When it comes to auto insurance, there are only two states where auto insurance is not a hard and fast requirement: New Hampshire and Virginia. Other than those two states every other state requires, at a minimum, some form of liability insurance.
Many drivers may be asking, “What is liability insurance”? What does it protect? How does it compare to other coverages?” We’ve got you.
According to AutoInsurance.org, “Liability insurance protects you in the event you are in an accident with another vehicle and it is found to be your fault. In turn, if the other driver is found to be at fault, their insurance will cover any damages done to your car.”
Liability insurance coverage is often expressed in numbers, such as 15/30/15. This means that your insurance will pay up to $15,000 for the injuries of one person, up to $30,000 for the injuries of more than one person, and up to $15,000 for any property damage. Most states require you carry liability so it’s important to understand.
Certain states also require Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Medical Pay (Med Pay), which covers your medical expenses regardless of who is at fault. Some states also require Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage, which protects you if the driver either has no insurance or if the driver’s insurance does not cover the full amount of the damages to your vehicle.
If you want to know what auto insurance is required in your state, this article lists all of the 50 states, the minimum amount of liability coverage each state requires, and any other state requirements.
Note: When listing coverage requirements, they will be listed as described in the above example: 15/30/15. The first number is for coverage of injuries to one person, the second number is for coverage of injuries to more than one person, and the third number is for coverage of property damage.
ALABAMA, “The Cotton State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/15. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional purchases.
ALASKA, “The Last Frontier”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 50/100/25. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
Note: It might be worth purchasing comprehensive insurance and/or collision insurance in your state since you are fortunate enough to live in a state teeming with wildlife…which at times can be unfortunate for your car.
ARIZONA, “The Grand Canyon State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 15/30/10. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
Note: If you do not have insurance, you have to show a $40,000 certificate of deposit. This proves you can pay for damages resulting from an accident.
ARKANSAS, “The Natural State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/25. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is optional for purchase, but Personal Injury Protection is required ($5,000).
CALIFORNIA, “The Golden State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 15/30/25. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
COLORADO, “The Centennial State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/15. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
CONNECTICUT, “The Constitution State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/40/25. Personal Injury Protection is optional, but you are required to have Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage: $25,000 for coverage of injuries to one person and $50,000 for coverage of injuries to more than one person.
DELAWARE, “The First State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 15/25/10. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
FLORIDA, “The Sunshine State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is $10,000 for property damage liability. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
GEORGIA, “The Peach State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/25. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
HAWAII, “The Aloha State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 20/40/10. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is optional for purchase, but Personal Injury Protection is required ($10,000).
IDAHO, “The Gem State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/15. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
ILLINOIS, “The Land of Lincoln”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/20. Personal Injury Protection is optional, but you are required to have Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage: $25,000 for coverage of injuries to one person and $50,000 for coverage of injuries to more than one person.
INDIANA, “The Hoosier State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/25. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
IOWA, “The Hawkeye State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 20/40/15. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
KANSAS, “The Sunflower State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/10. You are required to have Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage: $25,000 for coverage of injuries to one person and $50,000 for coverage of injuries to more than one person.
Note: Personal Injury Protection is required as well, with coverage of $4,500 in medical expenses, which also covers up to $900 per month for disability or loss of income, $25 per day for in-home services, $4,500 for rehabilitation, and $2,000 for funeral burial or cremation costs.
KENTUCKY, “The Bluegrass State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/10. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is optional for purchase, but Personal Injury Protection is required ($10,000).
LOUISIANA, “The Pelican State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 15/30/25. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
MAINE, “The Pine Tree State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 50/100/25. You are required to have Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage: $50,000 for coverage of injuries to one person and $100,000 for coverage of injuries to more than one person, along with medical payments coverage of up to $2,000.
MARYLAND, “The Old Line State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 30/60/15. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
MASSACHUSETTS, “The Bay State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 20/40/5. You are required to have Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage: $20,000 for coverage of injuries to one person and $40,000 for coverage of injuries to more than one person, along with $8,000 of personal injury protection.
