Minimum Car Insurance by State: Required Liability, PIP and UM Rules for All 50 States and DC (2026)
Part of our car insurance guide.
Every state except New Hampshire has a compulsory auto liability insurance law, according to Triple-I. New Hampshire instead requires drivers to show they can pay for an at-fault accident. The required amounts differ widely, and seven states raised theirs in 2025 or 2026. The table below lists the minimum for every state and DC, notes which ones we confirmed directly against a state DMV, insurance department or statute, and links to the guides that explain the numbers.
Key takeaways
- The most common minimum is $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person: 35 of the 51 jurisdictions in our table use it.
- Florida does not require bodily injury liability to register a car. It requires $10,000 of PIP and $10,000 of property damage liability, per FLHSMV.
- Seven states raised minimums in 2025 or 2026: California, Virginia, Utah, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey and Hawaii.
- A state minimum is a legal floor, not a recommendation. Regulators in Hawaii and Michigan say so in their own guidance.
How do you read 25/50/25?
Liability limits are written as three numbers in thousands of dollars. Triple-I's example: 20/40/10 means up to $40,000 for all people injured in one accident, no more than $20,000 for any one person, and $10,000 for property damage. The full explanation, with worked examples, is in what 25/50/25 means.
Minimum car insurance by state, 2026
"Checked against" names the state source we read on October 1, 2026 when it differs from, or confirms, the Triple-I table. Rows marked "Triple-I table" come from Triple-I's Automobile Financial Responsibility Limits By State chart, which Triple-I attributes to the American Property Casualty Insurers Association and state insurance departments. That chart still showed pre-2025 limits for several states on the day we checked, so confirm any row with your state DMV before relying on it.
| State | Required coverage | Minimum liability (BI per person / BI per accident / PD, in $1,000s) | Checked against |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | BI & PD liability | 25/50/25 | Triple-I table |
| Alaska | BI & PD liability | 50/100/25 | Triple-I table |
| Arizona | BI & PD liability | 25/50/15 | Triple-I table |
| Arkansas | BI & PD liability, PIP | 25/50/25 | Triple-I table |
| California | BI & PD liability | 30/60/15 | CA DMV; CDI |
| Colorado | BI & PD liability | 25/50/15 | Triple-I table |
| Connecticut | BI & PD liability, UM, UIM | 25/50/25 | Triple-I table |
| Delaware | BI & PD liability, PIP | 25/50/10 | Triple-I table |
| District of Columbia | BI & PD liability, UM | 25/50/10 | Triple-I table |
| Florida | PIP and PD liability; BI not required to register | PDL $10,000; PIP $10,000 | FLHSMV |
| Georgia | BI & PD liability | 25/50/25 | Triple-I table |
| Hawaii | BI & PD liability, PIP ($10,000) | 40/80/20 | Hawaii Insurance Division |
| Idaho | BI & PD liability | 25/50/15 | Triple-I table |
| Illinois | BI & PD liability, UM, UIM | 25/50/20 | Triple-I table |
| Indiana | BI & PD liability | 25/50/25 | Triple-I table |
| Iowa | BI & PD liability | 20/40/15 | Triple-I table |
| Kansas | BI & PD liability, PIP | 25/50/25 | Triple-I table |
| Kentucky | BI & PD liability, PIP | 25/50/25 | Triple-I table |
| Louisiana | BI & PD liability | 15/30/25 | Triple-I table |
| Maine | BI & PD liability, UM, UIM, MedPay | 50/100/25 | Triple-I table |
| Maryland | BI & PD liability, PIP, UM, UIM | 30/60/15 | Triple-I table |
| Massachusetts | BI & PD liability, PIP ($8,000), UM | 25/50/30 | Massachusetts Division of Insurance |
