State low-cost car insurance programs

The programs side by side

The details below come from each state's regulator or program. Prices and rules change, so confirm them with the program before you rely on them, and see the state pages for California, New Jersey, Hawaii and Maryland for how each fits into what drivers there pay.

California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program

The program's coverage page lists bodily injury liability of up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per accident and $3,000 for property damage. You can add uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage and $1,000 of medical payments. It doesn't cover theft of your car or damage to it. Those limits sit well below the regular California minimum of 30/60/15 that took effect on January 1, 2025.

To qualify you need an income within the program's limits and three years of continuous licensing, among other conditions. The premium depends on the county where you live. You can apply at mylowcostauto.com or call 866-602-8861.

New Jersey's two reduced policies

New Jersey's Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) describes two alternatives to the Standard Policy. The Special Policy for Medicaid recipients is for drivers eligible for federal Medicaid with hospitalization. It is medical-only and costs $365 a year, according to DOBI's buyer's guide. It pays for medical care after a crash but is not liability coverage for harm you cause to others.

The Basic Policy is a reduced option you can choose instead of a Standard Policy. It carries $15,000 of PIP per person per accident, up to $250,000 for certain injuries, and $5,000 of property damage liability. Bodily injury liability isn't included; $10,000 per accident is an option. It has no uninsured motorist coverage and comes with the limited right to sue.

Hawaii's coverage for drivers on public assistance

Hawaii law runs this program through the state's joint underwriting plan, which also insures drivers who can't get coverage at regular rates. Licensed drivers who receive public assistance in the form of direct cash payments, or Supplemental Security Income, can get coverage through the plan, and no premium is charged for the mandatory minimum PIP, bodily injury and property damage coverage. The uninsured and underinsured motorist offers aren't part of it.

The mandatory minimums themselves rose to 40/80/20 liability, with at least $10,000 of PIP, for policies starting or renewing on or after January 1, 2026. Ask the Hawaii Insurance Division or a licensed agent how to apply and which limits the plan coverage carries now.

Maryland's insurer of last resort

The Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund (MAIF), which does business as Maryland Auto Insurance, sells coverage to Maryland residents turned down by at least two private insurers. The Maryland Insurance Administration's comparison guide (rates as of August 1, 2026) lists MAIF premiums at the state minimum 30/60/15 and at 100/300/100; it notes that MAIF doesn't offer the 250/500/100 limits in some of its examples. Call 800-492-7120.

MAIF is not a low-income program: it exists for drivers the regular market won't take. Once your record improves, ask private insurers for quotes again. Most states handle the same problem through an assigned-risk plan instead; our guide to assigned-risk plans explains how those work.

A reduced or last-resort policy is meant as a bridge. Put a date in your calendar to check again when your income, your driving record or your car changes: a standard policy with higher limits may come within reach, and the comparison tools below show where to start.

If your state has no program

Where no program like these exists, the regular market is still the place to look, and several states publish tools that show which companies charge less for the same coverage. They aren't quotes, but they tell you whom to call first.

• Texas: HelpInsure.com, run by the Texas Department of Insurance and the Office of Public Insurance Counsel, shows policies and rates by area.
• California: the Department of Insurance's online comparison shows sample rates by company.
• Maryland: the Insurance Administration's comparison guide shows sample annual premiums for 22 driver profiles, MAIF included.
• Nevada and North Dakota: both insurance regulators publish 2026 comparisons of premiums by insurer.

Then use the levers every driver has: a higher deductible if you carry physical damage coverage, the discounts you qualify for, and a careful look at add-ons. Our guide to trimming optional coverages covers what is safe to drop and what isn't.

Questions drivers ask