Buying car insurance can be a confusing process and one that involves a lot of calculation and numbers. Thankfully car insurance is something we deal with often at DefensiveDriving.org. It comes with the territory of all things safe driving. Did you know that car insurance minimum coverage amounts vary by state? It’s true. Check out the helpful chart below to see what your local state jurisdiction requires as a minimum level of coverage to be driving on state motorways.
Minimum Car Insurance Coverage Amounts by State
The following are the minimum car insurance coverage amounts by state. Each state has its own rules for insurance. Make sure you’re paying attention here so the insurance you buy covers you to the level you need legally.
| State | Minimum Coverage | Bodily Liability | Bodily Liability > 1 | Property Liability |
| Alabama | 25/50/25 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 |
| Alaska | 50/100/25 | $50,000 | $100,000 | $25,000 |
| Arizona | 15/30/10 | $15,000 | $30,000 | $10,000 |
| Arkansas | 25/50/25 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 |
| California | 15/30/5 | $15,000 | $30,000 | $5,000 |
| Colorado | 25/50/15 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $15,000 |
| Connecticut | 20/40/10 | $20,000 | $40,000 | $10,000 |
| Delaware | 15/30/10 | $15,000 | $30,000 | $10,000 |
| Florida | 10/20/10 | $10,000 | $20,000 | $10,000 |
| Georgia | 25/50/25 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 |
| Hawaii | 20/40/10 | $20,000 | $40,000 | $10,000 |
| Idaho | 25/50/15 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $15,000 |
| Illinois | 20/40/15 | $20,000 | $40,000 | $15,000 |
| Indiana | 25/50/10 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 |
| Iowa | 20/40/15 | $20,000 | $40,000 | $15,000 |
| Kansas | 25/50/10 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 |
| Kentucky | 25/50/10 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 |
| Louisiana | 15/30/25 | $15,000 | $30,000 | $25,000 |
| Maine | 50/100/25 | $50,000 | $100,000 | $25,000 |
| Maryland | 30/60/15 | $30,000 | $60,000 | $15,000 |
| Massachusetts | 20/40/5 | $20,000 | $40,000 | $5,000 |
| Michigan | 20/40/10 | $20,000 | $40,000 | $10,000 |
| Minnesota | 30/60/10 | $30,000 | $60,000 | $10,000 |
| Mississippi | 25/50/25 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 |
| Missouri | 25/50/10 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 |
| Montana | 25/50/10 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 |
| Nebraska | 25/50/25 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 |
| Nevada | 15/30/10 | $15,000 | $30,000 | $10,000 |
| New Hampshire | 25/50/25 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 |
| New Jersey | 15/30/5 | $15,000 | $30,000 | $5,000 |
| New Mexico | 25/50/10 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 |
| New York | 25/50/10 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 |
| North Carolina | 30/60/25 | $30,000 | $60,000 | $25,000 |
| North Dakota | 25/50/25 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 |
| Ohio | 12.5/25/7.5 | $12,500 | $25,000 | $7,500 |
| Oklahoma | 25/50/25 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 |
| Oregon | 25/50/20 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 15/30/5 | $15,000 | $30,000 | $5,000 |
| Rhode Island | 25/50/25 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 |
| South Carolina | 25/50/25 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 |
| South Dakota | 25/50/25 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 |
| Tennessee | 25/50/15 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $15,000 |
| Texas | 30/60/25 | $30,000 | $60,000 | $25,000 |
| Utah | 25/65/15 | $25,000 | $65,000 | $15,000 |
| Vermont | 25/50/10 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 |
| Virginia | 25/50/20 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 |
| Washington | 25/50/10 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25/50/10 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 |
| West Virginia | 20/40/10 | $20,000 | $40,000 | $10,000 |
| Wisconsin | 25/50/10 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 |
| Wyoming | 25/50/20 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 |
What do the numbers mean on an insurance policy?
The numbers on your auto insurance policy refer to the maximum limits you can be allotted on your liability insurance in the event you’re in a car accident or incident.
- The first number on your auto insurance policy refers to the maximum coverage for bodily injury liability for one person who is injured in a car accident or motor vehicle incident.
- The second number on your auto insurance policy refers to the maximum coverage for bodily injury liability for all persons injured in one car accident or motor vehicle incident.
- The third number on your auto insurance policy refers to the maximum coverage for property damage liability in a car accident or motor vehicle incident you caused.
Bodily Injury Liability
Your Bodily Injury Liability is labeled on the first two numbers of your auto insurance. This number represents the highest monetary amount your insurance company could settle for in the event of a car accident where someone is injured. If you’re in a motorway accident and it is deemed your fault as the driver, your insurance company will pay for up to the first number for the person’s medical bills. Anything over that threshold you will be personally liable for. This is why it’s always a good idea to carry over the bare minimum when it comes to your auto insurance.
If you’re at fault for an accident where multiple people are hurt, the second number refers to the amount that your auto insurance would cover for all other parties after the first when it comes to medical bills. If you are in a catastrophic incident where numerous parties are injured as part of something that is deemed your fault, the second number is the maximum amount your car insurance company will cover. Everything over the amount you will be “out of pocket” for and personally liable for paying deemed the victim of the car accident.
Property Damage Liability
If your car is involved in a multi vehicle accident your Property Damage Liability, the third number on your auto insurance, is what would cover you. That number is the maximum amount your auto insurance will pay for other cars and the damage they incur as part of a motor vehicle accident that is deemed your fault. If the number of damage caused exceeds that of your coverage, you will be personally liable for paying that amount to the party deemed the victim of the car accident.