How much auto insurance coverage do you need?
Find out how much car insurance you need to drive legally in your state.
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Ty Stewart
Licensed Insurance Agent
Ty Stewart is the founder and CEO of SimpleLifeInsure.com. He started researching and studying about insurance when he got his first policy for his own family. He has been featured as an insurance expert speaker at agent conventions and in top publications. As an independent licensed insurance agent, he has helped clients nationwide to secure affordable coverage while making the process simpl...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Apr 27, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our auto insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different auto insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Apr 27, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our auto insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different auto insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Forty-nine states require all drivers to carry a minimum of liability insurance
- Optional coverages are available for drivers who want extra financial protection in the event of a car accident
- Driving without car insurance could result in a ticket, the suspension of your license and/or registration, and out-of-pocket costs to cover property damage and medical expenses
Between property damage and medical payments, drivers can take a huge financial hit if they don’t have car insurance or their coverage isn’t enough. So, to avoid having to pay out-of-pocket costs after an accident, you have to determine your ideal amount of coverage. But even though there is minimum auto insurance requirements in each state, you still might be asking how much car insurance do I need.
We’ll help you figure out how much car insurance coverage is enough for you.
- Car Insurance Coverage
- Does auto insurance cover borrowing a car?
- How much does it cost to replace an airbag?
- Does liability auto insurance cover hitting a deer?
- Does auto insurance cover riot damage?
- Does auto insurance cover repairs?
- Does auto insurance cover engine failure?
- Does auto insurance cover a dead battery?
- Does auto insurance cover DUI accidents?
- Does auto insurance cover a broken side mirror?
- Does auto insurance cover key replacement?
- Does auto insurance cover bullet holes?
- Does auto insurance cover bumper damage?
- Does auto insurance cover accidental damage?
- Does auto insurance covers water leaks?
- Does auto insurance cover roadside assistance?
- Does auto insurance cover hiting a pole?
- Does auto insurance cover hydrolock?
- Buying Collision vs. Comprehensive Coverage: What You Need To Know in 2023
State Minimum Car Insurance Requirements
Each state’s minimum car insurance requirements show how much liability insurance drivers should carry.
Liability auto insurance covers two different types of damages: bodily injury and property damage. Bodily injury covers medical expenses and lost wages for any driver and passenger involved in the accident except the at-fault driver. Property damage covers the cost of damage to the other driver’s vehicle or property.
States | Insurance Coverage Required | Minimum Liability Limits |
---|---|---|
Alabama | Bodily injury and property damage liability | 25/50/25 |
Alaska | Bodily injury and property damage liability | 50/100/25 |
Arizona | Bodily injury and property damage liability | 15/30/10 |
Arkansas | Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) | 25/50/25 |
California | Bodily injury and property damage liability | 15/30/5 |
Colorado | Bodily injury and property damage liability | 25/50/15 |
Connecticut | Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist | 25/50/20 |
Delaware | Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) | 25/50/10 |
Washington, D.C. | Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist | 25/50/10 |
Florida | Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) | 10/20/10 |
Georgia | Bodily injury and property damage liability | 25/50/25 |
Hawaii | Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) | 20/40/10 |
Idaho | Bodily injury and property damage liability | 25/50/15 |
Illinois | Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist | 25/50/20 |
Indiana | Bodily injury and property damage liability | 25/50/25 |
Iowa | Bodily injury and property damage liability | 20/40/15 |
Kansas | Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) | 25/50/25 |
Kentucky | Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist | 25/50/25 |
Louisiana | Bodily injury and property damage liability | 15/30/25 |
Maine | Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist, medical payments (MedPay) | 50/100/25 |
Maryland | Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist | 30/60/15 |
Massachusetts | Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) | 20/40/5 |
Michigan | Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) | 20/40/10 |
Minnesota | Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist | 30/60/10 |
Mississippi | Bodily injury and property damage liability | 25/50/25 |
Missouri | Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist | 25/50/25 |
Montana | Bodily injury and property damage liability | 25/50/20 |
Nebraska | Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist | 25/50/25 |
Nevada | Bodily injury and property damage liability | 25/50/20 |
New Hampshire | Financial responsibility only | 25/50/25 |
New Jersey | Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist | 15/30/5 |
New Mexico | Bodily injury and property damage liability, | 25/50/10 |
New York | Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist | 25/50/10 |
North Carolina | Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist | 30/60/25 |
North Dakota | Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist | 25/50/25 |
Ohio | Bodily injury and property damage liability | 25/50/25 |
Oklahoma | Bodily injury and property damage liability | 25/50/25 |
Oregon | Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist | 25/50/20 |
Pennsylvania | Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) | 15/30/5 |
Rhode Island | Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) | 25/50/25 |
South Carolina | Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist | 25/50/25 |
South Dakota | Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist | 25/50/25 |
Tennessee | Bodily injury and property damage liability | 25/50/15 |
Texas | Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) | 30/60/25 |
Utah | Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) | 25/65/15 |
Vermont | Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist | 25/50/10 |
Virginia | Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist | 25/50/20 |
Washington | Bodily injury and property damage liability | 25/50/10 |
West Virginia | Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist | 25/50/25 |
Wisconsin | Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, medical payments (MedPay) | 25/50/10 |
Wyoming | Bodily injury and property damage liability | 25/50/20 |
When reviewing state car insurance minimums, you’ll see three different numbers, each representing the required amount of coverage. For example, the minimum coverage limits for Washington auto insurance are 25/50/10, so drivers must carry $25,000 in bodily injury coverage, $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 in property damage coverage per accident.
