Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Insurance required | Yes |
| Minimum liability (split limits) | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident bodily injury, $25,000 property damage |
| Minimum liability (single limit) | $50,000 |
| Uninsured motorist | Required: $25,000/$50,000 |
| Underinsured motorist | Required: $25,000/$50,000 |
| Fault system | At-fault |
| Personal injury protection | Not required |
| Penalty for a lapse in coverage | $200 civil penalty per lapse, plus registration suspension if unresolved |
| Average expenditure (2023) | $1,393.90 a year (US: $1,281) |
| Average premium with collision and comprehensive (2023) | $1,508.21 a year (US: $1,438) |
| Uninsured drivers (2023) | 11.8% (US: 15.4%) |
| Insurance regulator | Connecticut Insurance Department, (860) 297-3900; 1-800-203-3447 (Consumer Affairs) |
| Motor vehicle agency | Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles |
What every Connecticut policy must include
Connecticut is one of the states that makes uninsured motorist protection part of the legal minimum, not an optional extra. A policy that meets the law includes:
| Required coverage | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident |
Liability pays other people when you cause a crash. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays for your own injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance, or not enough. Collision and comprehensive coverage are not required by law, but a lender or leasing company may require them.
Connecticut is an at-fault state. It once had a no-fault law, but that was repealed, and personal injury protection is not required. We could not confirm a state rule on medical payments coverage for Connecticut, so ask your insurer how it is offered or contact the Connecticut Insurance Department.
Split limits or a combined single limit
Connecticut lets you meet the liability requirement in either of two ways:
- Split limits: separate caps of $25,000 for each injured person, $50,000 for all injuries in the crash and $25,000 for property damage.
- A combined single limit: one pool of $50,000 that can be used for injuries and property damage together.
A single limit is more flexible because the whole amount can go wherever the damage is. For example, in a crash that causes $20,000 of property damage and $70,000 of injury to one person, a $100,000 single limit could pay both, while split limits of $50,000 per person would leave $20,000 of that injury unpaid. Either way, the Connecticut Insurance Department encourages drivers to consider more than the minimum. Our guides to combined single limits and liability coverage explain more.
Insurance lapses: how Connecticut DMV finds them and what they cost
Coverage must stay in force for as long as your registration or plates are active. Insurers notify the DMV when a policy is canceled, and the DMV may send a warning letter. If the lapse lasts more than 14 days, a suspension notice follows. If you do not respond, your registration is suspended, and you cannot register or renew any vehicle in your name until the issue is resolved.
To clear a lapse suspension, the DMV's steps are:
- Pay the uninsured motorist civil penalty of $200 for each lapse, online, by phone or by mail.
- Send proof of insurance: a declarations page, a letter of experience or a valid permanent Connecticut insurance ID card. Temporary cards, bills and binders are not accepted.
- Wait for the DMV to rescind the suspension once it has both.
If you kept continuous coverage, or sold, junked or moved the vehicle, you can show proof or ask for a hearing before the suspension date. The penalty can be rescinded if you prove there was no gap. Our post on car insurance lapses explains how to switch insurers without creating one.
Who has to be listed on a Connecticut policy
The Connecticut Insurance Department says licensed people in your household who can use an insured vehicle must be listed as operators, unless they show they have their own car and insurance. Insurers may charge premium based on all household vehicles and drivers. That often matters when a teenager gets a license; see car insurance for teen drivers and who must be listed on your policy.
Personal auto policies also generally exclude business use, such as delivery driving. If you deliver food or drive for a ride-hailing app, read our rideshare guide.
Connecticut prices against the national average
| Measure (2023) | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Average expenditure per insured vehicle | $1,393.90 | $1,281 |
| Average premium with liability, collision and comprehensive | $1,508.21 | $1,438 |
| Uninsured drivers (2023) | 11.8% | 15.4% |
Connecticut's averages are above the national average, about $116 a month in average expenditure, while its uninsured-driver estimate is below the national figure. The Department suggests reviewing coverage at every renewal and shopping around each year; our guide to reviewing your coverage has a checklist.
Crash data: speeding stands out
IIHS counted 310 crash deaths in Connecticut in 2024.
| Crash measure (2024) | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Death rate by population | 8.4 per 100,000 people | 11.5 per 100,000 people |
| Death rate by miles driven | 1.00 per 100 million miles | 1.19 per 100 million miles |
| Share of deaths that were speeding-related | 41% | 29% |
| Estimated share of killed drivers who were alcohol-impaired | 32% | 31% |
Connecticut's overall death rates are below the national rates, but the share of deaths linked to speeding is well above the national share.
Living near a state line? Compare New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, or see all states.
Frequently asked questions
Is uninsured motorist coverage mandatory in Connecticut?
Yes. Every Connecticut policy must include uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
What is the fine for a lapse in car insurance in Connecticut?
The DMV charges an uninsured motorist civil penalty of $200 for each lapse. It can be rescinded if you prove you had continuous coverage.
Can I use a temporary insurance card to clear a Connecticut DMV suspension?
No. The DMV accepts a declarations page, a letter of experience or a valid permanent Connecticut insurance ID card, but not temporary cards, bills or binders.
Does my teenage driver have to be on my Connecticut policy?
Generally yes, if they are licensed, live with you and can use an insured car, unless they show their own car and insurance.
Does Connecticut have no-fault car insurance?
No. Connecticut repealed its no-fault law and now uses the at-fault system, with no personal injury protection requirement.
Sources
- Connecticut Insurance Department, Auto Insurance minimum limits, UM/UIM requirement, household drivers and business use
- Connecticut DMV, Insurance lapse notices, civil penalty and registration suspension
- Connecticut DMV, Insurance suspension: what to do how to resolve a suspension and accepted proof
- Insurance Information Institute, Background on no-fault auto insurance repeal of Connecticut's no-fault law
- NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report average expenditure and premium
- Insurance Information Institute, Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists uninsured driver estimates
- IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state crash deaths
- Alabama Department of Insurance, State Auto Insurance Laws as of October 28, 2026
- Connecticut DMV, Home page as of October 28, 2026
- Insurance Research Council, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017–2023 (press release) as of February 20, 2025
Last reviewed by the StateCover Guide editorial team. See our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.