Photo: Vlad Deep, Pexels
Every US state sets its own minimum car insurance, and most write it as three numbers such as 25/50/25: bodily injury liability per person, bodily injury per crash, and property damage per crash, in thousands of dollars. The lowest minimums in the table below are Pennsylvania’s 15/30/5 and Louisiana’s 15/30/25. The highest include Alaska, Maine and Virginia at 50/100 for injuries and North Carolina at 50/100/50. This guide gives the liability minimum for all 50 states and DC as of November 2026, plus the no-fault (PIP) and uninsured motorist cover some states add.
Key facts
- Liability cover pays other people when you are at fault. It does not repair your own car.
- 25/50/25 is the most common minimum, but many states differ, and several raised their limits in 2025 and 2026 (Virginia, North Carolina, Hawaii, New Jersey).
- No-fault states also require personal injury protection (PIP), which pays your own medical costs whoever caused the crash. Examples: Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota and Oregon.
- Some states require uninsured motorist cover too, for example DC, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina and Wisconsin.
- Minimums are a legal floor, not advice. A serious crash can cost far more, and you pay the rest.
How to read 25/50/25
Using a 25/50/25 policy as the example:
- 25: up to $25,000 for injuries to any one person you hurt
- 50: up to $50,000 in total for everyone injured in one crash
- 25: up to $25,000 for damage to other people’s property (cars, fences, signs)
South Dakota’s Division of Insurance explains the numbers the same way. A “single limit” policy (such as Kentucky’s $60,000 or Rhode Island’s $75,000 option) gives one total for injuries and property together.
Worked example
You hold Pennsylvania’s minimum of $15,000 / $30,000 / $5,000 and cause a crash that injures two people ($22,000 and $14,000 in claims) and damages a $9,000 car.
- Injured person 1: the policy pays $15,000, the per-person cap. $7,000 is left over.
- Injured person 2: the policy pays $14,000. The injury total of $29,000 stays under the $30,000 per-crash cap.
- The car: the policy pays $5,000. $4,000 is left over.
- You could be personally liable for the remaining $11,000.
Minimum car insurance by state (as of November 2026)
Bodily injury is per person / per crash. Each state name links to our guide for that state. Where a row says “Check”, confirm the current figure with that state’s insurance department before you buy. “None listed” means no extra required cover is listed here, so ask your insurer or the state insurance department about any other required cover.
| State | Bodily injury liability | Property damage liability | Other required cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | None listed |
| Alaska | $50,000 / $100,000 | $25,000 | None listed |
| Arizona | $25,000 / $50,000 | $15,000 | Applies to policies issued or renewed since July 1, 2020 |
| Arkansas | Check with the Arkansas Insurance Department | Check | None listed |
| California | $30,000 / $60,000 | $15,000 | None listed |
| Colorado | $25,000 / $50,000 | $15,000 | None listed |
| Connecticut | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | None listed |
| Delaware | $25,000 / $50,000 | $10,000 | PIP $15,000 per person / $30,000 per crash |
| District of Columbia | $25,000 / $50,000 | $10,000 | Uninsured motorist $25,000 / $50,000, plus $5,000 uninsured motorist property damage ($200 deductible) |
| Florida | Not required for most drivers | $10,000 | PIP $10,000. Bodily injury cover becomes mandatory after some offenses, such as a DUI |
| Georgia | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | None listed |
| Hawaii | $40,000 / $80,000 | $20,000 | PIP $10,000. New limits apply to policies new or renewed from January 1, 2026 |
| Idaho | $25,000 / $50,000 | $15,000 | None listed |
| Illinois | $25,000 / $50,000 | $20,000 | None listed |
| Indiana | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | Uninsured and underinsured motorist cover must be included unless you reject it in writing |
| Iowa | $20,000 / $40,000 | $15,000 | None listed |
| Kansas | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | Personal injury protection required |
| Kentucky | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | Or a $60,000 single limit |
| Louisiana | $15,000 / $30,000 | $25,000 | None listed |
| Maine | $50,000 / $100,000 | $25,000 | Medical payments $2,000 |
| Maryland | $30,000 / $60,000 | $15,000 | None listed |
| Massachusetts | $25,000 / $50,000 | $30,000 | None listed |
| Michigan | $50,000 / $100,000 minimum you can choose (default $250,000 / $500,000) | $10,000 (for crashes in other states) | No-fault: PIP and $1 million property protection insurance |
| Minnesota | $30,000 / $60,000 | $10,000 | No-fault benefits $40,000 per person ($20,000 medical, $20,000 other losses); uninsured and underinsured motorist $25,000 / $50,000 each |
| Mississippi | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | None listed |
| Missouri | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | Uninsured motorist bodily injury $25,000 per person / $50,000 per crash |
| Montana | $25,000 / $50,000 | $20,000 | None listed |
| Nebraska | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | None listed |
