Cheapest liability-only car insurance

How much is liability-only car insurance?

The national average for a liability-only policy with limits of 50/100/50 is $637 a year or $53 a month. Premiums can vary based on several factors including your age, marital status, driving record, credit score, where you live, as well as the vehicle you drive.

In comparison, a full coverage policy with higher liability limits averages $1,895 a year or $157 a month.

Cheapest liability-only car insurance rates by company

Insurance companies use proprietary algorithms to help set car insurance rates, which can result in dramatic differences in premium quotes. Because of this, it’s important to shop your coverage on a regular basis.

The national average for a liability-only policy with limits of 50/100/50 is $637. A full coverage policy, which includes d in addition to higher liability coverage, is a 197% increase at $1,895.

According to our data, Geico offers the cheapest liability-only policy among top companies at $545 annually, though USAA offers cheaper coverage to eligible customers. Travelers follows at an average annual premium of $634.

The most expensive insurance company for a liability-only policy is Farmers at $942 a year, almost 73% higher than Geico for the same coverage.

Here are the cheapest (and most expensive) insurers for liability-only coverage:

Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance rates by company
Company	Avg. liability insurance premium	Avg. monthly liability insurance
Geico	$545	$45
State Farm	$647	$54
Allstate	$845	$70
USAA	$433	$36
Progressive	$681	$57
Farmers	$942	$79
Nationwide	$639	$53
Travelers	$634	$53

While liability-only coverage is cheaper than a full coverage policy, it’s not always an option. If you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, your lender will require that you carry full coverage insurance to protect their investment in your car.

Additionally, a liability-only policy will not pay to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged in an accident or other incident. So while liability-only is cheaper, it offers far less financial protection.

Cheapest liability-only car insurance by state

Each state has its own set of unique risks such as severe weather, crime rates, urban density and local laws which can result in dramatically different insurance rates. For example, Florida, the most expensive state for liability-only coverage, faces severe weather and hurricanes, pushing up the cost of coverage for Florida’s residents.

As the numbers below show, your state impacts how much you pay for coverage. A liability-only policy runs $315 a year or $26 a month in Iowa while Florida drivers pay $1,575 — a staggering 400% higher.

Below are rates for a liability-only policy by state with limits of 50/100/50.

Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance by state
State Name	Avg. Liability Insurance Premium	Avg. Monthly Liability Insurance
Alaska	$499	$42
Alabama	$619	$52
Arkansas	$568	$47
Arizona	$745	$62
California	$864	$72
Colorado	$708	$59
Connecticut	$753	$63
Washington, D.C.	$777	$65
Delaware	$998	$83
Florida	$1,575	$131
Georgia	$775	$65
Hawaii	$572	$48
Iowa	$315	$26
Idaho	$438	$36
Illinois	$469	$39
Indiana	$488	$41
Kansas	$457	$38
Kentucky	$804	$67
Louisiana	$1,241	$103
Massachusetts	$655	$55
Maryland	$753	$63
Maine	$342	$29
Michigan	$646	$54
Minnesota	$504	$42
Missouri	$577	$48
Mississippi	$634	$53
Montana	$524	$44
North Carolina	$523	$44
North Dakota	$360	$30
Nebraska	$371	$31
New Hampshire	$413	$34
New Jersey	$893	$74
New Mexico	$636	$53
Nevada	$1,012	$84
New York	$815	$68
Ohio	$436	$36
Oklahoma	$632	$53
Oregon	$674	$56
Pennsylvania	$504	$42
Rhode Island	$800	$67
South Carolina	$901	$75
South Dakota	$332	$28
Tennessee	$537	$45
Texas	$762	$63
Utah	$724	$60
Virginia	$469	$39
Vermont	$325	$27
Washington	$695	$58
Wisconsin	$415	$35
West Virginia	$581	$48
Wyoming	$333	$28

Liability-only vs. full coverage car insurance

There are major differences between liability-only and full-coverage car insurance. Here is a quick overview of liability and full coverage car insurance.

Liability-only coverage

Most states require liability insurance to drive legally, though the required coverage levels vary by state. Liability helps pay for medical and legal costs related to injuries you are responsible for if you cause an accident. It will also help pay for any property damage caused by the accident. This includes another person’s vehicle, fences, mailboxes, garage doors and other property. Liability-only coverage also includes personal injury protection and any other legally required coverages.

