What Car Insurance Is Required in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, you're required to carry liability car insurance coverage on any vehicle you own. The current required minimum amounts of liability coverage are:

• $15,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in an accident caused by you (or another covered driver)
• $30,000 for total bodily injury or death liability in an accident caused by you (or another covered driver), and
• $25,000 for property damage per accident caused by you (or another covered driver).

Car insurance is sure to play a big part in any claim brought after a traffic accident in Louisiana, so let's take a closer look at the state's rules.

What Does Liability Car Insurance Cover in Louisiana?

As we touched on at the top of this article, you're required to meet the minimum liability coverage requirements for any vehicle registered in Louisiana. Liability coverage pays the medical bills, property damage bills, and other costs of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians who are injured or have their vehicle damaged in a car accident you cause, up to coverage limits.

You can (and in some situations probably should) carry more coverage to protect you in case a serious crash results in significant car accident injuries and vehicle damage.

Remember, once policy limits are exhausted, you are personally on the financial hook, so higher insurance limits can help protect your personal assets in the event of a serious crash.

Who Is Covered Under Liability Car Insurance in Louisiana?

Your liability coverage will kick in if any family member is driving your vehicle, or if you've given someone else permission to use it. It will likely also cover you if you get into an accident in a rental car.

Liability Car Insurance Won't Cover Your Own Car Accident Losses

Remember that the liability coverage we discussed here doesn't apply to your own injuries or vehicle damage after a Louisiana car accident. You'll need different (additional) coverage for that if you're involved in a car accident and no one else's coverage applies to your losses. For example, collision coverage (optional in Louisiana) can pay for repairs to (or replacement of) your damaged vehicle after a car accident.

Note that collision or comprehensive might be required under the terms of a vehicle lease or financing agreement. And while not required in Louisiana, uninsured motorist coverage can really save the day if you're in a car accident with a motorist who is driving without insurance, or if you're involved in a hit and run accident. Learn more about different types of car insurance coverage.

Can I Show Digital Proof of Car Insurance in Louisiana?

Yes. If you're pulled over or involved in a car accident, you can show proof of car insurance to a Louisiana law enforcement officer with:

• an insurance card listing your car insurance policy details, or
• a digital version of the insurance card (or the policy declaration page, or other documentation) on your phone or other device.

What Are the Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Louisiana?

According to the Louisiana Department of Insurance, driving without insurance—or being involved in a crash as an uninsured driver—can result in the imposition of a fine of $500 to $1,000, plus the suspension of driving privileges, impoundment of a vehicle, revocation of registration, or cancellation of license plates.

Of course, these penalties will likely pale in comparison to the financial hit you could take if you're in a car accident and you don't have car insurance, especially if you're the one at fault for the crash.

If you're having difficulty finding a company to insure you in Louisiana, it might make sense to look into the Louisiana Automobile Insurance Plan, which helps pair vehicle owners with reputable insurance companies.

Another big consequence of driving without insurance in Louisiana is the state's harsh (for uninsured drivers anyway) "No Pay, No Play" law.

What Is Louisiana's "No Pay, No Play" Law?

If you drive without insurance in Louisiana, the state's "No Pay, No Play" law will likely prohibit you from collecting compensation for your losses after a car accident—even if the other driver is at fault—after all but the most serious crashes.

Specifically, this law says that anyone driving without insurance at the time of a crash won't be able to recover:

• the first $100,000 in property damage resulting from the accident, and
• the first $100,000 in personal injuries caused by the accident.

On top of these restrictions, if you're uninsured and you do file a car accident lawsuit in Louisiana court, and you don't recover more than $100,000 in damages from the at-fault driver, you're going to be held responsible for paying for all of their "court costs" in defending against your lawsuit.

Remember, these rules apply no matter how obvious it might be that the other driver was at fault. Bottom line: If you're caught driving without insurance, Louisiana's "no pay, no play" law probably means you can't take legal action against the other driver after a crash.

There are exceptions. An uninsured driver can probably still receive full compensation for their car accident losses if the other driver:

• was convicted of driving while intoxicated in connection with the accident
• intentionally caused the accident
• fled the scene of the accident, or
• caused the accident while committing a felony.

Getting Help After a Louisiana Car Accident

For more details on how car insurance works in Louisiana, check out the Consumer's Guide to Auto Insurance from the Louisiana Department of Insurance. You can also learn more about Louisiana laws that might affect a car accident case.

If you've been in a car accident in Louisiana, you might need more than the basics on how car insurance works in your state. Learn more about how a lawyer can help with your car accident claim.