State minimums aren't enough. Learn exactly how much auto insurance coverage you need based on your assets, vehicle value, driving habits, and risk tolerance — plus how to avoid being underinsured or overpaying.
Most Nevada drivers should carry:
This guide explains the reasoning behind these recommendations and helps you customize coverage to your specific situation.
Nevada requires minimum coverage, but it's dangerously low for most drivers. Here's what you're legally required to have versus what you actually need:
| Coverage Type | Nevada Minimum | Recommended | Why Higher is Better |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bodily Injury Liability
Covers injuries to others
|
$25,000 per person
$50,000 per accident
|
$100,000 per person
$300,000 per accident
|
Medical bills easily exceed $25K. One serious injury = $100K-500K+. Protects your assets from lawsuits. |
|
Property Damage Liability
Covers damage to others' property
|
$20,000
|
$50,000-100,000
|
Damage to luxury vehicles, multiple cars, or buildings easily exceeds $20K. Higher limits protect savings. |
|
Uninsured Motorist
Covers YOU when hit by uninsured driver
|
Optional
(Can be rejected)
|
Match liability limits
(100/300/50)
|
20-25% of Nevada drivers are uninsured. This protects YOU and your family when they hit you. |
|
Collision Coverage
Repairs your car after accident
|
Not Required
|
Recommended if car worth $4,000+
|
Fixes your vehicle regardless of fault. Essential if financed/leased or can't afford to replace car out-of-pocket. |
|
Comprehensive Coverage
Theft, vandalism, weather, animals
|
Not Required
|
Recommended if car worth $4,000+
|
Covers non-collision damage. Las Vegas has high theft rates. Rural Nevada has wildlife hazards. Protects your investment. |
Cheap upfront, but leaves you massively exposed to lawsuits and financial ruin.
Costs $70-100/month more, but protects your assets, vehicle, and family from financial disaster.
The "right" amount of car insurance depends on your specific financial situation, assets, vehicle value, and risk tolerance. Use these guidelines:
Your liability coverage should match or exceed your total assets (home equity, savings, retirement accounts, investments). If you cause a serious accident and are sued, your assets are at risk if your coverage is too low.
Basic protection for those with limited assets. Still significantly better than state minimum.
Standard protection for middle-class families with home equity and retirement savings.
High liability limits essential. Also consider umbrella policy ($1-5M additional coverage, ~$200-400/year).
Maximize auto liability (500/1000/500 or higher) and add $2-5M umbrella. Protects substantial assets from lawsuits.
Rule of Thumb: Carry liability limits equal to or greater than your net worth. A serious accident lawsuit can easily reach $300K-$1M. Don't risk everything to save $30-50/month.
With 20-25% of Nevada drivers uninsured or underinsured, UM coverage is arguably MORE important than your own liability coverage. It protects YOU when hit by uninsured/underinsured drivers.
Real Nevada Example: You're hit by an uninsured driver causing $80,000 in medical bills and lost wages. Without UM coverage, you pay out of pocket or sue the uninsured driver (who has no money). With UM coverage, your insurer pays.
Decide whether to carry full coverage (collision + comprehensive) based on your vehicle's value and your ability to replace it:
With $500-1,000 deductible, you'd receive minimal payout after an accident. Save the premium money instead and self-insure for this low value.
Decision point. If replacing the car out-of-pocket would be a financial hardship, keep full coverage with $1,000 deductible to reduce premiums.
Significant investment to replace. Full coverage protects your vehicle from accidents (collision), theft, vandalism, weather, and animals (comprehensive).
Not optional. Your lender requires collision + comprehensive to protect their investment. Also consider GAP insurance if you owe more than car's value.
Quick Math: If your annual collision/comprehensive premium is 10% or more of your vehicle's value, consider dropping it. Example: $4,000 car with $500/year full coverage premium = 12.5% of value = not worth it.
Your deductible is what you pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in. Higher deductible = lower premiums, but you need cash available if you file a claim.
| Deductible | Monthly Premium | Annual Savings | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| $250 | $150/month | Baseline | Drivers who want minimal out-of-pocket costs. More expensive monthly. |
| $500 | $130/month | Save $240/year | RECOMMENDED: Best balance for most drivers. Moderate premium savings, affordable deductible. |
| $1,000 | $110/month | Save $480/year | Good savings. Best if you have $1,000+ emergency fund and rarely file claims. |
| $2,500 | $90/month | Save $720/year | Maximum savings. Only if you can easily afford $2,500 out-of-pocket for repairs. |
Smart Strategy: Choose the highest deductible you can comfortably afford to pay out-of-pocket in an emergency. Save the premium difference in an emergency fund. Over time, you'll likely save more than you'd pay in deductibles.
Not sure what coverage limits are right for you? Our Nevada insurance experts will review your situation and recommend optimal coverage at the best price.