---
title: "Delaware PIP Coverage: What Required Personal Injury Protection Pays and How Claims Work"
description: "Delaware requires PIP of at least $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident. See what it pays, who it covers, the two-year window and how claims work."
url: "https://riskado.com/delaware-pip-coverage/"
lang: "en"
published: "2026-01-08"
modified: "2026-01-08"
tags: ["personal-injury-protection","delaware-auto-insurance","no-fault-insurance","car-insurance-claims"]
image: "https://riskado.com/og/blog-delaware-pip-coverage.jpg"
---

# Delaware PIP Coverage: What Required Personal Injury Protection Pays and How Claims Work

Riskado

Jan 8, 2026 · 11 min read

![A car parked outside a small-town Delaware medical office on a clear morning](https://riskado.com/blog/delaware-pip-coverage/featured.jpg)

Delaware requires [personal injury protection](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/personal-injury-protection/), or PIP, on every registered motor vehicle. The minimum is $15,000 for one injured person and $30,000 for all injured people in one accident, under [Delaware Code Title 21, §2118 (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html). PIP pays reasonable and necessary medical, hospital, dental, surgical, medication, x-ray, ambulance, prosthetic, nursing and funeral expenses, plus net lost earnings and the cost of hiring help for tasks you can't do while injured. Covered expenses generally must be incurred within two years of the crash. You don't have to prove who caused the accident before these benefits apply, and any [deductible](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/deductible/) on your PIP must be something you chose in writing.

### Key takeaways

- **Required on every vehicle**Delaware requires personal injury protection (PIP) on every registered motor vehicle.
- **Minimum limits**At least $15,000 for one injured person and $30,000 for all injured people in one accident.
- **What it pays**Reasonable and necessary medical, hospital, dental and related expenses, funeral costs, net lost earnings and the cost of hiring help for tasks you can't do while injured.
- **Time window**Covered expenses generally must be incurred within two years of the crash.
- **Fault**You don't have to prove who caused the accident before these benefits apply.
- **Deductibles**Any deductible on your PIP must be something you chose in writing.

## What does Delaware PIP pay for?

The core of PIP is medical care. [§2118(a)(2) (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html) requires compensation for reasonable and necessary expenses for medical, hospital, dental, surgical, medication, x-ray, ambulance, prosthetic and professional nursing services. If you were taken from the scene by ambulance, treated in an emergency room, prescribed medication and sent to follow-up [appointments](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/insurance-license/), each of those bills falls within a statutory category. The Delaware [Department of Insurance](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/insurance-commissioner/) discusses what "reasonable and necessary" means for PIP expenses in [Personal Injury Protection Bulletin No. 10 (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2017/01/autobull10.pdf), and that phrase is the test a bill has to pass, not simply that it relates to the crash.

PIP also covers funeral services when an injury is fatal. The statute includes customary funeral charges and a burial plot for one person, with funeral compensation capped at $5,000. When an injured person dies, the personal representative of the estate can pursue the benefits.

![A stack of blank envelopes, a pill bottle and a pair of glasses on a kitchen counter](https://riskado.com/blog/delaware-pip-coverage/medical-bills.jpg)

PIP pays reasonable and necessary medical expenses after a crash.

## Does Delaware PIP cover lost wages and replacement services?

Yes. Delaware PIP pays net lost earnings, and the statute specifically includes the net lost earnings of a self-employed person, according to [§2118(a)(2) (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html). If you run your own business, expect to document income with your own records rather than an employer's verification.

PIP also pays extra expenses for personal services you would have performed yourself if you hadn't been hurt. If a back injury keeps you from mowing the lawn, cleaning the house or driving a child to school, and you pay someone to do it, those receipts belong in your [claim](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/claim/).

