Why does my policy have more than one deductible?

A policy commonly carries a flat deductible for most claims and a separate percentage-based wind and hail deductible in storm-exposed states like Georgia.

Does my own insurance cover me when I stay in an Airbnb or VRBO?

The host's short-term rental policy protects the host, not you. As an Airbnb or VRBO guest, your own homeowners or renters insurance usually covers your belongings and personal liability away from home, within policy limits, while travel insurance covers trip-specific risks neither the host nor your home policy will.

Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage?

No. Standard homeowners policies exclude all flood damage regardless of cause.

What does uninsured motorist coverage do?

If you are hit by a driver with no insurance or not enough insurance, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays your medical bills.

When do we use Selective for flood coverage versus NFIP?

Selective private flood wins for Zone X and moderate AE properties where it beats NFIP on price and offers higher limits with ALE coverage.

Tennessee Car Insurance Requirements (2026): Minimum Coverage & the Law

Availability note: Olive Cover is the brand of Olive Insurance Services, LLC, an independent property and casualty insurance agency licensed in Georgia and Alabama. We are not licensed in all states. Nothing on this page is an offer to sell, or a solicitation to buy, insurance in any state where we are not licensed. It is general education only, not insurance advice.

All FAQs

Quick answer: Tennessee requires every registered vehicle to carry at least 25/50/25 liability insurance: $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage (Tenn. Code § 55-12-102). A single combined limit of $65,000 also satisfies the law.

Tennessee requires every registered vehicle to carry at least 25/50/25 liability insurance: $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage (Tenn. Code § 55-12-102). That property-damage minimum rose from $15,000 to $25,000 for policies issued or renewed after December 31, 2022, so if you still see "25/50/15" quoted elsewhere, it is out of date. A single combined limit of $65,000 also satisfies the law.

Is uninsured motorist coverage required?

Not exactly, it must be offered. Every Tennessee auto policy must include uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage at your liability limits unless you reject it in writing or select lower limits (Tenn. Code § 56-7-1201).

Is Tennessee an at-fault or no-fault state?

Tennessee is an at-fault state with no PIP / no-fault coverage. The driver responsible for a crash, through their insurer, pays for the resulting injuries and damage. Tennessee follows modified comparative fault: you can recover damages only if you were less than 50% at fault, and your recovery is reduced by your share of the blame; at 50% or more, you recover nothing (McIntyre v. Balentine, Tenn. 1992).

What happens if you drive without insurance?

Driving without the required coverage is a Class C misdemeanor and can lead to a fine of up to $300 and suspension of your license and registration. That becomes a Class A misdemeanour where the driver was uninsured and at fault in a crash causing injury or death, and for this purpose the law defines being at fault as acting with criminal negligence rather than ordinary carelessness. Separate from the criminal fine, the Department of Revenue charges administrative fees, and those rise sharply on 1 July 2027, from $25 to $500 for a coverage failure and from $100 to $1,000 for a continued failure, with $1,500 for a repeated lapse. From the same date, an injured driver who owned the uninsured vehicle can have noneconomic damages capped at $375,000, or $750,000 for catastrophic injury, but only where the vehicle was uninsured at the time of the crash and the state had already sent at least three written notices of noncompliance for that vehicle in the previous three years; Tennessee verifies coverage electronically. Drivers who need to prove financial responsibility after certain violations may be required to file an SR-22 (Tenn. Code § 55-12-139).

An SR-22 must be maintained for the length of the suspension or revocation, not for a fixed three years. Many sources still quote three years for Tennessee; the statute ties it to the suspension period instead.

The 25/50/25 minimum is the legal floor, not a coverage recommendation. Because costs above your limits fall on you personally, many drivers carry higher liability limits, add UM/UIM, or include collision and comprehensive to protect their own vehicle. A licensed advisor can walk through the tradeoffs for a specific situation.