Key facts
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Jurisdictions that require liability insurance | 49 states and the District of Columbia |
| States with a no-fault system | 12, including 3 where drivers can choose |
| National average spent per insured vehicle (2023) | $1,281 a year |
| National average premium with collision and comprehensive (2023) | $1,438 a year |
| Drivers who were uninsured (2023) | 15.4% |
| Motor vehicle crash deaths (2024) | 39,254, or 11.5 per 100,000 people |
Choose your state
Each state guide explains the legal minimum, whether the state is at-fault or no-fault, how personal injury protection and uninsured motorist rules work there, what drivers in that state spend on average, and who to contact at the state insurance department and motor vehicle agency.
- Alabama
- Arizona
- California
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
How car insurance rules differ from state to state
Four decisions made by each state legislature shape almost every policy sold there.
- The minimum liability limits. Most states write them as three numbers, such as 25/50/25, meaning thousands of dollars for injuries to one person, all injuries in one crash and property damage. A few states also accept a single combined limit, and a handful have unusual rules: New Hampshire does not require a policy at all, Florida requires personal injury protection and property damage liability to register a car, and Michigan lets drivers choose from several liability and PIP levels.
- The fault system. In at-fault states the driver who causes a crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other people's injuries. In no-fault states your own personal injury protection pays your medical bills first, whoever caused the crash, and lawsuits are limited to more serious injuries. Some at-fault states add a requirement to carry or be offered PIP-style benefits.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist rules. Some states require this coverage, others require insurers to offer it and let you reject it in writing, and some leave it optional.
- How insurers may price policies. States regulate rating factors differently. California, for example, requires driving record, miles driven and years of experience to carry the most weight, and several states limit the use of credit-based insurance scores.
The guides on liability coverage, personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage explain each piece in more depth.
Minimum car insurance by state
The table shows each state's legal minimum, its fault system and its rules for personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage. Use the state minimum lookup to see one state in detail with the source for every line.
| State | Minimum coverage | Fault system | Personal injury protection | Uninsured motorist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 25/50/25 | At-fault | Not required | Must be included unless the named insured rejects it |
| Alaska | 50/100/25 | At-fault | Not required | Must be offered in writing; can be rejected by signature |
| Arizona | 25/50/15 | At-fault | Not required | Must be offered in writing on an approved form; optional |
| Arkansas | 25/50/25 | At-fault (add-on PIP) | Must be offered; can be rejected in writing | Included unless you sign a rejection |
| California | 30/60/15 | At-fault | Not required | Must be offered; can be rejected by signing a waiver |
| Colorado | 25/50/15 | At-fault | Not required | Included unless rejected in writing |
| Connecticut | 25/50/25 | At-fault | Not required | Required: $25,000/$50,000 |
| Delaware | 25/50/10 | At-fault (add-on PIP) | Required: $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident | Included unless rejected in writing |
| District of Columbia | 25/50/10 | At-fault (add-on PIP) | Must be offered; optional | Required: $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury and $5,000 property damage |
| Florida | $10,000 PIP + $10,000 property damage | No-fault | Required: $10,000 | Included at bodily injury limits unless rejected in writing on an approved form |
| Georgia | 25/50/25 | At-fault | Not required | Optional |
| Hawaii | 40/80/20 | No-fault | Required: $10,000 | Must be offered at liability limits; can be rejected in writing |
| Idaho | 25/50/15 | At-fault | Not required | Included unless rejected in writing |
| Illinois | 25/50/20 | At-fault | Not required | Required: $25,000/$50,000 |
| Indiana | 25/50/25 | At-fault | Not required | Included unless rejected in writing (minimum $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury and $25,000 property damage) |
| Iowa | 20/40/15 | At-fault | Not required | Included unless rejected in writing |
| Kansas | 25/50/25 | No-fault | Required: $4,500 medical, $4,500 rehabilitation, up to $900 a month disability for one year, $25 a day substitution, $2,000 funeral, plus survivors benefits | Required at least $25,000/$50,000; only limits above the minimum can be rejected in writing |
| Kentucky | 25/50/25 | Choice no-fault | Required: $10,000 per person (basic reparation benefits) | Included unless rejected in writing |
| Louisiana | 15/30/25 | At-fault | Not required | Included at bodily injury limits unless rejected, lowered or limited to economic-only on the Commissioner's form |
