Last Updated: November 11, 2026
Quick Summary
To increase liability coverage limits, pull your declarations page, log in to your carrier’s portal or call your agent, and request quotes at two or three higher limit levels. Compare the dollar difference in premium against the out-of-pocket exposure you would be buying down, then confirm the new limits on an updated declarations page.
- Your declarations page lists current limits as a three-number series, such as 100/300/100.
- Set your target based on attachable assets like home equity and savings, not the state minimum.
- Get quotes at 100/300/100, 250/500/100, and a higher option to see where the premium curve flattens.
- Ask when a mid-term increase takes effect, since timing can vary by carrier.
- Save the updated declarations page as written proof that the increase was applied.
Table of Contents
- What Liability Coverage Limits Actually Protect
- How Much Liability Coverage Do I Need for Auto Insurance?
- Auto Insurance 100/300 vs 250/500: Comparing the Common Options
- Recommended Car Insurance Coverage Limits for Nevada Drivers
- Step-by-Step: How to Increase Liability Coverage Limits on Your Car Insurance
- Weighing the Premium Cost Against Your Added Protection
- Your Next Step: Get a Quote for Higher Limits Through United Family Insurance
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Liability Coverage Limits Actually Protect
Liability coverage limits set the most your auto insurer will pay toward injuries or damage you cause to other people. If you cause a crash, your policy pays up to that limit, and anything above it can come out of your own pocket. Allstate’s guide to liability car insurance
Liability coverage pays for two main things. Bodily injury liability covers medical bills, lost wages and legal costs for people you hurt. Property damage liability covers repairs or replacement for another person’s car, fence, or other property. Amica’s guide to auto liability coverage
Reading a 100/300/100 Declarations Page
Your declarations page lists your limits in a row of three numbers. A policy written as 100/300/100 means:
- $100,000 per person for bodily injury
- $300,000 per accident for total bodily injury
- $100,000 per accident for property damage
Check this page first. It shows exactly what you carry today.
How Much Liability Coverage Do I Need for Auto Insurance?
The answer depends on your assets, not just your state’s minimum. Minimum limits are set by law to let you drive legally, but they may leave you exposed if a serious crash happens.
Ask yourself one question: could you pay a large injury claim from savings without losing your home or wages? If not, higher limits usually make sense. WTW Insurance Marketplace Realities 2026 Personal Lines report
Auto Insurance 100/300 vs 250/500: Comparing the Common Options
Both limits are common choices. Here is how they compare:
| Option | Bodily Injury Per Person | Bodily Injury Per Accident | Property Damage | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100/300/100 | $100,000 | $300,000 | $100,000 | Most drivers with modest savings |
| 250/500/100 | $250,000 | $500,000 | $100,000 | Drivers with a home or retirement savings |
The 250/500 option costs more each month, but it covers far larger injury claims. Get a quote for both before you decide.
Recommended Car Insurance Coverage Limits for Nevada Drivers
Nevada requires drivers to carry minimum liability coverage. Those minimums are a floor, not a recommendation. Many insurers advise raising limits because state minimums rarely cover a serious injury. Allstate’s guide to Nevada liability requirements
Many insurers advise carrying higher limits than the state minimum, especially if you own a home or have savings.
Step-by-Step: How to Increase Liability Coverage Limits on Your Car Insurance
Raising your limits is usually a mid-term policy change, not a new policy. Many carriers allow changes online or by phone, but the details of how you do it determine whether the change takes effect today or at your next renewal. Here is the full process, including the parts most guides skip.
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Pull your declarations page and confirm your current limits. The declarations page lists your bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage limits as a three-number series (for example, 100/300/100). If you cannot find the PDF, most carrier apps show the same figures under a “Coverages” or “My Policy” tab. Write down the effective dates of your current term, a mid-term increase is priced differently than one applied at renewal.
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Set a target based on assets, not on the state minimum. Nevada sets minimum liability limits by statute, which are a legal floor rather than a recommendation. A common planning rule is to carry bodily injury limits at least equal to your attachable assets, such as home equity and savings.
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Log in to your carrier’s portal and locate the coverage-change flow. The path differs by carrier, but the pattern is consistent: sign in, open the policy for the specific vehicle, choose “Change coverage” or “Edit policy,” then adjust the bodily injury and property damage sliders or dropdowns. The portal will show the prorated premium difference before you confirm. If the option is grayed out, the vehicle or policy type may require an agent-assisted change.
