Auto Insurance Minimums by State (2026): All 50 States and DC, Compared
Only New Hampshire skips a minimum insurance requirement entirely, and Florida does not require bodily injury liability at all, two of the more surprising exceptions in a patchwork of 50 different legal minimums.
Auto insurance minimums by state
Legal liability limits, required extras, and average minimum-coverage premiums for all 50 states and DC
Quick answer
Every state except New Hampshire legally requires drivers to carry liability insurance, though the exact limits vary widely. The most common minimum is 25/50/25, but limits range from Florida's unusual no-bodily-injury structure to North Carolina's 50/100/50. About half of all states also require uninsured motorist coverage, personal injury protection, or both on top of basic liability.1
How to read these numbers
Liability limits are written as three numbers, such as 25/50/25. The first is the maximum paid per person injured, the second is the maximum for all injuries combined in one accident, and the third is the maximum for property damage per accident, all in thousands of dollars. None of this covers your own vehicle or your own injuries. That is what collision and comprehensive coverage are for, and neither is legally required anywhere unless a lender requires it as a loan or lease condition.
Minimum requirements by state
Jump to your state below.
WEST
SOUTH
NORTHEAST
MIDWEST
| State | Minimum liability | Other required | Avg. minimum premium |
| Alabama | 25/50/25 | None | $596 |
| Alaska | 50/100/25 | None | $681 |
| Arizona | 25/50/15 | None | $684 |
| Arkansas | 25/50/25 | None | $645 |
| California | 30/60/15 | None | $1,019 |
| Colorado | 25/50/15 | None | $692 |
| Connecticut | 25/50/25 | UM/UIM | $1,112 |
| Delaware | 25/50/10 | PIP | $1,525 |
| District of Columbia | 25/50/10 | UM, UMPD | $918 |
| Florida | 0/0/10 | PIP | $1,763 |
| Georgia | 25/50/25 | None | $982 |
| Hawaii | 20/40/10 | PIP | $475 |
| Idaho | 25/50/15 | None | $534 |
| Illinois | 25/50/20 | UM | $752 |
| Indiana | 25/50/25 | UM/UIM | $572 |
| Iowa | 20/40/15 | None | $450 |
| Kansas | 25/50/25 | UM/UIM, PIP | $616 |
| Kentucky | 25/50/25 | None | $599 |
| Louisiana | 15/30/25 | None | $1,231 |
| Maine | 50/100/25 | UM/UIM, MedPay | $461 |
| Maryland | 30/60/15 | UM/UIM, UMPD | $1,428 |
| Massachusetts | 25/50/30 | UM, PIP | $1,327 |
| Michigan | 50/100/10 | PIP | $1,577 |
| Minnesota | 30/60/10 | UM/UIM, PIP | $1,099 |
| Mississippi | 25/50/25 | None | $599 |
| Missouri | 25/50/25 | UM | $496 |
| Montana | 25/50/20 | None | $519 |
| Nebraska | 25/50/25 | UM/UIM | $447 |
| Nevada | 25/50/20 | None | $1,746 |
| New Hampshire | 25/50/25 | UM/UIM, MedPay | $673 |
| New Jersey | 35/70/25 | UM/UIM, PIP | $1,568 |
| New Mexico | 25/50/10 | None | $668 |
| New York | 25/50/10 | UM, PIP | $2,546 |
| North Carolina | 50/100/50 | UM, UIM | $693 |
| North Dakota | 25/50/25 | UM/UIM, PIP | $462 |
| Ohio | 25/50/25 | None | $418 |
| Oklahoma | 25/50/25 | None | $613 |
| Oregon | 25/50/20 | UM, PIP | $767 |
| Pennsylvania | 15/30/5 | PIP | $928 |
| Rhode Island | 25/50/25 | None | $1,054 |
| South Carolina | 25/50/25 | UM, UMPD | $832 |
| South Dakota | 25/50/25 | UM/UIM | $490 |
| Tennessee | 25/50/25 | None | $658 |
| Texas | 30/60/25 | None | $1,006 |
| Utah | 30/65/25 | UM, PIP | $1,011 |
| Vermont | 25/50/10 | UM/UIM, UMPD | $365 |
| Virginia | 50/100/25 | UM/UIM, UMPD | $689 |
| Washington | 25/50/10 | None | $668 |
| West Virginia | 25/50/25 | UM, UMPD | $520 |
| Wisconsin | 25/50/10 | UM, UIM, MedPay | $743 |
| Wyoming | 25/50/20 | None | $326 |
California links to a full guide covering penalties, uninsured motorist risk, and top carriers in more depth. The other 49 states show summary figures only for now, and will be expanded into full guides over time based on reader interest.2
The highest and lowest requirements
North Carolina requires the highest property damage minimum in the country at $50,000, part of its 50/100/50 limit. Alaska, Maine, and Virginia all require 50/100/25, among the highest bodily injury minimums nationwide. At the other end, Florida requires no bodily injury liability at all, relying instead on personal injury protection, and Pennsylvania sets the lowest overall limits at 15/30/5.3