| Maine | 50/100/25 | At-fault | Not required | Required: $50,000/$100,000 |
| Maryland | 30/60/15 | At-fault (add-on PIP) | Must be offered (at least $2,500); can be waived or limited | Required: $30,000/$60,000 bodily injury and $15,000 property damage |
| Massachusetts | 25/50/30 | No-fault | Required: $8,000 per person | Required at least at the compulsory bodily injury limits |
| Michigan | 50/100/10 (default 250/500/10) | No-fault | Required: choose a PIP medical level (unlimited by default; $500,000; $250,000; $50,000 for Medicaid enrollees; opt-out for Medicare enrollees) | Optional |
| Minnesota | 30/60/10 | No-fault | Required: $40,000 per person ($20,000 medical and $20,000 income loss and other non-medical benefits) | Required: $25,000/$50,000 |
| Mississippi | 25/50/25 | At-fault | Not required | Optional |
| Missouri | 25/50/25 | At-fault | Not required | Required: $25,000/$50,000 |
| Montana | 25/50/20 | At-fault | Not required | Included at the bodily injury minimums ($25,000/$50,000) unless you reject it by signing a form |
| Nebraska | 25/50/25 | At-fault | Not required | Required: $25,000/$50,000 |
| Nevada | 25/50/20 | At-fault | Not required | Must be offered at your bodily injury limits; optional |
| New Hampshire | 25/50/25 | At-fault | Not required | Required if you buy a policy: limits equal to your liability coverage |
| New Jersey | 35/70/25 | Choice no-fault | Required: $15,000 per person per accident (up to $250,000 for certain injuries) | Required in a Standard Policy: at least $35,000/$70,000 bodily injury and $25,000 property damage |
| New Mexico | 25/50/10 | At-fault | Not required | Must be included at the state minimums or higher; the named insured can reject it |
| New York | 25/50/10 | No-fault | Required: $50,000 per person (basic no-fault) | Required: same as the bodily injury minimums ($25,000/$50,000), for accidents in New York |
| North Carolina | 50/100/50 | At-fault | Not required | Required: equal to your bodily injury limits unless you choose otherwise (never below the liability minimums); includes property damage |
| North Dakota | 25/50/25 | No-fault | Required: $30,000 per person (basic no-fault) | Required: $25,000/$50,000 |
| Ohio | 25/50/25 | At-fault | Not required | Optional: insurers may offer it; you can choose a lower amount or decline it |
| Oklahoma | 25/50/25 | At-fault | Not required | Optional: not part of the required minimum; can be added to a policy |
| Oregon | 25/50/20 | At-fault (add-on PIP) | Required: $15,000 per person for medical expenses | Required: equal to your bodily injury limits unless you elect lower limits in writing (not below $25,000/$50,000) |
| Pennsylvania | 15/30/5 | Choice no-fault | Required: first-party medical benefits of $5,000 | Must be offered; optional (can be rejected on a separate signed form) |
| Rhode Island | 25/50/25 | At-fault | Not required | Required: equal to your bodily injury limits; can be lowered in writing (not below 25/50), or dropped only if you buy minimum coverage and sign an advisory notice |
| South Carolina | 25/50/25 | At-fault | Not required | Required: $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury and $25,000 property damage |
| South Dakota | 25/50/25 | At-fault (add-on PIP) | Must be offered: supplemental first-party benefits (medical expenses, disability income, accidental death); optional to buy | Required: equal to your bodily injury limits (insurer need not exceed $100,000/$300,000 unless you ask) |
| Tennessee | 25/50/25 | At-fault | Not required | Not confirmed |
| Texas | 30/60/25 | At-fault (add-on PIP) | Included in every policy unless you reject it in writing (required amount: $2,500 per person) | Must be included (combined UM/UIM) unless you reject it in writing |
| Utah | 30/65/25 | No-fault | Required: $3,000 per person | Included at your liability limits unless you reject it or choose lower limits in writing (not below the bodily injury minimums) |
| Vermont | 25/50/10 | At-fault | Not required | Required: at least $50,000/$100,000 bodily injury, plus property damage up to $10,000 ($150 deductible) |
| Virginia | 50/100/25 | At-fault | Not required; optional medical expense and income loss benefits are available | Required: equal to your liability limits unless you reject the extra amount (never below the state liability minimums) |
| Washington | 25/50/10 | At-fault (add-on PIP) | Must be offered; can be rejected in writing (basic PIP pays up to $10,000 per person for medical costs) | Included at your liability limits unless rejected in writing (Washington's underinsured motorist coverage also covers uninsured and hit-and-run drivers) |
| West Virginia | 25/50/25 | At-fault | Not required | Required: at least the state minimum limits ($25,000/$50,000 bodily injury, $25,000 property damage) |
| Wisconsin | 25/50/10 | At-fault | Not required | Required: $25,000/$50,000 |
| Wyoming | 25/50/20 | At-fault | Not required | Must be included at $25,000/$50,000 unless the named insured rejects it |
Liability limits are bodily injury per person / per accident / property damage, in thousands of dollars. Each state's sources are listed in the state minimum lookup.
