All active vehicle registrations must be accompanied by a minimum of liability insurance in the state of Connecticut. When registering a vehicle, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles will certify insurance coverage and require a signature so that the driver can verify that he or she will maintain proper coverage for the duration of the motor vehicle registration. If a policy becomes canceled, insurance agencies report their findings to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The DMV will then take administrative action and mail a warning notice to the individual. If the individual plans to continue to operate the vehicle, he or she must pay a $200 fee, obtain insurance and sign a consent agreement. Drivers that do not comply will be mailed a suspension notice and a court hearing will be held. Hearings can ultimately result in suspension of the registration and license or inability to register future vehicles.

Minimum Requirements
Connecticut requires all residents to carry a minimum of liability auto insurance that will be responsible for paying costs to another individual if the insured driver is found responsible for an accident. Liability coverage in Connecticut is $20,000 per person for bodily injury, $40,000 per accident for bodily injury and $10,000 per accident for property damage. These sums only pay for the victim’s expenses and will not cover any bills accrued by the negligent driver.

Bodily Injury Minimums
Connecticut bodily injury coverage will reimburse for medical bills of the victim or victims. In the event the victim experiences a loss of wages or funeral costs, the bodily injury coverage will also pay those fees. With a $20,000/$40,000 liability policy, each injured individual can receive no more than $20,000 for expenses. If more than one person is injured, the group will be provided with $40,000 without exceeding $20,000 per person.

Medical Payment Coverage
Purchasing medical payment coverage is a way to fund the negligent driver’s medical bills and any injured passengers in the faulty driver’s vehicle. Claims that benefit from this coverage include x-ray, dental, chiropractic and other associated medical expenses. Individuals carrying this policy will also use this plan if they are struck by a car as a pedestrian or if they are injured while riding in someone else’s motor vehicle. Funds from this policy are used to cover bills accumulated within a certain number of days.

Property Damage Minimums
The $10,000 property damage coverage minimum in Connecticut is used for the repair of another vehicle as a result of a collision by the liability insured driver. Injured parties can receive up to $10,000 for property damage that can be dispersed to an unlimited amount of parties.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Connecticut requires those operating a motor vehicle to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage must be offered at the same amount as the liability minimum or higher. The maximum amount a driver can purchase is double the minimum liability requirement. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage protects drivers from the thousands of individuals driving without any type of auto insurance coverage. Even drivers who carry the minimum amount of required insurance may not have an adequate amount of coverage to meet the needs of expenses he or she has inflicted in an accident. This type of coverage will provide protection for personal injury and property damage sustained as a result of another negligent driver.

Tort System
Connecticut employs a tort auto insurance system which means that the party responsible for the collision must cover the injured party’s medical expenses. Pain and suffering wages and additional associated damages will also be the responsibility of the negligent driver. Maintaining proper coverage can help an individual avoid costly out of pocket expenses.

Insurance Discounts
Many auto insurance companies offer discounts for having particular features on a vehicle. Anti-lock brakes and passenger air bags are safety components on a vehicle that help keep medicals costs down in an accident and therefore, bring down the cost of insurance. Anti theft devices and similar security additives aid in keeping vandalism costs low and will provide an insured individual with lower payment options.

Appropriate Coverage
In order to determine appropriate insurance coverage, a driver should consider a number of factors. If a vehicle being operated on a public roadway has a high value, then the driver should buy coverage that will pay for the repair of his or her vehicle. Those driving on high traffic expressways have an increased risk for a collision and therefore, should maintain a policy that protects his or her from costly out of pocket medical or car repair expenses.