Minimum Car Insurance Requirements by State

Woman making a phone call about damage on her car
Photo:

Vera Petrunina / Getty Images

State minimum insurance requirements are the car insurance laws for each state. These laws can usually be found on the state insurance commissioner's website.

As you go down the list, you will notice that driving without insurance is against the law in almost every state. Make sure you have met the minimum requirements in your state before you drive.

Key Takeaways

  • Driving without insurance is against the law in almost every state. Be sure you meet the minimum coverage amount in your state.
  • You may need bodily injury liability, defined per person as well as per accident. States might order you to have property damage liability per accident.
  • State laws might also call for personal injury protection (per person and per accident). One of the most common laws is uninsured or underinsured motorist protection.
  • Car insurance liability coverages may be given in a series of numbers stating the amount covered for injury per person, per accident, and total property damages.

What Is Minimum Car Insurance? 

If you own a car, you will need car insurance that meets the laws in your state. Each state is different, which is why it is vital to confirm the laws where you live. You can also contact your company if you have questions.

Four basic types of coverage may be in your state's laws. You may need bodily injury liability, defined per person as well as per accident. States might order you to have property damage liability (also per accident).

State laws might also call for personal injury protection (per person and per accident). One of the most common laws is uninsured or underinsured motorist protection that covers you and your car, per person, per accident.

Car insurance liability coverages may be given in a series of numbers, which state the amounts covered for injury per person, accident, and total damages. For example, you might see $20,000/$40,000/$15,000, or 20/40/15. This provides bodily injury liability of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident, and property damage liability would be $15,000 per accident.

Note

There isn't an insurance product called "full coverage." Rather, you may be fully covered with combined policies such as bodily injury liability and property damage liability. When people refer to "full coverage," they generally mean comprehensive and collision insurance in addition to required liability coverage.

Do All States Require Car Insurance?

Nearly all states require some level of car insurance. However, there are some special cases.

For instance, New Hampshire does not mandate that you buy car insurance to drive. It does require that you can pay anyone you injure as a result of your driving. You'll also need to pay for any property damage you cause. This means you'll need a large savings account if you don't have insurance. If you do buy a policy, New Hampshire law requires you to carry 25/50/25.

Virginia, too, offers a second approach. Virginia drivers must either maintain a minimum of 25/50/20 or pay an uninsured motor vehicle (UMV) fee of $500. If they fail to carry insurance and fail to pay the (UMV) fee, they'll lose their driving privileges.

Note

Knowing whether you have enough insurance for your needs depends on how much risk you are willing to take. If you do not have enough money to cover damages, you'll have to pay out-of-pocket.

Minimums by State

Here's each state's car insurance mandates.

Alabama 

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 maximum per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident

Alaska 

  • Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident

Arizona

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 two or more people
  • Property damage liability: $15,000 per accident

Arkansas

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident

California

  • Bodily injury liability: $15,000 per person
  • Property damage liability: $5,000 per accident
  • Bodily injury/death liability to more than one person: $30,000

Colorado

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $15,000 per accident

Connecticut

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident

Delaware

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $10,000 per accident
  • Personal Injury Protection: A minimum of $15,000 for any one person and $30,000 for all persons injured in any one accident

Florida

  • Property damage liability: $10,000
  • Personal injury protection: $10,000

Georgia

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident

Hawaii

  • Bodily injury liability: $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $10,000 per accident
  • Personal injury protection: $10,000

Idaho

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $15,000 per accident

Illinois

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $20,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident

Indiana

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident

Iowa

  • Bodily injury liability: $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $15,000 per accident

Kansas

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Personal injury protection: $4,500 per person in medical expenses, up to $900 per month for disability or loss of income, $25 per day for in-home services; $4,500 for rehabilitation; $2,000 for funeral, burial, or cremation costs

Kentucky

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
  • Personal injury protection: $10,000

Louisiana

  • Bodily injury liability: $15,000 per person/$30,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident

Maine

  • Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist coverage: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
  • Medical payments coverage: $2,000

Maryland

  • Bodily injury liability: $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $15,000 per accident

Massachusetts

  • Bodily injury liability: $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $5,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist coverage: $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident
  • Personal injury protection: $8,000

Michigan

  • Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability for accidents in another state: $10,000
  • Personal injury protection: $250,000 (lower options or opt-out available for Medicare and Medicaid enrollees)

Minnesota

  • Bodily injury liability: $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $10,000 per accident
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $50,000 per accident
  • Personal injury protection: $40,000

Mississippi

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident

Missouri

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $10,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident

Montana

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $20,000 per accident

Nebraska

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident

Nevada

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $20,000 per accident

New Hampshire

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage: $25,000
  • Medical payments coverage: $1,000

New Jersey

  • Bodily injury liability: $15,000 per person/$30,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $5,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist bodily injury: $15,000

New Mexico

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $10,000 per accident

New York

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 for a death per accident
  • Property damage liability: $10,000 per accident
  • Liability for death: $50,000 per person/$100,000 liability per accident for two or more people
  • Personal injury protection: $50,000
  • Uninsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident

North Carolina

  • Bodily injury liability: $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist coverage per person: $30,000/$60,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist property damage coverage: $25,000 per accident

North Dakota

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Personal injury protection: $30,000

Ohio

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident

Oklahoma

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident

Oregon

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $20,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Personal injury protection: $15,000

Pennsylvania

  • Bodily injury liability: $15,000 per person/$30,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $5,000 per accident
  • Medical benefit: $5,000

Rhode Island

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident

South Carolina

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist property damage coverage: $25,000

South Dakota

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident

Tennessee

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $15,000 per accident

Texas

  • Bodily injury liability: $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident

Utah

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$65,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $15,000 per accident

Vermont

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $10,000 per accident
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage: $10,000 per accident

Virginia

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $20,000 per accident

Washington

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $10,000 per accident

Washington, D.C.

