Car insurance rules change at state borders, but the most important number is not your premium. It is how much your insurer will pay if you injure someone or damage their property. Minimum liability insurance requirements by state differ substantially in 2026, and recent increases mean an older comparison chart may leave you underinsured. Here is a 50-state overview for ordinary private-passenger policies, followed by the exceptions that matter when choosing coverage.
How to read state liability limits
Most limits appear as three figures, such as 25/50/25, measured in thousands of dollars. That means $25,000 bodily injury liability for one person, $50,000 for everyone injured in one accident, and $25,000 property damage liability per accident. These are maximum insurer payments, not guaranteed settlements. Liability insurance generally pays for harm you cause to others; it does not repair your own car.
Minimum liability limits in all 50 states for 2026
The figures below show bodily injury per person / bodily injury per accident / property damage per accident. They represent general state minimums, not specialized requirements for commercial vehicles, drivers with certain violations, or alternative financial-responsibility arrangements.
Alabama through Georgia
Alabama: 25/50/25; Alaska: 50/100/25; Arizona: 25/50/15; Arkansas: 25/50/25; California: 30/60/15.
Colorado: 25/50/15; Connecticut: 25/50/25; Delaware: 25/50/10; Florida: $10,000 property damage plus $10,000 personal injury protection, with no routine bodily injury liability minimum; Georgia: 25/50/25.
Hawaii through Maryland
Hawaii: 40/80/20; Idaho: 25/50/15; Illinois: 25/50/20; Indiana: 25/50/25; Iowa: 20/40/15.
Kansas: 25/50/25; Kentucky: 25/50/25; Louisiana: 15/30/25; Maine: 50/100/25; Maryland: 30/60/15.
Massachusetts through New Jersey
Massachusetts: 25/50/30; Michigan: 50/100/10 when the permitted lower bodily injury limits are selected; Minnesota: 30/60/10; Mississippi: 25/50/25; Missouri: 25/50/25.
Montana: 25/50/20; Nebraska: 25/50/25; Nevada: 25/50/20; New Hampshire: insurance generally optional, with 25/50/25 applying to liability policies purchased; New Jersey: 35/70/25 for standard policies, with a separate Basic Policy option.
New Mexico through South Carolina
New Mexico: 25/50/10; New York: 25/50/10; North Carolina: 50/100/50; North Dakota: 25/50/25; Ohio: 25/50/25.
Oklahoma: 25/50/25; Oregon: 25/50/20; Pennsylvania: 15/30/5; Rhode Island: 25/50/25; South Carolina: 25/50/25.
South Dakota through Wyoming
South Dakota: 25/50/25; Tennessee: 25/50/25; Texas: 30/60/25; Utah: 30/65/25; Vermont: 25/50/10.
Virginia: 50/100/25; Washington: 25/50/10; West Virginia: 25/50/25; Wisconsin: 25/50/10; Wyoming: 25/50/20.
Washington, D.C., which is not a state, generally requires 25/50/10 plus applicable uninsured motorist protection. Always confirm current terms with your state insurance department or motor vehicle agency before purchasing a policy.
Which states recently increased their minimums?
Several major changes explain why older charts are unreliable. California moved to 30/60/15, Utah to 30/65/25, and Virginia to 50/100/25 in 2025. North Carolina adopted 50/100/50 for policies issued or renewed from July 2025. Massachusetts raised its minimums to 25/50/30 in July 2025. In January 2026, New Jersey’s standard-policy floor became 35/70/25, while Hawaii increased its liability minimum to 40/80/20. Renewal dates can matter when a new law takes effect.
Three exceptions that change the shopping decision
Florida usually requires $10,000 in property damage liability and $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP), rather than a standard three-part liability package. Bodily injury liability can still become mandatory in particular circumstances, including certain driving offenses.
New Hampshire generally does not require every driver to buy auto insurance, but uninsured drivers remain financially responsible for damage they cause. When insurance is purchased, its liability limits cannot fall below 25/50/25. New Jersey offers a limited Basic Policy distinct from the 35/70/25 standard policy; its weaker protection deserves especially careful comparison.
Liability is not the whole mandatory insurance package
State minimum car insurance may also include PIP, uninsured motorist (UM), or underinsured motorist (UIM) protection. For example, Florida and Hawaii require PIP, while Connecticut requires uninsured and underinsured motorist protection. New York has additional PIP and uninsured motorist rules. These benefits serve different purposes, and some states permit written rejection of particular optional coverages. Ask for a quote that meets every requirement, not merely the three liability numbers.
Why the legal minimum might not protect your savings
Imagine you cause a crash in Pennsylvania with a 15/30/5 policy and damage another driver’s $24,000 vehicle. Your $5,000 property damage limit could leave $19,000 unpaid, assuming the full damage is your legal responsibility. A second injured person could create a separate liability problem. Meeting the law is not the same as having enough money available for a serious claim.
Before choosing mandatory car insurance, compare quotes for higher limits such as 100/300/100 and consider collision or comprehensive coverage if you need protection for your own vehicle. For more context, see our guides to bodily injury versus property damage liability, uninsured motorist coverage, and liability-only versus full-coverage car insurance.
Frequently asked questions
What state requires the highest property damage liability minimum?
North Carolina requires $50,000 per accident under its standard 50/100/50 limits, among the highest property damage floors in the country.
Can I keep my current insurance after moving states?
Do not assume so. Tell your insurer your new garaging address and check registration deadlines. Your policy must satisfy the new state’s rules and may need different PIP or uninsured motorist coverage.
Does minimum liability pay for my own car repairs?
Generally no. Liability pays covered claims made by others when you are responsible. Collision coverage is designed for damage to your own vehicle in a covered crash.
Is liability insurance compulsory in every state?
No. New Hampshire is the major exception to routine compulsory coverage, though financial-responsibility rules still apply. Other states can allow narrowly defined legal alternatives to an insurance policy.
Choosing limits for 2026
Use your state’s figures as the starting line, not your final protection target. Check the insurer’s declarations page for bodily injury, property damage, and additional required benefits. Then decide what a serious accident could cost you beyond those limits. A small premium saving is rarely reassuring when the uncovered bill is yours.