It is important to remember that liability-only car insurance doesn’t offer any protection for your own vehicle.

Getting liability-only coverage can pose a serious risk to your financial health if you are in an accident. The minimum coverage levels required at the state level are rarely enough to cover the damages in a serious accident. Most industry experts recommend carrying liability levels of 100/300/100, which translates into coverage levels of $100,000 for injuries per person, $300,000 for injuries per accident, and $100,000 in property damage coverage.

In some states, you may be required to carry additional coverage beyond liability, including personal injury protection in no-fault states and uninsured motorist coverage.

Full coverage

Full coverage car insurance is a term that usually refers to a policy with collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to liability and any other coverages required in your state. These coverages protect your vehicle and will repair or replace it if it is damaged in a collision or another covered incident.

Collision steps up when the damage is caused by a collision with another vehicle or object. Meanwhile, comprehensive will pay for damage caused by flooding, fire, theft, vandalism and even animal strikes. Comprehensive and collision both have a deductible.

Liability-only vs. full coverage car insurance
State Name	Liability Only	Full coverage	Difference	%Difference
Alaska	$499	$1,692	$1,193	71%
Alabama	$619	$1,842	$1,223	66%
Arkansas	$568	$1,931	$1,363	71%
Arizona	$745	$1,807	$1,062	59%
California	$864	$2,416	$1,552	64%
Colorado	$708	$2,350	$1,642	70%
Connecticut	$780	$1,734	$954	55%
Washington, D.C.	$777	$2,168	$1,391	64%
Delaware	$998	$2,062	$1,064	52%
Florida	$1,575	$2,669	$1,094	41%
Georgia	$775	$1,965	$1,190	61%
Hawaii	$572	$1,517	$945	62%
Iowa	$315	$1,626	$1,311	81%
Idaho	$438	$1,444	$1,006	70%
Illinois	$469	$1,534	$1,065	69%
Indiana	$488	$1,511	$1,023	68%
Kansas	$457	$1,903	$1,446	76%
Kentucky	$804	$2,246	$1,442	64%
Louisiana	$1,241	$2,872	$1,631	57%
Massachusetts	$655	$1,726	$1,071	62%
Maryland	$753	$1,755	$1,002	57%
Maine	$342	$1,195	$853	71%
Michigan	$646	$2,269	$1,623	72%
Minnesota	$504	$1,936	$1,432	74%
Missouri	$577	$1,999	$1,422	71%
Mississippi	$634	$2,021	$1,387	69%
Montana	$524	$2,182	$1,658	76%
North Carolina	$523	$1,742	$1,219	70%
North Dakota	$360	$1,681	$1,321	79%
Nebraska	$371	$1,917	$1,546	81%
New Hampshire	$413	$1,275	$862	68%
New Jersey	$893	$1,912	$1,019	53%
New Mexico	$636	$2,028	$1,392	69%
Nevada	$1,012	$2,026	$1,014	50%
New York	$815	$1,862	$1,047	56%
Ohio	$436	$1,414	$978	69%
Oklahoma	$632	$2,124	$1,492	70%
Oregon	$674	$1,640	$966	59%
Pennsylvania	$504	$1,871	$1,367	73%
Rhode Island	$800	$2,072	$1,272	61%
South Carolina	$901	$2,028	$1,127	56%
South Dakota	$332	$2,306	$1,974	86%
Tennessee	$537	$1,674	$1,137	68%
Texas	$762	$2,062	$1,300	63%
Utah	$724	$1,782	$1,058	59%
Virginia	$469	$1,457	$988	68%
Vermont	$325	$1,345	$1,020	76%
Washington	$695	$1,580	$885	56%
Wisconsin	$415	$1,653	$1,238	75%
West Virginia	$581	$2,010	$1,429	71%
Wyoming	$333	$1,806	$1,473	82%

When to get liability-only car insurance

A liability-only policy will help cover property damage, medical expenses, and legal fees for injuries to others in any at-fault accidents you are responsible for causing. Liability is required in most states to drive legally, but the required amount of coverage will vary by state. In almost all cases, the minimum required liability will not be enough protection if you are responsible for a serious accident.