Remember that the minimum is a legal floor, not a recommendation. A serious crash can cost far more than minimum limits pay, and liability coverage never pays to repair your own car. Our coverage checklist helps you decide what to add.
At-fault and no-fault states
| Fault system | Number | States |
|---|---|---|
| No-fault | 9 | Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Utah |
| Choice no-fault | 3 | Kentucky, New Jersey, Pennsylvania |
| At-fault (add-on PIP) | 8 | Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington |
| At-fault | 31 | Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming |
Each state's sources are listed in the state minimum lookup.
If you move between a no-fault and an at-fault state, your policy has to change with you. The guide for new residents covers the deadlines for registering and insuring a car after a move.
Average car insurance cost by state
These are the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' averages per insured vehicle. They mix drivers who carry only the legal minimum with drivers who carry full coverage, so they show how places compare rather than what any one driver will pay. Your own price depends on your ZIP code, driving record, age, car and the coverage you choose; see what affects car insurance rates.
| Rank | State | Average spent per insured vehicle (2023) | Average premium with collision and comprehensive |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | $1,865 | $1,994 |
| 2 | Louisiana | $1,754 | $1,983 |
| 3 | New York | $1,753 | $1,896 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $1,677 | $1,818 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $1,573 | $1,693 |
| 6 | Georgia | $1,555 | $1,746 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $1,540 | $1,710 |
| 8 | Maryland | $1,477 | $1,602 |
| 9 | Delaware | $1,462 | $1,569 |
| 10 | Nevada | $1,462 | $1,600 |
| 11 | Colorado | $1,453 | $1,655 |
| 12 | Michigan | $1,444 | $1,573 |
| 13 | Texas | $1,429 | $1,727 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $1,394 | $1,508 |
| 15 | South Carolina | $1,367 | $1,517 |
| 16 | Arizona | $1,344 | $1,505 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $1,326 | $1,413 |
| 18 | California | $1,225 | $1,418 |
| 19 | Mississippi | $1,200 | $1,395 |
| 20 | Oregon | $1,170 | $1,268 |
| 21 | Utah | $1,169 | $1,285 |
| 22 | Missouri | $1,155 | $1,323 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $1,155 | $1,273 |
| 24 | Illinois | $1,153 | $1,257 |
| 25 | Washington | $1,153 | $1,235 |
| 26 | Virginia | $1,114 | $1,238 |
| 27 | Alaska | $1,113 | $1,262 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $1,103 | $1,223 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $1,084 | $1,324 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $1,082 | $1,301 |
| 31 | Alabama | $1,081 | $1,269 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $1,063 | $1,227 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $1,051 | $1,296 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $1,050 | $1,212 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $1,046 | $1,208 |
| 36 | New Hampshire | $987 | $1,032 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $981 | $1,184 |
| 38 | Montana | $975 | $1,184 |
| 39 | Kansas | $973 | $1,182 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $948 | $1,180 |
| 41 | Ohio | $947 | $1,038 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $937 | $1,158 |
| 43 | Indiana | $926 | $1,032 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $925 | $1,097 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $922 | $1,000 |
| 46 | Vermont | $893 | $958 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $888 | $998 |
| 48 | Iowa | $873 | $1,010 |
| 49 | Idaho | $864 | $981 |
| 50 | Maine | $856 | $926 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $808 | $961 |
| United States | $1,281 | $1,438 |
Ranked from highest to lowest average expenditure. Figures are yearly averages per insured vehicle, rounded to the nearest dollar, not quotes.
