Delaware drivers are required to have a minimum of liability insurance coverage as well as a personal injury protection policy. Proof of insurance must be carried on the driver during the operation of a vehicle. In the event that a driver is pulled over by a law enforcement officer and he or she can not supply proof of insurance, he or she will be fined no less than $1,500. Any reoccurring offense over the next three years will result in a $3,000 fee for each offense and driving privileges will be suspended for six months. Proof of insurance is provided by the insuring company and can be kept inside the insured vehicle. In the event that proof of insurance becomes lost, call the insurance representative to have a copy mailed.

Mandatory Liability Minimums
Motorists carrying a liability plan will have protection from claims stemming from injuries or damages sustained by another individual as a result of an accident. Liability coverage in Delaware is $15,000 per person for bodily injury, $30,000 per accident for bodily injury and $10,000 per accident for property damage. Because the property sum in Delaware is very low, drivers need to consider an additional form of coverage. If a liability insured driver is responsible for more than $10,000 of another’s property damage, he or she will have to make the payments out of pocket.

Delaware Bodily Injury Liability Policy
Delaware liability bodily injury coverage supplies a $15,000/$30,000 plan where each injured individual can receive no more than $15,000 for expenses. If more than one person is injured, the group will be provided with $30,000 without exceeding $15,000 per person. The group must have the sum split up according to their individual needs.

Personal Injury Protection Policy
The state of Delaware requires residents to carry a personal injury protection policy in addition to liability coverage. The minimum amount for personal injury protection is the same as the liability minimum at $15,000/$30,000. The rules that apply for qualifying to receive liability money is the same but monies are given to the insured individual whether or not they are at fault for the collision. The PIP benefits will be given in addition to any other qualifying monies received as a result of the accident.

Delaware Property Damage Liability Policy
Since Delaware is a state that has considerably low requirements for property damage sums, drivers should strongly consider adding another policy to his or her liability coverage that will provide a pay out that is higher than $10,000. If a motorist is found to be responsible for damage to another’s property, the funds dispersed can not exceed $10,000 and is not limited to a specific number of parties.

Collision and Comprehensive Coverage
Collision and comprehensive coverage is not required for motorists in Delaware. If another vehicle or tree is struck by the insured driver, the collision insurance will pay for the negligent, insured driver’s repairs. The coverage will pay for financial losses but not the complete replacement of the car. When an older car strikes another object and requires repairs that exceed the value of the vehicle, the insurance company will pay the driver the value of the car instead of having it fixed. Insurance representatives do not recommend purchasing collision coverage for cars with less than a $2,000 value.

Comprehensive coverage, also not mandatory, will fund fees accrued for damage from the elements or vandalism cases. Drivers in geographic locations that experience extreme environmental factors may want to add comprehensive coverage to their policy. Individuals who park their vehicles on public roadways on a consistent basis would be good candidates for comprehensive coverage because they are at greater risk for damage.

Out of State Vehicles
Vehicle owners who operate an out of state motor vehicles in the state of Delaware must have insurance that is at least equal to the minimum liability requirements by the state in which the vehicle is registered. If the car is registered to a location that does not require insurance, the owner must obtain insurance that is equal to or greater than the state of Delaware minimums.

Proof of Insurance
The Department of Motor Vehicles may audit a driver’s vehicle for proof of insurance. In this instance, the vehicle owner needs to contact their insurance representative to be provided with a Delaware Insurance Certification Form. This form, also known as the FR-19, certifies that a vehicle has been insured from a particular date and is currently covered.