Arkansas Car Insurance Laws: Minimum Coverage, Penalties and SR-22
Arkansas car insurance law: minimum liability limits, fault or no-fault, uninsured motorist coverage, proof of insurance, penalties for driving uninsured, SR-22, title and registration.
Quick answers for Arkansas
- Minimum coverage required
- It is unlawful to operate a motor vehicle in Arkansas unless it is insured for at least $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in an accident, $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people in an accident, and $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25). Arkansas Insurance Department, Automobile Insurance brochure; Ark. Code Ann. §§ 27-22-104, 23-89-202, 23-89-203
- At-fault or no-fault
- Arkansas is an at-fault (tort) state in which personal injury protection is offered: liability insurance pays claims by people injured in an accident for which the insured is legally liable, while the PIP benefits that insurers must include (unless rejected in writing) are paid without… Arkansas Insurance Department, Automobile Insurance brochure; Ark. Code Ann. § 23-89-202; Alabama Department of Insurance, State Auto Insurance Laws
- Driving without insurance
- Driving uninsured carries a mandatory fine of $100 to $250 for a first offense, $250 to $500 for a second offense, and $500 to $1,000 and/or up to one year in jail for a third or later offense. Ark. Code Ann. § 27-22-103
- SR-22 filing
- Arkansas's Office of Driver Services uses a safety responsibility system after crashes: an SR-1 accident report must be filed within 30 days when property damage to any one person exceeds $1,000 or anyone is injured or killed, regardless of fault. Arkansas DFA, Office of Driver Services, Safety Responsibility
Last verified: 2026-10-27
Required coverage
| Minimum coverage required | It is unlawful to operate a motor vehicle in Arkansas unless it is insured for at least $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in an accident, $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people in an accident, and $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25). A certificate of self-insurance is the alternative to a policy. Liability is the only coverage the law requires drivers to buy. Insurers must also include personal injury protection (PIP) benefits in private passenger policies unless the named insured rejects them in writing: medical and hospital expenses up to $5,000 per person (incurred within 24 months), 70% of lost income up to $140 a week for up to 52 weeks, and a $5,000 accidental death benefit. |
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| At-fault or no-fault | Arkansas is an at-fault (tort) state in which personal injury protection is offered: liability insurance pays claims by people injured in an accident for which the insured is legally liable, while the PIP benefits that insurers must include (unless rejected in writing) are paid without regard to fault. The Alabama Department of Insurance's national list places Arkansas among "Tort States Where Personal Injury Protection is Available/Required." National list: https://aldoi.gov/consumers/StateAutoLaws.aspx. |
| Uninsured motorist coverage | Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage must be offered to anyone buying liability coverage and is included in the policy unless the insured signs a statement rejecting it. Insurers must offer UM bodily injury limits up to the liability limits the applicant chooses (Ark. Code Ann. § 23-89-403(3)(A)). UM comes in two parts: bodily injury and property damage; property damage can be bought only with bodily injury and carries a $200 deductible (waived if the same insurer carries collision and UM property damage and the identified uninsured driver is solely at fault). Underinsured motorist coverage, which pays when the at-fault driver's liability limits are too low, is also available. |
| Proof of insurance | A driver who cannot show a proof-of-insurance card at a traffic stop or arrest, or whose coverage does not show up on Arkansas's online insurance verification system, is presumed to be uninsured unless shown otherwise. The insurance card (or temporary proof from the insurer) may be shown on paper or electronically on a cell phone or other portable device. A driver who later proves coverage was in effect at the time of the stop pays a $25 fine (plus court costs) for failing to present proof. Registration and renewal require current insurance on the vehicle's VIN that meets Arkansas liability requirements. Fine for proof not shown: https://codes.findlaw.com/ar/title-27-transportation/ar-code-sect-27-22-111/ . |
Driving without insurance and SR-22
| Driving without insurance | Driving uninsured carries a mandatory fine of $100 to $250 for a first offense, $250 to $500 for a second offense, and $500 to $1,000 and/or up to one year in jail for a third or later offense. The judge may dismiss the charge if the driver shows coverage was in effect at the time of the arrest. If the driver cannot show coverage when the case is decided, the court orders the vehicle's registration suspended until proof of coverage is presented to the Office of Motor Vehicle, and a $20 reinstatement fee must be paid. Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 27-22-103 |
