Every state (excluding New Hampshire) requires drivers to have car insurance coverage.
Insurance requirements vary from state to state. But like most states, Arkansas’ minimum insurance requirements include bodily injury and property damage liability coverage.[?]
Before driving on Arkansas roads, it’s important to understand what insurance you’ll need. Here’s what you should know about Arkansas’s insurance requirements, its penalties for driving without insurance, the cheapest policies on the market, and other important insurance information for Arkansas drivers.
Arkansas car insurance requirements
Like nearly every other U.S. state, Arkansas requires all drivers to have liability coverage. It protects other drivers on the road and protects your finances by lowering your out-of-pocket losses. The table below breaks down Arkansas’s specific liability insurance requirements.[?]
Coverage | Minimum Requirements |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
Bodily injury liability
Bodily injury liability coverage pays for medical expenses and other relevant costs for injuries in accidents you’re responsible for. It has separate limits — one per person and one per accident. Arkansas state requirements include bodily injury liability limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
Property damage liability
Property damage liability insurance pays for other people’s property damage when you’re at fault for an accident. For example, it would pay for damage to another vehicle, a fence, or other physical property. Arkansas requires $25,000 per accident of property damage liability coverage.
Other coverages
Arkansas doesn’t require drivers to have personal injury protection (PIP) or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. But Arkansas law requires insurers to offer drivers these coverages.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) pays for your vehicle’s damages if you’re in an accident and the responsible driver either doesn’t have liability insurance or doesn’t have enough liability insurance to pay for the damages.
PIP coverage pays for your and your passengers’ medical expenses after an accident, as well as related expenses like lost wages or death benefits. PIP will protect you after an accident regardless of who’s at fault.
Arkansas car insurance laws/programs
If you’re struggling to get car insurance in Arkansas, the Arkansas Automobile Insurance Plan can help. AIPSO administers this program, which has been around since 1947. It provides insurance coverage for drivers who can’t get coverage through normal means.
You can learn more about the Arkansas Automobile Insurance Plan or contact the program on AIPSO’s website.
Do you need more than state-minimum coverage in Arkansas?
Liability-only insurance, required under Arkansas law, is the cheapest policy you can buy. But it only pays for injuries and property damage that you cause to other people on the road. Your liability coverage won’t pay to repair or replace your vehicle, and it won’t pay for your injuries. For that, you’ll need full-coverage insurance.
Full-coverage policies include liability insurance, as well as collision and comprehensive insurance. They pay for damage to your vehicle after an accident or another incident, regardless of who’s at fault. Full coverage is more expensive, but it can save you from paying for costly repairs (or even buying a new car) out of pocket. Most lenders also require full coverage if you’ve financed or leased your vehicle.
Full-coverage insurance in Arkansas costs an average of $154 per month.
Before deciding to just carry the minimum coverage, keep in mind that limited liability insurance may not be enough to cover an accident. Arkansas requires only $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident of bodily injury insurance, and only $25,000 of property damage liability insurance.
If you’re responsible for an accident that totals another car or that causes life-threatening injuries, the cost could exceed the amount of coverage that you have many times over. Insurance experts usually recommend buying more than the minimum coverage. But if you feel confident you can cover the cost of a more expensive accident out of pocket, you may decide the state minimum coverage is enough.
Penalties for driving without proof of insurance in Arkansas
You could face significant financial penalties, license suspension, and even jail time for driving without insurance in Arkansas.
Financial penalties per Arkansas law include:[?]
First offense: $100–$250
Second offense: $250–$500
Third offense: $500–$1,000 and/or one year in jail
After a penalty for driving without insurance, the court generally issues an order to suspend your vehicle registration until you’re able to prove you have coverage. To reinstate your registration, you’ll pay a $20 reinstatement fee.
If you’re in a car accident and don’t have the state’s minimum car insurance, you might be charged with a Class A misdemeanor. The court may also impound your vehicle until you can show proof of insurance. You’ll also be on the hook for the impoundment charges.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Arkansas
Arkansas drivers pay an average of $82 per month for liability insurance. This type of insurance, which pays for injuries and property damage that you cause to others, is the cheapest type of policy available.
The table below shows the average cost of liability insurance from three of Arkansas’s cheapest insurers.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $45 |
| Progressive | $49 |
| USAA | $55 |
| Root | $66 |
| GEICO | $68 |
| Auto-Owners | $77 |
| GAINSCO | $82 |
| Direct Auto | $84 |
| Safeco | $84 |
| National General | $94 |
| Shelter | $99 |
| Allstate | $101 |
| Farmers | $102 |
| Nationwide | $102 |
| Dairyland | $107 |
| Travelers | $107 |
| The General | $110 |
| Bristol West | $128 |
| Liberty Mutual | $151 |
| Hugo | $183 |
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Arkansas
Arkansas drivers pay an average of $154 per month for full-coverage insurance. Full coverage typically includes both collision and comprehensive coverage. It offers more protection than liability insurance but comes at a higher price.
In the table below, you can see average premiums from some of the cheapest full-coverage insurers in Arkansas.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $84 |
| USAA | $102 |
| GEICO | $127 |
| Root | $133 |
| Progressive | $141 |
| Auto-Owners | $143 |
| National General | $154 |
| Safeco | $158 |
| Direct Auto | $162 |
| Shelter | $184 |
| Allstate | $187 |
| Nationwide | $188 |
| Farmers | $189 |
| GAINSCO | $199 |
| Travelers | $199 |
| Liberty Mutual | $236 |
| The General | $241 |
| Dairyland | $274 |
| Bristol West | $327 |
Optional car insurance coverages to consider
In addition to Arkansas’ required liability insurance, these are some optional coverages you can add to your policy for more protection:
Arkansas car insurance requirements FAQs
If you’re shopping for car insurance in Arkansas, the additional information below can help as you research your coverage options.
Is car insurance required in Arkansas?
Yes. Arkansas requires all drivers on the road to have car insurance. You’ll need to have both bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage, and your insurer will have to offer you both uninsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection (though you can decline them).
Do you need car insurance to register a car in Arkansas?
Yes. You’ll need to show proof of car insurance to register or title your car in Arkansas. The only exception is if you’re using a Title Purpose Only Certificate (TPOC), which doesn’t require insurance but also doesn’t come with a license plate.[?]
Does insurance follow the car or the driver in Arkansas?
Car insurance usually follows the car rather than the driver. Other drivers on your policy will have coverage when they’re driving your vehicle. If you lend your vehicle to someone not on your policy on a one-off basis, they may have coverage, and their own policy may also pay for some damages.
What happens if you don’t have car insurance in Arkansas?
If you drive without car insurance in Arkansas, you’ll face fines ranging from $100 to $1,000. If you have multiple offenses or are in an accident while driving without insurance, you could also face a misdemeanor or jail time.
)
)
)
)
)