| Michigan | BI & PD liability, PIP (choose a level) | 50/100/10 lowest allowed; 250/500/10 default | Michigan DIFS |
| Minnesota | BI & PD liability, PIP, UM, UIM | 30/60/10 | Triple-I table |
| Mississippi | BI & PD liability | 25/50/25 | Triple-I table |
| Missouri | BI & PD liability, UM | 25/50/25 | Triple-I table |
| Montana | BI & PD liability | 25/50/20 | Triple-I table |
| Nebraska | BI & PD liability, UM, UIM | 25/50/25 | Triple-I table |
| Nevada | BI & PD liability | 25/50/20 | Triple-I table |
| New Hampshire | Financial responsibility only | 25/50/25 | Triple-I table |
| New Jersey | BI & PD liability, PIP ($15,000), UM, UIM (Standard policy) | 35/70/25 | NJ DOBI |
| New Mexico | BI & PD liability | 25/50/10 | Triple-I table |
| New York | BI & PD liability, PIP ($50,000), UM, UIM | 25/50/10 | NY DFS |
| North Carolina | BI & PD liability, UM, UIM | 50/100/50 | NC DOI |
| North Dakota | BI & PD liability, PIP, UM, UIM | 25/50/25 | Triple-I table |
| Ohio | BI & PD liability | 25/50/25 | Triple-I table |
| Oklahoma | BI & PD liability | 25/50/25 | Triple-I table |
| Oregon | BI & PD liability, PIP, UM, UIM | 25/50/20 | Triple-I table |
| Pennsylvania | BI & PD liability, PIP | 15/30/5 | Triple-I table |
| Rhode Island | BI & PD liability | 25/50/25 | Triple-I table |
| South Carolina | BI & PD liability, UM | 25/50/25 | Triple-I table |
| South Dakota | BI & PD liability, UM, UIM | 25/50/25 | Triple-I table |
| Tennessee | BI & PD liability | 25/50/25 | Tennessee Department of Revenue (Triple-I table still shows 25/50/15) |
| Texas | BI & PD liability | 30/60/25 | Triple-I table |
| Utah | BI & PD liability, PIP | 30/65/25 | Utah Code 31A-22-304 |
| Vermont | BI & PD liability, UM, UIM | 25/50/10 | Triple-I table |
| Virginia | BI & PD liability, UM, UIM | 50/100/25 | Virginia DMV |
| Washington | BI & PD liability | 25/50/10 | Triple-I table |
| West Virginia | BI & PD liability, UM | 25/50/25 | Triple-I table |
| Wisconsin | BI & PD liability, UM | 25/50/10 | Triple-I table |
| Wyoming | BI & PD liability | 25/50/20 | Triple-I table |
Abbreviations: BI is bodily injury liability, PD is property damage liability, PIP is personal injury protection, UM and UIM are uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Triple-I notes that in several states a combined single limit can satisfy the requirement instead of split limits, and that UM/UIM rules vary, so "state departments of insurance should be consulted."
Which states changed their minimums recently?
California, Virginia and Utah raised limits for policies written or renewed on or after January 1, 2025. Massachusetts and North Carolina followed on July 1, 2025. New Jersey and Hawaii raised theirs on January 1, 2026. Old and new limits for each, with effective dates and what it means at renewal, are in states that raised minimum car insurance in 2025 and 2026.
A minimum can be far below the cost of one crash. Hawaii's Insurance Division, explaining its 2026 increase, says even the new limits may not be enough: "serious accidents can exceed these amounts." Michigan's DIFS warns that if costs exceed your limit "you will be required to pay any amount over the limit you choose."
Which states require PIP, and what is no-fault?
Triple-I counts twelve no-fault states plus Puerto Rico, where your own insurer pays your injury costs through PIP regardless of fault and your right to sue is limited. Three of them, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Kentucky, let drivers choose. Several other states require PIP without restricting lawsuits. The full list, thresholds and choice rules are in the no-fault states list.
Why are Michigan and Florida outliers?