| Nevada | $25,000 / $50,000 | $20,000 | None listed |
| New Hampshire | $25,000 / $50,000 (if you buy a policy) | $25,000 | Check with the New Hampshire Insurance Department whether you must carry a policy |
| New Jersey | $35,000 / $70,000 (Standard Policy) | $25,000 | From January 1, 2026; the separate Basic Policy has its own limits |
| New Mexico | $25,000 / $50,000 | $10,000 | None listed |
| New York | $25,000 / $50,000 injury ($50,000 / $100,000 death) | $10,000 | No-fault up to $50,000 per person; uninsured motorist cover required |
| North Carolina | $50,000 / $100,000 | $50,000 | From July 1, 2025; uninsured and underinsured motorist cover included |
| North Dakota | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | No-fault $30,000 per person; uninsured and underinsured motorist $25,000 / $50,000 |
| Ohio | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | None listed |
| Oklahoma | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | None listed |
| Oregon | $25,000 / $50,000 | $20,000 | PIP $15,000 per person; uninsured motorist $25,000 / $50,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $15,000 / $30,000 | $5,000 | Medical benefits $5,000 |
| Rhode Island | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | Or a $75,000 single limit |
| South Carolina | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | Uninsured motorist $25,000 / $50,000 / $25,000 |
| South Dakota | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | None listed |
| Tennessee | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | None listed |
| Texas | $30,000 / $60,000 | $25,000 | None listed |
| Utah | Check with the Utah Insurance Department | Check | Personal injury protection (PIP) also required (Utah Driver Handbook) |
| Vermont | $25,000 / $50,000 | $10,000 | None listed |
| Virginia | $50,000 / $100,000 | $25,000 | Policies effective on or after January 1, 2025 |
| Washington | $25,000 / $50,000 | $10,000 | None listed |
| West Virginia | $25,000 / $50,000 | $25,000 | None listed |
| Wisconsin | $25,000 / $50,000 | $10,000 | Uninsured motorist $25,000 / $50,000 |
| Wyoming | $25,000 / $50,000 | $20,000 | None listed |
Minimums change. Before you buy or renew, confirm the current limits with your state insurance department, and check the effective date: new limits often apply only to policies issued or renewed after a set date.
Which states raised their minimums recently?
| State | Change | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | To $50,000 / $100,000 / $25,000 | Policies effective on or after January 1, 2025 |
| North Carolina | From $30,000 / $60,000 / $25,000 to $50,000 / $100,000 / $50,000, with underinsured motorist cover included | New or renewed policies from July 1, 2025 |
| Hawaii | To $40,000 / $80,000 / $20,000, with $10,000 PIP | Policies new or renewed from January 1, 2026 |
| New Jersey | Standard Policy from $25,000 / $50,000 to $35,000 / $70,000 (property damage stays $25,000) | New and renewal policies from January 1, 2026 |
What is a no-fault (PIP) state?
In a no-fault state, your own personal injury protection pays your medical bills and some lost income after a crash, whoever caused it. Lawsuits against the other driver are limited unless the injury passes a threshold. Required PIP amounts differ a lot:
- Florida: $10,000 PIP plus $10,000 property damage liability. See Florida no-fault insurance.
- Hawaii: $10,000 PIP. See Hawaii safety inspection and no-fault insurance.
- Michigan: PIP with several medical limit choices, plus $1 million property protection insurance for damage your car does to other people’s property in Michigan. See Michigan no-fault insurance for new drivers.
- Minnesota: $40,000 basic economic loss benefits ($20,000 medical, $20,000 income and other losses).
- New York: no-fault up to $50,000 per person. See New York insurance and crash reporting.
- North Dakota: $30,000 basic no-fault per person.
- Delaware, Kansas and Oregon also require PIP (Delaware $15,000 per person and $30,000 per crash; Oregon $15,000 per person).
- Pennsylvania requires $5,000 of medical benefits cover.
New Jersey has two policy types, Standard and Basic, with different cover. See New Jersey Basic vs Standard insurance.
What is uninsured motorist cover?
Uninsured motorist (UM) cover pays for your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance. Underinsured motorist (UIM) cover pays when their insurance is too low to cover your loss. Where a state requires it, the minimum often matches the liability limits, for example $25,000 / $50,000 in Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon and Wisconsin. In Indiana, insurers must include UM and UIM cover in each new policy unless you reject it in writing.
Is the state minimum enough?
For most families, no. State regulators, including Maine’s and Missouri’s, caution that the minimums may not fully protect your assets. Points to weigh:
- A newer car can cost more to replace than a $10,000 or $15,000 property damage limit.
- Medical bills after a serious crash can pass a $25,000 per-person limit.
- Anything above your limits can be claimed from you personally.
- Ask for quotes at several limit levels so you can see what the extra cover costs.
- Minimums don’t include collision or theft cover for your own car, which a lender may require.
