Discover Tennessee's Auto Insurance Laws

Answer 1

Auto insurance is not required in Tennessee, but the laws do require that the driver responsible for an accident take financial responsibility for any bills that those involved in the collision generate. Tennessee drivers may place a deposit that will be designated for these expenses if the driver ever causes an accident. Tennessee drivers have a less expensive option; they can purchase liability coverage from an auto insurance company.

Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Required Limits

When Tennessee drivers make the choice to purchase auto insurance, they will need to purchase it in the limits that Tennessee has set. Auto insurance coverage allows for a certain amount of money to be allotted toward those who were affected by an auto accident. Drivers may be able to set their limits higher than Tennessee's limits, but they can also purchase the amount of coverage that complies with the laws. In Tennessee, these limits are:

• $25,000 for expenses due to one person injured or killed
• $50,000 for the expenses of all people injured
• $15,000 for all property damages resulting from one accident

Driving without Proof of Insurance Is a Class C Misdemeanor

After drivers purchase the liability limits outlined above, their auto insurance companies will give them a document proving they have auto insurance coverage. They will need this proof in the event that they break a law and are stopped by law enforcement or they are involved in a car crash. They will need to present this proof to the officer, otherwise, they will be charged with a Class C misdemeanor.

The Penalties

The penalties for failing to show proof of auto insurance in Tennessee are:

• A maximum fine of $100
• A driver's license suspension
• The inability to re-register the automobile

Tennessee's Driving Under the Influence Laws

By becoming a licensed driver in Tennessee, people are automatically consenting to giving their blood, breath or urine for a chemical test. The result may be that these drivers are charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and given the consequences required in the state of Tennessee. For the first offense, some of what these drivers will experience is:

• A jail sentence between two days and 11 months
• A fine between $350 and $1,500
• A year's driver's license suspension

Another important consequence is that auto insurance in Tennessee will become highly expensive because of the DUI conviction on their driving records.