## What are Delaware's PIP limits?

The required minimum is $15,000 for any one person and $30,000 for all people injured in one accident. These are aggregate [limits](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/limit-of-liability/) across the covered categories in [§2118(a)(2)a (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html). Medical bills, lost earnings, replacement services and funeral costs all draw from the same $15,000 for each person, and if several people are hurt in one car, the per-accident total caps what the policy pays for all of them together. The Delaware Department of Insurance confirms the $15,000/$30,000 minimum in [Bulletin No. 25 (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/10/autobull25-revised.pdf).

You can buy more than the minimum. Delaware permits policies broader than the statutory requirement, but the law does not set one schedule of higher limits for every insurer. Available amounts depend on the insurer's approved filings, so ask your agent which PIP limits the company offers and what each costs.

Delaware PIP figures at a glance

Hover or tap a row to highlight it.

| Item | Figure or rule | Where it is set |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Required PIP limit, one person | $15,000 | [Delaware Code Title 21, §2118 (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html) |
| Required PIP limit, one accident | $30,000 | [Delaware Code Title 21, §2118 (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html) |
| Funeral-services cap | $5,000 | [Delaware Code Title 21, §2118 (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html) |
| Ordinary PIP period | 2 years from the accident | [Delaware Code Title 21, §2118 (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html) |
| Late presentation window for qualifying expenses | 90 days after the two-year period | [Delaware Code Title 21, §2118 (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html) |
| Insurer claim-form deadline | 10 days after written notice of an initial claim | [Delaware Code Title 21, §2118B (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html) |
| Insurer payment or written-denial deadline | 30 days after a written request and documentation | [Delaware Code Title 21, §2118B (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html) |
| Arbitrator fee ceiling | $25 per arbitrator | [Delaware Code Title 21, §2118 (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html) |
| Auto arbitration filing fee | $50 | [Delaware Department of Insurance (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/services/arbitration/) |
| Appeal deadline after an arbitration decision | 30 days | [Delaware Code Title 21, §2118 (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html) |

## Who is covered by Delaware PIP?

[§2118(a)(2)c-e (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html) extends PIP to:

- Each person occupying the insured vehicle, which includes passengers.
- Other people injured in an accident involving the insured vehicle, except occupants of another motor vehicle.
- Pedestrians injured in an accident involving a motor vehicle within Delaware.
- Named insureds and household members injured as pedestrians or while riding in another registered vehicle, in the out-of-state situations described below.

Coverage depends on which vehicle you were in, where you live, where the crash happened and whether the policy was in force. If you were a passenger, the vehicle's policy is usually the first place to look, but confirm with the insurer how it applies to your situation.

## How long does Delaware PIP pay?

The ordinary benefit period is two years from the date of the accident under [§2118(a)(2)h-i (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html). Expenses should be submitted to the insurer as promptly as practical and no later than two years after you receive them. If an expense was incurred within the two-year period but couldn't practically be presented during it, the insurer may pay it if you present it within 90 days after the two-year period ends.

There is one narrow extension. If a qualified medical practitioner verifies in writing, within two years, that a surgical or dental procedure is necessary and medically ascertainable but impractical or impossible to perform during that period, the procedure and related treatment may still be paid. Lost earnings tied to that later procedure are limited to the time reasonably needed to recover and no more than 90 days. If you expect a delayed surgery, get that written verification before the two years run out.

![A wall calendar with blank pages beside a window in a quiet home office](https://riskado.com/blog/delaware-pip-coverage/benefit-period.jpg)

Covered expenses generally must be incurred within two years of the crash.

## Can a Delaware PIP policy have a deductible?

It can, but only by your choice. Under [§2118(a)(2)f (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html), a vehicle owner may elect PIP subject to deductibles, waiting periods, sublimits, percentage reductions, excess provisions and similar reductions that insurers offer through filings with the Department of Insurance. These elective reductions apply to expenses from injuries to the owner and household members. Motorcycle owners have an additional election concerning certain injuries to riders.

