Minimum Car Insurance Requirements by State
State-mandated liability minimums for all 50 states + D.C. (2026)
Every US state except New Hampshire requires drivers to carry minimum liability insurance. Requirements range from Florida's unique PD-only mandate (no bodily injury required) to Alaska and Maine's 50/100/25, based on data from state Departments of Insurance. The table below shows the required bodily injury (BI) and property damage (PD) limits in thousands of dollars. 10 states use a no-fault system requiring PIP coverage. Click any column header to sort.
For example, "25 / 50 / 15" means $25,000 per person bodily injury, $50,000 per accident bodily injury, and $15,000 property damage. No-fault states require Personal Injury Protection (PIP) regardless of who caused the accident.
| State | BI / Person ($K) | BI / Accident ($K) | Property Damage ($K) | No-Fault? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 25 | 50 | 25 | No |
| Alaska | 50 | 100 | 25 | No |
| Arizona | 25 | 50 | 15 | No |
| Arkansas | 25 | 50 | 25 | No |
| California | 30 | 60 | 15 | No |
| Colorado | 25 | 50 | 15 | No |
| Connecticut | 25 | 50 | 25 | No |
| Delaware | 25 | 50 | 10 | Choice |
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 10 | Yes |
| Georgia | 25 | 50 | 25 | No |
| Hawaii | 40 | 80 | 20 | Yes |
| Idaho | 25 | 50 | 15 | No |
| Illinois | 25 | 50 | 20 | No |
| Indiana | 25 | 50 | 25 | No |
| Iowa | 20 | 40 | 15 | No |
| Kansas | 25 | 50 | 25 | Yes |
| Kentucky | 25 | 50 | 25 | Choice |
| Louisiana | 15 | 30 | 25 | No |
| Maine | 50 | 100 | 25 | No |
| Maryland | 30 | 60 | 15 | No |
| Massachusetts | 25 | 50 | 30 | Yes |
| Michigan | 50 | 100 | 10 | Yes |
| Minnesota | 30 | 60 | 10 | Yes |
| Mississippi | 25 | 50 | 25 | No |
| Missouri | 25 | 50 | 25 | No |
| Montana | 25 | 50 | 20 | No |
| Nebraska | 25 | 50 | 25 | No |
| Nevada | 25 | 50 | 20 | No |
| New Hampshire | 25 | 50 | 25 | No |
| New Jersey | 35 | 70 | 25 | Yes |
| New Mexico | 25 | 50 | 10 | No |
| New York | 25 | 50 | 10 | Yes |
| North Carolina | 50 | 100 | 50 | No |
| North Dakota | 25 | 50 | 25 | Yes |
| Ohio | 25 | 50 | 25 | No |
| Oklahoma | 25 | 50 | 25 | No |
| Oregon | 25 | 50 | 20 | No |
| Pennsylvania | 15 | 30 | 5 | Choice |
| Rhode Island | 25 | 50 | 25 | No |
| South Carolina | 25 | 50 | 25 | No |
| South Dakota | 25 | 50 | 25 | No |
| Tennessee | 25 | 50 | 15 | No |
| Texas | 30 | 60 | 25 | No |
| Utah | 25 | 65 | 15 | Yes |
| Vermont | 25 | 50 | 10 | No |
| Virginia | 50 | 100 | 25 | No |
| Washington | 25 | 50 | 10 | No |
| Washington, D.C. | 25 | 50 | 10 | No |
| West Virginia | 25 | 50 | 25 | No |
| Wisconsin | 25 | 50 | 10 | No |
| Wyoming | 25 | 50 | 20 | No |
Last updated: March 2026. Sources: State Departments of Insurance (.gov)
What These Numbers Mean
Minimum requirements use a shorthand format: "25/50/25" means $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 property damage. These limits define the maximum your liability policy will pay on your behalf if you cause an accident. Anything beyond those limits comes from your personal assets.
Recent Changes to Watch
Five states significantly increased their minimum requirements between 2025 and 2026, recognizing that older minimums had not kept pace with medical and repair costs. California doubled its limits from 15/30/5 to 30/60/15 under SB 1107. Virginia and North Carolina both moved to 50/100 bodily injury. Hawaii doubled all three limits. New Jersey raised limits from 15/30/5 to 35/70/25. These changes reflect a broader trend toward requiring drivers to carry more meaningful protection.
Why Minimums Are Not Enough for Most Drivers
A $25,000 per-person bodily injury limit covers roughly one ER visit. A serious multi-vehicle accident can generate $100,000 or more in medical costs per injured person. If your policy limit is $25,000 and the judgment is $100,000, you are personally liable for the $75,000 gap. Property damage limits of $10,000 to $25,000 are equally thin: the average new car costs over $48,000, and even used vehicle values have risen sharply. Financial planners recommend at least 100/300/100 for drivers with assets to protect. Use our state requirements checker to look up your state's specific minimums.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common minimum car insurance requirement?
The most common minimum liability requirement across US states is 25/50/25: $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage. However, requirements vary significantly. Five states recently increased their minimums between 2025 and 2026: California, Hawaii, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Virginia.
What is a no-fault state for car insurance?
In a no-fault state, your own insurance covers your medical expenses regardless of who caused the accident, through Personal Injury Protection (PIP). 10 states use a no-fault system. In at-fault (tort) states, the driver who caused the accident is financially responsible for the other party's injuries and damages through their liability insurance.
Is minimum coverage enough?
Minimum coverage meets legal requirements but may leave you financially exposed. Most state minimums were set decades ago and have not kept pace with medical costs or vehicle values. A single ER visit can exceed $10,000, and serious injuries generate six-figure bills. Financial planners generally recommend 100/300/100 to protect personal assets.
For average costs by state, see our car insurance rates by state table. For full editorial context, see our state cost guide.
This data is for informational purposes only and does not constitute insurance, financial, or legal advice. Data may contain errors or be outdated. Always verify details with a licensed insurance professional before making coverage decisions.
Sources
[1] State Departments of Insurance, "Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements (various state DOI pages)," content.naic.org
[2] CT General Assembly, "50 State Comparison: Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements," cga.ct.gov