# Personal car insurance coverage checklist

> Answer a few questions about your state, car, loan and savings to get a checklist of the car insurance coverages to require, consider or skip.

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

## Quick answer

The right car insurance starts with what your state requires, then adds protection for what you could not afford to lose: your savings, your car and your health. Answer the questions below to get a checklist sorted into coverage your state requires, coverage to strongly consider, coverage worth pricing and coverage you may not need.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Required almost everywhere | Liability insurance, in 49 states and the District of Columbia |
| Drivers who were uninsured (2023) | 15.4% |
| Drivers uninsured or underinsured (2023) | 33.4% |
| Usually required by lenders and lessors | Collision and comprehensive |
| What the checklist uses | Your state, loan, car, savings, health cover, passengers, rideshare, rentals and roadside |

## Build your coverage checklist

Interactive tool: https://statecover-guide.com/tools/coverage-checklist/ (works without JavaScript).
## The four questions behind every policy

1. **What does the law require?** Every state but New Hampshire requires liability insurance, and some also require personal injury protection or uninsured motorist coverage. The [state minimum lookup](https://statecover-guide.com/tools/state-minimums/) shows your state's rules.
2. **What could a lawsuit take from you?** Liability pays for injuries and damage you cause. If you have savings, a home or a good income, limits well above the minimum protect them. See [liability coverage](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/liability/).
3. **Could you replace your car?** If not, or if you have a loan or lease, [collision](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/collision/) and [comprehensive](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/comprehensive/) pay to repair or replace it. [Gap insurance](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/gap-insurance/) covers what you still owe after a total loss.
4. **Who pays your medical bills?** Health insurance, [medical payments](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/medical-payments/), [personal injury protection](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/personal-injury-protection/) and [uninsured motorist coverage](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/uninsured-motorist/) each play a part, especially if you carry passengers.

## Coverages people often forget

| Coverage | Who usually needs it |
|---|---|
| Uninsured and underinsured motorist | Almost everyone, because many drivers carry no or too little insurance |
| Gap insurance | Drivers who owe more on a loan or lease than the car is worth |
| Rideshare endorsement | Anyone who drives for Uber, Lyft or a delivery app |
| Rental reimbursement | Households that cannot manage without a car during repairs |
| Roadside assistance | Drivers without an auto club, new-car or credit card roadside program |

## Coverages you might be paying for twice

Look for overlaps. If your credit card, auto club or car maker already gives you roadside help, you may not need roadside coverage on your policy. If you would not use a rental car during repairs, rental reimbursement may not be worth it. On an older car worth little, collision may cost more over a few years than the car is worth. See [reviewing your coverage](https://statecover-guide.com/saving/reviewing-your-coverage/) for a yearly check.

## FAQ

### What car insurance coverage do I really need?

At minimum, what your state requires. Most people also need higher liability limits than the minimum, uninsured motorist coverage, and collision and comprehensive if their car would be hard to replace or is financed.

### Is full coverage worth it on an older car?

It depends on the car's value and your savings. If the yearly cost of collision and comprehensive is a large share of what the car is worth and you could replace it yourself, dropping them can make sense. See [full coverage explained](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/full-coverage/).

### Does my insurance cover a rental car?

Your own policy's coverage often extends to a car you rent for personal use, but limits and rules vary. Check your policy before you rent; see [rental reimbursement and rental cars](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/rental-reimbursement/).

### Do I need uninsured motorist coverage if I have health insurance?

Health insurance pays medical bills, but uninsured motorist coverage can also pay for lost wages, pain and suffering and, in some states, damage to your car. With 15.4% of drivers uninsured, it is worth pricing.

### Does personal car insurance cover driving for Uber or Lyft?

Often not while the app is on. You may need a rideshare endorsement; see [rideshare insurance](https://statecover-guide.com/drivers/rideshare/).

### Is this checklist advice?

No. It is general information based on your answers. A licensed agent can check it against your exact policy and state rules.

## Sources

- [Insurance Research Council, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017–2023 (press release)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250220231032/en) — share of uninsured and underinsured drivers
- [New Hampshire Insurance Department, Automobile Insurance Consumer Frequently Asked Questions](https://mm.nh.gov/files/uploads/nhid/documents/nh-auto-guide.pdf) — New Hampshire's financial responsibility rules