How Much Car Insurance Do I Need?

You need enough liability insurance to cover the full value of your assets. Your bodily injury liability coverage should be as much as your net worth, while your property damage liability insurance can be slightly lower since property damage claims are usually less expensive. Purchasing enough liability insurance to cover the value of your assets protects you from financial ruin if you cause a serious car accident.

When to Carry Only the Minimum Liability Coverage

Although almost every state requires drivers to carry liability insurance, the minimum coverage is not always enough to cover the cost of an accident. It's always best to carry as much liability coverage as you can afford, especially if you have a high net worth.

If you don't have many assets or think the risk is worth it, you might be comfortable with carrying only the minimum coverage. But no matter what, make sure you're carrying enough insurance to comply with state law and avoid paying fines for driving uninsured.

Liability Limits on Auto Insurance

Liability limits on auto insurance are the maximum amount that your insurance company will pay for injuries and property damage in accidents that you cause. Liability limits are typically written as three numbers divided by slashes.

For example, Arizona's liability coverage requirements are 50/30/10. That means drivers need to carry $50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident, and $10,000 in property damage liability coverage overall.

Why You Need More Liability Insurance Than the State Minimum

Your insurance company will never pay for anything beyond the limits of your policy. Using the Arizona example, if you cause an accident that leads to $70,000 in medical bills for the other driver, you will have to pay for $40,000 if you are only carrying the minimum insurance required. And if you can't afford to pay the full amount, the other driver can sue, and you can have your assets seized or wages garnished to cover the remainder.

A 100/300 policy is an insurance policy that includes bodily injury liability coverage limits of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. A 100/300 policy is generally recommended for drivers who can afford it, since it offers more protection against serious accidents than the insurance required by most states.

It's important to note that the 100/300 insurance notation does not include property damage liability insurance, which is required in nearly every state in order to pay for property damage that you cause in an accident. Many states also require other types of insurance in addition to liability coverage, including personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Although bodily injury liability insurance of 100/300 is recommended for most drivers, you should consider purchasing even higher limits or a personal umbrella policy if you have a particularly high net worth. Additionally, bodily injury liability insurance will only pay for other people's injuries if you cause an accident, not your own. In order to cover your own medical expenses after a wreck, you'll need to purchase PIP or medical payments coverage.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to liability insurance.

The three types of car insurance that are universally offered are liability, comprehensive, and collision insurance. Drivers can still purchase other types of auto insurance coverage, like personal injury protection and uninsured/underinsured motorist, but they are not available in every state.

3 Major Types of Car Insurance 

1. Liability insurance

Liability car insurance is coverage that pays for other people's expenses after accidents that you cause, and there are two components of it. Property damage liability insurance pays for any damage that you cause to someone's property, and bodily injury liability insurance pays for their medical bills.

Liability coverage is the most common type of car insurance. It is required in almost every state.

2. Comprehensive insurance

Comprehensive car insurance pays to repair or replace your vehicle when it is damaged by something other than an accident, such as vandalism or a natural disaster. It is not required in any state, but it is usually mandatory for vehicles that are leased or financed.  

3. Collision insurance

Collision insurance is a type of car insurance that covers damage to your vehicle that is caused by an accident, regardless of who was at fault. It is not required in any state, but it's usually mandatory for vehicles that are leased or financed.  

Other Types of Car Insurance

 In addition to the 3 major types of car insurance – liability, collision and comprehensive – there are several other types of coverage that are less frequently required but still helpful in the right situation, including:

• Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Pays for several different medical-related expenses after an accident, including loss of income and child care.
• Medical Payments (MedPay) Coverage: Covers medical bills after an accident.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance: Pays for your vehicle repairs and medical bills if you are involved in an accident with someone who doesn't have enough insurance coverage.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to the different types of car insurance.

You need at least the minimum amount of property damage liability coverage required in your state, for starters. But because many states have low minimum insurance requirements, it's advisable to get as much coverage as you can afford, and to purchase limits that are equal to your net worth at the very least. Property damage liability pays for damage to other people's property after you are at-fault in an accident, so you will be financially responsible for any expenses beyond your policy limits.

