Car insurance is required in almost all states. Known as a mandatory minimum, drivers must purchase and maintain a certain level of car insurance from an insurance company in case of an accident or injury to another person or property. If you fail to maintain coverage, you could be in violation of the law. There are a handful of states that don't require you to purchase car insurance, but instead, show evidence of financial responsibility in some other way, such as with a surety bond, a cash deposit with the state, or a certificate of self insurance.
Most insurance policies express the minimum amounts like this: 25/50/25 ($25,00/$50,000/$25,000), with the numbers corresponding to the individuals:
Below, you will find a state-by-state chart of car insurance laws, including the type of liability insurance you are required to carry and basic minimums for each coverage type. Remember, these are only minimums and you may wish to purchase additional coverage depending on your specific needs.
State |
Type of Required Coverage |
Minimum Liability Limits |
Special Exception? |
Alabama |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
25/50/25 |
No, see Alabama Department of Revenue |
Alaska |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
50/100/25 |
No, see Alaska DMV |
Arizona |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
15/30/10 |
No, see Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles |
Arkansas |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
25/50/25 |
No, see Arkansas State Insurance Department |
California |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
15/30/5 |
Yes, see California Department of Motor Vehicles for information on cash deposit or self-insurance |
Colorado |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
25/50/15 |
No, see Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association |
Connecticut |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist |
20/40/10 |
No, see Connecticut Insurance Department |
Delaware |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection |
15/30/10 |
No, see Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles |
District of Columbia |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist |
25/50/10 AND
|
No, see District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles |
Florida |
Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection |
10/20/10 |
No, see the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles |
Georgia |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage |
25/50 per incident/25 |
No, see Ga. Department of Insurance |
Hawaii |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection |
20/40/10 |
No, see Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs |
Idaho |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
25/50/10 |
No, see Idaho Department of Transportation
|
Illinois |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist |
25/50/20, Uninsured motorist is $25,000 per person, $50,000 total per accident. |
No, see Illinois Office of the Secretary of State |
Indiana |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist |
25/50/10, Uninsured motorist is equal to the minimum limits for liability coverage |
No, see Indiana Department of Insurance |
Iowa |
All motorists must be able to prove financial responsibility in the event of an accident. If you do purchase car insurance, at a minimum must buy Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
Insurance not compulsory, but if you do purchase, must be 25/40/15 |
Yes, Iowa doesn’t have a compulsory auto insurance law; see the Financial and Safety Responsibility Act for more information. |
Kansas |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist |
25/50/25, and Personal injury protection (PIP or No Fault)
|
No, see Kansas Insurance Department |
Kentucky |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection |
25/50/10 and 10 (personal injury protection) |
No, see Kentucky Transportation Cabinet |
Louisiana |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
15/30/25 |
No, see Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles |
Maine |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist |
50/100/25 plus: |
No, see Maine Department of Insurance |
Maryland |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist |
30/60/15 |
No, see Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration |
Massachusetts |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist |
20/40/5 and |
No, see Massachusetts Attorney General |
Michigan |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection |
20/40/10 |
No, see Department of Insurance and Financial Services |
Minnesota |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist |
30/60/10, Liability, Personal Injury Protection
Uninsured Motorist 25/50. |
No, see the Minnesota Department of Public Safety |
Mississippi |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage |
25/50/25 |
No, see Mississippi Insurance Department |
Missouri |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist |
25/50/10 and uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury per person and $50,000 for bodily injury per accident |
No, see Missouri Department of Revenue |
Montana |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
25/50/10 |
Yes, see Montana Motor Vehicle Division |
Nebraska |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
25/50/25 |
No, see Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles |
Nevada |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
15/30/10 |
No, see Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles |
New Hampshire |
Not required to purchase car insurance, but if you do, there are mandatory minimums |
25/50/25 |
Yes, see New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles |
New Jersey |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection
|
15/30/5 and $15,000 personal injury protection |
No, see Department of Insurance & Banking |
New Mexico |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
25/50/10 |
No, see New Mexico Motor Vehicle Department |
New York |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist |
25/50/10 |
No, see New York Department of Motor Vehicles |
North Carolina |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
30/60/25 |
No, see North Carolina Department of Insurance |
North Dakota |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist |
25/50/25, uninsured motorist must be $25,000 per person/ $50,000 per accident. |
No, see North Dakota Insurance Department |
Ohio |
Demonstrate Financial Responsibility (FR) or maintaining minimum insurance |
25/50/35 |
Yes, See Ohio Department of Motor Vehicles, can either purchase car insurance or demonstrate financial responsibility |
Oklahoma |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
25/50/25 |
No, see Oklahoma Department of Public Safety |
Oregon |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist |
25/50/25 |
No, see Oregon Department of Transportation |
Pennsylvania |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection |
15/30/5 |
Yes, see PennDOT for information on self insurance |
Rhode Island |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist |
25/50/25 |
No, see Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles |
South Carolina |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist |
25/50/25 |
No, see South Carolina Department of Insurance |
South Dakota |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist |
25/50/25 |
No, see South Dakota Department of Public Safety |
Tennessee |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
25/50/15 |
No, see Tennessee DMV |
Texas |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
30/60/25 |
No, see Texas Department of Insurance |
Utah |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection |
25/65/15 |
No, see Utah Insurance Department |
Vermont |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist |
25/50/10 |
No, see Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles |
Virginia |
Can either purchase minimum liability or pay uninsured motorist fee
|
25/50/20 |
No, see Virginia DMV for information on uninsured motorist fee options |
Washington |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
25/50/10 |
No, see Washington State Department of Licensing |
West Virginia |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Uninsured Motorist |
25/50/25 |
No, see West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles |
Wisconsin |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
10/25/50 |
No, see Wisconsin DMV |
Wyoming |
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability |
25/50/20 |
No, see Wyoming DMV |
Note: State laws are always subject to change, usually through the enactment of new legislation but also through court decisions and other means. Contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
Questions About State Car Insurance Laws? An Attorney can Help
If you're confused about poorly written car insurance laws, you aren’t alone. Considering how complicated collision coverage, deductibles, and mandatory minimums can be, it's no wonder many drivers turn to attorneys for help deciphering the jargon. Connect with an attorney who specializes in car accidents and insurance to help navigate the complexities of the law.
