State Minimum Car Insurance Requirements (2026)

Every state except New Hampshire requires at least liability insurance, but minimums vary widely. Seven states updated their requirements in 2025 and 2026, including California's first increase since 1967.

See your state's minimum car insurance requirements below.

Written by Mark Fitzpatrick

Updated: May 15, 2026

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Minimum Car Insurance Requirements by State

All states except New Hampshire require drivers to carry liability car insurance, though some states allow other forms of financial responsibility as an alternative. State minimum requirements vary by state, with Florida requiring $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 in property damage liability, with no bodily injury coverage required. Alaska, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina and Virginia sit at the opposite end: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident. The table below shows current minimum car insurance requirements for all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Minimum requirements are a legal floor, not a coverage recommendation. Most experts suggest at least 100/300/100 in liability to protect your assets after a serious accident. Use MoneyGeek to compare car insurance quotes for your state.


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	$30,000 / $60,000	$15,000	UM/UIM if purchased: $30,000/$60,000
Colorado	$25,000 / $50,000	$15,000	—
Connecticut	$25,000 / $50,000	$25,000	UM/UIM: $25,000/$50,000 (required)
Delaware	$25,000 / $50,000	$10,000	PIP: $15,000/$30,000
Florida	No BI required	$10,000	PIP: $10,000 (required)
Georgia	$25,000 / $50,000	$25,000	—
Hawaii	$40,000 / $80,000	$20,000	PIP: $10,000 (required)
Idaho	$25,000 / $50,000	$15,000	—
Illinois	$25,000 / $50,000	$20,000	UM/UIM: $25,000/$50,000 (required)
Indiana	$25,000 / $50,000	$25,000	UM: $25,000/$50,000 (required)
Iowa	$20,000 / $40,000	$15,000	—
Kansas	$25,000 / $50,000	$25,000	PIP: $4,500 medical; UM: $25,000/$50,000
Kentucky	$25,000 / $50,000	$25,000	PIP: $10,000 (required)
Louisiana	$15,000 / $30,000	$25,000	—
Maine	$50,000 / $100,000	$25,000	UM/UIM: $50,000/$100,000; MedPay: $2,000
Maryland	$30,000 / $60,000	$15,000	PIP: $2,500; UM: $30,000/$60,000
Massachusetts	$25,000 / $50,000	$30,000	PIP: $8,000; UM: $25,000/$50,000
Michigan	$50,000 / $100,000	$10,000	PIP: Required (four tiers: $50K, $250K, $500K or unlimited; post-2020 reform).
Minnesota	$30,000 / $60,000	$10,000	PIP: $40,000; UM/UIM: $25,000/$50,000
Mississippi	$25,000 / $50,000	$25,000	—
Missouri	$25,000 / $50,000	$25,000	UM: $25,000/$50,000 (required)
Montana	$25,000 / $50,000	$20,000	—
Nebraska	$25,000 / $50,000	$25,000	UM/UIM: $25,000/$50,000 (required)
Nevada	$25,000 / $50,000	$20,000	—
New Hampshire	$25,000 / $50,000	$25,000	Insurance optional but FR amounts apply
New Jersey	$35,000 / $70,000	$25,000	PIP: $15,000; UM/UIM: $35,000/$70,000
New Mexico	$25,000 / $50,000	$10,000	—
New York	$25,000 / $50,000	$10,000	PIP: $50,000; UM: $25,000/$50,000
North Carolina	$50,000 / $100,000	$50,000	UM/UIM: $50,000/$100,000 (required)
North Dakota	$25,000 / $50,000	$25,000	PIP: $30,000; UM/UIM: $25,000/$50,000
Ohio	$25,000 / $50,000	$25,000	—
Oklahoma	$25,000 / $50,000	$25,000	—
Oregon	$25,000 / $50,000	$20,000	PIP: $15,000; UM: $25,000/$50,000
Pennsylvania	$15,000 / $30,000	$5,000	MedPay: $5,000 (required); UM available
Rhode Island	$25,000 / $50,000	$25,000	—
South Carolina	$25,000 / $50,000	$25,000	UM: $25,000/$50,000 (required)
South Dakota	$25,000 / $50,000	$25,000	UM/UIM: $25,000/$50,000 (required)
Tennessee	$25,000 / $50,000	$25,000	—
Texas	$30,000 / $60,000	$25,000	—
Utah	$30,000 / $65,000	$25,000	PIP: $3,000; UM/UIM if purchased: $30,000/$65,000
Vermont	$25,000 / $50,000	$10,000	UM/UIM: $50,000/$100,000 (required)
Virginia	$50,000 / $100,000	$25,000	UM/UIM: $50,000/$100,000 (required)
Washington	$25,000 / $50,000	$10,000	—
West Virginia	$25,000 / $50,000	$25,000	UM: $25,000/$50,000 (required)
Wisconsin	$25,000 / $50,000	$10,000	UM: $25,000/$50,000 (required)
Wyoming	$25,000 / $50,000	$20,000	—
Washington D.C.	$25,000 / $50,000	$10,000	UM: $25,000/$50,000 (required)