The average property damage liability claim is around $4,000, but it's best to consider a worst-case scenario when deciding on your coverage limits. For example, a new car costs nearly $36,000 on average. So if you total someone else's new car but are only carrying $4,000 in property damage coverage, you will be personally responsible for $32,000. The not-at-fault party can sue you for this sum, and in some states your wages can even be garnished.

Because of the risk posed by expensive accidents, you should also consider your assets when choosing policy limits. For instance, if your net worth is $100,000, it's recommended that you purchase $100,000 in property damage liability coverage. Otherwise, the other driver might be able to take your assets in a lawsuit. And if your net worth is particularly high, you can supplement these limits with an umbrella policy.

On the other hand, if your net worth is low, you are less likely to be sued for damages. In this case, it might be worth choosing lower coverage limits in return for lower premiums. However, purchasing higher limits is not that much more expensive than buying the minimum coverage, and the benefits can be well worth it down the road.

You need $1,000 or $2,000 in medical payments (MedPay) coverage in the two states that require it: Maine and New Hampshire. If MedPay is optional in your state, the exact amount of MedPay that you need depends on a few factors, including what other types of insurance you have and how robust your emergency fund is. Even if you have overlapping coverage, like personal injury protection (PIP) or health insurance, MedPay is generally a good investment because it is inexpensive and complements other types of insurance.  

How Much MedPay You Need by State

• New Hampshire: $1,000+ for drivers who choose to purchase coverage
• Maine: $2,000+
• Other States: optional

Medical payments coverage pays for your medical expenses after an accident regardless of who was at fault, so it usually overlaps with PIP and standard health insurance. But MedPay can also cover deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance expenses that come with other types of coverage, so it can help you avoid additional costs if you're severely injured in an accident.

What to Consider Before Purchasing Medical Payments Coverage

When deciding how much MedPay you want to purchase, you should consider what types of coverage you already have and their associated costs. For example, if you have a high deductible health insurance policy, MedPay can help you reduce your out-of-pocket medical expenses after an accident. And if you live in a state that requires PIP, MedPay can be used as a backup in case your policy limits are exhausted by severe injuries.

In addition to existing coverage (and state laws for those in Maine and New Hampshire), you should consider your financial situation when deciding whether or not to purchase MedPay. If you have a lot saved up for a rainy day, for instance, then it's probably fine to skip the additional coverage. But considering that MedPay often costs less than $10 per month, the added peace of mind is usually worth the minor investment.   

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to medical payments coverage.

You should have $2,500 to $30,000 in PIP coverage per person in states that require personal injury protection (PIP), though exact requirements vary by state. Even if it's not mandatory in your state, you should purchase as much PIP coverage as you can comfortably afford.

Personal injury protection pays for your medical expenses after an accident, regardless of who was at fault. As a result, purchasing higher limits can better protect you against hefty expenses that may result from injuries.

What to Consider Before Purchasing PIP Coverage

When deciding how much PIP to purchase, you should consider how much coverage you can afford as well as the coverage offered by any health insurance that you have. If you have a reliable health insurance policy, you may be able to purchase lower PIP limits, since the coverage overlaps in some areas.

However, you should keep in mind that PIP also covers certain long-term expenses that don't typically fall under health insurance, like lost income and household services. Additionally, PIP can help cover the deductibles and copays that you're typically required to pay with health insurance, so you'll have fewer out-of-pocket costs.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to personal injury protection.

In California, drivers need $15,000 of bodily injury liability insurance per person, up to $30,000 per accident, and $5,000 of property damage liability insurance. California does not require uninsured motorist protection, which replaces the liability coverage an at-fault driver should've had and pays for your costs up to your policy limits. Coverage like MedPay or personal injury protection pays for medical expenses for you and your passengers, and MedPay is optional in California. PIP is not available.

