Do You Need Car Insurance to Register a Car?
Last Updated on August 18, 2020
Most states require that you have a minimum amount of car insurance in order to legally operate a vehicle in the state. But do you need car insurance to register a car? In most states, the answer is yes. However, different states have different requirements, and there are a few exceptions. Below, we’re answering every question you have about insuring your car and vehicle registration.
What Car Insurance Do You Need to Register a Car?
Most states have minimum requirements for liability car insurance. You must have car insurance coverage up to the state-required minimum coverage amounts in the case that you are at-fault in an auto accident. In the states that have this requirement, you will have to show proof of insurance to register your vehicle.
Some states also require you to have uninsured motorist coverage on your vehicle. Uninsured motorist coverage covers your damages and medical expenses in the case that the person at-fault in the accident does not have insurance. This type of coverage also comes into play if there is a hit and run and the at-fault driver cannot be found.
No state requires you to have full coverage car insurance to register your vehicle. Comprehensive and collision coverage are optional types of car insurance that are not mandated by the state. However, your lienholder could require you to have full coverage on your vehicle.
What Do I Need to Bring With Me to Register My Car?
You will need to bring proof of insurance with you to register your car in most states. Proof of insurance should be an insurance identification card. Some states will also allow you to bring in a print out showing that you are covered by insurance. You will need to show the DMV representative your proof of insurance, as well as other required documents such as title, inspection, bill of sale, and tax receipt before they will issue you license plates for your car.
What States Require Proof of Insurance Prior to Registration?
View the table below to see when each state requires proof of insurance and whether or not you can renew registration online.
| State | When Is Proof of Insurance Required? | Do They Allow Online Registration Renewals? |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Before Registration | Yes (Certain Counties) |
| Alaska | Before Registration | Yes |
| Arizona | Before Driving | Yes |
| Arkansas | Before Registration | Yes |
| California | Before Registration | Yes |
| Colorado | Before Registration | Yes |
| Connecticut | Before Registration | Yes |
| Delaware | Before Registration | No |
| Florida | Before Registration | Yes |
| Georgia | Before Registration | Yes (Certain Counties) |
| Hawaii | Before Registration | Yes |
| Idaho | Before Registration | Yes |
| Illinois | Before Registration | Yes |
| Indiana | Before Registration | Yes |
| Iowa | Before Registration | Yes |
| Kansas | Before Registration | Yes |
| Kentucky | Before Registration | Yes |
| Louisiana | Before Registration | Yes |
| Maine | Before Registration | Yes (Certain Towns) |
| Maryland | Before Registration | Yes |
| Massachusetts | Before Registration | Yes |
| Michigan | Before Registration | Yes |
| Minnesota | Before Registration | Yes |
| Mississippi | Before Driving* | Yes (Certain Counties) |
| Missouri | Before Registration | Yes |
| Montana | Before Registration | Yes |
| Nebraska | Before Registration | Yes |
| Nevada | Before Registration | Yes |
| New Hampshire | Not Required* | Yes (Certain Towns) |
| New Jersey | Before Registration | Yes |
| New Mexico | Before Registration | Yes |
| New York | Before Registration | Yes |
| North Carolina | Before Registration | Yes |
| North Dakota | Before Driving | Yes |
| Ohio | Before Registration | Yes |
| Oklahoma | Before Registration | Yes |
| Oregon | Before Registration | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | Before Registration | Yes |
| Rhode Island | Before Registration | Yes |
| South Carolina | Before Registration | Yes |
| South Dakota | Before Registration | Yes |
| Tennessee | Before Driving | Yes (Certain Counties) |
| Texas | Before Registration | Yes |
| Utah | Before Registration | Yes |
| Vermont | Before Registration | Yes |
| Virginia | Before Registration* | Yes |
| Washington | Before Driving | Yes |
| Washington, D.C. | Before Registration | Yes |
| West Virginia | Before Registration | Yes |
| Wisconsin | Before Driving | Yes |
| Wyoming | Before Registration | Yes (Certain Counties) |
| * see "Exceptions" below |
What are the Exceptions?
