New Hampshire car insurance: minimums, SR-22 rules and costs
Last updated: November 12, 2026
New Hampshire doesn't require you to buy car insurance, but you must be able to show financial responsibility if you cause a crash. If you do buy a policy, it has to meet the state's minimums. In 2023, insured drivers in New Hampshire spent an average of $986.84 on car insurance, 23% below the national average of $1,281.60, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). That makes New Hampshire the 16th least expensive of the 50 states and D.C. by that measure.
Minimum car insurance required in New Hampshire
| Coverage | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Car insurance required to drive | No, but you must be able to show financial responsibility |
| If you buy a policy: bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident |
| If you buy a policy: property damage liability | $25,000 |
| If you buy a policy: medical payments | $1,000 |
| If you buy a policy: underinsured motorist | Equal to your liability limits |
Is New Hampshire a no-fault state?
No. New Hampshire isn't one of the 12 no-fault states listed by the Insurance Information Institute, so the driver who causes a crash, and their insurer, is generally responsible for the other people's injuries and damage. That's why the liability limits above matter so much.
SR-22 rules in New Hampshire
New Hampshire's DMV can require you to carry insurance and file an SR-22. It notifies you in writing, and your driving record shows whether proof of financial responsibility is required. Convictions that require one include any DWI, leaving the scene of an accident and a second reckless driving offense. The DMV accepts only the uniform SR-22 certificate. An "owner" SR-22 lets you own, register and drive a vehicle. An "operator" SR-22 only lets you drive.
According to the DMV, the minimum filing period is three years from the date of the final conviction, crash or administrative action. After a second DWI, it's three years from the date you're eligible for restoration. Out-of-state residents can't get the requirement waived.
Read more: what an SR-22 is and how it works.
What drives car insurance costs in New Hampshire
Average spending in New Hampshire rose 14% from 2019 to 2023, compared with 19% nationwide. Here's average annual spending per insured vehicle, from the NAIC:
| Year | New Hampshire average | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $864.76 | $1,075.08 |
| 2020 | $848.30 | $1,047.76 |
| 2021 | $843.18 | $1,060.23 |
| 2022 | $880.82 | $1,124.45 |
| 2023 | $986.84 | $1,281.60 |
The NAIC's "average expenditure" is total written premium divided by insured vehicles. It isn't a quote, and your own price depends on your driver profile and the coverage you choose.
- Uninsured drivers. An estimated 10.0% of drivers in New Hampshire were uninsured in 2023, lower than the national estimate of 15.4%. That's the 12th lowest rate among the 50 states and D.C. When more drivers are uninsured, insured drivers' own uninsured motorist coverage pays more claims, which pushes up its price.
- Crash deaths. New Hampshire recorded 133 motor vehicle crash deaths in 2024, or 0.96 per 100 million miles driven, lower than the U.S. rate of 1.19 (the 11th lowest of the 50 states and D.C.). Severe crashes drive up bodily injury claim costs.
- Where and how crashes happen. In 2024, 56% of New Hampshire's crash deaths happened in rural areas (U.S.: 41%), 29% involved speeding (U.S.: 29%), and 8% of those killed were pedestrians (U.S.: 18%).
Ways to save on car insurance in New Hampshire
- Compare at least three quotes. Insurers weigh the same facts differently, so prices for the same driver in New Hampshire can vary widely. More ways to lower your bill.
- Check your uninsured motorist limits anyway. Even at 10.0%, uninsured and underinsured drivers are common, and UM coverage is usually inexpensive. How UM coverage works.
- Shop at renewal. Even where prices rise more slowly, your own renewal can jump after a claim, a move or a new car. When to compare.
- Keep comprehensive if your car is worth it. Most crash deaths in New Hampshire happen on rural roads, where animal strikes and long distances are common. Comprehensive covers hitting an animal; collision covers crashes. Comprehensive vs. collision.
- Ask about discounts. Common ones include safe driver, multi-car, bundling, paying in full, good student and usage-based programs. They're not always applied automatically.
See other states in our car insurance guides by state.
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute, Automobile Financial Responsibility Limits and Enforcement by State (as of July 2024)
- NAIC, 2023 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement (June 2025), Table 4: average expenditure
- Insurance Information Institute, Automobile Financial Responsibility Limits by State (July 2024), note 6
- Insurance Information Institute, Background on: No-fault auto insurance
- New Hampshire DMV, Insurance requirements / SR-22
- New Hampshire DMV, Insurance requirements / SR-22 FAQs
- Insurance Information Institute / Insurance Research Council, Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists (2023 estimates)
- IIHS-HLDI, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state
Compare car insurance options in your area → It takes about 2 minutes, and we never ask for your name, phone number or email.
DriveCheaper may be paid by companies shown on this site. How we make money. This page is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Laws and prices change, so confirm details with your insurer or your state's insurance department or DMV.