Full coverage car insurance costs $136 per month, compared to $67 for liability-only coverage, a 102% increase of $69 per month, according to MoneyGeek's 2026 analysis. Collision and comprehensive coverage add to the cost — collision pays for crash damage to your vehicle, while comprehensive covers theft, weather events, and other non-collision losses. Whether full coverage is worth the extra cost depends on your vehicle's value, ownership status, and ability to self-insure a total loss. For a broader pricing context, see the average cost of car insurance.
Liability vs. Full Coverage Car Insurance
Updated: March 16, 2026
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Key Takeaways
Liability-only car insurance costs $67/mo vs. $136/mo for full coverage. The extra $69 provides comprehensive and collision coverage, protecting your financial assets in the event of an accident.
Lenders require full coverage on financed vehicles regardless of the car's value.
Louisiana and Florida show the largest gap between liability and full coverage, driven by high repair costs and PIP requirements.
Cost of Liability vs. Full Coverage Car Insurance
| Liability Only | $67 | $805 | 0% |
| Full Coverage | $136 | $1,631 | 102% |
Liability vs. Full Coverage Cost by State
Car insurance rates vary by state due to weather, traffic patterns, state laws, and accident statistics, all of which influence the cost of liability and full coverage insurance policies. Louisiana carries the largest monthly gap between liability and full coverage at $142, followed by Florida at $131 and Colorado at $93, driven by high repair costs and personal injury protection (PIP) requirements. New Hampshire ($38), Virginia ($43), and Maine ($40) have the smallest gaps, reflecting lower repair costs and less litigation activity.
| Alabama | $56 | $105 | $49 |
| Alaska | $47 | $111 | $65 |
| Arizona | $69 | $140 | $71 |
| Arkansas | $49 | $119 | $70 |
| California | $68 | $145 | $77 |
| Colorado | $59 | $153 | $93 |
| Connecticut | $87 | $150 | $63 |
| Delaware | $108 | $181 | $73 |
| District of Columbia | $99 | $182 | $83 |
| Florida | $96 | $227 | $131 |
| Georgia | $80 | $138 | $58 |
| Hawaii | $36 | $86 | $50 |
| Idaho | $37 | $81 | $44 |
| Illinois | $51 | $102 | $51 |
| Indiana | $42 | $85 | $44 |
| Iowa | $33 | $97 | $64 |
| Kansas | $47 | $119 | $72 |
| Kentucky | $77 | $135 | $58 |
| Louisiana | $105 | $247 | $142 |
| Maine | $38 | $78 | $40 |
| Maryland | $89 | $152 | $63 |
| Massachusetts | $45 | $99 | $54 |
| Michigan | $64 | $134 | $70 |
| Minnesota | $45 | $106 | $61 |
| Mississippi | $58 | $125 | $67 |
| Missouri | $64 | $126 | $62 |
| Montana | $49 | $118 | $69 |
| Nebraska | $40 | $109 | $70 |
| Nevada | $83 | $156 | $73 |
| New Hampshire | $45 | $83 | $38 |
| New Jersey | $101 | $172 | $71 |
| New Mexico | $52 | $120 | $68 |
| New York | $63 | $121 | $58 |
| North Carolina | $50 | $105 | $55 |
| North Dakota | $41 | $89 | $49 |
| Ohio | $43 | $88 | $45 |
| Oklahoma | $55 | $135 | $80 |
| Oregon | $56 | $112 | $56 |
| Pennsylvania | $50 | $121 | $71 |
| Rhode Island | $73 | $130 | $57 |
| South Carolina | $69 | $133 | $64 |
| South Dakota | $32 | $103 | $70 |
| Tennessee | $48 | $104 | $56 |
| Texas | $69 | $157 | $88 |
| Utah | $71 | $132 | $61 |
| Vermont | $31 | $75 | $44 |
| Virginia | $54 | $97 | $43 |
| Washington | $52 | $111 | $59 |
| West Virginia | $57 | $116 | $59 |
| Wisconsin | $37 | $88 | $50 |
| Wyoming | $26 | $85 | $59 |
Cost by Insurance Company
Full coverage rates vary by insurer for the same driver profile. Travelers offers the cheapest full coverage at $97 per month, followed by GEICO at $98. Allstate charges the most at $161 per month. The gap between liability and full coverage also differs by provider — AAA carries a $91 monthly spread while UAIC's gap is only $33. For more low-cost options, see cheapest car insurance.
| Travelers | $50 | $97 | $47 |
| GEICO | $43 | $98 | $55 |
| National General | $50 | $112 | $61 |
| Amica | $56 | $115 | $59 |
| State Farm | $51 | $121 | $69 |
| Progressive | $67 | $125 | $58 |
| Nationwide | $71 | $127 | $56 |
| Kemper | $62 | $127 | $65 |
| Chubb | $61 | $140 | $79 |
| Farmers | $78 | $152 | $74 |
| UAIC | $119 | $152 | $33 |
| AAA | $69 | $160 | $91 |
| Allstate | $81 | $161 | $80 |
| AIG | $81 | $215 | $134 |
Liability-Only vs. Full Coverage Cost by Age Group
Young drivers pay the largest cost difference between liability and full coverage at $164 per month, because they file more collision claims and total vehicles more often than older drivers. Young drivers pay $159 per month for liability and $323 for full coverage. Adult drivers pay $67 and $136. Senior drivers pay $87 for liability and $167 for full coverage, an $80 monthly gap.