Minimum requirements can vary by policy type, driver status and state-specific rules. Some coverages, including PIP, UM and UIM, are waivable or subject to special election rules in certain states. This applies in particular to Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Utah and Virginia. Check your state's insurance department or DMV before buying minimum-only coverage.

Florida is the outlier with no required bodily injury coverage, just $10,000 each in PIP and property damage. That leaves you personally liable for medical costs above $10,000 if you cause a serious injury. Alaska, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina and Virginia require $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident, closer to what most experts recommend. Most states land around 25/50/25, which sounds adequate until you consider that a single hospital stay can exceed $50,000.

A choropleth map of the United States showing minimum bodily injury liability requirements by state.

Requirements sourced from state insurance department filings and verified as of May 2026. MoneyGeek monitors state DOI updates on a rolling basis.

State Minimum Car Insurance Requirements Explained

State minimum car insurance requirements include different types of coverage and amounts of coverage depending on where you live.

Minimum liability insurance

Your state's minimum liability insurance covers damage and injuries you cause to others in an accident up to a max amount per person and per accident. It's split into two parts. Bodily injury liability pays for the other person's medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. Property damage liability pays to repair or replace the other person's vehicle and property.

What do the numbers mean? State minimum car insurance is listed as three numbers: bodily injury per person / bodily injury per accident / property damage. For example, $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 means your insurance pays up to $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 total per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. Your state's minimum liability car insurance amount might not be enough to protect your assets.

Some states let you choose between full tort and limited tort options, which affects your right to sue for pain and suffering after an accident. Your choice also impacts your premium.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) minimum requirements

Your state's minimum level of UM/UIM protects you when you're hit by a driver with no insurance or insufficient coverage up to a max amount. Uninsured motorist coverage covers damage to you when the at-fault driver has no insurance at all. Underinsured motorist coverage applies when the at-fault driver's coverage isn't enough to pay for your injuries and damages. Coverage limits usually match your state's liability requirements but can vary and this coverage is required in 22 states.

Personal injury protection (PIP) minimum requirements

Personal injury protection covers your own medical expenses and lost wages after an accident, regardless of who caused it, up to a maximum amount. Benefits include medical costs, rehabilitation expenses, a percentage of lost wages, and essential services like childcare and housekeeping.This is required in 12 no-fault states: Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota and Utah. This is required in 12 mandatory no-fault states, plus New Jersey's choice no-fault system.

Medical payments coverage (MedPay) requirements

Medical payments coverage covers medical and funeral expenses from car accidents, regardless of fault. Unlike personal injury protection, it has lower limits ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 and doesn't cover lost wages or other benefits. It supplements your health insurance and is required only in Maine, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania.

No-Fault vs. At-Fault States: Impact on Minimum Car Insurance Requirements

Every state uses either a no-fault or at-fault insurance system, and that decides what coverage you're required to carry. In no-fault states, your own insurance pays your medical bills and lost wages after a crash, no matter who caused it. That's why 12 states require personal injury protection (PIP) as part of their minimum coverage. In at-fault states, the driver who caused the crash pays for everyone's injuries and damage through liability insurance. Property damage liability always goes by fault in every state, so the driver who caused the crash pays to fix or replace the other driver's car or property.

No-Fault States: Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota and Utah.

Choice No-Fault States: Kentucky, New Jersey and Pennsylvania operate choice no-fault systems, where drivers can elect tort coverage. PIP is still required at a minimum in these states

What's NOT Included in State Minimum Car Insurance?

