100/300/100 insurance coverage is a split-limit auto liability policy that pays for damage at-fault drivers cause. 100/300/100 insurance coverage pays up to $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident for injuries, and $100,000 for property damage. At-fault drivers pay any accident costs above those limits out of pocket. Unpaid damages expose drivers to three main financial risks: lawsuits, wage garnishment, and lost savings. The Insurance Information Institute reports a $6,770 average property damage liability claim in 2024. A $100,000 property damage limit equals roughly 14.8 times that average claim. Insurance Navy helps drivers compare 100/300/100 insurance coverage quotes across the United States. This guide explains bodily injury limits, property damage limits, state minimums, costs, and umbrella coverage.
Table of contents
- What is 100/300/100 Insurance Coverage?
- Bodily Injury Liability Coverage
- Property Damage Liability Coverage
- Comparing to State Minimum Insurance Requirements
- Limitations and Additional Coverage
- What are the Benefits of 100/300/100 Insurance Coverage?
- What Happens If Damages Exceed 100/300/100 Limits?
- Split Limits vs. Combined Single Limit (CSL)
- How Much Does 100/300/100 Insurance Cost?
- Is 100/300/100 Insurance Coverage Enough for You?
- When to Add Umbrella Liability Coverage Above 100/300/100
- 100/300/100 Liability Limits FAQ
- Is 100/300/100 liability coverage the same as full coverage?
- What is the difference between 100/300 and 100/300/100 limits?
100/300/100 is a split-limit liability auto insurance policy that pays up to $100,000 for each person you injure, $300,000 total for all injuries in one accident, and $100,000 for property damage you cause. If an at-fault accident costs more than those limits, you owe the difference out of pocket.
100/300/100 coverage limits are broken down below.
$100,000 per person for bodily injury liability: This is the most your insurer will pay for one person's medical bills if you're at fault in an accident.
$300,000 per accident for bodily injury liability: No matter how many people are injured, this is the total bodily injury coverage for a single accident.
$100,000 per accident for property damage liability: This covers damage you cause to someone else's property such as their car or a fence.
What is 100/300/100 Insurance Coverage?
100/300/100 insurance coverage is a split limit liability auto insurance policy that will pay out a lot when you're at fault in an accident.
Each number in this format has a different liability limit in thousands of dollars. This tells you how much the insurance company will pay for bodily injury and property damage per accident.
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage
The first two numbers, 100/300, are the bodily injury liability limits. They consist of per person limit and per accident limit:
$100,000 bodily injury coverage per person: This is the per-person limit your insurance company will pay for injuries to a single person in an accident you cause.
$300,000 bodily injury per accident: This is the total your insurance company will pay for all injuries per accident.
Bodily injury liability coverage pays for medical bills, lost wages, rehab, legal fees, and, in some cases, funeral expenses for the other driver and passengers.
Property Damage Liability Coverage
The third number, 100, is the property damage liability coverage limit:
$100,000 per accident: This is the most your insurance company will pay for property damage per accident.
Property damage liability coverage pays for damage you cause to other people's property, such as another car, a fence, a mailbox, a lamp post, or a building.
Comparing to State Minimum Insurance Requirements
Each state sets its own minimum liability limits. The 6 states below require lower limits than 100/300/100.
Illinois requires 25/50/20.
Texas requires 30/60/25.
California requires 30/60/15 (since January 1, 2025).
Indiana requires 25/50/25.
Nevada requires 25/50/20.
Georgia requires 25/50/25.
The $100,000 per-person limit is 4 times a $25,000 per-person minimum. The $100,000 per-person limit is about 3.3 times a $30,000 per-person minimum.
The average bodily injury liability claim was $28,278 in 2024, according to the Insurance Information Institute. A $25,000 per-person minimum pays less than that average claim.
Limitations and Additional Coverage
100/300/100 pays only for injuries and damage you cause to other people. 100/300/100 does not pay for 3 types of loss:
Damage to your own car: add collision for crashes and comprehensive for theft, vandalism, and weather.
Your own injuries: add personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments coverage.
A crash caused by a driver with little or no insurance: add uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Liability plus collision and comprehensive is what most people call full coverage.
What are the Benefits of 100/300/100 Insurance Coverage?
The main benefit of 100/300/100 is a higher payout ceiling than a state-minimum policy. A higher payout ceiling leaves less of a serious crash's cost for you to pay personally.
Protection from high-cost injuries: The $100,000 per-person limit is more than 3 times the 2024 average bodily injury liability claim.
