Home Car insurance Coverage Minimum car insurance requirements by state Minimum car insurance requirements by state Minimum car insurance requirements are the legally mandated levels of coverage each state requires drivers to carry, typically including liability insurance. They are essential for legal compliance, financial protection, and peace of mind in the event of an accident. View Carriers Please enter valid zip Compare top carriers in your area Written by Maggie O’NeillMaggie O’NeillMaggie has twenty years of experience working in media. She is a writer and editor on car insurance and related issues. Before joining Insure.com, she reported on health, education and lifestyle for magazines, websites and newspapers in Nevada.VIEW FULL PROFILE | Reviewed by Laura LongeroLaura LongeroLaura Longero is an insurance expert with 15 years of experience simplifying complex financial topics, Laura provides clear, expert-backed guidance to help drivers make smart, confident decisions.VIEW FULL PROFILE | Expert insight from Lauren McKenzieLauren McKenzieInsurance broker/agent, A Plus Insurance.“I would recommend carrying higher liability limits than what the state requires for minimum limits for several reasons. The state-required minimum liability limits may not be sufficient to cover the full extent of damages in an accident. If those damages exceed your coverage limits, in an accident deemed at-fault, the driver could be liable for the remaining costs.”Go to commentSee moreSee less | Updated onOctober 8, 2026 Why you can trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing the timely, accurate and expert information consumers need to make smart insurance decisions. All our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. Our team carefully vets our rate data to ensure we only provide reliable and up-to-date insurance pricing. For a deeper dive into our process, see our complete methodology. We follow the highest editorial standards. Our content is based solely on objective research and data gathering. We maintain strict editorial independence to ensure unbiased coverage of the insurance industry. Every state — except New Hampshire — legally requires drivers to carry some form of liability car insurance, though exactly how much varies depending on where you live. That coverage pays for the other driver’s injuries or property damage if you’re at fault, protecting your finances if you’re ever in an accident. Not everyone follows the rules, though. Uninsured driver rates range from about 6% in Maine to 28% in Mississippi, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and that drives up rates for everyone else in the state. At the very least, it’s important to get the minimum liability requirements set in each state to remain legally compliant. Car insurance requirements vary by state, so how much you’re legally required to buy depends on where you live. Key Takeaways Most states require 25/50 bodily injury liability coverage, but drivers should purchase coverage to higher limits. We recommend liability limits be set around 100/300/100 per accident. On average, drivers pay $738 annually for a state-minimum liability policy — $62 per month What is the state minimum for car insurance? The table below shows the minimum car insurance each state requires. You need proof of at least this coverage to drive legally, and your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles website lists the same requirements. Driving with less than your state’s minimum or with no insurance at all can lead to fines or a suspended license. Minimum coverage keeps you legal, but it only pays up to those limits, and if a crash you cause costs more, the other driver can sue you for the rest. Set your liability limits at least as high as the value of your savings and other assets, so your policy pays for a serious crash instead of you. If your assets add up to more than the highest limits your insurer offers, an umbrella policy adds extra liability coverage on top of your auto policy. What are the minimum car insurance requirements in your state? Each state sets its own minimum car insurance requirements, including how much liability coverage you need for injuries and property damage you cause. A higher minimum raises the lowest premium you can pay in that state, since every policy there has to carry at least that much coverage. Enter your state in the tool below to see the coverage types and limits it requires, so you know the least you need to buy to drive legally. Find your state's car insurance requirements Select your state AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington, D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyoming Know your requirements Minimum car insurance limits: $10,000 property damage liability Additional requirements: $10,000 personal injury protection Source: https://www.flhsmv.gov/insurance/ Minimum liability car insurance requirements by state See the minimum insurance requirements in each state in the table below. StateState minimum coverage limitsAdditional state requirementsAlabama$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredAlaska$50,000 bodily injury per person$100,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredArizona$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$15,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredArkansas$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredCalifornia$30,000 bodily injury per person$60,000 bodily injury per accident$15,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredColorado$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$15,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredConnecticut$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accident$25,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per person and $50,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per accidentDelaware$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$10,000 property damage per accident$15,000 per person and $30,000 per accidentFlorida$10,000 bodily injury per person$20,000 