To get an idea of the cost for minimum coverage in each state, take a look at the map below.
In some states, liability coverage is not the only insurance required. These are other common insurance coverages that states mandate:
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM). This insurance covers the cost of your loss if you are involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, as well as property damage and medical expenses in the event of a hit-and-run.
- Medical payments (MedPay) or personal injury protection (PIP). This insurance covers the cost of medical expenses, lost wages, and funeral costs for the policyholder and passengers involved in an accident.
Similar to liability insurance, these coverages are meant to help drivers avoid the out-of-pocket costs associated with car accidents.
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Is state minimum liability insurance enough?
To answer this question, you have to take two important things into account: your location and the type of vehicle you own.
As mentioned, the minimum insurance drivers are required to carry varies by state, so you first want to confirm your state minimum insurance. You can then decide if you want to just cover your vehicle or also cover the cost of any expenses that could result from an accident.
For example, say need Arizona auto insurance, where the state minimum coverage amount for property damage is $10,000. If you were to get into an accident and cause $22,000 worth of property damage to the other driver’s vehicle, your liability insurance would only cover $10,000, leaving you to pay the difference of $12,000. To avoid having to pay out of pocket or being sued by the other driver, you could opt for the highest liability coverage offered by your insurance company.
Because you’ll still have your car to consider when purchasing insurance, this is where additional coverage comes in handy. Any damage done to your car will not be covered by liability, so you’ll have to pay out of pocket. However, if you have collision insurance, damage to your vehicle can be covered.
Drivers should keep in mind that depending on the value of their vehicle and the status of ownership, they will be required to carry comprehensive insurance and collision insurance. For example, someone who has financed or leased a vehicle will be required to carry collision and comprehensive insurance. According to AAA, the average annual cost of full coverage car insurance is between $1,200 and $1,350, depending on the type and size of the vehicle.
How to Choose a Deductible
Over 70% of drivers purchased comprehensive and collision coverage, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). But unlike liability coverage, collision and comprehensive coverage carry a car insurance deductible, meaning if your vehicle is damaged in an accident you caused, you need to pay a fee before your insurance will cover the cost of repairs for your vehicle.
Luckily, you’ll get to choose the deductible, which typically ranges between $250 and $1,000. The lower the deductible, the higher your premium, but you also want to choose a deductible you could afford if an accident occurred.
Optional Car Insurance Coverage
So, you now know liability insurance, collision insurance, and comprehensive insurance work great in combination to offer financial protection in the event of a car accident, but there are additional optional coverages available to drivers who want to ensure they are covered in a variety of situations.
Additional optional car insurance coverages include the following:
- GAP insurance. This insurance covers the difference between your remaining loan balance and the cash value of your car. If you own a car that is worth $12,000, but your loan balance is $15,000, GAP insurance will cover the remaining $3,000.
- Rental reimbursement. Rental reimbursement covers the cost of a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired.
- Roadside assistance. This add-on covers the cost of various services, including a locksmith, tow truck, fuel delivery, and jump start.
Not all drivers may find these additional coverages necessary, but depending on your situation, purchasing GAP insurance, rental reimbursement, and/or roadside assistance can save you a lot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to have car insurance in every state?
Although each state has different car insurance requirements, liability insurance is necessary for 49 states because it is designed to protect people from the negative financial impact of another driver’s negligence. And in some states, drivers are also required to carry personal injury protection or uninsured motorist.
Which states don’t require car insurance?
New Hampshire doesn’t require car insurance, but in the event of an accident, drivers have to prove they can meet the state’s minimum financial responsibility requirements.
What are the consequences of driving without insurance?
Driving without car insurance could result in a ticket and/or the suspension of your license and registration if you are pulled over. If you are involved in an accident, you’d pay for property damage and medical bills out of pocket, which can amount to thousands of dollars. And a failure to cover these costs could lead to wage garnishment or the seizure of your assets if the other driver sues.
How long is car insurance required?
Since car insurance keeps you financially safe in the event of a car accident, it is necessary for any period of time you own and drive the car. At the very least, you’ll have to keep liability insurance. However, collision and comprehensive aren’t necessary for all situations, such as if you can afford to replace your vehicle out of pocket if it is damaged or totaled in an accident or if the value of your vehicle is low.
Why do you need car insurance?
Car insurance protects you and other drivers on the road from financial ruin. Insurance covers property damage and medical bills from an accident or other incident involving a vehicle, and it’s required in most states.
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Ty Stewart
Licensed Insurance Agent
Ty Stewart is the founder and CEO of SimpleLifeInsure.com. He started researching and studying about insurance when he got his first policy for his own family. He has been featured as an insurance expert speaker at agent conventions and in top publications. As an independent licensed insurance agent, he has helped clients nationwide to secure affordable coverage while making the process simpl...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.