Cheap car insurance in New Hampshire

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Most popular New Hampshire auto insurance companies list

Average car insurance costs in New Hampshire

New Hampshire lands on the cheap side of the national average for car insurance costs, typically in the range of $1,100 to $1,200 per year. This means if you’re looking for standard coverage, you could pay a price close to that range.

New Hampshire has midsize cities like Manchester with 110,000 residents and small hamlets like Hancock with just 1,500. With many rural areas and more empty acres of land than there are people, there tends to be a variety in insurance costs.

Within a small state like this one, the rule of thumb is if you live in a more rural area, you’re likely to pay less. If you live in cities like Manchester and Concord you’re likely to pay more to insure your car.

Which city has the cheapest car insurance in New Hampshire?

Of New Hampshire’s largest cities, Concord has the cheapest rates and Manchester has the most expensive car insurance rates. Manchester drivers could face rates two times more than Concord drivers.

• Derry
• Manchester
• Salem
• Concord
• Nashua

State minimum requirements in New Hampshire

This is where things get really interesting. New Hampshire is one of a few states that actually doesn’t require car insurance coverage to drive. So what is required? If you cause an accident involving another car, you’re liable for damages and injuries resulting from the accident — so whether you have insurance or not, there’s probably a big bill to pay.

Despite having no legal obligation, most New Hampshire drivers opt to get car insurance anyway so they’re covered if an accident happens. And the state’s 9.9% rate of uninsured drivers is actually lower than the 13% national average in 2015.

If you do decide to carry car insurance in this state, your policy should include at least:

• Liability coverage. You must carry at least $25,000 for bodily injury, per person; $50,000 for bodily injury, if multiple people are injured in an accident; $25,000 for property damage.
• Medical payments coverage. Must be for at least $1,000.
• Uninsured motorist coverage. Must match your liability coverage amounts.

What optional coverage should I consider?

You can also get additional types of insurance to better protect yourself, including:

• Collision. Helps pay for repairs if your car is damaged in an accident.
• Comprehensive. Covers you in case your car is damaged by something other than an accident — for instance, a fire or vandalism.
• Medical and funeral services. Assists in paying for medical bills or funeral services as a result of an accident.
• Rental. Covers some of the costs of renting a car while waiting for your car to be repaired after an accident.

Can I get SR-22 insurance in New Hampshire?

No, New Hampshire doesn’t mandate an SR-22 filing, though you might need to maintain your out-of-state SR-22 if you move here from another state. An SR-22 certificate tells the state you have at least the minimum required insurance to get back on the road.

Bottom line

If you drive in New Hampshire without car insurance, you aren’t breaking the law, but you’re opening yourself up to some very large risks. And if you’re involved in an accident, the financial and legal consequences could be far more painful than paying regular insurance premiums. Consider your car insurance options in New Hampshire to find the best coverage for you and your vehicle.

Frequently asked questions

• What can I use as proof of insurance?

  New Hampshire allows for an insurance ID card or using a smartphone or screen.

• How is one driver assigned fault or blame in a multi-vehicle accident?

  When there’s a multi-vehicle accident, it’s often because one or both of the vehicles violated a traffic law, sign or signal. For example, when two cars collide in an intersection, it means one driver ignored the lights or signs and drove into traffic that had the right of way. The vehicle that broke the law or violated the traffic rules is held responsible for the accident.

  If two cars both crash while racing down a country road and exceeding the speed limit, there’s a good chance that no blame would be assigned at all, leaving each motorist to cover their own damages or injuries or else rely on comprehensive insurance coverage.