Like other states, Connecticut requires all registered vehicles to carry minimum liability insurance. Currently, the minimum levels are as follows:
- $20,000 bodily injury liability maximum for one person injured in an accident.
- $40,000 bodily injury liability maximum for all injuries in one accident.
- $10,000 property damage liability maximum for one accident.
Remember, these are minimum required insurance levels. Most drivers, especially those with higher incomes, carry much more insurance. Most insurance companies recommend at least $100,000/$300,000/$50,000 coverage and coverage of up to $1 million per accident for those with high net worths. The liability coverage is the maximum the insurance company will pay out. If you are sued for $100,000 and your insurance company only covers $20,000 maximum, you are liable for the remaining $80,000.
Proof of Insurance
The Department of Motor Vehicles wants to make sure every vehicle on the road is properly insured. This means that anyone who applies to register a vehicle must submit evidence of valid insurance. No insurance card means no registration.
But that's just the start. Anyone driving a Connecticut-registered vehicle is required to carry evidence of current insurance at all times. If you get stopped for a traffic violation, you will be asked to show a valid insurance card. If you can't, the officer may cite you for an additional violation.
Also, if you let your insurance expire after registering a vehicle with the state, the DMV will know about it. When a policy for an actively registered vehicle is cancelled, the insurance company is required to notify the DMV, who will then notify the registered owner of the vehicle that he or she needs to provide proof of insurance or face a $200 fine.
Like any correspondence from the DMV, a note asking for proof of insurance should not be ignored. If you do not respond, the DMV will first suspend the registration of the vehicle in question and refuse to renew or reactivate it. If you still don't pay, you could lose the ability to register any future vehicles.
