# Car insurance in Nebraska: what you need

> Nebraska car insurance guide: liability minimums, mandatory uninsured and underinsured coverage, proof options, No Proof of Insurance penalties and costs.

Canonical page: https://statecover-guide.com/location/nebraska/  
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026 by the StateCover Guide editorial team  
General information, not legal or insurance advice.

## Quick answer

Nebraska requires every registered vehicle to carry liability insurance of at least $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage, plus both uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, which cannot be left off a policy. Nebraska drivers spent less than the national average on car insurance, and a No Proof of Insurance conviction brings a license suspension and an SR-22 filing for 3 years.

## Key facts

| Fact | Nebraska |
|---|---|
| Insurance required | Yes |
| Minimum liability | $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage |
| Uninsured motorist | Required: $25,000/$50,000 |
| Underinsured motorist | Required: $25,000/$50,000 |
| Personal injury protection | Not required |
| Medical payments | Not required (optional) |
| Fault system | At-fault |
| Average spent per insured vehicle (2023) | $981.06 a year (U.S. $1,281) |
| Average premium with collision and comprehensive (2023) | $1,183.88 a year (U.S. $1,438) |
| Uninsured drivers (2023) | 9.5% (U.S. 15.4%) |
| Regulator | Nebraska Department of Insurance, 402-471-2201; complaint hotline 877-564-7323 (in-state only) |

## Nebraska requires UM and UIM on every policy

In many states you can sign away uninsured motorist coverage. Nebraska law takes a firmer line: a policy cannot be issued or renewed without both uninsured (UM) and underinsured (UIM) motorist coverage, and the law has no provision for rejecting them.

The two coverages fill different gaps:

| Coverage | When it pays | Required minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Uninsured motorist | The at-fault driver has no insurance | Required: $25,000/$50,000 |
| Underinsured motorist | The at-fault driver has insurance, but not enough for your injuries | Required: $25,000/$50,000 |

If you want more protection, state law says your insurer must sell higher UM and UIM limits when you ask in writing, up to a cap set in the statute. One detail to know: the per-accident UM/UIM minimum is listed differently in two official places. UM/UIM minimum per accident: statute says $50,000; one Department of Insurance page shows $25,000. The statute's figure is used on this page; the Nebraska Department of Insurance can confirm what applies to your policy.

Our [uninsured motorist guide](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/uninsured-motorist/) explains how insurers calculate UIM payments and how [stacking](https://statecover-guide.com/glossary/stacking/) works where it is allowed.

## Ways to prove financial responsibility in Nebraska

Most drivers meet Nebraska's requirement with an insurance policy, but the DMV accepts several forms of proof of financial responsibility. You must show it at the County Treasurer's office when you register and carry it in the vehicle.

| Type of proof | How it works |
|---|---|
| Insurance certificate or policy | The original from an insurer authorized in Nebraska; electronic images are accepted |
| Surety bond | A bond conditioned for payment of up to $75,000 |
| Property bond | Backed by at least two individual sureties who own Nebraska real estate, for up to $75,000 |
| Cash or securities deposit | A certificate from the State Treasurer after a deposit of $75,000 |
| Self-insurance certificate | Only for owners with a minimum number of registered vehicles who meet DMV conditions |

Trailers, snowmobiles, boats and campers carried on trucks are exempt, because the vehicle doing the pulling or carrying must be insured. Insurers also report coverage to a state insurance database, which the DMV uses to support online registration renewals. The DMV warns that the database is updated on a regular cycle rather than daily, so keep your insurance card.

## What happens after a No Proof of Insurance ticket

A conviction for No Proof of Insurance automatically suspends your license or operating privileges. Because the citation goes to the vehicle's owner, the DMV advises drivers who did not own the car not to plead guilty.

If you actually had insurance on the date of the ticket, you can send the DMV a copy of the citation and a signed letter of verification from your insurer, and the DMV may remove the suspension.

If you were uninsured, reinstatement usually requires these steps:

1. Buy a policy and ask the insurer to file an SR-22 certificate for each vehicle registered in your name.
2. Keep the SR-22 on file with the Nebraska DMV for 3 years from the citation date, even if you move to another state.
3. Pay the $50 reinstatement fee.
4. Keep the policy active: if the SR-22 lapses, the DMV suspends your privileges again.

