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State minimum car insurance

You often need at least liability coverage to hit the road. But is minimal protection right for you?

Most states require a minimum amount of car insurance protection before you can get on the road, but the requirements are different from state to state. However, this level of protection might not be enough to cover all of your car damage or medical bills after an accident. Look at whether you should add optional coverage or buy a higher coverage limit, which is the maximum dollar amount that your insurance will pay for a claim. If your car isn’t worth much and you don’t have many assets, state minimum car insurance might be right for you.

State minimum car insurance in all 50 states

Find the limits in your state to find out how much insurance you need to have at a minimum.

StateMinimum requirements
Alabama25/50/25

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
Alaska50/100/25

  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $100,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
Arizona25/50/15

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $15,000 property damage liability total per accident

In Arizona, you are not required to have auto insurance to legally drive in the state. However, if you choose not to purchase insurance, you must put up a $40,000 bond to prove you can pay for damages in case of an accident.

Arkansas25/50/25

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
California15/30/5

  • $15,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $30,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $5,000 property damage liability total per accident
Colorado25/50/15

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $15,000 property damage liability total per accident
Connecticut25/50/50 + UM + UIM

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
    • $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
    • $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage total per accident
Delaware25/50/10

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $10,000 property damage liability total per accident
FloridaPDL + PIP

  • $10,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $10,000 personal injury protection
Georgia25/50/25

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
Hawaii20/40/10 + PIP

  • $20,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $40,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $10,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $10,000 personal injury protection
Idaho25/50/15 + UM

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $15,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage total per accident
Illinois25/50/20 + UM

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $20,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage total per accident
Indiana25/50/25

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
Iowa20/40/15

  • $20,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $40,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $15,000 property damage liability total per accident
Kansas25/50/25 + UM + PIP

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage total per accident
  • Personal injury protection (PIP) with the following minimums:
  • $4,500 per person in medical expenses
  • $900 a month for disability or loss of income
  • $2,000 for burial or cremation expenses
  • $4,500 for rehabilitation
Kentucky25/50/25 + PIP

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $10,000 personal injury protection
Louisiana15/30/25

  • $15,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $30,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
Maine50/100/25 + UM + PIP

  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $100,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
  • $100,000 uninsured motorist coverage total per accident
  • $2,000 medical expenses coverage
Maryland30/60/15 + UM + UIM + PIP

  • $30,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $60,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $15,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $2,500 personal injury protection
  • $30,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
  • $60,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident
  • $15,000 uninsured/underinsured property damage coverage per accident
Massachusetts20/40/5 + UM + PIP

  • $20,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $40,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $5,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $20,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
  • $40,000 uninsured motorist coverage total per accident
  • $8,000 personal injury protection
Michigan50/100/10 + PIP

  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $100,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $10,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $50,000 minimum if you have Medicaid
  • $250,000 in PIP for most drivers
  • Opt out if your health insurance covers accident injuries
  • $1 million property protection — which covers buildings and parked cars

In Michigan, you are required to have no-fault car insurance that covers injuries and damages regardless of who’s at fault.

Minnesota30/60/10 + UM + UIM + PIP

  • $30,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $60,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $10,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage total per accident
  • $40,000 personal injury protection
Mississippi25/50/25

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
Missouri25/50/25 + UM

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage total per accident
Montana25/50/20

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $20,000 property damage liability total per accident
Nebraska25/50/25 + UM + UIM

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage total per accident
Nevada25/50/20

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $20,000 property damage liability total per accident
New Hampshire25/50/25 + UM + UIM + PIP

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage total per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage
  • $1,000 medical payments coverage

In New Hampshire, having car insurance is optional.
However if you are ever at-fault in an accident, the owner of the vehicle will still have to pay for any bodily injury or property damage. Below are the minimum limits in case one does decide to purchase insurance in New Hampshire.

