Updated: March 24, 2025
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Depending on the state, minimum car insurance requirements may include bodily injury liability, property damage liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist and personal injury protection coverage.
The average annual cost of minimum coverage is $628, compared to $1,358 for full coverage policies with higher limits.
While minimum coverage is the cheapest insurance you can buy, it may not cover all your expenses after an accident.
Every state, except New Hampshire, requires minimum liability insurance, which may include bodily injury liability insurance, property damage liability insurance, uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance for bodily injury, uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance for property damage, and personal injury protection or medical payments coverage.
Minimum car insurance requirements, including the type and coverage limits, vary by state. Check the table below for the minimum coverage limits in your state.
State | Requirements |
|---|---|
Alabama | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident |
Alaska | $50,000 bodily injury liability per person $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident |
Arizona | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident |
Arkansas | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident |
California | $30,000 bodily injury liability per person $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident |
Colorado | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident |
Connecticut | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident |
Delaware | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident $15,000 personal injury protection per person $30,000 personal injury protection per accident |
District of Columbia | $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 (subject to $200 deductible) |
Florida | $10,000 property damage liability per accident $10,000 personal injury protection per person |
Georgia | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident |
Hawaii | $20,000 bodily injury liability per person $40,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident $10,000 personal injury protection per person |
Idaho | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident |
Illinois | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $20,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident |
Indiana | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident |
Iowa | $20,000 bodily injury liability per person $40,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident |
Kansas | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident Personal Injury Protection per Person: $4,500 per person for medical expenses $900 a month for a up to a year of disability or loss of income coverage $25 a day for in-home services $4,500 for rehabilition-related expenses $2,000 for funeral, burial or creamation expenses Other: Survivors benefits including up to $900 per month for a year for disability or loss of income and $25 per day for in-home services |
Kentucky | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $10,000 personal injury protection per person |
Louisiana | $15,000 bodily injury liability per person $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident |
Maine | $50,000 bodily injury liability per person $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $100,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident $2,000 medical payments coverage |
Maryland | $30,000 bodily injury liability per person $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident $30,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $60,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident |
Massachusetts | $20,000 bodily injury liability per person $40,000 bodily injury liability per accident $5,000 property damage liability per accident $20,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $40,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident $8,000 personal injury protection per accident |
Michigan | $20,000 bodily injury liability per person $40,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage in another state Unlimited personal injury protection per person Unlimited personal injury protection per accident $1 million property protection |
Minnesota | $30,000 bodily injury liability per person $60,000 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 $40,000 personal injury protection per person |
Mississippi | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident |
Missouri | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident |
Montana | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $20,000 property damage liability per accident |
Nebraska | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident |
Nevada | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $20,000 property damage liability per accident |
New Hampshire | Car insurance is optional in this state, but if you do buy it it must have these limits. $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage $1,000 medical payments coverage |
New Jersey | $5,000 property damage liability per accident $15,000 personal injury protection per person, per accident |
New Mexico | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident |
New York | $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 $50,000 personal injury protection per person Other: $50,000 liability for death per person. $100,000 liability for death per accident. |
North Carolina | $30,000 bodily injury liability per person $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $30,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $60,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage |
North Dakota | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident $30,000 personal injury protection per person |
Ohio | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident |
Oklahoma | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident |
Oregon | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $20,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident $15,000 personal injury protection per person |
Pennsylvania | $15,000 bodily injury liability per person $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident $5,000 property damage liability per accident $5,000 medical payments coverage |
Rhode Island | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident *or $75,000 combined single limit |
South Carolina | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident |
South Dakota | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident |
Tennessee | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident |
Texas | $30,000 bodily injury liability per person $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident |
Utah | $30,000 bodily injury liability per person $65,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $3,000 personal injury protection per person $30,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person $65,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident |
Vermont | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $100,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident $10,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage |
Virginia | $50,000 bodily injury liability per person $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident |
Washington | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident |
West Virginia | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage |
Wisconsin | $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 |
Wyoming | $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $20,000 property damage liability per accident |
*Note: Full coverage insurance — which includes comprehensive and collision coverages — isn't required in any state. However, if you finance or lease your vehicle, your lender or leasing company may require you to maintain a full coverage policy.
In New Hampshire, drivers aren't required to have auto insurance to operate a vehicle legally. Instead, they must show proof they can cover damages if they cause an accident.
Since New Hampshire is a tort state, at-fault drivers must pay for the resulting damages. Purchasing car insurance is a smart choice for financial protection. If you decide to buy a policy, the state's minimum coverage requirements are:
Minimum coverage usually includes liability insurance, which pays for the other driver's bodily injury and property damage expenses when you're at fault. Some states also require:
Since costs from at-fault accidents often exceed minimum limits, experts recommend increasing your coverage beyond state minimums for better financial protection.
When buying auto insurance, knowing the difference between policy types is crucial. Minimum coverage policies meet state requirements but don’t include collision or comprehensive insurance, both of which are part of full coverage policies.
Full coverage is often required if you financed your car through a bank or are leasing it. Leasing agreements usually mandate full coverage for the lease term. For strong financial protection, MoneyGeek recommends 100/300/100 full coverage insurance, which covers:
If affordability is your priority, minimum car insurance is the cheapest option. The average annual cost of auto insurance policies with state minimum coverage limits is $628, though rates vary by state.
