Home Car insurance Coverage Minimum car insurance requirements by state in 2024 Minimum car insurance requirements by state in 2024 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’Neill Maggie O’Neill 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. | Reviewed by Laura Longero Laura Longero Laura Longero is a content strategist and communications leader with more than 15 years of experience in content development in journalism, marketing and communications for start-ups to global companies. She started her career as a reporter and editor and honed her journalistic skills at the USA Today Network, working in several roles, as well as managing content and writing at MoneyGeek and XYZ Media. | Expert insight from Lauren McKenzie Lauren McKenzie Insurance broker/agent, A Plus Insurance.Go to comment | Updated on: September 3, 2024 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. 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. It’s important to have car insurance to protect yourself, your family and your assets if you’re in an accident. From a fender bender to a serious accident that causes multiple injuries, auto insurance protects the policyholder and their financial health. Despite this, people still choose to go without car insurance coverage – ranging from 3.1% in New Jersey to 29.4% in Mississippi, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. This drives up rates for all drivers in that 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. Insure.com recommends liability limits be set around 100/300/100 per accident. The average annual rate for a state minimum-only liability policy is $502; the monthly rate is $42. What is the state minimum for car insurance? Drivers can learn their state’s minimum car insurance rates by looking at the Department of Motor Vehicles’ website or the table of rates below. To drive legally, you must show proof of insurance for the minimum requirements in your state. They can always purchase coverage at higher rates, but if they purchase less coverage than required – or buy no coverage – they may put themselves and others at financial risk. Minimum liability car insurance requirements by state Find your state's car insurance requirements Select your state Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Washington D.C. Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Know your requirements See the minimum insurance requirements in each state in the table below. StateMinimum car insurance limitsAlabama Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Alaska Liability insurance $50,000 bodily injury per person $100,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Arizona Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $15,000 property damage per accident Arkansas Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident California Liability insurance $15,000 bodily injury per person $30,000 bodily injury per accident $5,000 property damage per accident Colorado Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $15,000 property damage per accident ConnecticutLiability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Additional requirement $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident Delaware Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $10,000 property damage per accident Additional requirement $15,000 personal injury per person $30,000 personal injury per accident District of Columbia (DC) Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $10,000 property damage per accident Additional requirement $25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident $5,000 uninsured motorist property damage per accident Florida Liability insurance $10,000 property damage liability (PDL) $10,000 personal injury protection Georgia Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Hawaii Liability insurance $20,000 bodily injury per person $40,000 bodily injury per accident $10,000 property damage per accident Additional requirement $10,000 personal injury protection Idaho Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $15,000 property damage per accident Illinois Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $20,000 property damage per accident Additional requirement $25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident Indiana Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Iowa Liability insurance $20,000 bodily injury per person $40,000 bodily injury per accident $15,000 property damage per accident Kansas Liability insurance $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $4,500 personal injury protection per person Additional requirement $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $4,500 personal injury protection per person $25/day for in-home services $2,000 for funeral, burial or cremation expense $4,500 for rehabilitation expense Survivor Benefits: Disability/loss of income up to $900 per month for one year Kentucky Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Additional requirement $10,000 personal injury protection per person Louisiana Liability insurance $15,000 bodily injury per person $30,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Maine Liability insurance $50,000 bodily injury per person $100,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Additional requirement $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $100,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $2,000 medical payments Maryland Liability insurance $30,000 bodily injury per person $60,000 bodily injury per accident $15,000 property damage per accident Additional requirement $30,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $60,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $15,000 uninsured motorist property damage per accident $2,500 personal injury protection Massachusetts Liability insurance $20,000 bodily injury per person $40,000 bodily injury per accident $5,000 property damage per accident Additional requirement $20,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $40,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $8,000 personal injury protection Michigan Liability insurance $20,000 bodily injury per person $40,000 bodily injury per accident $10,000 property damage per accident Additional requirements $1,000,000 personal property insurance Minnesota Liability insurance $30,000 bodily injury per person $60,000 bodily injury per accident $10,000 property damage per accident Additional requirements $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $40,000 personal injury protection per person Mississippi Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Missouri Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Additional requirements $25,000 uninsured motorist injury per person $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident Montana Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $20,000 property damage per accident Nebraska Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Additional requirements $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident Nevada Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $20,000 property damage per accident New Hampshire Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Additional requirements $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident$1,000 