A 25/50/25 car insurance policy pays up to $25,000 for injuries to any one person you hurt in a crash, up to $50,000 total for all injuries in that crash, and up to $25,000 for property you damage. It is the minimum liability coverage in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas and Ohio. It pays other people, not you, and anything above those limits comes out of your own pocket.
- The three numbers are bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident, in thousands of dollars.
- Liability coverage pays the people you hit. It never pays to fix your own car or treat your own injuries.
- $25,000 does not go far: the average new car costs over $48,000 and a single night in the hospital can run $3,000 or more.
- Raising limits to 100/300/100 typically adds a modest amount per month because the extra coverage is rarely used.
- Florida (10/0/10 plus PIP), Illinois (25/50/20) and North Carolina (50/100/50) use different minimums.
Minimum coverage, rate factors and discounts differ by state. See the rules and rates where you drive:
What the three numbers mean
Every liability policy is described with three numbers separated by slashes. For a 25/50/25 policy:
| Number | Coverage | What it pays |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Bodily injury liability, per person | Up to $25,000 for the medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering of any one person you injure |
| 50 | Bodily injury liability, per accident | Up to $50,000 total for everyone you injure in one crash, no matter how many people |
| 25 | Property damage liability, per accident | Up to $25,000 for the other driver's car, plus fences, mailboxes, buildings or anything else you hit |
Liability only pays other people. Your own car, your own injuries and your own passengers' injuries are covered by different parts of the policy: collision, comprehensive, medical payments or PIP, and uninsured motorist coverage. If you carry liability only, you fix your own car yourself.
Three examples of how 25/50/25 plays out
Example 1: A fender-bender
You rear-end a 2019 Camry at a stoplight. Repairs cost $6,500 and the driver has a sore neck, with $4,000 in medical bills. Your property damage limit ($25,000) covers the $6,500 and your per-person bodily injury limit ($25,000) covers the $4,000. You pay nothing out of pocket beyond your premium. This is the kind of crash minimum coverage is built for.
Example 2: One serious injury
You run a red light and T-bone a car. The other driver breaks a leg: $38,000 in surgery and hospital bills, $9,000 in lost wages, and a claim for pain and suffering. The total claim comes to $70,000. Your policy pays $25,000, the per-person maximum. The remaining $45,000 is your responsibility. In an at-fault state like Georgia or Tennessee, the injured driver's insurer or attorney can pursue your savings, garnish wages, or place a lien on property to collect it.
Example 3: Several people hurt
You cause a crash on I-75 involving a minivan with four people in it. Each has $20,000 in medical bills, for $80,000 total. Your per-person limit would cover each one, but the per-accident cap is $50,000, so the policy stops there. You owe $30,000. The minivan is a total loss worth $32,000; your property damage limit pays $25,000 and you owe $7,000 more. One crash, $37,000 out of pocket.
Examples are illustrative. Actual claim payments depend on the policy, the state and the facts of the crash.
Why $25,000 is not much in 2026
- The average transaction price of a new vehicle is roughly $48,000; many pickups and SUVs are well above that. A total loss of one of those blows past a $25,000 property damage limit.
- A multi-car pileup can involve several vehicles' repairs under one property damage limit.
- An ambulance ride, an ER visit and an overnight stay can exceed $10,000 before any surgery or follow-up care.
- Lost wages and pain and suffering are part of a bodily injury claim, not just the hospital bill.
How 25/50/25 compares with other common limits
| Limits | Per person | Per accident | Property | Who carries it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/0/10 + PIP | $0 BI required | $0 BI required | $10,000 | Florida minimum ($10,000 PIP + $10,000 PDL) |
| 25/50/20 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | Illinois minimum (plus 25/50 UM) |
| 25/50/25 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | GA, AL, SC, TN, KY, AR, OH minimum |
| 50/100/50 | $50,000 | $100,000 | $50,000 | North Carolina minimum (plus matching UM/UIM) |
| 100/300/100 | $100,000 | $300,000 | $100,000 | Common recommendation for drivers with a home or savings |
| 250/500/100 | $250,000 | $500,000 | $100,000 | Typical requirement under an umbrella policy |
What higher limits cost
Liability limits are one of the cheapest things on a policy to raise. Moving from 25/50/25 to 100/300/100 often adds somewhere in the range of $10 to $25 a month for a driver with a clean record, because the extra coverage only comes into play in serious crashes. The exact amount depends on your state, record and vehicle, which is why the fastest way to know is a quote with both limits.
A simple rule: carry enough liability to protect what you own. If you rent and have little savings, state minimums may be a defensible choice. If you own a home, have retirement savings, or earn a good income, 100/300/100 is the usual starting point.
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Frequently asked questions
Does 25/50/25 cover my own car?
No. The three liability numbers only pay for damage and injuries you cause to other people. To cover your own car you need collision (crashes) and comprehensive (theft, weather, animals, vandalism) coverage, which are separate line items with their own deductibles.
What happens if damages exceed my 25/50/25 limits?
You are personally responsible for the difference. The injured party or their insurer can sue you, and in most states a judgment can be collected from your savings, future wages or property. This is the main reason to carry limits higher than the state minimum.
Is 25/50/25 enough coverage?
It satisfies the law in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas and Ohio, but it is rarely enough to cover a serious crash. Most agents suggest at least 100/300/100 for anyone with a home, savings or steady income to protect.
Which states require 25/50/25?
Among the states DriveLower serves: Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina (plus matching uninsured motorist), Tennessee, Kentucky (plus $10,000 PIP), Arkansas and Ohio. Illinois requires 25/50/20, North Carolina 50/100/50, and Florida $10,000 PIP plus $10,000 property damage liability.
What does the 50 in 25/50/25 mean?
It is the most the policy will pay for bodily injuries to all people combined in a single accident: $50,000. Each person is also capped at the first number, $25,000, so two injured people could receive up to $25,000 each, but four injured people would still share the same $50,000.