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Get the quote at two or three limit levels, not one. Ask for the price at 100/300/100, 250/500/100, and, if you have significant assets, 250/500/250 or a quote that pairs higher auto limits with a personal umbrella. Comparing three points shows you where the premium curve flattens, which is often between the first and second step-up.
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Confirm the effective date and get the updated declarations page in writing. Ask explicitly when a mid-term increase takes effect, since carriers’ timing can vary. The updated declarations page is your proof of coverage, save it, and keep it with your registration.
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Revisit the limits at every renewal and after any lifestyle change. A new home, a raise, a teen driver, or a new boat all change your exposure. A limit that fit you two years ago may not fit you now.
Watch out: if you request the increase online but never receive an updated declarations page, the change may not have been bound, confirm in writing before you assume you are covered.
!A Las Vegas homeowner reviewing an auto insurance policy document and a laptop at a kitchen table in the morning light. All of them are American.
If you are bundling auto and home, or want an umbrella priced alongside your auto policy, an agent can help compare those options. Our agents at United Family Insurance can run those comparisons for you.
Weighing the Premium Cost Against Your Added Protection
Higher limits cost more, but the size of the increase is usually smaller than drivers expect, and the exposure it removes is usually larger. The useful comparison is not “premium versus premium” but “extra monthly premium versus the out-of-pocket exposure you are buying down.”
How the premium moves. Premiums generally rise as limits increase, and the dollar difference between limit levels is what matters most. Get quotes at several limit levels and compare the dollar difference, not just the percentage.
How to size the exposure you are buying down. If you cause a crash that produces bodily injury damages above your policy limit, the difference may be your own responsibility. That gap, not the premium, is the number to compare against.
A simple decision framework.
- If your attachable assets are modest, a limit such as 100/300/100 is a common starting point.
- If your attachable assets are substantial, higher limits such as 250/500/100 are often considered, and an umbrella policy may add protection above the auto policy.
- If you are unsure, price the umbrella alongside the auto increase, carriers frequently bundle them, and the umbrella quote often changes the math on which limit to choose.
Ways to offset the increase. Ask your agent or carrier about available discounts, such as bundling with other policies. Be cautious about reducing liability limits to offset premium, since that works against the purpose of the change.
Watch out: confirm the new declarations page shows the limits you asked for and that no other coverage was reduced.
Allstate’s advice on coverage limits and premiums
For more ways to reduce premium without cutting protection, see our tips on how to save on auto insurance.
Your Next Step: Get a Quote for Higher Limits Through United Family Insurance
Raising your liability limits protects your savings from a single serious crash. Start by checking your declarations page, then request quotes at two or three limit levels.
United Family Insurance compares the market for you and explains each option in plain terms. Our agents help you find coverage that fits your budget. Get a quote from United Family Insurance today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if my liability limits are too low?
If a claim exceeds your limit, you may have to pay the difference yourself. This can put savings or property at risk.
Does raising my limits raise my premium?
Yes, higher limits usually cost more. Ask your insurer for a quote at each level before you change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 50/100/50 good liability coverage?
A 50/100/50 limit pays up to $50,000 for injury to one person, $100,000 total for injuries in one accident, and $50,000 for property damage. Those amounts are a common minimum in many states. For a driver with a home, savings, or future earnings to protect, these limits can be exhausted quickly after a serious crash. Many agents recommend at least 100/300/100 for that reason. Compare your current declarations page against your net worth before deciding whether 50/100/50 is enough.
How much liability coverage do I need for auto insurance?
Start with your assets. If you own a home, have savings or retirement accounts, or expect future income, a plaintiff could pursue those after an at-fault accident that exceeds your limits. Higher limits, such as 100/300/100 or 250/500/100, help keep that exposure off your personal finances. Your agent at United Family Insurance can review your situation and recommend limits that match what you have to protect.
How do I increase my auto liability coverage limits?
Contact your insurer or agent and request a quote for the higher limits you want. Ask what the premium change will be before you approve it, since higher limits generally cost more. Once you accept, the insurer updates your policy and issues a new declarations page. Ask for the effective date in writing so there is no gap in coverage.
Should I consider an umbrella policy after increasing my auto limits?
An umbrella policy adds coverage above your auto and home liability limits, often in $1 million increments. It is usually worth discussing if your assets exceed your underlying auto limits or if you have a rental property, a teenage driver, or other exposure. Umbrella policies typically require minimum underlying auto limits, so raise those first. An agent can explain how the two policies work together.