medical payments New Jersey Liability insurance $15,000 bodily injury per person $30,000 bodily injury per accident $5,000 property damage per accident Additional requirements $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $15,000 personal injury protection New Mexico Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $10,000 property damage per accident New York Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $10,000 property damage per accident Additional requirements $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $50,000 personal injury protection North Carolina Liability insurance $30,000 bodily injury per person $60,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Additional requirements $30,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person $60,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist property damage per accident North Dakota Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Additional requirements $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $30,000 personal injury protection per person Ohio Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Oklahoma Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Oregon Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $20,000 property damage per accident Additional requirements $25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury protection per person $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury protection per accident $15,000 personal injury protection per person Pennsylvania Liability insurance $15,000 bodily injury per person $30,000 bodily injury per accident $5,000 property damage per accident Additional requirements $5,000 medical benefits Rhode Island Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident South Carolina Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Additional requirements $25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist property damage per accident South Dakota Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Additional requirements $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident Tennessee Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Texas Liability insurance $30,000 bodily injury per person $60,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Utah Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $65,000 bodily injury per accident $15,000 property damage per accident Additional requirements $3,000 personal injury protection per person Vermont Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $10,000 property damage per accident Additional requirement $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $100,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $10,000 uninsured motorist property damage per accident (subject to a $150 deductible) Virginia Liability insurance $30,000 bodily injury per person $60,000 bodily injury per accident $20,000 property damage per accident Additional requirement $30,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $60,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident Note: Drivers can pay a $500 uninsured motor vehicle (UMV) fee to waive coverage. Washington Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $10,000 property damage per accident West Virginia Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $25,000 property damage per accident Additional requirement $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist property damage per accident Wisconsin Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $10,000 property damage per accident Additional requirement $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $1000 per person medical payments coverage Wyoming Liability insurance $25,000 bodily injury per person $50,000 bodily injury per accident $20,000 property damage per accident After reviewing the minimum auto insurance requirements for your state, you may have questions about the terms used in the table – see below. 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 FR: Financial responsibility How much state minimum car insurance costs The minimum car insurance costs anywhere from $260 to $993 in states across the U.S. Geico has the cheapest state minimum liability premiums, followed by State Farm and USAA. However, USAA is only available for members of the military community and their families. How much does state minimum car insurance cost in every state? Iowa, Wyoming, Vermont, South Dakota and Nebraska have the cheapest minimum insurance coverage in the U.S. The most expensive states are Florida, New Jersey, Delaware, New York and Maryland when it comes to state minimum insurance coverage. See more rates in the table below. State Annual state minimum liability premiums Monthly state minimum liability premiums Alabama$433 $36Alaska$398 $33Arizona$516 $43Arkansas$397 $33California$551 $46Colorado$437 $36Connecticut$704 $59Delaware$788 $66District of Columbia$558 $46Florida$993 $83 Georgia$577 $48Hawaii$396 $33Idaho$357 $30Illinois$421 $35Indiana$417 $35Iowa$260 $22Kansas$434 $36Kentucky$606 $51Louisiana$722 $60Maine$335 $28Maryland$727 $61Massachusetts$511 $43Michigan$604 $50Minnesota$475 $40Mississippi$463 $39Missouri$488 $41Montana$350 $29Nebraska$331 $28Nevada$720 $60New Hampshire$397 $33New Jersey$853 $71New Mexico$421 $35New York$731 $61North Carolina$476 $40North Dakota$349 $29Ohio$362 $30Oklahoma$408 $34Oregon$641 $53Pennsylvania$375 $31Rhode Island$646 $54South Carolina$720 $60South Dakota$307 $26Tennessee$442 $37Texas$572 $48Utah$582 $49Vermont$306 $25Virginia$428 $36Washington$438 $36West Virginia$510 $43Wisconsin$365 $30Wyoming$288 $24 How much does minimum liability car insurance cost by company? Geico is the cheapest company for the state minimum liability premiums, followed by State Farm, USAA and Progressive. Travelers was the most expensive. See the table below for more rates. CompanyAnnual state minimum liability premiumsMonthly state minimum liability premiumsGeico$405 $34State Farm$497$41USAA$335$28Progressive$549$46Allstate$700 $58Farmers$701$58Nationwide$532$44Travelers$506$42 QuickTake Can I insure a car that isn't in my name? Does car insurance cover hitting a deer? Non-owner car insurance: How to get car insurance if you don't own a car in 2024 Can you drive with an expired license? Do you need a vehicle identification number for an insurance quote? Everything you need to know about insuring two cars What is full coverage car insurance? What is liability auto insurance? 15 things you didn't know your car and home insurance policies cover How auto theft investigators work - and how to hire your own What is uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage? 