Minimum Car Insurance Coverage Requirements by State
What do you understand by insurance coverage?
Insurance coverage is simply the protection you enjoy when you enter into an agreement with your insurance company to pay an agreed amount called premium. Having paid the insurance premium, the insurance company will pay for damages in case of eventuality in line with the specific insurance policy. Car insurance coverage is compulsory for every driver. The reason is to provide protection for drivers, passengers, pedestrians and general public. If it is not made compulsory, you will realise that some drivers will not deem it necessary to insure their cars. Since car insurance is compulsory for all drivers, it becomes an obligation for people to insure their cars. Failure to do this shall be regarded as a break of law and this can attract untold penalties. In other to ensure compliance, each state has minimum car insurance coverage requirements. What this means is that, if at all a driver cannot afford full insurance coverage, he should be able to buy the prescribed the minimum car insurance coverage before he could be allowed to drive a car. The minimum car insurance coverage requirements vary from state to state. That is, the minimum car insurance coverage requirements in New York may not necessarily be the same as minimum car insurance coverage requirements in Texas. Before I take you through the minimum car insurance coverage requirements as applicable in each State, it is important that you understand the different types of car insurance. This will help you to decide whether you are comfortable with minimum car insurance coverage requirements or not. There are different types of car insurance coverage. Some major or popular ones are discussed below:
Bodily Injury Liability
This insurance coverage protects you and family members listed on the policy against injuries caused to someone else when driving your car or someone else’s car. However, it is expected that you drive someone else’s car with their permission. Without their permission, you should not expect that you will enjoy this insurance coverage. In case of accident, your car insurance company will have to pay for medical bills, pains, suffering, loss of income and funeral expenses (in case of death) of person(s) in the accident in which you are legally responsible for. Under bodily injury liability insurance coverage, your insurer will pay for legal and court costs incurred to defend you in case of lawsuit arising from the accident. However, if the amount involved is large, your state required minimum car insurance coverage may not provide you adequate protection. That is why it is advisable that you have enough liability insurance to ensure that your assets such as home or savings are protected from claims.
Medical Payment or Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Just as the name implies, this insurance coverage pays for the medical expenses of the injured driver and passengers in your car. You may need to find out from your state or your auto insurance company whether this insurance coverage will apply if you are injured by a vehicle as a pedestrian. This can also cover lost wages, funeral burial or cremation costs of the injured person
Property Damage Liability
If you are the one responsible for the accident, this insurance coverage will pay for damage you may cause to someone else’s property. Please note that this does not cover not cover any damage to your car. That is, it covers the cost to repair the other person’s property and the costs of repair of anything you hit with your vehicle. This may be street lamp, telephone posts, fence, building or any other structure. This insurance coverage is among the required minimum car insurance in most states in the United States.
Collision
This insurance coverage pays for damage to your car as a result of collision with another car or object. It also covers damage caused by potholes. One good thing about this insurance coverage is that, even if you are responsible for the accident, you will still be reimbursed for the costs of repairing your car. However, in case you bought the insurance with deductibles, this will be deducted. If the investigation proves that you are not at fault, your auto insurance company can help you recover the cost of repairing your car from the other driver. This means that your car insurance company will reimburse you the deductibles.
Comprehensive
This insurance coverage pays you if your car is stolen, or damaged caused by something other than a collision by anything other than car accidents such as storms, floods, falling objects, explosions, earthquakes, vandalism or contact with an animal, such as hitting a deer. This insurance coverage will also reimburse you for cracked windshield. You may need to find out if your car insurance company offer this insurance coverage with deductible. If you want to keep your premiums low, you will be at liberty to choose a deductible that you can easily pay out of pocket in case of any accident.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
This insurance coverage will reimburse you the cost of injuries to you or your passengers if you’re hit by a driver who doesn’t have enough, or any, car insurance. You will be paid the medical expenses and related expenses you have incurred up to your insurance coverage limits
Read Also: How to Get Really Cheap Car Insurance Quotes
Minimum Car Insurance Coverage Requirements
For people interested in lowering their car insurance premium or those who don’t want full coverage car insurance, below is the minimum car insurance coverage requirements as allowed by laws from each state.
