Policy Limits Search: How to Find the Other Driver's Coverage

A policy limits search is how you or your lawyer find out the most the at-fault driver's insurance will pay. It matters because a settlement rarely goes above the limit: if the driver carries $25,000 per person and your bills are $60,000, the insurer's check usually tops out at $25,000. Insurers don't always share the number on request, but some state laws require it, and in a lawsuit it has to be disclosed.

Auto liability limits are written as three numbers:

Limit written as 25/50/25	What it means
25	Up to $25,000 for injuries to one person
50	Up to $50,000 for all injuries in one crash
25	Up to $25,000 for property damage in one crash

The numbers are an example. Each state sets a minimum, many drivers carry more, and some have an umbrella policy on top.

Ways to find the limits

Method	When it works	Limits of the method
Ask the insurer in writing	Some insurers answer, especially with medical records attached	Many decline without the driver's consent
Ask the driver	Sometimes the driver agrees, to avoid being sued personally	Drivers often don't know their limits
A state disclosure law	In states that require insurers to disclose on request	Only some states, each with its own rules
Discovery after filing a lawsuit	Always, once the case is filed	Costs time and money to get there
Asset search on the driver	To see if suing above the limit makes sense	Doesn't show insurance; shows what else is there

When an insurer has to tell you

Florida is one example of a disclosure law. On a claimant's written request, a liability insurer must give a sworn statement within 30 days with the insurer's name, each insured, the liability limits, any coverage defense it believes it has, and a copy of the policy (Fla. Stat. § 627.4137(1)). We checked the section on November 7, 2026. Other states have their own rules, and many have none.

In federal court, each side must share at the start of the case any insurance agreement that may pay all or part of a judgment, without waiting for a request (Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(1)(A)(iv)). State courts have similar discovery rules.

When the limit is lower than your losses

If your losses are more than the at-fault driver's coverage, look at:

• Your own underinsured motorist coverage. It can pay the gap up to your own limit. Read your policy for the notice and consent rules before you settle with the other driver.
• Other policies. An umbrella policy, the car owner's policy if someone else was driving, or an employer's policy if the driver was working.
• The driver personally. Possible in theory, but many people don't have assets to collect from.

Questions to ask your lawyer

1. Have you confirmed the at-fault driver's limits in writing?
2. Is there an umbrella or employer policy?
3. Do I have underinsured coverage, and what do I need to do before settling?
4. If the offer is the full limit, is there any reason not to take it?