Desert Coverage Notes

Phoenix / Car insurance

What does 25/50/15 actually cover?

After a Phoenix car crash, three numbers can raise more questions than they answer. Use this guide to separate Arizona's required liability limits from the coverage shown in a particular policy.

A practical guide to reading the limits and preparing your questions.

$25k
One personBodily injury or death
$50k
One crashBodily injury or death, total
$15k
PropertyProperty damage

Read the three limits separately

Arizona's minimum motor vehicle liability coverage is $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, $50,000 for bodily injury or death in one crash, and $15,000 for property damage. This is the 25/50/15 shorthand. These minimums apply to policies issued or renewed from July 1, 2020.

The first two figures describe injury coverage. The third describes damage to property. Do not combine the figures into a single pot or treat the $50,000 figure as an amount available to every injured person.

Start with what “liability” means

Arizona uses an at-fault insurance system, rather than a PIP no-fault system. Liability limits concern coverage for harm the insured is responsible for causing to others. The three minimum figures alone do not tell you what coverage applies to your own injuries or your own car.

When you contact an insurer, identify whose policy you are discussing. Ask which coverage is being considered and request the answer in writing. A policy limit is a coverage boundary, not a promise that the insurer will pay that amount.

Compare the rule with the actual policy

Gather the insurance information exchanged after the crash, your policy documents, and the letters or emails about the claim. Ask for help locating the declarations page and the coverage terms that apply to the crash date. Copy the limits exactly, with their labels.

Keep a separate entry for each insurer and claim number. Note whether a figure came from a document or a conversation. If someone refers only to “minimum coverage,” ask them to spell out each limit rather than making your own assumption.

Keep your losses apart from the limits

Build one list for medical expenses and another for vehicle or other property costs. Save the documents behind each entry. Mark an estimate as an estimate, and update the list when a final bill arrives. Avoid counting the same expense twice.

The legal minimum is not a valuation of your loss. For questions about coverage and an injury claim, this Phoenix car crash legal resource offers a place to explore assistance. Bring the policy information and your expense lists so the discussion begins with the actual documents.

Before your next insurance call

  • Match each policy and claim number to the correct insurer.
  • Write down all three liability limits, with their meanings.
  • Ask which coverage and policy terms the insurer is reviewing.
  • Separate injury bills from repair estimates and receipts.
  • Record the answer, the person's name, and any requested documents.

If a document is missing, add it to a short request list. Keep copies of what you send and the date you sent it. Clear labels make the next conversation easier without assuming how the claim will end.