Which states don’t require car insurance?

Most states require drivers to carry liability insurance, but New Hampshire only requires drivers to prove financial responsibility (the ability to pay out of pocket for damages after an accident).

What is the minimum legal requirement for car insurance?

Most states require drivers to carry at least bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. But the actual requirements vary by state.

What does minimum coverage car insurance cover?

Minimum car insurance typically covers liability for damages you cause to others. Some states also require uninsured/underinsured motorist protection and personal injury protection or medical payments coverage.

What does full-coverage car insurance include?

Full-coverage car insurance includes liability insurance (plus any other requirements for state minimum coverage), collision insurance, and comprehensive insurance.

What’s the difference between no-fault and at-fault states?

In no-fault states, each driver is responsible for their medical bills regardless of fault. In at-fault states, the driver found at fault for the accident pays for medical costs.

Car Insurance Requirements by State (2026)

Updated July 30, 2026

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Car insurance requirements vary by state, and often significantly. Not only can minimum liability limits change, but the required coverage options also change. Some states require uninsured and underinsured motorist protection; others just recommend it. Some states require personal injury protection or medical payments coverage, while others don’t even mention it.

Understanding your state’s rules helps you know exactly what protection your state requires you to carry and what it actually covers. That makes it easier to decide whether the legal minimum is enough for your needs or if you should consider higher limits or additional coverage.

Learn about your state’s car insurance requirements and how to get the cheapest insurance coverage where you live.

Key Takeaways

Every U.S. state sets its own minimum car insurance requirements, but most require bodily injury and property damage liability coverage.
Some states also require personal injury protection, medical payments, or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage — especially in no-fault states.
Minimum coverage keeps you legal, but higher limits and optional coverages often provide better financial protection after a serious accident.

State Minimum Car Insurance Requirements

Each state has a unique set of laws governing how much insurance drivers need to carry.^[1] Many states add recommendations to minimum coverage as well. Here’s a comprehensive list of the minimum liability requirements in each state, plus other coverage requirements and recommendations when applicable.

Keep in mind that even when not required, carrying additional coverage such as higher liability limits, uninsured/underinsured coverage, and medical payments coverage is usually a good idea.