New Hampshire remains the only state where insurance itself is not legally required, though drivers there still carry full personal financial responsibility for any accident they cause. Virginia closed its own version of that exception in 2024 and now requires coverage like every other state except New Hampshire.4
Cheapest carriers for minimum coverage
Averaged across states, USAA posts the lowest minimum-liability rate at $453 a year, but it is restricted to military members, veterans, and their families. Among insurers open to everyone, GEICO leads at $635 a year, followed by Progressive at $877. State Farm runs highest among the major national carriers at $1,486, more than triple GEICO's average for the same coverage.5
These are national averages, not quotes for your ZIP code. The gap between the cheapest and most expensive carrier for identical coverage commonly exceeds $500 a year, which is the strongest argument for comparing at least three quotes before you buy or renew.
Why minimum coverage often is not enough
The average bodily injury claim runs $28,278, and the average hospitalization costs $81,324, both well above what a typical 25/50/25 policy covers per person.6 If you cause an accident and your liability limit runs out, you are personally responsible for the remainder, and the other party can pursue your savings, property, or wages to collect it.
Many insurance professionals recommend 100/300/100 as a more realistic baseline for drivers who have meaningful assets to protect, well above every state's legal floor. Full coverage at that level averages $2,657 a year nationally, compared to averages in the $400 to $1,000 range for state-minimum liability alone, depending on the state.7
Frequently asked questions
What does 25/50/25 mean?
It means your policy pays up to $25,000 per person injured, $50,000 total for all injuries in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. It is the single most common minimum among U.S. states.
Does minimum liability cover my own car?
No. Liability only covers injuries and damage you cause to others. Your own vehicle repairs and medical bills require separate collision and comprehensive coverage, neither of which is legally mandated.
What happens if I move to a new state?
You typically have 30 to 90 days to update your policy to meet your new state's minimums. Moving between a no-fault state and an at-fault state can also mean adding or dropping PIP coverage entirely.
Is my state's minimum actually enough coverage?
Usually not for a serious accident. State minimums satisfy the law, not necessarily your financial exposure. Many drivers carry limits well above the legal floor once they own a home, savings, or other assets a lawsuit could reach.
If you also qualify for a profession-based discount, see our Hero Auto Insurance Discounts by State and Hero Home Insurance Discounts by State guides. For homeowners insurance in a wildfire or hurricane-prone state, see our guides on The California FAIR Plan, TFPA vs TWIA in Texas, Florida Citizens Property Insurance, and New York's NYPIUA. If you need to escalate a dispute, our State Insurance Department Directory has every state regulator's contact information.
Sources and methodology
1. CarInsurance.com, Minimum Liability Car Insurance Requirements by State, 2026, minimum limits and additional coverage requirements sourced from each state's Department of Insurance or motor vehicle agency.
2. StatewiseFinance editorial roadmap. Individual state guides are added based on demonstrated reader interest.
3. CarInsurance.com, Minimum Liability Car Insurance Requirements by State, 2026, on the highest and lowest state requirements.
4. CarInsurance.com, same source, on New Hampshire and Virginia's insurance mandate status.
5. CarInsurance.com, same source, average annual minimum liability rate by insurance company.
6. CarInsurance.com, same source, citing Insurance Information Institute claim data and Injury Prevention journal hospitalization research.
7. CarInsurance.com, same source, average annual full coverage rates at 100/300/100 limits by state.
Coverage requirements and rate figures reflect published information as of August 2026 and are subject to change. Confirm current requirements with your state's Department of Insurance or DMV, and current rates with individual insurers, before purchasing a policy. This is not insurance advice.
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