How much car insurance do I need?

Sarah Li Cain

BLUEPRINT

Updated 8:53 a.m. UTC May 6, 2024

Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy.

Key points

Most states require drivers to have liability car insurance, but the minimum amount required varies.
Depending on your state, you may also be required to carry other types of coverage, like uninsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection.
If you lease or finance your car, you will likely be required to carry collision and comprehensive insurance.
Purchasing only the minimum car insurance required by your state may not provide you with adequate coverage.

Nearly all states require you to carry a minimum amount of liability car insurance to drive legally. Many states require you to purchase other types of coverage as well, such as personal injury protection, medical payments or uninsured motorist insurance. If you finance your vehicle, you may also have additional car insurance requirements from your lender.

To protect yourself financially, it’s a good idea to purchase more than the minimum car insurance requirements in your state.

Car insurance requirements by state

Every state except New Hampshire requires drivers to carry liability car insurance. This insurance covers accident-related medical and property damage expenses for others if you’re at fault for an accident, up to your policy limits. It can also cover your legal fees and settlements if you’re sued because of the accident.

Depending on where you live, you may be required to purchase additional types of car insurance coverage, such as uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist, personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments (MedPay).

The types and amount of coverage required varies by state.

Minimum car insurance requirements by state

State	Bodily injury liability (per person/per accident)	Property damage liability (per accident)	Other requirements
Alabama	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000
Alaska	$50,000/$100,000	$25,000
Arizona	$25,000/$50,000	$15,000
Arkansas	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000
California	$15,000/$30,000	$5,000
Colorado	$25,000/$50,000	$15,000
Connecticut	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000	$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident
Delaware	$25,000/$50,000	$10,000	$15,000 personal injury per person $30,000 personal injury per accident
Florida	$10,000/$20,000	$10,000	$10,000 personal injury protection
Georgia	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000
Hawaii	$20,000/$40,000	$10,000	$10,000 personal injury protection
Idaho	$25,000/$50,000	$15,000
Illinois	$25,000/$50,000	$20,000	$25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
Indiana	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000
Iowa	$20,000/$40,000	$15,000
Kansas	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000	$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $4,500 personal injury protection per person
Kentucky	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000	$10,000 personal injury protection per person
Louisiana	$15,000/$30,000	$25,000
Maine	$50,000/$100,000	$25,000	$50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $100,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $2,000 medical payments
Maryland	$30,000/$60,000	$15,000	$30,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $60,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $15,000 uninsured motorist property damage per accident $2,500 personal injury protection
Massachusetts	$20,000/$40,000	$5,000	$20,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $40,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $8,000 personal injury protection
Michigan	$50,000/$100,000	$10,000	$250,000 personal injury protection (amount can vary) $1,000,000 personal property insurance
Minnesota	$30,000/$60,000	$10,000	$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $40,000 personal injury protection per person
Mississippi	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000
Missouri	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000	$25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
Montana	$25,000/$50,000	$20,000
Nebraska	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000	$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident
Nevada	$25,000/$50,000	$20,000
New Hampshire (typically not required)	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000	$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $1,000 medical payments
New Jersey	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000	$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage per accident; $15,000 personal injury protection
New Mexico	$25,000/$50,000	$10,000
New York	$25,000/$50,000	$10,000	$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $50,000 personal injury protection
North Carolina	$30,000/$60,000	$25,000	$30,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person $60,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist property damage per accident
North Dakota	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000	$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $30,000 personal injury protection per person
Ohio	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000
Oklahoma	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000
Oregon	$25,000/$50,000	$20,000	$25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury protection per person $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury protection per accident $15,000 personal injury protection per person
Pennsylvania	$15,000/$30,000	$5,000	$5,000 medical benefits
Rhode Island	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000
South Carolina	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000	$25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist property damage per accident
South Dakota	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000	$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident
Tennessee	$25,000/$50,000	$15,000
Texas	$30,000/$60,000	$25,000
Utah	$25,000/$65,000	$15,000	$3,000 personal injury protection per person
Vermont	$25,000/$50,000	$10,000	$50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $100,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $10,000 uninsured motorist property damage per accident
Virginia	$30,000/$60,000 As of January 1, 2025: $50,000/$100,000	$20,000 As of January 1, 2025: $25,000
Washington	$25,000/$50,000	$10,000
Washington, D.C.	$25,000/$50,000	$10,000	$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident $5,000 uninsured motorist property damage per accident
West Virginia	$25,000/$50,000	$25,000	$25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist property damage per accident
Wisconsin	$25,000/$50,000	$10,000	$25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per accident
Wyoming	$25,000/$50,000	$20,000

