Every state has different auto insurance requirements. The minimum requirement is the amount of auto insurance coverage that each driver must carry to comply with the law in their state.

In this guide, we will discuss the auto insurance requirements by state and the average rates from top insurance companies.

Key Highlights
  • Auto insurance requirements vary by state, but most states require you to have a minimum level of liability coverage.
  • Liability coverage protects you from being sued if an accident that was your fault causes harm to another person or their property.
  • Liability insurance doesn’t cover injuries or damage to your property.
  • Some states require you to have other coverages in addition to liability. These may include uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection.
Table of Contents

What is state minimum car insurance?

State minimum car insurance is the minimum liability coverage your state requires you to have. The specific coverage amount varies by state.

Liability insurance covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to others in an accident, but it won’t pay for the damages to your car or your injuries. CarInsurance.com recommends a full coverage policy comprising collision and comprehensive coverage if you need complete protection or are financing a vehicle.

Minimum liability car insurance requirements by state

Most states require some form of car insurance – the exceptions are Virginia and New Hampshire. In Virginia, you must pay an uninsured motorist fee of $500.

See the table below, which has the minimum liability car insurance requirements by state and other types of required insurance.

Minimum liability car insurance requirements by state
State Minimum liability coverage limits Other insurance required (if any)
Alabama25/50/25 
Alaska50/100/25 
Arizona25/50/15 
Arkansas25/50/25 
California15/30/5 
Colorado25/50/15 
Connecticut25/50/25UM/UIM
Delaware25/50/10PIP
District of Columbia25/50/10UM, UMPD
Florida*0/0/10PIP
Georgia25/50/25 
Hawaii20/40/10PIP
Idaho20/50/15 
Illinois25/50/20UM
Indiana25/50/25UM
Iowa20/40/15 
Kansas25/50/25UM/UIM, PIP
Kentucky25/50/25PIP
Louisiana15/30/25 
Maine50/100/25UM/UIM, MedPay
Maryland*****30/60/15UM/UIM, UMPD, PIP
Massachusetts20/40/5UM/UIM, PIP
Michigan50/100/10PIP, PPI
Minnesota30/60/10UM/UIM, PIP
Mississippi25/50/25 
Missouri25/50/25UM
Montana25/50/20 
Nebraska25/50/25UM/UIM
Nevada25/50/20 
New Hampshire**25/50/25UM/UIM, MedPay
New Jersey******25/50/25UM/UIM, PIP
New Mexico25/50/10 
New York25/50/10UM, PIP
North Carolina30/60/25UM, UMPD
North Dakota25/50/25UM/UIM, PIP
Ohio25/50/25 
Oklahoma25/50/25 
Oregon25/50/20UM, PIP
Pennsylvania15/30/5PIP, which is called “First Party Benefits Coverage”
Rhode Island***25/50/25 
South Carolina25/50/25UM, UMPD
South Dakota25/50/25UM/UIM
Tennessee25/50/25 
Texas30/60/25 
Utah25/65/15PIP
Vermont25/50/10UM/UIM, UMPD
Virginia****30/60/20*UM/UIM, UMPD
Washington25/50/10 
West Virginia25/50/25UM, UMPD
Wisconsin25/50/10UM, UIM
Wyoming25/50/20 

* Florida doesn’t require bodily injury liability coverage, but many insurers only offer policies with minimum amounts of 10/20 of bodily injury coverage.

** Auto insurance isn’t mandatory in New Hampshire, but if you choose to buy insurance, these are the minimum amounts.

*** Rhode Island doesn’t require drivers to buy UM/UIM coverage if buying minimum liability coverage. If you buy higher liability limits, UM is required.

 **** You can drive without insurance in Virginia, but you have to pay an uninsured motorist fee of $500.

*****In Maryland, full PIP can be waived for a limited PIP option.

******In New Jersey, a basic policy with lower limits also is available but should only be considered by those with few family responsibilities and few real assets and is not recommended.

Key to acronyms:

  • MedPay: Medical payments coverage
  • PIP: Personal injury protection
  • PPI: Property protection insurance
  • UM: Uninsured motorist coverage
  • UIM: Underinsured motorist coverage
  • UMPD: Uninsured motorist property damage coverage

How much does minimum liability car insurance cost?

Below, you can see the average rates by state for minimum liability levels of coverage, according to 2022 data.

Minimum liability car insurance cost, by state
State State Minimum Liability Only
Alaska$336
Alabama$372
Arkansas$349
Arizona$452
California$578
Colorado$437
Connecticut$751
Washington, D.C.$577
Delaware$835
Florida$878
Georgia$504
Hawaii$389
Iowa$263
Idaho$294
Illinois$423
Indiana$346
Kansas$380
Kentucky$579
Louisiana$623
Massachusetts$534
Maryland$580
Maine$338
Michigan$731
Minnesota$475
Missouri$484
Mississippi$406
Montana$343
North Carolina$385
North Dakota$329
Nebraska$321
New Hampshire$395
New Jersey$994
New Mexico$372
Nevada$655
New York$875
Ohio$287
Oklahoma$329
Oregon$535
Pennsylvania$315
Rhode Island$593
South Carolina$628
South Dakota$267
Tennessee$329
Texas$509
Utah$501
Virginia$444
Vermont$285
Washington$443
Wisconsin$324
West Virginia$430
Wyoming$288
Learn more about minimum car insurance requirements

Average rates for minimum liability car insurance, by company

Even with bare-bones coverage, you can still save on car insurance by comparing rates. The difference between the highest and lowest rate fielded from major insurers can vary widely. 

To compare car insurance rates by company, below you’ll see how major insurers rank on price for state minimum liability coverage in 2022.

 Average rates of minimum liability insurance, by company
Company State Minimum Liability Only
Allstate$555
American Family$563
American National Finance$187
Amica Mutual$446
Arbella Insurance$483
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$517
Auto-Owners$355
Automobile Club MI (AAA)$533
Geico$326
Chubb Ltd$372
Country Financial$453
CSAA Insurance (AAA)$525
Erie Insurance$334
Farmers$632
Frankenmuth Insurance$302
The Hartford$623
Iowa Farm Bureau$305
Island Insurance$415
Kemper Insurance$694
Kentucky Farm Bureau$432
Mapfre Insurance$270
Mercury Insurance$719
National General Insurance$786
Nationwide$495
New Jersey Manufacturers$494
North Carolina Farm Bureau$353
Oklahoma Farm Bureau$509
Palisades$535
Progressive$551
Safety Insurance$426
Safeway Insurance$1,075
Sentry Insurance$1,588
Shelter Insurance$530
Southern Farm Bureau$333
State Farm$432
The Hanover$1,601
Travelers$531
USAA$294
Vermont Mutual$231
Western National Mutual$355
Westfield Insurance$394

Which states don’t require car insurance?

New Hampshire and Virginia are the two states that don’t require car insurance.

Driving without car insurance is legal in New Hampshire. However, drivers will still be held liable for damages they cause to others and can expect their licenses and registrations to be suspended if they are unable to compensate for damages.

Virginia drivers who want to avoid getting car insurance can do so by paying $500 every year to the state, but this doesn’t provide any accident coverage to them. The at-fault driver still remains liable for any damages they cause during an accident.

Read about the penalties for driving without insurance in your state

Tip iconYou might also be interested in

Resources & Methodology

Methodology:

CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to pull rates in 2022 for a 40-year-old male driver with a good driving record.

– Michelle Megna contributed to this story.

author image
Laura Longero
Executive Editor

Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.