# Minimum car insurance requirements by state

> Look up the minimum car insurance your state requires: liability limits, PIP, uninsured motorist rules and fault system for all 50 states and DC.

Canonical page: https://mail.statecover-guide.com/tools/state-minimums/  
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026 by the StateCover Guide editorial team  
General information, not legal or insurance advice.

## Quick answer

Choose your state below to see the minimum car insurance the law requires there: liability limits, whether personal injury protection (PIP) or uninsured motorist coverage is required, and whether the state is at-fault or no-fault. 49 states and the District of Columbia require liability insurance; New Hampshire instead requires drivers to be able to pay for damage they cause.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Jurisdictions that require liability insurance | 49 states and the District of Columbia |
| States with no-fault laws | 12 |
| States with a choice no-fault law | 3 |
| Drivers who were uninsured (2023) | 15.4% |
| What the lookup shows | Liability minimums, fault system, PIP, MedPay, UM/UIM, regulator and DMV links |

## Look up your state's minimum car insurance

Interactive tool: https://mail.statecover-guide.com/tools/state-minimums/ (works without JavaScript).
## How to read minimum liability limits

States write liability minimums as three numbers, such as 25/50/25. They are in thousands of dollars:

1. The first number is the most the policy pays for injuries to one person in a crash you cause.
2. The second is the most it pays for all injuries in that crash.
3. The third is the most it pays for damage to other people's property, such as their car.

For example, with 25/50/25 limits, if you cause a crash that injures two people and wrecks a car, the policy pays up to $25,000 for each injured person, no more than $50,000 for both together, and up to $25,000 for the car. Anything above those amounts can become your personal debt. A few states also let drivers meet the law with a single combined limit that covers injuries and property together.

## Minimum coverage is a floor, not a recommendation

State minimums were set to make sure every driver carries some protection for others. They were not designed to protect your own savings or your own car. Liability coverage never pays to fix your car or treat your own injuries; for that you need collision, comprehensive, PIP or medical payments, and uninsured motorist coverage. Read [how liability insurance works](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/coverage/liability/) and [what full coverage means](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/coverage/full-coverage/) before you settle on the minimum.

## At-fault, no-fault and choice no-fault states

In most states the driver who causes a crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other people's injuries and damage. In the 12 no-fault states, each driver's own personal injury protection pays their medical bills first, whoever caused the crash, and the right to sue is limited unless injuries are serious. In the 3 choice no-fault states, drivers can choose between a no-fault policy and a traditional one. See [personal injury protection](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/coverage/personal-injury-protection/) for how PIP works.

## Uninsured and underinsured motorist rules

Some states require uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, others require insurers to offer it and let you reject it in writing, and some leave it entirely optional. With 15.4% of drivers uninsured in 2023, it protects you when the other driver cannot pay. See [uninsured motorist coverage](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/coverage/uninsured-motorist/).

## When the rules change

States update their minimums from time to time, and a new law usually applies to policies issued or renewed after its effective date. The lookup notes recent changes where we found them. If you are moving, the rules of your new state apply once you register the car there; see [car insurance for new residents](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/drivers/new-residents/).

## FAQ

### What is the minimum car insurance required by law?

It depends on the state. Almost every state requires bodily injury and property damage liability, and some also require PIP or uninsured motorist coverage. Use the lookup above for your state's exact limits.

### Which state does not require car insurance?

New Hampshire does not require 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.

### Is state minimum coverage enough?

Often it is not. Minimum limits can be used up quickly by one serious injury, and minimum liability does nothing for your own car. Higher limits usually cost much less than adding collision coverage.

### What does 25/50/25 mean on car insurance?

It means $25,000 for injuries to one person, $50,000 for all injuries in one crash and $25,000 for property damage.

### What happens if I drive without the required insurance?

Penalties vary by state and can include fines, license or registration suspension and having to file an SR-22. See [SR-22 insurance](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/drivers/sr-22/).

### Do I need to buy a new policy when I move to another state?

Usually yes, or at least update your policy to meet the new state's rules once you register your car there. Ask your insurer whether it is licensed in your new state.

## Sources

- [Insurance Information Institute, Background on: No-fault auto insurance](https://www.iii.org/article/background-on-no-fault-auto-insurance) — no-fault, choice no-fault and add-on systems
- [New Hampshire Insurance Department, Automobile Insurance Consumer Frequently Asked Questions](https://mm.nh.gov/files/uploads/nhid/documents/nh-auto-guide.pdf) — New Hampshire's financial responsibility rules
- [NAIC, Insurance Departments](https://content.naic.org/state-insurance-departments) — contact details for every state insurance department
- [Insurance Research Council, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017–2023 (press release)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250220231032/en), as of February 20, 2025