What Are The Minimum Car Insurance Requirements In Louisiana?

Louisiana is an at-fault state, meaning drivers are responsible for paying for the damage they cause in an accident. To drive legally, residents must have at least the minimum required insurance coverage. The average annual premium for minimum coverage in Louisiana tends to range from $600 to $1,200.

With 9 years of experience in auto insurance, I’ve helped drivers understand their state’s minimum requirements and find the best auto policy that fits their needs.

What Is The Minimum Car Insurance Requirement In Louisiana?

In Louisiana, the minimum car insurance requirements are higher than in some other states. Drivers must carry liability insurance, which includes at least $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. This coverage helps pay for damages or injuries you cause to others in an accident.

Louisiana does not require personal injury protection (PIP) or uninsured motorist coverage by law, but it’s often recommended for extra protection.

Is Minimum Coverage Enough?

Having only the minimum insurance required by Louisiana doesn’t necessarily mean you’re fully protected. Minimum coverage may leave you at risk. A good first step is to increase your liability limits and consider adding extra coverage to better protect yourself and your vehicle. If the cost of more coverage feels too high with your current insurer, it might be worth shopping around for a better deal.

Average Cost Of Car Insurance In Louisiana

The cost of car insurance in Louisiana can vary based on factors like age and gender. Typically, male drivers, especially younger ones, tend to pay higher rates than female drivers. This is because statistically, young men are considered higher risk due to their tendency to be involved in more accidents. However, as drivers age, the difference in rates tends to decrease.

Louisiana Car Insurance Laws

In Louisiana, car insurance is mandatory, and drivers are required to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage. This includes bodily injury liability to cover injuries you cause to others in an accident where you’re at fault, and property damage liability to cover damage to other people’s property.

Unlike some states like Florida, Louisiana is not a “no-fault” state. This means that if you’re at fault in an accident, you are responsible for paying for the other party’s injuries and damages. Louisiana follows a comparative fault system, where fault can be shared between parties based on the circumstances of the accident. For example, if you’re 30% at fault in a crash, you’ll be responsible for 30% of the damages.

Additionally, drivers in Louisiana are required to have liability insurance to protect others, and failure to meet these requirements can lead to penalties like fines, a suspended license, or revoked vehicle registration.

Proof Of Insurance

In Louisiana, you are required by law to carry proof of insurance while driving. While it’s not mandatory to carry a physical insurance card, it’s important to have proof that your vehicle is insured. You can keep a physical copy of your insurance card in your glove box, or you can use a digital version.

If you’re stopped by law enforcement, the officer may check your insurance status through your vehicle’s license plate information. However, they will still ask to see your proof of insurance, whether it’s a physical card or a digital copy.

Registration Information

In Louisiana, insurance is also required when you register your vehicle. To register your car in Louisiana, follow these steps:

1. Visit the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV): You can find the nearest OMV office or access online services through the Louisiana OMV website.
2. Gather your documents: You’ll need proof of identity, your Louisiana auto insurance, and the vehicle’s title. Insurance is mandatory to register your vehicle, and it must meet the state’s minimum coverage requirements.
3. Submit your documents and pay the registration fee: Once you have all your documents, go to the OMV office and submit them along with the appropriate registration fee. Fees can vary based on the type of vehicle.
4. Renewing your registration: It’s important to renew your vehicle registration when it’s due. Louisiana allows you to renew your registration online or at a kiosk, making it easy to avoid a visit to the OMV office. You can also renew by mail if you prefer.

If you fail to renew your registration on time, you could face late fees and penalties.

Uninsured Drivers In Louisiana

In Louisiana, 11.7% of drivers don’t have insurance, placing the state 26th among all 50 U.S. states. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage helps pay for your injuries or property damage if you’re hit by a driver with no insurance or not enough insurance to cover the costs.

This coverage will pay for medical expenses or damages to you or anyone in your vehicle if the accident is caused by another driver.

Is Car Insurance Required In Louisiana If You Don’t Own A Vehicle?

In Louisiana, car insurance is not required if you don’t own a vehicle. However, if you drive someone else’s car, you must still have car insurance, as the vehicle owner’s insurance might not fully cover you in the event of an accident. It’s a good idea to have your own non-owner insurance policy, especially if you frequently drive other cars.

Legal Penalties For Driving Without Insurance

In Louisiana, all vehicle owners must have liability insurance. If you’re caught driving without insurance, involved in an accident without coverage, or falsely claiming to have insurance, you could face fines ranging from $500 to $1,000.

There are also penalties for not having proof of insurance or letting your coverage expire. Drivers without liability insurance may have their vehicle towed, registration revoked, or license plates canceled.

If you’re in an accident without insurance, your driver’s license and registration could be suspended for 180 days.

Additionally, if you’re caught pretending to have insurance, your license could be suspended for 12 to 18 months.

Other Types Of Optional Coverage

In Louisiana, there are several optional car insurance coverages you can choose to add to your policy:

1. Collision Coverage: This helps pay for repairs or replacement of your car if it’s damaged in an accident, no matter who’s at fault.
2. Comprehensive Coverage: This covers damage to your car from things other than accidents, such as theft, vandalism, storms, or hitting an animal.
3. Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay): This helps cover medical bills for you and your passengers if you’re injured in a car accident, regardless of who caused it.
4. Rental Reimbursement: This pays for the cost of renting a car while yours is being repaired after an accident.