North Dakota asks more of a minimum policy than most states: 25/50/25 liability ($25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage), $30,000 per person of basic no-fault (PIP) coverage, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of $25,000/$50,000, with UIM required to equal UM. Four mandatory coverages, per the state's financial-responsibility and no-fault statutes and the North Dakota Insurance Department.
Here's the twist: despite requiring one of the fuller coverage stacks in the country, North Dakota posted the lowest average auto insurance expenditure of any state in 2022, $729 per the NAIC, against a $1,127 countrywide average. Low traffic density and low claim costs do a lot of that work. But a low average doesn't mean uniform prices: carriers still rate the same Fargo or Bismarck driver differently, which is what comparing quotes is for.
The figures below explain the policy structure used in North Dakota. They do not predict an individual premium. For a broader view of how state rules differ, use our national car insurance directory.
North Dakota minimum car insurance requirements
Most quotes begin with liability coverage. Bodily injury liability addresses covered injury claims made by other people when you cause a crash. Property damage liability addresses covered damage to their vehicles or other property. The legal minimum keeps a policy compliant, but it does not say how much financial risk a household can comfortably retain.
- Coverage
- Bodily injury liability, one person
- Required amount or rule
- $25,000
- What it generally addresses
- Covered injuries to one other person
- Coverage
- Bodily injury liability, one accident
- Required amount or rule
- $50,000
- What it generally addresses
- Total covered injuries in one accident
- Coverage
- Property damage liability
- Required amount or rule
- $25,000
- What it generally addresses
- Covered damage you cause to other property
- Coverage
- PIP or medical coverage
- Required amount or rule
- $30,000 basic no-fault (PIP) per person
- What it generally addresses
- Initial covered injury benefits under the no-fault system
- Coverage
- Additional state rule
- Required amount or rule
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage of $25,000/$50,000 required; UIM limits must equal UM limits
- What it generally addresses
- Review the selection or rejection shown on the quote
- Coverage
- Accident framework
- Required amount or rule
- No-fault
- What it generally addresses
- Your own injury coverage may respond first
- Coverage
- SR-22 filing
- Required amount or rule
- Used in this state
- What it generally addresses
- Applies only when ordered after qualifying events
| Coverage | Required amount or rule | What it generally addresses |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability, one person | $25,000 | Covered injuries to one other person |
| Bodily injury liability, one accident | $50,000 | Total covered injuries in one accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 | Covered damage you cause to other property |
| PIP or medical coverage | $30,000 basic no-fault (PIP) per person | Initial covered injury benefits under the no-fault system |
| Additional state rule | Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage of $25,000/$50,000 required; UIM limits must equal UM limits | Review the selection or rejection shown on the quote |
| Accident framework | No-fault | Your own injury coverage may respond first |
| SR-22 filing | Used in this state | Applies only when ordered after qualifying events |
What the state minimum covers, and what it leaves with you
A minimum policy is designed to satisfy state law. It is not designed around the value of your car, the size of a possible injury claim or the amount of savings you want to protect. Those are household decisions, so they need a separate review.
A financed or leased vehicle commonly needs collision and comprehensive coverage under the contract even when state law does not require them. For plain-language definitions and buying context, visit our insurance guides before selecting limits.
Rules and risks that matter in North Dakota
State law is only the starting point. These North Dakota-specific details show what to confirm before you compare coverage or buy a policy.
How North Dakota's no-fault coverage works
North Dakota is one of roughly a dozen no-fault jurisdictions, and much smaller than most of the others. After a crash, your own policy's basic no-fault benefits pay your economic losses, medical expenses, work loss, and similar costs, up to $30,000 per person, regardless of who caused the accident. That keeps smaller injury claims out of court entirely.
Fault still matters for everything else: vehicle damage claims and lawsuits for serious injuries run through the at-fault driver's liability coverage. The no-fault system limits suits for non-economic damages like pain and suffering to injuries that cross the statutory seriousness threshold.
