Understanding Your Arkansas Auto Insurance Policy Coverages: A Complete Guide for Rogers Drivers

Navigating auto insurance in Arkansas doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Whether you’re a first-time car buyer in Rogers or a longtime driver looking to better understand your policy, knowing exactly what your coverage includes—and what it doesn’t—can save you thousands of dollars and significant headaches down the road.

At OZK Insurance, we field questions about auto insurance coverages every single day. After helping hundreds of Northwest Arkansas families protect their vehicles and financial futures, we’ve learned that most drivers fall into one of two camps: those who carry just the state minimum (and don’t realize how exposed they are), and those who pay for coverages they don’t actually need. This guide will help you land squarely in the middle—properly protected without overpaying.

Arkansas Minimum Requirements: Legal Compliance vs. Real Protection

Arkansas law mandates what’s known as 25/50/25 liability coverage. Here’s what those numbers actually mean for your wallet and your legal standing:

Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident

This coverage pays for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering when you injure someone else in an accident. The first number ($25,000) represents the maximum your policy will pay for any single injured person. The second number ($50,000) is the total your policy will pay when multiple people are injured in one accident.

Consider this real-world scenario: You run a red light in downtown Bentonville and cause a three-car accident. Two people require emergency room visits, one needs surgery totaling $45,000, and another faces $30,000 in medical bills. Your 25/50 minimum coverage pays the first person’s $45,000 (up to the $50,000 per-accident limit), but only $5,000 toward the second person’s $30,000 in expenses. You’re now personally liable for the remaining $25,000—which could mean wage garnishment, asset seizure, and financial devastation.

Property Damage Liability: $25,000 per accident

This pays for damage you cause to other people’s vehicles, buildings, fences, mailboxes, or any other property. With average new vehicle prices in 2025 exceeding $48,000 and many popular trucks and SUVs costing considerably more, $25,000 barely covers a single totaled mid-range sedan—let alone if you hit multiple vehicles or damage commercial property.

Arkansas ranks 9th highest nationally for uninsured drivers at 17%, which means roughly one in six drivers you encounter on I-49 or Highway 71 has no insurance at all. This makes your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage absolutely critical.

Liability Coverage: The Foundation of Your Policy

Every Arkansas insurance policy must include liability coverage, but understanding how it actually protects you (and where it falls short) is crucial.

Bodily Injury Liability: Beyond the Minimums

While Arkansas requires only $25,000 per person, insurance professionals consistently recommend 100/300 liability limits—that’s $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. Here’s why this matters specifically for Northwest Arkansas residents:

Medical costs have skyrocketed. A single ambulance ride in Benton County averages $1,200-$1,800. An emergency room visit with diagnostic imaging easily tops $5,000. If your accident causes serious injuries requiring hospitalization, surgery, or long-term care, you’re looking at six-figure medical bills.

The 2025 insurance market has brought unprecedented rate increases across Arkansas, with the state posting a devastating 144% loss ratio in 2023. But increasing your liability limits is surprisingly affordable—often adding just $15-30 per month to move from minimum 25/50 coverage to safer 100/300 limits through our personal insurance programs.

Property Damage Liability: Protecting Against Modern Vehicle Costs

That $25,000 minimum? It hasn’t changed in decades, even though vehicle values have soared. Consider what you’ll actually face on Arkansas roads:

• Average 2025 pickup truck (F-150, Silverado, Ram): $55,000-$75,000
• Popular SUVs (Tahoe, Expedition, Yukon): $60,000-$85,000
• Electric vehicles (Tesla Model Y, Rivian R1T): $50,000-$90,000
• Luxury vehicles are increasingly common in Rogers and Bentonville: $75,000-$150,000+

If you rear-end a Mercedes-Benz GLE at a Bentonville stoplight, causing $80,000 in damage, your $25,000 property damage coverage leaves you owing $55,000 out of pocket. At OZK Insurance, we typically recommend at least $100,000 in property damage coverage—it’s not expensive, and it could save your financial future.

Collision Coverage: Protecting Your Vehicle After Accidents

Unlike liability coverage (which pays for damage you cause to others), collision coverage pays to repair or replace your own vehicle after an accident, regardless of who’s at fault. This is optional unless you’re financing or leasing—in which case your lender will require it.

