Uninsured Motorists
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UNINSURED MOTORISTS
About 14.6 percent of motorists were uninsured in 2004, according to a 2006 survey by the Insurance Research Council.
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STATES WITH LOWEST AND HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF UNINSURED MOTORISTS BY STATE, 2004
Lowest |
Percent |
Highest |
Percent |
| Maine | 4% | Mississippi | 26% |
| Massachusetts | 6 | Alabama | 25 |
| Vermont | 6 | California | 25 |
| New York | 7 | New Mexico | 24 |
| Nebraska | 8 | Arizona | 22 |
| Source: Insurance Research Council. |
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AUTOMOBILE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LIMITS AND ENFORCEMENT BY STATE
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Proof of insurance required (1) |
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State |
Insurance required (2) |
Minimum liability limits (3) |
At registration |
At time of accident |
At all times in vehicle |
Insurer verification of insurance (4) |
| AL | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/25* | Yes | Yes | Yes | c |
| AK | BI & PD Liab | 50/100/25 | No | No (5) | Yes | b |
| AZ | BI & PD Liab | 15/30/10 | No (6) | Yes | Yes | a,b,d |
| AR | BI & PD Liab, PIP | 25/50/25 | Yes | No | No | b,d |
| CA | BI & PD Liab | 15/30/5 (7) | Yes | Yes | Yes | a,b,d |
| CO | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/15 | Yes | Yes | Yes | a,d |
| CT | BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM | 20/40/10 | Yes | Yes | Yes | a |
| DE | BI & PD Liab, PIP | 15/30/10 | No | Yes | Yes | b,c,d |
| DC | BI & PD Liab, UM | 25/50/10 | Yes | Yes | Yes | a,c |
| FL | PD Liab, PIP | 10/20/10 (8) | Yes | Yes | Yes | a,d |
| GA | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/25 | Yes | Yes | Yes | a,d |
| HI | BI & PD Liab, PIP | 20/40/10 | No | Yes | Yes | a |
| ID | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/15 | No | Yes | Yes | none |
| IL | BI & PD Liab, UM | 20/40/15 | Yes | Yes | Yes | b,c |
| IN | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/10 | Yes | Yes | No | a |
| IA | BI & PD Liab | 20/40/15 | No | Yes | Yes | a |
| KS | BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM | 25/50/10 | Yes | No | No | a |
| KY | BI & PD Liab, PIP | 25/50/10 | Yes | Yes | Yes | a,d |
| LA | BI & PD Liab | 10/20/10 | Yes | No (5) | Yes | a,d |
| ME | BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM | 50/100/25 (9) | No | Yes | Yes | a,b |
| MD | BI & PD Liab, PIP (10), UM | 20/40/15 | Yes | No | No | a |
| MA | BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM | 20/40/5 | Yes | No | No | a,d |
| MI | BI & PD Liab, PIP | 20/40/10 | Yes | No | No | a |
| MN | BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM, UIM | 30/60/10 | No | Yes | Yes | c |
| MS | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/25 | No | Yes | Yes | a |
| MO | BI & PD Liab, UM | 25/50/10 | Yes | Yes | Yes | a,d |
| MT | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/10 | No | Yes | Yes | a |
| NE | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/25 | Yes | Yes | Yes | a,b |
| NV | BI & PD Liab | 15/30/10 | No | Yes | Yes | a,d |
| NH | FR only, UM | 25/50/25 | No | No (5) | No | None |
| NJ | BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM | 15/30/5 (11) | No | Yes | Yes | a,d |
| NM | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/10 | Yes | No | No | a,c,d |
| NY | BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM | 25/50/10 (12) | Yes | Yes | Yes | a,d |
| NC | BI & PD Liab | 30/60/25 | No | No | No | a,d |
| ND | BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM | 25/50/25 | No | No (5) | No | c |
| OH | BI & PD Liab | 12.5/25/7.5 | No | Yes | Yes | a (13),c |
| OK | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/25 | Yes | Yes | Yes | a,d** |
| OR | BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM | 25/50/10 | No | Yes | Yes | a,c |
| PA | BI & PD Liab, PIP | 15/30/5 | No | Yes | Yes | a |
| RI | BI & PD Liab, UM | 25/50/25 (8) | No | No | No | c |
