Nebraska Car Insurance Guide (Cost + Coverage)

When most people think of Nebraska they think of corn, but the state has given so much more to our country than just a tasty side dish. The 911 system was created and developed in Nebraska, along with center pivot irrigation and Kool-Aid, proving that some truly amazing things have come from the Cornhusker State.

Nebraska is also home to mandatory vehicle insurance laws, so you are required by law to maintain minimum liability coverage on your vehicle at all times. Although it is clearly a necessity, searching for insurance can be difficult. It is time-consuming to call multiple companies to compare quotes on auto insurance, but luckily, there are other options.

If you need to compare rates for your auto insurance, simply enter your zip code now to find a quote.

Nebraska Car Insurance Coverage & Rates

One of the good things about insurance in Nebraska is that the state’s average premium of $831.02 is significantly lower than the national average premium of $1,009.38.

Nebraska’s Car Culture

People in Nebraska love their cars. Nebraska was the first state in the union to finish its section of the interstate, and they have even built an homage to Stonehenge made completely out of cars.

Even though people in Nebraska love their cars, they don’t spend as much time in them as others in the nation. Nebraska has an average commute time of 17.6 minutes, which is almost nine minutes lower than the national average of 25.5 minutes.

Nebraska Minimum Coverage

Like the large majority of the nation, Nebraska is an at-fault state. This means the driver who is at-fault for an accident is financially responsible for any damages caused, including both property damage and bodily injury. This is where your liability coverage comes into play.

In Nebraska, all drivers are required to carry minimum liability coverage. The minimum liability coverage levels in the state are:

• Property Damage – $25,000
• Bodily Injury – $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist – $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident

Nebraska sometimes refers to uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage as hit-and-run insurance. This is the coverage that helps you when someone without insurance hits your car, causing property damage or bodily injury, and is unable to pay for the damages.

While insurance is required by law, almost 8 percent of Nebraska residents don’t have insurance coverage on their vehicles.

This means you need to protect yourself in the event of a catastrophe, which is why the law requires you to have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage as part of your insurance policy.

Forms of Financial Responsibility

Whether you print ID cards at home or use your phone to access your insurance policy electronically, the state of Nebraska requires you to carry some form of proof of financial responsibility.

An insurance policy isn’t the only way to cover your legal requirements. You can have a surety bond, a certificate of self-insurance, a cash bond, or an insurance policy, but no matter what option you choose, you will be required to provide proof you are adequately covered.

Many insurance companies offer their customers the option to access their proof of coverage electronically through their smartphones, so be sure to check with your provider to see if they give you that option.

Premiums as a Percentage of Income

Many different factors impact your insurance premiums. Everything from your age to your driving record to your zip code can have a big effect on your rates. This makes determining your premium as a percentage of your income difficult.

Both teens and adults with poor driving records could be spending 30 percent or more of their income on their coverage, whereas someone in their late 30s with an excellent driving record might be spending less than 5 percent of their income on car insurance premiums.

To determine what percentage of your income is spent on car insurance, take the amount of your premium divided by your income (either gross or net) then multiply by 100.

For example, if a single, 25-year-old woman is earning $39,960 and paying $6,671.15 for insurance each year, she spends 16.69 percent of her gross income on her car insurance each year.

As she gets older, her insurance rates will change, but other factors such, as her zip code and credit history, will also impact her rates, which means she may not be able to predict whether her rates will go up or down over time.

You can use our calculator below to determine the percentage of income you are spending on your car insurance.

Core Coverage

While liability coverage is required in Nebraska, there is a lot more to insurance than just liability. Insurance is about protecting all of your financial interests, so you may want to consider purchasing some or all of these coverages as well:

• Liability – Liability insurance protects your financial welfare by paying for damages to the other driver’s vehicle if you are at fault in an accident. It also covers medical bills in the event of injuries caused in an accident where you were at fault.
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage – Uninsured motorist coverage, often referred to as UM, is mandatory in Nebraska. Sometimes called hit-and-run coverage, it covers you if you are in an accident where an uninsured driver was at fault. It matches your liability levels, so if you want extra UM coverage you need to increase your liability levels to match.
• Collision – Collision insurance protects you financially by paying for damages to your vehicle if you are at fault in an accident, whether you hit a stationary object or someone else’s vehicle. Sometimes lenders require you to have collision coverage if you are paying off a car loan, so keep that in mind when choosing your coverages.
• Comprehensive – Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car that isn’t caused by an accident. Some things that might be covered under a comprehensive policy include weather-related damage, vandalism, and theft.

