Arkansas Auto Insurance Requirements: 25/50/25, the 50% Bar, and UM/UIM
Arkansas requires 25/50/25 liability and uses modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar. Learn SR-22, UM/UIM, and why ~1 in 6 uninsured drivers makes extra coverage essential.
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Get a Free QuoteArkansas Minimum Auto Liability: 25/50/25
Arkansas law requires liability coverage of 25/50/25: $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. These limits are the legal floor to register and operate a vehicle — not a recommendation for how much coverage a household should carry.
Arkansas is an at-fault state. The at-fault driver's liability insurance pays the other party's bodily injury and property damage up to policy limits. Liability does not pay for your own injuries or damage to your own vehicle — for that you need medical payments or PIP (where offered), health insurance, collision, and comprehensive.
The 50% Comparative-Negligence Bar
Arkansas follows modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar. If you are 50% or less at fault for an accident, you can recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover damages for your injuries from the other party.
That rule makes police reports, witness statements, dashcam video, and prompt claim documentation unusually important. Disputed-liability claims often turn on small differences in fault allocation — which can mean the difference between a partial recovery and zero recovery.
Uninsured Motorists and Why UM/UIM Matters in Arkansas
Roughly one in six Arkansas drivers is estimated to be uninsured — among the higher rates in the country. UM/UIM coverage pays your bodily injury losses (and, if purchased, property damage in some forms) when the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient limits.
UM/UIM is not required to be purchased in the same way as liability, but insurers must offer it and rejection may need to be documented. VKOVR typically recommends UM/UIM limits that match your liability limits so you are not fully exposed to an uninsured or underinsured driver on I-30, I-40, or I-49.
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SR-22 and High-Risk Drivers
An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility filed by an insurer proving you carry at least minimum liability coverage. Arkansas may require an SR-22 after serious traffic offenses, uninsured accidents, or certain license suspensions.
SR-22 policies are offered by a subset of carriers and often cost more than standard policies. A lapse can trigger additional suspension. VKOVR helps Arkansas drivers find SR-22-eligible carriers and rebuild toward standard-market rates over time.
What to Do After an Arkansas Accident
Stay at the scene when safe, render aid, call 911 for injuries, exchange insurance and contact information, and document the scene with photos. Notify your insurer promptly — even if you were not at fault — if you may use UM/UIM or collision coverage.
VKOVR's licensed advisors help Arkansas drivers build adequate limits before a claim and navigate the process afterward. Compare quotes for your garaging ZIP and household vehicles at no cost.
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