States at the top of the list tend to combine dense traffic, high medical and repair costs, frequent lawsuits or theft, or rich no-fault benefits. States at the bottom are often rural with lower claim costs. The guide on how your ZIP code affects your price explains why location matters so much.
Uninsured drivers by state
The Insurance Research Council estimates the share of drivers with no insurance by comparing uninsured motorist claims with bodily injury claims. Where the share is high, uninsured motorist coverage matters more.
| Rank | State | Estimated share of uninsured drivers (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | 28.2% |
| 2 | New Mexico | 24.1% |
| 3 | District of Columbia | 23.1% |
| 4 | Michigan | 22.3% |
| 5 | Tennessee | 21.3% |
| 6 | Missouri | 20.7% |
| 7 | Florida | 20.6% |
| 8 | California | 20.4% |
| 9 | Colorado | 19.7% |
| 10 | Washington | 19.1% |
| 11 | Georgia | 19.0% |
| 12 | Ohio | 18.5% |
| 13 | Delaware | 17.6% |
| 14 | Maryland | 16.9% |
| 15 | Alabama | 16.8% |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 15.6% |
| 17 | Illinois | 15.2% |
| 18 | Oregon | 14.7% |
| 19 | Texas | 14.5% |
| 20 | Kentucky | 14.1% |
| 20 | New Jersey | 14.1% |
| 22 | Indiana | 14.0% |
| 23 | Virginia | 12.9% |
| 24 | Alaska | 12.5% |
| 25 | Rhode Island | 12.4% |
| 26 | Arkansas | 12.1% |
| 27 | Kansas | 12.0% |
| 27 | Oklahoma | 12.0% |
| 29 | Connecticut | 11.8% |
| 29 | North Carolina | 11.8% |
| 29 | Vermont | 11.8% |
| 32 | Louisiana | 11.7% |
| 33 | Iowa | 11.4% |
| 34 | Minnesota | 11.3% |
| 35 | Nevada | 11.1% |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | 11.0% |
| 37 | Arizona | 10.6% |
| 37 | North Dakota | 10.6% |
| 39 | South Carolina | 10.3% |
| 40 | New Hampshire | 10.0% |
| 41 | Hawaii | 9.6% |
| 42 | Nebraska | 9.5% |
| 43 | South Dakota | 9.4% |
| 44 | New York | 8.6% |
| 45 | Massachusetts | 7.9% |
| 46 | West Virginia | 7.8% |
| 47 | Montana | 7.2% |
| 48 | Wyoming | 6.7% |
| 49 | Idaho | 6.4% |
| 50 | Utah | 6.2% |
| 51 | Maine | 5.7% |
| United States | 15.4% |
Ranked from the highest to the lowest estimated share of uninsured drivers.
Road safety by state
Crash risk is one of the things insurers price. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety publishes crash deaths for every state, both per person and per mile driven, which helps compare states with very different amounts of driving.