bodily injury per accident$10,000 property damage per accident$10,000 personal injury protectionGeorgia$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredHawaii$20,000 bodily injury per person$40,000 bodily injury per accident$10,000 property damage per accident$10,000 personal injury protectionIdaho$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$15,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredIllinois$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$20,000 property damage per accident$25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person$50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident $5,000 uninsured motorist property damageIndiana$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredIowa$20,000 bodily injury per person$40,000 bodily injury per accident$15,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredKansas$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accident$25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person$50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident$4,500 personal injury protectionKentucky$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredLouisiana$15,000 bodily injury per person$30,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredMaine$50,000 bodily injury per person$100,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accident$2,000 medical payments, $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person and $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accidentMaryland$30,000 bodily injury per person$60,000 bodily injury per accident$15,000 property damage per accident$30,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person$60,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident$15,000 uninsured motorist property damageMassachusetts$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$30,000 property damage per accident$20,000 mandatory bodily injury per person$40,000 mandatory bodily injury per accident$20,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per person$40,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per accident$8,000 personal injury protectionMichigan$50,000 bodily injury per person$100,000 bodily injury per accident$10,000 property damage per accident$1 million property protection and $250,000 personal injury protectionMinnesota$30,000 bodily injury per person$60,000 bodily injury per accident$10,000 property damage per accident$25,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per person$50,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per accident$40,000 personal injury protectionMississippi$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredMissouri$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accident$25,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per person and $50,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per accidentMontana$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$20,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredNebraska$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accident$25,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per person and $50,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per accidentNevada$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$20,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredNew Hampshire$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accident$1,000 medical payments$25,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per person$50,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per accidentNew Jersey$35,000 bodily injury per person$70,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accident$25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person$50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident$25,000 uninsured motorist property damage$25,000 underinsured motorist property damage $15,000 personal injury protectionNew Mexico$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$10,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredNew York$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$10,000 property damage per accident$25,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per person$50,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per accident $50,000 personal injury protectionNorth Carolina$50,000 bodily injury per person$100,000 bodily injury per accident $50,000 property damage per accident$50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident $50,000 uninsured motorist property damageNorth Dakota$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accident$25,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per person$50,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per accident$30,000 personal injury protectionOhio$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredOklahoma$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredOregon$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$20,000 property damage per accident$25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person$50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident$15,000 personal injury protectionPennsylvania$15,000 bodily injury per person$30,000 bodily injury per accident$5,000 property damage per accident$5,000 personal injury protectionRhode Island$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredSouth Carolina$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accident$25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person$50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist property damageSouth Dakota$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accident$25,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per person and $50,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per accidentTennessee$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredTexas$30,000 bodily injury per person$60,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredUtah$30,000 bodily injury per person$65,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accident$3,000 personal injury protectionVermont$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$10,000 property damage per accident$50,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per person$100,000 uninsured/underinsured bodily injury per accident $10,000 uninsured motorist property damageVirginia$50,000 bodily injury per person$100,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accident$50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident$25,000 uninsured motorist property damageWashington$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$10,000 property damage per accidentNot requiredWashington, D.C.