New Hampshire Car Insurance: Coverage, Cost, & Best Options

Having car insurance can give you peace of mind in the event of an accident, theft, vandalism, or natural disaster damage to your car in New Hampshire. Car insurance is a service for which policyholders pay a yearly charge in exchange for reimbursement of some or all of the costs connected with vehicular mishaps. This article entails everything you need to know about New Hampshire car insurance: the law, companies, rates, and requirements needed to get it. Enjoy the ride!

What Is Car Insurance in New Hampshire?

Insurance for your car in New Hampshire is essentially a contract between you and the insurance provider; you pay a premium in exchange for financial protection in the event of an accident or other damage to your car. Coverage provided by car insurance may include:

Collision with another vehicle or property damage to your own car.
Accidents can result in both property damage and personal injury.
The costs of treatment and burial for accident-related injuries.

The specifics of what is covered are determined by your state’s required minimums as well as any optional extras you may select. Except for New Hampshire, drivers are obligated to carry certain levels of liability insurance in all other states.

New Hampshire Car Insurance Rates

Rates and deductibles are the two main outlays of cash when it comes to car insurance in New Hampshire. The rates of car insurance in New Hampshire depend on a number of variables, including the policyholder’s age, gender, driving history (including accidents and traffic violations), and more. It bears repeating that most states have minimum car insurance requirements. Although the legal minimum varies from state to state, many people choose to buy more coverage.

Furthermore, if you’re financing a car, the lender may require you to have specific coverage. For instance, if you’re buying a luxury car that’s going to lose a lot of its value as soon as you drive it off the lot, gap insurance might be a good idea. If you’re in an accident and your car is totaled, gap insurance can help you pay off the remaining balance between what your car is worth and what you owe on the loan.

Higher car insurance rates in New Hampshire are the result of factors such as a poor driving record or the pursuit of comprehensive coverage. However, if you’re willing to accept more risk by raising your deductible, you can lower your car insurance rates in New Hampshire. To get any money from your insurance company after submitting a claim, you must first pay your deductible. Your policy’s deductible could be $500 or $1,000. To reap the premium savings from accepting a larger deductible, you should be confident that you can pay for it in the event of a claim.

How Does New Hampshire Car Insurance Work?

If you pay your premiums on time, the insurance company will cover any damages you incur in accordance with the terms of your policy. Since the cost of each policy is determined independently, you can tailor the level of protection to your demands and your budget. Most policies have a renewable six- or twelve-month period. When it is time for a policyholder to renew and pay another premium, the insurance company will send a reminder notice.

Whether or not they mandate a minimum level of vehicle insurance, nearly every state requires car owners to have bodily injury liability. This type of insurance protects you financially if you or another motorist cause bodily damage or death to someone else. Property damage liability, which pays for repairs to other people’s cars or other property if you or someone driving your car damages it, may also be required.

Medical payments insurance, often known as personal injury protection (PIP), pays for medical care for you and your passengers if you are in a car accident. This is required by law in a number of jurisdictions. Lost salaries and other costs will be compensated for as well. When an accident is caused by a motorist who does not carry car insurance, uninsured motorist coverage will compensate you for your losses. The purpose of underinsured motorist coverage is to protect you in the event of a collision with a driver who has some insurance but not enough to pay for your damages.

Who Does New Hampshire Car Insurance Coverage Protect?

If you or a family member are listed as a driver on someone else’s car insurance policy and that person gives you permission to use their car, you will be covered. If someone who is not listed on your policy borrows your car with your permission, they will also be covered.

There is no commercial use covered by personal auto insurance. You will not be covered if you use your vehicle for profit, such as delivery services. Neither will it cover you if you use your vehicle for commercial purposes, such as giving rides through an app. There are now supplementary insurance packages available from some insurance companies that, for a fee, broaden the protections afforded to car owners who offer ride-sharing services.

New Hampshire Car Insurance Requirements

Although car insurance is not mandated by law in New Hampshire, you must be prepared to demonstrate proof of financial responsibility if you are found legally responsible for another person’s injuries or property damage. If you are at fault in an accident, liability insurance can help you safeguard your finances. The following are the New Hampshire car insurance requirements according to the law:

Each victim is protected by a $25,000 bodily injury cap.
Maximum per-accident bodily injury liability of $50,000
Limit of Responsibility for Property Damage per Vehicle: $25,000.