Each insurance company can have their own guidelines as to what is and is not covered under your comprehensive and collision policies, so make sure you do your research when choosing an insurance provider.

Additional Liability

When it comes to additional liability coverage you will want to consider Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Despite the fact that some states require PIP coverage as part of a basic liability plan, Nebraska does not have that requirement.

Where uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) takes the place of the liability insurance the other person should have (or should have more of, depending on the situation), PIP is different because it applies no matter who was at fault in the accident.

PIP is usually a smaller amount of coverage, often as low as $2,000, provided to cover your most basic needs if you have to go to the doctor or hospital due to an injury during the accident.

But PIP is about your medical needs. What about the needs of the people in the other car if you are at fault in an accident?

While the state minimum might be $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage, that is the minimum, not the maximum, for your liability coverage. You can always increase your liability levels, and most people should give some serious thought to carrying more than the state minimum.

You can choose to purchase more than the legal minimum of insurance. Most companies offer higher coverage levels, typically $100,000 in property damage and $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident bodily injury, for which you will pay a higher monthly premium.

If you are lucky, in an at-fault accident the damage you cause will be minimal and nobody will get hurt. But what if you aren’t so lucky?

You could hit someone in a pricey, newer model vehicle. They might have three passengers in the car, all of whom need medical attention. A mother of three could easily have all of her children in the car, so keep that in mind when looking at that $50,000 bodily injury cap.

If your insurance only covers $25,000 for property damage and $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury, you may still be required to pay for any damages beyond what your insurance policy covers, so choose your coverage levels carefully.

When you are choosing a policy, you should consider the loss ratio of the company, as well. The loss ratio is the amount paid out in claims by a company versus the amount of premium taken in by the company.

According to the NAIC, a loss ratio in the 60s or 70s is appropriate — it means they aren’t charging too much premium and they are regularly paying out claims to their customers. Below, you can see the average loss ratios for companies in Nebraska.

Add-Ons, Endorsements, & Riders

Just because you have all of the basic core coverages and higher-than-average levels of liability coverage doesn’t mean you won’t need other coverage. There are other types of coverage available you may need to keep yourself on solid financial ground.

• Umbrella Policy – If you don’t think that $100,000/$300,000 in bodily injury and $100,000 in property damage would be enough to protect your assets in a serious accident, you may want to consider an umbrella policy. Umbrella policies provide a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability coverage that kicks in once the underlying policy has exhausted its limits.
• Rental Reimbursement – Rental reimbursement covers the cost of a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired because of an insured loss. For example, if you woke up one day and found your car had been vandalized comprehensive insurance would cover the cost to repair it, but rental reimbursement coverage would pay for the cost of a rental car covered during repairs.
• Roadside Assistance – If you find yourself in need of a tow truck or basic repair on the side of the road, roadside assistance coverage would help cover the cost of those services.
• GAP Insurance – GAP insurance covers the gap between what your insurance policy pays and the amount still owed for the car. GAP insurance can help prevent you from being forced to make payments on a totaled vehicle, but the type of GAP coverage available varies widely from company to company and state to state, so research carefully before buying.
• Non-Owner Insurance – If you don’t own your own car but you still drive semi-regularly, you might need a non-owner insurance plan to provide you with third party liability coverage so you are financially protected.
• Classic Car Insurance – The value of a classic or vintage car is worth more than normal depreciation. If you have a classic car you will need classic car insurance to make sure your vehicle is protected at its full value.
• Usage-Based/Pay-As-You-Drive Insurance – A device can be installed in your car or an app installed on your phone that records your driving information (speed, mileage, etc.) and reports it to your insurance company who offer you discounts based on your driving record. This has the potential for serious negative side effects though, so consider carefully before signing up.

Male vs. Female Rates

While some states are now making it illegal for insurance companies to rate people based on their gender, Nebraska is not one of them. Your gender can and will impact your insurance premium, though the difference in premium in Nebraska between genders is not nearly as extreme as it is in other states.

While your age, gender, and marital status all impact your rates, there is still a significant difference in price from company to company, which means it is in your best interest to receive multiple quotes before purchasing a policy. Shopping around for insurance could save you hundreds of dollars per year.

