Free tool
Car insurance coverage checker
Enter the limits on your declarations page. See how they compare with your state's legal minimum, and what happens if a serious crash costs more than your policy pays.
Find these on your policy's declarations page, often written like 50/100/50.
What if you cause a crash with serious injuries?
Your policy would pay up to
$50,000
Amount above your limits
$70,000
Amounts above your limits can become a claim against you personally. The same math works in reverse: if the driver who hits you carries only the minimum, your own UM/UIM coverage may be what covers the difference.
By Serdar Arslan, editor · Last reviewed · How we research
Example
A Texas driver carries the state minimum of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident. If they cause a crash that injures two people with $90,000 in costs each, the policy pays at most $60,000 in total. That leaves $120,000 above the limits. With 100/300 limits, the policy would pay $180,000 and the gap would disappear.
Compare minimums for every state on the state law table, or read about uninsured and underinsured motorist claims.
Frequently asked questions
›What do numbers like 50/100/50 mean?
They are your liability limits in thousands of dollars: $50,000 bodily injury per person, $100,000 bodily injury per accident, and $50,000 property damage per accident.
›Is the state minimum enough?
The minimum is only what the law requires to drive. A single hospital stay can exceed it. Anything above your limits can become a claim against you personally, which is why many drivers choose higher limits.
›What is uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage?
UM/UIM pays you when the at-fault driver has no insurance or too little. Some states require it; in others it is optional and can be rejected in writing.
›Where do the state minimums come from?
From each state's statute or insurance department, listed with citations on our state law pages. Some states changed their minimums recently, such as California in 2025, North Carolina in July 2025 and New Jersey in 2026.
›Does this tool recommend a policy?
No. It shows how your numbers compare and what a scenario would mean. Talk to a licensed insurance agent about what fits your situation.