Insurance requirements for registering a car in New Hampshire
New Hampshire is one of the few states that does not have mandatory insurance laws. Drivers can legally register and drive vehicles without insurance, as long as they do not fall under certain circumstances.
However, New Hampshire law states that any driver involved in an accident resulting in bodily injury or property damage must pay these costs. The best way for most drivers in New Hampshire to meet this requirement is to have insurance. If you are at fault in an accident and do not have insurance, your driver's license will be suspended until you demonstrate that you are able to cover the cost of damage and injury resulting from the accident.
While New Hampshire does not require a minimum coverage for drivers, it does set minimum requirements for liability insurance plans offered by insurance companies. Any insurance company must offer the following minimums for liability insurance:
Minimum $25,000 per person for personal injury or death. This means you will have at least $50,000 to cover the fewest possible number of people involved in an accident (two drivers).
$25,000 minimum for property damage liability
Health insurance of at least $1,000 to pay for your own medical expenses.
Uninsured motorist insurance that meets the general minimum liability coverage for both bodily injury and property damage ($75,000)
This means that the total minimum amount of financial liability an insurance company can offer is $151,000 for personal injury, property damage, medical insurance, and uninsured motorist insurance.
SR-22 requirements
Some drivers in New Hampshire may be required by law to file an SR-22, which is proof of financial liability or auto insurance. This document guarantees that the driver has civil liability insurance for at least three years. Drivers will need this document in the following cases:
Drivers charged with drunk driving
Drivers found to be habitual traffic offenders
Drivers who receive too many demerit points on their driver's license
Drivers who did not have insurance were found guilty of an accident
Drivers found guilty of leaving the scene of an accident
New Hampshire Auto Insurance Plan
If you want to get covered or are required to do so due to the requirement to file an SR-22 form, you must apply for insurance through an authorized insurer. If you are considered a high-risk driver, insurance companies have the right to deny coverage.
In these cases, the State of New Hampshire supports the New Hampshire Motor Insurance Program, which allows insurance companies to share the risks associated with high-risk driver insurance with other providers. Any driver can apply for the plan through the New Hampshire Automobile Insurance Plan with a participating insurance company.
For more information, contact the New Hampshire Department of Safety Motor Vehicle Division through their website.
