When shopping for car insurance quotes in Fargo or anywhere in North Dakota, many people focus simply on price. They want to get the coverage required by law at the lowest price so they are legal to drive. While you do want to make sure you meet the minimum required coverage for North Dakota, you may not be getting enough protection with just this as your guideline.

The State Requirements

Before thinking about how much coverage you need, consider what’s required in the state. You must have liability coverage as well as no-fault coverage and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. The limits for liability are as follows:

• $25,000 per person
• $50,000 per accident for multiple people
• $25,000 for property damage

You must also carry $25,000 coverage per person for an accident where the other driver was uninsured or underinsured. This coverage includes a minimum of $50,000 per accident if you had passengers.

Since North Dakota is a no-fault state, you must carry Personal Injury Protection that will pay for your injuries regardless of who is at fault. The minimum for PIP is $30,000.

Do You Need More?

When you get a quote for car insurance, most likely you’ll get pricing for these amounts. However, it may not be enough to cover you if you’re involved in a serious accident. You must realize that these limits aren’t the end of your responsibility, only that of your insurer’s.

You could be held liable for any expenses over the amount of coverage you have if you’re found to be at fault for the accident. Just think how far $25,000 will go if someone suffers a serious or life-threatening injury in a car accident. They may need surgery or multiple surgeries, physical therapy and long-term rehabilitation. All of these expenses add up, and you could end up paying out of pocket if you don’t carry enough coverage.

What Should You Do?

It’s best to talk to an insurance agent about your needs. People often think agents are just telling them to get more insurance to make a bigger sale. However, that’s not the way it works. An agent will look at your unique situation and consider what assets you have that would be at risk in a claim. They will advise you on how much insurance coverage you need to protect those assets.

You have two options for additional coverage. You may want to purchase more insurance by raising the limits on your policy. For instance, you can increase it from $25,000 per person to $50,000. The other option is to purchase an umbrella policy which will pay over your basic coverage. These policies often have million dollar limits to take care of major claims against you.

Don’t just look at the price when getting auto insurance. Think about how much coverage you would need if a major accident occurred. You want your insurance to be there for you when you need it, so make sure you have the right amount of coverage now.