What Collision Coverage Pays For:

• Accidents with other vehicles (even if you caused it)
• Single-vehicle accidents (sliding off icy Rogers roads into a ditch)
• Hit-and-run accidents where the other driver fled
• Backing into your own mailbox or garage door
• Hitting stationary objects like guard rails, poles, or fences
• Rollover accidents

Real Northwest Arkansas Scenario:

You’re driving on Highway 412 during a January ice storm (because we all know Arkansas winter weather is unpredictable). Despite your careful driving, your vehicle hits a patch of black ice and slides into a concrete barrier. The damage totals $8,500. Without collision coverage, you’re paying that entire amount out of pocket. With collision coverage (after your $500 deductible), your insurance pays $8,000 and your vehicle is repaired.

Collision coverage includes a deductible—the amount you pay before insurance kicks in. Common deductibles range from $250 to $1,000. Higher deductibles mean lower monthly premiums, but you’ll pay more out of pocket per accident.

Comprehensive Coverage: Protection Beyond Collisions

Comprehensive coverage handles the “other stuff”—damage that happens when your vehicle isn’t even running. This is especially valuable in Arkansas, given our severe weather patterns and wildlife populations.

What Comprehensive Coverage Pays For:

Weather-Related Damage:

• Hail damage (increasingly common in Northwest Arkansas—remember the devastating 2023 storms?)
• Flood damage (even though only 6% of Springdale homes require flood insurance, remember that 25% remain at risk)
• Tornado damage and flying debris
• Lightning strikes
• Falling tree limbs during storms

Theft and Vandalism:

• Vehicle theft (Rogers saw 47 vehicle thefts in 2024)
• Stolen catalytic converters (a growing problem in urban Arkansas)
• Keyed paint or broken windows
• Stolen wheels, stereo equipment, or other parts

Animal Collisions:

With Arkansas’s rural roads and abundant wildlife, hitting a deer is a very real risk. Comprehensive coverage pays for the damage when you strike an animal. This is critical—deer-vehicle collisions in Arkansas cause an average of $4,500 in damage per incident.

Acts of Vandalism and Civil Unrest:

Comprehensive also covers intentional damage to your vehicle, including graffiti, slashed tires, or damage during civil disturbances.

Like collision coverage, comprehensive includes a deductible. Interestingly, comprehensive coverage typically costs less than collision—often 30-40% cheaper—because comprehensive claims tend to be smaller and less frequent.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Your Safety Net

Given Arkansas’s 17% uninsured driver rate, this coverage is non-negotiable in our professional opinion. While Arkansas requires insurance companies to offer uninsured motorist coverage, drivers can decline it—which is a massive financial mistake.

Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI):

Pays your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering when an uninsured driver injures you. Arkansas requires a minimum of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident, but we strongly recommend matching your liability limits.

Scenario: An uninsured driver runs a stop sign in Fayetteville and T-bones your vehicle. You suffer a broken arm, concussion and miss six weeks of work. Your medical bills total $35,000 ,and you lose $8,000 in wages. Their lack of insurance means you can’t collect from them. Your uninsured motorist coverage pays your medical costs and lost income (up to your policy limits).

Underinsured Motorist Coverage:

This kicks in when the at-fault driver has insurance, but not enough to cover your damages. If the other driver carries only Arkansas’s 25/50 minimums, and your injuries total $75,000, their insurance pays $25,000 and your underinsured motorist coverage pays the remaining $50,000 (assuming you carry adequate limits).

At OZK Insurance, we automatically quote uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage that matches your liability limits unless you specifically request otherwise. Given the negligible cost difference (often just $8-15 per month), there’s simply no good reason to skimp on this protection.

Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay): Immediate Medical Expense Protection

MedPay is an often-overlooked coverage that can be incredibly valuable. It pays medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of who’s at fault, up to your policy limits (typically $1,000-$10,000).

Why MedPay Matters:

• Covers immediate medical expenses without waiting to determine fault
• Pays your health insurance deductible and copays
• Covers ambulance rides, ER visits, X-rays, surgery, hospital stays
• No deductible—MedPay pays from dollar one
• Extends to you as a pedestrian if hit by a vehicle
• Covers you as a passenger in someone else’s vehicle

For families with high-deductible health plans (increasingly common in Northwest Arkansas), MedPay provides crucial bridge coverage. A $5,000 MedPay policy might cost just $40-60 annually but ensures you can get immediate medical care without worrying about your $3,000 health insurance deductible.

Gap Insurance: Protecting Against Upside-Down Loans

If you financed your vehicle with a small down payment or took a long-term loan (72+ months), gap insurance is essential. Here’s why:

New vehicles depreciate roughly 20% the moment you drive off the lot, and 10-15% annually thereafter. If you owe $30,000 on your auto loan but your vehicle is totaled when it’s worth only $22,000, standard collision coverage pays $22,000 (minus your deductible). You still owe your lender $8,000—and you no longer have a vehicle.