| SC | BI & PD Liab, UM | 25/50/25 | Yes | Yes | Yes | a,d |
| SD | BI & PD Liab, UM | 25/50/25 | No | Yes | Yes | a |
| TN | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/10 (8) | No | No | Yes | a |
| TX | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/25*** | Yes | Yes | No | d |
| UT | BI & PD Liab, PIP | 25/50/15 (8) | No | Yes | Yes | d |
| VT | BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM | 25/50/10 | No | Yes | Yes | c |
| VA | BI & PD Liab, UM | 25/50/20 | No | No | No | a,b,c,d |
| WA | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/10 | No | No | No | a |
| WV | BI & PD Liab, UM | 20/40/10 | Yes | Yes | Yes | a |
| WI | FR only, UM | 25/50/10 | No | No | No | a |
| WY | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/20 | Yes | Yes | Yes | c,d* |
(1) Physical proof of valid insurance. The form of evidence varies by state and may take the form of an insurance policy, binder, certificate of self-insurance, surety bonds or certificate of deposit. Many states require insurance identification cards issued by the insurer. "No" in the "At Registration" column indicates that no physical proof of insurance is required, or that the state only requires the driver to identify the insurer and/or policy number on an application (i. e., "self-certification"). "Yes" in the "At all times" column indicates states where drivers must produce proof on demand.
(2) Compulsory Coverages:
BI Liab=Bodily injury liability
PD Liab=Property damage liability
UM=Uninsured motorist
PD=Physical damage
Med=First party (policyholder) medical expenses
UIM=Underinsured motorist
PIP=Personal Injury Protection. Mandatory in no-fault states. Includes medical, rehabilitation, loss of earnings and funeral expenses. In some states PIP includes essential services such as child care.
FR=Financial responsibility only. Insurance not compulsory.
(3) The first two numbers refer to bodily injury liability limits and the third number to property liability. For example, 20/40/10 means coverage up to $40,000 for all persons injured in an accident, subject to a limit of $20,000 for one individual, and $10,000 coverage for property damage.
(4) a. Insurer must notify Department of Motor Vehicles or other state agency of cancellation or nonrenewal.
b. Insurer must verify financial responsibility or insurance after an accident or arrest.
c. Insurer must verify randomly selected insurance policies upon request.
d. Insurers must submit entire list of insurance in effect, which may be compared with registrations at a state agency. Also known as a computer data law.
Also includes cases where insurers are required to report new issues and/or renewals.
(5) Insured must provide evidence of insurance at some point after the accident to the Department of Insurance, other state agency, or law enforcement officer. Deadlines vary among the states.
(6) Proof of insurance must be presented within 30 days of registration.
(7) Low-cost policy limits for low-income drivers in the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan are 10/20/3.
(8) Instead of policy limits, policyholders can satisfy the requirement with a combined single limit policy. Amounts vary by state.
(9) In addition, policyholders must also carry at least $1,000 for medical payments.
(10) May be waived for the policyholder but is compulsory for passengers.
(11) Basic policy (optional) limits are 10/10/5. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverge not available under the basic policy but uninsured motorist coverage is required under the standard policy.
(12) In addition, policyholders must have 50/100 for wrongful death coverage.
(13) For high risk drivers only.
*Effective for new business on or after August 30, 2008 and for renewal policies on or after November 28, 2008.
**The system must be operational by July 1, 2008.
***Minimum coverage requirements will increase to 30/60/30 on January 1, 2011.
Source: Property Casualty Insurers Association of America; state departments of insurance and motor vehicles. |
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