Car insurance in Pennsylvania (15/30/5)
- Minimum car insurancePennsylvania requires $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for bodily injury, $5,000 for property damage, and $5,000 of first-party medical benefits. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is optional. Source
- Fault systemDrivers choose limited tort, which gives up most claims for pain and suffering unless an injury meets a legal exception, or full tort, which keeps unrestricted rights; anyone who does not elect limited tort is treated as choosing full tort. Source
Business insurance rules in Pennsylvania
- Workers’ compensationAny employer with at least one employee who could be injured in Pennsylvania must carry workers' compensation. Coverage can come from the State Workers' Insurance Fund, a private insurer, or approved self-insurance; Pennsylvania is not monopolistic. Source
- Contractor licensingPennsylvania has no statewide general contractor license, but home improvement contractors must register with the Attorney General under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act. Registration requires proof of commercial general liability insurance of at least $50,000 for personal injury and $50,000 for property damage. Source
Home insurance in Pennsylvania
- Home insurer of last resortThe Pennsylvania FAIR Plan provides basic property coverage to owners who cannot get it in the regular market. Flooding from heavy rain and the remains of tropical storms is a major exposure, and standard homeowners policies do not cover flood. Source
High-value homes in Pennsylvania.
Disasters, floods, hail, tornadoes and earthquakes in Pennsylvania
| Measure | Pennsylvania | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 20 | #38 (tied) of 51 | Most often for severe storm (11), hurricane (4), flood (2). Sullivan County has been in 12 of them. |
| National Flood Insurance Program claims, 2005–2025 | 30,418 | #8 of 51 | $900.8 million paid; 29% of claims with a known flood zone were outside FEMA’s high-risk zones. |
| Homes in high-risk flood zones with a federal flood policy | 22% | #27 of 50 | 20,339 policies for 92,246 homes in the counties FEMA can measure; US: 40%. |
| Hail reports, 2016–2025 | 1,308 | #23 of 51 | 48 of them 2 inches or larger. Largest stone 4 inches, Northumberland County, May 2019. |
| Tornadoes, 2016–2025 | 234 | #24 of 51 | 28 rated EF2 or stronger; 993 recorded since 1950. |
| Earthquakes of magnitude 4.0+, 2000–2025 | 0 | — | None of magnitude 4.0 or greater recorded in or near the state. |
From the public FEMA, NOAA, Storm Prediction Center, USGS and FMCSA records behind each linked report; ranks count all 50 states and Washington, DC unless noted.
Look up the storm history of any county in Pennsylvania.
Worth knowing in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania auto buyers choose between limited tort and full tort; limited tort costs less but restricts lawsuits for pain and suffering, and full tort applies if no choice is made.
Pennsylvania’s insurance regulator
Insurance in Pennsylvania is regulated by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, which handles consumer complaints and licenses insurers and agents.
Sam Alishahi holds a nonresident insurance producer license in Pennsylvania (NPN 21022298), so requests from Pennsylvania are handled by him directly.
Common questions
What is the minimum car insurance in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania requires $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for bodily injury, $5,000 for property damage, and $5,000 of first-party medical benefits. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is optional.
Is Pennsylvania a no-fault state?
Drivers choose limited tort, which gives up most claims for pain and suffering unless an injury meets a legal exception, or full tort, which keeps unrestricted rights; anyone who does not elect limited tort is treated as choosing full tort.
Do employers in Pennsylvania need workers’ comp?
Any employer with at least one employee who could be injured in Pennsylvania must carry workers' compensation. Coverage can come from the State Workers' Insurance Fund, a private insurer, or approved self-insurance; Pennsylvania is not monopolistic.
What can a Pennsylvania homeowner do if no insurer will write the house?
The Pennsylvania FAIR Plan provides basic property coverage to owners who cannot get it in the regular market. Flooding from heavy rain and the remains of tropical storms is a major exposure, and standard homeowners policies do not cover flood.
Sources
- Pennsylvania: Minimum car insurance
- Pennsylvania: Fault system
- Pennsylvania: Workers’ compensation
- Pennsylvania: Home insurer of last resort
- Pennsylvania: Contractor licensing
- Pennsylvania: insurance regulator
General information as of October 2026, not legal advice; confirm current rules with the agency.