In Colorado, car insurance is mandatory for all drivers. Auto insurance regulations are enforced by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Insurance.
Until 2003, Colorado was a “no-fault” state, but changed the law in order to help reduce the cost of insurance premiums and help prevent claims abuses.
Colorado car insurance now operates as a tort system, meaning that fault must be established before an insurance company will pay a claim.
Required Car Insurance
Colorado drivers must have liability insurance, which covers only the other car and/or driver when an accident is your fault.Colorado drivers must have liability coverage at the following minimums:
- $25,000 per person for bodily injury.
- $50,000 per accident for bodily injury.
- $15,000 per accident for property damage.
Optional Car Insurance
Colorado auto insurance providers also offer a variety of optional coverage types:- Collision coverage: Helps cover damages to your car caused by hitting other objects, including another car.
- Comprehensive coverage: Covers damages to your car caused by non-accident-related incidents or factors, such as theft, extreme weather, and wildlife.
- Medical payment (“med pay”) coverage: Must be offered as part of any Colorado car insurance policy.
- It is offered in increments of $1,000 towards accidental injuries.
- You can opt out of med-pay coverage or purchase higher coverage limits if offered by your car insurance company.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Helps cover expenses if you are involved in an accident with a driver who has no insurance or too little insurance.
- Rental car coverage.
- Loan/lease gap coverage.
- Roadside assistance/towing coverage.
CO Car Insurance & Registration
The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires you to show proof of auto insurance to register your car or renew your registration.The DMV will accept any of the following as proof of insurance:
- Insurance card.
- Copy of car insurance policy.
- Printout or fax of insurance policy.
- Image of auto insurance card on a cellular phone.
- E-mail from insurer.
Violations of CO Car Insurance Laws
Colorado imposes various penalties for violations of insurance laws such as failure to provide proof of insurance during a stop or failure to purchase the minimum required insurance. Read below to learn about the specific penalties.Failure to Hold Insurance
Failure to have minimum liability insurance results in the following penalties and fines:- 4 points on your driver’s license.
- $500 minimum fine.
- License suspension.
- For the first offense, it will be suspended until you can show proof of insurance.
- For additional offenses, it will be suspended for up to 8 months.
- Required community service.
Always keep at least the required insurance minimums to ensure low-cost insurance rates long-term.
Failing to Carry Proof of Insurance
You must show proof of car insurance if you are stopped by a police officer or if you are involved in a traffic accident.If you can’t show proof of insurance during a stop, the officer can check the Colorado car insurance database to see if you have valid insurance. However, even if you have insurance, you may still be issued a ticket for failing to carry proof.
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