In the tables above, the rates are determined by actual purchased coverage by drivers in Nebraska. It also includes rates for high-risk drivers and drivers who choose to carry higher-than-minimum levels of coverage, so these numbers may be higher than normal in your situation.

Cheapest Rates by Zip Code

Your zip code is a determining factor in your insurance rates. Everything from the number of accidents to the number of cars stolen in a particular zip code goes into determining the rates for an area, which means that moving a block or two could dramatically change your annual premiums if it puts you in a different zip code.

Next, the cheapest zip codes.

Cheapest Rates by City

Just like your zip code, your city of residence can have a big impact on your insurance rates. Crime rates, street parking, and other variables in your town can impact the insurance rates for your city.

Melbeta is the most expensive city in Nebraska.

Best Nebraska Car Insurance Companies

Determining which Nebraska car insurance company is the best for you can be difficult. Some insurance companies offer a wider variety of options, others provide more robust coverage, while others might be the most affordable option. How do you decide which is right for you?

It can be useful to have a surplus of data when choosing which insurance company should protect you and your vehicle. Below are a few of the points you might want to reference when making a decision. Read on to learn more:

The Largest Companies’ Financial Rating

One way you can determine the stability level of an insurance company is by its financial rating. Companies like A.M. Best rate each company based on their financial stability — whether they have the financial assets needed to pay out claims over the course of the year.

This shouldn’t be your only determining factor, however. After all, just because a company has excellent financial ratings doesn’t mean their customers are happy with their service.

It also doesn’t mean their rates are better (or worse) than any other company, so this is just one of many things to consider when choosing an insurance company.

Companies with Best Ratings

Geico, State Farm, and USAA are the companies with the highest A.M. Best ratings in Nebraska, but all of the insurance companies included in the table above scored very highly on the A.M. Best scale.

Companies with an A rating or above are typically very financially stable, making them an excellent choice for anyone who may need to file a claim in the future. A company’s financial rating isn’t the only thing you should consider but is just one of the many pieces of information you should think about when choosing an insurance provider.

Companies with the Most Complaints in Nebraska

In every state across the country, consumers are encouraged to report complaints regarding their insurance companies to the Attorney General’s office. But how do you know if your problem warrants filing an official claim?

The NAIC can help guide you through the process. They have apps for both Android and iPhone that can walk you through the steps to take after an accident, including reporting an issue to the state if necessary.

When in doubt, you can always contact the Attorney General’s office at 402-471-2683 and ask for clarification. You can also find their email, fax, and mailing address on the Attorney General’s website.

Cheapest Companies in Nebraska

These are the largest companies in Nebraska and their annual rates:

While the price is important, it is only one of the many factors you should consider when choosing a plan. You will want to be sure any policy you choose has the benefits you need, so check each policy carefully before you accept it.

Also, keep in mind that not every policy is available to every person. USAA, for example, is an insurance company only available to members of the U.S. military and their families, which means not everyone can sign up through USAA, even though they typically have the lowest prices.

Commute Rates by Companies

Your commute is an important factor when determining your insurance rates. Often, companies break up their commute rates into categories, such as 10-mile commute/6,000 annual mileage or 25-mile commute/12,000 annual mileage.

The more time you spend driving each day, the more likely you are to file a claim; therefore, you will pay a higher premium for your policy.

Whether the claim is as serious as a car accident or something smaller, such as a windshield replacement, increased drive time will expose you to more situations that might damage your vehicle.

The general rates based on your commute time and distance are listed on the chart below:

Coverage Level Rates by Companies

Because there are so many options to choose from when selecting an insurance plan, the price of your insurance can vary wildly depending on which coverages you choose.

Your individual situation has a big impact on your insurance prices. Driving a five-year-old Honda? Your comprehensive and collision coverage will probably be much cheaper than if you were driving a brand new Audi.

Take a look at the chart below to see how your choice of coverage can impact your rates at each company.

Credit History Rates by Companies

Though most people wouldn’t think they would be connected, one of the things that can impact your rates is your credit history.

Statistics show that people with lower credit scores tend to file more claims, which means a low credit score can raise your rates, or possibly even cause you to be denied coverage, depending on the circumstances.

Take a look at the chart below to see how your credit history can impact your insurance rates.