While liability is important to cover injuries and damage you cause to other people and their property, it will not repair or replace your vehicle, so if you only carry liability, you will be on the hook for all costs to repair your car unless another driver is at fault for the accident.

Additionally, a liability-only policy will not be an option if you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, as your lender will require that you carry full coverage. Carrying liability only is typically only a good idea when you are driving an older, low-value vehicle that’s not worth protecting. If your vehicle is newer or if you can’t afford to repair or replace it out of pocket, you should be carrying full coverage.

How to find affordable liability-only car insurance

The best way to find cheap liability-only car insurance is to shop your coverage with multiple insurers. Rates can vary dramatically between insurers. For example, we found a 117% difference between the lowest liability-only rate and the highest.

When shopping your coverage be sure you are comparing apples to apples regarding coverage levels and deductibles.

A few other tips for lowering your liability-only car insurance premium:

Take a defensive driving course: Many insurance companies will offer a discount on your premium if take and pass a defensive driving course. Check if you would qualify as there are often age restrictions.
Compare discounts: Insurance companies offer various discounts, so ensuring you are getting all available discounts will help lower your premium. Compare the available discounts for each insurance company and look for ones that offer discounts you are qualified to receive.

How much liability-only car insurance do I need?

Almost all states require drivers to carry liability insurance to drive legally. The amount of liability required will vary by state. Car insurance laws are controlled at the state level.

Required minimums can range from 10/20/10 in Florida and up to 50/100/25 in states like Alaska. Below are the required minimum liability levels by state.

