No. New Hampshire doesn’t require most drivers to buy car insurance. If you do buy a policy, it has to include at least $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 of property damage liability (25/50/25), plus uninsured motorist coverage and at least $1,000 of medical payments coverage.
Going without a policy isn’t the same as having no obligation. New Hampshire has a financial responsibility law instead of an insurance mandate. If you’re uninsured and in a crash where you could be found liable, the state can suspend your license and registration until you post security. Drivers with certain convictions can be required to carry insurance and file an SR-22. A 2026 bill to make insurance mandatory, HB1568, was killed in February 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Most New Hampshire drivers aren’t required to buy insurance, but an uninsured driver in a reportable crash can have their license and registration suspended until they post security if there’s a reasonable possibility of a judgment against them.
- Any auto policy sold in New Hampshire has to include 25/50/25 liability, uninsured motorist coverage at least equal to your liability limits and at least $1,000 of medical payments coverage. You can’t reject uninsured motorist coverage on an auto policy.
- RateFrog found no New Hampshire law that fines you just for driving uninsured. Driving after a suspension is a separate offense, usually a violation with a minimum fine of $250 the first time and $500 after that, and it can be a misdemeanor or felony in some cases.
- A DWI, leaving the scene of a crash, a second reckless driving conviction and some other events can require an SR-22 for at least three years, and later events can restart that period.
New Hampshire Car Insurance Requirements at a Glance
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Insurance required? | Not for most drivers. You must be able to meet financial responsibility after a crash, and some drivers must file an SR-22. |
| Bodily injury liability (if you buy a policy) | $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability (if you buy a policy) | $25,000 per accident |
| Uninsured motorist | Required in every auto policy, at least equal to your bodily injury liability limits. Includes underinsured drivers. |
| Medical payments | At least $1,000 per person on private passenger policies |
| Personal injury protection | None. New Hampshire is not a no-fault state. |
| Collision and comprehensive | Not required by law, but lenders and lessors often require them |
Minimum Coverage If You Buy a Policy
The New Hampshire Insurance Department (NHID) says in its auto insurance consumer guide that state motor vehicle laws don’t require you to carry auto insurance. Once you buy a policy, though, the law sets what it must contain.
Under RSA 259:61, a motor vehicle liability policy has to cover you and people driving with your permission, with at least 25/50/25 in limits. A policy can exclude a named driver if it says so, but the exclusion can’t reduce the minimum financial responsibility limits. The amounts match what the state requires as proof of financial responsibility under RSA 264:20. RateFrog’s guide to how liability limits work explains what the three numbers mean.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage in New Hampshire
Any policy issued for a vehicle registered or principally garaged in New Hampshire has to include uninsured motorist (UM) coverage for bodily injury at no less than your liability limits. NHID’s filing requirements page notes that under RSA 264:15, UM automatically equals the liability coverage you choose, so raising your liability limits raises your UM too. UM also applies to hit-and-run vehicles.
You can’t reject UM on a regular auto policy. The written rejection option in the law applies only to umbrella or excess policies, which have to offer matching UM unless the named insured turns it down in writing.
Underinsured Drivers
New Hampshire handles underinsured drivers inside UM. Since January 1, 2015, RSA 259:117 treats an insured vehicle as uninsured to the extent its liability limits are less than your UM limits, or have been reduced below your UM limits by payments to other people hurt in the same crash. Before 2015, the comparison was to the state minimum, so older articles may describe the rule differently. RateFrog’s guide to uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage explains these coverages in general.
Damage to Your Car and Settlement Releases
UM in New Hampshire generally covers injuries, not damage to your car. The exception is when the at-fault driver’s insurer is declared insolvent and no other insurance applies. In that case UM has to include at least $25,000 per accident of property damage coverage.
If you’re asked to sign a release to settle an injury claim, read it carefully. State law requires those releases to carry a warning, which you must sign, that signing may cost you your right to UM benefits from your own policy.
Medical Payments Coverage
Under RSA 264:16, private passenger policies on vehicles registered or principally garaged in New Hampshire have to include at least $1,000 per person of medical payments coverage. It pays reasonable medical costs for the driver and passengers that are incurred within three years of the injury.
You choose whether to use medical payments coverage, your health insurance or both, though you can’t be paid twice for the same bill. Your health insurer can’t coordinate benefits against it, and the coverage can’t be assigned to a medical provider. The requirement doesn’t apply to commercial policies covering more than four cars or to garage, repair shop, trucking and similar business policies.
Proof of Insurance in New Hampshire
RateFrog found no New Hampshire statute requiring drivers to keep an insurance card in the car or allowing proof on a phone, and no state insurance verification database. A 2026 bill that would have required proof of insurance or financial responsibility to register a vehicle, HB1558, was killed in February 2026. If a lender, rental company or another state asks for proof, RateFrog’s guide to getting proof of insurance quickly can help.