Which states don’t require car insurance?

New Hampshire is the only state that does not require car insurance. However, if you’re a New Hampshire driver, you must meet the minimum financial responsibility requirements imposed by the state. If you’re found at fault for certain driving violations, you may be required to purchase car insurance.

Even if your state does not require it, it’s wise to purchase a car insurance policy. If you’re at fault for an accident and don’t have liability insurance, you’ll have to pay for the medical expenses and property damage of others involved in the accident.

What types of car insurance do I need?

There are several types of car insurance coverage, some of which are optional. With a basic understanding of the main types of car insurance, you can put together a policy that fits your specific insurance needs.

Liability insurance

Every state except New Hampshire requires liability insurance. Liability insurance covers expenses incurred by others if you’re at fault for an accident that results in bodily injuries or property damage. It also covers your legal bills, settlements and judgments if you’re sued because of the accident.

Liability insurance policies are broken into two parts:

Bodily injury (BI) liability pays for the other party’s medical bills and lost wages resulting from an accident you caused. In addition to the driver and their passengers (not your passengers), BI liability can also cover pedestrians who are injured as a result of the accident.

Property damage (PD) liability pays for property damage expenses incurred by the other party after an accident for which you’re at fault.

Liability insurance is often presented as three numbers, or coverage limits, separated by forward slashes, such as 100/300/100. These limited represent:

Bodily injury coverage per person per accident.
Bodily injury coverage for more than one person per accident.
Property damage coverage per accident.

Keep in mind that your state’s minimum liability insurance requirements may not be enough if you’re in a serious accident. If you’re responsible for an expensive car accident and can’t pay the other party’s medical or property damage expenses, your wages and assets could be seized to cover the costs.

Expert tip: Consider purchasing enough liability insurance to protect the total value of your assets in the event of an expensive accident. A 100/300/100 policy is recommended for most drivers.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage

Maybe. Uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is required in some states and optional in others. The table above can help you determine if your state requires either type of coverage.

Uninsured motorist insurance primarily covers medical expenses for you and your passengers if you’re in an accident and the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance. It can also cover you if you’re the victim of a hit-and-run accident.

Underinsured motorist insurance can cover the gap in coverage if you’re in an accident and the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance to cover costs.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is usually available in amounts that match your liability insurance. If you have 25/50/25, for instance, you’ll need to buy the same amount of UM coverage.

Personal injury protection (PIP)

Personal injury protection, or PIP, is required in several states. PIP provides coverage if you or your passengers are injured in an accident, no matter who is at fault. It does not cover other drivers or their passengers.

Many states require PIP as part of their “no-fault auto insurance” laws, which limit your ability to sue for car crash injuries. Expenses covered by PIP typically include:

Medical bills.
Rehabilitation services.
Lost wages.
Funeral expenses.
Survivor benefits.
Cost of replacement services for tasks you or your passengers can’t perform due to injuries, such as cleaning or child care.

Even if you’re not required to buy PIP, it can be a good addition to your car insurance policy if it’s available where you live.

Medical payments coverage (MedPay)

Only Maine and New Hampshire require medical payments coverage, or MedPay, but you may be able to add it to your car insurance policy depending on where you live.