Map

Table

State	Requirements	Coverage limits
Alaska	Minimum bodily injury liability	$50,000/$100,000
Alaska	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
Alabama	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Alabama	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
Arkansas	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Arkansas	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
Arizona	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Arizona	Minimum property damage liability	$15,000
California	Minimum bodily injury liability	$15,000/$30,000
California	Minimum property damage liability	$5,000
Colorado	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Colorado	Minimum property damage liability	$15,000
Connecticut	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Connecticut	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
Connecticut	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$25,000/$50,000
Washington, D.C.	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Washington, D.C.	Minimum property damage liability	$10,000
Washington, D.C.	Uninsured motorist property damage	$5,000
Washington, D.C.	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$25,000/$50,000
Delaware	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Delaware	Minimum property damage liability	$10,000
Delaware	Personal injury protection	$15,000/$30,000
Florida	Minimum bodily injury liability	$10,000/$20,000
Florida	Minimum property damage liability	$10,000
Florida	Personal injury protection	$10,000
Georgia	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Georgia	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
Hawaii	Minimum bodily injury liability	$20,000/$40,000
Hawaii	Minimum property damage liability	$10,000
Hawaii	Personal injury protection or managed care (PPO)	$10,000
Iowa	Minimum bodily injury liability	$20,000/$40,000
Iowa	Minimum property damage liability	$15,000
Idaho	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Idaho	Minimum property damage liability	$15,000
Illinois	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Illinois	Minimum property damage liability	$20,000
Illinois	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$25,000/$50,000
Indiana	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Indiana	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
Kansas	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Kansas	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
Kansas	Personal injury protection	$4,500 medical /$900 work loss
Kansas	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$25,000/$50,000
Kentucky	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Kentucky	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
Kentucky	Personal injury protection	$10,000
Louisiana	Minimum bodily injury liability	$15,000/$30,000
Louisiana	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
Massachusetts	Minimum bodily injury liability	$20,000/$40,000
Massachusetts	Minimum property damage liability	$5,000
Massachusetts	Personal injury protection	$8,000
Massachusetts	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$20,000/$40,000
Maryland	Minimum bodily injury liability	$30,000/$60,000
Maryland	Minimum property damage liability	$15,000
Maryland	Personal injury protection	$2,500
Maryland	Uninsured motorist property damage	$15,000
Maryland	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$30,000/$60,000
Maine	Medical payments	$2,000
Maine	Minimum bodily injury liability	$50,000/$100,000
Maine	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
Maine	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$50,000/$100,000
Michigan	Minimum bodily injury liability	$50,000/$100,000
Michigan	Minimum property damage liability	$10,000
Michigan	Personal injury protection	Medical and work loss
Michigan	Property protection insurance	$10,00,000
Minnesota	Minimum bodily injury liability	$30,000/$60,000
Minnesota	Minimum property damage liability	$10,000
Minnesota	Personal injury protection	$40,000
Minnesota	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$25,000/$50,000
Missouri	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Missouri	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
Missouri	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$25,000/$50,000
Mississippi	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Mississippi	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
Montana	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Montana	Minimum property damage liability	$20,000
North Carolina	Minimum bodily injury liability	$30,000/$60,000
North Carolina	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
North Carolina	Uninsured motorist property damage	$25,000
North Carolina	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$30,000/$60,000
North Dakota	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
North Dakota	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
North Dakota	Personal injury protection	$30,000 limit
North Dakota	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$25,000/$50,000
Nebraska	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Nebraska	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
Nebraska	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$25,000/$50,000
New Hampshire	Medical payments	$1,000
New Hampshire	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
New Hampshire	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
New Hampshire	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$25,000/$50,000
New Jersey	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
New Jersey	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
New Jersey	Personal injury protection	$15,000
New Jersey	Uninsured motorist property damage	$25,000
New Jersey	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$25,000/$50,000
New Jersey	Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage	$25,000
New Mexico	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
New Mexico	Minimum property damage liability	$10,000
Nevada	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Nevada	Minimum property damage liability	$20,000
New York	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
New York	Minimum property damage liability	$10,000
New York	Personal injury protection	$50,000 limit
New York	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$25,000/$50,000
Ohio	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Ohio	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
Oklahoma	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Oklahoma	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
Oregon	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Oregon	Minimum property damage liability	$20,000
Oregon	Personal injury protection	$15,000 limit
Oregon	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$25,000/$50,000
Pennsylvania	First party benefits (PIP)	$5,000
Pennsylvania	Minimum bodily injury liability	$15,000/$30,000
Pennsylvania	Minimum property damage liability	$5,000
Rhode Island	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Rhode Island	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
South Carolina	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
South Carolina	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
South Carolina	Uninsured motorist property damage	$25,000
South Carolina	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$25,000/$50,000
South Dakota	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
South Dakota	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
South Dakota	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$25,000/$50,000
Tennessee	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Tennessee	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
Texas	Minimum bodily injury liability	$30,000/$60,000
Texas	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
Utah	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$65,000
Utah	Minimum property damage liability	$15,000
Utah	Personal injury protection	$3,000
Virginia	Minimum bodily injury liability	$30,000/$60,000
Virginia	Minimum property damage liability	$20,000
Virginia	Uninsured motorist property damage	$20,000
Virginia	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$30,000/$60,000
Vermont	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Vermont	Minimum property damage liability	$10,000
Vermont	Uninsured motorist property damage	$10,000
Vermont	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$50,000/$100,000
Washington	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Washington	Minimum property damage liability	$10,000
Wisconsin	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Wisconsin	Minimum property damage liability	$10,000
Wisconsin	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$25,000/$50,000
West Virginia	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
West Virginia	Minimum property damage liability	$25,000
West Virginia	Uninsured motorist property damage	$25,000
West Virginia	Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury	$25,000/$50,000
West Virginia	Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage	$25,000
Wyoming	Minimum bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000
Wyoming	Minimum property damage liability	$20,000

*Some state rates will vary based on the addition of a hurricane deductible and may be much higher when included.

It is important to remember that the required liability coverage is generally not enough if you are responsible for a serious car accident. Once your coverage levels are exceeded, you will need to cover any additional costs.

Should I get liability-only car insurance?

Deciding what car insurance coverage to carry requires looking at various factors. In most cases, carrying a liability-only policy may be a good idea if your vehicle is older and has a low resale value, and you can afford to handle repairs or buy a new car out of pocket. However, you will have the most robust financial protection from getting a full coverage car insurance policy.

Methodology

Insurance.com commissioned Quadrant Data Solutions to field rates in every state for a minimum coverage policy and for limits of 50/100/50. Rates are based on a 40-year-old male driver with a clean record driving a 2023 Honda Accord LX.