Delaware Car Insurance Quotes

Delaware requires the following insurance coverage or financial responsibility at a minimum, so make sure your car insurance quote complies with the requirements. Please note also, that the State of Delaware requires you to purchase more coverage types than most states:

15/30/10 – This is shorthand for the liability policy limits required which means you need a minimum coverage of:

• $15,000 for death or injury to one person;
• $30,000 for death or injury to two or more people; and
• $10,000 for property damage to others

In addition, all Delaware drivers must have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage for the following minimum amounts:

• $15,000 per person per accident;
• $30,000 per accident for injury to two or more people;
• $5,000 for funeral expenses

PIP coverage is a “no fault” type of insurance coverage that works by paying your medical expenses and lost wages for up to two years from the date of the accident or up to the limits of your PIP coverage (whichever is less). Your PIP insurer is entitled to send you to a doctor of their choice to confirm your need for medical treatment or inability to work due to your accident. This PIP coverage does not limit or preclude a lawsuit for negligence resulting in personal injuries from an auto accident. However, you cannot recover payments made by your PIP insurance coverage.

Nearly all car insurance policies have a provision that will adjust your coverage from the minimums required in your state to the minimum insurance or proof of financial responsibility in another U.S. state. So you do not need to get a new insurance policy for each state you are driving through.  However, if you buy a policy in a low limits state (like Delaware or Connecticut) but live in one of the high limits states such as Alaska, insurers will only write a policy where your car is principally garaged. So if your home is in high limit state, you should buy the minimum limits for your state.

Delaware’s required insurance limits are low, considering the cost of repair and damages likely to occur in an accident.  If you are in a serious collision and the damages you caused are greater than the coverage limits you purchased, you may be personally liable to pay for those damages that exceed your insurance coverage.

Car Insurance Regulations for Delaware

Delaware is a modified comparative fault state with a 51% rule.  This is a legal defense that means that a plaintiff can recover for an injury, reducing the amount that the plaintiff can recover based on the percentage of which the plaintiff is at fault if it is determined that his or her fault in causing the injury less than 51%. If the plaintiff’s fault level reaches 51%, he or she cannot recover any damages resulting from the accident.  As noted above, Delaware requires PIP coverage.  PIP also known as no-fault insurance does not limit or preclude a lawsuit for negligence resulting in personal injuries from an auto accident. However, you cannot recover payments made by your PIP insurance coverage.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in Delaware

In Delaware, Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is a misdemeanor offense.  If you are 21 years or older, if you have a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level of .08% or higher while driving, Delaware law presumes you are driving under the influence.  If you are younger than 21, you are presumed driving under the influence at .02% BAC.

1^st DUI – Delaware Regulations

You will automatically have your license suspended for 1 year.  However, you may be eligible for a restricted license after 90 days of license suspension. You will have 48 hours mandatory jail time with an overall maximum sentence of 6 months.  Jail time can be reduced or suspended by at least 100 hours of community service and probation and the completions of a substance abuse program. Fines can vary from $500.00 to $1000.00.  A SR-22 is required for restoration of license after suspension.

2^nd DUI  – Delaware Regulations

Your license will automatically be suspended for 1 year (if under 21, license suspension will be for 3 years or until you are 21.)  You will also be required to install an ignition interlock device for 2 years after reinstatement of your license.  You will be sentenced to a mandatory minimum of 120 days up to 2 years of jail time.  Probation and 100 hours of mandatory community service is required.  Fines from $1000.00 to $4000.00 will be imposed. Your car will be impounded for 48 hours.  A SR-22 is required for restoration of license after suspension.

Top Ten Car Insurance Companies in Delaware

As ranked by market share, the most popular insurance companies in Delaware are the following:

1. Nationwide Insurance
2. State Farm Insurance
3. Progressive Insurance
4. Berkshire Hathaway (Geico)
5. Liberty Mutual
6. Allstate Insurance
7. USAA
8. Hartford Fire and Casualty
9. AIG
10. Sentry Insurance