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| SR-22 filing | Arkansas's Office of Driver Services uses a safety responsibility system after crashes: an SR-1 accident report must be filed within 30 days when property damage to any one person exceeds $1,000 or anyone is injured or killed, regardless of fault. A driver must then show financial responsibility — proof of liability insurance meeting state requirements, a deposit of security set by the Department, a signed release, a court finding of non-liability, a notarized covenant not to sue, an accepted installment agreement, proof the other party was reimbursed, or a bankruptcy petition listing the parties. A driver may request a hearing within 20 days of receiving a notice of security requirement or suspension. |
Your rights with insurers
| Cancellation and nonrenewal | After a policy has been in effect more than 60 days, an insurer may cancel only for nonpayment of premium; fraud or misrepresentation in applying; homicide arising out of use of a motor vehicle; three separate speeding and/or reckless driving convictions within the policy period and the three months before it; or a DWI conviction. The insurer must give 20 days' written notice of cancellation for those reasons, or 10 days' written notice for nonpayment. To nonrenew on the expiration date, the insurer must give 30 days' written notice. An applicant cannot be refused coverage by another company solely because of a previous nonrenewal. |
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| What insurers can use to set rates | Arkansas allows credit-based insurance scores with limits. An insurer may not use a credit score calculated using income, gender, address, ZIP code, ethnic group, religion, marital status or nationality; may not deny, cancel or nonrenew, or set renewal rates, solely on credit information; may not penalize a consumer solely for not having a credit card; may not count an absence of credit history unless it treats the consumer as neutral or otherwise as approved; must use credit data no older than 90 days for an adverse action; must re-check credit at least every 36 months (and on the consumer's written request, up to once a year); and may not count medical collection accounts, consumer-initiated inquiries, insurance inquiries, or clustered mortgage or auto-loan inquiries against the consumer. Insurers must give a discount to insureds over 55 who complete an approved accident prevention course. |
| Total loss rules | A "salvage vehicle" in Arkansas is a vehicle that is water-damaged (water over the doorsill, into the passenger compartment and damaging the powertrain, main computer or electrical systems) or that sustains any other damage equal to or exceeding 70% of its average retail value, as determined under Office of Motor Vehicle rules. A seller (dealer or private owner) of a vehicle with a branded title must disclose the brand and the damage on file before the sale using a buyer's notification form signed by the buyer; if the seller fails to get the signature, the buyer may void the sale within 60 days. Disclosure section: https://codes.findlaw.com/ar/title-27-transportation/ar-code-sect-27-14-2303/. |
| Complaints about an insurer | File a complaint with the Arkansas Insurance Department's Consumer Services Division using its online complaint form (https://sbs.naic.org/solar-web/pages/public/onlineComplaintForm/onlineComplaintForm.jsf?state=AR), or print the Consumer Complaint Form and send it by email to insurance.consumers@arkansas.gov, by fax to (501) 371-2749, or by mail to Arkansas Insurance Department, Consumer Services Division, 1 Commerce Way, Suite 102, Little Rock, AR 72202-2087. Include your contact information, the company, the insured's name, policy and claim numbers, any agent or adjuster, the date of occurrence and a brief description. Consumer Services phone: (501) 371-2640 or 1-800-852-5494. Complaints are subject to disclosure as public records. Phone numbers are from the Automobile Insurance brochure: https://insurance.arkansas.gov/documents/automobile-insurance-brochure/ |
Title and registration
| Transferring a car title | A buyer has 60 days from the date of purchase to register the vehicle at a State Revenue Office (or online through MyDMV). Bring the current title signed by the seller and buyer; a bill of sale showing the VIN, sale date, price and both signatures; the current-year personal property assessment listing the vehicle; proof personal property taxes are paid; current insurance on the VIN meeting Arkansas liability requirements; and the fees and sales tax due (other documents, such as a lien contract, odometer statement, death certificate and affidavit of inheritance or letters testamentary, may be needed). Registering after 60 days adds a 10% penalty on the sales tax due and a late-registration penalty of $3 for each 10 days. A duplicate title costs $10, and an expedited title at the Central Revenue Office in Little Rock costs an extra $10. FAQs: https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/office/motor-vehicle/faqs-for-dsmv/ |
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| Registering after you move | A person new to Arkansas must register their vehicle within 60 days. To register after moving, bring the title and an odometer statement (or, if a lienholder holds the title, the out-of-state registration). To get an Arkansas driver license, bring proof of legal presence, a Social Security card, and the out-of-state license. 60-day rule: https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/office/mydmv/. Source: Arkansas DFA, MyDMV; DSMV FAQs |
Car Insurance & Vehicle Laws FAQ
What is the minimum car insurance required in Arkansas?
