New Hampshire and Virginia are the only two states that don’t require car insurance. That said, there is no one country-wide rule when it comes to how much car insurance you have to have. Each state has a different minimum amount of car insurance that drivers must obtain in order to legally drive on public roads. In other words, how much auto insurance coverage you legally need depends on the state you live in.
Some states only require liability insurance, which covers bodily injury (BI) and property damage (PD) you do to someone else. Other states might require extra medical coverage or what’s often known as personal injury protection (PIP), which covers health care bills you or your passengers incur. And some states might require uninsured and/or underinsured motorist insurance, but then in other states this type of coverage could be optional.
Collision and comprehensive coverage are always optional no matter what state you live in, but they are still important protection nonetheless. If you’re confused, there's good news: You really only have to worry about the requirements where you live, so you can jump to your home state and make sure your coverage fits the mandatory minimums.
What types of car insurance coverage are required?
Car insurance requirements vary, but nearly all states require drivers to have some amount of liability coverage. Other components of car insurance are required in some states and not in others, but it’s important to familiarize yourself with the types of coverage that make up a car insurance policy. Below we broke down the basic components of what’s typically referred to as a “full coverage” car insurance policy:
Coverage Type | What It Does |
|---|---|
Bodily injury liability | The part of your liability coverage that pays for medical bills if you've injured someone in an accident |
Property damage liability | The other part of liability coverage, covers the cost of property damage you've caused in an accident |
Personal injury protection | Covers medical expenses for you or your passengers after an accident |
Uninsured/underinsured motorist | Covers the costs if you're in an accident caused by a driver with little or no car insurance |
Comprehensive | Covers damage to your car that happens when you're not driving |
Collision | Covers damage to your car after a car accident, no matter who was at fault |
Like we mentioned above, comprehensive and collision coverage are optional in every state, yet this type of coverage offers valuable protection for your vehicle, which isn’t covered by your liability coverage. Comprehensive coverage covers damage that happens to your car when you’re not driving, like from falling objects, or weather damage, like hail. Comprehensive coverage also pays to replace your car if it’s stolen. And collision coverage covers damage from collisions no matter who was at fault.
➞ Learn more about comprehensive and collision coverage
Car insurance requirements for all 50 states
You need to meet the minimum amount of car insurance requirement based on the state you live in, meaning your permanent address. If you move out of state, you might need to add additional car insurance coverage to your policy based on your new state’s requirements.
Alabama
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Alaska
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $50,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $100,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Arizona
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $15,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Arkansas
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
California
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $15,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $30,000
Property damage liability coverage: $5,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Notes: California also helps low-income drivers who otherwise would not procure car insurance get a policy through the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan. The minimum liability limits for one of these policies is 15/30/5.
Colorado
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $15,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Connecticut
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage per accident: $25,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person; $50,000 per accident
Delaware
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $10,000
Personal injury protection: $15,000 per person; $30,000 per accident
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
District of Columbia
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $10,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 BI per person; $50,000 BI per accident and $5,000 PD per accident
Florida
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: Optional, unless otherwise specified by the state ($10,000)
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: Optional, unless otherwise specified by the state ($20,000)
Property damage liability coverage: $10,000
Personal injury protection: $10,000
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Georgia
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Hawaii
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $20,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $40,000
Property damage liability coverage: $10,000
Personal injury protection: $10,000
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Idaho
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $15,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Illinois
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $20,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage: $25,000 per person; $50,000 per accident
Underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Indiana
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Uninsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per accident
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Notes: Indiana specifies insurers include UM/UMI at $50,000 per accident unless it is expressly rejected in writing.
Iowa
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $20,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $40,000
Property damage liability coverage: $15,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Kansas
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: $4,500 per accident
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person; $50,000 per accident
Kentucky
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: $10,000 per accident, however PIP coverage can be rejected in writing
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional, but Kentucky specifies the insurer include UM/UMI at $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident unless expressly rejected in writing by the policyholder
Louisiana
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $15,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $30,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Maine
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $50,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $100,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
MedPay: Maine requires motorists to carry $2,000 in coverage for any injuries they or their passengers incur
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $50,000 per person; $100,000 per accident
Maryland
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $30,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $60,000
Property damage liability coverage: $15,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $30,000 per person; $60,000 per incident; and $15,000 in PD coverage
Massachusetts
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $20,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $40,000
Property damage liability coverage: $5,000
Personal injury protection: $8,000 per person in accident
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $20,000 per person; $40,000 per incident
Michigan
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $ $20,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $40,000
Property damage liability coverage: $10,000
Personal injury protection: Amount varies depending on health insurance (see notes)
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Notes: Michigan requires drivers to carry PIP coverage, though the exact amount required depends on the type and amount of health insurance coverage they have. Michigan also requires property protection insurance (PPI), with a minimum limit of $1 million in property damage coverage. PPI can cover damages regardless of who caused the accident, as Michigan is a no fault state.
Minnesota
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $30,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $60,000
Property damage liability coverage: $10,000
Personal injury protection: $20,000 per accident; $20,000 for loss of income per accident
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person; $50,000 per accident
Mississippi
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Missouri
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $10,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person; $50,000 per incident
Montana
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $20,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Notes: Insurers have to offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage but it can be declined by the driver in writing.
Nebraska
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person; $50,000 per accident
Nevada
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $20,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
Note: Nevada drivers can reject uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in writing.
New Hampshire
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: Legally optional, but, if purchased, $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: Legally optional, but, if purchased, $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: Legally optional, but, if purchased, $25,000
Personal injury protection: Legally optional, but, if purchased, $1,000 per accident for medical expenses solely
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Legally optional, but, if purchased, must match your liability limits
Notes: New Hampshire doesn’t mandate drivers carry car insurance. However, motorists are still responsible for paying for bodily injury and property damages if they cause a car accident. (The easiest way to do this? Insurance.) And, if you do choose to buy car insurance in New Hampshire, you must meet the minimums above. If you can’t afford to buy car insurance, you may get coverage through the New Hampshire Automobile Insurance Plan.
