Virtually all states within the U.S. have laws governing the minimum amount of auto insurance coverage you must have. In the states that don't, have financial responsibility laws that state you have to be able to furnish proof of the ability to pay for both bodily and property damage resulting from an auto accident up to a certain minimum amount.

The chart below indicates the mandatory minimum requirements state by state. The second first figure is the minimum amount of coverage required for all people injured in an accident. The first figure is the limit for one individual and the third is for property damage. All figures are 1000's $.

So, taking Alaska as an example, the minimum coverage is $100,000 for all persons injured in an accident up to a limit of $50,000 for one individual and $25,000 for property damage.

• Alabama 25/50/25
• Alaska 50/100/25
• Arizona 15/30/10
• Arkansas 25/50/25
• California 15/30/5
• Colorado 25/50/15
• Connecticut 20/40/10
• Delaware 15/30/10
• D.C. 25/50/10
• Florida 10/20/10
• Georgia 25/50/25
• Hawaii 20/40/10
• Idaho 25/50/15
• Illinois 20/40/15
• Indiana 25/50/10
• Iowa 20/40/15
• Kansas 25/50/10
• Kentucky 25/50/10
• Louisiana 10/20/10
• Maine 50/100/25
• Maryland 20/40/15
• Massachusetts 20/40/5
• Michigan 20/40/10
• Minnesota 30/60/10
• Mississippi 25/50/25
• Missouri 25/50/10
• Montana 25/50/10
• Nebraska 25/50/25
• Nevada 15/30/10
• New Hampshire 25/50/25 Financial Responsibility only
• New Jersey 15/30/10
• New Mexico 25/50/10
• New York 25/50/10
• North Carolina 30/60/25
• North Dakota 25/50/25
• Ohio 12.5/25/7.5
• Oklahoma 25/50/25
• Oregon 25/50/10
• Pennsylvania 15/30/5
• Rhode Island 25/50/25
• South Carolina 25/50/25
• South Dakota 25/50/25
• Tennessee 25/50/10
• Texas 25/50/25
• Utah 25/50/15
• Vermont 25/50/10
• Virginia 25/50/20
• Washington 25/50/10
• West Virginia 20/40/10
• Wisconsin 25/50/10 Financial Responsibility only
• Wyoming 25/50/20

It must be stressed that these figures are the minimum required by law. It is generally recognized that more realistic figures would be $300,000 bodily injury protection per accident and $100,000 per person.

 

Other options are available to increase your coverage. These include -

Uninsured Motorist Coverage This coverage will pay you for bodily injury and property damage that you suffer as a result of an accident caused by an uninsured driver.

Underinsured Motorist Coverage This coverage pays you for bodily injury and property damage that you suffer as a result of an accident caused by a driver who has insurance but whose coverage is less than your uninsured motorist coverage.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) This coverage (sometimes known as "no-fault" coverage) is for injuries that you and others may sustain in an auto accident irrespective of who caused the accident. It covers the cost of hospital and medical expenses incurred in treating injuries and other incidental expenses such as lost wages.

Collision Coverage Coverage to pay for damages caused to your vehicle when involved in a collision with another vehicle or object.

Comprehensive Coverage This pays for damage to your vehicle that is not the result of a collision, such as fire, theft, vandalism and flooding.