Auto coverage · United States
Car Insurance
US car insurance is regulated state by state, not federally — so the same driver faces different mandatory coverages, minimum limits, and reinstatement filings in each state. DigiCare covers the auto cases most sites skip: drivers without a car, DUI-related FR-44 filings, SR-22 reinstatement, and newly arrived immigrants building US driving history.
Every state figure here comes from that state's Department of Insurance or DMV, plus NAIC and the Insurance Information Institute — never from a carrier or a comparison site.
In this section
- Non-owner car insurance
- FR-44 in Florida
- FR-44 in Virginia
- Car insurance for new immigrants
- SR-22 filings by state
- Temporary car insurance
Where to go next
The auto situations the big comparison sites skip past.
Non-owner car insurance
Wave 2For drivers with a licence but no car — you borrow, rent, or need proof of insurance to reinstate a suspended licence. With California, Florida and Texas breakdowns.
Read the guideFR-44 in Florida
Convicted of DUI in Florida? You need an FR-44 at 100/300/50 for three years — double the usual SR-22 limits.
Read the guideFR-44 in Virginia
Virginia's FR-44 doubles the state minimum liability for three years after a DUI. What it costs and how it gets filed.
Read the guideCar insurance for new immigrants
Just arrived in the US? How to get insured with a foreign licence, no Social Security number, and no American driving history.
Read the guideSR-22 filings by state
State-by-state SR-22 mechanics in the Answers Library: what triggers a filing, how long it lasts, and what a lapse costs you.
Read the guideTemporary car insurance
Looking for a one-week or one-month policy? Why US insurers do not sell it — and what to buy instead.
Read the guideWhat a US car insurance policy is made of
A standard policy is assembled from six coverages: bodily injury liability, property damage liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured and underinsured motorist, and medical payments or personal injury protection. Only liability is mandated in most states.
“Full coverage” is not a legal term. It is shorthand for liability plus collision plus comprehensive — and those last two are usually required by your lender, not by your state.
Sources: Insurance Information Institute · Texas Department of Insurance
Your state decides more than your carrier does
Minimum limits vary more than drivers expect: Pennsylvania requires 15/30/5 while North Carolina requires 50/100/50. Florida requires no bodily injury liability at all for most drivers — only $10,000 of personal injury protection and $10,000 of property damage.
Florida, New York, Massachusetts and Michigan run no-fault systems; New Jersey and Pennsylvania let you elect your tort rights. New Hampshire is the only state with no compulsory liability law, and Virginia's uninsured-vehicle fee option ended on July 1, 2024, making coverage mandatory there.
Sources: III — compulsory auto insurance · Virginia DMV · Florida HSMV
FAQ
Common questions
Short answers here, sourced pages in the Answers Library.
Browse the Answers LibraryIs car insurance required by law in every state?
No. New Hampshire is the only state without a compulsory auto liability insurance law — it instead requires drivers to prove they can pay for an at-fault accident. Every other state mandates liability coverage, though minimum limits and required coverages differ. Virginia's uninsured-vehicle fee option ended in July 2024.
Sources: III · Virginia DMV
Is it possible to get car insurance without a car?
Yes. A non-owner car insurance policy covers you as a driver rather than a specific vehicle. It provides liability coverage when you borrow or rent, and it satisfies an SR-22 or FR-44 filing if your state requires proof of insurance to reinstate your licence. It does not cover physical damage.
Source: Texas Department of Insurance
What is the difference between an SR-22 and an FR-44?
Both are certificates your insurer files with the state proving you carry liability coverage. An SR-22 certifies the state minimum. An FR-44 certifies roughly double it, and is used in Florida and Virginia after DUI convictions. Florida's FR-44 requires 100/300/50 for three continuous years.
Sources: Florida HSMV · Virginia DMV
What are the main types of car insurance coverage?
A standard US auto policy is built from six coverages: bodily injury liability, property damage liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured and underinsured motorist, and medical payments or personal injury protection. Only liability is legally mandated in most states — “full coverage” means liability plus collision plus comprehensive.
Source: Insurance Information Institute
Do minimum liability limits vary much between states?
Considerably. Among the 15 states we cover, Pennsylvania requires 15/30/5 while North Carolina requires 50/100/50 — more than three times the bodily injury limit. Florida requires no bodily injury liability at all for most drivers, only $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 in property damage.
Sources: Texas Department of Insurance · Florida HSMV
Can a non-US citizen get car insurance?
Yes. State insurance requirements apply to drivers regardless of citizenship, and insurers can underwrite you without a Social Security number or US credit history. Expect higher initial premiums, because carriers treat a foreign licence as no US driving record rather than as a clean one.
Source: California DMV
Find the rule that applies to you, not the average driver.
Auto rules change at the state line. Start with the situation you are actually in — no car, a filing to satisfy, or a licence from another country.
- Independent — we don't sell insurance
- No forms, no sales calls
- Sourced from NAIC & state DOIs