Do You Need Car Insurance in New Hampshire? What the Law Requires, What Happens Without It, and When It Becomes Required
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Not as a general rule. New Hampshire has no mandatory auto insurance law, according to the New Hampshire DMV Driver Manual (opens in a new tab). Instead, the state requires financial responsibility in specific situations, including certain accidents, convictions and suspension proceedings. When proof is required, the amounts under RSA 264:20 (opens in a new tab) are $25,000 for injury or death to one person, $50,000 for injury or death to two or more people in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage. A lender or leasing company can separately require insurance, including collision and comprehensive. Before you drive uninsured, check your DMV status, any court order and your finance or lease contract.
Key takeaways
- General ruleNew Hampshire has no mandatory auto insurance law.
- When proof is requiredCertain accidents, convictions and suspension proceedings trigger a financial responsibility requirement.
- Required amounts$25,000 for injury or death to one person, $50,000 for two or more people in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
- Lenders and lessorsCan separately require insurance, including collision and comprehensive.
- Before you drive uninsuredCheck your DMV status, any court order and your finance or lease contract.
Can you legally drive without insurance in New Hampshire?
Yes, as long as no separate requirement applies to you. You can operate a vehicle in New Hampshire without insurance, according to the DMV Driver Manual (opens in a new tab), but you remain responsible for the other person's property damage and medical bills if you cause a crash.
That's the trade-off behind New Hampshire's approach. The law asks you to be able to "respond in damages" for liability from an accident, in the statutory amounts, when proof is called for under RSA 264:20 (opens in a new tab). Insurance is one way to do that. If you skip it and cause an injury crash, the bill and the DMV consequences fall on you personally.
Driving uninsured stops being legal once a requirement attaches to you. If your license, registration or driving privilege is suspended or revoked and you drive without the required proof, that's a misdemeanor for an individual under RSA 263:63 (opens in a new tab). If the DMV or a court has ordered you to file proof, driving without it is not an option.
Can you register a car without insurance in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire's general registration rules don't make proof of insurance a standard document for every registration. You register through your town or city clerk, with the DMV involved depending on the transaction.
As an example, the City of Manchester's list of documents required for registering (opens in a new tab) a new vehicle includes identification, the title or title application, VIN verification, a bill of sale, lienholder information and proof of residency. Proof of insurance is not on that standard list. Requirements can differ by town and by situation, so call your clerk before you go, especially if you have an SR-22 requirement, a suspension, a nonresident registration, a lender or a lease. Registration applications for minors carry their own proof-of-insurance rules under RSA 261:53 (opens in a new tab).
When does New Hampshire require proof of financial responsibility?
Certain events trigger a requirement to file proof of future financial responsibility, under RSA 264:2 and 264:3 (opens in a new tab) and the DMV's financial responsibility rules, Saf-C 7500 (opens in a new tab):
- A conviction for driving under the influence.
- Failing to stop and report after an accident.
- Homicide or assault arising from driving.
- A second excessive-speed conviction.
- A second reckless-driving conviction within the applicable period.
- An uninsured or otherwise qualifying reportable accident.
- An unpaid accident judgment.
- An administrative action or court order requiring proof.
- Certain habitual-offender or related proceedings.
RSA 264:2 lists the conviction-based triggers. RSA 264:3 covers proof after a reportable accident and includes exceptions when qualifying insurance, a bond or other proof already existed at the time of the crash.
How an SR-22 works in New Hampshire
An SR-22 is a certificate your insurer files with the DMV showing that you carry the required financial responsibility, under Saf-C 7500 (opens in a new tab). It is a filing, not a separate kind of policy. You buy a policy from an authorized insurer, and the insurer files the SR-22 for you.
A few rules matter once you have one:
- Length: The requirement generally lasts three years under Saf-C 7504.12, subject to extensions.
- Timing: Under the specified rules, no suspension occurs if the SR-22 is filed before the suspension's effective date, so act quickly on a DMV notice.
- Cancellation: If your policy cancels, the insurer files an SR-26 with the DMV. Your license and registration may be suspended 20 days after notice unless a new SR-22 is filed.
