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New Hampshire is the only state where drivers are not required to buy car insurance, and that makes its rules unlike any other. Instead of a mandatory-insurance law, the state has a financial responsibility law: if you cause a crash, you must be able to pay for the damage, and the DMV can suspend your driving privileges until a settlement is reached if you cannot.
In practice, most drivers still buy a policy, and any policy issued in the state must include at least $1,000 in medical payments coverage. If you do buy liability coverage or must prove financial responsibility, the minimum limits are 25/50/25. Some drivers are ordered to carry insurance anyway: after a DUI or certain other violations, the DMV requires an SR-22 filed by a New Hampshire-licensed insurer, usually for at least three years. A 2026 bill, HB 1558, would require proof of insurance at registration and its status should be checked, so New Hampshire's unique approach may still change.
| Minimum liability | Not required; 25/50/25 financial responsibility limits |
|---|---|
| Other required coverage | Medical payments coverage: $1,000 minimum on auto policies issued in New Hampshire (RSA 264:16) |
| Fault system | At-fault (tort) |
| Credit-based insurance scores | Allowed |
| SR-22 / proof of financial responsibility | New Hampshire DMV requires an SR-22 for a minimum of three years after certain events, such as a DUI, failing to stop and report a crash, or a record review hearing. Minors with two or more speeding tickets in their first two years of licensure may also need one. |
New Hampshire minimum liability limits
To register and drive a car in New Hampshire you need at least this much liability coverage:
The legal minimum in New Hampshire is Not required; 25/50/25 financial responsibility limits.
New Hampshire does not require you to carry auto insurance, but you must be able to show you can pay for damage from an at-fault crash. The state's minimum liability limits are 25/50/25 if you buy a policy or must prove financial responsibility. A 2026 bill, HB 1558, proposed requiring proof of insurance at registration; check the General Court website for its status.
Tip: The minimum is a legal floor, not a recommendation. If a serious crash costs more than your limits, you could be personally responsible for the rest. See how much liability coverage you may need.
Other required and offered coverage
Besides liability, New Hampshire requires:
- Medical payments coverage: $1,000 minimum on auto policies issued in New Hampshire (RSA 264:16)
Learn more about uninsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection.
Is New Hampshire a no-fault state?
New Hampshire is an at-fault (tort) state. The driver who causes a crash is responsible for the other people's injuries and property damage, which is normally paid by that driver's liability insurance. Injured people can claim against the at-fault driver's insurer or, in some cases, sue.
New Hampshire uses modified comparative negligence (RSA 507:7-d): your recovery is reduced by your share of fault and barred if your fault is greater than the other side's.
Read more: at-fault vs. no-fault states explained.
Can insurers use your credit in New Hampshire?
Status: Allowed.
See how credit affects car insurance for the bigger picture.
Penalties for driving uninsured in New Hampshire
Because insurance is not mandatory, the main consequence is a financial responsibility suspension: if you are in a crash and cannot pay, the DMV must suspend your driving privileges until a settlement is reached. You can also be personally liable for the full cost of damage you cause.
New Hampshire DMV requires an SR-22 for a minimum of three years after certain events, such as a DUI, failing to stop and report a crash, or a record review hearing. Minors with two or more speeding tickets in their first two years of licensure may also need one.
If you are ordered to file proof of insurance, see what SR-22 insurance is.
Tips for New Hampshire drivers
- Treat the lack of a mandate as a risk, not a safe harbor. If you cause a crash without insurance or other funds, you can be personally liable and the DMV can suspend your driving privileges.
- Remember the financial responsibility limits are 25/50/25. If you carry a policy or must prove responsibility, that is the minimum insurance amount that counts.
- Check for medical payments coverage. New Hampshire policies must include at least $1,000 in medical payments, so it should appear on your declarations page.
- If you are ordered to file an SR-22, use a New Hampshire-licensed insurer. The DMV requires the uniform SR-22 form and the filing period is generally three years from the date of the conviction or action.
- Check for new rules before you rely on the current system. HB 1558 (2026) would require proof of insurance at registration, so confirm its status with the General Court or DMV.
When you shop, compare quotes from several insurers using the same limits and deductibles, so the prices are like-for-like.
Official resources
- Insurance regulator: New Hampshire Insurance Department
- Motor vehicle agency: New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles
Your state insurance department can answer questions about your rights and handle complaints about insurers.
Frequently asked questions
Is car insurance required in New Hampshire?
No. New Hampshire is not a compulsory insurance state. However, the state has a financial responsibility law, so if you cause a crash you must be able to pay for the damage. If you cannot, the DMV must suspend your driving privileges until a settlement is reached. Most drivers buy a policy to meet that responsibility.
What are New Hampshire's minimum liability limits?
If you buy liability coverage or must prove financial responsibility, the minimum limits are 25/50/25: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage. Policies issued in the state must also include at least $1,000 in medical payments coverage under RSA 264:16.
When does New Hampshire require an SR-22?
The DMV can require an SR-22 after events such as a DUI, failing to stop and report a crash, homicide arising from driving, second-offense reckless driving, or a record-review hearing. It must be filed on the uniform form by a New Hampshire-licensed insurer, and the minimum period is generally three years from the conviction or action.
What if I have an accident without insurance in New Hampshire?
You are responsible for damage you cause. If you cannot pay, the DMV is required to suspend your driving privileges until a settlement is reached. Because there is no insurer to handle the claim, you may also face the cost of a legal dispute directly, so many drivers choose to carry liability coverage.
Sources
- New Hampshire DMV – Insurance requirements / SR-22
- New Hampshire DMV – Insurance requirements / SR-22 FAQs
- New Hampshire Insurance Department – Automobile insurance consumer guide
- New Hampshire Insurance Department – Property and casualty rate and form filings FAQ
- New Hampshire General Court – HB 1558 (2026)
- Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer – Contributory negligence/comparative fault laws in all 50 states
General information only. State rules change. Confirm current requirements with the New Hampshire Insurance Department or your insurer before you buy. This page is not insurance or legal advice.