The paperwork matters. The deductible or other reduction must be elected in writing and signed by the owner. You must receive a separate written explanation of deductible options and sign an acknowledgment, and you must sign a separate statement identifying the deductible you chose and its cost. An insurer cannot require you to take a reduction. The Department's [Form A (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/05/603-amended-2017-Form-A.pdf) shows how the deductible or no-deductible election appears on a policy form. If you don't remember signing anything, ask your agent for a copy of your election.

## Does Delaware PIP cover accidents outside Delaware?

For named insureds and household members, yes, in specified situations. Under [§2118(a)(2)d (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html), Delaware PIP applies when you are hurt in an accident involving a vehicle other than a Delaware-insured vehicle while walking as a pedestrian or while riding in another registered vehicle. That protection reaches throughout the United States, its territories and possessions, and Canada.

Passengers who don't live in Delaware are treated differently. Under [§2118(a)(2)g (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html), when a non-Delaware resident passenger is injured outside Delaware, Delaware PIP is excess over similar insurance available to that passenger, so the passenger's own coverage pays first.

## Is Delaware a no-fault state?

The NAIC classifies Delaware as a no-fault state in its [2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report (opens in a new tab)](https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-aut-pb-auto-insurance-database.pdf), Table 40. In practice, that means PIP pays your covered economic losses without first deciding who caused the crash.

Delaware's version does not close the door on lawsuits. Under [§2118(h) (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html), a person eligible for PIP generally cannot plead or introduce, in an action against the at-fault driver, the damages for which PIP compensation is available. That restriction applies regardless of any elective deductible and whether the benefits are actually recovered. Claims for losses beyond what PIP covers are a separate matter, and whether a particular claim makes sense is a question for a Delaware attorney.

Under [§2118(g) (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html), the insurer that pays PIP benefits is subrogated to your rights to the extent of what it paid, which means it may seek reimbursement from the responsible party. The insurer cannot be joined in your own action against the at-fault driver.

![Two cars stopped at a quiet Delaware intersection after a minor fender bender](https://riskado.com/blog/delaware-pip-coverage/no-fault.jpg)

PIP pays covered losses without first deciding who caused the crash.

## How does PIP coordinate with workers' compensation and health insurance?

Workers' compensation is addressed directly. Under [§2118(f-g) (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html), a PIP policy cannot exclude a person because the injury is covered, or required to be covered, under workers' compensation law. The PIP insurer is subrogated to your rights, including workers' compensation claims, to the extent of benefits it provided, and the workers' compensation insurer may have to reimburse the PIP insurer for payments it was obligated to make.

Health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid are less settled by the statute alone. Policy language, federal program rules and how your providers bill can all affect which payer goes first. Before bills pile up, ask your auto insurer, your health plan and, if they apply, your Medicare, Medicaid or workers' compensation administrator which payer should receive each bill and how reimbursement will be handled.

## How do you file a Delaware PIP claim?

Delaware sets clear deadlines for the insurer once you start in writing. Under [§2118B (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html), the insurer must send you a claim form within 10 days after receiving written notice that you want to file an initial PIP claim. After it receives a written payment request and documentation showing the expense is compensable, it must pay the benefits due or give you a written explanation of a denial within 30 days.

A workable sequence looks like this:

1.  Notify the insurer in writing that you are making an initial PIP claim.
2.  Complete the claim form the insurer sends.
3.  Submit medical records, itemized bills and provider information.
4.  Submit wage documentation, such as employer verification or, if self-employed, your business income records.
5.  Submit receipts for extra personal-service expenses.
6.  For funeral benefits, submit itemized funeral charges and burial-plot documentation.
7.  Keep copies of everything, with delivery confirmations and every insurer response.
8.  Ask for a written explanation of any full or partial denial.

Our guide on [how to file a car insurance claim](https://riskado.com/how-to-file-a-car-insurance-claim/) covers the broader claim process, including property damage.

