Auto Liability Limits Calculator
See what 25/50/25 actually pays on a real accident, and how much is left for you — the three numbers do not add together.
Limits are written in thousands, so 25/50/25 means $25,000 / $50,000 / $25,000. This covers harm you cause to others; damage to your own car is comprehensive and collision, which is a separate decision. Nothing is uploaded.
The three numbers do not add up to anything
25/50/25 means $25,000 for any one injured person, $50,000 for all injuries in one accident, and $25,000 for other people's property. The first number is a sub-limit of the second, not an addition to it — so the most this policy can ever pay for one accident is $75,000, and the hundred thousand the notation suggests does not exist.
| What happened | Claimed | 25/50/25 pays | You owe | 100/300/100 would owe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One injured driver, $80,000 claim | $80,000 | $25,000 | $55,000 | $0 |
| Three injured, $30,000 each | $90,000 | $50,000 | $40,000 | $0 |
| Two injured at $40,000, plus a $48,000 car | $128,000 | $75,000 | $53,000 | $0 |
| No injuries, a $48,000 car | $48,000 | $25,000 | $23,000 | $0 |
In the accident people actually have — one other car, one injured driver — the per-person figure is the only one that binds. An $80,000 claim recovers $25,000 and leaves $55,000 for you. The middle number never comes into it, and it is the one most people quote when asked what they carry.
The property limit lost to car prices years ago
$25,000 of property cover against a
$48,000 vehicle leaves
$23,000 owing on a collision with nobody hurt at all
— the most ordinary accident there is. State minimums were set when a new car cost a fraction
of what one costs now, and the limits have not moved with the prices they exist to cover.
Raising to 100/300/100 closes every gap in the table above. The reason that is
usually affordable is the same reason the minimum is inadequate: the large claims are rare, so
the extra cover is priced accordingly, and most of what you pay for auto insurance is not the
liability portion at all.
How to use
- Enter your limits in the usual slash notation.
- Add the injury claims and any property damage.
- Read what the policy pays and what you owe.
- Compare against higher limits.
Frequently asked questions
What does 25/50/25 mean?
$25,000 for any one injured person, $50,000 for all injuries in one accident, and $25,000 for other people property. The numbers are thousands, and the first is a sub-limit of the second rather than an addition to it.
So is 25/50/25 a hundred thousand of cover?
No, and this is the most common misreading. Because the per-person figure sits inside the per-accident one, the most the policy can ever pay for a single accident is $75,000 — the per-accident limit plus the property limit. The three numbers do not add together.
Which limit actually applies to my accident?
In the accident people usually have — one other car, one injured driver — only the per-person figure binds. An $80,000 injury claim recovers $25,000 and leaves $55,000 for you. The middle number does nothing at all, and it is the one most people quote when asked what they carry.
When does the per-accident limit matter?
Only when several people are hurt. Three injured people claiming $30,000 each would recover $25,000 apiece under the per-person limit — $75,000 — but the accident cap holds it to $50,000, leaving $40,000 to find. That second cap is the one nobody plans for.
Is the state minimum enough?
Not for an ordinary accident. A $25,000 property limit against a $48,000 vehicle leaves $23,000 owing on a collision with nobody hurt at all. Minimums were set when a new car cost a fraction of what one costs now, and the limits have not moved with the prices they exist to cover.
What limits should I carry instead?
100/300/100 closes every gap in the examples here. The reason that is usually affordable is the same reason the minimum is inadequate: large claims are rare, so the extra cover is priced accordingly, and the liability portion is not where most of an auto premium goes.
Does this cover damage to my own car?
No. Liability covers harm you cause to other people and their property. Damage to your own vehicle is comprehensive and collision, which is a separate decision with a separate calculation.
Does this send anything anywhere?
No. Every figure is computed in your browser, and nothing is uploaded or stored.
🔒 This tool runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is uploaded, logged, or stored.