How the State Tracks Financial Responsibility
The proof New Hampshire does track is the SR-22. According to the DMV SR-22 FAQs, a Driver Record Report shows whether proof of financial responsibility is required for you.
If you have an SR-22 and your insurer cancels it, the insurer files a cancellation notice (an SR-26). Under Saf-C 7504.09, the DMV then warns you that your license and registration will be suspended 20 days after its notice unless a new SR-22 is filed.
What Happens If You Drive Uninsured in New Hampshire
Without a policy, the main risk comes after a crash. The state’s process runs through the financial responsibility law, and a lawsuit from the other driver is a separate risk.
No Fine for Simply Being Uninsured
RateFrog found no New Hampshire statute that sets a fine or jail time for driving without insurance by itself. Some websites list fixed fines for it, but none was found in the law. The penalties come through license and registration suspensions and the offenses tied to them.
Reporting a Crash
Under RSA 264:25, a driver has to file a written report with the DMV within 15 days if anyone is injured or killed or property damage is more than $1,000. A police officer’s report satisfies this. The DMV’s accident records FAQ says that if the police didn’t respond and someone was hurt or combined damage was over $1,000, you have to file an Operator Report.
Security and Suspension After an Uninsured Crash
After receiving a crash report, RSA 264:3 directs the DMV to suspend the license and registration of an uninsured driver and owner involved in the crash. The suspension lasts until they post enough security to cover possible judgments and give proof of future financial responsibility. You get notice at least 10 days before it takes effect. Owners with a liability policy or bond on the vehicle at the time of the crash, and non-owner drivers with their own policy, are exempt.
The test isn’t a court finding of fault. Under Saf-C 7505.05, it asks whether there’s a reasonable possibility of a judgment against the uninsured motorist in a civil case. Saf-C 7505.06 says the security amount is based on a reasonable prediction of injury and property damage costs and can’t exceed the 25/50/25 amounts.
The DMV accepts security only as cash, a certified check or money order, or an interest-bearing savings account with a signed withdrawal order. Under Saf-C 7505.08, the notice gives the reason, the amount and whether an SR-22 is required. Absent good cause, no hearing is held if you ask for one more than 30 days after the notice was issued. If you live in another state, the DMV says it suspends your New Hampshire driving privileges and notifies your home state.
How Long the Suspension Lasts
Under RSA 264:7, the suspension continues until you get a release from the other side, win a judgment in your favor or pay any judgment against you, along with keeping proof of financial responsibility. If you haven’t received written notice of a lawsuit within two years of the crash, the DMV may reinstate you with proof of financial responsibility. A bankruptcy discharge doesn’t end the requirement. The state can also suspend you for an unpaid judgment from the crash. RateFrog’s guide to what happens when coverage lapses covers the financial side of being uninsured.
Driving After a Suspension and Forged Proof
Driving while suspended is an offense under RSA 263:64. In most cases it’s a violation with a minimum fine of $250 for a first offense and $500 for a second or later one. A later offense becomes a misdemeanor if the complaint alleges a prior conviction within seven years, some suspensions carry their own criminal penalties, and it’s generally a class B felony if the illegal driving causes or materially contributes to a crash with death or serious bodily injury. Under RSA 264:24-a, forging or filing fake proof of financial responsibility is a misdemeanor.
SR-22 Filings in New Hampshire
The DMV’s SR-22 page says it may require some drivers to carry insurance and file an SR-22, and it lists any DWI, leaving the scene of a crash and a second reckless driving conviction as triggers. Under RSA 264:2, the DMV can also suspend a driver convicted of homicide or assault with a vehicle or a second excessive speeding offense until they file and keep proof. Saf-C 7504.04 adds four or more speeding convictions in the same calendar year. An uninsured crash can require one too. The DMV tells you in writing if you fall under a filing requirement, and the insurer has to be licensed in New Hampshire.
The DMV FAQs set the minimum filing period at three years from the final conviction, crash involvement or administrative action. After a second DWI, it’s three years from the date you’re eligible for restoration. Under Saf-C 7504.12, a new three-year period starts if, during the filing period, you’re in an uninsured crash, have an unpaid judgment from one, are certified as a habitual offender or have certain other actions on your record.
If you don’t own a car, you can file an operator’s SR-22. RSA 264:22 also allows a deposit of money or certain securities with the state treasurer instead, in the amount a policy would have to cover. For questions, contact the DMV’s FR SR-22 Processing Section at (603) 227-4010. RateFrog’s SR-22 guide explains how these filings work in general.
If You Can’t Find Coverage
New Hampshire’s insurance rules, Ins 1400, say insurers authorized to write auto insurance in the state have to issue a private passenger policy to any eligible risk. That generally means a New Hampshire resident or a car garaged only in New Hampshire. Insurers can still refuse or cancel coverage on grounds the state allows. Harder-to-insure drivers can be placed through the state’s residual market. A licensed agent can explain how that works for you.