If you don't own a car, ask the agent whether a non-owner policy can carry your SR-22, and whether the filing needs an owner designation, a non-owner designation or both. Then confirm with the DMV that the filing arrived.
What limits apply when proof is required?
The current amounts under RSA 264:20 (opens in a new tab) are:
Hover or tap a row to highlight it.
| Coverage | Required amount |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury or death, one person | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury or death, two or more people in one accident | $50,000, subject to the per-person limit |
| Injury to or destruction of property in one accident | $25,000 |
These amounts took effect January 1, 1982, according to the statute's history. You may see $50,000/$100,000/$25,000 elsewhere; those figures come from proposed legislation such as HB 0210 (2015) (opens in a new tab), not the current law. The definition of a motor vehicle liability policy, with the same statutory amounts, is in RSA 259:61 (opens in a new tab). These are the minimum figures for proof; to think through whether to carry more, see how much car insurance you need.
What can satisfy financial responsibility?
Insurance is one option, and RSA 264:21 (opens in a new tab) allows proof through any of these:
- A certificate from an insurance company or surety company covering an accident judgment.
- A continuous certificate for future financial responsibility.
- A deposit of money or securities under the chapter's deposit provisions.
- For a corporation, a showing of enough financial ability to comply with the chapter.
The proof is filed with the DMV, and the exact method depends on the notice you received and your situation. Read the notice carefully and ask the DMV which forms of proof it will accept for your case.
What happens after an uninsured crash in New Hampshire?
After a qualifying accident, the DMV may suspend your license or driving privilege, suspend your registrations and require you to surrender your plates until you furnish enough security and maintain future financial responsibility, according to the DMV Driver Manual (opens in a new tab). You may also owe the other person's property damage and medical bills.
RSA 264:3 (opens in a new tab) provides notice before a suspension, plus exceptions when qualifying coverage or other proof existed at the time of the accident. Getting your privileges back can require satisfying a judgment or getting a release, then giving and keeping proof of financial responsibility, under RSA 264:7 (opens in a new tab). Penalties depend on the accident, any judgment or conviction, and the proceeding, rather than a single flat fine.
If you've been in a crash without insurance, read every DMV notice as soon as it arrives, note the deadlines, gather the accident and judgment paperwork, and confirm your license and registration are restored before you drive again.
What does a New Hampshire policy include if you buy one?
Buying a policy brings two coverages the state builds in.
Uninsured motorist coverage. A New Hampshire auto policy generally must include coverage for insured people legally entitled to recover damages from uninsured or hit-and-run drivers for bodily injury, sickness, disease or death, under RSA 264:15 (opens in a new tab). If you buy liability limits above the statutory minimum, your uninsured motorist coverage automatically matches those limits. You can reject the coverage in writing as the named insured. That rejection applies to everyone insured and to all current and later eligible vehicles, and it stays in effect through amendments and renewals until you ask for the coverage back in writing.
Underinsured situations are handled through the same coverage. RSA 259:117 (opens in a new tab) treats the at-fault vehicle as uninsured in specified cases when its liability limits are below your uninsured motorist limits or have been reduced by payments to other injured people. For help deciding whether to keep it, see do I need uninsured motorist coverage.
Medical payments coverage. A private-passenger auto liability policy must include at least $1,000 per person in medical payments coverage for reasonable medical costs incurred within three years after injuries from an accident involving the insured vehicle, under RSA 264:16 (opens in a new tab).
Hover or tap a row to highlight it.
| Rule | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Uninsured motorist coverage | Generally included; matches liability limits above the minimum; can be rejected in writing by the named insured | RSA 264:15 (opens in a new tab) |
| Medical payments | At least $1,000 per person, for costs incurred within three years after injury | RSA 264:16 (opens in a new tab) |
| SR-22 requirement period | Generally three years under Saf-C 7504.12, subject to extensions | Saf-C 7500 (opens in a new tab) |
| SR-22 filed before suspension | No suspension under the specified rules if filed before the effective date | Saf-C 7500 (opens in a new tab) |
| SR-26 after cancellation | License and registration may be suspended 20 days after notice unless a new SR-22 is filed | Saf-C 7500 (opens in a new tab) |
Do lenders and leasing companies require insurance?
