Best Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) Coverage Car Insurance Company (2024)
In most states, drivers are required by law to buy bodily injury liability car insurance. The best bodily injury liability (BI) car insurance companies are GEICO and USAA. On average, property damage and bodily injury liability car insurance rates cost $43 per month, but your costs depend on your age, driving record, coverage needs, and ZIP code.
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Michelle Robbins
Licensed Insurance Agent
Michelle Robbins has been a licensed insurance agent for over 13 years. Her career began in the real estate industry, supporting local realtors with title Insurance. After several years, Michelle shifted to real estate home warranty insurance, where she managed a territory of over 100 miles of real estate professionals. Later, Agent Robbins obtained more licensing and experience serving families a...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Mar 10, 2024
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Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.
UPDATED: Mar 10, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- The best bodily injury liability (BI) car insurance companies are GEICO and USAA
- Liability insurance costs $43 per month on average, which includes both property damage and bodily injury liability coverage
- Bodily injury liability car insurance is required by law in almost every state
The best bodily injury liability (BI) car insurance companies are GEICO and USAA. Liability insurance costs $43 per month on average, including property damage and bodily injury liability car insurance rates.
Most states require drivers to carry some level of bodily injury liability car insurance. Below, compare car insurance from the top providers and learn how to keep your bodily injury liability car insurance quotes low.
When you’re ready to secure affordable bodily injury liability car insurance, enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool above to compare quotes from the best companies near you immediately.
What are the best bodily injury liability car insurance companies?
Almost every state requires drivers to carry some level of bodily injury liability car insurance.
You will be able to quickly purchase bodily injury coverage from virtually every national provider.
To find the best provider for you, compare average annual car insurance rates from the top companies in the table below.
Average Annual Car Insurance Rates by Company
Company | Average Annual Car Insurance Rates |
---|---|
USAA | $1,933.68 |
GEICO | $2,145.96 |
State Farm | $2,821.18 |
American Family | $2,693.61 |
Nationwide | $2,746.18 |
Progressive | $3,393.09 |
Farmers | $3,460.60 |
Travelers | $3,447.69 |
Allstate | $3,819.90 |
Liberty Mutual | $4,774.30 |
Keep in mind that the rates above do not reflect only the cost of bodily injury liability insurance. Instead, the totals represent complete policies, which include bodily injury liability coverage.
From our research, the best bodily injury liability car insurance companies are GEICO car insurance company and USAA car insurance company.
GEICO is available in all 50 states and underwrites policies to all drivers. The company is also known for providing cheaper quotes for teens and other young drivers.
Plus, GEICO offers an accident forgiveness program to help mitigate liability insurance increases if you cause a minor accident.
USAA offers cheaper average rates than GEICO in most states, but only military personnel can use its services, putting it in our number two spot.
However, those who do qualify also have access to an accident forgiveness program and many stackable car insurance discounts.
The cost of car insurance varies widely depending on your state, driving record, age, and coverage requirements. Plus, not every company is active or available in every part of the country.
So, other car insurance companies we highly recommend for bodily injury liability coverage include:
- Allstate car insurance company
- American Family car insurance company
- Nationwide car insurance company
- State Farm car insurance company
- Travelers car insurance company
To secure your cheapest bodily injury liability car insurance rates, compare quotes online from multiple companies.
Read more: Does Geico cover medical bills resulting from the accident?
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What is bodily injury liability car insurance?
Liability insurance is legally required in almost every state, and for a good reason — it ensures drivers can always cover expenses to a third party if they cause an accident.
There are two types of liability insurance, property damage, and bodily injury.
Whenever you see liability limits, they will typically be written in a three-number format, such as: 25/50/25
The first number tells you how much bodily injury liability protection you have per person; in this case, it’s $25,000. The second number tells you how much you have per incident, $50,000.
The final number, $25,000, tells you how much property damage coverage you have per incident. Property damage liability insurance covers only the other party’s vehicle and other personal property.
For insurance policies that cover your own damages, invest in collision and comprehensive coverage.
What is covered under bodily injury coverage? Medical bills and lost wages for the other party, including hospital bills and follow-up care.
However, bodily injury liability also helps cover your legal fees if you’re sued by the other party, as well as funeral and burial expenses if the accident is fatal.
So, does bodily injury cover you if you cause the accident? No, other than legal fees, your liability insurance only covers the other party’s damages.
For insurance policies that assist with your own medical needs, invest in medical payments coverage (MedPay) or personal injury protection (PIP) if those are available to you.
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), the average bodily injury liability claim cost was $18,417 in 2019, whereas property damage claims averaged closer to $3,600.
But how are liability insurance claims filed? In at-fault states, after a car accident you cause, the other driver files a third-party claim through your liability policy.
The incident is investigated until the other party accepts the settlement amount.
In no-fault states, you each file a claim against your own policies regardless of fault unless the damage costs exceed your state’s legal tort threshold, in which case the at-fault driver’s liability coverage applies.
If another driver hits you, keep track of receipts for all expenses related to the accident, as well as a record of medical bills and examinations.
