Can
I drive legally without car insurance?
NO! Almost every state requires you to have auto liability insurance.
All states also have financial responsibility laws. This means
that even in a state that does not require liability insurance,
you need to have sufficient assets to pay claims if you cause
an accident. If you don’t have enough assets, you must purchase
at least the state minimum amount of insurance. But insurance
exists to protect your assets. Trying to see how little you can
get by with can be very shortsighted and dangerous.
If you've financed your car, your lender may require comprehensive
and collision insurance as part of the loan agreement.
Below is an example of the state minimum limits for auto liability
insurance. The first number refers to liability limits for bodily
injury for any one person, the second to limits for all persons
injured, and the third refers to property damage liability limits.
For example, 20/40/10 means coverage up to $40,000 for all persons
injured in an accident, subject to a limit of $20,000 for one
individual and $10,000 coverage for property damage.
| State |
Insurance Required |
Minimum Liability Limits |
State |
Insurance Required |
Minimum Liability Limits |
| AL |
BI & PD Liab |
20/40/10 |
MT |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/10 |
| AK |
BI & PD Liab |
50/100/25 |
NE |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/25 |
| AZ |
BI & PD Liab |
15/30/10 |
NV |
BI & PD Liab |
15/30/10 |
| AR |
BI & PD Liab, PIP |
25/50/25 |
NH |
FR only, UM |
25/50/25 |
| CA |
BI & PD Liab |
15/30/5 (2) |
NJ |
BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM |
15/30/5 (6) |
| CO |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/15 |
NM |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/10 |
| CT |
BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM |
20/40/10 |
NY |
BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM |
25/50/10 (7) |
| DE |
BI & PD Liab, PIP |
15/30/10 |
NC |
BI & PD Liab |
30/60/25 |
| DC |
BI & PD Liab, UM |
25/50/10 |
ND |
BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM |
25/50/25 |
| FL |
PD Liab, PIP* |
10/20/10 (3) |
OH |
BI & PD Liab |
12.5/25/7.5 |
| GA |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/25 |
OK |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/25 |
| HI |
BI & PD Liab, PIP |
20/40/10 |
OR |
BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM |
25/50/10 |
| ID |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/15 |
PA |
BI & PD Liab, PIP |
15/30/5 |
| IL |
BI & PD Liab, UM |
20/40/15 |
RI |
BI & PD Liab, UM |
25/50/25 (3) |
| IN |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/10 |
SC |
BI & PD Liab, UM |
25/50/25 |
| IA |
BI & PD Liab |
20/40/15 |
SD |
BI & PD Liab, UM |
25/50/25 |
| KS |
BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM |
25/50/10 |
TN |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/10 (3) |
| KY |
BI & PD Liab, PIP |
25/50/10 |
TX |
BI & PD Liab |
20/40/15** |
| LA |
BI & PD Liab |
10/20/10 |
UT |
BI & PD Liab, PIP |
25/50/15 (3) |
| ME |
BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM |
50/100/25 (4) |
VT |
BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM |
25/50/10 |
| MD |
BI & PD Liab, PIP (5), UM |
20/40/15 |
VA |
BI & PD Liab, UM |
25/50/20 |
| MA |
BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM |
20/40/5 |
WA |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/10 |
| MI |
BI & PD Liab, PIP |
20/40/10 |
WV |
BI & PD Liab, UM |
20/40/10 |
| MN |
BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM, UIM |
30/60/10 |
WY |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/20 |
| MS |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/25 |
WI |
FR only, UM |
25/50/10 |
| MO |
BI & PD Liab, UM |
25/50/10 |
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(1) The first two numbers refer to bodily injury liability limits
and the third number to property liability. For example, 20/40/10
means coverage up to $40,000 for all persons injured in an accident,
subject to a limit of $20,000 for one individual, and $10,000
coverage for property damage.
(2) Low-cost policy limits for low-income drivers in the California
Automobile Assigned Risk Plan are 10/20/3.
(3) Instead of policy limits, policyholders can satisfy the requirement
with a combined single limit policy. Amounts vary by state.
(4) In addition, policyholders must also carry at least $1,000
for medical payments.
(5) May be waived for the policyholder but is compulsory for passengers.
(6) Basic policy (optional) limits are 10/10/5. Uninsured and
underinsured motorist coverge not available under the basic policy
but uninsured motorist coverage is required under the standard
policy.
(7) In addition, policyholders must have 50/100 for wrongful death
coverage.
*Florida's no-fault law not in effect from October 1, 2007 to
December 31, 2007.
**Minimum coverage requirements will increase to 25/50/25 on April
1, 2008 and to 30/60/30 on January 1, 2011.
Source: Property Casualty Insurers Association of America; state
departments of insurance.
Source: Insurance
Information Institute
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