How New Hampshire Insurers Set Rates
Insurers can use credit information, with limits. Under RSA 417-A:3-c, an insurer can’t cancel, refuse to write or refuse to renew a policy solely on the basis of credit information without considering other permitted factors. RSA 417:4 makes it an unfair practice to charge a higher premium solely because of credit information, and RSA 412:15 requires objective standards, clear notice to consumers and a way to correct decisions based on wrong credit data.
Under RSA 417-A:3, an insurer can’t refuse, cancel or nonrenew a policy solely because of your age, residence, race, marital status, occupation or certain other traits. These are rules about refusing coverage, not a ban on using those factors in pricing, and NHID’s guide lists age, gender and marital status among the factors companies consider. RateFrog’s guide to what affects car insurance rates covers the rest.
Cancellation and Nonrenewal Rules
Once a policy has been in effect for 60 days, or right away on a renewal, RSA 417-A:4 lets an insurer cancel only for nonpayment, at your request or because the named insured wasn’t a New Hampshire resident when the policy was issued or renewed. The residency reason doesn’t apply if the car was garaged only in New Hampshire at that time.
Under RSA 417-A:5, a cancellation or refusal to renew can’t take effect less than 45 days after the notice is mailed. For nonpayment the notice period is 10 days, and the notice can’t go out until you’ve actually missed the payment. A new policy canceled in its first 60 days also gets 10 days. The notice has to state the reason, give NHID’s contact details and tell you about eligibility through the state’s automobile reinsurance facility.
If you disagree, you can ask the Insurance Commissioner to review it by sending a written request within 10 days of receiving the notice. RateFrog’s guide to car insurance grace periods explains what usually happens when a payment is late.
Going Uninsured vs. Buying the Minimum or More
Skipping insurance saves the premium, and the law allows it for most drivers. The tradeoff is that you carry the whole risk of a crash yourself. NHID’s guide notes that an uninsured driver can be held legally liable and a court could order your assets used to pay the damages. You could also lose your license and registration until you post security, and you may then need an SR-22.
A 25/50/25 policy shifts that risk up to its limits, and it brings uninsured motorist and medical payments coverage for your own injuries. A serious crash can still cost more than $25,000 per person, and $25,000 of property damage coverage may not pay to replace a newer car you hit. If you have savings, a home or income to protect, higher limits may be worth pricing. If you have few assets and an older car, the minimum may be enough for now.
RateFrog’s guide to how much car insurance you need walks through the choice, and you can compare car insurance quotes at a few different limits.
Where to Get Help
For questions about insurers, claims or cancellations, NHID’s Consumer Services line is (603) 271-2261, and its consumer hotline is (800) 852-3416. You can also file a complaint through NHID’s complaint page, and other options are on its contact page. For SR-22 filings, suspensions and uninsured crashes, contact the DMV’s FR SR-22 Processing Section at (603) 227-4010.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Have to Buy Car Insurance in New Hampshire?
Most drivers don’t. You still have to be able to meet financial responsibility after a crash, and drivers the DMV puts under an SR-22 requirement, such as after a DWI, have to carry insurance or post another accepted form of proof.
Can I Reject Uninsured Motorist Coverage in New Hampshire?
Not on an auto policy. Every auto policy has to include it at your liability limits. Only umbrella or excess policies allow a written rejection.
What Happens If I Crash Without Insurance in New Hampshire?
If there’s a reasonable possibility of a judgment against you, the DMV can suspend your license and registration until you post security, and you may need an SR-22. The other side can also sue you.
How Long Do I Need an SR-22 in New Hampshire?
At least three years from the conviction, crash or action that required it, or three years from restoration eligibility after a second DWI. Some later events, such as an uninsured crash, start a new three-year period.
Sources
- New Hampshire Insurance Department: Auto Insurance Consumer Guide
- New Hampshire Insurance Department: Property and Casualty Filing Requirements
- New Hampshire DMV: Insurance Requirements / SR-22
- New Hampshire DMV: SR-22 FAQs
- New Hampshire DMV: Accident Records FAQs
- RSA 259:61
- RSA 259:117
- RSA 263:64
- RSA 264:2
- RSA 264:7
- RSA 264:16
- RSA 264:20
- RSA 264:22
- RSA 264:25
- RSA 412:15
- RSA 417:4
- RSA 417-A:3
- RSA 417-A:3-c
- RSA 417-A:4
- RSA 417-A:5
- N.H. Admin. Code Saf-C 7504.09
- N.H. Admin. Code Saf-C 7504.12
- N.H. Admin. Code Saf-C 7505.05
- N.H. Admin. Rules Ins 1400
- New Hampshire General Court: HB1568 (2026)
- New Hampshire General Court: HB1558 (2026)
- New Hampshire Insurance Department: Filing a Complaint
- New Hampshire Insurance Department: Contact Us