Can I drive legally without insurance?
NO! Almost every state requires you to have auto liability insurance.
All states also have financial responsibility laws. This means that
even in a state that does not require liability insurance, you need
to have sufficient assets to pay claims if you cause an accident.
If you don’t have enough assets, you must purchase at least the
state minimum amount of insurance. But insurance exists to protect
your assets. Trying to see how little you can get by with can be
very shortsighted and dangerous.
If you've financed your car, your lender may require comprehensive
and collision insurance as part of the loan agreement.
Below is an example of the state minimum limits for auto liability
insurance. The first number refers to liability limits for bodily
injury for any one person, the second to limits for all persons
injured, and the third refers to property damage liability limits.
For example, 20/40/10 means coverage up to $40,000 for all persons
injured in an accident, subject to a limit of $20,000 for one individual
and $10,000 coverage for property damage.
State |
Liability
limits (1) |
State |
Liability
limits (1) |
State |
Liability
limits (1) |
| Alabama |
20/40/10 |
Kentucky |
25/50/10 |
North Dakota |
25/50/25 |
| Alaska |
50/100/25 |
Louisiana |
10/20/10 |
Ohio |
12.5/25/7.5 |
| Arizona |
15/30/10 |
Maine |
50/100/25 |
Oklahoma |
10/20/10 |
| Arkansas |
25/50/25 |
Maryland |
20/40/15 |
Oregon |
25/50/10 |
| California (2) |
15/30/5 |
Massachusetts |
20/40/5 |
Pennsylvania |
15/30/5 |
| Colorado |
25/50/15 |
Michigan |
20/40/10 |
Rhode Island |
25/50/25 |
| Connecticut |
20/40/10 |
Minnesota |
30/60/10 |
South Carolina |
15/30/10 |
| Delaware |
15/30/5 |
Mississippi |
10/20/05 |
South Dakota |
25/50/25 |
| D.C. |
25/50/10 |
Missouri |
25/50/10 |
Tennessee (3) |
25/50/10 |
| Florida (4) |
10/20/10 |
Montana |
25/50/10 |
Texas |
20/40/15 |
| Georgia |
25/50/25 |
Nebraska |
25/50/25 |
Utah |
25/50/15 |
| Hawaii |
20/40/10 |
Nevada |
15/30/10 |
Vermont |
25/50/10 |
| Idaho |
25/50/15 |
New Hampshire (5) |
25/50/25 |
Virginia |
25/50/20 |
| Illinois |
20/40/15 |
New Jersey (6) |
15/30/5 |
Washington |
25/50/10 |
| Indiana |
25/50/10 |
New Mexico |
25/50/10 |
West Virginia |
20/40/10 |
| Iowa |
20/40/15 |
New York (7) |
25/50/10 |
Wisconsin (5) |
25/50/10 |
| Kansas |
25/50/10 |
North Carolina |
30/60/25 |
Wyoming |
25/50/20 |
| (1) The first two figures
refer to bodily injury liability and the third figure to property
damage liability. For example, 20/40/10 means coverage up
to $40,000 for all persons injured in an accident, subject
to a limit of $20,000 for one individual, and $10,000 coverage
for property damage. (2) Low-cost policy limits for Los Angeles
and San Francisco low-income drivers in the California Automobile
Assigned Risk Plan are 10/20/3. This is a pilot program effective
from July 1, 2000 until January 1, 2004. (3) Although legally
defined as financial responsibility, Tennessee's law is similar
to a compulsory law because drivers can be fined if stopped
by police or after crashes if they cannot show proof of financial
responsibility. (4) Only property damage liability is compulsory.
(5) Liability insurance not compulsory; limits are for financial
responsibility. (6) Drivers may choose a Standard or Basic
Policy. Basic Policy limits are 10/10/5. (7) 50/100 if injury
results in death.
Source: Alliance of American Insurers; American Insurance
Association; National Association of Independent Insurers;
Insurance Information Institute. |
With Permission © Insurance
Information Institute, Inc. - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED -
|