No-fault states: car insurance systems by state
Which states use no-fault (PIP) insurance for injuries, which let drivers choose and which are fault (tort) states, with each state's PIP rules.
In a no-fault state, your own personal injury protection (PIP) pays your first injury costs whoever caused the crash, and you can sue for pain and suffering only past a threshold. Damage to cars follows each state's own rules.
| State | Insurance system | PIP required | PIP and when you can sue |
|---|---|---|---|
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP is required. Alabama has no no-fault law. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP. Alaska has no no-fault law: the driver who caused the crash (and their liability insurance) pays for the other people's injuries and damage. You can claim against the at-fault driver's insurer or sue the at-fault driver. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP required. Arizona requires only liability insurance, so the driver who caused the crash (and their insurer) pays for others' injuries and damage. | |
Fault (tort) | — | Arkansas is a fault state: the driver who caused the crash (and their liability insurer) pays for others' injuries and damage. By law you must buy only liability insurance. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP is required. California is a fault (tort) state: the at-fault driver and their liability insurance pay for the other people's injuries and property damage. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP. Colorado is a fault (tort) state: the driver who caused the crash, and their liability insurer, pays for other people's injuries and damage. Your policy includes $5,000 of medical payments coverage unless you reject it in writing; it pays regardless of fault. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP is required. Connecticut has no no-fault law: you claim against the at-fault driver's liability insurance (or use your own collision coverage). | |
Fault (tort) | — | Fault-based, but every policy must include personal injury protection (PIP) of at least $15,000 per person / $30,000 per crash. PIP pays your medical bills and lost earnings first, no matter who caused the crash. | |
Choice no-fault | — | Fault-based with an optional no-fault choice. Insurers must offer personal injury protection (PIP), but it is optional. | |
No-fault | $10,000 | Every car owner must carry $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP). It pays 80% of your reasonable medical bills and 60% of lost income, whoever caused the crash, plus a $5,000 death benefit. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP is required. Georgia uses a tort (fault) system: the at-fault driver's liability insurance pays for others' injuries and property damage. | |
No-fault | $10,000 | No-fault for injuries. Every policy must carry at least $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP), which pays your medical and rehab costs regardless of fault. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP is required. Idaho has no no-fault law. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP. The driver who caused the crash (and their liability insurance) pays. The Illinois Department of Insurance explains you can claim with the other driver's insurer (a third-party claim) or with your own insurer if you have the coverage (a first-party claim). | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP required. Indiana requires liability insurance (25/50/25), so the driver who caused the crash and their insurer pay for others' injuries and damage. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP required. Iowa has no no-fault law: the driver who caused the crash (and their liability insurer) pays for others' injuries and damage. | |
No-fault | — | Every policy must include personal injury protection (PIP). Minimums: $4,500 per person for medical bills, $900 a month for lost wages for up to 1 year, $25 a day for household help for up to 365 days, $4,500 for rehabilitation, $2,000 for funeral costs, and survivor benefits. | |
Choice no-fault | $10,000 | Choice no-fault. Your policy must include $10,000 of basic reparation benefits (PIP) per person. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP is required. Louisiana has no no-fault law. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP. The at-fault driver (and their liability insurance) pays. Every Maine policy must include at least $2,000 of medical payments coverage, plus up to $500 for towing and storage when police have the car towed. | |
Fault (tort) | — | Fault-based. Insurers must include personal injury protection (PIP) of at least $2,500 for medical bills and lost income unless the first named insured waives it in writing. | |
No-fault | $8,000 | Every policy must include $8,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) per person. It pays medical bills, up to 75% of lost wages and replacement services, whoever caused the crash (Division of Insurance). | |
No-fault | — | Every policy must carry PIP, property protection insurance (PPI) and residual liability. For policies issued or renewed after July 1, 2020, you choose a PIP medical limit: unlimited, $500,000, $250,000, $250,000 with exclusions (if you have qualifying health coverage), $50,000 (Medicaid enrollees) or no PIP medical (Medicare Parts A and B). | |
