Insurance requirements for registering a car in Arkansas
In Arkansas, all drivers are required to carry automobile liability or "financial liability" insurance in order to operate a vehicle legally and maintain vehicle registration. This law applies to any passenger vehicle that is operated on public roads in Arkansas.
The minimum financial liability requirements for individuals under Arkansas law are as follows:
Minimum $25,000 per person for personal injury or death. This means you need to have at least $50,000 with you to cover the fewest possible number of people involved in an accident (two drivers).
$25,000 minimum for property damage liability
This means that the total minimum financial liability you will require is $75,000 for both bodily injury and property damage. This protects everyone in case of an accident.
Insurance types
Although the liability insurance listed above is the only type of auto insurance required in Arkansas, the state also recognizes the following types of additional coverage:
Collision insurance, which covers damage to your vehicle as a result of a traffic accident.
Comprehensive coverage that covers damage to your vehicle due to non-traffic related elements such as inclement weather or fire.
Uninsured motorist insurance, which helps cover costs in the event of an accident in which the other driver was uninsured or underinsured.
Injury protection that helps pay for medical bills, lost wages, or funeral expenses from a car accident.
proof of insurance
Any driver who operates a vehicle registered in the state of Arkansas must carry an insurance certificate. Proof of insurance is also required to register a vehicle with the DMV.
Acceptable proof of insurance coverage includes:
An insurance certificate, such as a card from an authorized insurance company.
Copy of insurance policy or binding
An SR-22 document that certifies that you have insurance and is usually required only from drivers whose license has previously been suspended for reckless or drunk driving.
Arkansas uses an insurance verification system that stores your insurance information in a database. This database is checked monthly. If you do not have registered insurance, you may receive a notice from the state requiring you to purchase insurance or prove that you have valid insurance.
Penalties for Violation
If you fail to provide proof of insurance when requested by a law enforcement officer at the time of a traffic stop or at the scene of an accident, or fail to show that you have insurance when requested by the state, you may face several types of fines:
Up to $250 fine for first offense and registration suspension.
Further violations can result in higher fines and possible jail time.
To cancel a registration suspension, you must provide valid proof of insurance and pay a reinstatement fee.
For more information, contact the Arkansas Driver Service through their website.