There are several states that do not require you to show proof of car insurance to register your car. In most of these states, there is still a requirement for financial responsibility that has to be met before you can register your vehicle if you aren’t going to have car insurance.
Mississippi
Mississippi requires you to have car insurance to operate your vehicle, but they do not require that you show this proof when you register your car. However, if you register your car without car insurance and are pulled over or have an accident without car insurance you will pay stiff penalties and could lose your driver’s license.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire does not have a minimum car insurance requirement. However, you do have to show proof of financial responsibility when you register your vehicle. If you are unable to prove that you are financially capable of covering damages and medical expenses in the case of an auto accident, this means that you will need to have car insurance when you register and operate your vehicle.
Virginia
Virginia also does not have a minimum car insurance requirement. However, if you want to operate a vehicle in Virginia without car insurance you will have to pay a $500 fee at the time of vehicle registration and annually thereafter. This fee is not insurance. If you have an accident and you are at-fault, you will still be responsible for the full amount of the damages and medical expenses related to the car wreck.
Can I Cancel Insurance After Registering My Car?
It is not a good idea to cancel your car insurance or allow it to lapse after you register your vehicle. If you are caught driving without car insurance there are hefty penalties and fines that will be charged to you. Most states that have a minimum required car insurance law will suspend or revoke your driver’s license or revoke your car registration if you are found to not have car insurance.
You should not bank on the state not knowing you allowed your car insurance to lapse. Most states have methods in place to monitor car insurance coverage. If your coverage lapses, even if you are not pulled over or have an accident, the state will find out. Once they do, you could have your registration for your vehicle canceled, have to pay fines, and risk your driver’s license.
Minimum Insurance Requirements
Each state has its own required minimum coverage amounts for registering and operating a vehicle in that state. It is important that if you move to a new state you get auto insurance coverage in that state that meets the new state’s legal requirements. In most cases, you cannot simply continue to use your old coverage when you move to a new state.
If you have moved to a new state and are unsure of the minimum insurance requirements, you can contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles or DMV to discover what the requirements are. You can also usually get this information from local car insurance companies. Another option is to simply view the minimum insurance requirements online.
Below, we have compiled the most recent state auto insurance requirements for you. If you see the liability requirements presented in a three number format, i.e. 25/50/25, please know that these numbers are the coverage limits.
The first number, “25,” means $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person. The second number, “50,” means $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident. The third number, “25,” means $25,000 of property damage coverage.
| State | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Liability: 25/50/25 |
| Alaska | Liability: 50/100/25 |
| Arizona | Liability: 15/30/10 |
| Arkansas | Liability: 25/50/25 |
| California | Liability: 15/30/5 |
