State Minimum Car Insurance Requirements: How to Find and Read Yours

How much car insurance you legally need has more than fifty answers, because insurance is regulated state by state, plus the District of Columbia and the territories. This guide shows where to find your state’s rule, how to read it, and three labeled examples. It is education only; Car Bills Explained is not an insurer, agent or broker, and the minimum your state requires is not a recommendation for how much you should buy.

Where do you find your state’s minimum?

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the organization of state insurance regulators, keeps a directory of every state insurance department. Your state’s insurance department, or its motor vehicle agency (DMV or similar), publishes the minimum coverage and the proof of insurance you must carry. The NAIC’s shopping guide suggests checking with your state DMV or insurance department for the minimum required.

Check the official page rather than a quote site or an old article, because minimums change. California, for example, raised its minimums on January 1, 2025.

How do you read a state minimum?

Most minimums are liability limits written as three numbers. The NAIC explains that they are the most a policy pays for bodily injury to one person, for all bodily injuries in one accident, and for property damage in one crash. So 30/60/15 means $30,000, $60,000 and $15,000. Some states add other required coverages, such as personal injury protection (PIP) or uninsured motorist coverage. For what each coverage does, see car insurance coverage types explained.

California: what is the minimum?

California: the California Department of Insurance says that, starting January 1, 2025, the minimum liability limits for private passenger auto policies increased to:

• $30,000 for bodily injury or death per person (up from $15,000)
• $60,000 for bodily injury or death per accident (up from $30,000)
• $15,000 for property damage per accident (up from $5,000)

The California DMV adds that insurance (also called financial responsibility) is required on all vehicles operated or parked on California roads, that you must carry evidence of insurance in the vehicle, and that comprehensive or collision insurance alone doesn’t meet the requirement. Instead of a liability policy, the DMV also accepts a $75,000 surety bond from a company licensed in California, and it handles cash deposits and self-insurance through its Insurance Unit. Insurance companies report coverage to the DMV electronically; if the DMV doesn’t receive proof of insurance, the registration will be suspended. The DMV says to notify it before you cancel your insurance; if the car isn’t being used or parked on a public road, it accepts an Affidavit of Non-Use. Income-eligible drivers may qualify for the California Low Cost Auto Insurance Program.

Texas: what is the minimum?

Texas: the Texas Department of Insurance says state law requires at least $30,000 of coverage for injuries per person, up to $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage, called 30/60/25. Other Texas rules from the same guide:

• All Texas auto policies include PIP; if you don’t want it, you must tell the company in writing.
• Insurers must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage; to decline it, you must say so in writing.
• If two insurance companies turn you down, you can get basic coverage through the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association (TAIPA), which sells liability, PIP and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. The TDI says TAIPA coverage costs more than coverage from other companies.

Florida: what is the minimum?

Florida: the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) says that before you register a vehicle with at least four wheels, you must show proof of at least $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 of property damage liability (PDL), from an insurer licensed in Florida. Taxis need more, including bodily injury liability. The FLHSMV also says:

• You must keep the required coverage for the whole registration period, even if the car isn’t being driven.
• Failing to keep it can lead to suspension of your driver license and registration and a reinstatement fee of up to $500.
• Turn in your license plate before you cancel your insurance, to avoid suspension and reinstatement fees.

Is the state minimum enough?

The minimum is what the law requires, not a measure of what a serious crash costs. The NAIC suggests buying as much liability coverage as you can reasonably afford, and the Texas Department of Insurance warns that if you don’t have enough liability coverage for the damage you cause, you might have to pay the rest out of your own pocket and could be sued. How much is right for you depends on your situation; a licensed agent can walk you through options.

What does your lender require?

If you still owe money on your car, your lender will require more than the state minimum. The NAIC and the Texas Department of Insurance both note that lenders require collision and comprehensive coverage. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains that if you let the required insurance lapse, the loan contract usually lets the lender buy insurance to cover the car, called force-placed insurance, and charge you for it.

What if your state isn’t listed here?

Not verified here: we haven’t checked every state. Use the NAIC directory to reach your state insurance department, search its site for minimum auto insurance or financial responsibility, and check your DMV’s registration pages for proof-of-insurance rules. If you move, check the new state’s rule before you register the car there.

Where can you get help?

Your state insurance department answers questions about insurance rules and takes complaints about insurers and agents. See complaints and where to get help.