State	Liability Coverage Requirements	Other Coverage Requirements
Alabama	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	None
Arizona	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $15,000 of property damage liability	25/50 of uninsured/underinsured motorist protection recommended
Arkansas	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	25/50 of uninsured/underinsured motorist protection recommended Personal injury protection recommended
California	$30,000 per person bodily injury liability $60,000 per accident bodily injury liability $15,000 property damage liability	UM/UIM coverage recommended and must be rejected in writing
Colorado	$25,000 per person bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident bodily injury liability $15,000 property damage liability	UM/UIM and MedPay coverage recommended and must be rejected in writing
Connecticut	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	25/50 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage required
Delaware	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $10,000 of property damage liability	15/30 of personal injury protection required
Florida	$10,000 of property damage liability	$10,000 of personal injury protection required
Georgia	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	None
Hawaii	$20,000 per person of bodily injury liability $40,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $10,000 of property damage liability	$10,000 of personal injury protection required
Idaho	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $15,000 of property damage liability	UM/UIM coverage recommended and must be rejected in writing
Illinois	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $20,000 of property damage liability	25/50 UM/UM coverage required
Indiana	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	UM/UIM coverage recommended and must be rejected in writing
Iowa	$20,000 per person of bodily injury liability $40,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $15,000 of property damage liability	UM/UIM coverage recommended and must be rejected in writing
Kansas	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	25/50 of uninsured/underinsured motorist protection required Personal injury protection recommended
Kentucky	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	Personal injury protection recommended and must be rejected in writing
Louisiana	$15,000 per person of bodily injury liability $30,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	UM/UIM coverage recommended and must be rejected in writing MedPay recommended
Maine	$50,000 per person of bodily injury liability $100,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	$2,000 MedPay required 50/100 UM/UIM coverage required
Maryland	$30,000 per person of bodily injury liability $60,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $15,000 of property damage liability	None
Massachusetts	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $30,000 of property damage liability	$8,000 personal injury protection required 25/50 UM/UIM coverage required
Michigan	$20,000 per person of bodily injury liability $40,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $1,000,000 of property protection liability in-state $10,000 of property damage liability out-of-state	Personal injury protection required
Minnesota	$30,000 per person of bodily injury liability $60,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $10,000 of property damage liability	$40,000 personal injury protection required 25/50 UM/UIM coverage required
Mississippi	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	None
Missouri	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	25/50 UM/UIM coverage required
Montana	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $20,000 of property damage liability	None
Nebraska	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	25/50 UM/UIM coverage required
Nevada	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $20,000 of property damage liability	None
New Hampshire	None, but financial responsibility is required	25/50/25 liability coverage recommended $1,000 MedPay recommended 25/50 UM/UIM coverage recommended
New Jersey	$5,000 property damage liability $15,000 personal injury protection	New Jersey recommends choosing a minimum standard policy over the basic policy, which includes: $25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability $15,000 personal injury protection 25/50/25 of UM/UIM coverage
New Mexico	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $10,000 of property damage liability	None
New York	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $10,000 of property damage liability	$50,000 “no-fault” coverage (personal injury protection) required 25/50 UM/UIM coverage required
North Carolina	$50,000 per person of bodily injury liability $100,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $50,000 of property damage liability	50/100 UM/UIM coverage required
North Dakota	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	$30,000 “no-fault” coverage (personal injury protection) required 25/50 UM/UIM coverage required
Ohio	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	None
Oklahoma	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	UM/UIM and MedPay coverages recommended
Oregon	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $20,000 of property damage liability	$15,000 personal injury protection required 25/50 UM/UIM coverage required
Pennsylvania	$15,000 per person of bodily injury liability $30,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $35,000 of property damage liability	$5,000 MedPay coverage required
Rhode Island	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	None
South Carolina	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	25/50 uninsured motorist coverage required
South Dakota	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	25/50 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage required
Tennessee	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	None
Texas	$30,000 per person bodily injury liability $60,000 per accident bodily injury liability $25,000 property damage liability	None
Utah	$30,000 per person bodily injury liability $65,000 per accident bodily injury liability $25,000 property damage liability	$3,000 personal injury protection required UM/UIM coverage recommended
Vermont	$50,000 per person of bodily injury liability $100,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $10,000 of property damage liability	UM/UIM coverage recommended
Virginia	$50,000 per person of bodily injury liability $100,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	UM/UIM coverage recommended
Washington	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $10,000 of property damage liability	None
Washington, D.C.	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $10,000 of property damage liability	25/50/5 uninsured motorist coverage required
West Virginia	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	25/50/10 uninsured motorist coverage required Underinsured motorist coverage recommended
Wisconsin	$25,000 per person of bodily injury liability $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $10,000 of property damage liability	25/50 uninsured motorist coverage required Underinsured motorist coverage recommended
Wyoming	$50,000 per person of bodily injury liability $100,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	50/100 uninsured motorist coverage required

Car Insurance Coverage Required by Law

Most states require drivers to carry minimum auto insurance coverage to ensure they can pay for damages they cause to others in an at-fault car accident. Minimum-coverage laws protect others — drivers, passengers, and pedestrians — as well as you from having to pay for all costs out of pocket.

In most states, you must carry liability insurance — bodily injury and property damage protection — to cover the other party’s medical bills and repairs to their vehicles. You can also purchase collision insurance and comprehensive coverage. Both comprise a full-coverage policy, and most lenders require them.

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Common mandatory coverages

Each state sets its own mandatory coverage requirements, but most require or recommend some combination of the following:^[2]

Bodily injury liability: This pays for medical bills and related expenses when you cause injuries to others.
Property damage liability: This covers damage you cause to others’ vehicles or property, like a fence or building.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM): This pays for your injuries and property damage when someone else is at fault and doesn’t have enough car insurance coverage.
Personal injury protection (PIP): This covers your medical bills and sometimes other related expenses, no matter who’s at fault for an accident. No-fault states usually require it.
Medical payments coverage (MedPay): This covers you and your passengers’ medical expenses regardless of fault.

No-Fault vs. At-Fault States

A man drives a car on a muddy road through a lush, rainy landscape, seen from behind. The windshield is speckled with raindrops.

Every state decides its tort system, or how insurance pays for medical damages after a crash. In no-fault states, the driver’s personal insurance pays for their medical expenses, no matter who’s at fault for the accident. States with no-fault laws typically require personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments (MedPay). States like Florida, Michigan, and New York follow no-fault rules.^[3]

In at-fault states, the at-fault driver and their insurance company cover the cost of the other party’s injuries. Most states, including Texas and California, use this system. At-fault states don’t usually require PIP or MedPay coverage but often recommend them.

