What is PIP Insurance?
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage is the portion of a car insurance policy that provides medical expenses and work loss coverage for you and your passengers after a car accident, regardless of fault. PIP coverage is often a requirement in "No-Fault" states, as it covers your injuries, no matter who caused the accident.
- State law requires it.
- You commonly drive with passengers in your vehicle who could hold you responsible for their medical expenses if they were injured in an accident.
- You don’t have a great health insurance plan. A robust health insurance plan makes high PIP limits less necessary. If in doubt, check with your healthcare provider.
What does PIP cover?
Personal injury protection insurance is a “no-fault” coverage that covers the cost of injuries to you and your passengers. PIP is intended to reduce the likelihood of lawsuits after a collision. Even if you are at fault in an auto accident, medical expenses — medical and surgical treatment, ambulance fees and medication — for you and your passengers will be covered up to the policy’s limit.
Personal injury protection coverage replaces the standard bodily injury liability portion of an insurance policy. PIP can also be used to recover lost wages, rehabilitation services and more.
PIP insurance covers:
- Medical bills
- Surgical fees
- Ambulance fees
- Lost wages
- Rehabilitation services
- Funeral expenses
- Death benefit
- Essential services (lawn care, etc...)
PIP coverage limits
PIP benefits and coverage vary depending on the location of the insurance policy. In Florida, PIP insurance will typically cover 80% of medical bills and 60% of lost wages, up to $10,000. In other states, PIP coverage levels can be much higher or much lower.
Drivers in Michigan, however, have much higher PIP limits. This is one of the main reasons car insurance is expensive in Michigan.
What does PIP not cover?
Because PIP does not provide coverage for physical damage to the insured driver's vehicle, it does not provide coverage after an at-fault accident.
Find below a list of other exclusions.
- Property damage liability insurance: Damages the insured causes to another person's property (including vehicle damages).
- Collision coverage: The damage to the insured's vehicle in an at-fault accident.
Comprehensive coverage: The damage to the insured's vehicle caused in a non-collision incident. - Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: This coverage can be applied to property or bodily injury protection. While it's possible to purchase uninsured property damage coverage to protect a vehicle if the at-fault party does not have insurance, PIP provides the coverage necessary for uninsured bodily injury coverage.
- Expenses beyond the policy's coverage limits.
Where is PIP required?
When accidents occur in a no-fault state, both parties file claims with their individual insurance providers regardless of who is at fault in the accident. No-fault and personal injury protection states go hand in hand— PIP is the coverage that pays for you and your passengers medical expenses and loss of income following an accident, and is a section of auto insurance found in no-fault states.
While there are about 20 no-fault states that offer some level of personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, only 13 states require it:
- Delaware
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Kansas
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Utah
PIP requirements by state
Below is the required amount of PIP coverage in various U.S. states.
States where PIP coverage is optional
The following states offer personal injury protection, but it is not required of all drivers. This coverage must often be waived in writing.
Average PIP insurance costs
The cost of PIP insurance depends on factors such as coverage level, age, type of vehicle, your auto insurance company, and location. The data below is reflective of a 30-year-old male driver with no accident, good credit, and the owner of a 2016 Honda Civic.
State | Avg. Annual Premium | Avg. PIP Premium |
---|---|---|
Delaware | $2,117 | $232 |
Florida | $2,923 | $400 |
Hawaii | $1,409 | $89 |
Kansas | $1,791 | $54 |
Kentucky | $2,567 | $175 |
Massachusetts | $1,418 | $55 |
Michigan | $2,176 | $428 |
Minnesota | $1,707 | $200 |
New Jersey | $2,043 | $336 |
New York | $2,171 | $236 |
North Dakota | $1,555 | $97 |
Oregon | $1,509 | $124 |
Pennsylvania | $1,777 | $78 |
Utah | $1,617 | $54 |
Find the PIP insurance you need quickly and easily!
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About The Zebra
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- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
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