The [SR-22 guide](https://statecover-guide.com/drivers/sr-22/) explains what the filing costs and how it affects your premium.

## Nebraska costs and uninsured drivers

NAIC data put Nebraska's average expenditure per insured vehicle at $981.06 in 2023, below the national average of $1,281. The average premium with collision and comprehensive was $1,183.88, also below the U.S. figure of $1,438, or roughly $99 a month.

About 9.5% of Nebraska drivers were uninsured in 2023, below the national rate of 15.4%. Mandatory UM and UIM coverage means every insured driver has at least some protection against them.

## Safety on Nebraska roads

IIHS counted 251 crash deaths in Nebraska in 2024, or 12.5 per 100,000 people, above the national rate of 11.5 per 100,000 people. Measured by miles driven, the rate was 1.15 per 100 million miles, slightly below the national 1.19 per 100 million miles. Rural roads accounted for 65% of deaths, above the U.S. share of 41%.

On long rural drives, animal strikes and hail are common causes of damage to your own car, and both are usually covered by [comprehensive coverage](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/comprehensive/) rather than liability. Neighboring states set different rules, so compare [Iowa](https://statecover-guide.com/location/iowa/), [Kansas](https://statecover-guide.com/location/kansas/), [Missouri](https://statecover-guide.com/location/missouri/), [South Dakota](https://statecover-guide.com/location/south-dakota/), [Colorado](https://statecover-guide.com/location/colorado/) and [Wyoming](https://statecover-guide.com/location/wyoming/).

## FAQ

### Can I reject uninsured motorist coverage in Nebraska?

No. Nebraska law does not allow a policy to be issued or renewed without uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage at the required minimums.

### What happens if I get a ticket for no proof of insurance in Nebraska?

A conviction suspends your license. To reinstate, you file an SR-22 that stays on file for 3 years from the citation date and pay a $50 fee. If you were insured that day, send the DMV a copy of the ticket and a verification letter from your insurer instead.

### Can I use a bond instead of car insurance in Nebraska?

Yes. The DMV accepts a surety bond, a property bond or a deposit with the State Treasurer, each for $75,000, as proof of financial responsibility. An insurance policy is the usual route.

### Is PIP required in Nebraska?

No. Nebraska is an at-fault state, and the required coverages are liability, uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist. Medical payments coverage is optional.

### Can I show proof of insurance on my phone in Nebraska?

Yes. The DMV accepts electronic images of an insurance certificate. Photocopies of a paper card are not accepted for registration.

## Sources

- [Nebraska DMV, Insurance Requirements (Proof of Financial Responsibility)](https://dmv.nebraska.gov/dvr/ins-req) — proof options, exemptions
- [Nebraska DMV, No Proof of Insurance Conviction](https://dmv.nebraska.gov/fr/no-proof-insurance-conviction) — suspension, SR-22 period, reinstatement fee
- [Nebraska DMV, Insurance Database](https://dmv.nebraska.gov/dvr/insurance-database) — insurer reporting
- [Nebraska Legislature, Neb. Rev. Stat. 44-6408](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=44-6408) — UM and UIM requirements
- [Nebraska Department of Insurance, Importance of Auto Insurance and Types of Coverage](https://doi.nebraska.gov/important-auto-insurance-and-types-coverage) — required and optional coverages
- [NAIC, Auto Insurance Database Report](https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-aut-pb-auto-insurance-database.pdf) — average costs
- [IIHS, Fatality Facts: State by state](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state) — crash deaths
- [Nebraska Legislature, Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-534, motor vehicle liability policy limits](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=60-534), as of October 28, 2026
- [Insurance Information Institute, Background on: No-fault auto insurance](https://www.iii.org/article/background-on-no-fault-auto-insurance), as of October 28, 2026
- [Insurance Information Institute, Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists](https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists), as of October 28, 2026
- [NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report](https://content.naic.org/article/naic-releases-20222023-auto-insurance-database-report), as of February 13, 2026
- [Insurance Research Council, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017–2023 (press release)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250220231032/en), as of February 20, 2025