Best Car Insurance Companies in New Hampshire

If you’re a New Hampshire resident and you’re looking for information on the best car insurance in New Hampshire, you’ve come to the right place! The following are some of the best car insurance companies in New Hampshire:

#1. State Farm

Our research showed that State Farm is the top choice for New Hampshire motorists due to the company’s competitive rates and stellar reputation. The insurer offers competitive rates for new drivers, including a student discount of up to 25 percent. State Farm’s Steer Clear® program offers discounts on car insurance to safe drivers of any age, including those with less experience behind the wheel.

#2. USAA: Military Discounts

USAA offers some of the most competitive rates in New Hampshire for both comprehensive and liability coverage. However, USAA insurance is available only to active duty service members, veterans, and their families. In addition to competitive rates, the company provides numerous price breaks to qualified motorists and students.

#3. Geico

Geico, which is the second-biggest car insurance company in the U.S., has some of the best deals on car insurance in New Hampshire. The company provides several discounts for things like having safety equipment on your vehicle, maintaining a perfect driving record, and getting good grades. Safe drivers can take advantage of the company’s DriveEasy program, which rewards them with cheaper insurance rates.

#4. Progressive

High-risk drivers who have problems getting insurance elsewhere often find it at Progressive. Even if you have a DUI on your record or poor credit, you shouldn’t have any trouble buying car insurance with Progressive.

What are New Hampshire’s Uninsured Motorist Laws?

According to the Insurance Information Institute, more than 6% of New Hampshire drivers were uninsured in 2019. Moreover, the following minimal limitations apply to physical injury and property damage caused by uninsured and underinsured motorists if you purchase car insurance in New Hampshire.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage of $25,000.
Bodily injury caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist is limited to $50,000 per incident.
Medical cost coverage of $1,000 per person is also mandatory in New Hampshire. Payments for medical care are available in the event of an insured accident.

Consider Comprehensive and Collision Coverage

If you’re leasing or financing your vehicle, your lender will almost certainly insist that you carry both comprehensive and collision coverage. If your automobile is stolen, vandalized, or destroyed in a covered accident, these policies will pay to repair or replace it, even if you’ve already paid off the loan.

Does New Hampshire Mandate Car Insurance?

You are not required to get car insurance in New Hampshire, but you will need to show proof that you can pay your fair share of damages if you cause an accident. Protect yourself financially in the event that you cause an accident or other type of liability by purchasing auto insurance.

What Kinds of Cars Do New Hampshire Drivers Need to Have Insurance on?

The only people who are required to obtain liability insurance in New Hampshire are those who have been convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI) or reckless driving on multiple occasions. The same holds true for uninsured drivers who have been judged at fault for an accident or anyone who has been convicted of fleeing the scene of an accident. When these conditions apply, drivers in New Hampshire must maintain the state’s minimum level of liability insurance for three years.

When Should I Get Car Insurance in New Hampshire?

Having liability insurance is not mandatory in New Hampshire, although it is highly recommended. Those who choose to insure their vehicles must do so before registering them.

What Happens if My Car is Not Properly Insured in New Hampshire?

Since New Hampshire is a “fault” state, drivers who are determined to be at fault in an accident and who do not have auto insurance will be held financially responsible for all medical bills and repair costs that result from the incident. Some New Hampshire drivers are compelled to get car insurance because of their long driving records.

How Many New Hampshire Drivers Go Without Insurance?

The Insurance Research Council estimates that about 6% of New Hampshire drivers do not have auto insurance. That’s why it’s important to have insurance to cover the damage they do to you, whether it’s medical payment coverage (MedPay), collision insurance, or uninsured motorist protection (UIM).

New Hampshire’s Insurance Laws and the Consequences of Driving Without Coverage

Unless the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles mandates you to carry SR-22 insurance, you will not face any penalties for driving without auto insurance in New Hampshire because the state does not have mandated insurance legislation. SR-22 mandates that your insurance provider verify your insurance coverage with the state.

Your license and registration will be suspended until the SR-22 requirement is fulfilled if you are subject to such a requirement and are caught driving without insurance.

When Is it Legal in New Hampshire to Declare a Car a Total Loss?