| Rank | State | Crash deaths (2024) | Per 100,000 people | Per 100 million miles driven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | 753 | 25.6 | 1.81 |
| 2 | Arkansas | 603 | 19.5 | 1.53 |
| 3 | New Mexico | 409 | 19.2 | 1.43 |
| 4 | South Carolina | 1,038 | 18.9 | 1.67 |
| 5 | Alabama | 962 | 18.7 | 1.32 |
| 6 | Wyoming | 107 | 18.2 | 1.1 |
| 7 | Montana | 206 | 18.1 | 1.49 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 1,197 | 16.6 | 1.52 |
| 9 | Louisiana | 752 | 16.4 | 1.36 |
| 10 | Arizona | 1,229 | 16.2 | 1.74 |
| 11 | South Dakota | 146 | 15.8 | 1.4 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | 645 | 15.7 | 1.39 |
| 13 | Kentucky | 707 | 15.4 | 1.44 |
| 14 | Missouri | 955 | 15.3 | 1.17 |
| 15 | North Carolina | 1,619 | 14.7 | 1.24 |
| 16 | West Virginia | 256 | 14.5 | 1.49 |
| 17 | Florida | 3,138 | 13.4 | 1.26 |
| 18 | Texas | 4,160 | 13.3 | 1.35 |
| 19 | Nevada | 417 | 12.8 | 1.47 |
| 20 | Maine | 177 | 12.6 | 1.17 |
| 20 | Oregon | 538 | 12.6 | 1.44 |
| 22 | Georgia | 1,403 | 12.5 | 1.15 |
| 22 | Nebraska | 251 | 12.5 | 1.15 |
| 24 | Delaware | 126 | 12 | 1.27 |
| 24 | Indiana | 832 | 12 | 0.94 |
| 26 | Idaho | 238 | 11.9 | 1.19 |
| 27 | Colorado | 689 | 11.6 | 1.25 |
| 28 | Kansas | 339 | 11.4 | 1.07 |
| 29 | North Dakota | 90 | 11.3 | 0.9 |
| 30 | Iowa | 356 | 11 | 1.05 |
| 31 | Michigan | 1,098 | 10.8 | 1.1 |
| 32 | Virginia | 917 | 10.4 | 1.04 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | 595 | 10 | 0.86 |
| 34 | California | 3,876 | 9.8 | 1.19 |
| 35 | Ohio | 1,157 | 9.7 | 1 |
| 36 | Alaska | 70 | 9.5 | 1.27 |
| 37 | New Hampshire | 133 | 9.4 | 0.96 |
| 38 | Illinois | 1,177 | 9.3 | 1.13 |
| 39 | Maryland | 578 | 9.2 | 1.01 |
| 39 | Washington | 730 | 9.2 | 1.21 |
| 41 | Vermont | 59 | 9.1 | 0.82 |
| 42 | Pennsylvania | 1,127 | 8.6 | 1.18 |
| 43 | Connecticut | 310 | 8.4 | 1 |
| 44 | Minnesota | 477 | 8.2 | 0.81 |
| 45 | Utah | 277 | 7.9 | 0.77 |
| 46 | Hawaii | 102 | 7.1 | 0.96 |
| 46 | New Jersey | 670 | 7.1 | 0.84 |
| 48 | District of Columbia | 47 | 6.7 | 1.33 |
| 49 | New York | 1,101 | 5.5 | 0.91 |
| 50 | Massachusetts | 363 | 5.1 | 0.59 |
| 51 | Rhode Island | 52 | 4.7 | 0.68 |
| United States | 39,254 | 11.5 | 1.19 |
Ranked by deaths per 100,000 people, highest first.
City guides
Our city guides add local data such as commuting times, households without a car and metro-area vehicle theft to the state rules.
Frequently asked questions
Which state requires the most car insurance?
It depends on how you measure it. Some states set high liability limits, others require personal injury protection or uninsured motorist coverage on top of liability. Compare the minimum coverage, PIP and uninsured motorist columns in the table above, or open a state guide for the full list.
Which states do not require car insurance?
New Hampshire does not require drivers to buy a policy, but drivers must be able to pay for damage they cause, and anyone who buys insurance there must meet the state's minimum limits. Every other state and the District of Columbia require liability insurance.
Why is car insurance so much more expensive in some states?
Prices follow claim costs. States with more traffic, more crashes, higher medical and repair bills, more theft, more lawsuits or generous no-fault benefits tend to have higher averages. Each state guide explains the main reasons for that state.
Does my car insurance work in other states?
Yes. Your policy covers you when you drive anywhere in the United States, and most policies automatically meet another state's minimum limits while you drive there. If you move, you will need a policy that meets your new state's rules once you register your car there.
Which state's rules apply to my policy?
The state where your car is registered and usually kept (the garaging address) decides which rules your policy must follow and which state insurance department regulates it.
How often do state minimums change?
Several states have raised their minimums recently, and more increases are scheduled. Each state guide notes recent and upcoming changes we found, and the state minimum lookup lists the effective dates.
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute, Background on: No-fault auto insurance no-fault and choice no-fault systems
- NAIC, Insurance Departments contact details for every state insurance department
- Insurance Information Institute, Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists as of October 28, 2026
- IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state as of June 1, 2026
- NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report as of February 13, 2026
- Insurance Research Council, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017–2023 (press release) as of February 20, 2025
Last reviewed by the StateCover Guide editorial team. See our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.