prices still vary a lot by ZIP code, driving record and car, and 17.6% of drivers on Delaware roads were uninsured in 2023, so the coverage you choose matters as much as the premium.
Your own price depends on your ZIP code, age, driving record, car and coverage. Try our car insurance calculator with Delaware preselected for a personal estimate, and see what determines your car insurance cost.
Delaware uses modified comparative fault with a 51% bar: your damages are reduced by your share of the blame, and you recover nothing if you are more than 50% at fault. (Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, "Contributory Negligence/Comparative Fault Laws in All 50 States," updated June 10, 2026)
An estimated 17.6% of Delaware drivers were uninsured in 2023, the 13th highest rate among the 50 states and D.C. (Insurance Research Council, uninsured motorist estimates for 2023, via Insurance Information Institute "Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists"). Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects you when one of them hits you. See coverage types.
Vehicles registered in Delaware must be continuously insured, and the DMV checks coverage when you register and when insurers report cancellations. (Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, "Vehicle Liability Insurance FAQs")
Delaware has some of the stiffest penalties in the country: a fine of at least $1,500 for a first offense and $3,000 for each later offense within three years, plus a six-month suspension of your driver's license or driving privileges. The vehicle's registration can also be suspended. (Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, "Insurance Requirements" and "Uninsured Motorist")
A conviction for driving uninsured also follows you into your next policy. In CarInsurance.com's rate analysis, it raised the average full-coverage premium in Delaware from $2,063 to $2,907 a year, an increase of 41% (CarInsurance.com, "Penalty for driving without insurance in every state," updated March 24, 2026; rate analysis).
Beyond the penalties, driving uninsured leaves you personally liable for any damage you cause. See what happens if you drive without car insurance.
If the Delaware DMV or a court orders you to prove future financial responsibility after a serious violation, it will tell you which filing it needs. Your insurer submits it for you, and it must stay in force for the whole required period.
Delaware uses graduated driver licensing (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, "Graduated licensing laws" table):
Adding a teen is usually the biggest single increase in a family's premium. Keeping them on the family policy, a good-student discount and a safe, modest car help most.
A distracted-driving ticket can count against your record and your premium. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, "Electronic device laws" table)
See how to compare car insurance quotes, or get quotes for your ZIP code.
For questions about a policy, a claim or an insurer's conduct, contact the Delaware Department of Insurance. It handles consumer questions and complaints about insurers in Delaware.
AutoInsuranceQuery editorial team. Last reviewed: September 29, 2026.
