Delaware Car and Motorcycle Insurance Law

Required Minimum Bodily Injury Coverage

• $15,000 per person injured in any one accident and $30,000 for all persons injured in any one accident

Required Minimum Property Damage Coverage

• $10,000 for injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident

Required Coverage to Compensate Injured Persons

• Delaware requires all motor vehicle owners to purchase coverage to compensate “injured persons” for medical expenses. For this coverage, an “injured person” means the insured, someone riding in the insured’s car, and pedestrians. The minimum amount required is $15,000 per person injured in any one accident and $30,000 for all persons injured in any one accident. Delaware also requires motor vehicle owners to purchase coverage for funeral expenses. Funeral benefits cannot exceed $5,000 per person. The law further requires coverage for lost earnings, but no amount is specified.

Optional Insurance Coverage

• Uninsured Motorist (UM) and Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage. The amount purchased cannot be less than the minimum limits for bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. An insurance company is required to offer a split limit of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, or a single limit of $300,000. However, the amount of UM/UIM cannot exceed the amount of bodily injury coverage purchased.

Special Rules for Motorcycle Owners

• A motorcycle owner can choose to reject coverage for medical expenses and lost earnings for injuries suffered by any person riding the motorcycle while not on a highway and in a case where no other vehicle but the motorcycle is involved in a collision. The rejection must be in writing.

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