## What happens if a PIP claim is denied or delayed?

Start with the insurer, then use the state's options. The [Delaware Department of Insurance (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/services/filecomplaint/) accepts consumer complaints and asks that you contact the insurer first.

For covered PIP claims, [§2118(j) (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html) requires every policy to offer optional arbitration when the claimant requests it. The request must be in writing and mailed to the Insurance Commissioner. The Commissioner or a nominee selects three arbitrators from a panel of attorneys and licensed insurance adjusters, with at least one Delaware attorney on the panel. Arbitrator fees are capped at $25 per arbitrator. The losing party may appeal de novo to Superior Court by filing notice within 30 days of the decision.

According to the [Department of Insurance arbitration page (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/services/arbitration/), auto arbitration carries a $50 filing fee and is available after informal efforts have failed. Under [Regulation 901 (opens in a new tab)](https://archive.regulations.delaware.gov/register/july2010/final/14%20DE%20Reg%2044%2007-01-10.htm), the petition must include supporting documents and the fee, and the insurer generally has 20 business days to respond. The Department's [automobile arbitration request form (opens in a new tab)](https://insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2023/08/Auto-Request2.pdf) covers medical expenses, lost wages, death benefits and substitute or replacement expenses, and requires a hard copy of supporting documentation plus service on the other party.

### From a denied PIP claim to arbitration

1.  Contact the insurerAsk for a written explanation of any full or partial denial; the Department of Insurance asks that you contact the insurer first.
2.  File a complaintThe Delaware Department of Insurance accepts consumer complaints.
3.  Request arbitrationMail a written request to the Insurance Commissioner with supporting documents and the $50 filing fee.
4.  Insurer respondsThe insurer generally has 20 business days to respond.
5.  Panel decidesThree arbitrators drawn from attorneys and licensed insurance adjusters, with at least one Delaware attorney, decide the claim.
6.  Appeal if neededThe losing party may appeal de novo to Superior Court within 30 days of the decision.

## What happens if your Delaware auto insurance lapses?

[A lapse in required coverage](https://riskado.com/delaware-driving-without-insurance/) affects your registration. Under [§2118(m-n) (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html), the Delaware DMV may suspend the registration until insurance is restored, proof is submitted and the fee is paid, and may require you to surrender the registration and plates. The uninsured fee is $100 per vehicle for the first 30 days, plus $5 per day starting on day 31, and reinstatement costs $50, according to the [Delaware DMV insurance FAQ (opens in a new tab)](https://services.dmv.de.gov/VehicleServices/faqs/index.shtml?dc=ve_faqs_insurance). For the full list of required coverages, see [Delaware car insurance requirements](https://riskado.com/delaware-car-insurance-requirements/).

![A parked car in a residential driveway with the license plate area out of view](https://riskado.com/blog/delaware-pip-coverage/registration.jpg)

A lapse in required coverage can lead to a suspended registration.

## Questions to ask your agent about PIP

Your declarations page and your signed elections answer most PIP questions, and an agent can walk you through both. Useful questions include:

- What PIP limit is on my declarations page, the $15,000/$30,000 minimum or more?
- What higher limits and deductible options does this insurer offer, and what does each cost?
- Does my deductible apply to me, household members, passengers or everyone?
- Are there waiting periods, sublimits, percentage reductions or excess provisions?
- How does the policy apply if I'm hurt as a pedestrian, a passenger or outside Delaware?
- How should I give written claim notice, and what documents do you need for wages, replacement services and funeral costs?
- How does this policy coordinate with workers' compensation and my health plan?
- Can you send my deductible election in writing?

If you're deciding how much PIP to carry, [is personal injury protection worth it](https://riskado.com/is-personal-injury-protection-worth-it/) lays out the tradeoffs. To find an agency near you, [Riskado's directory](https://riskado.com/agencies/delaware/) lists insurance agencies across the US, including Delaware, by city and by category.

