Vehicle liability coverage

Vehicle liability coverage is a mandatory auto insurance policy component that pays for bodily injury and property damage you cause to others in an accident. State laws in the US, such as California’s minimum 15/30/5 coverage, require vehicle liability coverage on registered cars.

Vehicle liability policies exclude your own injuries or vehicle damage, covering only third-party claims, per the documentation from YourInsurance.info. Bodily injury liability includes payments for medical bills, lost wages, and legal defense if you’re at fault, while property damage liability covers repairs or replacement of another person’s car or physical property like fences or mailboxes.

Typical minimum limits differ by state; for example, Texas sets $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident for injury and $25,000 for property damage. Insurers like GEICO and State Farm set maximum payout amounts per claim according to purchased limits.

Vehicle liability claims increase premiums by an average of 10-40% after an at-fault accident. You can buy higher-than-minimum limits–such as $100,000/$300,000–offering increased financial protection in lawsuits.

Liability coverage does not pay for mechanical breakdowns or non-collision events (like theft); comprehensive or collision insurance cover those losses. Some states allow “split limit” policies (separate injury/property caps) while others use “combined single limit” formats.

Proof of current vehicle liability coverage is required to register a car in all 50 states–examples include auto ID cards or digital proof accepted via insurers’ mobile apps.