While you only need enough car insurance to meet your state’s minimum requirements, most experts agree that 100/300/100 liability coverage plus collision and comprehensive coverage offers the best protection.

Almost all states require liability car insurance to protect others after an at-fault accident.
You may be required to purchase uninsured motorist protection, personal injury protection (PIP), and/or medical payments coverage (MedPay) depending on where you live.
Most drivers can benefit from purchasing more than the minimum required liability coverage limits and adding collision and comprehensive coverage to the insurance policy.
Comparing quotes from different providers can help you find the right amount of coverage at the best price.

You need enough insurance to cover the costs of a serious accident

Legally speaking, you only need enough insurance to fulfill your state’s coverage requirements—but practically speaking, you need enough car insurance to cover vehicle damage and medical costs after a severe accident.

State minimum liability limits aren’t enough and additional coverage is highly recommended.

Most experts recommend purchasing 100/300/100 in liability coverage, which breaks down as follows:

$100,000 of

bodily injury liability

per person

$300,000 of bodily injury liability per accident

$100,000 of

property damage liability

per person

When you’re getting quotes, check out the next level of coverage to see how much it really is. Average drivers with clear records can usually get thousands of dollars in additional protection for a few dollars extra per month. If you’re quoting 50/100/50 coverage, ask about the rate for 100/300/100. If you can’t afford to increase your bodily injury coverage, ask about increasing just your property damage coverage.

The bare minimum: State requirements

If you’re only looking for the minimum amount of car insurance coverage, here’s what you need based on the state laws where you live.

State	Bodily injury liability requirements	Property damage liability requirements	Uninsured motorist coverage requirements	Personal injury protection (PIP) requirements	Other insurance requirements
Alabama	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM/UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	N/A	N/A
Alaska	$50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM/UIM/UMPD: optional	N/A	Coverage is not required in some remote areas
Arizona	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$15,000 per accident	UM/UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	N/A	N/A
Arkansas	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM/UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	N/A	N/A
California	$15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident	$5,000 per accident	UM/UIM/UMPD: optional	N/A	N/A
Colorado	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$15,000 per accident	UM/UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	N/A	N/A
Connecticut	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$50,000 per accident	UM/UIM: $25,000 per person/ $50,000 per accident; UMPD: not available	N/A	N/A
District of Columbia	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$10,000 per accident	UM: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident; UMPD: $5,000 per occurrence; UIM: not available	N/A	N/A
Delaware	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$10,000 per accident	UM/UIM/UMPD: optional	$15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident	N/A
Florida	Optional for most drivers	$10,000 per accident	UM/UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	$10,000	N/A
Georgia	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM/UIM/UMPD: optional	N/A	N/A
Hawaii	$20,000 per person / $40,000 per accident	$10,000 per accident	UM/UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	$10,000	N/A
Idaho	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$15,000 per accident	UM/UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	N/A	N/A
Illinois	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$20,000 per accident	UM/UIM: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident; UMPD: optional	N/A	N/A
Indiana	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM/UIM/UMPD: optional	N/A	N/A
Iowa	$20,000 per person / $40,000 per accident	$15,000 per accident	UM/UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	N/A	N/A
Kansas	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM/UIM: $25,000 per person/ $50,000 per accident; UMPD: not available	$4,500	N/A
Kentucky	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM/UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	Optional	N/A
Louisiana	$15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM/UIM/UMPD: optional	N/A	N/A
Maine	$50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM/UIM: $50,000 per person/ $100,000 per accident; UMPD: not available	N/A	Medical payments coverage: $2,000 per person
Maryland	$30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident	$15,000 per accident	UM/UIM: $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident; UMPD: $15,000 per accident	$2,500 per accident	N/A
Massachusetts	$20,000 per person / $40,000 per accident	$5,000 per accident	UM: $20,000 per person / $40,000 per accident; UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	$8,000 per person	N/A
Michigan	$50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident	$10,000 per accident (only for accidents outside Michigan)	UM/UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	Six levels of coverage up to $250,000	Property protection insurance : $1 million
Minnesota	$30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident	$10,000 per accident	UM/UIM: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident; UMPD: not available	$40,000 ($20,000 for medical expenses / $20,000 for lost wages)	N/A
Mississippi	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM/UIM/UMPD: optional	N/A	N/A
Missouri	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident; UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	N/A	N/A
Montana	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$20,000 per accident	UM/UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	N/A	N/A
Nebraska	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM/UIM: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident; UMPD: not available	N/A	N/A
Nevada	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$20,000 per accident	UM/UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	N/A	N/A
New Hampshire*	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM/UIM: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident; UMPD: not available	N/A	Medical payments coverage: $1,000 per accident
New Jersey	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$5,000 – $25,000 per accident	UM/UIM/UMPD: optional	N/A	Some drivers can opt for a Basic Policy or Special Automobile Insurance Policy with low coverage limits
New Mexico	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$10,000 per accident	UM/UIM/UMPD: optional	N/A	N/A
New York	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$10,000 per accident	UM: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident; UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	$50,000 per person	Wrongful death: $50,000 per death/accident; $100,000 for multiple accidents
North Carolina	$30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM: $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident; UIM: required if liability limits exceed state minimum; UMPD: $25,000 per accident	N/A	N/A
North Dakota	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM/UIM: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident; UMPD: not available	$30,000 per person	N/A
Ohio	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM/UIM/UMPD: optional	N/A	N/A
Oklahoma	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM/UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	N/A	N/A
Oregon	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$20,000 per accident	UM: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident; UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	$15,000 per person	N/A
Pennsylvania	$15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident	$5,000 per accident	UM/UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	$5,000 per person	N/A
Rhode Island	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM/UIM: required if liability limits exceed state minimum; UMPD: optional	N/A	N/A
South Carolina	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident; UIM: optional; UMPD: $25,000 per accident	N/A	N/A
South Dakota	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM/UIM: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident; UMPD: not available	N/A	N/A
Tennessee	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$15,000 per accident	UM/UIM/UMPD: optional	N/A	N/A
Texas	$30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM/UIM/UMPD: optional	$2,500 (optional)	N/A
Utah	$25,000 per person / $65,000 per accident	$15,000 per accident	UM/UIM/UMPD: optional	$3,000 per person	Drivers can choose a single $80,000 coverage option for bodily injury liability and property damage liability.
Vermont	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$10,000 per accident	UM/UIM: $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident; UMPD: $10,000 per accident	N/A	N/A
Virginia*	$30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident	$20,000 per accident	UM/UIM: $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident; UMPD: $20,000 per accident	N/A	Liability limits will increase to 50/100/25 in 2025
Washington	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$10,000 per accident	UM/UIM/UMPD: optional	N/A	N/A
West Virginia	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$25,000 per accident	UM: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident; UIM: optional; UMPD: $25,000 per accident	N/A	N/A
Wisconsin	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$10,000 per accident	UM: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident; UIM: optional; UMPD: not available	N/A	N/A
Wyoming	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident	$20,000 per accident	UM/UIM/UMPD: optional	N/A	N/A