Protection when several people are hurt: The $300,000 per-accident limit pays for injuries to several people in one crash, such as the passengers in a full car.
Room for expensive property damage: The 100/300/100 property damage limit is $100,000. The 6 state minimums in the previous section require $15,000 to $25,000 for property damage.
What Happens If Damages Exceed 100/300/100 Limits?
Your insurer pays up to each 100/300/100 limit, and you owe every dollar above that limit. The injured party can sue you to collect the amount you owe.
One person badly hurt: The other driver has $130,000 in medical bills and lost wages. Your insurer pays the $100,000 per-person maximum, and you owe $30,000. With 25/50/25 limits, your insurer pays $25,000, and you owe $105,000.
Several people hurt: 4 people each have $90,000 in injuries, for a total of $360,000. Each claim fits under the $100,000 per-person limit. The $300,000 per-accident limit caps the total payout, so you owe $60,000. With 25/50/25 limits, your insurer pays $50,000, and you owe $310,000.
Expensive property damage: You destroy a $70,000 pickup truck and cause $45,000 in damage to a storefront, for a total of $115,000. Your insurer pays the $100,000 property damage limit, and you owe $15,000. With 25/50/25 limits, you owe $90,000.
Split Limits vs. Combined Single Limit (CSL)
100/300/100 is a split limit. A split limit sets separate caps for each injured person, for all injuries in a single accident, and for property damage. A combined single limit (CSL) is a single per-accident amount that pays bodily injury and property damage together, with no per-person cap.
A split limit and a CSL with the same total pay claims differently. 100/300/100 pays at most $400,000 in a single accident: $300,000 for injuries plus $100,000 for property damage. 100/300/100 never pays more than $100,000 for any single person's injuries. A $400,000 CSL can pay more than $100,000 toward a single person's injuries.
How Much Does 100/300/100 Insurance Cost?
The average U.S. liability insurance premium was $737 in 2023, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The $737 average blends every liability limit level, from state minimums to higher limits. The price of a 100/300/100 policy depends on your state, driving record, vehicle, and insurer. For the same driver, 100/300/100 costs more than a state-minimum policy because the insurer covers higher limits. Insurance Navy's guide to average car insurance costs has more premium data.
A liability-only 100/300/100 policy costs less than a full coverage policy with the same liability limits. Collision and comprehensive nearly double the average premium. The NAIC's 2023 combined average premium for liability, collision, and comprehensive was $1,438, compared with $737 for liability alone.
Auto insurance discounts for good drivers, low mileage, vehicle safety features, and good students offset part of the cost of higher limits.
Is 100/300/100 Insurance Coverage Enough for You?
Yes, 100/300/100 is enough for many drivers, but not for drivers whose assets are worth more than the limits protect.
The NAIC advises drivers who cannot pay large medical or legal costs out of pocket to buy more than their state's minimum liability limits. The same test sets your upper limit. Compare your limits with what a lawsuit could reach: savings, home equity, and future wages. A court can order your wages garnished if the court finds you liable for damages above your limits, even if you own few assets. If your assets and future wages are worth more than 100/300/100 protects, raise your limits or add an umbrella policy.
For personalized advice talk to an Insurance Navy insurance agent who can evaluate your situation and help you choose the right coverage.
When to Add Umbrella Liability Coverage Above 100/300/100
An umbrella policy is extra liability insurance that pays after your auto policy reaches its liability limit. The Insurance Information Institute describes umbrella insurance as personal liability insurance that adds a layer of coverage beyond standard homeowners, auto, or other vehicle coverage.
The International Risk Management Institute (IRMI) reports 3 facts about umbrella policies:
Umbrella policies are commonly available in million-dollar increments from $1 million to $10 million.
A $1 million umbrella policy costs $150 to $250 per year. Each additional $1 million of coverage costs about $75 per year.
Insurers require minimum underlying liability limits before selling an umbrella policy, typically $300,000 or $500,000 per claim. Ask your insurer whether 100/300/100 qualifies or whether you need higher limits first.
Get a Free Car Insurance Quote for Liability Insurance today!
100/300/100 covers you for bodily injury and property damage liability in case of an accident.
Before you decide if this is for you, consider the value of your car, your driving record, the deductibles you're willing to pay, and any discounts you may be eligible for. It's all about your situation and financial goals.
Ready to get the insurance you need? Contact an Insurance Navy agent today for a free quote and advice.
