Car Insurance Requirements by State: Minimum Coverage in All 50 States

Every state sets its own minimum car insurance. Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia require drivers to carry liability coverage, and New Hampshire, the one exception, still requires drivers to be able to pay for the damage they cause ¹. The most common minimum is 25/50/25, but the range is wide, and seven states raised their limits in 2025 or 2026 ².

The table below lists the minimum for every state as of October 2026, followed by what changed recently and how to confirm the rule where you live.

How to read the limits

Limits are written as three numbers. In 25/50/25:

• the first number is the most the policy pays for injuries to one person, in thousands of dollars
• the second is the most it pays for all injuries in one accident
• the third is the most it pays for property damage

Our guide to liability car insurance explains these limits with worked examples.

Minimum car insurance by state

Sources: limits from a 2026 compilation that draws on state insurance departments and motor vehicle agencies ², compared with the Insurance Information Institute's state table ¹. California, Florida and Texas were checked directly against the state agency ^{3 4 5}.

How to use the last column

"State agency" means we compared the row with the state's own website. "Published tables" means the row comes from compilations that we have cross-checked against each other but not yet against the state's own page. We are checking the remaining states one at a time, and each state guide we publish moves its row to "State agency."

Notes on unusual states

• Florida requires personal injury protection and property damage liability, and has no bodily injury minimum for most drivers ⁴.
• Michigan policies default to much higher bodily injury limits of 250/500. Drivers can choose limits as low as 50/100 ².
• New Hampshire does not require insurance, but drivers must be able to show they can pay for an at-fault accident ¹.
• New Jersey also offers an optional basic policy with much lower limits ¹.
• New York requires higher limits of 50/100 when an injury results in death ¹.

The "Also required" column is where published tables disagree most, because some coverages are added to every policy automatically but can be declined in writing. Treat that column as a starting point and confirm it with your state.

What changed in 2025 and 2026

Current minimums from the 2026 compilation ². California's limits are confirmed by its motor vehicle agency ³. Massachusetts, New Jersey and Hawaii published official notices of their changes ^{6 7 8}.

Virginia made a second change. It used to let drivers pay an uninsured motor vehicle fee instead of buying insurance. That option ended in 2024, which makes insurance mandatory there ².

If your policy was at the old minimum, your insurer will generally have raised it to the new one at renewal, and your premium may have changed with it.

Why you may see different numbers elsewhere

While researching this page we found widely read tables that still show limits from before these changes. Requirements are set by state law and updated on each state's own schedule, so any national table, including this one, can fall behind. For a decision that matters, use the table to find your state and then confirm the figure with the state itself.

Requirements beyond liability

Personal injury protection. States with no-fault systems require this coverage, which pays your own medical costs regardless of who caused the crash. The 2026 compilation lists it as required in Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Utah ².

Uninsured motorist coverage. About 20 jurisdictions require it. Elsewhere insurers must offer it, but you can decline ¹.

Collision and comprehensive. No state requires them. If you have a loan or lease, your lender will. See full coverage car insurance.

What happens if you drive without the required insurance

Penalties are set by each state. Across the country they include fines, which can reach $5,000 for a repeat offense in some states, and suspension of your license or registration. Some states can impose jail time, confiscate license plates or impound the vehicle ¹.

Two examples from state agencies:

• In California, if the motor vehicle agency does not receive proof of insurance, the vehicle's registration is suspended and it may not be driven or parked on public roads ³.
• In Florida, failing to keep the required coverage can lead to suspension of your license and registration and a reinstatement fee of up to $500 ⁴.

Beyond the legal penalty, an uninsured driver who causes a crash is personally responsible for all of the damage.

How to confirm your state's requirement

1. Find your state insurance department through the NAIC's directory of state insurance departments.
2. Look for its auto insurance consumer guide, or check your state's motor vehicle agency.
3. Compare the limits on your declarations page with the state minimum.

The minimum is the least you can legally carry, not a recommendation. A serious crash can cost far more than any state minimum, and you are responsible for the difference. Cheapest car insurance explains what a minimum policy leaves uncovered.

State guides

• California car insurance requirements
• Florida car insurance requirements
• Texas car insurance requirements

More state guides are in progress.

The bottom line

Find your state in the table, confirm the figure with the state, and then decide how far above the minimum you want to be. For how requirements fit with the rest of a policy, return to the main car insurance guide.