Short answer: Arkansas law requires only liability insurance: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. Two other coverages appear by default, though. Personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured motorist coverage must be offered, and they stay on the policy unless you sign a written rejection.
What the law actually requires
The Arkansas Insurance Department's automobile insurance booklet (rev. 11/2025) says you are required by law to buy liability protection only. Everything else is voluntary unless a lender requires it.
| Coverage | Arkansas rule |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 one person / $50,000 two or more people |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 |
| Personal injury protection | Must be offered; reject in writing to remove it |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | Included unless you sign a rejection |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | Optional |
The limits come from Ark. Code §27-22-104.
PIP: the three parts
The booklet describes PIP in three pieces: medical payments, lost wages and a death benefit. You can buy any or all; declining takes a written rejection. Ark. Code §23-89-202 sets the minimum benefits:
- Medical and hospital: up to $5,000 per person for expenses incurred within 24 months of the crash.
- Income disability: 70% of lost income starting eight days after the accident, for up to 52 weeks, capped at $140 a week. A person without income can claim up to $70 a week for essential services they can no longer do.
- Accidental death: $5,000 if the injury causes death within one year.
PIP covers you and household members riding in your car, other passengers in your car who lack their own PIP, and pedestrians or cyclists your car hits.
Uninsured motorist coverage and the $200 deductible
Anyone buying liability coverage must be offered UM, and the booklet notes it is included unless you sign a statement rejecting it. Under §23-89-403(3)(A), the insurer must offer UM bodily injury limits up to the liability limits you chose.
You can buy UM bodily injury without property damage, but not the reverse. Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) carries a $200 deductible. That deductible is waived only when the same company carries your collision and UMPD coverage, the uninsured driver is positively identified, and that driver is solely at fault.
Underinsured motorist coverage is separate. It pays the excess when the at-fault driver's limits run out, up to your UIM limit.
Fines for driving uninsured
Under Ark. Code §27-22-103:
- First offense: mandatory fine of $100 to $250.
- Second offense: $250 to $500.
- Third or later: $500 to $1,000, up to one year in jail, or both.
If coverage was in force when you were stopped, the judge may dismiss the charge. Otherwise the court orders the vehicle's registration suspended until coverage is shown and a $20 reinstatement fee is paid. Under §27-22-104, failing to show a proof-of-insurance card, or a vehicle that doesn't show as insured in the online verification system, creates a presumption that the vehicle is uninsured.
Cancellation and nonrenewal protections
After a policy has been in force 60 days, the booklet says an insurer may cancel only for nonpayment, fraud on the application, vehicular homicide, repeated speeding or reckless driving convictions, or DWI. Notice is 20 days (10 for nonpayment). Nonrenewal takes 30 days' notice, and another company can't refuse you solely because of it.
Fault and recovery
Under Ark. Code §16-64-122, you recover only if your fault is less than that of the party you're claiming against, and your award shrinks by your share.
Where the minimum falls short
- $5,000 of PIP medical can disappear in a single ER visit.
- $25,000 of property damage may not replace a newer truck.
- Financed cars need physical damage coverage. The booklet warns that lender-placed coverage costs far more and may protect only the lender.
- Drivers 55 and older who complete an approved accident prevention course are entitled by law to a discount.
Turned down everywhere? An agent can apply through the Arkansas Automobile Assigned Risk Plan.
Bottom line
Arkansas looks like a simple 25/50/25 state, but PIP and UM are opt-out. Read rejection forms before signing. Compare states in our car insurance minimums by state table.
Questions? Contact Alishahi Insurance or call (877) 711-4545. See insurance in Arkansas and auto insurance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum car insurance in Arkansas?
Liability of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage.
Is PIP required in Arkansas?
Insurers must provide it, but the named insured can reject any or all of the three PIP coverages in writing.
How much does Arkansas PIP pay?
At minimum, $5,000 of medical expenses, 70% of lost income up to $140 a week for 52 weeks, and a $5,000 death benefit.
What is the fine for driving uninsured in Arkansas?
A mandatory $100 to $250 for a first offense, rising to $500 to $1,000 or jail for a third.
Does uninsured motorist property damage have a deductible in Arkansas?
Yes, $200, unless the same insurer carries your collision coverage and the identified uninsured driver is solely at fault.
Alishahi Insurance · 439 N Canon Dr, Penthouse, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 · (877) 711-4545 · CA License #4348151. General information only. This isn't legal, tax or financial advice or a coverage determination. Coverage depends on policy language and underwriting, and rules vary by state.