Property Damage Liability Insurance Coverage

Property damage liability coverage helps cover costs if you accidentally damage other people’s property in a car accident. This coverage is required in most states, but you may want more than the minimum limit to extend your financial protection.
Author:
Lily DiGregorio
Lily DiGregorio,Staff copywriter
Lily DiGregorio
Staff copywriter specializing in auto and home insurance for The Hartford.
Reviewed By:
Ben Ewbank
Ben Ewbank,Head of Personal Lines State Product and Pricing
Ben Ewbank
Head of Personal Lines State Product and Pricing at The Hartford.
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Updated: 02/04/2026
Read Time: 6 minutes
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Key Takeaways

  • If you cause a car accident that damages someone’s property, property damage liability coverage will help cover the necessary repair or replacement costs.
  • Property damage liability coverage does not help pay for your own vehicle damage. It’s one of the many car insurance coverages that work together to ensure you’re fully protected from a range of incidents.
  • While each state requires a minimum amount of coverage, choosing the right amount of property liability insurance helps you avoid having to pay out of your own pocket after an accident.

What Is Property Damage Liability Insurance?

Property damage liability helps pay for damage to another person’s property if you’re at fault in an accident.

If you cause an accident, your car insurance has two types of liability coverage that can help protect you:
 
  • Property damage liability insurance helps pay for repairs if you hit another person’s vehicle or property.
  • Bodily injury liability insurance helps cover medical expenses if you hurt someone in an automobile accident.
Many states require you to carry these policies to help cover damages and injuries you cause and are financially responsible for.
 
To learn more, let’s take a closer look at the property damage liability definition.
 

What Does Property Damage Liability Cover?

Property damage liability insurance, also known as property damage coverage, helps pay for repairs or replacement if you damage or destroy another person’s property in an accident. This can include property such as a:
 
  • House
  • Vehicle
  • Office
  • Store
  • Trees
  • Lamp posts
  • Fence
For example, property damage liability coverage can help if you:
 
  • Turn into a driveway too quickly and hit a mailbox
  • Accidentally crash into a storefront
  • Rear-end another car in traffic
Property damage liability can help pay for these repairs up to your car insurance policy limit. It’s also important to be aware that this coverage doesn’t pay for damage to your own car. That’s why you’ll need collision coverage.
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How Much Property Damage Liability Do I Need?

You will need enough property damage liability coverage to satisfy your state’s requirements. Beyond that, you may want to ask yourself questions to help decide your liability coverage limits, like:
 
  • Do you own a home or other expensive items that you want financial protection for?
  • Do you normally travel in high-traffic areas?
  • Are there expensive homes or vehicles where you frequently drive?
 
When finalizing coverage, you’ll want to choose at least enough to protect your financial well-being if you’re responsible for a car accident. This rule of thumb applies to other coverages and types of liability car insurance on your policy, such as:
 
female customer pleased to know what is property damage liability

What Are the Minimum Property Damage Liability Limits by State?

Most states have a minimum amount of property damage liability required, and each state sets their own limits. But you’ll have to pay out of pocket for repairs that exceed your policy limit, so you may want more coverage than what’s minimally required.
Not sure how much coverage your state requires or unsure about mandatory coverage limits? We’ve compiled minimum coverage amounts depending on where you live. You can also use The Hartford’s car insurance calculator to help estimate how much coverage you’ll need based on your state and insurance goals.
Alabama: $25,000
Alaska: $25,000
Arizona: $25,000
Arkansas: $25,000
California: $15,000
Colorado: $15,000
Connecticut: $20,000
Delaware: $10,000
Washington, D.C.: $10,000
Florida: $10,000
Georgia: $25,000
Hawaii: $10,000
Idaho: $15,000
Illinois: $20,000
Indiana: $25,000
Iowa: $15,000
Kansas: $25,000
Kentucky: $25,000
Louisiana: $25,000
Maine: $25,000
Maryland: $15,000
Massachusetts: $5,000
Michigan: $10,000
Minnesota: $10,000
Mississippi: $25,000
Missouri: $25,000
Montana: $20,000
Nebraska: $25,000
Nevada: $20,000
New Hampshire: $25,000
New Jersey: $5,000
New Mexico: $10,000
New York: $10,000
North Carolina: $25,000
North Dakota: $25,000
Ohio: $25,000
Oklahoma: $25,000
Oregon: $20,000
Pennsylvania: $5,000
Rhode Island: $25,000
South Carolina: $25,000
South Dakota: $25,000
Tennessee: $15,000
Texas: $25,000
Utah: $15,000
Vermont: $10,000
Virginia: $20,000
Washington: $10,000
West Virginia: $25,000
Wisconsin: $10,000
Wyoming: $20,000
Keep in mind that your state may require other coverages on your auto policy, like medical payment coverage. That’s why it’s a good idea to check your state’s car insurance laws to make sure you have the right coverage in your plan.

How Much Does Property Damage Liability Cost?

The cost of property damage liability coverage is unique to you and your specific policy.
 
For example:
 
  • If you live in an area with more drivers, your liability cost may increase as there’s a higher chance you’ll be in an accident where you’ll need physical damage insurance.
  • If you choose a higher limit than your state’s minimum requirement, this can increase your rate. (But it will protect you from higher out-of-pocket costs after an accident.)
  • If you buy additional auto insurance coverages, or take advantage of any car insurance discounts or savings benefits, these will also impact your final price.

How Do You File a Property Damage Claim?

You can go online to quickly file a car insurance claim or call The Hartford at 877-805-9918. For glass claims, you can call 800-892-8484.
 
Remember: Property damage liability coverage only helps pay for damage to someone else’s property. So, if you hit another car, you should exchange information with the other driver, including the name and contact number of your insurance provider and policy number. That way, your collision insurance coverage can help pay for the covered claim.
The Hartford’s representatives are here to help you get the protection you need to enjoy peace of mind behind the wheel. Get a quote online or call us at 888-546-9099 today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Property Damage Liability

No, property damage liability coverage only helps pay to fix someone else’s property if you cause damage with your car. Collision coverage, another type of car insurance coverage, helps cover damage to your car.
In insurance, property damage liability refers to a coverage that helps pay to repair or replace someone else’s property, like a fence or mailbox, that you accidentally damage with your car.
A property damage liability claim is when you need to contact your insurance company after you’ve accidentally damaged someone’s property and need your coverage to help pay for any repair or replacement costs.
Most car insurance policies offer one type of property damage liability coverage. You can change your limits to increase or decrease your coverage, but most states require a certain minimum amount. This coverage protects you from many things, like if your car damages someone’s:
 
  • House
  • Vehicle
  • Office
  • Store
  • Trees
  • Lamp posts
  • Fence
The other type of liability coverage is bodily injury liability coverage, which helps protect you from financial loss if you hurt someone in an accident. Another property damage coverage is uninsured motorist property damage insurance, which helps cover your repair costs if someone hits your car and they don’t have any or enough insurance.

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