| Colorado | Liability: 25/50/15 |
| Connecticut | Liability: 25/50/25 |
| UM/UIM BI: 20/40 | |
| Delaware | Liability: 25/50/10 |
| PIP: 15/30 | |
| District of Columbia | Liability: 25/50/10 |
| UM BI: 25/50 | |
| UMPD: $5,000 | |
| Florida | Liability: 10/20/10 |
| PIP: $10,000 | |
| BI liability not required by Florida but many insurers require 10/20 | |
| Georgia | Liability: 25/50/25 |
| Hawaii | Liability: 20/40/10 |
| PIP or PPO: $10,000 | |
| Idaho | Liability: 25/50/15 |
| Illinois | Liability: 25/50/20 |
| UM BI: 25/50 | |
| Indiana | Liability: 25/50/25 |
| Iowa | Liability: 20/40/15 |
| Kansas | Liability: 25/50/25 |
| UM/UIM BI: 25/50 | |
| PIP: $4,500 medical/$900 work loss | |
| Kentucky | Liability: 25/50/25 |
| PIP: $10,000 | |
| Louisiana | Liability: 15/30/25 |
| Maine | Liability: 50/100/25 |
| UM/UIM BI: 50/100 | |
| Medical payments: $2,000 | |
| Maryland | Liability: 30/60/15 |
| UM/UIM BI: 30/60 | |
| UMPD: $15,000 | |
| PIP $2,500 | |
| Massachusetts | Liability: 20/40/5 |
| UM/UIM BI: 20/40 | |
| PIP: $8,000 | |
| Michigan | Liability: 20/40/10 |
| PIP: Medical and work loss | |
| PPI: $1,000,000 | |
| Minnesota | Liability: 30/60/10 |
| UM/UIM BI: 25/50 | |
| PIP: $40,000 | |
| Mississippi | Liability: 25/50/25 |
| Missouri | Liability: 25/50/10 |
| UM BI: 25/50 | |
| Montana | Liability: 25/50/20 |
| Nebraska | Liability: 25/50/25 |
| UM/UIM BI: 25/50 | |
| Nevada | Liability: 25/50/20 |
| New Hampshire | Liability: 25/50/25 |
| UM/UIM BI: 25/50 | |
| Medical payments: $1,000 | |
| *Insurance not required in NH | |
| New Jersey | Liability: 15/30/5 |
| UM/UIM BI: 15/30 | |
| UMPD: $5,000 | |
| PIP: $15,000 | |
| New Mexico | Liability: 25/50/10 |
| New York | Liability: 25/50/10 |
| UM BI: 25/50 | |
| PIP: $50,000 | |
| North Carolina | Liability: 30/60/25 |
| UM BI: 30/60 | |
| UMPD: $25,000 | |
| North Dakota | Liability: 25/50/25 |
| UM/UIM BI: 25/50 | |
| PIP: $30,000 | |
| Ohio | Liability: 25/50/25 |
| Oklahoma | Liability: 25/50/25 |
| Oregon | Liability: 25/50/20 |
| UM BI: 25/50 | |
| PIP: $15,000 | |
| Pennsylvania | Liability: 15/30/5 |
| First party benefits (PIP): $5,000 | |
| Rhode Island | Liability: 25/50/25 |
| South Carolina | Liability: 25/50/25 |
| UM BI: 25/50 | |
| UMPD: $25,000 | |
| South Dakota | Liability: 25/50/25 |
| UM/UIM BI: 25/50 | |
| Tennessee | Liability: 25/50/15 |
| Texas | Liability: 30/60/25 |
| Utah | Liability: 25/65/15 |
| PIP: $3,000 | |
| Vermont | Liability: 25/50/10 |
| UM/UIM BI: 50/100 | |
| UMPD: $10,000 | |
| Virginia | Liability: 25/50/20 |
| UM/UIM BI: 25/50 | |
| UMPD: $20,000 | |
| Washington | Liability: 25/50/10 |
| West Virginia | Liability: 25/50/25 |
| UM BI: 25/50 | |
| UMPD: $25,000 | |
| Wisconsin | Liability: 25/50/10 |
| UM BI: 25/50 | |
| Wyoming | Liability: 25/50/20 |
| Guide | BI liability: Bodily injury liability PIP: Personal injury protection UM: Uninsured motorist coverage UIM: Underinsured motorist coverage UM BI: Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage UMPD: Uninsured motorist property damage coverage PPI: Property protection insurance (MI) |
Final Word – Do You Need Insurance to Register Your Vehicle?
Generally speaking, you do need auto insurance coverage before registering your vehicle at your state’s DMV/RMV. There are a few exceptions to this rule, most notably New Hampshire, which does not require auto insurance coverage to begin with. More often than not, however, you will need to purchase auto insurance coverage prior to registering your vehicle.
To make sure you meet your state’s auto insurance requirements, speak to an insurance agent today. Any licensed insurance carrier in your state will be able to equip you with an insurance policy that allows you to register your vehicle hassle-free.