If your credit rating is low, that doesn’t mean all hope is lost. You can still comparison shop between companies, potentially saving yourself hundreds of dollars a year. You can also work to improve your credit rating to help lower your insurance costs.

Driving Record Rates by Companies

It may seem obvious, but don’t forget that your driving record can have a significant impact on your insurance premiums.

While a speeding ticket or a fender bender may only cost you a hundred dollars or so initially, the infraction will be reported to your insurance company and will probably cause a rate increase, so keep that in mind when you are zooming through that school zone.

Speeding tickets and other minor offenses may seem forgettable in the moment, but they will show up on your insurance premiums in the future. Obeying traffic laws and avoiding citations is an effective way to keep your insurance costs low.

Largest Car Insurance Companies in Nebraska

While size isn’t necessarily an important factor, choosing a larger, well-known company with offices all over your state can be a good way to know you’ll be able to find someone to help you if you have a claim to file someday.

Recommendations from other customers are easier to find with larger companies. After all, the larger a company’s customer base, the more people there are who can make a recommendation.

Take a look at the table below to see some of the largest insurance companies in Nebraska and their rates.

Number of Insurers in Nebraska

Nebraska has 34 domestic insurance companies, meaning these companies not only do business in Nebraska but have their headquarters in the state, as well.

There are 867 foreign insurance companies doing business in Nebraska. This doesn’t mean they are headquartered in another country, however, just that their headquarters are in a different state.

These numbers don’t include alternative insurance options, such as people who are self-insured or people who are insured through a charter program.

Nebraska Laws

Each state has its own insurance and driving laws, rules, and regulations. What is perfectly normal in one state might be illegal in another, while something illegal in Nebraska could be acceptable somewhere else, so don’t assume that just because you know the law in Texas you won’t break the law in Nebraska.

Car Insurance Laws

Like all other laws, car insurance laws are changed or updated all the time. It is important to keep yourself up to date on the laws as they pertain to your car insurance to make sure you know what is required of you as a consumer and a driver.

For example, In Nebraska it is possible for someone with multiple DUI convictions to have their license revoked for 15 years. The state has recently passed a law that allows someone who has had their license revoked to appeal to the Board of Pardons for a reprieve.

If the reprieve is granted, the driver may be given permission to drive again as long as their vehicle is fitted with an ignition interlock device to prevent it from being used while under the influence.

Using Nebraska’s DMV website is an excellent way to stay on top of the laws as they are changed and updated.

How Nebraska Laws for Insurance are Determined

Nebraska’s laws are determined the same way laws are determined in other states — through a legislative process.

What makes Nebraska different, however, is that laws are created through a unicameral legislature instead of a bicameral legislature. This means there is only one governing body creating laws instead of two, which has both benefits and detriments when it comes to creating laws.

Windshield Coverage

Nebraska has no laws specific to windshield replacement.

Your insurance company is allowed to require you to use specific repair shops when you file a claim, but there are no laws on the books regarding aftermarket glass or other typical windshield replacement issues.

High-Risk Insurance

If you have enough tickets, accidents, or DUI convictions, you may find that insurance companies consider you uninsurable. But Nebraska requires all drivers to carry auto insurance, so how can you follow the law?

If you need a policy but cannot find an insurer, you can reach out to Nebraska’s Automobile Insurance Plan (NE AIP) for assistance. They will assign you to an insurance company that is required to provide you a policy, though there is no guarantee the policy will be cheap.

If you need to provide proof of coverage due to point revocations, medical hardship permits, or other reasons, you can always get an SR-22. This is the form that proves to the state you have active insurance coverage. If you need an SR-22 form, you can reach out to your insurance agent.

Low-Cost Insurance

At this time there are no discounts available specifically for people on Medicare or Medicaid, so, unfortunately, people in those programs will have to pay the full price for their auto insurance. That doesn’t mean you don’t have any other options, however, because there are lots of discounts available with almost every insurance company.

There are typical discounts, such as good driving record discounts or discounts for people who have multiple lines of insurance through the company, but that is just the beginning.

Many insurers also give discounts to nurses, teachers, active military, and other occupational discounts. Some insurers give discounts to students with a high GPA. Some even offer discounts through certain employer groups, so check with your HR department to see if they offer car insurance discounts as an employee benefit.

