Updated July 2026
What Is Personal Injury Protection Insurance?
Personal Injury Protection covers your medical expenses, lost income, and sometimes funeral costs after a car accident, regardless of who was at fault. Unlike liability coverage, which pays the other driver's bills when you cause an accident, PIP pays your bills even if you caused the crash. It kicks in immediately after an accident and covers you, your passengers, and sometimes household members injured while riding in your vehicle or as pedestrians.
- You rear-end another car at a stoplight. You break your wrist and miss two weeks of work. The other driver has $8,000 in medical bills. Your liability coverage pays the other driver's $8,000. Your PIP policy pays your $4,200 in medical bills and $1,800 in lost wages. Without PIP, you would pay those costs out of pocket or through your health insurance, which may have higher deductibles.
- A driver runs a red light and T-bones your car. You have $6,500 in emergency room and follow-up care costs. The at-fault driver has minimum liability coverage. Your PIP pays your $6,500 immediately. You can still pursue a claim against the at-fault driver's liability policy, but PIP pays first without waiting for fault determination or the other driver's insurer to process your claim.
- You swerve to avoid debris and hit a guardrail. You suffer a concussion and miss a week of work. No other vehicle is involved. Your liability coverage does not apply because you did not injure anyone else. Your PIP policy pays your $3,200 in medical bills and $900 in lost income. Without PIP, you rely entirely on your health insurance and have no coverage for lost wages.
Who Needs Personal Injury Protection Insurance?
PIP makes sense if you have high-deductible health insurance, no health insurance, or work as a contractor or freelancer without paid sick leave. It also benefits households with multiple drivers or passengers who frequently ride in your vehicle, since PIP covers all occupants regardless of fault. If you want immediate payment for medical bills without waiting for fault determination or the other driver's insurer, PIP delivers that.
Compare your health insurance deductible to the cost of PIP. If your health deductible is $3,000 and PIP costs $180 per year, PIP pays for itself if you have one accident requiring medical care in the next 16 years. If your health deductible is $500 and you have disability insurance, declining PIP and banking the premium savings is often the better financial decision.
How Much Does Personal Injury Protection Insurance Cost?
PIP typically adds $8 to $25 per month to a Nevada auto insurance policy, or $96 to $300 annually, depending on coverage limits and household size.
- Coverage limit selected — Nevada PIP policies range from $10,000 to $50,000 per person, with higher limits increasing premiums proportionally.
- Number of household members covered — policies covering multiple drivers or family members cost more than single-driver policies.
- Deductible chosen — a $500 or $1,000 deductible lowers premiums compared to a zero-deductible policy.
- Coordination with health insurance — policies that pay secondary to health insurance cost less than primary-payer policies.
- Zip code and claim frequency — areas with higher accident rates or medical costs see higher PIP premiums.