Why Utah’s State Minimum Auto Insurance May Not Be Enough
When shopping for auto insurance, it can be tempting to choose the cheapest option available.
For many drivers, that means selecting Utah’s state minimum liability limits.
The problem? The state minimum is designed to meet the legal requirement to drive—not necessarily to protect everything you own.
What Are Utah’s Minimum Auto Insurance Limits?
Utah currently requires minimum auto liability limits of 30/65/25
$30,000 for bodily injury to one person
$65,000 for bodily injury to two or more people in one accident
$25,000 for damage to someone else’s property
Those numbers may sound substantial until you consider what a serious accident can actually cost.
$25,000 Does Not Go Very Far Anymore
Imagine you look down for just a second and run a red light.
You hit another vehicle carrying a husband, wife, and their child.
One person needs emergency surgery. Another spends several days in the hospital and cannot return to work for months. Between ambulance bills, hospital care, surgery, rehabilitation, lost income, and other damages, the total claim reaches $250,000.
You carry Utah’s state minimum bodily injury coverage: $30,000 per person and $65,000 per accident.
Once your policy reaches that $65,000 limit, your insurance does not suddenly increase because the accident was worse than expected.
There could still be $185,000 in damages beyond your policy limit.
Those injured in the accident may pursue you personally for amounts you are legally responsible for above your insurance coverage. Suddenly, the issue is no longer just a car accident. Your savings, income, and other assets could become part of a much larger financial problem.
And you cannot go back after the accident and increase the coverage you had that day.
That is the real danger of carrying minimum liability limits. A few dollars saved on your monthly premium could leave a massive gap when a serious accident happens.
Liability insurance does not just protect the people you may injure. It helps protect everything you have worked to build.
Think About What You Have to Protect
If you own a home, have savings, earn a good income, or are building assets, carrying the lowest liability limits available may not make sense.
Higher liability limits can provide a larger financial buffer between a serious accident and your personal finances.
The difference in premium between state minimum coverage and higher limits may also be smaller than many drivers expect.
That is why it is worth looking at the actual price difference before automatically choosing the lowest option.
Minimum Coverage Means Minimum Protection
There is nothing wrong with wanting affordable insurance. But saving money on your premium should be balanced with how much financial risk you are willing to keep yourself.
Utah requires drivers to carry liability insurance, but meeting the legal minimum and being adequately protected are two different things.
At Tommy Thomsen Insurance, we can show you different coverage options and explain exactly what increasing your liability limits would cost.
If you are currently carrying Utah’s state minimum coverage, let us show you what additional protection may cost before your next accident decides the question for you.
Request an auto insurance quote through our website or call Tommy Thomsen Insurance at 801-982-7200.
We will explain your options in plain language and help you find the balance between affordable insurance and protecting what you have worked hard to build.
This article provides general insurance information and is not legal or financial advice. Coverage, limits, exclusions, premiums, and claim payments depend on the applicable insurance policy and circumstances of the loss.