$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$10,000 property damage per accident$25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident $5,000 uninsured motorist property damageWest Virginia$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$25,000 property damage per accident$25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident$25,000 uninsured motorist property damageWisconsin$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$10,000 property damage per accident$25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person and $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accidentWyoming$25,000 bodily injury per person$50,000 bodily injury per accident$20,000 property damage per accidentNot required Powered by: Coverage terms to know Here are some common abbreviations to know. BI: Bodily injury coverage PD: Property damage coverage PIP: Personal injury protection MedPay: Medical Payments coverage UM/UIM: Uninsured and underinsured motorists UM BI: Uninsured motorist bodily injury UIM BI: Underinsured motorist bodily injury UMPD: Underinsured motorist property damage What to read next Can I insure a car that isn't in my name? Non-owner car insurance: How to get car insurance if you don’t own a car Is uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage required by state? Average SR-22 insurance cost in 2026 Car warranty vs. auto insurance: What's the difference and which one do you need? What is liability auto insurance? What is full coverage car insurance? How does gap insurance work — and do you need it? Questions every driver should ask their car insurance agent Everything you need to know about insuring two cars A guide to veterans car insurance How to update your car insurance after a divorce or separation Does car insurance cover hitting a deer? How auto theft investigators work – and how to hire your own Do you need full coverage on a financed car? Show more Our agents make it hassle-free to get the right quote. Call (844) 814-8854 Ethan Available Now Jack Available Now Robbie Available Now Ellie Available Now How much does state minimum car insurance cost? Minimum car insurance costs between $339 and $1,395 a year, depending on your state. The states with the highest premiums require personal injury protection on top of liability coverage, which means every minimum policy there includes more coverage. Check the table below to see where your state lands for state minimum liability insurance. StateAverage annual premiumsAverage monthly premiums Alaska$588$49Alabama$574$48Arkansas$689$57Arizona$768$64California$897$75Colorado$651$54Connecticut$1,048$87Washington, D.C.$918$76Delaware$1,300$108Florida$1,228$102Georgia$860$72Hawaii$477$40Iowa$481$40Idaho$594$50Illinois$527$44Indiana$506$42Kansas$698$58Kentucky$721$60Louisiana$1,033$86Massachusetts$789$66Maryland$810$67Maine$469$39Michigan$1,303$109Minnesota$852$71Missouri$563$47Mississippi$628$52Montana$521$43North Carolina$681$57North Dakota$564$47Nebraska$515$43New Hampshire$567$47New Jersey$1,395$116New Mexico$562$47Nevada$1,212$101New York$1,279$107Ohio$475$40Oklahoma$585$49Oregon$834$69Pennsylvania$460$38Rhode Island$845$70South Carolina$785$65South Dakota$450$37Tennessee$613$51Texas$841$70Utah$850$71Virginia$693$58Vermont$392$33Washington$638$53Wisconsin$569$47West Virginia$587$49Wyoming$339$28 Powered by: How much does minimum liability car insurance cost by company? GEICO has the lowest minimum coverage premium for most drivers. USAA costs less overall, but it only sells to military members, veterans and their families. The table below shows how each insurer stacks up for state minimum liability insurance. CompanyAverage annual premiums Average monthly premiums Allstate$946$79Farmers$950$79GEICO$539$45Nationwide$932$78Progressive$752$63State Farm$1,025$85Travelers$767$64USAA*$406$34 *USAA is only available to military community members and their families.Powered by: Do all states require car insurance? Every state except New Hampshire requires car insurance. New Hampshire drivers who skip coverage still have to prove they can pay for any injuries or damage they cause in a crash. Most states require liability coverage, which pays for injuries and property damage you cause to others. Some states also require coverage for your own medical bills or for crashes with drivers who carry little or no insurance. Which states don’t require car insurance? New Hampshire is the only state that doesn’t require car insurance. Drivers who go without it have to pay for any injuries or damage they cause in an at-fault crash, and if they can’t, the state can suspend their license and registration. What happens if I don’t meet my state’s minimum car insurance requirements? Driving without your state’s minimum coverage can cost you your registration, your license or both. You may also have to pay fines and reinstatement fees, and some states require you to file an SR-22 that proves you carry insurance for several years afterward. If you cause a crash without coverage, you pay for the other driver’s injuries and repairs yourself, and they can sue you to collect from your savings or other assets. Many states check insurance electronically by matching insurer records against vehicle registrations, so a lapse in coverage can trigger a suspension notice even if you’re never pulled over. Set your policy to renew automatically so it doesn’t lapse, and check your state DMV’s website for the penalties that apply to you. Should I