New Hampshire Auto Insurance

New Hampshire follows a Tort system. If you have caused an accident, you (and your insurer) have to pay for the damages and cover the eventual medical bills of the parties involved.

Minimum insurance requirements

New Hampshire is one of the few states that doesn’t ask its drivers to own an auto insurance policy. The NH Financial Responsibility Law gives drivers the choice to either sign an insurance contract or have enough money to pay for eventual damages on their own.

The minimum recommended coverage is of:

• Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per injured passenger, up to $50,000 per accident;
• Property damage: at least $25,000;
• Uninsured motorist bodily injury: at least $25,000 per passenger, up to $50,000 per accident;
• Medical payments: $1,000 or more.

Average insurance costs in New Hampshire

New Hampshire residents pay slightly more than the national average — $1,737 as opposed to only $1,678. There are, however, many cities where you can find more affordable coverage, like $1,461 in Manchester, $1,297 in Nashua, $1,471 in Claremont, $963 in Keene, $1,145 in Concord, $1,380 in Laconia, $937 in Portsmouth or $1,560 in Derry.

About driving and using a cellphone

The state of New Hampshire has put a complete ban on text-based communication while operating a vehicle. No further restrictions are in place, but drivers are always recommended to wear a hands-free device when engaging in a phone conversation from behind the wheel.

Teenage driving regulations

New Hampshire uses the Graduated Driver License system and is open to teenagers of 16 or more. Aspiring drivers may obtain a Youth Operating License (YOP) after completing 20 hours of supervised driving and passing a vision and driving test. Several restrictions apply for provisional license holders:

• they must be supervised by a parent or legal guardian at all times;
• they may not carry more than one passenger under 25, excluding immediate family members;
• they may not drive between 1am and 5am, unless on their way to/from work or school.

Penalties for driving uninsured in New Hampshire

Since New Hampshire doesn’t specifically ask drivers to hold an insurance policy, there are no penalties for driving uninsured, provided you can afford to pay for all eventual damages.