MICHIGAN, “The Great Lakes State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 20/40/10. Personal Injury Protection is required, with unlimited minimums. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is optional for purchase.
Note: Michigan also offers Personal Injury Protection coverage that pays up to one million in damages. New laws will go into effect on July 1, 2020.
MINNESOTA, “The North Star State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 30/60/10. You are required to have Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 for coverage of injuries to one person and $50,000 for coverage of injuries to more than one person, along with $40,000 of personal injury protection.
MISSISSIPPI, “The Magnolia State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/25. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
MISSOURI, “The Show-Me State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/10. Personal Injury Protection is optional, but you are required to have Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 for coverage of injuries to one person and $50,000 for coverage of injuries to more than one person.
MONTANA, “The Treasure State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/20. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
NEBRASKA, “The Cornhusker State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/25. Personal Injury Protection is optional, but you are required to have Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 for coverage of injuries to one person and $50,000 for coverage of injuries to more than one person.
NEVADA, “The Silver State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/20. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
NEW HAMPSHIRE, “The Granite State”
Car insurance is not required in New Hampshire. State law does require you to pay for any damages or injuries you caused as a result of a car accident.
So experts suggest that you get at least the minimum amount so you are not having to pay for anything out of pocket. When it comes to the minimum requirements, the minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/25. Personal Injury Protection is optional, but you are required to have Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage with the same minimum amounts as with liability (25/50/25). Medical pay covers you to $1,000.
NEW JERSEY, “The Garden State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 15/30/5. Personal Injury Protection is optional, but Uninsured Motorist coverage is required, at a minimum of $15,000.
NEW MEXICO, “The Land of Enchantment”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/10. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
NEW YORK, “The Empire State”
New York has heavy insurance requirements. When it comes to the minimum requirements, the minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/10. Personal Injury Protection is required for a minimum of $50,000. Uninsured motorist coverage is also required, with $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. You are also required to have death liability coverage: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.
NORTH CAROLINA, “The Tar Heel State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 30/60/25. Uninsured motorist coverage is also required, with the same amounts as liability (30/60/25).
NORTH DAKOTA, “The Peace Garden State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/25. Personal Injury Protection is required for a minimum of $30,000. Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage is required for a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
OHIO, “The Buckeye State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/25. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
OKLAHOMA, “The Sooner State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/25. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
OREGON, “The Beaver State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/20. Personal Injury Protection is required for a minimum of $15,000. Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage is required for a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
PENNSYLVANIA, “The Keystone State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 15/30/5. Medical pay is required, for up to $5,000.
RHODE ISLAND, “The Ocean State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/25. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
SOUTH CAROLINA, “The Palmetto State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/25. Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage with the same minimum amounts as with liability (25/50/25).
SOUTH DAKOTA, “The Mount Rushmore State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/25. Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage is required for a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
TENNESSEE, “The Volunteer State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/15. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
TEXAS, “The Lone Star State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 30/60/15. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
UTAH, “The Beehive State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/65/15. Personal Injury Protection is required, with a minimum of $3,000.
VERMONT, “The Green Mountain State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/10. Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage is required, for the amount of 50/100/10.
VIRGINIA, “Old Dominion”
Like New Hampshire, car insurance is not required in Virginia. State law does require you to have a way to pay for any damages or injuries you caused as a result of a car accident.
So experts suggest that you get at least the minimum amount so you are not having to pay for anything out of pocket.
The minimum amounts required in Virginia is 25/50/20.
WASHINGTON, “The Evergreen State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/10. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
WASHINGTON, D.C., “Our Nation’s Capital”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/10. Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage is required, for the amount of 20/50/5.
WEST VIRGINIA, “The Mountain State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/10. Uninsured motorist coverage is required, for a minimum of $25,000.
WISCONSIN, “The Badger State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/10. Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage is required for a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
WYOMING, “The Equality State”
Minimum liability coverage requirement is 25/50/20. Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are optional for purchase.
