Auto Insurance Claims in Tennessee: Guide

Tennessee Car Insurance Claims: Deadlines, Limits & Your Rights

Tennessee is an at-fault (tort) state that follows modified comparative negligence (50% bar), with minimum liability limits of 25/50/15 ($25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident / $15,000 property damage). Tennessee follows modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar. If your fault reaches 50% or more, you cannot recover. Minimum coverage is 25/50/15.

How fault works in Tennessee

Tennessee is an at-fault (tort) insurance state, which means the driver who caused the crash is liable for the damages. You can pursue the at-fault driver's insurer directly (a third-party claim), file with your own insurer and let them recover from the other side through subrogation, or sue the at-fault driver.

You can recover only if you were less than 50% at fault. Reach 50% and your recovery drops to zero, so in Tennessee the difference between a 49% and a 50% fault finding is the difference between a payout and nothing.

Filing deadlines (statute of limitations)

Miss the deadline and you permanently lose the right to sue — adjusters know this and may run out the clock, so calendar these dates the week of your crash:

Statutory basis: One-year statute (among the shortest in the US). Tenn. Code 28-3-104. Three-year statute. Tenn. Code 28-3-105.

Minimum coverage required in Tennessee

Every Tennessee driver must carry at least:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $15,000 property damage liability
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is not required in Tennessee — but it's worth adding, since it pays when the at-fault driver has no insurance.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is not required in Tennessee.

These are legal minimums, not recommendations; they often fall short of the cost of a serious crash.

Know your rights when dealing with adjusters in Tennessee

Tennessee is a one-party consent state, so you may legally record your own calls with an adjuster as long as you are part of the conversation — useful for keeping an accurate record of what the insurer promised.

Tennessee gives you both a common-law bad-faith claim and a statutory unfair-claims-practices remedy, which is strong leverage when an insurer drags out or underpays a legitimate claim.

How to file your Tennessee claim, step by step

1. Make the scene safe and call 911. Get to safety, check for injuries, and report the crash. A police report is one of the strongest pieces of evidence you can have.
2. Document everything. Photograph all vehicles, the road, signage, and visible injuries; collect the other driver's insurance and license details and any witness contacts.
3. Get medical care promptly. See a doctor even if you feel fine — gaps in treatment are the first thing insurers use to argue your injuries aren't serious.
4. Notify your insurer. Report the crash quickly to satisfy your policy's notice rules, but stick to the facts and avoid speculating about fault.
5. File and track the claim. Submit your claim, keep a written log of every call, and don't accept the first offer without checking it against your actual damages.

Where to get help in Tennessee

If an insurer won't deal fairly, your regulator is Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. You can file a complaint at https://www.tn.gov/commerce/insurance/consumer-resources/file-a-complaint.html. General information: https://www.tn.gov/commerce/insurance.html.

Key takeaways for Tennessee

• Tennessee is an at-fault (tort) state using modified comparative negligence (50% bar).
• You generally have 1 years to sue for injuries and 3 years for property damage.
• Minimum liability limits are 25/50/15.
• UM/UIM is optional but recommended. PIP is not required.
• Your regulator for complaints is Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.

Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change — confirm current rules with Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance or an attorney licensed in Tennessee. Last reviewed June 2026 · InsurifyAI Knowledge Hub.