get minimum coverage or full-coverage car insurance? Minimum coverage meets your state’s legal requirement and pays for injuries and damage you cause to others, up to set limits. Full coverage adds collision and comprehensive coverage, which pay to repair or replace your own car after a crash, theft, storm or other damage. Choose full coverage if you finance or lease your car. Lenders and leasing companies require it. Choose full coverage if you couldn’t afford to replace your car. Collision and comprehensive coverage pay for repairs or a replacement so the cost doesn’t come from your savings. Consider minimum coverage if you own an older car outright. It can work if you could cover the car’s loss from savings. In many states, the state minimum car insurance rates are 25/50/25, which pays up to $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for injuries you cause and up to $25,000 for property damage. If a serious crash costs more than those limits, you pay the rest. “Younger drivers may be able to get away with carrying just the minimum limits if they are trying to save on money,” says Lauren McKenzie, insurance broker/agent with A Plus Insurance in Sierra Vista, Arizona.“ Ask your insurer which discounts you qualify for and which optional add-ons you could drop, so you lower your premium without giving up coverage you need. Our take: Carry enough liability coverage to protect your savings after a crash We recommend carrying 100/300/100 liability coverage, which pays up to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per crash for injuries you cause and up to $100,000 for property damage. If a crash you cause costs more than your limits, you pay the rest, and the other driver can sue to collect from your savings, investments or home. “The state-required minimum liability limits may not be sufficient to cover the full extent of damages in an accident. If those damages exceed your coverage limits, in an accident deemed at fault, you could be liable for the remaining costs. Choose to increase your liability limits to increase your financial protection as well.”” McKenzie says. Treat 100/300/100 as a starting point. If your savings and other assets are worth more than these limits, raise your coverage to match so a serious crash doesn’t put them at risk. Frequently asked questions Why do states require minimum car insurance? States set minimums so a driver who causes a crash can pay for the other person’s injuries and property damage. Liability coverage pays those costs up to your policy’s limits, which keeps the people you hit from covering them on their own. Plenty of drivers still go without it. Nationwide, 14% of drivers have no insurance, according to the Insurance Research Council. Is 50/100 car insurance enough? A 50/100/50 policy pays up to $50,000 per person and $100,000 per crash for injuries you cause and up to $50,000 for property damage. That doubles a 25/50/25 policy, but Insure.com recommends at least 100/300/100 to protect your savings after a serious crash. “Usually, the price difference to increase liability limits to even the next step higher is not a significant price increase,” McKenzie says. “Oftentimes, it is a matter of a couple of dollars per month to increase the liability limits higher.” Who should buy state minimum car insurance? Minimum coverage fits drivers who need the lowest legal premium and have few savings or assets a lawsuit could reach. If you own a home or have money saved, higher liability limits keep a serious crash from putting those at risk. “Especially if drivers are young and just starting out, they may have less financial assets, which in turn will lower the likelihood of them becoming sued in the event that their liability limits are not sufficient to cover damages in a serious accident,” McKenzie says. Sources Insurance Information Institute. “Automobile Financial Responsibility by State.” Accessed October 2026. Insurance Information Institute. “Is it Legal to Drive without Insurance?” Accessed October 2026. Oklahoma Insurance Department. “Auto Insurance: Common Myths.” Accessed October 2026. National Association for Insurance Companies. “Uninsured Motorists.” Accessed October 2026. New Hampshire Insurance Department. “2022 Automobile Insurance Consumer Frequently Asked Questions.” Accessed October 2026. New Mexico Motor Vehicle Department. “Insurance.” Accessed October 2026. Progressive.“Car Insurance Requirements by State.” Accessed October 2026. What our expert says Q: Should drivers get more than the state minimum auto insurance? Lauren McKenzieInsurance broker/agent, A Plus Insurance. “I would recommend carrying higher liability limits than what the state requires for minimum limits for several reasons. The state-required minimum liability limits may not be sufficient to cover the full extent of damages in an accident. If those damages exceed your coverage limits, in an accident deemed at-fault, the driver could be liable for the remaining costs.” Maggie O’NeillContributing Researcher . .Maggie has twenty years of experience working in media. She is a writer and editor on car insurance and related issues. Before joining Insure.com, she reported on health, education and lifestyle for magazines, websites and newspapers in Nevada. 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Most and least expensive models to insure Average car insurance rates by age and gender 1/1 On this page What is the state minimum for car insurance?What are the minimum car insurance requirements in your state?Minimum liability car insurance requirements by stateHow much does state minimum car insurance cost?How much does minimum liability car insurance cost by company?Do all states require car insurance?Which states don’t require car insurance?What happens if I don’t meet my state’s minimum car insurance requirements?Should I get minimum coverage or full-coverage car insurance?Our take: Carry enough liability coverage to protect your savings after a crashFrequently asked questionsWhat our expert says ZIP Code Please enter valid ZIP See rates 1-833-708-5453