StateCover Guide

Car insurance in every US state, explained in plain English

Quick answer

Car insurance is required almost everywhere in the US: 49 states and the District of Columbia make drivers carry liability coverage, and New Hampshire asks instead for proof that you can pay for damage you cause. Across the country, drivers spent an average of $1,281 a year per insured vehicle in 2023, about $107 a month, but your own price depends on your state, ZIP code, driving record, car and the coverage you choose.

Every figure is stored with its official source and the date we checked it.

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY
  • Under $947
  • $947 to $1,081
  • $1,081 to $1,169
  • $1,169 to $1,453
  • $1,453 and up
  • No-fault (9)
  • Choice no-fault (3)
  • At-fault with add-on PIP (8)
  • At-fault (31)
Average yearly spend per insured vehicle in 2023, from the NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report. Select a state for its rules. At-fault and no-fault rules by state, from state insurance departments, statutes and the Insurance Information Institute. Sources are listed in the state minimum lookup.

Car insurance in numbers

Guides by topic

Each guide explains one part of a policy or one situation in depth, with examples and the questions people ask before they buy.

Claims How car insurance claims work from the crash to payment, with claim types, timelines and state rules. 8 guides Saving money A prioritized plan to pay less for car insurance while keeping the coverage that protects your savings. 8 guides Cost factors How insurers price car insurance, what the average driver pays and which rating factors you can change. 8 guides Coverage types What each type of car insurance coverage pays for, which ones are required and how they fit together on one policy. 10 guides Driver situations Car insurance guides for teens, seniors, new and high-risk drivers, SR-22 and FR-44 filings, military members, rideshare and more. 13 guides

Free car insurance tools

Our tools explain the rules and the factors that move your price. They never show made-up quotes.

State minimum lookupLook up the legal minimum car insurance, PIP and uninsured motorist rules in any state. Price factors explainerSee which parts of your profile tend to raise or lower your car insurance price, without fake quotes. Deductible chooserCompare two deductibles with your own quotes: yearly saving, break-even years and affordability. Coverage checklistAnswer a few questions to see which coverages your state requires and which ones fit your situation.

Key facts

FactFigure
Average spent on car insurance per insured vehicle (2023)$1,281 a year
Average for a policy with liability, collision and comprehensive (2023)$1,438 a year
Change in that average, 2022 to 2023up 14.42%
Jurisdictions that require liability insurance49 states and the District of Columbia
States with no-fault car insurance laws12
Drivers who were uninsured (2023)15.4%

How car insurance works

A car insurance policy is a bundle of separate coverages. Liability pays for injuries and damage you cause to other people and is the part most states require. Collision pays to repair your own car after a crash, and comprehensive covers theft, fire, hail, flooding and hitting an animal. People often call a policy with all three "full coverage", although no law defines that term.

How your state handles injuries matters too. In the 12 no-fault states, your own policy's personal injury protection pays your medical bills first, whoever caused the crash, and your right to sue is limited. Everywhere else, the driver who caused the accident (and their insurer) pays.

Prices vary a lot from place to place. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) points to underwriting costs, where people drive, accident rates, traffic density, car theft, repair costs and state laws as the main reasons. Repair bills alone have climbed: the average collision claim rose from $6,113 in 2021 to $7,191 in 2022.

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Where our numbers come from

Every figure on this site comes from an official or primary source, such as state insurance departments and statutes, the NAIC, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Insurance Crime Bureau and the US Census Bureau. Each one is stored with its source and date, and listed under Sources on the page that uses it. Read our editorial policy to see how we research and update pages.

Find the car insurance rules in your state

Every state sets its own minimum coverage, decides whether it is an at-fault or no-fault state, and runs its own insurance department. Choose your state to see its legal minimums, its rules on personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured motorist coverage, SR-22 filings, the penalties for driving uninsured and the average cost there.

Frequently asked questions

How much is car insurance per month?

The national average expenditure was $1,281 a year per insured vehicle in 2023, which works out to about $107 a month. That average mixes drivers with only the legal minimum and drivers with full coverage, so your price can be much higher or lower depending on your state, age, record, car and coverage.

Is car insurance required in every state?

No, but nearly. 49 states and the District of Columbia legally require liability insurance. New Hampshire does not require a policy, but you must be able to pay for damage you cause in an at-fault accident, and if you do buy insurance it must meet the state's minimum limits.

What is the minimum car insurance I need?

It depends on your state. Each state sets minimum liability limits for injuries per person, injuries per accident and property damage, and some also require PIP, medical payments or uninsured motorist coverage. The state minimum is only the legal floor: a serious crash can cost far more than the minimum limits pay.

What does full coverage car insurance mean?

"Full coverage" is a sales term, not a legal one. It usually means liability plus collision and comprehensive. The NAIC's combined average premium for that kind of policy was $1,438 a year in 2023. Lenders and leasing companies normally require collision and comprehensive until the car is paid off.

Why is car insurance getting more expensive?

Claims cost more. The NAIC found the average collision claim rose 17.6% from 2021 to 2022, and the combined average premium rose 14.42% from 2022 to 2023. Insurers set prices from expected claim costs, so higher repair, medical and replacement costs show up in premiums.

Does StateCover Guide sell insurance or give quotes?

No. We are an independent information site, not an insurer, agent or broker. We do not sell policies, collect your details for quotes or rank companies for payment. See our advertising disclosure for how the site is funded.

Sources

Last reviewed by the Editorial team. See our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.