Choosing the Right Liability and Property Damage Limits

Understanding the numbers

Auto liability limits are shown as three numbers, like 25/50/25, in thousands of dollars:

1. 1Bodily injury per person — the most your policy pays for one injured person.
2. 2Bodily injury per accident — the most it pays for everyone injured in one accident.
3. 3Property damage per accident — the most it pays for damage to someone else's property.

So 50/100/50 means $50,000 per injured person, $100,000 total per accident, and $50,000 for property damage.

Common coverage levels

• 25/50/25 — the state minimum in Idaho (Utah's is 30/65/25). Cheapest, but exhausted quickly in a serious accident.
• 50/100/50 — a step up, still short in severe-injury or high-value vehicle claims.
• 100/300/100 — a solid baseline for most drivers.
• 250/500/250 — high-limit protection, best if you have significant assets to shield.

How to choose

• Consider your assets — the more you own, the more a lawsuit puts at risk.
• Look at real medical and repair costs — modern bills exceed low limits easily.
• Balance cost vs risk — higher limits often add only a little to the premium.