It is unlawful to operate a motor vehicle in Arkansas unless it is insured for at least $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in an accident, $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people in an accident, and $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25). A certificate of self-insurance is the alternative to a policy. Liability is the only coverage the law requires drivers to buy. Insurers must also include personal injury protection (PIP) benefits in private passenger policies unless the named insured rejects them in writing: medical and hospital expenses up to $5,000 per person (incurred within 24 months), 70% of lost income up to $140 a week for up to 52 weeks, and a $5,000 accidental death benefit.
Is Arkansas a no-fault car insurance state?
Arkansas is an at-fault (tort) state in which personal injury protection is offered: liability insurance pays claims by people injured in an accident for which the insured is legally liable, while the PIP benefits that insurers must include (unless rejected in writing) are paid without regard to fault. The Alabama Department of Insurance's national list places Arkansas among "Tort States Where Personal Injury Protection is Available/Required."
Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Arkansas?
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage must be offered to anyone buying liability coverage and is included in the policy unless the insured signs a statement rejecting it. Insurers must offer UM bodily injury limits up to the liability limits the applicant chooses (Ark. Code Ann. § 23-89-403(3)(A)). UM comes in two parts: bodily injury and property damage; property damage can be bought only with bodily injury and carries a $200 deductible (waived if the same insurer carries collision and UM property damage and the identified uninsured driver is solely at fault). Underinsured motorist coverage, which pays when the at-fault driver's liability limits are too low, is also available.
Can you show proof of car insurance on your phone in Arkansas?
A driver who cannot show a proof-of-insurance card at a traffic stop or arrest, or whose coverage does not show up on Arkansas's online insurance verification system, is presumed to be uninsured unless shown otherwise. The insurance card (or temporary proof from the insurer) may be shown on paper or electronically on a cell phone or other portable device. A driver who later proves coverage was in effect at the time of the stop pays a $25 fine (plus court costs) for failing to present proof. Registration and renewal require current insurance on the vehicle's VIN that meets Arkansas liability requirements.
What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Arkansas?
Driving uninsured carries a mandatory fine of $100 to $250 for a first offense, $250 to $500 for a second offense, and $500 to $1,000 and/or up to one year in jail for a third or later offense. The judge may dismiss the charge if the driver shows coverage was in effect at the time of the arrest. If the driver cannot show coverage when the case is decided, the court orders the vehicle's registration suspended until proof of coverage is presented to the Office of Motor Vehicle, and a $20 reinstatement fee must be paid.
When do you need an SR-22 in Arkansas, and for how long?
Arkansas's Office of Driver Services uses a safety responsibility system after crashes: an SR-1 accident report must be filed within 30 days when property damage to any one person exceeds $1,000 or anyone is injured or killed, regardless of fault. A driver must then show financial responsibility — proof of liability insurance meeting state requirements, a deposit of security set by the Department, a signed release, a court finding of non-liability, a notarized covenant not to sue, an accepted installment agreement, proof the other party was reimbursed, or a bankruptcy petition listing the parties. A driver may request a hearing within 20 days of receiving a notice of security requirement or suspension.
