Louisiana Car Insurance (LA)

Louisiana Car Insurance Requirements

The state of Louisiana requires that you carry liability car insurance on any vehicle you own.  That coverage must be a minimum of $10,000 in bodily injury for an individual and $20,000 in bodily injury per incident.  Also required is minimum property damage liability of $10,000.  In the event of an accident in which you are at fault, this insurance covers the damage to the other car and injury related costs for the driver and passengers in that vehicle.

That is the extent of required car insurance in Louisiana.  Because costs related to medical treatment and repairing or replacing a car can add up quickly, many people carry higher levels of liability insurance.  The minimums required by Louisiana do not limit your liability in an accident; they only define the minimum level of liability insurance you are required to carry.

Insurance companies in Louisiana are required to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, although you are not required to carry it.  This insurance covers the medical costs associated with injuries to you and your passengers, should you be in an accident with someone who is uninsured or whose policy is inadequate to cover your costs.

Get a FREE Louisiana car insurance quote today >>

Additional Car Insurance Coverage available in Louisiana

You can also buy uninsured motorist property damage insurance, which covers the damage to your vehicle.  The limit on this type of coverage in Louisiana is $10,000.  There is also ‘economic only’ uninsured motorist insurance available which covers your direct medical costs, but does not provide for pain and suffering.

Additional optional medical coverage is available in the form of medical payments insurance, which pays for the medical costs incurred by you and your passengers, regardless of who is at fault.  Depending on what other car insurance options you have chosen, this coverage may or may not be redundant and overlap coverage under other policies, such as health insurance.

Because there is no required insurance coverage for your vehicle should you be at fault, there are options available to protect your car referred to as collision and comprehensive.  Collision coverage pays for your repair costs, after a deductible is met.  Comprehensive insurance pays for non-accident related damages, such as theft, damage from a storm or fire, or vandalism.

Many people drop collision and comprehensive coverage after the car is five years old or more, because the value of the car does not justify the premiums.  The mix of coverage levels, deductibles and premiums are different for everyone, based on each individual’s financial situation.

Get a FREE car insurance quote for Louisiana (LA) today >>