Every state except New Hampshire requires drivers to carry some form of auto insurance. But the minimums vary significantly — what's legal in one state might be inadequate in another. Here's a comprehensive look at what each state requires.
How to Read Liability Limits
State minimums are typically expressed in a format like 25/50/25, which means:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $25,000 property damage liability per accident
These numbers represent the maximum your insurance will pay. If the damages exceed your limits, you're personally responsible for the difference.
State-by-State Minimum Requirements
| State | Bodily Injury (per person/accident) | Property Damage | |-------|-------------------------------------|-----------------| | 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 | | Delaware | $25,000 / $50,000 | $10,000 | | Florida | None required | $10,000 | | Georgia | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | | Hawaii | $20,000 / $40,000 | $10,000 | | Idaho | $25,000 / $50,000 | $15,000 | | Illinois | $25,000 / $50,000 | $20,000 | | Indiana | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | | Iowa | $20,000 / $40,000 | $15,000 | | Kansas | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | | Kentucky | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | | Louisiana | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | | Maine | $50,000 / $100,000 | $25,000 | | Maryland | $30,000 / $60,000 | $15,000 | | Massachusetts | $20,000 / $40,000 | $5,000 | | Michigan | $250,000 / $500,000 | $200,000 | | Minnesota | $30,000 / $60,000 | $10,000 | | Mississippi | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | | Missouri | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | | Montana | $25,000 / $50,000 | $20,000 | | Nebraska | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | | Nevada | $25,000 / $50,000 | $20,000 | | New Hampshire | None required | None required | | New Jersey | $15,000 / $30,000 | $5,000 | | New Mexico | $25,000 / $50,000 | $10,000 | | New York | $25,000 / $50,000 | $10,000 | | North Carolina | $30,000 / $60,000 | $25,000 | | North Dakota | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | | Ohio | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | | Oklahoma | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | | Oregon | $25,000 / $50,000 | $20,000 | | Pennsylvania | $15,000 / $30,000 | $5,000 | | Rhode Island | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | | South Carolina | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | | South Dakota | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | | Tennessee | $25,000 / $50,000 | $15,000 | | Texas | $30,000 / $60,000 | $25,000 | | Utah | $25,000 / $65,000 | $15,000 | | Vermont | $25,000 / $50,000 | $10,000 | | Virginia | $30,000 / $60,000 | $20,000 | | Washington | $25,000 / $50,000 | $10,000 | | West Virginia | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | | Wisconsin | $25,000 / $50,000 | $10,000 | | Wyoming | $25,000 / $50,000 | $20,000 | | D.C. | $25,000 / $50,000 | $10,000 |
No-Fault vs. At-Fault States
Most states use an at-fault system, where the driver who caused the accident is responsible for damages. However, 12 states and D.C. use a no-fault system where each driver's own insurance pays for their injuries regardless of who caused the accident:
Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Utah, and D.C.
No-fault states typically require Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage in addition to liability coverage.
Should You Carry More Than the Minimum?
In almost every case, yes. State minimums were set years ago and haven't kept pace with the actual cost of accidents. Consider:
- The average cost of a hospital stay exceeds $10,000
- Modern vehicle repairs routinely exceed $15,000
- A serious accident with injuries can easily produce claims of $100,000 or more
If your liability limits are lower than the damages, you're personally responsible for the difference. Financial advisors generally recommend carrying at least 100/300/100 coverage.
How to Find the Best Rate for Your State
Insurance pricing varies by carrier, and the cheapest option for one driver isn't necessarily the cheapest for another. The best approach is to compare personalized quotes from multiple carriers.
Get your free quotes on Quorrio — enter your information once and see side-by-side quotes from top carriers in your state.