Autism and driving: Car insurance

Find out what your state requires

Car insurance policy

What is it?

Car insurance, also known as automobile/auto insurance or vehicle insurance, is a contract with an insurance company to protect drivers against financial loss in the event of a car accident, theft or injury. It ensures that every driver who could potentially cause an accident has insurance to cover a minimum level of costs for any injury and damage. It holds drivers accountable for the risk that comes with driving a vehicle.

Are you required to get it?

Almost every state requires licensed drivers to have some level of car insurance if they are going to operate a car. The level required typically depends on whether the licensed driver owns a car or not. 

For additional related information including how and when you can get a driver's license in your state, check out Autism drives.

If you own a car or are looking to buy a car, your state will have a minimum level of coverage you must carry in your car insurance policy. 

If you don’t own a car, you aren’t legally required to have car insurance. But in most states you need to show proof that you are covered to drive a car if you are pulled over or get into an accident. So, for instance, if you live with someone who has a car and drive it or borrow a friend's car, their car insurance policy must show that additional drivers are covered.  in some states you may rent a car without car insurance, but you must show proof of financial responsibility in the case of an accident.

Scroll below to find your state and learn about your state's auto insurance requirements. 

What kind of car insurance do you need? 

Your state will determine the kind of car insurance coverage you must get, and the minimum insurance required. You will be able to get one policy to cover the requirements. Typical coverage pays for damage to you and your car, other coverage pays for damage you cause to other drivers and their cars. Common types are:

  • Bodily injury (BI) liability: If you cause an accident with another driver or pedestrian, bodily injury liability helps pay for injuries and related expenses you cause to others in an accident. Those expenses can include: medical expenses, legal fees, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering and lost income. 
  • Property damage (PD) liability: Property damage liability coverage is designed to pay for the repair or replacement of another person's property if you're at fault in an accident. For example, if you hit another vehicle on the road, your property damage liability insurance could help pay for the other vehicle’s repairs. If you hit someone's mailbox, it could pay for a replacment mailbox and installation. It can also cover legal fees.
  • Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM): Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage offer financial protection in the event that you get into an accident with a driver who is uninsured or does not have enough coverage to pay for your losses.
  • Personal injury protection coverage (PIP): Personal injury protection is a requirement in states that have no-fault laws. (Check Liberty Mutual for a list of no-fault insurance states.) If you're injured in an auto accident, you would file a claim with your own insurance company to pay for related medical costs. PIP can pay for your medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation costs and related expenses, regardless of who caused the accident. This coverage can also be purchased in some at-fault states.
  • Medical payments coverage (MedPay): Medical payments coverage helps pay for medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident may help pay your medical expenses following an accident. It is typically not as robust as PIP. A few states require drivers to carry MedPay coverage. Otherwise, it can be an optional add-on to a car insurance policy.

How do you get car insurance?

To get car insurance you need to contact an insurance company who will set you up with a policy. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (naic.org), the top car insurance companies in the United States are: State Farm, Progressive, Geico, Allstate and USAA. But there are dozens of others which can be found on the agency's website. Additionally, you can check out Forbes Best Car Insurance Companies, where you can compare rates, and similar rankings and comparisons from Car & Driver. You can also check with the American Automobile Association, or AAA (said as Triple-A by many) and have them help you source rates.

Insurance companies will not give you a policy with less coverage than the state-mandated minimum coverage level. But you can always purchase more coverage than required if you want additional financial protection. For instance, you may want more protection if you live in an area with a high rate of accidents or car theft.  It is recommended that you get quotes for multiple coverage levels before choosing your state’s minimum-required insurance, so you can find the coverage you need at an affordable price. 

Click on your state below to find out what car insurance you must have:

Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | District of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Puerto Rico | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming

Note: Auto insurance requirements are listed as bodily injury liability limits per person / per accident / property damage. For example 25/50/25 signifies a $25,000 bodily injury liability limit per person / a $50,000 bodily injury liability limit per accident / a $25,000 liability limit for property damage. Some states require additional insurance to cover underinsured motorists (UIM), uninsured motorists (UM), personal injury protection (PIP), and medical payments (MedPay).

Source: Bankrate

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

  • New Hampshire auto insurance requirements
  • Minimum liability coverage: New Hampshire does not require car insurance, but these are the minimum limits if you buy a policy to satisfy the financial responsibility law: 25/50/25
  • Additional requirements: 25/50 UM and $1,000 MedPay
     

New Jersey

  • New Jersey auto insurance requirements
  • Minimum liability coverage: 25/50/25
  • Additional requirements: 25/50 UM/UIM and $15,000 PIP
  • Note: New Jersey’s minimum limits will increase in January 2026 to 35/70/25 for liability and 35/70 for UM/UIM.
     

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Puerto Rico

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

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