In this guide
Almost every state requires drivers to carry at least a minimum amount of liability car insurance, but the amounts differ widely. Most states set limits around 25/50/25, while others now require 50/100/25 or more. Several states raised their minimums in 2025 and 2026, so the table below shows the limits as of 2026, along with other coverage your state may require.
Key takeaways
- Minimums are written as three numbers, such as 30/60/15: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage, in thousands of dollars.
- California, Utah, Virginia, Massachusetts and North Carolina raised their minimums in 2025. Hawaii and New Jersey raised theirs on January 1, 2026.
- Washington, D.C. has passed a law raising its minimums to 50/100/20, starting October 1, 2027.
- New Hampshire does not require car insurance, and Florida does not require bodily injury liability. Both still have financial responsibility rules.
- Many states also require personal injury protection (PIP) or uninsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage.
How to read minimum limits
Liability insurance pays for injuries and damage you cause to other people. It does not pay to fix your own car. States describe the required amounts with three numbers, written in thousands of dollars.
Take California's 30/60/15 as an example. Your policy must pay up to $30,000 for injuries to one person, up to $60,000 total for injuries to everyone hurt in one accident, and up to $15,000 for damage to other people's property, such as their car.
Some states also require other coverages. PIP pays medical bills for you and your passengers no matter who caused the crash. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) protects you if the driver who hits you has no insurance or not enough. To learn more about each type, see our guide to car insurance coverage types.
Watch out: This table reflects minimum requirements as of 2026, based on state sources and up-to-date compilations. State laws change, and details such as coverage you can reject in writing vary. Always verify the current rules with your state insurance department or DMV before you buy a policy.
State minimum car insurance table (2026)
Limits are in thousands of dollars. "Other required coverage" is a summary. Some states require insurers to offer a coverage that you can turn down in writing, so check the details for your state.
| State | BI per person | BI per accident | Property damage | Other required coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 25 | 50 | 25 | None beyond liability |
| Alaska | 50 | 100 | 25 | None beyond liability |
| Arizona | 25 | 50 | 15 | None beyond liability |
| Arkansas | 25 | 50 | 25 | None beyond liability in most summaries; verify PIP rules with state |
| California | 30 | 60 | 15 | None beyond liability (raised from 15/30/5 in 2025) |
| Colorado | 25 | 50 | 15 | None beyond liability |
| Connecticut | 25 | 50 | 25 | UM/UIM |
| Delaware | 25 | 50 | 10 | PIP |
| District of Columbia | 25 | 50 | 10 | UM (bodily injury and property damage); limits rise to 50/100/20 on Oct. 1, 2027 |
| Florida | Not required | Not required | 10 | PIP ($10,000); bodily injury liability not required for most drivers |
| Georgia | 25 | 50 | 25 | None beyond liability |
| Hawaii | 40 | 80 | 20 | PIP ($10,000); raised from 20/40/10 on Jan. 1, 2026 |
| Idaho | 25 | 50 | 15 | None beyond liability |
| Illinois | 25 | 50 | 20 | UM |
| Indiana | 25 | 50 | 25 | UM/UIM unless rejected in writing |
| Iowa | 20 | 40 | 15 | None beyond liability |
| Kansas | 25 | 50 | 25 | PIP, UM |
| Kentucky | 25 | 50 | 25 | PIP (you can reject no-fault in writing) |
| Louisiana | 15 | 30 | 25 | None beyond liability |
| Maine | 50 | 100 | 25 | UM/UIM, medical payments |
| Maryland | 30 | 60 | 15 | PIP (can be waived), UM |
| Massachusetts | 25 | 50 | 30 | PIP, UM (raised from 20/40/5 in 2025) |
| Michigan | 50 | 100 | 10 | PIP (choice of levels), property protection insurance; default BI is 250/500 unless you choose lower |
| Minnesota | 30 | 60 | 10 | PIP, UM/UIM |
| Mississippi | 25 | 50 | 25 | None beyond liability |
| Missouri | 25 | 50 | 25 | UM |
| Montana | 25 | 50 | 20 | None beyond liability |
| Nebraska | 25 | 50 | 25 | UM/UIM |
| Nevada | 25 | 50 | 20 | None beyond liability |
| New Hampshire | 25 | 50 | 25 | Insurance not required; limits shown apply if you buy a policy or must prove financial responsibility |
| New Jersey | 35 | 70 | 25 | PIP, UM/UIM (Standard Policy; raised Jan. 1, 2026; a lower-cost Basic Policy also exists) |
| New Mexico | 25 | 50 | 10 | None beyond liability |
| New York | 25 | 50 | 10 | PIP, UM; BI rises to 50/100 for deaths |
| North Carolina | 50 | 100 | 50 | UM/UIM (raised from 30/60/25 in 2025) |
| North Dakota | 25 | 50 | 25 | PIP, UM/UIM |
| Ohio | 25 | 50 | 25 | None beyond liability |
| Oklahoma | 25 | 50 | 25 | None beyond liability |
| Oregon | 25 | 50 | 20 | PIP, UM |
| Pennsylvania | 15 | 30 | 5 | First-party medical benefits |
| Rhode Island | 25 | 50 | 25 | Verify UM rules with state |
| South Carolina | 25 | 50 | 25 | UM (bodily injury and property damage) |
| South Dakota | 25 | 50 | 25 | UM/UIM |
| Tennessee | 25 | 50 | 25 | None beyond liability |
| Texas | 30 | 60 | 25 | None beyond liability |
| Utah | 30 | 65 | 25 | PIP ($3,000) (raised from 25/65/15 in 2025) |
| Vermont | 25 | 50 | 10 | UM/UIM |
| Virginia | 50 | 100 | 25 | UM/UIM (raised from 30/60/20 in 2025) |
| Washington | 25 | 50 | 10 | None beyond liability |
| West Virginia | 25 | 50 | 25 | UM (bodily injury and property damage) |
| Wisconsin | 25 | 50 | 10 | UM |
| Wyoming | 25 | 50 | 20 | None beyond liability |
Recent state changes
For years, many state minimums stayed the same while medical and repair costs went up. Since 2025, a number of states have raised their limits. If you live in one of these states, your insurer generally updated your policy at your first renewal after the change.