Gap insurance pays this difference, ensuring you’re not stuck making payments on a totaled vehicle while simultaneously financing a replacement.

You Need Gap Insurance If:

• You made less than 20% down payment
• Your loan term exceeds 60 months
• You rolled negative equity from a previous vehicle into your current loan
• You’re leasing (though this is often included in lease agreements)
• Your vehicle depreciates faster than average (luxury vehicles, EVs)

The cost? Usually just $20-40 annually when added to your auto insurance policy. Dealers often charge $500-700 for gap coverage—another reason to work with an independent agent who shops multiple carriers.

Additional Coverages Worth Considering

Rental Reimbursement:

Pays for a rental vehicle (typically $30-50/day) while your car is being repaired after a covered loss. If your vehicle is in the shop for two weeks, this coverage pays for your rental—invaluable if you need a vehicle for work.

Roadside Assistance:

Provides towing, jump starts, flat tire changes, fuel delivery, and lockout service. Usually costs $15-25 annually and pays for itself after a single use. However, if you have AAA or another roadside service, this might be redundant.

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Parts Coverage:

Ensures your vehicle is repaired with manufacturer parts rather than aftermarket alternatives. Important for newer or luxury vehicles where parts quality affects resale value.

How OZK Insurance Helps You Get It Right

As Northwest Arkansas’s proactive independent insurance agency, we don’t just sell you a policy—we build a protection strategy tailored to your specific situation.

Here’s Our Process:

1. Understand Your Situation: We discuss your vehicles, how you use them, your financial position, and your risk tolerance
2. Shop 20+ Carriers: Unlike captive agents tied to one company, we compare offerings from Safeco, Progressive, State Auto, Travelers, Nationwide, and many others
3. Present Real Options: We show you multiple scenarios with different coverage levels and their costs
4. Annual Proactive Reviews: We don’t disappear after the sale. Every renewal, we re-shop your coverage to ensure you’re still getting the best value
5. Claims Advocacy: When you need to file a claim, we’re your advocate with the insurance company

Common Auto Insurance Questions from Arkansas Drivers

Q: Can I drop collision and comprehensive on an older vehicle?

A: It depends on the vehicle’s value. If your car is worth less than $3,000-4,000, paying collision and comprehensive premiums plus deductibles might not make financial sense. However, if you can’t afford to replace that vehicle out of pocket, keeping the coverage provides peace of mind.

Q: Will my rates increase if I file a claim?

A: It depends on the claim type and your history. Comprehensive claims (deer hits, hail damage, theft) typically affect rates less than at-fault collision claims. Many carriers offer accident forgiveness for your first at-fault accident if you’ve been claim-free for several years.

Q: What happens if I drive someone else’s vehicle?

A: Insurance typically “follows the car” in Arkansas. The vehicle owner’s insurance is primary, but your policy may provide secondary coverage. Always confirm coverage before driving someone else’s vehicle.

Q: Do I need insurance on a vehicle I’m storing?

A: If the vehicle isn’t being driven, you can drop liability, collision, and other driving-related coverages. However, keeping comprehensive coverage protects against theft, vandalism, and weather damage while stored. Our customer service team can help you adjust coverage for stored vehicles.

Q: How do tickets and accidents affect my rates?

A: Moving violations typically increase rates by 10-30% depending on severity. At-fault accidents can increase rates by 20-50%. However, rates vary significantly by carrier—one accident that triggers a huge increase with Company A might barely affect your rates with Company B. This is where having an independent agent matters.

The Bottom Line: Coverage That Matches Your Life

Insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. A 22-year-old Rogers resident driving a 2015 Civic needs different coverage than a Bentonville executive with a new luxury SUV and a family to protect. A retiree with minimal driving needs a different policy than someone commuting daily to Little Rock.

That’s why OZK Insurance takes the time to understand your situation before recommending coverage. We’re not incentivized to sell you unnecessary coverage, nor do we cut corners with inadequate protection. Our goal is simple: the right coverage at the right price, backed by carriers you can count on when you need them most.

Working with an independent agency means you’re never locked into one company’s products. As the market changes—and with Arkansas’s volatile insurance market, it changes constantly—we continuously monitor whether you’re getting the best value. If a better option emerges, we proactively reach out to discuss it.

This proactive approach has saved our clients thousands of dollars while improving their protection. It’s why families throughout Rogers, Bentonville, Fayetteville, Springdale, and across Northwest Arkansas trust us with their insurance needs.

Your auto insurance policy is more than just a legal requirement—it’s financial protection for your family. Understanding what you’re buying empowers you to make informed decisions, avoid costly gaps in coverage, and sleep better knowing you’re properly protected.