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Pennsylvania is a no-fault state. Drivers must carry at least 15/30/5 + $5,000 medical in coverage, and the average full-coverage premium is $2,995 a year, 3% above the national average of $2,922. This guide covers what Pennsylvania requires, what drivers pay, the rules on fault, uninsured drivers, penalties, teen drivers and phone use, and how to pay less.
| Minimum coverage | 15/30/5 + $5,000 medical |
| Fault system | No-fault |
| Average full coverage | $2,995 a year ($250 a month), 3% above the national average of $2,922 |
| Uninsured drivers | 11.0% (2023), the 36th highest rate of 51 |
| Filing after serious violations | SR-22 |
Pennsylvania requires $15,000 bodily injury liability per person, $30,000 per accident, and $5,000 property damage liability, plus $5,000 of first-party medical benefits (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), "Insurance Requirements").
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 Pennsylvania is $2,995 a year, 3% above the national average of $2,922. That makes Pennsylvania the 15th 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 Pennsylvania, prices still vary a lot by ZIP code, driving record and car, and 11.0% of drivers on Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania preselected for a personal estimate, and see what determines your car insurance cost.
Pennsylvania is a "choice" no-fault state. Your own first-party medical benefits pay your medical bills whoever caused the crash. When you buy a policy you also choose between full tort, which keeps your full right to sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering, and limited tort, which is cheaper but only allows a suit for pain and suffering after a serious injury.
An estimated 11.0% of Pennsylvania drivers were uninsured in 2023, the 36th 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.
Keep your insurance ID card in the vehicle and show it when a police officer asks. PennDOT can also ask you to prove that a registered vehicle is insured. (PennDOT)
Driving uninsured means a fine of at least $300 and a three-month suspension of the vehicle's registration (not applied if the lapse was 30 days or less and the car wasn't driven). In some cases you can pay a $500 civil penalty instead of serving the suspension. A restoration fee is due before the registration is valid again. (PennDOT, "Insurance Requirements")
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 Pennsylvania from $1,872 to $2,291 a year, an increase of 22% (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.
Pennsylvania doesn't generally use SR-22 filings for its own residents. If PennDOT needs proof of coverage after a lapse or suspension, it tells you what to send. (PennDOT)
Pennsylvania doesn't allow insurers to use gender to set car insurance rates, so your driving record, mileage, car and ZIP code carry more weight. (AgentSync (2026); Experian (2026))
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania Insurance Department. It handles consumer questions and complaints about insurers in Pennsylvania.
AutoInsuranceQuery editorial team. Last reviewed: September 29, 2026.