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Taking the slow lane by storm: Insurance for low-speed vehicles Car insurance for blind drivers (you heard that right) Insuring your tricked-out, souped-up car See more > Is car insurance required in all states? All states set minimum liability insurance requirements. New Hampshire is the only state that doesn’t require car insurance. Most states require individuals to purchase bodily injury liability insurance for an individual and all persons in an accident; some states also set minimum liability requirements for property damage. And there’s more – in some states, individuals additionally need to purchase insurance for medical payments, uninsured motorists and underinsured motorists. Which states don’t require car insurance? New Hampshire allows residents to forego car insurance as long as they can prove they have enough money to cover the expenses and costs if they are in an at-fault accident. If they cannot provide proof of this and drive without insurance, their driving privileges in the state could be suspended. What happens if I don’t meet my state’s minimum car insurance requirements? The consequences of not meeting the state minimum car insurance requirements vary, but generally, the risk may not be worth the headache of ignoring the law. In New Mexico, drivers can have their registration suspended if the state’s Motor Vehicle Department discovers drivers lack the required minimum car insurance requirements. To reinstate it in New Mexico, drivers must show proof of insurance and pay a $30 fee. In Illinois, drivers are mandated to meet the state minimum car insurance requirements – an Electronic Insurance Verification process verifies policies twice a year. Drivers not meeting the state’s minimum requirements or not having proof of insurance will be sent warnings; on the second verification attempt, drivers will be sent a registration suspension letter. In short, drivers could face suspended registration or even a suspended driver’s license. And, if an accident occurs and the at-fault driver has no insurance or no way to pay for damages, they could see their savings and finances drained if they cannot cover expenses themselves. Should I get minimum coverage or full-coverage car insurance? Minimum coverage protects drivers at the minimum amount; this could mean that a driver who purchases minimum coverage does not have enough to be protected in an accident. In many states, the state minimum car insurance rates are 25/50/25, which refers to $25K of bodily injury insurance per person, $50K per accident and $25K of property damage protection. “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.“ Drivers can also talk with their insurance provider to see what discounts they may be eligible for, and also go over the unnecessary additional coverages they may not need to help save money. Our take: State minimum car insurance coverage Those drivers with only the state minimum liability insurance might not be sufficient to cover injuries and damages in an accident. If expenses for an accident exceed the coverage amount, the insured will be liable for the damages. Without coverage, you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket or may need to dig into your savings account, investments or assets. Insure editors recommend purchasing 100/300/100 liability insurance, referring to a minimum of $100K of bodily injury protection for an individual, $300K per accident and $100K for property damage. “Most drivers I would recommend carrying higher liability limits than what the state requires for minimum limits for several reasons,” McKenzie says. “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. Drivers who choose to increase their liability limits would be increasing their financial protection as well.” Frequently asked questions What is the purpose of minimum insurance coverage? Minimum insurance coverage protects drivers with minimal coverage. For example, liability insurance covers the costs for medical and property damages that result when a driver is in an accident and is at fault. Without insurance, the driver must find a way to pay for expenses. This is why it is illegal to drive without coverage in nearly every state; minimum insurance coverage is the lowest amount of coverage that is legally allowed to be purchased in the state. Is 50/100 insurance enough? While 50/100/50 provides more coverage and better protection than 25/50/25, those amounts are not what Insure.com and the Insurance Information Institute recommend — a minimum of $100K for bodily injury protection per individual and $300K for each accident. “50/100 coverage would pay out $50,000 each person for bodily injury expenses, and up to $100,000 per accident, which is double 25/50 limits,” McKenzie says. “Usually, the price difference to increase liability limits to even the next step higher is not a significant price increase. Oftentimes, it is a matter of a couple of dollars per month to increase the liability limits higher.” Why do states impose a minimum for car insurance? Two-thirds of states have a minimum liability insurance set at 25/50, while others have lower or higher minimums. Maryland and Maine are two states with the highest minimum insurance coverage. Maine, for example, requires minimums of 50/100. If states did not set minimums for car insurance, individuals might choose to drive without coverage, putting themselves and others at financial risk. One in eight individuals drives without insurance, with lack of affordability a major reason for not purchasing it. “Purchasing the state minimum liability limits would be a good option for drivers who want the cheapest monthly cost possible but still be considered legal to drive,” McKenzie says. “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.” Resources & Methodology Sources: Insurance Information Institute. “Automobile Financial Responsibility by State.” Accessed January 2024. Insurance Information Institute. “Is it Legal to Drive without Insurance?” Accessed January 2024. Oklahoma Insurance Department. “Auto Insurance: Common Myths.” Accessed January 2024. National Association for Insurance Companies. “Uninsured Motorists.” Accessed January 2024. New Hampshire Insurance Department.“2022 Automobile Insurance Consumer Frequently Asked Questions.” Accessed January 2024. New Mexico Motor Vehicle Department.“Insurance.” Accessed January 2024. Progressive.“Car Insurance Requirements by State.” Accessed January 2024. Methodology Insure editors in 2023 collected annual rates from Quadrant Information Services for a 40-year-old driving a Honda Accord LX with a good insurance score and no violation on record for a state minimum liability insurance policy. We analyzed 51,088,003 records, 34,588 ZIP codes and 167 insurance companies. 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. In case you missed it Best Car Insurance Companies of 2024 Car insurance rates by state in 2024 What is full coverage car insurance? How much does car insurance cost for seniors in 2024? A complete guide to adding a teenager to your car insurance policy in 2024 What to do after a car accident that’s not your fault Total warfare: What to do when your auto insurer totals your car Car insurance claims: Who gets the claims check? 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Part 1: How insurance companies spot bogus claims Insurance options for rideshare drivers 10 things that are illegal but shouldn’t be 1/1 On this page What is the state minimum for car insurance?Minimum liability car insurance requirements by stateHow much state minimum car insurance costsIs car insurance required in all states?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: State minimum car insurance coverageFrequently asked questionsResources & MethodologyWhat our expert says ZIP Code Please enter valid ZIP See rates