Like PIP, MedPay covers medical expenses for you and your passengers if you’re in an accident that results in bodily injuries, regardless of who is at fault. It can also cover you if you’re injured as a passenger or pedestrian. However, there are key differences between PIP and MedPay.

MedPay does not cover lost wages or replacement services.
MedPay coverage amounts are lower than those associated with PIP — usually $1,000 to $5,000

Do I need collision and comprehensive car insurance?

No state requires collision and comprehensive auto insurance, but if you have a loan or lease on your car, your lender will likely require both types of coverage.

Collision insurance covers the cost of repairing your car if you get into a collision with another object, like a mailbox, fence or guard rail. Collision coverage can also pay to repair your car if it’s damaged by a pothole.
Comprehensive insurance covers the cost of repairs if your car is damaged by something other than a collision, such as falling tree limbs, hail, fire, theft or vandalism. It can also cover repairs if you’re in an accident with an animal, such as a deer crossing the road.

While these coverages are optional (if not required by your lender), nearly four out of five drivers buy both comprehensive and collision insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

How to buy car insurance

While you can certainly purchase the minimum state-required amount of car insurance, you’ll likely need more than that minimum amount to cover the full cost of a serious accident.

Here are some things to consider when deciding how much auto insurance you need.

How much can I afford to pay out of pocket? If you don’t have enough car insurance, you’ll have to cover repair bills and medical expenses after a car accident, for yourself and possibly others.
What is the total value of my assets? If you’re responsible for an accident, you’ll be on the hook for paying the other party’s medical fees, repair bills and potentially lost wages if they can’t work. If you don’t have the money or enough liability insurance to cover these costs, the court could come after your assets to settle the debt.
Where do I keep my car? If your car isn’t in storage, it is more vulnerable to some types of damage. Consider purchasing extra coverage, like collision and comprehensive insurance, to protect your car against weather and theft or vandalism risks.
Do I have a loan on my car? Most lenders require you to carry full coverage, which includes liability insurance as well as collision and comprehensive coverage. Refer to your lending agreement for converge requirements.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The liability insurance requirements in Florida are 10/20/10, meaning you need a policy that includes:

$10,000 in bodily injury coverage per person.
$20,000 in bodily injury coverage for more than one person per accident.
$10,000 in property damage coverage per accident.

Florida also requires drivers to carry $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP).

Compare Florida insurers: Best car insurance in Florida

The liability insurance requirements for California are 15/30/5, which means you need a policy that includes:

$15,000 in bodily injury coverage per person.
$30,000 in bodily injury coverage for more than one person per accident.
$5,000 in property damage coverage per accident.

Compare California insurers: Best car insurance in California

The liability insurance requirements for Texas are 30/60/25, which means you need a policy that includes

$30,000 in bodily injury coverage per person.
$60,000 in bodily injury coverage for more than one person per accident.
$25,000 in property damage coverage per accident.

Compare Texas insurers: Best car insurance in Texas

As of July 1, 2024, all Virginia drivers are required to carry liability car insurance that meets the following requirements:

$30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for one person per accident.
$60,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for two or more people per accident.
$20,000 in property damage liability coverage per accident.

Note that Virginia car insurance requirements will increase as of January 1, 2025. At that point, drivers must have a liability insurance policy that meets the following requirements:

$50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for one person per accident.
$100,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for two or more people per accident.
$25,000 in property damage liability coverage per accident.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Sarah Li Cain

BLUEPRINT

Sarah Li Cain is a finance and small business writer currently based in Jacksonville, Florida whose articles have been published with outlets such as Fortune, CNBC Select, the Financial Planning Association and Zillow.

Kara McGinley

BLUEPRINT

Kara McGinley is deputy editor of insurance at USA TODAY Blueprint and a licensed home insurance expert. Previously, she was a senior editor at Policygenius, where she specialized in homeowners and renters insurance. Her work and insights have been featured in MSN, Lifehacker, Kiplinger, PropertyCasualty360 and more.