How Coverage Requirements Affect Car Insurance Rates

States with higher minimum-coverage limits and additional coverage requirements usually also have higher average insurance rates.

When insurers must provide more financial protection through higher liability limits or mandatory personal injury protection, they usually charge higher rates to cover those costs. But higher rates don’t necessarily mean higher costs overall. Added protection can reduce out-of-pocket costs in the event of a claim.

The table below compares a state with lower minimum limits (Louisiana) to a state with broader, higher required coverages (Michigan) to illustrate how mandates can influence average monthly premiums.

State	Liability Coverage Requirements	Average Monthly Premium
Louisana	$15,000 per person of bodily injury liability $30,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $25,000 of property damage liability	$143
Michigan	$50,000 per person of bodily injury liability $100,000 per accident of bodily injury liability $10,000 of property damage liability outside Michigan $1 million of property damage liability within Michigan $250,000 of personal injury protection	$175

We sourced this data by analyzing real quotes from Compare.com's 100-plus partner insurance companies alongside rate filings collected and distributed by Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary. Data updated on .

Is State-Required Car Insurance Coverage Enough?

A woman wearing glasses and a blue tank top sits on a couch smiling at her laptop in a cozy living room setting.

The truth is that minimum-coverage car insurance isn’t usually enough to provide full protection on the road, especially in the event of a serious car accident.

Let’s say your state requires 25/50/25 liability coverage, and you cause an accident that totals a vehicle with four passengers. Medical expenses from four people can quickly add up, and newer vehicles can easily exceed $50,000.

You’d be on the hook for any amount exceeding your coverage limits. So if medical bills totaled $80,000 and the vehicle’s value totaled $50,000, you’re left covering the remaining $55,000.

Optional car insurance coverages to consider

State-minimum coverage isn’t usually enough. Consider adding the following options to your insurance policy:

Higher liability limits: Increase your liability limits to 100/300/100 or higher.
Collision coverage: Collision insurance pays for damages to your vehicle after an at-fault accident.
Comprehensive coverage: Comprehensive insurance pays for damage to your car from non-collision events, such as hail.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist protection: UM/UIM insurance covers damages caused by a driver who has no insurance or insufficient coverage.
Gap insurance: Gap insurance covers the difference between your vehicle’s actual cash value and the remaining balance on your car loan.
Rental reimbursement: This covers the cost of a rental car when your vehicle is in the shop after a covered claim.
Roadside assistance: Roadside assistance covers tows, flat tires, breakdowns, and more.

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How to Find the Cheapest Car Insurance in Your State

Insurance costs vary depending on where you live, but you can save money anywhere with these tips:

Leverage discounts. Adding multi-policy, telematics, and safe driver discounts can save you more than 20%.
Increase deductibles. Raising deductibles usually lowers the corresponding car insurance premium.
Maintain a clean record. Even if you have marks on your record, keeping a clean driving record going forward ensures rates drop as quickly as possible.
Improve credit. Most states allow insurers to use credit history when determining premiums, and drivers with better credit usually receive lower rates.
Shop around. Comparing car insurance quotes often means you never miss a chance to get a better rate.

The map below shows the cheapest insurers in each state, according to Compare.com data.

Cheapest Insurer by State

State	Cheapest Quote	Cheapest Insurer
Alabama	$45	National General
Alaska	$73	State Farm
Arizona	$65	Just Pay-Per-Mile
Arkansas	$42	State Farm
California	$84	USAA
Colorado	$57	State Farm
Connecticut	$108	State Farm
Delaware	$75	USAA
Florida	$102	Progressive
Georgia	$83	Auto-Owners
Hawaii	$61	GEICO
Idaho	$32	Auto-Owners
Illinois	$48	Auto-Owners
Indiana	$44	Auto-Owners
Iowa	$22	State Farm
Kansas	$51	State Farm
Kentucky	$78	Progressive
Louisiana	$64	State Farm
Maine	$38	USAA
Maryland	$157	USAA
Massachusetts	$53	State Farm
Michigan	$69	Auto-Owners
Minnesota	$54	State Farm
Mississippi	$42	State Farm
Missouri	$55	USAA
Montana	$33	State Farm
Nebraska	$41	Auto-Owners
Nevada	$59	Country Financial
New Hampshire	$43	Foremost
New Jersey	$130	NJM
New Mexico	$52	Progressive
New York	$107	Erie
North Carolina	$58	Erie
North Dakota	$23	Auto-Owners
Ohio	$43	Mile Auto
Oklahoma	$35	State Farm
Oregon	$70	State Farm
Pennsylvania	$58	State Farm
Rhode Island	$95	USAA
South Carolina	$71	USAA
South Dakota	$34	State Farm
Tennessee	$47	Sun Coast
Texas	$56	State Farm
Utah	$60	USAA
Vermont	$17	State Farm
Virginia	$59	Auto-Owners
Washington	$59	State Farm
District of Columbia	$156	Erie
West Virginia	$41	State Farm
Wisconsin	$32	USAA
Wyoming	$24	USAA

