Connecticut state law requires minimum Bodily Injury Liability coverage of $20,000 per injured person up to a total of $40,000 per accident, and Property Damage Liability coverage with a minimum limit of $10,000. This basic coverage is often referred to as 20/40/10 coverage.

As we noted above bodily injury (BI) coverage is mandatory in Connecticut. If the Connecticut policyholder or another driver covered by the Connecticut auto insurance policy is found to be at fault in an accident resulting in injuries or fatalities, the following is covered under bodily injury coverage medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and legal defense if the drivers listed on the policy are involved in a lawsuit resulting from a car accident.

Property Damage (PD) is also required with a minimum limit of $10,000. PD would cover your son if he or another covered driver is found to be at fault in an accident. This liability coverage takes care of damage to another person's property (e.g., car, fence or home) up to the limits of the policy and legal costs associated with a damage incident.

Uninsured/Underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage is also required in this state with mandatory minimum limits of $20,000/$40,000. If you son was injured in an accident caused by a driver who has no insurance coverage or insufficient coverage, uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage typically covers medical expenses, lost wages and injuries sustained in hit-and-run accidents.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) helps pay for "reasonable and necessary" medical expenses for the policyholder and his or her passengers. While Connecticut state law does not require a minimum Personal Injury Protection, some insurers offer this as an optional coverage and if your son does not have health insurance that would cover injuries he may sustain in car accident he may also want to add this coverage.

Higher limits then the state minimum amounts are good to carry if it is financially available to your son. For example the insurance industry recommends the limits for BI be at $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. If your son is going to college and working he may not yet have the funds to raise the limits, nor have assets that he would need to protect with the higher limits. It is something he could discuss with an insurance agent.

Beyond the coverages we have mentioned above, if his car is financed he will likely be required to also have collision and comprehensive on the vehicle. If his car is not financed he may still want to consider these types of physical damage coverages so that his car is protected.

Reading our article How Much Car Insurance Should You Buy and having your son use our Insurance Coverage Calculator should also help him determine what coverages and limits he will want to place on his vehicle.