Often, yes, by contract. New Hampshire law doesn't generally require collision or comprehensive on a car you own, but a lender or lessor can require them to protect its interest in the vehicle. Financed or leased vehicles are likely to require comprehensive coverage and in many cases both comprehensive and collision, according to Chase's explanation of comprehensive insurance (opens in a new tab). Chase's loan and lease contracts require proper coverage throughout the term, even when the vehicle isn't being driven, according to its accidents and insurance FAQ (opens in a new tab).
Your own loan or lease agreement controls. Ask the lender or lessor about required liability limits, collision and comprehensive, maximum deductibles, how the lienholder or lessor must be listed, the deadline for proof, and what happens if coverage lapses.
How expensive is car insurance in New Hampshire?
Your cost depends on the coverages and limits you choose, whether you need an SR-22 filing, and whether a lender requires collision and comprehensive. Ask a licensed agent to quote the exact coverages you need, so you can see how each one affects the price.
How to check an agent or insurer and file a complaint
Before you rely on an agent's licensing claims, verify the agent and the insurer through the New Hampshire Insurance Department's licensing resources (opens in a new tab). The Department's Consumer Services Division investigates complaints and answers questions about companies and agents under the commissioner's authority, according to the Insurance Department's consumer services rule (opens in a new tab). You can reach it at 1-800-852-3416, by email at consumerservices@ins.nh.gov, by mail at 21 South Fruit Street, Suite 14, Concord, NH 03301, or through its online complaint portal.
Questions to ask an agent
- What liability limits will show on my declarations page?
- Does the policy include uninsured motorist coverage, and what form is needed if I change or reject it?
- How much medical payments coverage is included?
- Will you file my SR-22 with the DMV, and is it an owner, non-owner or both filing?
- What happens if my policy cancels and you file an SR-26?
- Does this policy satisfy my DMV notice, court order, lender or lease?
- Who is listed as lienholder or lessor?
- How can I confirm your license and the insurer's authority in New Hampshire?
Check what you know about New Hampshire car insurance requirements
New Hampshire car insurance FAQ
How long does an SR-22 last in New Hampshire?
Generally three years under Saf-C 7504.12, subject to extensions, according to the DMV's financial responsibility rules (opens in a new tab). A cancellation during that time triggers an SR-26 and possible suspension.
Can I post cash instead of buying insurance?
A deposit of money or securities is one of the ways to prove financial responsibility under RSA 264:21 (opens in a new tab). Ask the DMV which method fits the notice you received.
Does a DWI conviction mean I need proof of financial responsibility?
A conviction for driving under the influence is one of the triggers listed in RSA 264:2 (opens in a new tab). The DMV's notice will tell you what to file and by when.
Do I need insurance if my financed car is parked?
Your contract decides. Chase's contracts, for example, require coverage throughout the loan or lease even when the vehicle isn't driven, according to its accidents and insurance FAQ (opens in a new tab).
A quick checklist before you drive
Read any DMV, court or suspension notice and confirm whether an SR-22 is required. If it is, ask an authorized insurer to file it and confirm the DMV received it. Check your lender or lease contract for insurance terms, and ask your town or city clerk what to bring for registration. Keep your proof of coverage with your policy papers, and never drive after a suspension until your privileges are restored. If you're comparing rules across the region, our guides to Connecticut car insurance requirements and New York car insurance requirements cover those states.
Terms used in this guide
Tap a term to see what it means.
Financial responsibility. The ability to pay for liability from an accident in the statutory amounts, shown through insurance or another accepted method.
SR-22. A certificate an insurer files with the DMV showing you carry the required financial responsibility.
SR-26. The notice an insurer files with the DMV when a policy carrying an SR-22 cancels.
Non-owner policy. A policy for a driver who does not own a car, which may carry an SR-22 filing.
Uninsured motorist coverage. Coverage for bodily injury caused by uninsured or hit-and-run drivers, generally included in New Hampshire policies.
Medical payments coverage. Coverage for reasonable medical costs after an accident involving the insured vehicle.
Lienholder. A lender with a financial interest in the vehicle, listed on the policy.
Collision and comprehensive. Physical-damage coverages for your own car that a lender or lessor can require.
