Required car insurance in Kentucky
Kentucky requires car owners to buy liability insurance and personal injury protection (PIP). But you may want more coverage than the state requires. Let's look at the options so you can make the best pick.
Liability insurance pays for damage and injuries you cause. It's important insurance to have in case you cause a car accident. And if you don't have enough liability insurance to pay for accident bills, you can be sued for the rest.
Minimum liability insurance in Kentucky:
- $25,000 bodily injury per person
- $50,000 bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 property damage per accident
This is usually written as 25/50/25.
Minimum uninsured (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) insurance:
- These insurance types cover your injuries if you're hit by a driver who has no liability insurance (UM) or not enough insurance (UIM). Car insurance companies in Kentucky must offer you UM insurance but you can reject it. If you buy UM you must have limits of 25/50, or a single combined limit of $60,000. Insurers must make UIM available if you request it.
More: Cheap car insurance in Kentucky
Personal injury protection (PIP) in Kentucky
Kentucky has a no-fault insurance system. That means you make claims for small injuries on your own policy, no matter who caused the accident. personal injury protection (PIP) pays these claims.
In Kentucky, you must buy at least $10,000 in PIP.
More: No-fault insurance
Collision and comprehensive insurance:
- The liability insurance required in Kentucky does not cover damage to your own car. For that, you want collision and comprehensive insurance. They cover damage to your own vehicle if you hit another car or an animal, or damage from hail, fire, flood, vandalism and explosions. Comprehensive insurance also covers vehicle theft.
- If you have a car loan or lease you're likely already required to buy collision and comprehensive coverage by the lender or leasing company.
You must show an insurance ID card (or other proof of financial responsibility) in Kentucky when:
- Law enforcement requests it
- You renew vehicle registration
Penalties for not having auto insurance in Kentucky
- First offense: $500 to $1,000, jail time of up to 90 days, or both. Registration of vehicle and license plates suspended for up to one year or until insurance is obtained.
- Subsequent offense within five years: $1,000 to $2,500, jail time up to 180 days, or both. License revocation until insurance is obtained.
Source: Property Casualty Insurers Association of America
Car insurance complaints in Kentucky
The Kentucky department of insurance handles complaints against insurance companies that operate in the state. A national "complaint ratio" shows the level of complaints against a company relative to its size of business.
Updated Aug. 7, 2018