What happens if you drive without insurance?
Penalties are set by each state and can include fines, license and registration suspension and, in some states, jail. Examples from our state guides:
- California: your driving privilege can be suspended for up to four years if you crash without proper insurance, whoever was at fault. See California insurance minimums and collisions.
- Oklahoma: a fine of up to $250, up to 30 days in jail or both, plus license and registration suspension.
- North Dakota: a $150 fine for a first offense, $300 for a repeat within three years.
- Texas: see Texas insurance and safety responsibility rules.
- Georgia: see Georgia insurance minimums and what to do after a crash.
Insurance and your road test
Road test sites ask for proof of insurance on the car you test in. Bring the current insurance card for that exact car. If you test in a rental, many states require your name on the rental agreement. See road test car rules.
Common questions
What does 30/60/25 mean?
$30,000 for injuries to one person, $60,000 for all injuries in one crash and $25,000 for property damage. It is Texas’s minimum.
Which state has the lowest minimum car insurance?
Of the limits in this table, Pennsylvania’s $15,000 / $30,000 / $5,000 is the lowest. Florida doesn’t require bodily injury liability for most drivers but does require $10,000 PIP and $10,000 property damage liability.
Does minimum insurance cover my own car?
No. Liability pays for damage and injuries you cause to others. Repairs to your own car need collision cover, and theft or weather damage needs separate cover.
I’m moving states. Which minimum applies?
Your new state’s, once you register the car there. Tell your insurer before you move. See moving to a new state.
Do teen drivers need more than the minimum?
The legal minimum is the same at any age, but the household’s risk goes up with a new driver. See adding a teen driver to your car insurance.
What is SR-22?
A certificate an insurer files to prove you carry insurance, often required after a serious violation or an uninsured crash. See car insurance for new drivers.
Back to learning to drive in the USA.
Sources
- California Department of Insurance, “Automobile Insurance Information Guide” (insurance.ca.gov)
- California DMV, “California Driver’s Handbook: Section 10, Financial Responsibility, Insurance Requirements, and Collisions” (dmv.ca.gov)
- Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance, “Auto” (oci.georgia.gov)
- Iowa Insurance Division, “Auto Insurance” (iid.iowa.gov)
- Kansas Statutes, “K.S.A. 40-3107” (ksrevisor.gov)
- Maine Revised Statutes, “Title 29-A, §1605” (legislature.maine.gov)
- Maine Bureau of Insurance, “Insurance Required by Law” (maine.gov)
- Maryland Code, “Transportation §17-103” (mgaleg.maryland.gov)
- Minnesota Statutes, “65B.44 and 65B.49” (revisor.mn.gov)
- North Carolina Department of Insurance, “Changes to the Rating of Automobile Insurance Policies, Effective July 1, 2025” and “Automobile insurance: What’s covered and what isn’t” (ncdoi.gov)
- North Dakota Insurance Department, “Auto” (insurance.nd.gov)
- New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, “Bulletin No. 25-06: Auto Insurance Coverage Limits Pursuant to P.L.2022, c.87” (nj.gov)
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department, “Auto Insurance” (pa.gov)
- Washington State Legislature, “RCW 46.29.090” (app.leg.wa.gov)
- Wyoming Legislature, “Wyoming Statutes Title 31” (wyoleg.gov)
- Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services, “Insurance Requirements” (oregon.gov)
- DC Department of Motor Vehicles, “Vehicle Insurance” (dmv.dc.gov)
- Louisiana Department of Insurance, “Consumer’s Guide to Auto Insurance” (ldi.la.gov)
- South Dakota Division of Insurance, “Automobile Insurance” (dlr.sd.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, “Mandatory Vehicle Insurance” (ilsos.gov)
- Indiana Department of Insurance, “Auto Insurance Facts” (in.gov)
- Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, “Frequently Asked Questions” (michigan.gov)
- Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, “Consumer Guide to Auto Insurance” (insurance.mo.gov), and Missouri DOR, “Missouri Driver Guide” (dor.mo.gov)
- Utah Driver License Division, “Utah Driver Handbook” (2026) (dld.utah.gov)
- Nebraska Department of Insurance, “Auto Insurance Guidebook” (doi.nebraska.gov)
- New Hampshire Insurance Department, “Automobile Insurance Consumer Guide” (nh.gov)
- New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division, “What automobile insurance am I required to have in New Mexico?” (mvd.newmexico.gov)
- Rhode Island General Laws, “§31-32-24 Motor vehicle liability policy defined” (rilegislature.gov)
- South Carolina Department of Insurance, “FAQs: Auto Insurance” (doi.sc.gov)
- Tennessee Department of Revenue, “Financial Responsibility Law” (tn.gov)
- Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, “Frequently Asked Questions: Automobile Insurance” (oci.wi.gov)
- Figures for Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia: the official DMV, insurance department and statute pages cited in each linked state guide (checked November 2026)