Automobile Insurance Fraud in Nebraska

Insurance fraud isn’t just filing an illegitimate claim. Filing false paperwork, agents pocketing your premium payments, or exaggerating the damage in a claim are all forms of insurance fraud.

Purposely damaging your property to file a claim is also insurance fraud, which means if you’re caught knowingly setting your car on fire or arranging to have it stolen so you can file a claim, you will face severe penalties.

Insurance companies take customers attempting to commit fraud very seriously, so be sure to follow the law when it comes to buying insurance and filing claims. At the same time, if you believe your insurance company is fraudulently denying your claim be sure to reach out to the Attorney General for assistance.

Statute of Limitations

The law in Nebraska states that you have four years to file a lawsuit over bodily injury or property damage in a car accident, otherwise you are beyond the statute of limitations and your claim is no longer collectible.

Almost any issue that can be taken to court will run into a statute of limitations, so if you believe you’ve been in an accident or filed a claim that needs to go through the court system, make sure you file right away to avoid running into the statute of limitations and having your case denied.

Nebraska-Specific Laws

While many laws are the same from state to state, every state has its own unique laws, as well, and Nebraska is no exception. For example, in Nebraska, it is considered child abuse and neglect to leave a child under the age of six unattended in a vehicle.

Make sure you know the local laws to prevent an unnecessary ticket.

Vehicle Licensing Laws

Every state has slightly different requirements for getting licensed to drive. Those requirements are often different even for local residents, with different standards for new drivers, experienced drivers who are new state residents, and senior citizens.

If you need to get your license for the first time, or even just update or renew your license, you’ll need to make sure you follow all of Nebraska’s rules and regulations.

REAL ID

The REAL ID Act is a federal law designed as a strategy to help combat terrorism. REAL IDs are much more secure, increasing the likelihood that someone’s ID matches their identity. Your ID will need to be compliant by October 2020, so don’t wait to update your ID.

Nebraska is compliant with the REAL ID Act, which means that your Nebraska REAL ID allows you to board commercial airplanes and enter federal facilities. If you want to make sure your ID is a REAL ID, you can check the top right corner for a gold star or a star outlined in gold.

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance

If you are caught driving without insurance in Nebraska you will face consequences, such as:

• Suspended license and registration – Both your driver’s license and your vehicle registration will be suspended, requiring you to reinstate them.
• Reinstatement fees – It is a $50 fee to reinstate your license and another $50 fee to reinstate your registration, costing you $100 to get back on the road.
• SR-22 – You will be required to have proof of insurance on file with the state for at least three years after your license and registration have been reinstated.

Teen Driver Laws

Like most states, Nebraska has graduated laws for teen drivers, which means they start driving with a learner’s permit and slowly work their way up to a full license over time.

In Nebraska, a teenager may get their learner’s permit at 15. Then they are required to log at least 50 hours of driving, at least 10 of which must be at night. There are other restrictions listed in the chart below:

Older Driver License Renewal Procedures

In Nebraska, drivers over the age of 70 are required to renew their licenses in person at a local DMV office. This is because there are required vision tests that go along with the renewal process after the age of 70.

If requested by a doctor, family member, or a police officer, senior citizens could be required to submit to a reexamination to renew their license. This could involve any combination of a written exam, road test, vision test, and interview with a DMV employee.

New Residents

New residents in Nebraska are required to be verified through the following systems and agencies:

• State to State – This system verifies ID information that was issued from another state
• Problem Driver Point System – This verifies if the applicant has had their license suspended or revoked for any reason
• Social Security Online Verification – This system verifies the social security number of all applicants
• Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements – This system verifies citizenship and immigration documents for all applicants

License Renewal Procedures

In Nebraska, drivers over the age of 21 and under the age of 70 renew their licenses every five years. If you do not require a vision test, you are welcome to renew your license online, provided you meet the following requirements:

• Your name cannot have changed since your license was last issued
• Your physical description cannot have changed significantly because your photo and description will be used on your next license. If you have lost or gained weight, changed hair color (or lost your hair completely) or had any other major changes, you will need to renew in person.
• You cannot renew online if you renewed online at your last renewal. You must renew in person at least once every 10 years and have a new picture taken.

Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS)

Points stay on your record for five years in Nebraska. Additionally, if you accumulate 12 or more points in a two year period, the state will revoke your license.

