US State Minimum Insurance Limits: How to Research Them

Where to research state minimums — sources ranked by reliability

Why state minimums change — and how to catch updates

State legislatures set minimum liability limits and can revise them at any time. The pace of change has accelerated recently: California raised its minimums in 2025 for the first time since 1967. North Carolina, Utah, and Virginia also raised theirs in 2025. New Jersey moved its limits upward in 2026. This means coverage that was legally adequate last year may now sit below the new minimum — or conversely, your insurer may have auto-adjusted your policy to the new minimum at renewal, slightly raising your premium.

The most reliable way to catch changes is to check your state's Department of Insurance website directly when your policy renews, or subscribe to your state DOI's news releases.

How to read state minimum limits

State minimums are almost always quoted in a three-number format: X/Y/Z, where each number is in thousands of dollars. For example:

1. 25/50/25: $25,000 bodily injury per person; $50,000 bodily injury per accident; $25,000 property damage per accident.
2. 50/100/50: $50,000 bodily injury per person; $100,000 per accident; $50,000 property damage.
3. 30/60/15: California's current minimum — $30,000 per person; $60,000 per accident; $15,000 property damage.

The first two numbers are your liability to other people's bodies; the third number is your liability to other people's property. These amounts are what your insurer pays on your behalf when you are at-fault — they do not pay anything toward your own injuries or vehicle unless you have added collision, comprehensive, MedPay, or PIP to your policy.

States with additional mandatory coverage beyond liability

About a dozen states require coverage beyond the basic three-number liability structure:

1. PIP (Personal Injury Protection): required in 'no-fault' states including Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, and Utah. PIP pays your own medical bills regardless of fault.
2. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage: required in around 20 states. If an uninsured driver hits you, UM coverage on your own policy pays for your injuries. Some states also require underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage.
3. MedPay: required in Maine and a handful of others; similar to PIP but usually more limited in scope.

Step-by-step: how to research your state's current minimum

1. Search for '[your state name] department of insurance' on any search engine. Click the official .gov site.
2. Look for a 'consumers' or 'auto insurance' section — most state DOIs have a dedicated page listing minimum coverage requirements.
3. Cross-check on the NAIC consumer site (content.naic.org/consumer.htm) for a standardised multi-state view.
4. If you want a side-by-side comparison, Bankrate and NerdWallet both publish up-to-date tables and note any recent changes.
5. Finally, log in to your insurer's portal or read your declarations page to confirm what limits you currently carry and compare to the new minimum.

Minimum vs recommended: closing the gap

Understanding the legal minimum is only the first step. Minimums reflect what states legally require, not what adequately protects you financially. Illustrative scenarios show the gap:

1. A single-vehicle collision sending two people to hospital for two days each can easily produce medical bills of $80,000–$150,000. A 25/50 liability limit leaves you personally responsible for anything above $50,000 across the two people.
2. Replacing a late-model car after a collision averages $35,000–$55,000. A $15,000 property damage minimum leaves you personally liable for the remainder.
3. If you are sued and a court awards damages above your liability limits, those amounts come from your personal assets.

When you move between states

If you move to a new state, you typically have 30–90 days to re-register your vehicle and update your insurance to the new state's requirements. Your existing policy may not meet the new state's minimums, especially if you move from a low-minimum state to a high-minimum one (for example, from Florida to Virginia). Notify your insurer of the move immediately — driving in the new state without conforming coverage can expose you to both registration suspension and gaps in protection.