No one expects to get in a car accident, especially one that's their fault. However, accidents do happen and that's why we purchase car insurance. In fact, most states require that drivers purchase a minimum amount of car insurance and penalize those who drive without valid or sufficient insurance. The chart below lays out the minimum car insurance coverage by state, including different types of coverage, acceptable proof of insurance, penalties if you fail to insure your car, and other related information.
| Alabama | The Alabama Department of Revenue provides a brochure that explains the mandatory liability insurance law [PDF]. |
| Alaska | The Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles website offers information about mandatory insurance for motor vehicles. |
| Arizona | The Arizona Department of Transportation offers a Frequently Asked Questions section, which includes information about mandatory car insurance. |
| Arkansas | The Arkansas Insurance Department provides information about mandatory automobile insurance in the Consumer Frequently Asked Questions section. |
| California | The California Department of Motor Vehicles offers information about minimum car insurance coverage requirements. |
| Colorado | The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies provides information about property and liability insurance, including auto insurance. |
| Connecticut | The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles provides an Insurance Compliance section on its website. |
| Delaware | The Delaware Department of Insurance provides an informative guide to auto insurance [PDF]. |
| District of Columbia | The District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles offers information about the minimum vehicle insurance coverage required by D.C. |
| Florida | The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles provides a section dedicated to questions and answers regarding vehicle insurance. |
| Georgia | Georgia's Department of Insurance offers information about automobile insurance requirements. |
| Hawaii | The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs website information about minimum car insurance coverage in its Motor Vehicle Insurance Information section. |
| Idaho | The Idaho Legislature website provides the statutes related to motor vehicle financial responsibility. |
| Illinois | The Illinois Secretary of State provides information about mandatory insurance for vehicles on its website. |
| Indiana | The Indiana Department of Insurance website offers information about auto insurance. |
| Iowa | Iowa's laws don't require drivers to purchase car insurance; however, in the event of an accident, a driver must show proof of financial responsibility. |
| Kansas | The Kansas Insurance Department website provides an introduction to auto insurance, which includes information about the minimum coverage required. |
| Kentucky | Kentucky's Transportation Cabinet has a Frequently Asked Questions section that provides information about mandatory auto insurance. |
| Louisiana | The Louisiana Department of Insurance offers a helpful Consumer's Guide to Auto Insurance [PDF]. |
| Maine | Maine's Bureau of Insurance provides a Consumer's Guide to Personal Auto Insurance [PDF]. |
| Maryland | The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration website provides information about insurance requirements for vehicles in that state. |
| Massachusetts | The Massachusetts Attorney General's website provides information to help you understand auto insurance. |
| Michigan | The Michigan Secretary of State website provides information about car insurance requirements. |
| Minnesota | The Minnesota Department of Commerce offers a help guide to auto insurance [PDF]. |
| Mississippi | Mississippi's Insurance Department provides information about auto insurance, including what is required by law. |
| Missouri | The Missouri Department of Insurance dedicates a section of its website to automobile insurance. |
| Montana | The Montana Motor Vehicle Division website explains its minimum insurance law for motor vehicles. |
| Nebraska | The Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles offers information about car insurance requirements. |
| Nevada | The Nevada Division of Insurance explains the state's car insurance requirements on its website. |
| New Hampshire | Although New Hampshire laws do not require drivers to purchase car insurance, drivers are required to meet financial responsibility requirements in the event of an "at-fault" accident. The New Hampshire Insurance. |
| New Jersey | The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission provides information regarding car insurance requirements on its website. |
| New Mexico | New Mexico's Motor Vehicle Division provides information related to car insurance requirements. |
| New York | The New York Department of Motor Vehicles provides information on the state's car insurance requirements. |
| North Carolina | The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles website provides a Liability Insurance Help section, which includes information about the minimum liability requirements for car insurance. |
| North Dakota | The North Dakota Insurance Department provides information about car insurance requirements in the state. |
| Ohio | The Ohio Department of Insurance provides a guide to the minimum coverage requirements for auto insurance [PDF]. |
| Oklahoma | The Oklahoma Insurance Department website has a Frequently Asked Questions section, which includes help information about auto insurance. |
| Oregon | Oregon's Department of Motor Vehicles provides information about the state's car insurance requirements. |
| Pennsylvania | The Pennsylvania Insurance Department offers a variety of resources for understanding auto insurance. |
| Rhode Island | The Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation provides the Consumers Guide to Auto Insurance [PDF]. |
| South Carolina | The South Carolina Department of Insurance provides information related to automobile insurance. |
| South Dakota | The South Dakota Division of Insurance provides information as to the mandatory automobile insurance each driver must purchase. |
| Tennessee | The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance provides information about auto insurance. |
| Texas | The Texas Department of Insurance offers information about car insurance on its website. |
| Utah | The Utah Insurance Department has a section dedicated to auto insurance on its website. |
| Vermont | The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles website provides information about insurance requirements in that state. |
| Virginia | The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles provides information about car insurance requirements. |
| Washington | The Washington State Department of Licensing offers information regarding the mandatory insurance required by the state. |
| West Virginia | West Virginia's Office of the Insurance Commissioner offers information about the mandatory insurance requirements for motor vehicles. |
| Wisconsin | The Wisconsin Department of Transportation provides information on the minimum insurance requirements in that state. |
| Wyoming | The Wyoming Department of Insurance has an Auto Insurance FAQs section that provides helpful information related to minimum car insurance requirements. |
Talk to a Lawyer About a Car Insurance Issue
If you have any questions about minimum car insurance required by your state, or have other questions about traffic laws, you may want to contact a local traffic ticket attorney.
For more information and resources related to state-specific traffic laws, you can visit FindLaw's State Traffic Laws section
