New Hampshire car insurance: required or not?

Do you need car insurance in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire stands apart: 49 states and the District of Columbia require drivers to buy liability insurance, and New Hampshire is the state that does not. The New Hampshire Insurance Department says state motor vehicle law does not require you to carry auto insurance.

That is not the same as having no rules. New Hampshire is a financial responsibility state. If you cause a crash, you must be able to meet the state's financial responsibility requirements, and if you cannot, your driving privileges may be suspended. If you are sued, a court can order your assets used to pay the damages awarded.

Consider what that means in practice. For example, if you cause a crash that injures another driver and damages their car, the bills land on you personally. Without a policy there is no insurer to handle the claim, pay a lawyer or negotiate a settlement.

If you buy a policy: what it must include

Once you choose to insure a vehicle, the policy has to meet minimum terms set in state law:

Medical payments coverage pays reasonable medical costs for people hurt in your car after a crash, regardless of fault; our medical payments guide explains how it works with health insurance. Because uninsured motorist coverage must match your liability limits, raising your liability limits raises your UM protection too. See uninsured motorist coverage for how claims work.

The department also notes that it does not set or mandate auto insurance rates, so prices vary by insurer. To insure a vehicle there, you generally need to be a New Hampshire resident or keep the vehicle garaged only in New Hampshire.

When New Hampshire requires proof of insurance (SR-22)

For some drivers, insurance stops being optional. The New Hampshire DMV requires an SR-22 certificate, which is proof of insurance filed by your insurer, after:

• any DWI,
• leaving the scene of an accident, or conduct after an accident,
• a second or later reckless operation offense, or
• any other situation where the DMV notifies you in writing that you must file.

State law also lets the DMV suspend a license and registration after certain convictions, including homicide or assault involving a motor vehicle and repeat speeding, until the driver files and keeps proof of financial responsibility. Until the requirement is met, your license and registration privileges cannot be restored. Under state law, the DMV may waive the filing after 3 years from the conviction or crash, if no new convictions, crashes or unpaid judgments appear on your record.

The DMV accepts only the standard SR-22 form from an insurer licensed in New Hampshire, either as an owner policy or as an operator policy if you do not own a car. The SR-22 guide explains what the filing costs and how long most states keep it in place.

Reporting a crash in New Hampshire

Insured or not, you have duties after a crash. State law requires a written report to the Division of Motor Vehicles within 15 days if anyone is hurt or killed or if property damage is more than $1,000, unless a police officer investigates the crash. After any crash:

1. Stop, check for injuries and call for help if needed.
2. Exchange names, addresses and insurance details with the other drivers.
3. Photograph the scene and the damage.
4. File the written report on time if the law requires one.
5. Notify your insurer promptly if you have a policy.

Our what to do after a crash checklist covers the rest.

Costs and safety in New Hampshire

NAIC data put the average amount spent per insured vehicle in New Hampshire at $986.84 in 2023, below the national average of $1,281. The average premium with collision and comprehensive was $1,032.01, also below the U.S. figure of $1,438, or about $86 a month.

About 10.0% of drivers were uninsured in 2023, below the national rate of 15.4%. IIHS counted 133 crash deaths in 2024, or 9.4 per 100,000 people, below the national 11.5 per 100,000 people, though 56% of deaths happened on rural roads, above the U.S. share of 41%.

Neighbors all require insurance, so if you commute or move, compare Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont.