Nevada car insurance laws

Nevada requires that drivers carry at least 25/50/20.

These limits are in place to ease the financial burden for drivers who cause an accident and for the victims. The at-fault driver knows their insurer will cover medical expenses and property damage up to a certain amount, and victims can more readily access funds to pay for accident costs.

However, coverage limits are very low and will not cover expenses from a serious accident. To be better protected, Nevada drivers should consider increasing liability limits and adding coverage, such as collision and comprehensive.

Nevada car insurance requirements

Nevada requires the following coverage:

Liability. There are two parts to liability coverage. First, bodily injury liability pays medical costs associated with an accident, such as doctor visits, surgery, and prescriptions. Second, property damage liability covers repairing or replacing items such as vehicles, fences, or buildings.

Nevada liability minimums are 25/50/20.

The average cost of a minimum coverage policy is $908. However, GEICO has the lowest minimum car insurance rates, averaging $586.

The table below shows the top insurers' average rates for minimum coverage in Nevada.

CompanyAverage annual premiumAverage monthly premium
GEICO$586$49
Mercury Insurance$603$50
Travelers$739$62
Progressive$749$62
American Family$949$79
State Farm$1,250$104
Farmers$1,305$109
Allstate$1,449$121
CSAA Insurance (AAA)$1,721$143
USAA$540$45

Nevada car insurance cost for minimum coverage limits

On average, state minimum car insurance costs $908. Car insurance rates for minimum coverage vary by company and driver. The table below shows average rates for drivers with minimum coverage in Nevada.

The cheapest company for minimum coverage in Nevada is GEICO at an average rate of $586 annually.

State minimum coverage limit25/50/20
Average annual premium$908
Average monthly premium$76

Are the Nevada minimum coverage requirements changing in 2025?

Nevada car insurance requirements will not change in 2025. You do not need to make any changes if you have minimum coverage. If mandatory coverage changes in the future, your insurer will inform you, along with any rate changes.

Why do limits change?

"Several states have minimum requirements of property damage of $10,000-$25,000," says Zack Pope, agency manager at David Pope Insurance in Missouri. "[Given] the current values of vehicles, that's extremely antiquated values of coverage and a main reason that I personally do not offer less than 100/300/100 to customers. It is significantly easier to see a car on the road that is valued at $100,000 than it has been in the past."

What does minimum car insurance cover in Nevada?

Nevada requires drivers to carry at least a minimum amount of car insurance to help offset accident costs.

Nevada drivers are required to carry liability coverage. Bodily injury liability helps pay for injuries you cause to others in an accident. Property damage liability covers items damaged in an accident, such as another vehicle, fence, or other property.

PEOPLE ASK:

Is Nevada minimum car insurance enough?

It may not be. Even a moderately serious accident could exceed the state minimum limits of 25/50/20, and minimum coverage may not cover all accident costs. Furthermore, state minimums do not cover your vehicle; you need to add comprehensive and collision coverage.

How much car insurance is enough in Nevada?

Car insurance isn't one size fits all. The amount of coverage you need depends on your assets, net worth and risk level.

For example, if you are financially stable and can afford to pay out of pocket for medical costs and repairs, you may keep insurance limits low. However, you may be sued for the cost difference if you have a sizeable net worth and don't carry enough insurance to cover expenses.

Additionally, if you drive very little or have a short commute, your chances of causing an accident are relatively low. Also, you may choose to skip coverages such as collision and comprehensive if your car isn't worth much, or you can afford to pay for a new vehicle if yours is damaged. However, if you have a loan or lease you will be required to carry this coverage by your lender.

Consider your financial situation when determining how much car insurance you need.

Nevada penalties for driving without car insurance

Since Nevada requires its drivers to carry car insurance, failing to do so has consequences. Although you may be tempted to skip coverage to save money, you'll wind up paying heavily in the long run.

Failing to carry Nevada car insurance has penalties including those listed below. Keep in mind that repeated infractions have more severe penalties, such as jail time.

Fines$250-$1,250
Other penaltiesLicense and registration suspension
Jail timeNo

Nevada minimum coverage cost by age group

Younger drivers pay for more car insurance because they lack experience behind the wheel. Fortunately, rates decrease as drivers age.

The table below breaks down the cost of car insurance for various age groups. GEICO has the best rates for teens with minimum coverage averaging $2,320. GEICO offers the cheapest coverage for adults at $595.

Additionally, females and males pay different rates. The average rate for a 40-year-old female is $931, and the average rate for a 40-year-old male is $886, a difference of $45.

Male
CompanyMale annual premiumMale monthly premium
GEICO$3,473$289
American Family$3,968$331
Travelers$4,538$378
Progressive$4,741$395
Mercury Insurance$5,251$438
CSAA Insurance (AAA)$5,573$464
State Farm$5,786$482
Allstate$10,211$851
Farmers$10,679$890
USAA$2,524$210
CompanyFemale annual premiumFemale monthly premium
Travelers$3,356$280
American Family$3,639$303
GEICO$3,778$315
Progressive$4,309$359
State Farm$4,536$378
CSAA Insurance (AAA)$5,580$465
Mercury Insurance$5,708$476
Farmers$9,455$788
Allstate$9,853$821
USAA$2,498$208

Nevada minimum coverage cost by city

Elko drivers pay the least for minimum coverage in Nevada at $593. However, Las Vegas pay the most at $1,323.

Car insurance rates vary by city. For example, drivers in larger cities with a high traffic volume or vehicle theft rate pay higher rates.

The table below shows average minimum coverage rates for cities in Nevada.

CityAverage annual premiumAverage monthly premium
Boulder City$964$80
Elko$593$49
Fernley$595$50
Henderson$1,150$96
Las Vegas$1,323$110
Mesquite$819$68
North Las Vegas$1,299$108
Reno$737$61
Sparks$747$62

Optional car insurance coverage in Nevada

Nevada requires drivers to carry car insurance to pay for injuries and damages caused to others. However, drivers don't have to carry coverage for their vehicle unless required by a loan or lease.

Drivers may choose optional coverages such as:

  • Collision. Collision coverage pays for damages to your vehicle if you cause an accident.
  • Comprehensive. This coverage pays for damages to your car unrelated to an accident, such as fire, flood, falling debris, and hail.
  • Rental car coverage. This pays for a rental car if your vehicle is being repaired for a covered claim and usually has time and cost limits.
  • Roadside assistance. If you run out of gas, need a tire changed, or have a dead battery roadside assistance will send someone to help.
  • Gap. Gap coverage pays the difference between what you owe on a car loan and the vehicle's value.

Insurance.com commissioned state minimum car insurance rates from Quadrant Information Systems based on a 40-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving history, driving a 2023 Honda Accord LX. Rates are based on all coverages required by law at minimum coverage limits. Rates were also fielded for various additional age groups. State laws were gathered from state DMV and insurance department websites.

FAQ: Nevada car insurance laws and requirements

Is it mandatory to have car insurance in Nevada?

Yes, Nevada requires that you carry at least the minimum mandatory coverage. Necessary coverage includes 25/50/20.

Will my bare minimum car insurance cover me in another state?

Yes, your car insurance covers claims in another state, even if the minimums are higher in the other state.

What happens if I drive without car insurance in Nevada?

If you're caught driving without car insurance in Nevada, you may face fines, a driver's license suspension, having your vehicle impounded, and increased car insurance rates. Additionally, you may face jail time, especially for multiple violations.

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