Auto Insurance In New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a bit of an anomaly when it comes to auto insurance: you actually aren’t legally required to have it, and you don’t even have to pay an annual fee if you don’t. This is different from South Carolina, where you must pay the state a $550 fee if you don’t; and Virginia, where you must pay the state a $500 fee if you don’t.
Tort System in Auto Insurance in New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, the person who is legally at fault is required to pay for the wreck. If the person has insurance, the insurance will cover it, otherwise the person must pay for the cost out of his or her own pocket. For more information, you can call the N.H. Department of Insurance at 1-800-852-3416. If you do have auto insurance in New Hampshire, you must have a minimum coverage of 25/50/25, which means: $25,000 per person, up to $50,000 for total coverage per wreck, and $25,000 for property damage liability. A $75,000 single limit policy will also suffice for meeting the basic requirements for auto insurance in New Hampshire. You also have an annual car check in the Granite State, and you’re required to meet a New Hampshire Financial Responsibility requirement in order to continue owning and driving a vehicle there. When you sign up for auto insurance in New Hampshire, you must sign and show that you are a resident. A false claim can come with a stiff penalty — up to one year of imprisonment and a $2,000 fine. It’s imperative that you write down the correct information, both when you sign up for insurance and when you file a claim.
What Coverage Should You Have for Auto Insurance in New Hampshire?
The bodily injury liability coverage should cover the medical expense and legal defense costs for the person found to be at fault. On the other hand, collision covers the damage sustained on your vehicle if you’re at fault. Comprehensive insures your vehicle in cases other than a wreck. If you want to keep your premiums low but have a slightly higher risk factor, you can avoid collision and comprehensive auto insurance in New Hampshire. If you obtain your vehicle for personal use, $1,000 medical coverage is required. If you have a good health insurance policy, you may not want to increase the limit. But if you don’t have health insurance you could consider checking into purchasing a medical payment coverage.
Keeping Auto Insurance in New Hampshire Rates Low
How do you obtain the cheapest auto insurance in New Hampshire? Start out with some of the basics: drive carefully and avoid a lead foot. Driving in New Hampshire and other New England states can be especially dangerous in the winter, when there can even be snow storms as late as March or April. Try to be responsible in other areas of your life as well: keep a good credit score and if you’re a student, maintain solid grades. Underwriters consider past claim history, your driving record and perhaps even your credit score. Since the premium amount will vary based on the type of car, try to find out how much a car will cost to insure in that area. If you can, obtain your car insurance and homeowner’s/renter’s insurance from the same company and ask for a discounted rate for doing so. You can also receive a discounted rate for auto insurance in New Hampshire for being a good driver, a good student, having an anti-theft device, for insuring more than one vehicle and for maintaining a low annual mileage. Type in your zip code at the top of the page to get your specific car insurance quote.