[INFOGRAPHIC] Nevada Increases Auto Insurance Minimums

Nevada drivers can expect to see an increase in their insurance premiums. As many as one in three drivers can see an increase of up to nine percent. That’s about an increase of $10 per month, per driver.

Vehicle insurance costs in the State of Nevada remain higher than they are in other states. Average yearly insurance rates in Nevada are already $1,802 while motorists nationwide pay an average of $1,427 for vehicle insurance. In Las Vegas, annual insurance rates are even higher, averaging $2,462 per year. Insurance premiums in Las Vegas are among the highest in the entire country.

You’re probably already seeing the increases in your insurance renewal rates. Lawmakers passed the measure in 2017. It’s effective as of July 1, 2018. It’s the first increase in insurance minimums since 1958. Nevada has some of the lowest insurance minimums in the country.

Nevada remains an at-fault state for insurance. That means you don’t have to pay the other side for an accident unless you’re at fault. Nevada also uses rules of modified comparative negligence to apportion fault if more than one person is to blame for a crash.

You have a right to bring legal proceedings such as a formal legal case or arbitration if you disagree with the insurance company’s decision in your claim. You’re also free to purchase more than the minimum amount of insurance.

Optional coverage includes types of coverage that can step in if you’re in an accident with someone who doesn’t have adequate insurance to cover your losses. If you opt for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, your insurance rates may spike even more.

Experts say that motorists who select uninsured and underinsured coverage might pay $45 or more each month under the new law.

Related: Car Accidents Without Insurance in Nevada

There are 1.9 million drivers in the State of Nevada. There are even more vehicles, with 2.5 million vehicles registered in the state. However, only 31 percent of drivers have the insurance minimums that the law requires them to have. As many as 20 percent of drivers are completely uninsured.

With the cost of a six-month insurance premium in Nevada as much as $673 on average, the premium increase in 2018 has done little to settle the debate about whether increasing insurance requirements helps more people become insured and ultimately makes the roads safer for Nevada residents.