State guide
Car Insurance in Kentucky
Updated August 2026
Kentucky is a 'choice no-fault' state — one of only three in the country. Every driver is in the no-fault system by default: your policy includes $10,000 of personal injury protection (called basic reparations benefits) that pays your own medical bills and lost wages after a crash, and in exchange your right to sue for minor injuries is limited. You can opt out, but only by filing a formal rejection form with the Kentucky Department of Insurance.
The liability floor is 25/50/25 — $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage — or a single combined limit of $60,000, an alternative the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet explicitly accepts. Because the default policy bundles PIP with liability, quotes for the 'same' minimum coverage vary more between carriers than most Kentucky drivers expect.
| Coverage | Required minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability (per person) | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury liability (per accident) | $50,000 |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 |
| PIP / medical | $10,000 PIP (basic reparations benefits) per person — included unless formally rejected in writing |
| Additional requirements | A single combined limit of $60,000 is accepted in place of the 25/50/25 split limits |
| No-fault state | Yes |
| SR-22 used | No — this state doesn't use SR-22 filings |
Source: KRS §304.39-110 (Motor Vehicle Reparations Act); Kentucky Transportation Cabinet; Kentucky Department of Insurance
Average annual expenditure for auto insurance in Kentucky was $938 in 2022. (NAIC 2022 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement (June 2024))
How Kentucky's choice no-fault system works
Unless you reject it in writing, every Kentucky policy includes basic reparations benefits: up to $10,000 per person for medical expenses, lost wages and similar out-of-pocket costs, paid by your own insurer regardless of who caused the accident. Along with that coverage comes a limitation on suing — and being sued — for pain and suffering unless the injury crosses thresholds in the Motor Vehicle Reparations Act.
Rejecting no-fault is a real decision, not a checkbox: you file the Department of Insurance's rejection form, you give up automatic PIP benefits, and you regain full tort rights. Insurers must then offer you the coverage differently, and your premium changes accordingly. Most Kentucky drivers stay in the default system, but either way it pays to see how different carriers price your choice.
Kentucky doesn't use SR-22 filings
Kentucky is one of a handful of states with no SR-22 requirement. After a suspension, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet handles reinstatement through its own process — reinstatement fees, proof of current insurance, and completion of any court-ordered requirements — rather than a certificate your insurer files and maintains for years.
Two caveats. If another state ordered you to carry an SR-22, Kentucky expects you to keep that filing active — letting it lapse can still cost you your Kentucky license. And skipping the SR-22 doesn't mean skipping the premium consequences: carriers still see the violation on your record and price it, each in their own way. That spread is the argument for comparing quotes after any incident.
Optional coverages worth pricing
Uninsured motorist coverage is offered with every Kentucky policy but can be rejected in writing — unlike PIP, there's no default $10,000 sitting there for you if a driver with no insurance hits you and you've waived it. Nationally, 15.4% of drivers were uninsured in 2023 (Insurance Research Council). Guest passenger PIP, added reparations benefits above the $10,000 floor, and collision coverage round out the usual add-ons; the cost of each varies enough by carrier that the only way to know your number is to compare.
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Frequently asked questions
What car insurance is required in Kentucky?+
Liability coverage of at least $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 property damage — or a $60,000 combined single limit — plus $10,000 in basic reparations benefits (PIP), unless you formally reject no-fault coverage. The requirements come from KRS 304.39, Kentucky's Motor Vehicle Reparations Act.
Is Kentucky a no-fault state?+
Kentucky is a choice no-fault state. Drivers are in the no-fault system by default, with $10,000 PIP coverage and limited tort rights, but can opt out by filing a written rejection form with the Kentucky Department of Insurance.
Does Kentucky require SR-22 insurance?+
No. Kentucky does not use SR-22 filings for its own residents; license reinstatement runs through the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's own process. If another state required you to file an SR-22, you must still maintain it under that state's rules.
What happens if I drive without insurance in Kentucky?+
Kentucky electronically verifies insurance on registered vehicles and can cancel the registration of an uninsured car. Driving uninsured also risks fines and, on top of that, the full personal cost of any accident you cause.
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