| Young Drivers | $159.17 | $323.14 | $163.97 |
| Adult Drivers | $67.12 | $135.89 | $68.76 |
| Senior Drivers | $86.68 | $166.56 | $79.88 |
Liability vs. Full Coverage Cost by Gender
Male and female adult drivers pay nearly identical rates for both coverage types. Male drivers pay $67 per month for liability and $129 for full coverage, a $62 monthly gap. Female drivers pay $68 for liability and $129 for full coverage, a $60 gap. Six states ban gender as a rating factor: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
| Female | $68 | $129 | $60 |
| Male | $67 | $129 | $62 |
What Liability and Full Coverage Car Insurance Cover
Liability only coverage pays for damage and injuries you cause to others — it does not pay for damage to your own vehicle. Full coverage adds collision (crash damage to your car) and comprehensive (theft, weather, fire, animal strikes). Liability only also does not pay your own medical bills; personal injury protection (PIP) or MedPay fills that gap.
Coverage Feature | Liability Only | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
Damage you cause to other vehicles | Covered | Covered |
Injuries to others in accidents you cause | Covered | Covered |
Damage to your own vehicle from a collision | Not covered | Covered — collision |
Theft of your vehicle | Not covered | Covered — comprehensive |
Weather damage (hail, flood, wind) | Not covered | Covered — comprehensive |
Fire damage to your vehicle | Not covered | Covered — comprehensive |
Animal collision damage | Not covered | Covered — comprehensive |
Required by lenders on financed vehicles | No | Yes |
State minimum compliance | Yes | Yes |
Do You Need Liability-Only or Full Coverage?
Full coverage makes financial sense when your vehicle is financed, leased, or worth more than $10,000, or when you don't have a $5,000 emergency fund to cover a total loss. Full coverage costs $136 per month ($1,631 annually). Replacing a $15,000 vehicle out of pocket after a total loss costs 9.2 times that annual premium — making full coverage the lower-risk choice.
Liability coverage applies only to drivers who own an older vehicle outright worth $4,000 to $6,000, or whose annual full coverage premium exceeds 10% of the vehicle's market value. For a $3,000 car, paying $1,631 annually for full coverage isn't cost-effective.
THE MOST COMMON MISTAKE: DROPPING FULL COVERAGE TOO SOON
Drivers who owe money on a financed vehicle and drop full coverage violate the loan agreement. The lender can force-place more expensive coverage on the borrower and charge them. Dropping full coverage on a $22,000 financed car to save $69 per month exposes you to a $22,000 loss if the vehicle is totaled.
Liability vs. Full Coverage: FAQs
What is the cost difference between liability only and full coverage?
Liability only costs $67 per month ($805 annually) while full coverage costs $136 per month ($1,631 annually), a difference of $69 per month or 102%. Collision and comprehensive coverage create the gap. Collision pays for damage to your vehicle in a crash; comprehensive pays for theft, weather damage, fire, and animal strikes.
Which coverage does a lender or lessor require?
Lenders and lessors require full coverage on financed and leased vehicles. If you carry only liability on a financed vehicle, the lender can force-place more expensive coverage and charge you for it — at a higher rate than you'd pay on your own policy.
Is liability-only coverage ever enough?
Liability only works if you own an older vehicle outright worth less than $4,000 to $6,000, or if your annual full coverage premium exceeds 10% of the vehicle's market value. It's not appropriate for financed or leased vehicles.
Which states require full coverage specifically?
No state requires full coverage by law, but lenders in all 50 states require it on financed vehicles. Michigan, Louisiana, and Florida have unusually high minimum liability requirements that push liability-only costs close to full coverage prices in those states.
How does liability vs. full coverage affect rates after an at-fault accident?
An at-fault accident raises premiums under both liability and full coverage policies. The dollar increase is larger for full coverage because collision coverage pays for damage to your own vehicle, adding to the insurer's payout and the resulting rate adjustment.
Can I switch between liability and full coverage mid-policy?
You can switch coverage levels at any time by contacting your insurer. The rate change takes effect on the date you request it. Drivers with financed vehicles must confirm the new coverage meets the lender's requirements before removing full coverage.
What does liability coverage NOT cover that full coverage does?
Liability coverage does not pay for damage to your own vehicle. A $15,000 vehicle totaled in a crash costs $15,000 out of pocket with liability only. Full coverage's collision component pays for that loss, minus your deductible.
MoneyGeek rates auto insurance based on cost, customer service, and coverage options.
Data updated January 2025 using Quadrant Information Services.
Our Rating Factors
Cost
40% weight
Customer Service
30% weight
Coverage Options
30% weight