Car Insurance Requirements by State FAQs

Car insurance requirements and best practices can make things confusing. Here are clear answers to the most common questions drivers ask about minimum car insurance requirements.

Which states don’t require car insurance?
Most states require drivers to carry liability insurance, but New Hampshire only requires drivers to prove financial responsibility (the ability to pay out of pocket for damages after an accident).
What is the minimum legal requirement for car insurance?
Most states require drivers to carry at least bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. But the actual requirements vary by state.
What does minimum coverage car insurance cover?
Minimum car insurance typically covers liability for damages you cause to others. Some states also require uninsured/underinsured motorist protection and personal injury protection or medical payments coverage.
What does full-coverage car insurance include?
Full-coverage car insurance includes liability insurance (plus any other requirements for state minimum coverage), collision insurance, and comprehensive insurance.
What’s the difference between no-fault and at-fault states?
In no-fault states, each driver is responsible for their medical bills regardless of fault. In at-fault states, the driver found at fault for the accident pays for medical costs.

Sources

National Association of Insurance Commissioners. "Auto Insurance."
Insurance Information Institute. "Auto insurance basics—understanding your coverage."
Insurance Information Institute. "Background on: No-fault auto insurance."

Methodology

Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance quotes from more than 75 partner insurers in order to compile the rates and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.

All the rates listed in this article have been collected from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide readers with insights into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.

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What You Need to Know About At-Fault Accidents

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What Do I Need To Get Car Insurance?

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How Long Does It Take to Get Car Insurance?

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How Much Car Insurance Do You Need?

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Written byJ.J. StarrInsurance Writer

J.J. StarrInsurance Writer

J.J. Starr is an insurance and personal finance expert who has been writing for Compare.com since 2022. Her work has been published across the web, appearing on sites such as Insurify.

Prior to writing for Compare.com, J.J. was a registered banker and life insurance consultant, holding a Series 6, FINRA, and life insurance license. She also earned a master’s degree in writing from New York University.

J.J. has a passion for helping people save money by explaining complex topics like car insurance in a way that is simple and easy to understand.

Car Insurance Requirements by State (2026)

Minimum insurance requirements vary widely by state, and most don’t provide complete financial protection. Knowing your state’s limits helps you decide whether you need more coverage.

State Minimum Car Insurance Requirements

Car Insurance Coverage Required by Law

Find Cheap Car Insurance

Common mandatory coverages

No-Fault vs. At-Fault States

How Coverage Requirements Affect Car Insurance Rates

Is State-Required Car Insurance Coverage Enough?

Optional car insurance coverages to consider

Compare Car Insurance Quotes Instantly

How to Find the Cheapest Car Insurance in Your State

Cheapest Insurer by State

Car Insurance Requirements by State FAQs

Which states don’t require car insurance?

What is the minimum legal requirement for car insurance?

What does minimum coverage car insurance cover?

What does full-coverage car insurance include?

What’s the difference between no-fault and at-fault states?

Sources

Methodology

Related Articles

How Car Insurance Works: Everything You Need to Know Before You Hit the Road

The Best Time to Buy Car Insurance in 2026

What You Need to Know About At-Fault Accidents

What Do I Need To Get Car Insurance?

How Long Does It Take to Get Car Insurance?

Additional Interest vs. Additional Insured: What’s the Difference?

How Much Car Insurance Do You Need?

What is Proof of Insurance and Why Do You Need it?

Compare Car Insurance Quotes Instantly