Here's How Much Car Insurance Drivers Need in California:

If you lease or finance your car, you may be required to carry coverage types that are not mandatory under California law. Lenders usually require comprehensive and collision insurance. Collision insurance covers repairs to your car when you hit another car or object. If the damage to your vehicle was caused by something other than a collision—like a natural disaster, vandalism, falling objects, or animals—it is most likely covered by comprehensive insurance. You might also have to get gap insurance, which covers the difference between what you owe on your loan and what the vehicle is worth at the time of a total loss.

Even if you're not required to carry these optional coverage types, you may still need them. You can learn more about when to drop optional coverage and the penalties for driving without insurance in California to make sure you're paying for the coverage you need.

In Florida, drivers need $10,000 of property damage liability insurance and $10,000 of personal injury protection. Florida does not require uninsured motorist protection, which replaces the liability coverage an at-fault driver should've had and pays for your costs up to your policy limits. Coverage like MedPay or personal injury protection pays for medical expenses for you and your passengers, and PIP is required in Florida.

Here's How Much Car Insurance Drivers Need in Florida:

If you lease or finance your car, you may be required to carry coverage types that are not mandatory under Florida law. Lenders usually require comprehensive and collision insurance. Collision insurance covers repairs to your car when you hit another car or object. If the damage to your vehicle was caused by something other than a collision—like a natural disaster, vandalism, falling objects, or animals—it is most likely covered by comprehensive insurance. You might also have to get gap insurance, which covers the difference between what you owe on your loan and what the vehicle is worth at the time of a total loss.

Even if you're not required to carry these optional coverage types, you may still need them. You can learn more about when to drop optional coverage and the penalties for driving without insurance in Florida to make sure you're paying for the coverage you need.

In Texas, drivers need $30,000 of bodily injury liability insurance per person, up to$ 60,000 per accident, and $25,000 of property damage liability insurance. Texas does not require uninsured motorist protection, which replaces the liability coverage an at-fault driver should've had and pays for your costs up to your policy limits. Coverage like MedPay or personal injury protection pays for medical expenses for you and your passengers, and both are optional in Texas.

Here's How Much Car Insurance Drivers Need in Texas:

If you lease or finance your car, you may be required to carry coverage types that are not mandatory under Texas law. Lenders usually require comprehensive and collision insurance. Collision insurance covers repairs to your car when you hit another car or object. If the damage to your vehicle was caused by something other than a collision—like a natural disaster, vandalism, falling objects, or animals—it is most likely covered by comprehensive insurance. You might also have to get gap insurance, which covers the difference between what you owe on your loan and what the vehicle is worth at the time of a total loss.

Even if you're not required to carry these optional coverage types, you may still need them. You can learn more about when to drop optional coverage and the penalties for driving without insurance in Texas to make sure you're paying for the coverage you need.

In New York, drivers need $25,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per person ($50,000 per accident) and $10,000 in property damage liability insurance. New York drivers also need to purchase $50,000 per person ($100,000 per accident) in bodily injury liability insurance for death. This coverage applies specifically to accidents where the policyholder causes someone else's death.

Besides liability insurance, New York law requires uninsured motorist protection, which replaces the liability coverage an at-fault driver should've had and pays for your medical bills up to your policy limits. New York drivers also need to buy personal injury protection, which pays for medical expenses for you and your passengers regardless of who was at-fault. MedPay, a similar type of coverage, is not available in New York.

How Much Car Insurance Drivers Need in New York

Car Insurance for a Leased or Financed Car in New York

If you lease or finance your car, you may be required to carry coverage types that are not mandatory under New York law.

Lenders usually require comprehensive and collision insurance. Collision insurance covers repairs to your car when you hit another car or object. If the damage to your vehicle was caused by something other than a collision—like a natural disaster, vandalism, falling objects, or animals—it is most likely covered by comprehensive insurance.

You might also have to get gap insurance, which covers the difference between what you owe on your loan and what the vehicle is worth at the time of a total loss.

Even if you're not required to carry these optional coverage types, you may still need them. You can learn more about when to drop optional coverage and the penalties for driving without insurance in New York to make sure you're paying for the coverage you need.