No state requires collision and comprehensive (full coverage) that covers your vehicle in the case of an at-fault accident or damage from weather or theft. Most drivers need full coverage because they want to also protect their own car, not just coverage damage and medical expenses of other drivers. If you finance or lease your car you will need full coverage and potentially gap insurance.

If you're wondering what minimum coverage costs in your state, see our cheapest liability-only car insurance guide for rates by state. You can also use the car insurance calculator to get an estimate based on your profile.

State Minimum Car Insurance Changes for 2025 and 2026

MoneyGeek tracked legislative changes across all 50 states for 2025 and 2026. Seven states increased their minimums, more changes than in the prior ten years combined. If you live in one of these states, check your current policy or renewal documents to confirm your coverage meets the new limits.

2025 State Minimum Car Insurance Changes

California (Effective January 1): Minimum liability requirements increased from $15,000/$30,000/$5,000 to $30,000/$60,000/$15,000, the first increase since 1967. When uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is purchased, minimums are $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident, matching the new liability limits.
Massachusetts (Effective July 1): Minimum liability requirements increased from $20,000/$40,000/$5,000 to $25,000/$50,000/$30,000, the first increase since 1988. Changes apply to all new and renewing policies on or after that date. Personal injury protection remains at $8,000.
North Carolina (Effective July 1): Minimum liability increased from $30,000/$60,000/$25,000 to $50,000/$100,000/$50,000. All new and renewed policies must include both uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage at matching limits of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident. UIM coverage was previously optional.
Utah (Effective January 1): Minimum liability requirements increased from $25,000/$65,000/$15,000 to $30,000/$65,000/$25,000. Personal injury protection of $3,000 is required.
Virginia (Effective January 1): Minimum liability increased from $30,000/$60,000/$20,000 to $50,000/$100,000/$25,000. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is now required at $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.

2026 State Minimum Car Insurance Changes

Hawaii (Effective January 1): Increased minimum liability from $20,000/$40,000/$10,000 to $40,000/$80,000/$20,000. Personal injury protection of $10,000 remains required.
New Jersey (Effective January 1): Increased standard policy minimum liability from $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 to $35,000/$70,000/$25,000. Property damage liability remained $25,000.

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements: FAQ

What happens if you only have minimum coverage in an accident?

If you cause a serious accident and the costs exceed your policy limits, you pay the difference out of your own pocket. For example, if damages reach $100,000 but you only carry $25,000 in coverage, you owe $75,000. The other party can sue you, which can lead to wage garnishment or seizure of your assets. Minimum coverage also excludes comprehensive and collision, so your own vehicle repairs aren't covered.

What if I only have minimum coverage and get hit by an uninsured driver?

Your coverage depends on your state’s rules for uninsured motorist protection. In states where this coverage is required, your policy pays for injuries and vehicle damage up to your limits. If it’s not required and you didn’t add it to your policy, you’ll need to cover your own medical bills and repair costs or take legal action against the uninsured driver to recover expenses.

Suing an uninsured driver is an option, but they may have no assets to pay a judgment. UM coverage, for example, costs less than $100 annually and protects against one of the more costly scenarios on the road.

What's the difference between state minimum and full coverage?

State minimum includes only required liability insurance, covering other driver's damages, and mandatory coverage like PIP or uninsured motorist protection. Full coverage adds comprehensive and collision to protect your car.

Is minimum car insurance enough?

For most drivers, no. State minimums are designed for legal compliance, not asset protection. If you cause a serious accident and damages exceed your limits, you're personally liable for the difference. Then the other party can sue for wages, savings or property. Most experts recommend at least 100/300/100 liability coverage. If your car is financed or leased, your lender requires full coverage regardless of what your state mandates. MoneyGeek's guide to how much car insurance you need covers coverage recommendations by driver profile.

Minimum Car Insurance Coverage: Related Articles

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he has produced original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.

He writes about economics and insurance on MoneyGeek so people can make coverage decisions with confidence. His insurance insights have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other media outlets.

Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.

Fitzpatrick earned his degrees from Johns Hopkins University (M.A. Economics and International Relations) and Boston College (B.A.) and began his career in financial risk management at State Street. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

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