State minimum car insurance is the least amount of auto coverage your state’s law requires before you can legally drive. In almost every state, that means liability insurance with minimum dollar limits, such as 25/50/25. Some states also require personal injury protection (PIP) or uninsured motorist coverage. New Hampshire is the main exception: it does not require most drivers to buy a policy.
This guide lists the minimum requirements for all 50 states and Washington, DC, as of October 2026. It also explains how to read the numbers, which states changed their rules in 2025 and 2026, and why the minimum is a starting point rather than a goal.
We are an independent publication, not an insurer or agent. This is general education, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm your state’s current rules with your state insurance department or DMV before you buy.
What does 25/50/25 mean?
Those three numbers are your liability limits, in thousands of dollars. They are the most your policy will pay for damage you cause to other people in one crash.
Here is how to read a limit like 25/50/25:
| Position | Name | What it pays | 25/50/25 means |
|---|---|---|---|
| First number | Bodily injury (BI) per person | Medical bills, lost wages and other costs for one injured person | Up to $25,000 per person |
| Second number | Bodily injury per accident | Total for everyone you injure in one crash | Up to $50,000 per crash |
| Third number | Property damage (PD) per accident | Other people’s cars, fences, buildings and property | Up to $25,000 per crash |
A few states let you buy a combined single limit instead. That is one total amount, such as $60,000, that covers both injuries and property damage in a crash.
Minimum car insurance requirements by state (2026)
The table below shows each state’s minimum liability limits and any other coverage the state requires. Amounts are as of October 2026, based on state insurance departments, DMVs and statutes. “None” means the state does not require coverage beyond liability. Where we write “unless rejected,” the insurer must include it but you can turn it down in writing.
| State | BI per person | BI per accident | Property damage | Other required coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | None |
| Alaska | $50,000 | $100,000 | $25,000 | None |
| Arizona | $25,000 | $50,000 | $15,000 | None |
| Arkansas | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | None (PIP must be offered) |
| California | $30,000 | $60,000 | $15,000 | None (new limits since January 1, 2025) |
| Colorado | $25,000 | $50,000 | $15,000 | None |
| Connecticut | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | UM/UIM 25/50 |
| Delaware | $25,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 | PIP $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident |
| District of Columbia | $25,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 | UM $25,000/$50,000 BI and $5,000 PD (limits rise October 1, 2027) |
| Florida | Not required | Not required | $10,000 | PIP $10,000 |
| Georgia | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | None |
| Hawaii | $40,000 | $80,000 | $20,000 | PIP $10,000 (new limits since January 1, 2026) |
| Idaho | $25,000 | $50,000 | $15,000 | None |
| Illinois | $25,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | UM 25/50 |
| Indiana | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | UM/UIM unless rejected in writing |
| Iowa | $20,000 | $40,000 | $15,000 | None |
| Kansas | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | PIP ($4,500 medical plus other benefits); UM/UIM 25/50 |
| Kentucky | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | PIP $10,000 unless rejected (or $60,000 single limit instead of split limits) |
| Louisiana | $15,000 | $30,000 | $25,000 | None |
| Maine | $50,000 | $100,000 | $25,000 | UM/UIM 50/100; medical payments $2,000 |
| Maryland | $30,000 | $60,000 | $15,000 | UM/UIM 30/60/15; PIP $2,500 (can be waived) |
| Massachusetts | $25,000 | $50,000 | $30,000 | PIP $8,000; UM 25/50 (new limits since July 1, 2025) |
| Michigan | $50,000 | $100,000 | $10,000 | PIP (you choose a level); property protection (PPI) $1 million. 50/100 is the lowest BI option; the standard default is 250/500 |
| Minnesota | $30,000 | $60,000 | $10,000 | PIP $40,000 ($20,000 medical / $20,000 non-medical); UM/UIM 25/50 |
| Mississippi | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | None |
| Missouri | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | UM 25/50 |
| Montana | $25,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | None |
| Nebraska | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | UM/UIM 25/50 |
| Nevada | $25,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | None |
| New Hampshire | Not required | Not required | Not required | If you buy a policy: 25/50/25, $1,000 medical payments, UM equal to your liability limits |
| New Jersey | $35,000 | $70,000 | $25,000 | Standard policy: PIP $15,000 minimum; UM/UIM. A lower-cost Basic Policy is also allowed |
| New Mexico | $25,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 | None |
| New York | $25,000 ($50,000 death) | $50,000 ($100,000 death) | $10,000 | PIP $50,000; UM 25/50 |
| North Carolina | $50,000 | $100,000 | $50,000 | UM/UIM (new limits since July 1, 2025) |
| North Dakota | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | PIP $30,000; UM/UIM 25/50 |
| Ohio | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | None |
| Oklahoma | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | None |
| Oregon | $25,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | PIP $15,000; UM/UIM 25/50 |
| Pennsylvania | $15,000 | $30,000 | $5,000 | First-party medical benefits $5,000 |
| Rhode Island | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | None |
| South Carolina | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | UM 25/50/25 |
| South Dakota | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | UM/UIM equal to BI limits (at least 25/50) |
| Tennessee | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | None |
| Texas | $30,000 | $60,000 | $25,000 | None (PIP and UM/UIM included unless rejected in writing) |
| Utah | $30,000 | $65,000 | $25,000 | PIP $3,000 (new limits since January 1, 2025) |
| Vermont | $25,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 | UM/UIM $50,000/$100,000 BI and $10,000 PD |
| Virginia | $50,000 | $100,000 | $25,000 | UM/UIM at least 50/100/25 (new limits since January 1, 2025) |
| Washington | $25,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 | None |
| West Virginia | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | UM 25/50/25 |
| Wisconsin | $25,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 | UM 25/50 |
| Wyoming | $25,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | None |
Many states also require insurers to offer coverages you are free to decline, such as UM/UIM or medical payments. Your insurer must explain these options when you buy.