When in any automobile accident, take photos of the scene if possible, and provide full details about exactly what happened to the police and the insurance company. This will help you prepare for any potential lawsuits, whether it’s a covered accident, a fault accident, or some other situation.
Also, document if you lost any wages due to the accident and be prepared to discuss the incident with a claims adjuster.
Be aware of your regional laws, as you may be subject to compensation time limits. Your insurance policy will help determine your coverage per accident limits.
How much bodily injury liability coverage do I need?
Most states require drivers to buy bodily injury liability car insurance to use the roads legally. However, Florida residents do not need to carry bodily injury liability insurance.
Similarly, New Hampshire and Virginia allow drivers to waive car insurance if they provide proof of financial responsibility.
But if you choose to purchase insurance in those states, you need bodily injury liability protection.
In the table below, compare the liability limits required by law in each state, where the first two numbers represent bodily injury limits, and the final number represents property damage.
Minimum Liability Car Insurance Limits Required by State
State | Minimum Liability Car Insurance Limits |
---|---|
Alabama | 25/50/25 |
Alaska | 50/100/25 |
Arizona | 25/50/15 |
Arkansas | 25/50/25 |
California | 15/30/5 |
Colorado | 25/50/15 |
Connecticut | 25/50/25 |
Delaware | 25/50/10 |
District of Columbia | 25/50/10 |
Florida | 0/0/10 |
Georgia | 25/50/25 |
Hawaii | 20/40/10 |
Idaho | 25/50/15 |
Illinois | 25/50/20 |
Indiana | 25/50/25 |
Iowa | 20/40/15 |
Kansas | 25/50/25 |
Kentucky | 25/50/25 |
Louisiana | 15/30/25 |
Maine | 50/100/25 |
Maryland | 30/60/15 |
Massachusetts | 20/40/5 |
Michigan | 20/40/10 |
Minnesota | 30/60/10 |
Mississippi | 25/50/25 |
Missouri | 25/50/25 |
Montana | 25/50/20 |
Nebraska | 25/50/25 |
Nevada | 25/50/20 |
New Hampshire | 25/50/25 |
New Jersey | 15/30/5 |
New Mexico | 25/50/10 |
New York | 25/50/10 |
North Carolina | 30/60/25 |
North Dakota | 25/50/25 |
Ohio | 25/50/25 |
Oklahoma | 25/50/25 |
Oregon | 25/50/20 |
Pennsylvania | 15/30/5 |
Rhode Island | 25/50/25 |
South Carolina | 25/50/25 |
South Dakota | 25/50/25 |
Tennessee | 25/50/15 |
Texas | 30/60/25 |
Utah | 25/65/15 |
Vermont | 25/50/10 |
Virginia | 25/50/20 |
Washington | 25/50/10 |
West Virginia | 25/50/25 |
Wisconsin | 25/50/10 |
Wyoming | 25/50/20 |
Typically, legal liability limits are not substantial enough to offer you adequate protection.
Experts recommend investing in liability limits that match the value of your assets or the highest levels you can reasonably afford.
For example, wealthier drivers who fear lawsuits should invest in higher coverage limits, as low limits may expose your assets if you cause a serious accident.
Those drivers may also consider personal liability umbrella policies, which provide coverage beyond the reach of car insurance liability policies.
Read more:
- Best Alaska Car Insurance
- Best Arkansas Car Insurance
- Best Connecticut Car Insurance
- Best Delaware Car Insurance
- Best Florida Car Insurance
- Best Georgia Car Insurance
- Best Maine Car Insurance
- Best Ohio Car Insurance
- Best Virginia Car Insurance
- Best Minnesota Car Insurance
- Best Mississippi Car Insurance
- Minnesota Car Insurance Laws
- Mississippi Car Insurance Laws
- Oklahoma Car Insurance Laws
- Rhode Island Car Insurance Laws
- Utah Car Insurance Laws
- West Virginia Car Insurance Laws
- Hawaii Car Insurance Law
- Indiana Car Insurance Laws
- Virginia Car Insurance Laws
How much does bodily injury liability car insurance cost?
Typically, bodily injury liability insurance is sold alongside property damage liability car insurance. The national average cost of liability insurance is $43 per month or $516 annually.
Find your state in the table below to determine the average cost of liability insurance where you live.
