The short version
Car insurance is regulated state by state, and the rules change. Our job is to take what your state actually requires — and what drivers there typically pay — and put it in language you can act on. We'd rather point you to the official source than guess, and we never invent a number to round out a page.
Where the coverage rules come from
For every state page, the part that matters most — the minimum liability limits, whether the state runs on no-fault or at-fault rules, who has to carry PIP or uninsured-motorist coverage, and what factors insurers may use to price a policy — comes from the state insurance regulator and the underlying statute. Each state page links straight to that agency (for example, the California Department of Insurance, the Texas Department of Insurance, or New York's Department of Financial Services) so you can confirm the current rule yourself. When a state changes its minimums — as several did in 2025 and 2026 — we update the page and say what changed.
How we handle the rate figures
Average premiums are a different kind of number. No agency sets them, and published averages vary depending on the driver profile and the data source. So we treat them as estimates and show them as ranges, not as a single "your rate will be" figure, and we name the kind of source behind them. What you actually pay depends on your ZIP code, your car, your record, your credit (in states that allow it), and the carrier — which is exactly why the calculator and a few real quotes beat any printed average.
See a figure that looks off? Insurance rules and rates move. If something looks out of date, email us through our contact page and we'll check it against the state source and fix it.
Our one rule on numbers
We don't fabricate. If we can confirm a state's current minimum limits against the regulator, we publish them. If a specific figure isn't clearly published or sources disagree, we explain the rule in plain terms and tell you to confirm the exact number with your state's insurance department — we don't fill the gap with a guess.
What the calculator does — and doesn't — do
The estimator gives you a ballpark monthly and annual premium based on the profile you enter and 2026 market averages. It's a starting point for sanity-checking a quote, not an offer and not a substitute for one. Real pricing comes from a carrier running your actual information.
We're not an insurance company
We don't underwrite policies and nothing here is a coverage recommendation for your specific situation. For advice about what you personally should carry, talk to a licensed agent or your state's insurance department.
How the site makes money (the honest disclosure)
AutoInsuranceCalc is free to use. Two things keep it running, and we'd rather say so plainly than pretend otherwise:
- Advertising. We display ads, which may be personalized. They're labeled as advertisements.
- Quote requests / lead generation. If you ask to compare quotes, we may pass your request to licensed insurance agents or a partner, and we may be paid for that referral. It costs you nothing, and you're never obligated to buy a policy.
Those relationships don't get to change the facts on our pages. The coverage rules and the way we describe rates are researched independently of any advertiser or referral partner.