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What’s liability car insurance?

Liability coverage is part of your car insurance. It helps protect you financially if you cause an accident and helps pay for other people's bodily injuries or property damage.

Is it required?

By law, most states require you to have at least a minimum amount of bodily injury and property damage liability coverage.

Some states require uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.

What’s covered?

Bodily injury liability

This helps cover expenses for the injuries or deaths of others involved in accidents where you're found at fault. This can include the other driver’s medical expenses, pain and suffering, and your legal defenses if you’re sued.

Property damage liability

This helps pay for damages to other people's property like vehicles, homes and other buildings if you're at fault for an accident. It could also cover the other driver’s lost wages.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage

This coverage helps protect you if you’re injured in an accident caused by a driver who doesn’t have enough insurance or has none at all.

Why choose USAA Auto Insurance

Members

A survey showed that our members saved an average of $840 per year when they switched to USAA Auto Insurance.‍ ‍ See note 1

Claims made easier

The USAA Mobile App makes it easy to file and keep track of your auto claims.

Flexibility

Choose the limits and deductibles that are right for your car insurance needs.

Select Navigate

How much liability insurance do I need?

Minimum requirements for bodily injury and property damage vary by state. Check what’s required in your state.

View coverage requirements

Liability insurance FAQ

Liability coverage helps protect your assets. If you hit and injure another driver, you could be responsible for their medical bills and property damage.

Collision coverage helps pay to fix or replace your car if you’re at fault for an accident. It can help if you back into a pole or hit another car while driving. Learn more about collision coverage.

Comprehensive coverage helps pay for things beyond your control that don’t involve someone else. It can help if your car gets damaged from something like hitting an animal, fire or flooding. Learn more about comprehensive coverage.

Learn more about types of car insurance coverage.

The combination of liability, collision and comprehensive coverage is what’s known as full coverage.

You may be surprised to learn that full coverage isn’t an option when you buy car insurance. That’s because full coverage may mean different things to different people.

If a bank or lender refers to it, they usually mean the minimum liability required by your state plus comprehensive and collision coverage. The combination of liability, collision and comprehensive coverage is what’s generally known in the insurance industry as full coverage.

However, additional coverages may be available to help you meet your needs such as medical payments or towing and labor. Consider all your coverage options carefully before purchasing a policy.

There are many factors involved in determining auto insurance rates. Your driving record, car's characteristics, location and coverage amount play a part in how much you’ll pay.

You don’t have to sacrifice quality coverage and service to lower your premium. We can help with car insurance discounts and savings.

You can also save up to 10% when you bundle auto and property policies.‍ ‍ See note 2

View all car insurance FAQ

Other insurance resources

Car liability insurance benefits

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Read article: Car liability insurance benefits

5 ways to help lower auto insurance rate

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Read article: 5 ways to help lower auto insurance rates

Personal liability coverage with umbrella insurance

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Read article: Personal liability coverage with umbrella insurance

Related footnotes:

  1. IN PENNSYLVANIA, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO QUOTE ANY INDIVIDUAL A PREMIUM RATE FOR THE INSURANCE ADVERTISED HEREIN.

Related footnotes:

  1. Potential average savings based on a countrywide survey conducted March 6, 2025 to April 4, 2025 of new customers who self-reported savings when they switched to USAA Auto Insurance between July 1, 2024 to March 26, 2025. Individual savings may vary and isn't guaranteed.

  2. Savings are off total premium. Not available in all states or in all situations. To qualify for a discount on the property policy, a USAA Auto Insurance policy must be active within 60 days of issuing the property policy. Discounts will apply at renewal for existing property product(s). Discount subject to change. Restrictions apply.

Related footnotes:

  1. Coverage descriptions are brief and subject to the terms and conditions of your insurance policy. Read your insurance policy for details. Applications subject to underwriting.

  2. Property and casualty insurance underwritten by United Services Automobile Association (USAA), USAA Casualty Insurance Company, USAA General Indemnity Company, Garrison Property and Casualty Insurance Company, NOBLR Reciprocal Exchange, based in San Antonio, Texas; USAA EU DAC (Europe), and USAA S.A. UK Branch (pending cancellation to align with the pending branch authorization application) and is available only to persons eligible for property and casualty group membership. Each company has sole financial responsibility for its own products.

    Coverages subject to the terms and conditions of the policy.

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