Average Annual Liability Car Insurance Rates by State
State | Average Annual Liability Car Insurance Rates |
---|---|
Alabama | $394.21 |
Alaska | $539.68 |
Arizona | $508.76 |
Arkansas | $394.13 |
California | $489.66 |
Colorado | $520.04 |
Connecticut | $650.94 |
Delaware | $799.30 |
District of Columbia | $628.82 |
Florida | $857.64 |
Georgia | $557.38 |
Hawaii | $458.54 |
Idaho | $344.29 |
Illinois | $446.72 |
Indiana | $382.68 |
Iowa | $299.18 |
Kansas | $358.24 |
Kentucky | $529.21 |
Louisiana | $775.83 |
Maine | $338.87 |
Maryland | $609.74 |
Massachusetts | $606.04 |
Michigan | $795.32 |
Minnesota | $456.82 |
Mississippi | $460.50 |
Missouri | $415.88 |
Montana | $386.29 |
Nebraska | $364.64 |
Nevada | $681.56 |
New Hampshire | $400.56 |
New Jersey | $869.57 |
New Mexico | $488.03 |
New York | $804.51 |
North Carolina | $359.42 |
North Dakota | $298.18 |
Ohio | $397.11 |
Oklahoma | $461.01 |
Oregon | $584.13 |
Pennsylvania | $499.06 |
Rhode Island | $759.80 |
South Carolina | $527.09 |
South Dakota | $300.22 |
Tennessee | $413.91 |
Texas | $528.75 |
Utah | $497.53 |
Vermont | $343.12 |
Virginia | $425.61 |
Washington | $596.67 |
West Virginia | $491.83 |
Wisconsin | $374.37 |
Wyoming | $321.04 |
Interestingly, liability insurance gets cheaper when you increase your limits. Make informed insurance coverage decisions by taking potential medical care and medical expenses into account. Each state’s car insurance requirements will vary. So while it still results in higher car insurance rates, you technically get a better coverage value per dollar spent.
However, your rates depend on your age, driving record, coverage needs, ZIP code, and more.
To find the best liability car insurance company for you, compare quotes online from multiple providers.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
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Case Studies: Best Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) Coverage Car Insurance Company
Case Study 1: Sarah’s Choice for Liability Coverage
Sarah recently moved to a new state and needed to find car insurance that provided adequate bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage. After conducting thorough research and obtaining multiple quotes, Sarah discovered that GEICO and USAA were consistently recommended as the top car insurance companies for BIL coverage.
She evaluated the coverage options and premiums offered by both companies and ultimately chose USAA due to its lower rates and excellent customer service reputation. This case study highlights the importance of researching multiple options and considering factors beyond just premiums when selecting a car insurance company.
Case Study 2: John’s Search for Comprehensive Coverage
John, a responsible driver, wanted to ensure he had comprehensive bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage to protect himself and others in case of an accident. He reached out to various car insurance companies and obtained quotes for different coverage levels.
After careful consideration, John found that GEICO offered the most comprehensive BIL coverage at a reasonable price. He appreciated GEICO’s accident forgiveness program, which provided additional peace of mind.
Case Study 3: Amy’s Experience With Specialized Coverage
Amy, a military service member, was in search of car insurance that offered specialized bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage to meet her unique requirements. She learned that USAA specializes in providing insurance services to military personnel and their families.
After obtaining quotes from multiple providers, Amy found that USAA offered the best BIL coverage tailored to her specific needs. The competitive premiums, along with the company’s expertise in serving military members, made her confident in her decision.
Best Bodily Injury Liability (BI) Car Insurance Companies: The Bottom Line
Bodily injury liability insurance is legally required in almost every state. GEICO and USAA underwrite the cheapest average insurance rates across the country.
Fortunately, auto insurance providers make it easy for most drivers to secure affordable basic liability policies, including bodily injury insurance.
But if you’re a higher-risk driver, or you just want to save money on your bodily injury liability car insurance, ask about the following discounts:
- Claim-free discount
- Driver’s Ed discount
- Good driver discount
- Paid-in-full discount
- Paperless discount
You can also save money on car insurance by increasing your deductible limits, comparison shopping, and enrolling in an accident forgiveness program.
Find the best bodily injury liability car insurance company for you by entering your ZIP code into our free rate tool below and immediately compare quotes from reputable providers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is bodily injury liability car insurance?
Bodily injury liability (BI) car insurance is a type of car insurance coverage that pays for expenses related to injuries sustained by other people in an accident that you caused. This coverage typically includes medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other costs that the injured party may incur. It is a mandatory coverage in most states, and the minimum limits required by law vary by state.
What is the difference between bodily injury liability and property damage liability insurance?
- Bodily injury liability insurance covers expenses related to injuries caused to someone else in an accident
- Property damage liability insurance covers expenses related to damage caused to someone else’s property in an accident.
How much bodily injury liability insurance should I carry?
The amount of bodily injury liability insurance you should carry varies based on your state’s requirements and your personal financial situation. It’s recommended to carry as much liability insurance as you can afford.
What is the difference between bodily injury liability insurance and personal injury protection (PIP) insurance?
Bodily injury liability insurance covers expenses related to injuries caused to someone else in an accident.
PIP insurance covers expenses related to your own injuries in an accident, regardless of who is at fault.
Can I purchase bodily injury liability insurance without buying other types of car insurance?
Yes, you can purchase bodily injury liability insurance on its own, but it’s recommended to carry comprehensive and collision insurance as well for full coverage.
How can I save money on my bodily injury liability car insurance rates?
To save money on your bodily injury liability car insurance rates, consider increasing your deductible, reducing coverage amounts, or taking advantage of available discounts.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
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Michelle Robbins
Licensed Insurance Agent
Michelle Robbins has been a licensed insurance agent for over 13 years. Her career began in the real estate industry, supporting local realtors with title Insurance. After several years, Michelle shifted to real estate home warranty insurance, where she managed a territory of over 100 miles of real estate professionals. Later, Agent Robbins obtained more licensing and experience serving families a...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.