New Hampshire car insurance

Full-coverage car insurance averages about $131 per month in New Hampshire, while state minimum coverage averages about $44 per month.

Find out how New Hampshire car insurance laws work, including the state’s financial responsibility laws, which companies are most affordable, and how to save time and money while shopping.

State-minimum car insurance in New Hampshire averages about $44 a month ($527 a year). Full coverage, which includes collision and comprehensive coverage, averages about $131 a month ($1,570 a year).

No. New Hampshire is the only state that does not require most drivers to carry car insurance. You can register and drive without a policy, but you're still financially responsible if you’re at fault in an accident. 

After certain accidents or convictions, the state can require you to formally prove financial responsibility, or face suspension of your license and registration.¹

If you are convicted of a DUI, you’re involved in a qualifying uninsured accident, or you are designated a habitual offender, the state will require an SR-22 filing that proves you have insurance, generally for three years.²

Note: If you finance or lease a vehicle, the contract almost always requires collision and comprehensive coverage until the loan is paid off.

If you choose to buy car insurance in New Hampshire, your policy must include at least 25/50/25 in insurance, meaning: 

• $25,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per individual

• $50,000 per accident

• $25,000 in property damage liability insurance

Your policy must also include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, as well as at least $1,000 in medical payments coverage, or MedPay.¹

If the state does require you to prove financial responsibility, insurance is the usual way to satisfy it, but New Hampshire law also lets you furnish a qualifying bond or deposit instead.³

Is state minimum coverage enough?

The state minimum insurance may be adequate for a minor fender bender, but it will probably be inadequate for a major accident with injuries.

If someone is severely injured, their medical bills can pass $25,000 very quickly. If you aren’t carrying enough bodily injury insurance and are found at fault, you will be personally responsible for anything above your policy limits. 

The Insurance Information Institute (III) recommends carrying liability coverage well above state minimums, and 100/300 is a widely cited benchmark.⁴

USAA, Progressive, and GEICO show the lowest average premiums, all below $100 a month. Your own rates will vary based on your driver profile

The spread from cheapest to priciest is more than double, which is why comparing companies pays off. Luva compares New Hampshire's carriers on your details so you can see where you land to find the right coverage.

Your driving record, credit history, age, location, and the coverage you choose are the predominant factors in setting your premium. Every insurance company prices risk differently. But here are the major items New Hampshire carriers consider:

• Driving record: Tickets, at-fault crashes, and especially a DUI increase your premium substantially (see the table below).

• Credit history: In New Hampshire, a driver with poor credit pays an average of $263 per month compared to the $101 per month average for drivers with excellent credit. Improving your credit is an effective way to get lower car insurance rates.

• Age: Teen and early-20s drivers pay the most by far. Once you turn about 20, rates typically fall through your 30s, and level off in middle age, before increasing slightly around age 70.

• Location: Insurers weigh local claim frequency, repair costs, theft, and traffic. Premiums tend to be higher in urban areas than they are in rural areas.

• Recent lapses: A lapse in coverage, even a short one, can increase your rate when you buy again.

How do violations affect New Hampshire car insurance rates?

A DUI increases the average New Hampshire premium the most, roughly 76% above a clean record. A single speeding ticket adds about 23%, and an at-fault accident adds about 55%.

A DUI conviction also carries other costs, including an SR-22 requirement for three years.²

The best way to shop for car insurance in New Hampshire is to compare the same coverage across several companies.

Here are some tips to get the most value when shopping for car insurance:

• Compare identical coverage: Luva pulls personalized quotes from multiple carriers on identical limits and deductibles, so you're comparing true apples-to-apples prices.

• Explore discounts: Car insurance companies offer discounts for things like bundling home and auto coverage with the same carrier, good grades, installed safety features, low annual mileage, paperless billing, enrolling in a telematics program, and paying in full rather than monthly.

• Increase your deductible: A higher collision and comprehensive deductible lowers your premium. But you take on more of the risk. Don’t raise it so high that you’ll have trouble recovering after a covered loss.

• Don’t lapse: A gap between policies can increase your rate in the future.