Minimum Liability Coverage in Connecticut
As of 2025, Connecticut law requires the following minimum car insurance coverage:
- Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
- Property Damage Liability: $25,000 per accident
This is often referred to as “25/50/25” coverage.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM)
Connecticut requires UM/UIM coverage equal to your bodily injury limits. However, you may purchase up to double your BI limits and opt for conversion coverage, which prevents your benefits from being reduced by any payout from the at-fault driver’s insurer.
- Minimum: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
- Optional: Higher limits (e.g., 50/100, 100/200)
- Conversion Coverage: Lets your full UM/UIM payout stack on top of the other party’s insurance
🔎 What is Conversion Coverage?
Most states don’t offer this, but Connecticut drivers can add conversion coverage to their UM/UIM policy. Without it, your benefits may be reduced by what the at-fault driver’s insurer pays. With conversion, your full UM/UIM limit stacks on top of the other driver’s coverage — giving you access to more money after a serious accident.
Optional Coverages to Consider
- Comprehensive Coverage: Pays for non-collision damage such as theft, vandalism, fire, and weather-related damage.
- Collision Coverage: Covers repair or replacement of your car after a crash, regardless of fault.
- Medical Payments (MedPay): Helps pay for medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident, no matter who caused it.
- Rental Reimbursement: Covers the cost of a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired after a covered claim.
- Roadside Assistance: Provides towing, lockout help, jump-starts, and other emergency services.
Proof of Insurance Requirements
Connecticut law requires you to carry proof of insurance—either a printed ID card or a digital version on your phone. You must present it during:
- Traffic stops
- Vehicle accidents
- Restoring a suspended registration
💡 Tip for Connecticut Drivers: Because UM/UIM coverage is mandatory, consider upgrading to
conversion coverage. It ensures your benefits aren’t reduced by the at-fault driver’s insurance, giving you stronger protection in serious accidents.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance
Driving uninsured in Connecticut carries serious penalties:
- First offense: $100–$1,000 fine, one-month license and registration suspension, and a $175 restoration fee.
- Repeat offenses: Class C misdemeanor, up to $1,000 fine, up to 3 months in jail, longer suspension, and a financial responsibility filing requirement.
- Vehicle impoundment: Cars with suspended registration can be impounded and forfeited after 45 days.
Why Consider Higher Coverage?
Connecticut has a relatively high percentage of uninsured drivers (~12%) and rising healthcare costs. Choosing higher liability and UM/UIM limits—especially with conversion coverage—can provide greater financial protection after a serious accident. Many insurance professionals recommend at least 100/300 liability limits for stronger peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Connecticut uses an at-fault (tort) system, where the driver who caused the accident is responsible for paying damages.
Yes. Connecticut requires UM/UIM coverage equal to your bodily injury limits. You can raise the limits and add conversion coverage for stronger protection.
Connecticut does not officially use the SR-22 form, but after certain violations you may be required to maintain proof of financial responsibility with your insurer and the DMV.
Yes. Connecticut accepts both printed and digital proof of insurance, so you may show your ID card on a mobile device.
Curious how insurance laws compare nearby? See requirements in
New York,
Massachusetts, and
Rhode Island.