What 50/100 and 100/300 liability limits actually mean
A plain walkthrough of common US auto bodily injury split limits—and why the second number can run out faster than you expect.
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Those two numbers on your quote aren’t a score. They’re caps: how much the policy can pay per injured person, and how much it can pay for the whole crash. Here’s how to read them without the jargon fog.
Educational only. Not a recommendation to buy a specific limit.
The three numbers (when PD is included)
Quotes often show something like 100/300/100:
- Per-person BI — max for one injured person
- Per-accident BI — max for all injured people combined in that crash
- Property damage — max for others’ property (sometimes listed separately)
If a quote only shows two numbers, ask which is BI and whether PD is separate.
50/100 vs 100/300 in plain English
| 50/100 | 100/300 | |
|---|---|---|
| Per person (typical) | $50,000 | $100,000 |
| Per accident (typical) | $100,000 | $300,000 |
| Room for multiple claimants | Smaller pool | Larger pool |
| Premium | Usually lower | Usually higher |
A single severe injury can approach or exceed $50,000 in medical costs alone. Multiple injured people can exhaust a $100,000 per-accident cap even when each person’s bills are “only” in the tens of thousands.
Visualize the drain
Limits are shared across claimants. Watch a scenario play out:
Interactive tool
Liability waterfall
Driver A injuries
Claimed
$75,000
Policy pays
$50,000
Uncovered (you)
$25,000
Passenger injuries
Claimed
$45,000
Policy pays
$45,000
Uncovered (you)
$0
Property / other
Claimed
$18,000
Policy pays
$5,000
Uncovered (you)
$13,000
Hard truth from this scenario
$38,000 uncovered
Policy pays $100,000 of $138,000 claimed. Per-person caps and the per-accident bucket both bite—this is why “state minimum” is not a risk plan.
Claimed dollars: paid vs uncovered
- Policy pays$100,000
- Uncovered (you)$38,000
Driver
Paid $50,000
Passenger
Paid $45,000
Property
Paid $5,000
Full page: Liability waterfall simulator
How to compare two quotes fairly
Premiums lie when coverages differ. If Quote A is 50/100 and Quote B is 100/300, you are not comparing the same product.
- Align BI and PD limits
- Align deductibles and comp/collision
- Align UM/UIM and extras
- Then compare price
Combined single limit (CSL) note
Some policies use one combined single limit instead of split caps. A CSL can behave differently in multi-claimant crashes. If one quote is split and one is CSL, ask the agent to translate both into the same story.
Decision checklist
- Circle the BI numbers on each quote
- Ask what happens with two injured passengers in the other car
- Run waterfall with your candidate limits
- Only then decide whether the premium delta is worth it
Related
- How much auto liability do I need?
- Bodily injury liability coverage
- State minimum liability is not enough
Disclaimer
PolicyPlain is educational. Limits, forms, and prices vary. Consult a licensed professional and read your policy.
Frequently asked questions
What does 100/300 mean?+
In many US auto policies it means up to $100,000 bodily injury per person and $300,000 per accident (plus a separate property damage number). Confirm on your declarations page.
Is 100/300 always better than 50/100?+
Higher limits usually buy more protection for others’ injuries when you are at fault, but premiums rise and the right choice depends on budget, assets, and risk—not a universal rule.
Do both numbers apply at once?+
Per-person and per-accident caps interact. Multiple injured people can hit the per-accident ceiling even if no single person reaches the per-person cap.