Full coverage insurance — which includes liability limits of $300,000 for bodily injury per accident, $100,000 per person and $100,000 for property damage — costs an average of $1,358 per year.
Car insurance costs vary by state, with some having lower average rates than others. The table below shows each state's average minimum car insurance and full coverage costs.
| Alabama | $487 | $1,032 |
| Alaska | $517 | $1,114 |
| Arizona | $738 | $1,510 |
| Arkansas | $517 | $1,319 |
| California | $659 | $1,574 |
| Colorado | $624 | $1,430 |
| Connecticut | $995 | $1,896 |
| Delaware | $1,309 | $2,137 |
| District of Columbia | $845 | $1,679 |
| Florida | $1,013 | $2,206 |
| Georgia | $725 | $1,451 |
| Hawaii | $375 | $863 |
| Idaho | $416 | $861 |
| Illinois | $480 | $1,153 |
| Indiana | $408 | $887 |
| Iowa | $337 | $1,056 |
| Kansas | $553 | $1,359 |
| Kentucky | $577 | $1,291 |
| Louisiana | $780 | $2,202 |
| Maine | $435 | $901 |
| Maryland | $910 | $1,570 |
| Massachusetts | $490 | $1,185 |
| Michigan | $902 | $1,985 |
| Minnesota | $579 | $1,285 |
| Mississippi | $479 | $1,152 |
| Missouri | $715 | $1,603 |
| Montana | $446 | $1,171 |
| Nebraska | $494 | $1,189 |
| Nevada | $1,049 | $1,967 |
| New Hampshire | $389 | $773 |
| New Jersey | $1,108 | $1,927 |
| New Mexico | $522 | $1,189 |
| New York | $1,392 | $2,510 |
| North Carolina | $567 | $1,177 |
| North Dakota | $417 | $972 |
| Ohio | $363 | $830 |
| Oklahoma | $508 | $1,176 |
| Oregon | $806 | $1,404 |
| Pennsylvania | $460 | $1,339 |
| Rhode Island | $734 | $1,401 |
| South Carolina | $909 | $1,797 |
| South Dakota | $385 | $1,189 |
| Tennessee | $455 | $1,129 |
| Texas | $782 | $1,665 |
| Utah | $671 | $1,227 |
| Vermont | $317 | $799 |
| Virginia | $556 | $1,134 |
| Washington | $688 | $1,347 |
| West Virginia | $633 | $1,337 |
| Wisconsin | $427 | $1,078 |
| Wyoming | $266 | $898 |
Several factors help determine the right amount of car insurance, such as your vehicle type and budget. Comparing quotes from multiple providers is key to finding the best policy. Use MoneyGeek's calculator below for quick and accurate quotes.
MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator will give you a customized estimate of your auto insurance cost. It's free to use, requires no personal information and we won't send you any spam.
Rates updated:
Mar 24, 2025
| Insurance Carrier | MoneyGeek Score | Average Monthly Payment | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Capital Insurance Group | 94 /of 100 | $87 | |
| 2 |  GEICO | 82 /of 100 | $109 | |
| 3 | 83 /of 100 | $118 | ||
| 4 | 83 /of 100 | $129 | ||
| 5 | 79 /of 100 | $133 | ||
| 6 | 77 /of 100 | $151 |
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This page explains state minimum car insurance requirements, including mandated coverages, average costs and comparisons between minimum and full coverage policies.
While minimum coverage meets legal requirements and is the most affordable option, it may leave you underinsured after an accident. Full coverage, which includes collision and comprehensive insurance, offers greater financial protection but costs more. Knowing your state’s requirements and assessing your needs helps you choose the right policy.
We answer common questions about state minimum car insurance to help you understand your coverage needs.
State minimum car insurance is the legally required amount of liability coverage you must carry to drive legally in your state. It varies by state and typically covers bodily injury and property damage to others.
No. New Hampshire is the only state that doesn’t require car insurance. However, drivers in New Hampshire must prove financial responsibility to cover damage if they cause an accident.
State minimum coverage meets legal requirements but may leave you financially vulnerable in an accident. If damages exceed your policy limits, you must pay the difference out of pocket.
Uninsured motorist coverage is required in about half of U.S. states. It helps cover your expenses if you're hit by a driver without insurance or in a hit-and-run.
You can check your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website or consult your insurance provider. Many online tools, like MoneyGeek’s car insurance comparison tool, can also help you quickly find state-specific requirements.
No. State minimum insurance typically includes only liability coverage and doesn’t cover damage to your own car. Full coverage policies include collision and comprehensive insurance for better protection.
Why Trust MoneyGeek?
MoneyGeek helps consumers compare insurance prices by analyzing thousands of quotes from various providers and locations. Using data from Quadrant Information Services and state insurance departments, we evaluate affordability and coverage options to provide reliable recommendations.
Study Overview
We examined the average rates for minimum and full car insurance coverage across states, considering factors like traffic violations and accidents.
Data Sources and Depth
Our analysis includes 83,056 quotes from 46 insurers across 473 ZIP codes, using data from state insurance departments and Quadrant Information Services.
Driver Profile
MoneyGeek’s typical driver profile includes:
Coverage Levels and Deductibles
We calculate averages based on the following:
Both use a $1,000 deductible, meaning you pay $1,000 out of pocket before insurance covers the rest. For example, on a $2,000 claim, you pay $1,000, and the insurer pays the remaining $1,000.
Learn more about MoneyGeek's methodology.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