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $10,000 per accident
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $20,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage: $5,000 per accident

West Virginia

  • Bodily injury liability: $20,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person

Wisconsin

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $10,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person
  • Uninsured motorist coverage: $50,000 per accident

Wyoming

  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $20,000 per accident

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much is car insurance on average per month?

The average annual car insurance cost is a bit more than $1,000. It comes out to about $88 per month.

How do you get cheap car insurance?

The best way to get cheap car insurance is to shop around and take advantage of any promotional offers. Common discounts and promo offers include good-driver discounts for avoiding tickets, bundle discounts for adding different types of coverage, and anti-theft discounts for installing anti-theft accessories.

What is comprehensive car insurance?

Comprehensive car insurance covers situations that don't occur while driving. For example, comprehensive coverage will cover the stolen car when a thief breaks into your car in your driveway (but often will not cover the contents of the car), or when a storm knocks down a tree branch that breaks your windshield. Comprehensive coverage is not required.

How soon do you have to get insurance after buying a used car?

In most states, it's illegal to drive any car without required insurance coverage. States set grace periods for insuring a recently acquired car. In general, you can expect to have between a week and a month to get insurance after buying a used car.

Was this page helpful?
Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. National Association of Insurance Commissioners. "A Shopping Tool for Automobile Insurance," Pages 4-5.

  2. State of New Hampshire Insurance Department. "Your Guide to Understanding Auto Insurance in the Granite State," Page 1.

  3. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. "Insurance Requirements."

  4. Alabama Department of Insurance. "Automobile Insurance FAQs."

  5. Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles. "Mandatory Insurance."

  6. Arizona Department of Transportation. "Vehicle Information."

  7. Arkansas Insurance Department. "Consumers FAQ - Private Passenger Automobile Insurance."

  8. State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. "Insurance Requirements."

  9. Colorado General Assembly. "Mandatory Automobile Insurance in Colorado."

  10. State of Connecticut Insurance Department. "What Is Auto Insurance."

  11. Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles. "Vehicle Services Registration - Insurance Requirements."

  12. Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. "Florida Insurance Requirements."

  13. Georgia Officer of Commissioner of Insurance & Safety Fire. "Auto Insurance."

  14. State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. "Motor Vehicle Insurance Information."

  15. Idaho Department of Insurance. "Consumers - Automobile Insurance - Basic Coverages."

  16. Illinois Department of Insurance. "Auto Insurance Shopping Guide - Required Auto Insurance Coverages."

  17. Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. "Proof of Financial Responsibility."

  18. Iowa Insurance Division. "Automobile Insurance."

  19. Kansas Insurance Department. "Introduction to Auto Insurance."

  20. Kentucky Department of Insurance. "No Fault Rejection/Verification (PIP)."

  21. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. "Mandatory Insurance."

  22. Louisiana Department of Insurance. "Consumers Guide to Auto Insurance," Page 4.

  23. State of Maine Professional and Financial Regulation. "Auto Insurance Basics."

  24. Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. "Auto Insurance Guide," Page 11.

  25. Massachusetts Attorney General's Insurance and Financial Services Division. "Understanding Auto Insurance - Required Coverage."

  26. Michigan.gov. "Choosing Bodily Injury Coverage."

  27. Michigan.gov. "Choosing PIP Medical Coverage."

  28. Minnesota Commerce Department. "Auto Insurance Guide," Page 3.

  29. Mississippi Insurance Department. "What the Law Requires."

  30. Missouri Department of Revenue. "Motor Vehicle Insurance (Financial Responsibility)."

  31. Montana Department of Justice Motor Vehicle Division. "Insurance and Verification."

  32. Nebraska Department of Insurance. "Auto Liability Insurance," Page 2.

  33. Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. "Nevada Insurance Requirements."

  34. State of New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. "Standard Auto Insurance Policy."

  35. New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division. "Insurance."

  36. New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. "New York State Insurance Requirements."

  37. North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. "Insurance Requirements."

  38. North Dakota Insurance Department. "Auto - The Basics."

  39. Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. "Mandatory Insurance."

  40. Oklahoma Insurance Department. "Auto Insurance."

  41. Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services. "Minimum Insurance Requirements."

  42. Pennsylvania Insurance Department. "Automobile Insurance Guide," Page 3.

  43. Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation Insurance Division. "Consumers Guide to Auto Insurance," Page 5.

  44. South Carolina Department of Insurance. "What Is Auto Insurance?"

  45. South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. "Automobile Insurance - Mandatory Insurance Coverage."

  46. Tennessee Department of Revenue. "Why You Should Have Auto Insurance."

  47. Texas Department of Insurance. "Types of Auto Coverages."

  48. Utah State Legislature. "31A-22-304 Motor Vehicle Liability Policy Minimum Limits."

  49. Vermont General Assembly. "23 V.S.A. § 800 Maintenance of Financial Responsibility."

  50. Vermont General Assembly. "23 VSA § 941. Insurance Against Uninsured, Underinsured, Or Unknown Motorists."

  51. Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. "Washington State's Mandatory Auto and Motorcycle Insurance Law."

  52. District of Colombia Department of Motor Vehicles. "Vehicle Insurance."

  53. State of West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner. "Mandatory Compulsory Insurance Requirements."

  54. State of Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. "Frequently Asked Questions Automobile Insurance," Pages 1-2.

  55. Wyoming Insurance Department. "Auto Insurance FAQs."

Related Articles