This report identifies the states that require drivers to purchase auto liability insurance, uninsured

motorist coverage, or underinsured motorist coverage. For the states that require auto liability

insurance, it also lists the minimum amount of required bodily injury and property damage

coverage. (This report updates and replaces OLR Report 2017-R-0050.)

insurance, it allows motorists to register an uninsured car for a higher fee.)

Auto liability insurance generally pays another driver’s medical, vehicle repair, and other costs when

the policyholder is the at-fault driver in an accident. It typically covers (1) bodily injury per person

and per accident and (2) property damage. Connecticut requires a driver to carry minimum liability

coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 per

accident for property damage (CGS § 14-112).

The following 19 jurisdictions also require drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage (UM), which

compensates policyholders when another driver who is at fault for the accident has no auto liability

Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon,

South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Additionally, the following 14 states require drivers to carry underinsured motorist coverage (UIM),

which compensates a policyholder when the at-fault driver has an insufficient amount of auto

liability insurance: Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New

York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, and Virginia.

Table 1 lists the minimum auto insurance liability limits required in each jurisdiction.

Table 1 (continued)

Table 1 (continued)