- California (Jan. 1, 2025): rose from 15/30/5 to 30/60/15, the first increase in decades. California's Low Cost Auto Insurance program for income-eligible drivers keeps lower limits.
- Utah (Jan. 1, 2025): rose from 25/65/15 to 30/65/25.
- Virginia (Jan. 1, 2025): rose to 50/100/25, the final step of a phase-in that started in 2022. Virginia also ended its uninsured motor vehicle fee on July 1, 2024, so every registered vehicle now needs insurance.
- Massachusetts (July 1, 2025): rose from 20/40/5 to 25/50/30.
- North Carolina (July 1, 2025): rose to 50/100/50, with UM/UIM coverage at matching limits.
- Hawaii (Jan. 1, 2026): rose from 20/40/10 to 40/80/20 for new and renewing policies.
- New Jersey (Jan. 1, 2026): the Standard Policy rose to 35/70/25, the second step of a 2022 law.
- Washington, D.C. (Oct. 1, 2027): a 2026 law raises minimums to 50/100/20 and increases required UM limits. Until then, 25/50/10 applies.
Special cases to know
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is the only state that does not require drivers to buy car insurance. It still has a financial responsibility law. If you cause a crash and can't pay for the damage, you can lose your license and registration. If you do buy a policy, it must meet the state's minimum limits and include certain coverages, such as medical payments.
Florida
Florida is a no-fault state. Most drivers must carry $10,000 in PIP and $10,000 in property damage liability, but bodily injury liability is not required for most drivers. That means many Florida minimum policies would not pay for injuries you cause to others. Lawmakers have tried to replace PIP with required bodily injury coverage, but as of 2026, those bills have not become law. Drivers convicted of DUI must carry much higher limits. Read more in our guide to SR-22 and FR-44 insurance.
Virginia
Virginia used to let drivers pay a fee instead of buying insurance. That option ended on July 1, 2024. Now all vehicles registered in Virginia must carry at least 50/100/25 in liability coverage, plus UM/UIM.
Michigan
Michigan's no-fault system works differently from other states. The default bodily injury limit is 250/500, but you can choose 50/100 in writing. You also choose a PIP medical level and must carry property protection insurance, which covers certain damage your car does to other people's property in Michigan.
Is the state minimum enough?
The state minimum is the least you can legally carry, not a recommendation. A serious crash can easily cost more than $25,000 per person in medical bills, and a newer car can cost more than $15,000 to replace. If the costs go past your limits, you could be personally responsible for the rest.
Many drivers choose higher liability limits, and people with a car loan or lease are usually required to carry collision and comprehensive coverage too. Our guide to full coverage vs. liability-only insurance explains the trade-offs. Higher limits often cost less than people expect, so it can help to compare quotes from several insurers for both minimum and higher limits.
Tip: If you move to a new state, update your policy right away. Your old state's minimums may not meet your new state's rules, and most states give new residents only a short time to register their car and get local coverage.
Frequently asked questions
What does 25/50/25 mean on car insurance?
It means $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage per accident. These amounts pay for harm you cause to others, not damage to your own car.
Which state has the highest minimum car insurance requirements?
As of 2026, North Carolina's 50/100/50 is among the highest. Alaska, Maine and Virginia require 50/100/25, and Hawaii requires 40/80/20. Washington, D.C. will move to 50/100/20 in October 2027.
Which states don't require car insurance?
New Hampshire does not require drivers to buy car insurance, but drivers must still be able to pay for damage they cause. Virginia used to allow a fee instead of insurance, but that option ended in July 2024.
Will my insurer automatically raise my limits if my state's minimum goes up?
In states that raised their minimums, insurers generally updated policies below the new minimum at renewal. Check your declarations page or ask your insurer to confirm your limits.
What happens if I drive without the required insurance?
Penalties vary by state but can include fines, license or registration suspension, and a requirement to file proof of insurance, such as an SR-22, for several years. If you cause a crash, you could also be personally sued for the damage.
Sources
- Hawaii Insurance Division – Auto Minimum Limits FAQs
- New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance – Bulletin 25-06
- Massachusetts Division of Insurance – Filing Guidance Notice 2025-A: New Motor Vehicle Mandatory Coverage Limits
- Virginia DMV – Insurance Requirements
- Virginia DMV – New Laws Take Effect Today, July 1, 2024
- DC Office of the Chief Financial Officer – Fiscal Impact Statement, Motor Vehicle Insurance Modernization Amendment Act of 2026
- MoneyGeek – State Minimum Car Insurance Requirements (2026)
- CarInsurance.com – Minimum Liability Car Insurance Requirements by State (2026)
General information only. This guide explains general concepts and is not insurance, legal or financial advice. Rules and prices vary by state and insurer. Check your policy documents and speak to a licensed insurance professional or your state insurance department about your situation.