More:

Is car insurance required?

Mandatory coverage in some states

Liability insurance

covers injuries and property damage to others after an at-fault accident. The bodily injury liability coverage will pay for medical costs while the property damage liability coverage pays for vehicle and other personal property damage.

Required: In all states except

New Hampshire

Recommended amount: $100,000 bodily injury per person / $300,000 bodily injury per accident / $100,000 property damage

How to reduce your costs: It’s best not to reduce your costs by trimming your liability coverage—so maintain as much liability insurance as you can afford

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM)

You’ll rely on

uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance

if you get into an accident with an at-fault driver who isn’t insured or who doesn’t have high enough coverage limits to pay your medical bills.

In addition to medical expenses, UM/UIM covers lost wages, funeral expenses, pain and suffering, and potentially vehicle damage (if you carry UM/UIM property damage coverage).

Required: In some states

Recommended amount: UM/UIM coverage should have the same limits as your liability coverage

How to reduce your costs: If you have collision and health insurance and UM/UIM isn’t mandatory in your state, you might be able to skip it

Personal injury protection (PIP)

PIP

coverage pays for medical expenses for you and your passengers regardless of who caused a car accident. Additionally, it can cover lost wages, childcare, and funeral expenses.

Required: In no-fault states (optional in some others)

Recommended amount: Minimum coverage varies by state

How to reduce your costs: Opt for the basic plan instead of extended coverage—though you’ll pay more out of pocket in the event of a claim

Most people think of insurance as black and white—minimum coverage or full coverage. But there are variations that can help you tailor your auto insurance policy to exactly what you need. If your vehicle is paid off, liability + comprehensive is a great option. Comprehensive with a low deductible (like $250) is usually very affordable on an older vehicle.

Optional but strongly recommended

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive insurance

pays for damage to your vehicle that isn’t the result of a collision. This includes weather-related damage, vandalism, theft, and more. You’ll need to pay a deductible before your comprehensive coverage kicks in.

Required: Only for financed or leased vehicles

Recommended amount: Automatically covers up to the actual cash value of your car

How to reduce your costs: Choose a higher deductible; consider dropping this coverage if your vehicle is worth less than $4,000

Collision coverage

Collision insurance

covers damage to your vehicle that is the result of a collision—whether it’s with another vehicle, an animal, or a stationary object. It requires payment of a deductible before the insurance company will kick in to cover costs.

Required: Only for financed or leased vehicles

Recommended amount: Automatically covers up to the actual cash value of your vehicle

How to reduce your costs: Choose a higher deductible