Car Insurance in Louisiana

State minimum coverage requirements

Under Louisiana Revised Statutes Section 32:900, all Louisiana drivers must maintain the following minimum coverage:

• $15,000 bodily injury per person
• $30,000 bodily injury per accident
• $25,000 property damage per accident

Driving without insurance in Louisiana results in a fine of $500 to $1,000, license suspension, and vehicle impoundment. Reinstatement requires proof of current coverage, payment of reinstatement fees, and an SR-22 filing that must remain on file for three years. Louisiana enforces compliance through an electronic verification system that cross-references vehicle registrations with active policy data. The state has one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the country, which is a significant driver of elevated premiums for all policyholders.

Is Louisiana a no-fault state?

No. Louisiana is an at-fault state.

Louisiana is an at-fault state that applies a pure comparative negligence rule, meaning you can recover compensation from another driver even if you were predominantly at fault, though your recovery is reduced proportionally by your percentage of fault. If a jury finds you 80 percent at fault for an accident that caused you $100,000 in damages, you can still theoretically recover $20,000 from the other driver. This is more favorable than the modified comparative fault rules used in most states, where crossing a 50 or 51 percent threshold bars recovery entirely. What significantly distinguishes Louisiana's insurance environment from most other states is its civil law system, which derives from the Napoleonic Code rather than English common law. Louisiana courts and jury behavior reflect this distinct legal tradition, and the state's tort environment has historically generated higher claim costs, more litigation, and larger average jury awards than comparable states. These systemic legal costs are distributed across all policyholders in Louisiana through higher premiums, which is one of the primary reasons Louisiana consistently ranks among the most expensive states for auto insurance despite having one of the lowest bodily injury minimums in the country. The $15,000 per person bodily injury minimum is among the lowest of any state in the United States. It can be completely exhausted by a single emergency room visit for a moderately serious injury, leaving the at-fault driver personally responsible for all medical costs above that limit. If you cause a serious accident in Louisiana and carry only the state minimum, your personal financial exposure can be substantial. Louisiana courts can enforce civil judgments against wages and property, and the state's active plaintiff's bar means judgments above minimum policy limits are pursued aggressively.

What the state minimum covers and does not cover

Louisiana's 15/30/25 liability minimum covers only injuries and property damage you cause to other people. It does not cover:

• Damage to your own vehicle from a collision
• Your own medical expenses after an accident
• Losses caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver
• Theft, weather events, or vandalism to your vehicle

Uninsured motorist coverage in Louisiana

Louisiana insurers must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and drivers may reject it in writing. Given Louisiana's high rate of uninsured drivers and the elevated likelihood of encountering one in the state's busy urban corridors, UM coverage is an especially practical protection. UM coverage pays your medical expenses and vehicle damage when an at-fault uninsured driver causes an accident. UIM coverage fills the gap when the at-fault driver's policy is insufficient. Louisiana's high litigation environment means claims are more likely to be contested, making strong coverage especially valuable.

How credit affects your rate in Louisiana

Louisiana permits insurers to use a credit-based insurance score as one factor when pricing auto policies. The check is a soft inquiry and does not affect your credit report or credit score. Louisiana law requires insurers to notify you if credit information results in an adverse action on your policy, giving you the opportunity to review your credit report for inaccuracies. If your credit has improved since your last renewal, shopping new quotes across multiple carriers is worthwhile because carriers weight credit differently and improvements in your score can reduce your premium even without any change in your driving record.

Recommended coverage levels

Louisiana's $15,000 per person bodily injury minimum is extremely low relative to the cost of serious accidents, a single hospitalization or surgery can exhaust it immediately. Most advisors strongly recommend increasing liability to at least 100/300/100. Louisiana's combination of high average premiums, frequent severe weather from hurricanes and flooding, and elevated litigation activity make adequate coverage even more important here than in most states. Hurricane and tropical weather exposure is one of the most significant insurance considerations for Louisiana drivers. Flooding, wind damage, and storm surge from Gulf Coast hurricanes can damage or total vehicles that are parked, regardless of any at-fault accident. Comprehensive coverage handles all of these weather-related vehicle losses. Louisiana's flooding risk is not limited to coastal areas, rainfall-driven flooding affects inland parishes as well. If your vehicle is financed or leased, collision and comprehensive are required by your lender. For vehicles you own outright, comprehensive is particularly important given Louisiana's weather profile. Adding UM and UIM coverage is especially advisable given Louisiana's high rate of uninsured drivers, the state consistently ranks among the top states for uninsured motorists, which means the probability of encountering an at-fault uninsured driver on Louisiana roads is meaningfully higher than the national average.

How insurers determine your rate in Louisiana

Louisiana insurers use your driving record, zip code, vehicle type, age, annual mileage, and credit-based insurance score to calculate your premium. New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and surrounding parishes consistently produce some of the highest auto insurance premiums in the country due to accident frequency, high litigation rates, vehicle theft, and weather-related claims from hurricanes and flooding. Rural Louisiana is priced lower but still above the national average because the state's legal and risk environment affects all policyholders. At-fault accidents and moving violations typically affect your rate for three to five years. Because price variation between carriers in Louisiana is significant, comparing quotes at renewal is especially valuable.

SR-22 requirements in Louisiana

An SR-22 in Louisiana is a certificate filed by your insurer with the Office of Motor Vehicles confirming you carry at least the state minimum liability coverage. You may be required to maintain an SR-22 after a DUI conviction, after driving without insurance, or after certain serious traffic violations. The requirement typically lasts three years from the triggering event, and your license remains suspended until the SR-22 is on file. If your policy lapses during the SR-22 period, your insurer must notify the Office of Motor Vehicles immediately, which reinstates your suspension. Not all insurers handle SR-22 filings, so drivers who need one should specifically look for carriers that serve the non-standard auto insurance market in Louisiana.