The legal minimum, state by state

What every state and D.C. makes a driver carry, in plain numbers, checked against state sources on October 2, 2026. Pick a state on the map or from the list.

ALAKAZCOFLGAINKSMEMNNCNDOKPASDTXWYMOWVILNMARCAHIIAKYMDMIMSMTNYOHORTNUTVAWAWINESCIDNVLA

All 51 at a glance

StateLiability minimumFault rulesPIPUninsured motorist
Alabama25/50/25At-fault—Offered, can decline
Alaska50/100/25At-fault—Offered, can decline
Arizona25/50/15At-fault—Offered, can decline
Arkansas25/50/25At-fault—Offered, can decline
California30/60/15newAt-fault—Offered, can decline
Colorado25/50/15At-fault—Offered, can decline
Connecticut25/50/25At-fault—Required
Delaware25/50/10At-faultRequiredOffered, can decline
District of Columbia25/50/10At-fault—Required
Florida—/—/10No-faultRequiredOffered, can decline
Georgia25/50/25At-fault—Offered, can decline
Hawaii40/80/20newNo-faultRequiredOffered, can decline
Idaho25/50/15At-fault—Offered, can decline
Illinois25/50/20At-fault—Required
Indiana25/50/25At-fault—Offered, can decline
Iowa20/40/15At-fault—Offered, can decline
Kansas25/50/25No-faultRequiredRequired
Kentucky25/50/25ChoiceRequiredOffered, can decline
Louisiana15/30/25At-fault—Offered, can decline
Maine50/100/25At-fault—Required
Maryland30/60/15At-faultRequiredRequired
Massachusetts25/50/30newNo-faultRequiredRequired
Michigan50/100/10No-faultRequiredOptional
Minnesota30/60/10No-faultRequiredRequired
Mississippi25/50/25At-fault—Offered, can decline
Missouri25/50/25At-fault—Required
Montana25/50/20At-fault—Offered, can decline
Nebraska25/50/25At-fault—Required
Nevada25/50/20At-fault—Offered, can decline
New Hampshire25/50/25At-fault—Required
New Jersey35/70/25newChoiceRequiredRequired
New Mexico25/50/10At-fault—Offered, can decline
New York25/50/10No-faultRequiredRequired
North Carolina50/100/50newAt-fault—Required
North Dakota25/50/25No-faultRequiredRequired
Ohio25/50/25At-fault—Optional
Oklahoma25/50/25At-fault—Offered, can decline
Oregon25/50/20At-faultRequiredRequired
Pennsylvania15/30/5ChoiceRequiredOffered, can decline
Rhode Island25/50/25At-fault—Offered, can decline
South Carolina25/50/25At-fault—Required
South Dakota25/50/25At-fault—Required
Tennessee25/50/25At-fault—Offered, can decline
Texas30/60/25At-fault—Offered, can decline
Utah30/65/25newNo-faultRequiredOffered, can decline
Vermont25/50/10At-fault—Required
Virginia50/100/25newAt-fault—Required
Washington25/50/10At-fault—Offered, can decline
West Virginia25/50/25At-fault—Required
Wisconsin25/50/10At-fault—Required
Wyoming25/50/20At-fault—Offered, can decline

Reading "25/50/25"

The three numbers are thousands of dollars. The first is the most your policy pays for one person's injuries in a crash you cause. The second is the most it pays for everyone's injuries in that crash. The third is the most it pays for damage to other people's cars and property.

Anything above those limits is yours to pay. That's why the minimum is a legal floor, not a recommendation. Our coverage calculator works out a sensible level for what you'd stand to lose.

What the other terms mean

  • No-fault: your own policy's personal injury protection (PIP) pays your medical bills first, whoever caused the crash, and suing the other driver is limited.
  • Choice: you pick no-fault or traditional at-fault rules when you buy the policy.
  • Uninsured motorist: pays for your injuries when the driver who hit you has no insurance, or not enough.

Sources

  1. MoneyGeek, Minimum car insurance requirements by state, October 1, 2026.
  2. Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Auto insurance minimum limits FAQs (effective January 1, 2026), January 2026.
  3. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2025 new motor vehicle mandatory coverage limits, 2025.
  4. Missouri Department of Revenue, Insurance requirements.
  5. State of Michigan, Auto insurance frequently asked questions.
  6. New Jersey Legislature, S-481: phased increase of minimum auto liability limits.
  7. California Department of Insurance, Automobile insurance guides.
  8. Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Insurance requirements.
  9. New York State DMV, Insurance requirements.
  10. Texas Department of Insurance, Auto insurance guide.
  11. Virginia DMV, Insurance requirements.
  12. Delaware Code, Title 18, Chapter 39: Motor vehicle insurance.
  13. Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code §321A.1 (2026).
  14. Bankrate, Major changes to North Carolina car insurance.

Figures checked against these sources on October 2, 2026.