What Are Split Limits in Car Insurance? (2025)
A split-limit car insurance policy separates your liability coverage into three distinct parts, each with its own coverage limits.
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Split limits in car insurance are the different limits of liability that your insurer will pay in the event of a claim. They’re the most common type of car insurance policy and much more standard than combined single-limit policies.
No matter what type of insurance you buy, always compare car insurance quotes before signing a policy.
What is split-limit insurance, and how does it work?
Split-limit car insurance is a policy that breaks the different types of liability coverage your policy has into separate limits. Most car insurance policies include bodily injury liability coverage per person and per accident, as well as property damage liability coverage per accident. Each of these coverages has its own limit on how much your insurer will pay.
For example, many states’ minimum liability policies have split limits of 25/50/25.1 If you have a policy with these limits, it means your insurer will pay a maximum amount of $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident, and $25,000 in property damage liability per accident.
A combined single-limit (CSL) policy, on the other hand, has only one limit for all three types of liability coverage. For example, a split-limit policy with 25/50/25 limits would equal a single-limit policy with a limit of $100,000. The difference stems from how your insurance company applies the coverage.2
If you have a split-limit policy with 25/50/25 limits and get into an accident that results in $75,000 in bodily injury liability damages, you’d still have to pay $25,000 due to your policy’s limits. But if you were to get into the same accident with a combined single-limit policy, your coverage would be adequate since the type of liability insurance doesn’t dictate separate limits.
Split-limit insurance pros and cons
Before you buy a split-limit policy, consider the advantages and disadvantages as well as your finances and how often you drive your car.
Single-limit vs. split-limit coverage
A single-limit policy rolls all three liability coverage limits into one. So, a 25/50/25 split-limit liability policy would become a single-limit policy with $100,000 in coverage. Split-limit policies are more common, but single-limit policies offer more flexibility. Many drivers with split-limit policies also opt to carry collision and comprehensive coverage for further protection.
Split-limit policies are often much cheaper. If you can afford the higher premiums that come along with it, a combined single-limit policy could be worth your while.
The following table shows the difference between what a single-limit and split-limit policy will pay in the same scenario. This example involves a split-limit policy of 100/200/50 and a single-limit policy of $350,000.
Split-limit vs. umbrella insurance
Split-limit insurance is very different from umbrella insurance. Split-limit insurance provides specific limits for the three types of auto liability coverage, while umbrella insurance provides a safety net far beyond the limits of most split-limit policies. But you may want to carry both.
An umbrella insurance policy acts as excess insurance when you sustain losses that exceed your primary insurance policy’s limits, whether it be home or auto insurance.
Most umbrella policies have at least $1 million in coverage, providing a deep safety net for your finances. For example, if you have a severe car accident that results in $500,000 in damages, well above most split-limit policy limits, your umbrella policy would cover the excess costs.
Split-limit insurance FAQs
Before you buy an auto insurance policy, think about whether a split-limit or single-limit policy makes more sense for you. The following information should help you make your decision.
What does a combined single limit mean in insurance?
A combined single limit (CSL) in insurance means that your policy has one limit for all three liability coverages: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident. If you file a claim, your insurer will pay up to that limit, regardless of the type of damages. With split-limit policies, your insurer only pays up to each type of liability coverage’s limit.
What is a 50/100/25 split-limit policy?
A 50/100/25 split-limit policy is a car insurance policy with $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person, $100,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident, and $25,000 of property damage liability coverage per accident. If you get into an accident that results in $120,000 of bodily injury damages and $30,000 of property damages, you’ll have to pay $25,000 out of pocket.
Is $500,000 CSL auto coverage too much?
It depends. The average economic cost of a possible injury related to a vehicle accident was $24,000 in 2021, according to the National Safety Council. This increased to $40,000 for an evident injury, $155,000 for a disabling injury, and around $1.8 million for a death. It could make sense to purchase a sizable combined single-limit policy to protect your finances.
Consider your finances and how you use your vehicle before deciding on your CSL policy’s coverage amount.
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