No-fault | $40,000 | No-fault for injuries. Your own basic economic loss benefits (PIP) pay at least $40,000 per person: $20,000 medical and $20,000 for lost income, replacement services and similar losses. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP is required. Mississippi has no no-fault law: liability coverage of the driver at fault pays for damage they cause to other people and their property. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP. Liability insurance pays for injuries and damage you cause when the crash is your fault (Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance). | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP required. Montana requires liability insurance only, so the driver who caused the crash and their insurer pay; their insurer may offer to pay only its driver's share of fault. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP required. Nebraska has no no-fault law: the driver who caused the crash (and their liability insurer) pays for others' injuries and damage. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP is required. The driver who caused the crash (and their liability insurance) pays for other people's injuries and damage. | |
New Hampshire New Hampshire motor vehicle agency | Not covered yet | ||
Choice no-fault | — | New Jersey is a no-fault (PIP) state with a choice of lawsuit option. Personal injury protection pays your own medical bills first, whoever caused the crash. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP. New Mexico has no no-fault law; the at-fault driver and their liability insurance pay. New Mexico law requires liability insurance of at least 25/50/10 (MVD). | |
No-fault | $50,000 | No-fault (PIP) is required: at least $50,000 per person in basic economic loss (medical bills, lost wages, other costs), paid by your own insurer whoever caused the crash. File a written no-fault claim within 30 days of the crash. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP required. North Carolina is a fault state: the driver who caused the crash (and their liability insurer) pays for others' injuries and damage. | |
No-fault | $30,000 | Required. Basic no-fault (PIP) pays up to $30,000 per person for economic loss such as medical bills and lost work, no matter who caused the crash. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP. Ohio is a fault (tort) state: the driver who caused the crash, and their liability insurer, pays for other people's injuries and damage. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP is required. Oklahoma has no no-fault law. | |
Fault (tort) | — | Fault-based, but private passenger policies must include personal injury protection (PIP): at least $15,000 for medical expenses within 2 years, 70% of lost income (up to $3,000 a month, 52 weeks) if you are disabled for at least 14 days, and funeral costs up to $5,000. PIP pays first no matter who caused the crash; it does not limit your right to sue. | |
Choice no-fault | $5,000 | Choice no-fault. Every policy must include $5,000 in first-party medical benefits, paid by your own insurer first. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP required. Rhode Island has no no-fault law: the driver who caused the crash (and their liability insurer) pays for others' injuries and damage. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP is required. South Carolina auto insurance works under tort law: the at-fault driver's liability insurance pays for injuries (including medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering) and property damage they cause. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP required. South Dakota is a fault (tort) state: the driver who caused the crash, and their liability insurer, pays for other people's injuries and damage. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP is required. Tennessee has no no-fault law: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other people's injuries and damage. | |
Fault (tort) | — | Fault-based. Every policy must include personal injury protection (PIP) unless you reject it in writing; the required amount is $2,500 per person (Tex. Ins. Code §§ 1952.152, 1952.153). | |
No-fault | $3,000 | No-fault for injuries: every policy must include personal injury protection (PIP) of at least $3,000 per person for medical costs, plus partial lost income. You can sue for general damages (like pain and suffering) only for death, dismemberment, permanent disability or impairment, permanent disfigurement, a bone fracture, or medical expenses over $3,000. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP required. Vermont has no no-fault law: the driver who caused the crash (and their liability insurer) pays for others' injuries and damage. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP is required. The at-fault driver's liability insurance pays for injuries and damage they cause. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP required, but insurers must offer personal injury protection: at least $10,000 medical and hospital, $2,000 funeral, $10,000 income continuation ($200/week) and $5,000 loss of services ($200/week). Washington is a fault (tort) state: the at-fault driver and their liability insurer pay for other people's injuries and damage. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP is required. West Virginia has no no-fault law. | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP. The at-fault driver's liability insurance pays for others' injuries and damage. Insurers must offer medical payments coverage (minimum $1,000 if you take it), but you can decline it (OCI). | |
Fault (tort) | — | No PIP required. Wyoming requires liability insurance only, so the driver who caused the crash and their insurer pay for others' injuries and damage. |
Ask the other driver's insurer to pay, in writing.
Claim letter