New Jersey15/30/5 + PIP

  • $15,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $30,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $5,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $15,000 medical payments coverage
New Mexico25/50/10

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $10,000 property damage liability total per accident
New York25/50/10 + UM + PIP

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $10,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $50,000 liability for death per person
  • $100,000 liability for death per accident
  • $50,000 personal injury protection
  • $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage total per accident
North Carolinaremoved30/60/25 + UM

  • $30,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $60,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $30,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
  • $60,000 uninsured motorist coverage total per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured motorist property damage coverage total per accident
North Dakota25/50/25 + UM

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage total per accident
  • $30,000 uninsured motorist property damage coverage total per accident
Ohio25/50/25

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
Oklahoma25/50/25

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
Oregon25/50/20 + UM + PIP

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $20,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage total per accident
  • $15,000 personal injury protection
Pennsylvania15/30/5 + PIP

  • $15,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $30,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $5,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $5,000 medical benefits
Rhode Island25/50/25

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
South Carolina25/50/25 + UM

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage total per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured motorist property damage coverage
South Dakota25/50/25 + UM

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage total per accident
Tennessee25/50/15

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $15,000 property damage liability total per accident
Texas30/60/25

  • $30,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $60,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
Utah25/65/15 + PIP

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $65,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $15,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $3,000 personal injury protection
Vermont25/50/10 + UM

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $10,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
  • $100,000 uninsured motorist coverage total per accident
  • $10,000 uninsured motorist property damage coverage total per accident
Virginia25/50/20 + UM + UIM

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $20,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident
  • $20,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage per accident

In Virginia, you do not have to buy car insurance as long as the driver can prove they have a way to pay for injuries of property damage in case of an at-fault accident. Below are the minimums in Virginia in case you decide to purchase insurance.

Washington25/50/10

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $10,000 property damage liability total per accident
Washington, DC25/50/10 + UM + UIM

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $10,000 property damage liability per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident
  • $5,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage per accident
West Virginia25/50/25 + UM

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability total per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage total per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured motorist property damage coverage
  • Wisconsin25/50/10 + UM

    • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
    • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
    • $10,000 property damage liability total per accident
    • $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
    • $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage total per accident
    Wyoming25/50/20

    • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
    • $50,000 bodily injury liability total per accident
    • $20,000 property damage liability total per accident

    The cost of state minimum car insurance

    Average insurance rates vary by state, but expect to pay around $400 to $600 for the cheapest rates.

    The good news is many online quotes automatically default to your state’s minimum requirements. You’ll also be able to see explanations of the limits and what each coverage type means, which makes it easier to understand what you’re covered for.

    CompanyAverage annual rateLearn more
    Geico$394Read review
    USAA$416Read review
    Progressive$536Read review
    Grange$557Read review
    Mercury$564
    Kemper$615Read review
    21st Century$651Read review
    Allied$666Read review
    Nationwide$666Read review
    Allstate$693Read review
    Liberty Mutual$709Read review
    State Farm$726Read review
    The Hartford$727Read review
    Average$598Compare all reviews

    Why does every state have different minimum insurance requirements?

    Like most US laws, every state gets to decide most of the laws for its residents, other than federal laws which apply to every state. And while many states have similar 25/50/25 liability limits, only about half the US requires uninsured or PIP coverage.

    Uninsured driver rates tend to increase in states with higher requirements because this leads to higher insurance costs and more drivers who can’t afford to get insurance.

    Minimum liability limits are also difficult to change, since this would require data gathering to support the decision and new legislature to be drafted and passed. That’s why many states haven’t changed their liability limits in decades.

    Bottom line

    Make sure you’re covered with at least the minimum coverage limits for your state so that you can drive legally. But because state minimum coverage leaves you unprotected for certain kinds of damage, it pays to compare additional coverage you need on top of the bare minimum, such as full coverage.

    Roslyn McKenna's headshot
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    Publisher

    Roslyn McKenna Ayers is insurance manager at ValuePenguin and a former publisher at Finder, specializing in home and auto coverage. Her expertise and analysis has been featured on Bankrate, MSN and Reader's Digest. She holds a BA in writing and communications from Maryville College. See full bio

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