State Minimum Car Insurance Requirements (2026)

State minimum car insurance requirements determine what coverage you must legally have to drive in your state. This guide shows you your state's minimum car insurance requirements as of January 2026 and explains what each coverage type covers.

See your state's minimum car insurance requirements below.

Written by Mark Fitzpatrick

Updated: January 16, 2026

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Minimum Car Insurance Requirements by State

All states except New Hampshire require liability car insurance. State minimum requirements vary by state, with Florida only requiring to $10,000 property damage coverage to other states requiring $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident. The table below is the state minimum car insurance in every state.

What should I do next? Once you find your state's minimum car insurance requirements below, use MoneyGeek to compare quotes from top insurers. See how much you can save by getting the right coverage at the best price for your state's minimum requirements. Remember, these are minimum requirements and you should determine how much car insurance you need for your situation.


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 (various levels)
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 if purchased: $50,000/$100,000
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)

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. Here are the different types of coverages needed to meet state minimum auto insurance needs:

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.

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 kicks in when the at-fault driver's coverage isn't enough to cover 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, amount 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.

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

Your state uses either a no-fault or at-fault insurance system, which determines what minimum coverage you must have. In no-fault states, each driver's insurance pays for their own medical expenses and lost wages after an accident, regardless of who caused it. This is why 12 no-fault states require personal injury protection (PIP) as part of state minimums. In at-fault states, the driver responsible for the accident pays for everyone's injuries and damages through liability insurance. Property damage liability is always determined by fault in every state, meaning the at-fault driver's insurance pays to repair or replace the other driver's vehicle and property.

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

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.

State Minimum Car Insurance Changes for 2025 and 2026

Six states increased minimum car insurance requirements in 2025 and 2026. If you live in one of these states, verify your current policy meets the new requirements.

2025 State Minimum Car Insurance Changes

California (Effective January 1): Increased minimum car insurance requirements from $15,000/$30,000/$5,000 to $30,000/$60,000/$15,000. This is the first increase since 1967. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage also increased to match the new liability limits.
North Carolina (Effective July 1): Increased minimum liability insurance from $30,000/$60,000/$25,000 to $50,000/$100,000/$50,000. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is now required to match the new liability limits.
Utah (Effective January 1): Increased minimum liability requirements 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): Increased minimum car insurance liability from $30,000/$60,000/$20,000 to $50,000/$100,000/$25,000. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is now a minimum requirements.

2026 State Minimum Car Insurance Changes

Hawaii (Effective January 1): Increased from minimum liability car insurance from $20,000/$40,000/$10,000 to $40,000/$80,000/$20,000. Personal injury protection of $10,000 is a minimum requirement.
New Jersey (Effective January 1): Increased from minimum liability car insurance from $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 to $35,000/$70,000/$25,000.

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements: FAQ

We answer common questions about state minimum car insurance requirements:

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

If you cause a serious accident with damages exceeding your policy limits, you're personally liable for the difference. For example, if damages reach $100,000 but you only have $25,000 in coverage, you owe $75,000 out of pocket. The other party can sue you, potentially resulting in wage garnishment or asset seizure. Minimum coverage also doesn't include comprehensive or collision, so your own vehicle repairs won't be 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.

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?

Minimum car insurance provides basic legal compliance but is often less than the car insurance coverage you need. State minimums are designed to ensure all drivers have some coverage, not to provide adequate asset protection for serious accidents. You will also need higher amounts of coverage for financed and leased vehicles.

Minimum Car Insurance Coverage: Related Articles

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.

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