Why UM and UIM are built in
Unlike most states, North Dakota doesn't leave uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to choice, both are required at $25,000/$50,000 minimum, and your UIM limit must match your UM limit. UM pays when the at-fault driver has no insurance (including hit-and-run scenarios); UIM covers the shortfall when their limits can't cover your injuries.
Nationally, 15.4% of drivers were uninsured in 2023 (Insurance Research Council). North Dakota's mandate means the minimum policy already answers that risk, the open question worth shopping is what each carrier charges to raise those limits alongside your liability coverage.
SR-22s in North Dakota
North Dakota does use SR-22 filings, formally, a certificate of financial responsibility your insurer files with the Department of Transportation (the state's form SFN 2243) after a DUI or certain suspensions. The filing period is typically set by the offense, and a coverage lapse during it triggers re-suspension.
The certificate itself costs little; the violation behind it is what moves premiums. Because carriers price an SR-22 history very differently, some specialize in it, some surcharge heavily, drivers who need a filing tend to see the widest quote spreads in the state.
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Start a North Dakota quote requestWhat affects car insurance rates in North Dakota?
Average annual expenditure for auto insurance in North Dakota was $729 in 2022, per the NAIC, the lowest of any state that year. This is a historical statewide expenditure benchmark from NAIC 2022 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement (June 2024). It combines many types of drivers and policies, so it should be used for market context rather than as a current quote estimate.
Insurers apply their filed rating plans to the household in front of them. Two neighbors can see different prices, and the same household can receive a wide range from different companies because each insurer weighs the inputs differently.
Garaging location
Claim frequency, traffic, repair costs, theft and weather exposure vary across North Dakota ZIP codes.
Drivers and record
Age, driving experience, citations, accidents, claims and continuous insurance history can affect price and eligibility.
Vehicle and use
Repair technology, vehicle value, annual mileage, commute and business use change the potential cost of a claim.
Coverage choices
Liability limits, collision, comprehensive, optional benefits and deductibles determine what the policy is being asked to pay.
Household details
Other licensed drivers, additional vehicles and bundling opportunities can change the account-level price.
Company fit
Insurers target different customer profiles. No one company is consistently cheapest for every driver in every territory.
Before you switch
Read the declarations, not only the price.
The declarations page shows drivers, vehicles, limits, deductibles and selected benefits. Match those fields before deciding that one quote is better.
Learn how a quote becomes a policy →How to compare North Dakota car insurance quotes
Keep the drivers, vehicles, limits, deductibles, dates and payment method the same. Then compare the full-term cost and change only one choice at a time.
Compare insurance companies on price, coverage and service
A familiar name is not automatically the best fit. Compare how each insurer sells and services policies, which optional programs it offers and whether it writes your profile in North Dakota. Availability and underwriting can vary by state.
See how Progressive sells and services policies →
See how GEICO sells and services policies →
See how State Farm sells and services policies →
See how Allstate sells and services policies →Company marks link to independent editorial reviews. They do not identify quote partners or a personalized match.
Browse all company reviews →Compare car insurance by North Dakota city
State law applies across North Dakota, but the garaging address can add a more local rating layer. Use a city guide to review ZIP related factors, vehicle details and the quote worksheet, then return here for the state requirement source.
Check the facts
Rules and market data used on this North Dakota page
The minimum-coverage table is paired with a first-party state reference, and the legal authority named in the guide is N.D.C.C. §39-16.1-11; N.D.C.C. ch. 26.1-41 (no-fault); North Dakota Insurance Department. Historical premium context is labeled by year and linked to the underlying publication. These sources do not replace a policy contract or individualized legal advice; rules and forms can change, so confirm current requirements with the regulator, insurer or a licensed professional.
State requirement source
North Dakota Insurance Department — Auto insurance ↗Official consumer page covering North Dakota auto insurance requirements and no-fault benefits.
Historical market data
NAIC — 2022 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement ↗Historical statewide average-expenditure data published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in June 2024.
Regulator directory
NAIC — State insurance department directory ↗Directory of state insurance regulators for current consumer guidance, licensing checks and complaints.
Checked by Show my rates · Last updated August 3, 2026
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