New Jersey
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000 (Standard)
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000 (Standard)
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000 (Standard)
Personal injury protection: $15,000 per accident, plus up to $250,000 for severe injuries for a standard policy (Basic/Standard)
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Must match liability limits if purchasing a standard policy
Notes: New Jersey mandates motorists carry Basic or Standard policy. The Basic Policy, a result of the Automobile Insurance Cost Reduction Act, costs less but provides limited coverage (with no bodily injury liability available).
New Mexico
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $10,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
New York
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $10,000
Personal injury protection: $50,000 per person
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person; $50,000 per accident
Notes: New York also requires motorists carry wrongful death coverage, with minimum limits of $50,000 for one death per accident and $100,000 for multiple deaths per accident.
North Carolina
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $30,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $60,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Must match highest BI minimum ($60,000 per accident)
North Dakota
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: $30,000 maximum per person
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person; $50,000 per accident
Ohio
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Oklahoma
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Oregon
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $20,000
Personal injury protection: $15,000 per person
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Equal to the state’s liability minimums ($25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident)
Pennsylvania
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $15,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $30,000
Property damage liability coverage: $5,000
Personal injury protection: $5,000 per person in medical benefit coverage
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Rhode Island
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
Note: Uninsured motorist property damage coverage can be expressly rejected in writing in Rhode Island.
South Carolina
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Coverage must equal liability limits ($25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident)
South Dakota
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person; $50,000 person incident
Tennessee
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Texas
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $30,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $60,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Utah
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $65,000
Property damage liability coverage: $15,000
Personal injury protection: $3,000 per person
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
Notes: Utah drivers can choose a single bodily injury + property damage coverage option of $80,000.
Vermont
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $10,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $50,000 per person; $100,000 per accident; and $10,000 PD
Virginia
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $30,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $60,000
Property damage liability coverage: $20,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Coverage must match your liability limits, so $30,000 per person and $60,000 per incident
Notes: In lieu of car insurance, you can pay the Virginia DMV a fee of $500 to drive uninsured. This will not protect you financially, and if you cause a car accident, you are financially responsible for all bodily injuries and property damage that you cause.
Washington
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $10,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
West Virginia
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Coverage must equal liability coverage ($25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident). But there’s also a state maximum of 100/300/50.
Wisconsin
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $10,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person; $50,000 per accident
Wyoming
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $20,000
Personal injury protection: Optional
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Optional
States that don’t require car insurance
The only two states that don’t require car insurance are New Hampshire and Virginia. Drivers in Virginia can pay the state $500 a year in lieu of car insurance, but that cost does not provide coverage in the event of an accident. While car insurance is not mandatory in either state, residents are still liable for bodily injury or property damage they cause.
Should I get minimum-coverage or full-coverage auto insurance?
Car insurance minimums are meant to be a starting point for coverage, but they may not cover the full cost of an accident, and the minimums alone may not pay for damage to your vehicle. Every state that requires car insurance coverage includes liability, and some require you to have personal injury protection or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, but none require comprehensive and collision coverage. However comp and collision, which cover damage to your car even if you’re at fault, are an important part of a robust policy.
Collision coverage pays for damage to your car after an accident, no matter who caused it, and comprehensive coverage covers the type of damage that can happen to your car when you’re not driving it. That means if a tree branch falls and dents your hood or you back into a tree and smash your rear bumper and you don’t have comp and collision coverage, you’ll have to pay the costs to repair your car yourself. An important detail to note — if you financed or lease your car, your lienholder or lessor likely requires you to have comp and collision on your car insurance policy.
There are some drivers for whom it makes sense to drop comp and collision coverage, like if your car is already worth so little that if it were damaged in an accident it wouldn’t be worth paying to repair it. But for most drivers, a full coverage policy that includes comp and collision coverage is the best protection.
What happens if you get caught driving without your state’s required amount of insurance?
The consequences of driving under insured or driving uninsured vary from state to state. If you get pulled over, or get into a car accident, and you don’t have your state’s required amount of car insurance, there are a few things that could happen.
If you cause an accident and you’re underinsured, you could be stuck paying out of pocket for a lot of the damages or injuries
If you’re unable to pay for damage you caused, you may face wage garnishment
Fines or tickets, which could potentially cost hundreds or thousands of dollars
Driver’s license and vehicle registration suspension
Your car could be towed or impounded
Higher car insurance rates in the future
Information in this article is sourced from the Insurance Information Institute, individual state insurance and DMV offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the most common type of insurance that states require?
Liability coverage is mandatory in all but two states. It covers any damage or injury to other drivers and their vehicles that you cause in an accident. Some states, called “no fault states” require drivers to use their own insurance to cover any injuries after an accident — in these states, drivers are required to have personal injury protection.
Do you have to have car insurance in the state you live in?
Your car should be registered in the state where you live and insured up to (and beyond) the minimum car insurance requirements in that state. For example, if you live in New York, you’re required to have a minimum of $10,000 in property damage liability coverage. But if you move from New York to Tennessee, you’ll be required to meet Tennessee’s minimum car insurance requirements, which mandate at least $15,000 in property damage liability coverage.
Which states do not have mandatory car insurance?
New Hampshire and Virginia are the only two states that don’t require car insurance. In Virginia, drivers can pay the state a fee of $500 instead of buying car insurance, but that leaves them on the hook for damage they cause in an accident. In New Hampshire, residents are also still required to pay for any bodily injury or property damage they cause if they don’t have car insurance, and the best way to cover those costs is to have car insurance.
