State minimum car insurance

Find the rule that applies to you

Use an official state source, and check its effective date. A friend’s policy in another state is not a reliable checklist. The California insurance guide and Texas insurance guide explain their own jurisdictions; their requirements should not be applied to every US driver. A move is a reason to check again.

Read each part of the limit

A split limit normally separates bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage per accident. Each number answers a different question. Ask your insurer to spell out all three in dollars and identify any other coverage your state requires. Do not add the limits together as though they were one interchangeable pot.

Compare the cost of higher limits

Ask for an otherwise identical quote with higher liability limits. Then compare the price difference and what additional protection it buys. Keep in mind that a claim above your policy limit may leave an amount for you to pay. A licensed insurance professional can help relate that exposure to your circumstances.

Keep state and lender requirements separate

Your loan or lease contract may require protection for the vehicle that is not part of the state’s liability minimum. Make two checklists: the state requirements and the contract requirements. Confirm both before removing coverage. This guide deliberately does not provide a fifty-state limit table that could be mistaken for a current legal determination.

Sources & further reading

Sources checked October 7, 2026. State-specific sources describe their own jurisdiction.

• California Department of Insurance: Automobile insurance
• Texas Department of Insurance: Auto insurance guide

Written by Sherpa Desk. This is general information; it has not received individual professional insurance or legal review.