How much notice must an insurer give before canceling car insurance in Arkansas?
After a policy has been in effect more than 60 days, an insurer may cancel only for nonpayment of premium; fraud or misrepresentation in applying; homicide arising out of use of a motor vehicle; three separate speeding and/or reckless driving convictions within the policy period and the three months before it; or a DWI conviction. The insurer must give 20 days' written notice of cancellation for those reasons, or 10 days' written notice for nonpayment. To nonrenew on the expiration date, the insurer must give 30 days' written notice. An applicant cannot be refused coverage by another company solely because of a previous nonrenewal.
Can car insurance companies use your credit score in Arkansas?
Arkansas allows credit-based insurance scores with limits. An insurer may not use a credit score calculated using income, gender, address, ZIP code, ethnic group, religion, marital status or nationality; may not deny, cancel or nonrenew, or set renewal rates, solely on credit information; may not penalize a consumer solely for not having a credit card; may not count an absence of credit history unless it treats the consumer as neutral or otherwise as approved; must use credit data no older than 90 days for an adverse action; must re-check credit at least every 36 months (and on the consumer's written request, up to once a year); and may not count medical collection accounts, consumer-initiated inquiries, insurance inquiries, or clustered mortgage or auto-loan inquiries against the consumer. Insurers must give a discount to insureds over 55 who complete an approved accident prevention course.
When is a car a total loss in Arkansas?
A "salvage vehicle" in Arkansas is a vehicle that is water-damaged (water over the doorsill, into the passenger compartment and damaging the powertrain, main computer or electrical systems) or that sustains any other damage equal to or exceeding 70% of its average retail value, as determined under Office of Motor Vehicle rules. A seller (dealer or private owner) of a vehicle with a branded title must disclose the brand and the damage on file before the sale using a buyer's notification form signed by the buyer; if the seller fails to get the signature, the buyer may void the sale within 60 days.
How do you transfer a car title in Arkansas?
A buyer has 60 days from the date of purchase to register the vehicle at a State Revenue Office (or online through MyDMV). Bring the current title signed by the seller and buyer; a bill of sale showing the VIN, sale date, price and both signatures; the current-year personal property assessment listing the vehicle; proof personal property taxes are paid; current insurance on the VIN meeting Arkansas liability requirements; and the fees and sales tax due (other documents, such as a lien contract, odometer statement, death certificate and affidavit of inheritance or letters testamentary, may be needed). Registering after 60 days adds a 10% penalty on the sales tax due and a late-registration penalty of $3 for each 10 days. A duplicate title costs $10, and an expedited title at the Central Revenue Office in Little Rock costs an extra $10.
How long do you have to register your car after moving to Arkansas?
A person new to Arkansas must register their vehicle within 60 days. To register after moving, bring the title and an odometer statement (or, if a lienholder holds the title, the out-of-state registration). To get an Arkansas driver license, bring proof of legal presence, a Social Security card, and the out-of-state license.
How do you file a complaint against a car insurance company in Arkansas?
File a complaint with the Arkansas Insurance Department's Consumer Services Division using its online complaint form (https://sbs.naic.org/solar-web/pages/public/onlineComplaintForm/onlineComplaintForm.jsf?state=AR), or print the Consumer Complaint Form and send it by email to insurance.consumers@arkansas.gov, by fax to (501) 371-2749, or by mail to Arkansas Insurance Department, Consumer Services Division, 1 Commerce Way, Suite 102, Little Rock, AR 72202-2087. Include your contact information, the company, the insured's name, policy and claim numbers, any agent or adjuster, the date of occurrence and a brief description. Consumer Services phone: (501) 371-2640 or 1-800-852-5494. Complaints are subject to disclosure as public records.
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