**Quiz: Check what you know about Delaware PIP**

1. What is Delaware's minimum PIP limit for one injured person?
   - $5,000
   - $15,000 **(correct answer)**
   - $30,000
2. How long is the ordinary PIP benefit period?
   - Six months from the accident
   - Two years from the accident **(correct answer)**
   - Five years from the accident
3. What must the insurer send within 10 days after written notice of an initial PIP claim?
   - A claim form **(correct answer)**
   - A payment
   - An arbitration request
4. What is the cap on funeral compensation under Delaware PIP?
   - $2,500
   - $5,000 **(correct answer)**
   - $15,000
5. Can an insurer require you to take a PIP deductible?
   - Yes, every policy carries one
   - No, a deductible must be elected in writing by the owner **(correct answer)**
   - Only for motorcycle owners

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Delaware PIP shared among everyone hurt in my car?

Each injured person can receive up to the per-person limit, $15,000 at the minimum. All payments for one accident are capped by the per-accident limit, $30,000 at the minimum, under [§2118(a)(2)b (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html).

### Can I submit a bill after the two years are up?

Possibly. An expense incurred within the two-year period that was impractical to present during it may be paid if you present it within 90 days after the period ends.

### Does Delaware PIP cover a crash in Canada?

For named insureds and household members injured as pedestrians or while riding in another registered vehicle, the out-of-state protection extends to the United States, its territories and possessions, and Canada.

### Can I appeal an arbitration decision?

Yes. The losing party may appeal de novo to Delaware Superior Court by filing notice within 30 days of the decision, under [§2118(j) (opens in a new tab)](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc01/index.html).

### Which other states require PIP?

The [NAIC's 2022/2023 report (opens in a new tab)](https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-aut-pb-auto-insurance-database.pdf) lists compulsory PIP for 2022 in Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, [Maryland](https://riskado.com/maryland-pip-waiver/), Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, [New Jersey](https://riskado.com/new-jersey-pip-coverage/), New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah and Washington. Texas requires PIP unless the insured rejects it in writing. For a comparison, see [New York no-fault insurance](https://riskado.com/new-york-no-fault-insurance/), which follows New York's own rules.

## The short version

Delaware PIP pays your injury costs, lost earnings and replacement services up to at least $15,000 per person, for expenses incurred within two years, without waiting on a fault decision. Put your claim notice in writing, keep copies of every bill and response, and if the insurer denies or stalls, the Department of Insurance complaint and arbitration processes are available.

### Terms used in this guide

Tap a term to see what it means.

**Personal injury protection (PIP).** Required Delaware auto coverage that pays injury costs, lost earnings and replacement services without first deciding who caused the crash.

## More articles

- [New York No-Fault Insurance: What It Pays, What It Does Not, and How to File a Claim](https://riskado.com/new-york-no-fault-insurance/): New York no-fault insurance pays up to $50,000 per person for accident-related losses, whatever the fault. See what it covers, the deadlines and how to file.

- [Can You Waive PIP in Maryland? What Personal Injury Protection Pays and How the Written Waiver Works](https://riskado.com/maryland-pip-waiver/): Maryland requires at least $2,500 of PIP unless the first named insured signs a written waiver. See what PIP pays, who a waiver binds and how to undo it.

- [DC No-Fault Insurance: How the District's Choice System Works After a Crash](https://riskado.com/dc-no-fault-insurance/): DC insurers must offer PIP, but it is optional. A crash victim has 60 days to elect PIP, which pays medical, work-loss and funeral costs regardless of fault.

- [Florida Car Insurance Requirements: PIP and Property Damage Minimums, When Bodily Injury Liability Is Required, Proof of Insurance and What Full Coverage Means](https://riskado.com/florida-car-insurance-requirements/): Florida requires $10,000 PIP and $10,000 property damage liability on registered cars. See when bodily injury liability applies, proof rules and lapse fees.

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