Insurance
Liability-Only Car Insurance
Published September 24, 2026 · Last updated October 1, 2026
Advertiser disclosure: AssistQuote may be paid when you visit or do business with a partner through our links. The provider sets your price. How we make money
The short answer
Liability-only car insurance pays for injuries and damage you cause to other people. It doesn't pay to fix or replace your own car. It's the cheapest way to meet most states' legal requirements, and it can make sense for an older, paid-off car.
Here's what liability covers, what it leaves out, and a simple test for deciding whether it's enough for you.
- No phone number neededSee costs and options before you share any contact details.
- Real price ranges, with sourcesWe name where every number comes from and when it was published.
- You choose who to contactWe show options. You decide if, when and who to reach out to.
We never ask for a Social Security number, date of birth or documents.
What liability insurance covers
Liability has two parts:
- Bodily injury liability pays for injuries you, or family members on your policy, cause to someone else. That includes their medical bills, and it helps if you're sued after a serious crash.
- Property damage liability pays for damage you cause to someone else's property, like their car, a fence, or a building. It also covers someone driving your car with your permission.
Your limits are usually written as three numbers. For example, 30/60/25 means $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per crash for injuries, and $25,000 for property damage.
What liability-only doesn't cover
This is the big trade-off. With liability only, you're on your own for:
- Your car's damage after a crash you cause. That's what collision coverage pays for.
- Theft, hail, flood, fire, vandalism, or hitting a deer. That's what comprehensive coverage pays for. Learn what comprehensive covers.
- Your own injuries, in many states, unless you add medical payments, personal injury protection, or uninsured motorist coverage.
People often call a policy with liability, collision, and comprehensive "full coverage." It isn't an official term, but that's what most people mean.
The 10-times test: is liability-only enough?
The Insurance Information Institute offers a simple rule of thumb. If your car is worth less than 10 times what you pay each year for collision and comprehensive, those coverages may not be worth it.
Example: your car is worth $4,000. Collision and comprehensive cost you $600 a year. Ten times $600 is $6,000, which is more than the car is worth. Dropping to liability-only may make sense.
Liability-only may fit if:
- Your car is older and paid off
- You could afford to repair or replace it yourself
- You have other transportation if it's totaled
Keep full coverage if:
- You have a loan or lease. Your lender usually requires collision and comprehensive until the loan is paid off.
- Your car is worth a lot, or you couldn't replace it
- You live where hail, floods, or theft are common
A middle path: keep collision and comprehensive but raise your deductibles. The Insurance Information Institute says going from a $200 to a $500 deductible can cut those costs by 15% to 30%. A $1,000 deductible can save 40% or more.
Don't go too low on the liability itself
Dropping collision and comprehensive is one thing. Cutting your liability limits to the bare minimum is another. State minimums are often low compared with today's medical bills and car prices. If you cause a serious crash and the costs go past your limits, you could owe the rest.
Higher liability limits often cost less than people expect. Ask for quotes at a few levels.
What your state requires
Liability requirements vary by state. A few examples:
- Texas: 30/60/25. See Texas car insurance.
- California: 30/60/15. See California car insurance.
- Florida: doesn't require bodily injury liability. It requires $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 in property damage liability. See Florida car insurance.
- New Hampshire: doesn't require most drivers to buy insurance at all. See New Hampshire car insurance.
Not a quote or an offer. Your price comes from the insurance company.
Keep reading
Trying to cut costs? See how to lower car insurance. Have savings to protect? See umbrella insurance.
More car insurance guides: Car insurance cost · SR-22 insurance · High-risk car insurance · Car insurance for teens · How to lower car insurance · What affects your auto insurance price · What comprehensive covers · Car insurance without a car · Umbrella insurance · All car insurance
Why AssistQuote is different
On some websites
They ask who you are first
Some forms want your name and phone number before they show you anything useful. You may not know which companies will get it, or how many will call.
Here, you choose
Answer a few questions without giving your name, email or phone number. See prices, what to ask, and providers to explore. You choose who to contact and what to share with them.
- 1
Check local costs
See typical price ranges for your area and what moves the price up or down.
- 2
Tell us what you need
Answer a few questions about the work, not about who you are.
- 3
You decide what's next
Save or email your options, or visit a provider when you're ready.
Cost information is not a live rate, quote or offer. A provider shown here is not an endorsement. Each provider sets its own prices, privacy and contact rules.
Questions people ask
Ready to see liability-only car insurance options in your area?
Start with your ZIP code. You will see typical local costs and options to explore. No phone number, email or name needed to look.
You choose if, when and who to contact.
Related services
Boat Insurance
Compare boat and watercraft coverage options.
Motorcycle Insurance
Explore motorcycle coverage options for riders.
RV Insurance
Explore coverage options for motorhomes and travel trailers.
SR-22 Insurance
See what an SR-22 filing is, how long your state requires it, and how to avoid a lapse.