To help provide greater financial protection to drivers on the road, each state in the U.S. has minimum car insurance coverage requirements that you must meet if you want to legally get behind the wheel. What that means is that if you live in the United States and own a vehicle, then you must meet the state requirements for car insurance, no matter where you live or what state you’re in.
When it comes to coverage types, a minimum car insurance policy typically includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage, and it generally provides the minimum amount of coverage you must have in that state. However, certain states also require additional coverage types. Minimum coverage car insurance is typically cheaper on average than a full coverage policy, which provides extra protection for your vehicle, so it can be a way to save on insurance premiums. However, it is usually only available for vehicles without a loan or a lease.
What kind of car insurance am I required to have?
Nearly all states have some form of car insurance requirement. Some states allow drivers to satisfy minimum requirements through a bond, deposits, evidence of self-insurance or by carrying an auto insurance policy. New Hampshire does not have a car insurance requirement unless drivers receive certain convictions that require them to carry an SR-22. Plus, there are a few states, like Michigan, Minnesota and New Jersey, where drivers are required to carry liability and personal injury protection coverage.
Below are the coverage types that are typically required with minimum car insurance:
- Bodily injury (BI) liability: If you cause an accident with another driver, bodily injury liability coverage will help pay for medical expenses related to the other driver’s injuries. It may also cover your legal fees if the other driver sues you for their losses.
- Property damage (PD) liability: Property damage liability coverage pays toward property damage that you cause to others. For example, if you hit another driver, your property damage liability insurance would help pay for their vehicle’s repairs.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM): Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage offers financial protection in the event that you get into an accident with a driver who is uninsured or does not have enough coverage to pay for your losses.
- Personal injury protection (PIP): Personal injury protection is a requirement in states that have no-fault laws. If you get into an accident, PIP can pay for your medical bills, lost wages, rehab costs and related expenses, regardless of who caused the accident. This coverage can also be purchased in some at-fault states.
- Medical payments coverage (MedPay): Medical payments coverage helps pay your medical expenses following an accident and is not as robust of coverage as PIP can be. It is available in non-PIP states and is considered optional coverage in most states. However, a few states do require drivers to carry medical payments coverage.
While these coverage types are often required at the state level, the minimum amount of coverage allowed per person and per accident is different depending on your location. To find the exact minimum coverage requirements in your state, you can visit your state’s department of insurance website or contact your auto insurer.
Minimum car insurance requirements in each state
Before deciding to carry minimum coverage car insurance to satisfy your state’s insurance requirements, it is a good idea to review the minimum requirements in your state. Also, remember that you can always purchase more coverage than what is required if you want additional financial protection. It is a good idea to consider getting quotes for multiple coverage levels before choosing the least amount of car insurance coverage available in your state to save on auto insurance premiums.
The table below includes the minimum car insurance requirements in all 50 states and Washington D.C.
State | Bodily injury liability and property damage liability | UM/UIM, PIP and MedPay |
---|---|---|
Alabama | 25/50/25 | None |
Alaska | 50/100/25 | None |
Arizona | 25/50/15 | None |
Arkansas | 25/50/25 | None |
California | 15/30/5 | None |
Colorado | 25/50/15 | None |
Connecticut | 25/50/25 | 25/50 UM/UIM |
Delaware | 25/50/10 | 15/30 PIP |
Florida | 10 PDL only | $10,000 PIP |
Georgia | 25/50/25 | None |
Hawaii | 20/40/10 | $10,000 PIP |
Idaho | 25/50/15 | None |
Illinois | 25/50/20 | 25/50 UM |
Indiana | 25/50/25 | None |
Iowa | 20/40/15 | None |
Kansas | 25/50/25 | 25/50 UM/UIM $4,500 PIP |
Kentucky | 25/50/25 | None |
Louisiana | 15/30/25 | None |
Maine | 50/100/25 | 50/100 UM/UIM $2,000 MedPay |
Maryland | 30/60/15 | 30/60/15 UM |
Massachusetts | 20/40/5 | 20/40 UM $8,000 PIP |
Michigan | 50/100/10 | Six PIP options: minimum $50,000 for insureds on Medicaid |
Minnesota | 30/60/10 | 25/50 UM/UIM $40,000 PIP |
Mississippi | 25/50/25 | None |
Missouri | 25/50/25 | 25/50 UM/UIM |
Montana | 25/50/20 | None |
Nebraska | 25/50/25 | 25/50 UM/UIM |
Nevada | 25/50/20 | None |
New Hampshire | 25/50/25 | 25/50 UM $1,000 MedPay |
New Jersey | 15/30/5* | 15/30 UM/UIM $15,000 PIP |
New Mexico | 25/50/10 | None |
New York | 25/50/10 | 25/50 UM $50,000 PIP |
North Carolina | 30/60/25 | 30/60/25 UM 30/60 UIM |
North Dakota | 25/50/25 | 25/50 UM/UIM $30,000 PIP |
Ohio | 25/50/25 | None |
Oklahoma | 25/50/25 | None |
Oregon | 25/50/20 | 25/50 UM/UIM $15,000 PIP |
Pennsylvania | 15/30/5 | $5,000 PIP |
Rhode Island | 25/50/25 | None |
South Carolina | 25/50/25 | 25/50/25 UM |
South Dakota | 25/50/25 | 25/50 UM/UIM |
Tennessee | 25/50/15 | None |
Texas | 30/60/25 | None |
Utah | 25/65/15 | $3,000 PIP |
Vermont | 25/50/10 | 50/100/10 UM |
Virginia | 30/60/20 | None |
Washington | 25/50/10 | None |
Washington, D.C. | 25/50/10 | 25/50/5 UM |
West Virginia | 25/50/25 | 25/50/25 UM |
Wisconsin | 25/50/10 | 25/50 UM |
Wyoming | 25/50/20 | None |
*Based on the Standard policy minimum coverage requirements
States without car insurance requirements
Traditional car insurance is not mandatory in all states. Depending on where you live, there may be alternative options to put down a deposit or post a bond with your state’s DMV, which serves as proof of financial responsibility. If you were to get into an accident, that money would be given to the other driver to compensate them for their losses.
Here are a few of the states that require either a standard car insurance policy or a financial filing:
- California: Option to put down a $35,000 deposit
- Florida: Drivers can decline liability insurance by proving a net worth of at least $40,000
- Montana: Option to post a bond or a $55,000 deposit of cash or securities
However, keep in mind that forgoing traditional car insurance is usually a much more expensive option in the long run or if you are involved in an accident. The most flexible states for car insurance alternatives are New Hampshire and Virginia.
In New Hampshire, drivers are not required to carry auto insurance, except in cases where they must have an SR-22. In Virginia, drivers can forgo car insurance and pay a $500 uninsured motorist fee, making it the second cheapest state for alternative car insurance.
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