Car insurance in the US is regulated state by state, so what you’re legally required to carry depends on where your car is registered. Almost everywhere the requirement is liability insurance — coverage for the harm you cause to other people and their property. Here’s how the minimums work, what changed recently, and why “minimum” and “enough” aren’t the same thing.
How the numbers work: 25/50/25
Minimum liability is written as three numbers, like 25/50/25. They’re limits in thousands of dollars:
- $25,000 bodily injury per person (~₱1,525,000 at ≈₱61 = US$1)
- $50,000 bodily injury per accident (~₱3,050,000)
- $25,000 property damage (~₱1,525,000)
Every state sets its own trio. Every state except New Hampshire requires at least liability coverage to drive legally (and even NH requires you to prove you can pay for damage you cause).
States that raised their minimums in 2025
Several states lifted long-stale minimums recently:
- California went from 15/30/5 to 30/60/15 on January 1, 2025 — its first increase since 1967.
- North Carolina rose to 50/100/50 on July 1, 2025, giving it one of the highest property-damage floors.
- Utah moved to 30/65/25, and Virginia to 50/100/25.
At the top end, states like Alaska, Maine, North Carolina, and Virginia require $50,000/$100,000 (~₱3,050,000 / ₱6,100,000) in bodily-injury limits. At the other end, Florida requires only $10,000 (~₱610,000) in personal-injury protection plus $10,000 property damage — and no bodily-injury liability at all.
No-fault states
About a dozen states — Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Utah — use a no-fault system. There, your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) pays your medical costs after a crash regardless of who caused it, so the required coverage mix looks different from a traditional liability-only state.
Why the minimum often isn’t enough
The legal minimum is exactly that — a floor. One serious crash can generate medical and repair bills that blow past a 25/50/25 policy, and anything above your limit comes out of your own pocket. That’s why many drivers carry higher liability limits, plus collision and comprehensive for their own car. If you’re weighing how much cover to buy, our guide on whether comprehensive insurance is worth it works through the same trade-off.
Don’t let it lapse
Whatever limits you choose, a lapse in coverage is its own problem: most states require proof of insurance to keep your registration valid, so an unpaid premium can quietly put your car off the road. See how US registration renewal ties to insurance, and our universal guide to never missing a renewal.
How Kotselog helps
Enter your policy’s renewal date once and Kotselog reminds you early — well before it lapses — alongside your registration and maintenance, wherever you drive. See the insurance renewal feature, or open the app and add your vehicle.
Insurance minimums and rules vary by state and change over time — always confirm current requirements with your state’s insurance department or DMV.
Frequently asked questions
What does 25/50/25 mean on a car insurance policy?
Those are liability limits in thousands of dollars: $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 property damage. It's the coverage you carry for harm you cause to others — not for your own car.
Which state doesn't require car insurance?
New Hampshire is the only state that doesn't require liability insurance for most drivers, though you must still prove you can cover damages you cause. Every other state mandates at least minimum liability coverage.
Is the state minimum enough coverage?
Often not. Minimums are a legal floor, and a single serious crash can cause medical and repair bills far above them — leaving you personally liable for the rest. Many drivers carry higher limits for that reason.
How Kotselog helps: Track every policy expiry and get reminded before your coverage ever lapses. See the insurance feature →
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