Luckily, the state provides people with fewer than 12 points on their license the opportunity to enroll in a Driver Improvement Course. If you successfully complete the course, it can take two points off of your record in the last two years, helping keep your record clear and your insurance costs low.

You’ll have to be careful, though, because you can only take the course once every five years. The best way to keep your record clean is to drive cautiously.

Rules of the Road

When it comes to the laws regarding driving and insurance, essentially all of them are determined by the state. Everything from seatbelt requirements to minimum insurance levels is specific to Nebraska.

This means that you can’t assume that just because you know the laws in one state that you’ll be following the law in Nebraska.

To keep yourself safe and prevent traffic citations, make sure you know and adhere to the traffic laws in Nebraska.

Fault vs. No-Fault

Nebraska is an at-fault state, which means the driver who is responsible for the accident is responsible for paying all of the costs associated with the accident.

This means that if you are hit by another driver, you can file a claim with their insurance company or take them to court to cover any damages you’ve suffered.

This also means that, if you hit someone else, they have all the same rights, so make sure you have sufficient liability coverage in place.

In fact, Nebraska is also what is known as a Tort state, which means that not only is the at-fault driver responsible for all property repair and medical costs, but also that the driver who is not at fault can sue for lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

 – Seat Belt & Car Seat Laws

As of January 1, 2019, the child safety seat laws in Nebraska have been updated to protect children under the age of eight. The new rules are as follows:

• Children Under Two – Children two years and younger must ride in a rear-facing car seat
• Children Between Two and Eight – Children between two and eight must ride in an appropriate car seat or booster seat
• Children Under Eight – All children under the age of eight must ride in the backseat of the vehicle
• Children Between Eight and 18 – Children who are not in car seats are still required by law to wear a seat belt
• Children Under 18 – At no point is a child under the age of 18 allowed to ride in the cargo area

When it comes to seat belt laws, Nebraska is a secondary enforcement state, which means you cannot be pulled over because you were seen driving without a seat belt, but if you are pulled over for another offense they can ticket you for it in addition to your original citation.

While there are are some rare instances where seat belts are not required in Nebraska (for example, adults riding in the back seat are not required to wear them) most of the time everyone in a vehicle is required by law to wear a seat belt. This means you are better off not taking chances and just buckling up.

Keep Right & Move Over Laws

According to Nebraska law, drivers are supposed to keep right except to pass. In the event that there are multiple lanes of traffic, slow traffic is supposed to keep to the right.

If you see an emergency vehicle stopped on the road to help someone, you are required by law to put a full car lane between you and the emergency vehicle. If that is not possible because you don’t have an additional lane, you are required to slow down and follow instructions given by a peace officer if one is on the scene.

Speed Limits

Nebraska speed limits vary from place to place, just like every other state. School zones will have a different speed limit than highways, after all.

The Nebraska legislature has very specific rules about setting speed limits on highways, specifically to keep the speed limits from making dramatic changes in a short space to protect drivers on the highway.

Ridesharing

In 2015, Nebraska passed a law establishing permits and regulations for the ridesharing industry in the state.

The law established regulations for insurance, background checks, vehicle inspections, and more, so people who are driving for a rideshare company would benefit from taking the time to read the details of the law.

There are some insurance companies that are creating policies specifically for rideshare drivers, so it might be worth looking into your options if you are currently driving for a rideshare company.

Automation on the Road

When it comes to automation, Nebraska has been trying to stay ahead of the game. In 2017, the state introduced a bill, LB 627, that would have put laws and regulations in place regarding the creation and operation of automated vehicles. It also would have declared the driver of the car responsible for accidents and malfunctions.

Unfortunately, the law did not pass. This means Nebraska is still trying to sort out the legal side of vehicle automation, so anyone interested in possibly owning or driving an automated car will want to keep an eye on the Nebraska DMV website to stay up to date with the laws.

Safety Laws

Nebraska has laws in place to keep people safe while on the road. Whether someone is texting while driving or driving under the influence, they are putting the lives of other people in danger, so the state has laws in place to address and prevent these dangerous behaviors.

Remember that laws change over time, so just because something was legal 10 years ago (or five years ago, or even two years ago) doesn’t mean it is legal now.

On the other hand, things that were illegal just a few years ago might be legal today, so make sure to do your research when it comes to driving safety laws.