| Alabama
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $25,000 |
| Alaska
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$50,000 $100,000 $25,000 |
| Arizona
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $25,000 |
| Arkansas
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$15,000 $30,000 $10,000 |
| California
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$15,000 $30,000 $5,000 |
| Colorado
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $15,000 |
| Connecticut
bodily injury liability per person bodily injury liability per accident property damage liability per accident uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage per person Uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage per accident |
$20,000 $40,000 $10,000 $20,000 $40,000 |
| Delaware
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$15,000 $30,000 $10,000 |
| Florida
Property Damage Liability Per Accident Personal Injury Protection |
$10,000 $10,000 |
| Georgia
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $25,000 |
| Hawaii
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Personal Injury Protection |
$20,000 $40,000 $10,000 $10,000 |
| Idaho
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $15,000 |
| Illinois
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Person Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $20,000 $25,000 $50,000 |
| Indiana
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $10,000 |
| Iowa
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$20,000 $40,000 $15,000 |
| Kansas
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Per Person Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Per Accident $4,500 per person for medical expenses, $900 per month for one year for disability per loss of income, $25 per day for in-home services, $2,000 for funeral, burial or cremation expense, $4,500 for rehabilitation expense |
$25,000 $50,000 $10,000 $25,000 $50,000 |
| Kentucky
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Personal Injury Protection |
$25,000 $50,000 $10,000 $10,000 |
| Louisiana
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$15,000 $30,000 $25,000 |
| Maine
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Person Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Accident Medical Payments Coverage |
$50,000 $100,000 $25,000 $50,000 $100,000 $2,000 |
| Maryland
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$30,000 $60,000 $15,000 |
| Massachusetts
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Person Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Accident Personal Injury Protection |
$20,000 $40,000 $5,000 $20,000 $40,000 $8,000 |
| Michigan
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Personal Injury Protection Property Protection |
$20,000 $40,000 $10,000 No limit $1,000,000 |
| Minnesota
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Per Person Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Per Accident Personal Injury Protection |
$30,000 $60,000 $10,000 $25,000 $50,000 $40,000 |
| Mississippi
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $25,000 |
| Missouri
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Person Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $10,000 $25,000 $50,000 |
| Montana
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $10,000 |
| Nebraska
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Person Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $25,000 $25,000 $50,000 |
| Nevada
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$15,000 $30,000 $10,000 |
| New Hampshire
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Uninsured/Under-insured Motorist Coverage Per Person Uninsured/Under-insured Motorist Coverage Per Accident Uninsured/Under-insured Motorist Property Damage Coverage Medical Payments Coverage |
$25,000 $50,000 $25,000 $25,000 $50,000 $25,000 $1,000 |
| New Jersey
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Personal Injury Protection |
$15,000 $30,000 $5,000 $15,000 |
| New Mexico
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $10,000 |
| New York
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Liability For Death Per Person Liability For Death Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Personal Injury Protection Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Person Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $50,000 $100,000 $10,000 $50,000 $25,000 $50,000 |
| North Carolina
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Person Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Accident Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage Per Accident |
$30,000 $60,000 $25,000 $30,000 $60,000 $25,000 |
| North Dakota
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Per Person Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Per Accident Personal Injury Protection |
$25,000 $50,000 $25,000 $25,000 $50,000 $30,000 |
| Ohio
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $25,000 |
| Oklahoma
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $25,000 |
| Oregon
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Person Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Accident Personal Injury Protection |
$25,000 $50,000 $20,000 $25,000 $50,000 $15,000 |
| Pennsylvania
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Medical Benefits |
$15,000 $30,000 $5,000 $5,000 |
| Rhode Island
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $25,000 |
| South Carolina
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Person Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Accident Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage |
$25,000 $50,000 $25,000 $25,000 $50,000 $25,000 |
| South Dakota
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Per Person Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $25,000 $25,000 $50,000 |
| Tennessee
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $15,000 |
| Texas
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$30,000 $60,000 $25,000 |
| Utah
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Personal Injury Protection |
$25,000 $65,000 $15,000 $3,000 |
| Virginia
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $20,000 |
| Vermont
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Per Person Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Per Accident Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $10,000 $50,000 $100,000 $10,000 |
| Washington
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $10,000 |
| Washington D.C.
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Uninsured/Under-insured Motorist Coverage Per Person Uninsured/Under-insured Motorist Coverage Per Accident Uninsured/Under-insured Motorist Property Damage Coverage Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $10,000 $25,000 $50,000 $5,000 |
| West Virginia
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Person Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Accident Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage |
$25,000 $50,000 $25,000 $25,000 $50,000 $25,000 |
| Wisconsin
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Person Uninsured Motorist Coverage Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $10,000 $25,000 $50,000 |
| Wyoming
Bodily Injury Liability Per Person Bodily Injury Liability Per Accident Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
$25,000 $50,000 $20,000 |
Please note that the minimum car insurance coverage in each state may not be sufficient for you. However, you are allowed to buy additional insurance coverage. What each state did was to provide a minimum benchmark which all drivers are expected to comply with.