Which states changed their minimums in 2025 and 2026?
At least seven states raised minimum limits for policies issued or renewed in 2025 or 2026. Most of these changes take effect when your policy is issued or renewed on or after the new date, so an older policy may show lower limits until it renews.
| State | Old minimum | New minimum | Effective date (official source) |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 15/30/5 | 30/60/15 | January 1, 2025 (California DMV) |
| Virginia | 30/60/20 | 50/100/25 | January 1, 2025 (Virginia DMV) |
| Utah | 25/65/15 | 30/65/25 | January 1, 2025 (Utah Code 31A-22-304) |
| Massachusetts | 20/40/5 | 25/50/30 | July 1, 2025 (Massachusetts Division of Insurance) |
| North Carolina | 30/60/25 | 50/100/50 | July 1, 2025 (NCDOT Division of Motor Vehicles) |
| Hawaii | 20/40/10 | 40/80/20 | January 1, 2026 (Hawaii Insurance Division) |
| New Jersey (Standard Policy) | 25/50/25 | 35/70/25 | January 1, 2026 (NJ Department of Banking and Insurance) |
Two more changes are worth knowing about:
- Washington, DC passed a law in 2026 that raises its minimums to 50/100/20, with matching uninsured motorist limits, starting October 1, 2027 (D.C. Law 26-155). Until then, 25/50/10 still applies.
- Florida lawmakers have filed bills in recent sessions to replace PIP with bodily injury liability. As of October 2026, none has become law, so PIP is still required. See our guide to Florida car insurance requirements for details.
Why is the state minimum only a floor?
The minimum is the least you can legally carry, not the amount most people need. It is designed to make sure some money is available to people you hurt, not to fully protect you.
Three gaps are common with minimum coverage:
- Low injury limits. A serious injury that needs surgery or a hospital stay can quickly use up a per-person limit of $15,000 to $30,000.
- Low property damage limits. Some states still require only $5,000 to $15,000 of property damage coverage. That may not cover a newer car, let alone more than one.
- Nothing for your own car. Liability never pays for your own vehicle. For that you need collision and comprehensive coverage, which are explained in our guide to car insurance coverage types.
If you own a home, have savings, or earn a steady income, higher limits deserve a close look. A common approach is to price a middle level, such as 50/100/50, and a higher level, such as 100/300/100, next to the minimum. The difference in price is not always large, but it varies a lot by driver and state, and only a quote can tell you yours.
What other coverages do some states require?
Beyond liability, states may require one or more of the coverages below. Each pays for a different kind of loss.
Personal injury protection (PIP)
PIP is required in the no-fault states and in a few other states, such as Delaware, Maryland and Oregon. In no-fault states, PIP is your first source of payment for injuries. Our explainer on no-fault vs at-fault states covers how that works and when you can still sue.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM)
UM pays for your injuries when a driver with no insurance causes the crash, or in a hit-and-run in many states. UIM pays when the at-fault driver’s limits are too low to cover your costs. Based on the table above, 20 states and DC require at least one of these, and Indiana and Texas include them unless you reject them in writing. Where UM/UIM is optional, it is still worth pricing, because it protects you from other drivers’ choices.
Michigan’s property protection (PPI)
Michigan requires $1 million of property protection insurance. It pays for damage your car does to other people’s property in Michigan, such as buildings and properly parked cars. Michigan’s property damage liability limit ($10,000) applies to damage you cause in other states.
Are there states where car insurance is not required?
New Hampshire is the only state that does not require most drivers to buy auto insurance, as of October 2026. Drivers there must still be able to pay for damage they cause. After certain crashes or violations, the state can require proof of insurance before you can keep driving.
A few other states allow alternatives to a standard policy, such as a cash deposit, a surety bond or self-insurance for large fleets. These are uncommon for everyday drivers. Your state DMV lists any alternatives it accepts.
What happens if you don’t meet your state’s minimum?
Driving without the required insurance can lead to fines, license or registration suspension, and in some states, vehicle impoundment. Penalties are set by each state and often grow for repeat offenses.
Some states require drivers with certain violations to file proof of insurance, called an SR-22, for a set period. Our guide to SR-22 insurance explains when that applies. Separately, if you cause a crash without insurance, you are personally responsible for the damage.
If cost is the barrier, look for help before letting coverage lapse. California, for example, runs the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program for income-eligible drivers, according to the California DMV. Many states also run an assigned-risk plan for drivers who cannot find coverage in the regular market.
How do you check and choose your limits?
Start with your state’s minimum, then decide how much more you want. A short process helps:
- Find your state’s current rules. Use the NAIC directory of state insurance departments to reach your state’s official consumer pages.
- Check your declarations page. Your current limits are listed there. Confirm they still meet the minimum after any recent law change.
- List what you want to protect. Savings, home equity and income all matter when choosing liability limits.
- Price several limit levels. Ask for the minimum, a middle level and a higher level so you can see the real cost difference.
- Compare the same coverage across insurers. Our guide on how to compare insurance quotes has a checklist.
Your price also depends on factors such as your driving record and where you live. We explain those in how car insurance rates are calculated.
The bottom line
Every state sets its own minimum car insurance, and several raised theirs in 2025 and 2026. Use the table above as a starting point, confirm the details with your state, and treat the minimum as the lowest safe-to-drive number, not the right number. Choosing limits that fit what you own is one of the most useful decisions you can make when buying auto insurance.