DUI Laws

In 2018, there were 66 alcohol-related fatalities in Nebraska. The state is serious about protecting drivers on the road, so they have stiff penalties for driving under the influence (as evidenced by the chart above.)

In Nebraska, you can be found guilty of DUI with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of:

• Under 21 – .02 or higher
• Driving A Commercial Vehicle – .04 or higher
• Anyone Else – .08 or higher

If you take a breathalyzer test and fail, your license will be suspended for 180 days. That doesn’t mean you should refuse the test, though — if you refuse a breathalyzer test your license will be suspended for up to one year.

It is possible for someone with a DUI and a suspended license to get partial driving privileges. They would need to apply for an ignition interlock device and have their application approved by the state. If you are interested in applying you can find information on the ignition interlock device page of the Nebraska DMV website.

Marijuana-Impaired Driving Laws

Nebraska doesn’t have any specific marijuana-related driving laws on the books, but that doesn’t mean there are no penalties for driving under the influence of marijuana.

Marijuana use is illegal in Nebraska, with no exceptions for medical or recreational use of any kind. Getting caught operating a vehicle while high all but guarantees you will run afoul of both state and federal laws regarding marijuana possession and use.

Distracted Driving Laws

Texting, eating, adjusting your GPS, and talking on the phone are just a few of the ways drivers allow themselves to be distracted behind the wheel.

According to the CDC, there are three types of distracted driving:

• Visual – causing you to take your eyes off the road
• Manual – causing you to take your hands off the wheel
• Cognitive – causing you to take your mind off of driving

Texting is the worst form of distracted driving because it combines all three forms of distraction. Because of this, Nebraska is just one of many states with strict laws about phone use while driving.

There were 4,699 drivers involved in distracted driving crashes in 2017 in Nebraska, and 19 of those crashes ended with a fatality.  Keeping your phone in your bag or glove box could save a life, perhaps even your own.

Driving Safely in Nebraska

Driving is one of — if not the — most dangerous thing most people do on a daily basis. Nationally, there are more than 30,000 car accidents a year, causing almost 25,000 fatalities and more than two million injuries.

It is important to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your property, and one of the best ways to help keep yourself safe is to be aware of the dangers that go along with getting behind the wheel — knowing the most dangerous roads, commuting times, and weather conditions can help you prepare for and possibly even prevent an accident or even an untimely death.

Vehicle Theft in Nebraska

While a stolen vehicle would be covered under the comprehensive portion of your insurance policy, the possibility of replacing the car doesn’t stop a victim from feeling scared and violated.

Vehicle theft isn’t just a worry for people with new or expensive automobiles — the most commonly stolen vehicles are often older family sedans or minivans.

While comprehensive coverage is often rejected in an attempt to keep your insurance costs low, keep in mind that a liability-only policy won’t protect you in case of car theft. If your car is one of the ones on the table of most commonly stolen vehicles above, you may want to think carefully about buying comprehensive coverage.

Road Fatalities in Nebraska

According to the NHTSA, there were 230 traffic fatalities in Nebraska in 2018. Of those, 66 were alcohol-related fatalities and 29 were speeding-related fatalities.

It isn’t just speeding and drinking that causes traffic accidents, however. Whether you were playing on your phone or surprised by a deer crossing the highway, a traffic accident can cause serious damage to you and your vehicle, tragically ending in death in some cases.

Most Fatal Highway in Nebraska

I80 is the only highway to connect one side of Nebraska to the other. It isn’t surprising, then, to discover that I80 is the most dangerous highway in Nebraska, with 179 fatalities in the last 10 years.

Given that I80 connects Iowa to Wyoming and goes across the entire state of Nebraska, it is understandable that this is the deadliest highway in the sate. It also goes through Omaha and Lincoln, which means there is a significant amount of local traffic on the highway in addition to interstate travel.

Fatal Crashes by Weather Condition & Light Condition

Weather and light conditions can have a dramatic impact on the number of accidents, with slick road surfaces or dark, poorly lit roads increasing the odds that you’ll be in an accident.

Weather can even increase the severity of an accident, taking what otherwise would have been a minor incident and turning it into a situation where injuries or even fatalities occur.

Be cautious when driving in the dark or in inclement weather. Use your headlights, drive slowly, and leave yourself plenty of space to make sure you aren’t put in an unnecessarily dangerous situation.

