Auto insurance is now required by law in Louisiana for all drivers, and knowing what the minimum coverage requirements are is essential to preventing penalties and financial risk. Having more than the minimum required coverage can help you prevent serious out-of-pocket costs, and understanding state insurance laws can help you avoid issues later. If you have insurance requirement questions after an accident, our team at Shamieh Law can help.
Louisiana Legislative Updates 2025—Auto Insurance Now Required
According to new updates to Louisiana law, all vehicle owners must have liability auto insurance. If you do not have minimum auto insurance, you may be unable to recover damages, face fines, and also have your vehicle impounded. Under state law, you now need liability coverage on the vehicles you own, paying for property damages or personal injury that you could be found responsible for, up to your policy limit.
Louisiana law limits what uninsured drivers can recover after a car accident, even if they weren’t at fault. Under the previous version of the “No Pay, No Play” law, uninsured motorists were barred from recovering the first $15,000 in bodily injury damages and $25,000 in property damage.
However, starting August 1, 2025, House Bill 434 raised both thresholds of the law to $100,000. This means uninsured drivers involved in a crash won’t be able to recover the first $100,000 of their injury or property damage claims, regardless of fault. The new law increases the financial risk of driving without insurance and is designed to encourage more Louisiana drivers to maintain valid coverage.
Minimum Auto Insurance Coverage Requirements in Louisiana
According to Louisiana legislation, drivers must carry liability insurance for every vehicle they use and meet minimum coverage requirements. Each vehicle being driven in Louisiana must have 15/30/25 liability limits:
- $15,000 per person for bodily injuries
- $30,000 for total injuries per accident
- $25,000 for property damage
Liability insurance pays for those you injure, but your policy will not cover your injuries if you are hurt in an accident.
What Happens If You Have Only the Minimum Coverage in an Accident?
If your damages exceed $25,000 and you only have the minimum coverage, you’ll be responsible for paying the remaining costs out of pocket. This can include your own injuries, damage to your vehicle or the other driver’s, and expenses when multiple passengers are hurt. If you’re found at fault for an accident that totals another person’s car and injures them and their passengers, the costs could quickly go beyond your policy limits.
If your minimum coverage isn’t enough to cover your damages after a car accident in Louisiana, contacting Shamieh Law can help you pursue additional recovery opportunities.
Additional Auto Insurance Coverage Options Worth Considering
While liability insurance is required in Louisiana, other options go beyond minimum liability coverage and can help protect you in case of accidents.
Other available insurance coverage includes:
- Comprehensive coverage pays for damages to your vehicle outside of accidents, like weather damage or vandalism.
- Collision coverage pays for vehicle damage after an accident.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage pays if a driver hits your vehicle without insurance.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist economic-only coverage covers only the costs of injuries if you’re in an accident with an uninsured driver.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage pays for vehicle damage caused by an uninsured driver. A $250 deductible applies, and recovery is limited to $25,000 or the vehicle’s actual cash value. This coverage isn’t available if your policy includes collision insurance.
- Medical payments coverage covers medical expenses for a period after an accident, up to its limit.
- Towing and labor coverage pays for your vehicle’s towing and repair costs after an accident.
You can add additional coverage depending on your needs. If your car is new, you may want to consider comprehensive coverage in case it is ever stolen. Cars lose value as they age, and many people drop collision and comprehensive coverage the older their cars get. If you’re a member of an auto club like AAA, you already have towing coverage, and if you have health insurance, you may not need medical payments coverage.
Penalties for Driving Without Auto Insurance in Louisiana
Drivers without auto insurance in Louisiana risk having their vehicles impounded, license plates removed, and a notice sticker placed on the windshield. They then have three days to provide proof of coverage. Maintaining more than the minimum required liability insurance can offer stronger financial protection and help prevent costly out-of-pocket expenses in the future.
Fines for driving without insurance in Louisiana range from $75 to $100 on the first conviction, $100 to $250 on the second, and up to $700 on each subsequent conviction. If an uninsured driver is injured in an accident, because of the “No Pay, No Play” law, they cannot collect the first payout for property or personal injury damages, regardless of who causes the accident.
If you’ve been in an accident and don’t have insurance, there are some exceptions to Louisiana’s No Pay, No Play law. These include being hit by an impaired or felony-committing driver, being struck in a hit-and-run, being a passenger who doesn’t own the vehicle, or being legally parked at the time of the crash.
Drivers unsure about their coverage options or whether they need more than the minimum can turn to Shamieh Law for guidance. Our experienced and compassionate attorneys will evaluate your situation, determine potential damages, and thoroughly investigate your claim to establish liability and build a strong case on your behalf.
Minimum Coverage Isn’t Always Enough—Let Shamieh Law Fight for You
Even though Louisiana requires liability insurance, many drivers will not be completely covered if they’re involved in an accident and can face serious financial strain. Often, the liability coverage will not be enough, but our team at Shamieh Law can review your policy, explain coverage, help you make the best decision, and advocate and fight for accident victims.
Being a driver in Louisiana means dealing with high insurance costs, but having the right coverage can benefit you in the long run. Our attorneys at Shamieh Law can help you understand your policy and check for any gaps in coverage. Our team has experience providing compassionate and effective legal support for victims after accidents involving insurance disputes. We will fight for you and the coverage you need to recover, even if minimum coverage limits can be difficult to negotiate.
Contact Shamieh Law or call (337) 735-7150 today for a free consultation about your auto insurance or accident claim.