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The financial responsibility laws of the Equality State require that all vehicle owners maintain financial responsibility in the event of an accident. This means that if a driver is at-fault for damages in an accident, that the offending motorist is able to adequately cover any necessary repairs. To ensure that this takes place Wyoming vehicle owners are required to carry liability insurance. The amount of vehicle protection that a person can obtain, however, goes well beyond the basic requirements. With a sufficient amount of searching a resident could be prepared for a wide variety of damages caused by numerous situations for what may only amount to a slightly higher priced policy. Before deciding upon a vehicle protection plan it’s important for residents to understand what they are required to purchase, what is available to them, and the importance of maintaining a policy that meets state requirements.

Basic liability is an essential part of all Wyoming car insurance policies because it fulfills the state’s financial responsibility requirements. This type of coverage is typically broken down into multiple parts, and motorists must reach certain limits of liability. This includes $25,000 for bodily injury or death of a single person in an accident; $50,000 for two people or more in a single accident; and $20,000 for property damage for a single accident. These values are simply the lowest required by the state, but residents are encouraged to consider improving upon these limits for greater amounts of protection. This can be extremely important because a motorist may still be liable for damages that exceed the basic limit. If, for example, a motorist was at-fault for an accident in which multiple people were injured, resulting in medical expenses that exceeded $50,000 the driver in question would likely have to pay the remaining costs out of pocket.

Additional WY Coverage and Proof

Purchasing additional coverage to match a motorist’s needs and being sure to drive with adequate proof of insurance are typically considered to be very important details. Studies conducted by the Insurance Research Council show that over 10% of motorists within the state are uninsured, meaning that residents may wish to consider purchasing Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Protection (UM/UIM). This would usually cover damages or injuries caused by either an individual that has an insufficient amount of coverage or from a hit-and-run motorist. Additionally, residents may wish to consider additives such as Medical Payment coverage to pay for possible medical expenses, or even Comprehensive and Collision coverage to take care of damages done to a policyholder’s own automobile. Residents are urged to speak with a policy provider and inquire about all of the possibilities available to motorists, and choose enough coverage to remain adequately insured while still remaining within budget. Most importantly, however, residents should ensure that they do not drive without the proper amount of coverage.

Getting caught within WY without adequate proof of coverage can result in a series of fines up to $750, a six-month prison sentence, or both. Motorists should know that as of 1991 all law enforcement officers are allowed to request said proof regardless of whether or not a motorist is involved in an accident. If a driver is unable to produce the proper documentation they have seven days to do so or face the previously listed consequences. In order keep more up-to-date records and discourage residents from driving uninsured the Wyoming Department of Transportation created the Insurance Verification System designed to match state coverage records with records of local policy provides. This ensures that state records are accurate and that residents are more likely to get caught if driving without the proper levels of vehicle protection.