Fatalities (All Crashes) by County

Amazingly, multiple counties such as Wheeler, Thomas, Mcpherson, Hooker, and several others haven’t had a single traffic fatality since 2014.

Traffic Fatalities

Since 2009, Nebraska has seen a reduction in rural traffic fatalities and an increase in urban traffic fatalities.

Fatalities by Person Type

There has been a noticeable increase in the number of pedestrians killed in traffic accidents since 2014. Drivers need to watch their speed and be cautious about not driving while distracted.

Fatalities by Crash Type

Nebraska has seen a significant reduction in rollover fatalities as well as speeding-related fatalities since 2014.

Five-Year Trend For the Top 10 Counties

York Country has seen a significant increase in the number of fatalities, while Lancaster County has seen a minor decrease in the number of traffic-related fatalities.

Fatalities Involving Speeding by County

In 2018, every county in Nebraska saw fewer than five speeding-related fatalities on the road.

Fatalities in Crashes Involving an Alcohol-Impaired Driver by County

While most counties have zero alcohol-related fatalities, Douglas County has been off the charts for years, with anywhere from 12 – 23 alcohol-related fatalities each year. This isn’t surprising, though, as Douglas County is home to a quarter of all the residents in the state.

Teen Drinking & Driving

While there were 109 DUI arrests for kids under 18, that is only a small fraction of the total DUI arrests in the state. For every person under 18 who was arrested for DUI, 64 adults were arrested for DUI.

EMS Response Time

The numbers in the above chart represent rural response times as provided by the US Department of Transportation. Urban numbers are much different. For example, the time between when a crash occurs and when emergency services are called in a rural setting is more than six minutes. In an urban setting, that time drops to one minute and 84 seconds.

In a rural setting, the time between the call to 911 and the arrival of emergency services is just over 11 minutes. In an urban setting, that number drops to just over four minutes. In a rural area, the time between EMS arrival and arrival to the hospital is 30 minutes, whereas it is only 22 minutes in an urban area.

Crashes and accidents may be more likely in an urban area, but the emergency response time is also much faster in an urban area as well.

Transportation in Nebraska

Like most other states, Nebraska has a wide variety of transportation options. People can own their own cars, but they can also take buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation to get where they need to go.

Nebraska, however, does have one unique public transportation option that isn’t necessarily available in other places — a vanpool. A vanpool is where a group of up to seven commuters agree to commute together and are provided a luxury van allowing them to do so, along with a $400 credit toward commuting costs.

Using the vanpool does have a monthly fee, but the state works to keep the cost low because of the benefit of taking up to six cars off the road during rush hour. This reduces commute times, accidents, pollution/exhaust, and many other negative points of people commuting in their own cars each day.

Car Ownership

The average household in Nebraska has two vehicles, with 419 thousand households having two vehicles in 2017. This is far more than the 226 thousand households who have three cars and the 166 thousand households that have only one vehicle.

There are 109 thousand households that have four cars and 45 thousand households with five or more, but the number of households that don’t have a vehicle at all is only 19 thousand, which means there are more than twice as many households with five or more cars than households with no car at all.

Commute Time

The average commute time in Nebraska is 17.6 minutes, which comes in under the national average of 25.5 minutes.

Just under 1 percent of commuters in Nebraska have what is referred to as a “super commute,” which means they are driving 90 minutes or more each way. At the other end of the spectrum, just over 6.5 percent of commuters in Nebraska have a commute of fewer than five minutes each way.

Commuter Transportation

In 2017, a whopping 81.7 percent of people in Nebraska commuted to work alone, which means the vast majority of cars on the road during rush hour only have one person in them.

Another 9.08 percent of commuters in Nebraska carpooled to work, while a lucky 4.7 percent of people work at home, which means their commute is completely virtual. Less than 1 percent of people in the state use public transportation to get to and from work.

Traffic Congestion

According to the Inrix Global Traffic Scorecard, traffic congestion has reduced slightly in both Omaha and Lincoln.

Keep in mind that traffic congestion contributes to your commute time, as well as the number of accidents on the road, both of which can increase your insurance premiums.

Small changes, such as leaving for work a little earlier or later, can be an easy way to reduce the time you spend in traffic. You can also make bigger changes, like taking public transit to work or arranging to work from home for part of the week, to further reduce the time spent on the road. This can help keep your premiums low.

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