Liability-Only Car Insurance
Liability-only insurance pays for injuries and property damage you cause to other people, meets most legal minimums and is the cheapest policy you can buy, but it never pays to fix your own car.
- Brand
- Coverage type
- Category
- Car Insurance Coverage Types
- Released
- Price
- Not published
- VersusAnything Score
- 100/100
Key features
- Cheapest legal option
- Covers damage you cause to others
- Meets state minimum requirements
Best for owners of older, low-value cars that are paid off.
liability-only car insurance specifications
| What it covers | Bodily injury and property damage you cause to others |
|---|---|
| Pays for damage to your own car | No |
| Deductible applies | No |
| Required by law | Yes, in almost every US state and most countries |
| Required by lenders/lessors | Not sufficient on its own |
| Typical annual cost (US, approx.) | Roughly $650-$900 per year |
| Cost tier (1 = cheapest) | 1 |
| Best for | Older cars worth less than a few thousand dollars |
| What it does not cover | Your own car, theft, weather damage, uninsured drivers hitting you |
Score breakdown
- Overall (100%)
Scored against every car insurance coverage in our database using the car insurance coverage types weighting.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Cheapest legal option
- Covers damage you cause to others
- Meets state minimum requirements
- Strong overall score (100/100 within car insurance coverage types)
Cons
- No weak scoring group in its category
Compare liability-only car insurance against
Alternatives to liability-only car insurance
- Collision Coverage 33/100
- Comprehensive Coverage 67/100
- Full Coverage Car Insurance 0/100
Sources
- liability-only car insurance: Coverage type official (manufacturer)
Specifications last verified: 2026-10-01. Prices are launch or official list prices in US dollars unless stated. See our sources and data policy.