Insurance companies in New Hampshire can consider a car a total loss if the cost to repair it exceeds 75% of the car’s retail value or if it is deemed “physically or economically impractical to repair” after an incident like an accident or flood.

What Car Insurance is Required in New Hampshire?

Only two states in the United States do not mandate vehicle insurance, and New Hampshire is one of them. You could lose your license if you get into an accident and don’t have enough money to cover the costs of repairs. However, the state does demand that some financial responsibility criteria be completed.

Car coverage is the most convenient option to safeguard yourself and other drivers on the road. There is required coverage at the state level for drivers in New Hampshire. Both Property Damage and Bodily Injury must be included in your insurance. Bodily Injury must have a minimum limit of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, and Property Damage must have a minimum limit of $25,000. Medical Payments coverage of at least $1,000 and Uninsured Motorist coverage with amounts equal to your BI coverage are also required. When it comes to car insurance, most people choose to carry more than the bare minimum required by law.

New Hampshire Teen Driving Laws

New Hampshire law states that teen drivers can get behind the wheel at age 15 and a half with a licensed adult over the age of 25 sitting in the front passenger seat. No one can legally operate a motor vehicle without carrying evidence of age.

Teens in New Hampshire who are 16 or older who have completed a state-approved driver education course and who have documented 40 hours of supervised driving practice are eligible to apply for a Youth Operator License. There should be at least 10 hours of nocturnal driving time included. The applicant must pay the $50 application fee, and take and pass a vision test, a written test, and a driver’s road test before being issued a license.

Drivers under the age of 18 who hold a Youth Operator License are not permitted on the roads between the hours of 1:00 and 4:00. Unless accompanied by a licensed driver aged 25 or older, they may not carry more than one passenger under the age of 25 who is not a member of their immediate family for the first six months after receiving their license.

The “Under 21 until [date]” text runs vertically rather than horizontally across the New Hampshire Youth Operator License. It’s valid only until the 21st birthday, after which the holder can apply for a standard license.

New Hampshire Registration Information

If you bought the car from a New Hampshire dealer, you’ll need to register it in the town or city where you live by presenting the blue town clerk’s copy of the Title Application and your evidence of residency. If you purchased a titled vehicle (1989 or newer) from a private party, you must register it with the municipal office in the city or town where you currently reside.

What Other Insurance Should I Buy in New Hampshire?

Protection against drivers who aren’t properly insured. When you get into an accident with someone who doesn’t have liability insurance or doesn’t have enough liability insurance, these policies will help pay for your medical bills. Your New Hampshire car insurer must also provide you with both UM and UIM coverage in the event that you live in the Granite State. Umbrella and excess coverage can be declined formally in writing. However, these are the kinds of insurance protection that should be prioritized.

All-inclusive and collision insurance, essentially. Together, these policies protect against a wide variety of threats, such as traffic mishaps, theft, vandalism, riots, animal encounters, falling objects, floods, fires, and hail. Your car loan or lease agreement will almost certainly stipulate that you have collision and comprehensive insurance.

Safe Driver Discount in New Hampshire

Many jurisdictions mandate that insurers provide some form of auto insurance discount. Insurance companies in the Granite State are obligated to provide a discount for safe drivers depending on the number of years they have gone without tickets or accidents. A driving violation or collision can trigger these repercussions. Safe driver discounts in New Hampshire can save motorists anywhere from 5 percent to 20 percent.

Do I Need Coverage for Drivers Who Don’t Have Insurance in New Hampshire?

Since car insurance is optional in New Hampshire, those who choose to carry it must also buy uninsured motorist coverage.

Does New Hampshire Mandate that You Have Liability Insurance?

In case you were wondering, car insurance is not mandatory in the state of New Hampshire. However, anyone wanting to obtain insurance must purchase at least minimal liability coverage.

Can I Use My Electronic Health Insurance Card in New Hampshire?

A digital copy of a New Hampshire driver’s insurance ID card is a valid proof of coverage. If you have a digital insurance card, you can use it to prove your coverage at the DMV or in court if you get pulled over. Get in touch with your health insurance company and ask if they offer a digital ID.

Final Thoughts

Even if your state doesn’t mandate car insurance, it’s still a good idea to get a policy if you own a car because it might save you a lot of money and stress in the event of an accident. It’s important to compare car insurance quotes in New Hampshire to acquire the protection you need at an affordable price.