Pennsylvania laws require that one have minimum Bodily Injury (BI) Liability limits of $15,000 per injured person up to a total of $30,000 per accident, and Property Damage (PD) Liability coverage with a minimum limit of $5,000. This basic coverage is often referred to as 15/30/5 coverage. PA also requires you to carry medical benefits that are referred to as First Party Benefits or PIP in the amount of $5,000.

This breaks down as:
Bodily Injury Liability: $15,000/$30,000 Limit
Property Damage Liability: $5,000 Limit
First Party Benefits (PIP): $5,000

BI pays out if you injure someone in a car accident; this coverage pays their medical and rehabilitation expenses and any damages for which you are found liable. The $15,000 pays for injuries to one person while the $30,000 represents the total available for one accident.

If you damage someone’s property in an accident and you are at fault, your PD coverage pays for it. Some companies offer a single limit of $35,000 which meets the bodily injury liability and property damage liability minimum requirements.

First Party Benefits This coverage pays medical bills for you and others covered on your policy regardless of fault. The minimum limit is $5,000 of coverage. Higher limits are available.

The state of Pennsylvania follows a Tort system where you can choose tort options to define your right to compensation in the event that another party injures you or members of your household in an auto accident. You may choose between Full Tort or Limited Tort. If you choose the Full Tort option, your rights to financial compensation for injuries caused by other drivers is unrestricted.

While you had a lien holder on your vehicle you were likely required to have physical damage coverages of collision and comprehensive on your vehicle. Since you have how paid off the car you can now choose to keep these coverages or knock down your coverages to the PA minimum requirements of liability and first party medical benefits.

If you get rid of your collision and comp coverages then your car will not have protection if you cause damages to it or from items such as fire, hail, flood, animals and if it is stolen. It is a personal decision when to take off these coverages once you own the car yourself, without a lien holder requiring you to keep these coverages any longer. At 5 years, you may want to continue this coverage for a few more years so that you don't have to pay if your car is damaged.

To get affordable auto insurance for either Pennsylvania's minimum requirements or full coverage on your 5 year old vehicle, click here.