They sit at opposite ends. Michigan lets drivers choose among six PIP medical levels, from unlimited down to opting out for some Medicare enrollees, and sets a default liability limit of 250/500. Florida requires PIP and property damage but not bodily injury liability to register a car. See why Michigan car insurance is expensive and why Florida car insurance is expensive.
Guides in this hub
| Guide | What it covers |
|---|---|
| States that raised minimum car insurance in 2025 and 2026 | Old and new limits, effective dates, renewal effects |
| No-fault states list | Which states use PIP and restrict lawsuits |
| Why Michigan car insurance is expensive | The PIP choice system |
| Why Florida car insurance is expensive | PIP plus PDL, uninsured drivers, litigation reform |
| What 25/50/25 means | Reading split liability limits |
FAQ
Which state has the lowest minimum car insurance? In our table, Florida requires no bodily injury liability to register. Among states that require it, Louisiana and Pennsylvania have the lowest per-person minimum at $15,000, per the Triple-I table.
Is New Hampshire the only state without mandatory car insurance? Triple-I says New Hampshire "does not have a compulsory insurance liability law" but requires drivers to show they can pay for an at-fault accident. Triple-I's page also still describes a Virginia fee option for uninsured vehicles, but Virginia DMV's current page says you must certify minimum insurance to buy plates or decals, and lists 50/100/25 for policies effective on or after January 1, 2025.
Does my state minimum cover damage to my own car? No. Liability pays others. Covering your own car takes collision and comprehensive, which no state requires, though a lender may.
What happens if I move to a state with higher minimums? Check the new state's row in the table and its DMV page. The gap can be large: Pennsylvania's minimum is 15/30/5 while North Carolina's is 50/100/50.
How current is this table? Rows checked against a state source were read on October 1, 2026. Rows marked "Triple-I table" were current as of Triple-I's chart that day.
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute, "Background on: Compulsory Auto/Uninsured Motorists," https://www.iii.org/article/background-on-compulsory-auto-uninsured-motorists (accessed October 1, 2026)
- California DMV, "Auto Insurance Requirements," https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/insurance-requirements/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
- California Department of Insurance, "New Year Means New Changes for Insurance," https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0102-alerts/2025/New-Year-Means-New-Changes-for-Insurance.cfm (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, "Florida Insurance Requirements," https://www.flhsmv.gov/insurance/ (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Hawaii Insurance Division, "FAQ: Auto Insurance Minimum Limits," https://cca.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Auto-Minimum-Limits-FAQs.pdf (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Massachusetts Division of Insurance, "Filing Guidance Notice 2025-A," https://www.mass.gov/doc/2025-a-new-motor-vehicle-mandatory-coverage-limits/download (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Michigan DIFS, "Frequently Asked Questions," https://www.michigan.gov/autoinsurance/frequently-asked-questions (accessed October 1, 2026)
- New Jersey DOBI, "Bulletin No. 25-06," https://www.nj.gov/dobi/bulletins/blt25_06.pdf (accessed October 1, 2026)
- New Jersey DOBI, "Standard Auto Insurance Policy," https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_consumers/insurance/standardpolicy.html (accessed October 1, 2026)
- New York DFS, "How much auto insurance must I carry?," https://www.dfs.ny.gov/faqs/consumer-auto/how-much-auto-insurance-must-i-carry (accessed October 1, 2026)
- North Carolina Department of Insurance, "Changes to the Rating of Automobile Insurance Policies, Effective July 1, 2025," https://www.ncdoi.gov/changes-rating-automobile-insurance-policies-effective-july-1-2025 (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Tennessee Department of Revenue, "Financial Responsibility Law," https://www.tn.gov/revenue/title-and-registration/drive-insured-tennessee/why-you-should-have-insurance.html (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Utah Code section 31A-22-304, https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title31A/Chapter22/31A-22-S304.html (accessed October 1, 2026)
- Virginia DMV, "Insurance Requirements," https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/insurance-requirements (accessed October 1, 2026)
Minimums change by statute. This table reflects sources read on October 1, 2026 and is not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your state DMV or insurance department.