Connecticut Car Insurance

Connecticut requires every registered vehicle to carry liability insurance plus uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. The mandatory uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is one of Connecticut's distinctive features — many states make UM optional, but Connecticut treats it as a baseline. The minimum coverage levels were last updated in 2018, when the state raised liability limits from the older 20/40/10 schedule.

Minimum required coverage

• Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident.
• Property Damage Liability: $25,000 per accident.
• Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI): $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident.

The shorthand for these limits is 25/50/25 + UM 25/50. Connecticut does not require Personal Injury Protection (PIP) — the state operates as a traditional tort state where the at-fault driver's liability insurance pays for the other party's damages.

Recommended coverage

Industry consensus is that 25/50/25 is far too low for any meaningful injury claim. A typical Connecticut hospital admission for a moderate injury runs well over $25,000 within a few days. Most insurance professionals recommend:

• Bodily Injury: $100,000 / $300,000 minimum, $250,000 / $500,000 for higher-asset households.
• Property Damage: $50,000 minimum, $100,000 if you regularly drive in dense urban areas.
• UM/UIM: Match your bodily injury limits.
• Collision and Comprehensive: Required by lenders on financed vehicles, recommended for any vehicle worth $10,000+.
• Medical Payments (MedPay): $5,000-$10,000 to cover medical expenses regardless of fault.

How Connecticut regulates insurance rates

Connecticut is a "prior approval" state — auto insurers must file proposed rate changes with the Connecticut Insurance Department and receive approval before implementing them. The Insurance Department reviews filings for actuarial soundness and consumer protection. Because of this oversight, Connecticut auto rates tend to track the loss experience in the state more tightly than rates in less-regulated states, but they don't move dramatically year-over-year. Connecticut average premiums are slightly above the national mean, reflecting the state's high traffic density and high per-claim cost.

Factors that affect your premium

• Driving record: Points and at-fault accidents push rates up for 3 years from each event. See CT driving records.
• Credit-based insurance score: Connecticut allows credit-based scoring for rating purposes, with statutory limits.
• Location: Bridgeport, New Haven, and Hartford carry higher rates than rural towns due to claim frequency.
• Vehicle: Newer, more expensive vehicles cost more to insure for collision and comprehensive coverage.
• Annual mileage: Lower-mileage drivers receive lower rates.
• Discounts: Multi-policy, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, and good-student discounts can reduce premiums significantly.

SR-22 in Connecticut

Connecticut requires an SR-22 financial responsibility filing after any:

• OUI conviction — see CT OUI laws.
• Driving while suspended conviction.
• Driving without insurance conviction.
• Repeated unsatisfied judgment from an at-fault accident.

The SR-22 is filed by your insurance carrier directly with the CT DMV and certifies that you carry at least the state-minimum coverage. The filing must remain in effect for 3 years from the reinstatement date. Any lapse in the SR-22 triggers automatic license re-suspension. Not every Connecticut insurer offers SR-22 filings; high-risk specialty carriers handle most of these accounts.

Proof of insurance and the DMV electronic database

Connecticut insurance carriers report all new policies, renewals, and cancellations to the CT DMV's electronic insurance database. The DMV cross-checks the database during registration renewal and at any traffic stop. A reported lapse in coverage triggers a CT DMV insurance compliance notice; failure to respond results in registration suspension.

What happens after an at-fault accident

Connecticut at-fault accident surcharges typically last 3 years from the accident date. The first at-fault accident with no injuries and minor property damage rarely triggers a major surcharge under most "accident forgiveness" provisions. Larger at-fault claims, especially those involving injury or DUI, can push premiums up 30-60% and may require shopping with a different carrier at renewal.