Short answer: Delaware requires liability of $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage, plus compulsory personal injury protection of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident. Keep a Delaware insurance ID card in the vehicle. Out-of-state policies will not register a Delaware vehicle. Fines for driving uninsured start at $1,500.
The compulsory package
The Delaware DMV insurance requirements page and the Insurance Department's Delaware Motorists Protection Act Form A (effective 12-13-2017) list the minimums:
| Coverage | Delaware minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 / $50,000 |
| Property damage liability | $10,000 |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | $15,000 / $30,000 |
| Damage to property other than a motor vehicle | $10,000 (Form A) |
Those figures implement 21 Del. C. § 2118.
What required PIP pays
Section 2118's PIP benefit is a minimum of $15,000 for any one person and $30,000 for all persons injured in any one accident for the total of covered payments. Covered items include:
- Medical, hospital, dental, surgical, medicine, x-ray, ambulance, prosthetic, professional nursing and funeral services (funeral, including burial plot, capped at $5,000 per person)
- Net lost earnings, including net lost earnings of a self-employed person
- Certain delayed surgical or dental procedures verified in writing within two years, with related lost earnings capped at 90 days of recovery
- Extra expenses for personal services the injured person would have performed
PIP applies to each person occupying the insured motor vehicle and to other persons injured in an accident involving that vehicle (other than an occupant of another motor vehicle). Named insureds and household members also receive pedestrian and out-of-state occupancy protections described in the statute. Owners may elect written PIP deductibles and similar reductions for injuries to themselves and household members; insurers must explain deductible options in a signed separate document.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Form A treats UM/UIM as optional but required to be offered. Minimum offered limits are $25,000/$50,000, available up to the bodily injury liability limits or $100,000/$300,000, whichever is less. UM property damage of $10,000 applies to accidents with uninsured vehicles and carries a $250 deductible. You may reject UM/UIM entirely in writing; that rejection follows the policy through renewals until you request the coverage again.
Fines and audits
DMV states that violators face a fine of $1,500 for the first offense, $3,000 for subsequent offenses and suspension of the vehicle registration. Section 2118(s) sets the court fine for a first offense at not less than $1,500 nor more than $2,000 with a six-month license/privilege suspension, and for each subsequent offense within three years at not less than $3,000 nor more than $4,000 with another six-month suspension. The minimum fine may be suspended in whole or in part if the defendant secured insurance between the charge and sentencing. DMV also audits vehicles for insurance compliance; plates must be surrendered before cancelling insurance on an active registration.
Assigned Risk notice for non-standard drivers
Form A includes a separate acknowledgment for non-standard policyholders: the agent must inform the applicant that they are considered a non-standard driver and must notify them of the Delaware Automobile (Assigned Risk) Insurance Plan, which can provide less expensive coverage for some drivers. If you are shopping after a lapse or a series of claims, ask whether the quote is voluntary-market or assigned-risk and what PIP deductible options change the premium.
Registration audits and tag surrender
DMV audits vehicles for insurance compliance. Before you cancel a policy on a vehicle with an active registration, surrender the plates. DMV says tags will be returned at no charge if proper insurance is provided and the registration has not expired. Cancelling first and hoping nobody notices is how registration suspensions and uninsured penalties begin.
Who PIP covers beyond the named insured
Section 2118 extends PIP to occupants of the insured vehicle and to others injured in an accident involving that vehicle (other than occupants of another motor vehicle). Named insureds and household members also receive protection as pedestrians or while occupying other vehicles in the United States or Canada under the statute's household rules. That breadth is why Delaware treats PIP as compulsory rather than a named-insured-only add-on.
Bottom line
Delaware is a compulsory-PIP state. Liability alone is not enough to register or drive lawfully. Compare states in our car insurance minimums by state table.
Questions? Contact Alishahi Insurance or call (877) 711-4545. See insurance in Delaware and auto insurance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum car insurance in Delaware?
Liability of $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury and $10,000 property damage, plus PIP of $15,000/$30,000.
Is PIP required in Delaware?
Yes. Personal injury protection is compulsory under the Delaware Motorists Protection Act and § 2118.
How much does Delaware PIP pay for funerals?
Funeral services, including a burial plot for one person, are capped at $5,000.
Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Delaware?
No, but insurers must offer it. You may reject UM/UIM in writing.
What is the fine for driving uninsured in Delaware?
Statute sets a first-offense fine of $1,500–$2,000 plus a six-month license suspension; subsequent offenses within three years are $3,000–$4,000 with another six-month suspension.
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.