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Delaware

Delaware Car Insurance

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Wilmington and its suburbs face Delaware's most expensive state car insurance rates. While every insurer will charge a different price, where you live is an important factor in the calculation. You can see how each ZIP code in Delaware stacks up in the map below.

Delaware Car Insurance Requirements
Average Car Insurance Rates in Delaware

Delaware car insurance requirements

Delaware state law requires the following minimum car insurance coverage:
Minimum bodily injury liability$25,000/$50,000
Minimum property damage liability$10,000
Personal injury protection$15,000/$30,000

What you need to know about car insurance in Delaware

Penny Gusner
CarInsurance.com
Consumer Analyst

Delaware's former minimum liability requirements of $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage were rather low -- only a couple of states had lower minimum bodily injury limits. But that changed on Dec. 17, 2017, when the state hiked limits to $25,00 per person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury.

A severe accident that you cause could send your finances reeling; if you own a home or have much in savings you should consider increasing those levels.

Personal injury protection (PIP) of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident is required as part of a Delaware auto insurance policy, but this isn't a no-fault state. It's referred to as an "add-on" state, which means that these PIP benefits are added onto any other benefits you may receive for your injuries.

PIP benefits include payment of medical expenses and loss of wages for you and your passengers (up to your limit). It also includes up to $5,000 for funeral expenses.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is offered together in Delaware, but you can reject adding it to your policy is you wish. However, when you do choose to carry uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) coverage, you must also include uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) on the policy. The UMPD portion comes with an automatic $250 deductible.

Motorcyclists: Motorcycle owners in Delaware are required to carry the same 15/30/10 liability coverage and PIP of 15/30. However, a motorcycle policy can have restricted PIP benefits. For example, a limited policy may only cover accidents on the highway and when there has been actual physical contact with another vehicle. You will have a lower premium if you choose this option, but you will have less protection.

Failure to carry insurance: Delaware isn't playing around if you fail to maintain your auto insurance coverage. A fine for a first offense is $1,500. Subsequent offenses carry a fine of $3,000 and a six-month suspension of your driver's license.

FR-19 form: The FR-19 form is used in some states, primarily Delaware and Maryland, as proof of insurance. In Delaware it is called the Insurance Certification Form, FR-19. The FR-19 is a certification that the vehicle has been continuously insured since the verification date and that coverage is presently in force. If you do not own a car you can still obtain insurance and an insurance certification.

Largest car insurance companies for Delaware by market share

RankCompany / GroupDirect Premiums Written ($)Market Share (%)
1State Farm Group164,23623.31
2Nationwide Group123,79617.57
3Berkshire Hathaway Insurance90,42512.83
4Liberty Mutual Insurance Companies61,6018.74
5Progressive Insurance Group52,7527.49
6USAA Group45,4026.44
7Allstate Insurance Group41,5355.89
8Hartford Insurance Group21,9713.12
9Farmers Insurance Group20,6332.93
10Travelers Group16,4422.33
Source: A.M. Best market share rankings are based on direct premiums written in 2013.