The Granite State is among one of two states that allows motorists to choose to drive motor vehicles without having a car insurance policy in place. The other state is Virginia; however, residents must pay an Uninsured Motor Vehicle (UMV) fee in VA in order to operate in the state without automobile coverage. NH does not require such a fee to be paid, but does require motorists to be financially responsible for bodily injury and/or property damage that they may cause as a result of a traffic accident.
In many cases, the cost of automobile policies can be much cheaper than the expenses arising from traffic accidents and it is often suggested to purchase New Hampshire auto insurance coverage rather than choosing to drive uninsured, since doing so can prove to be costly. If a motorist is found to be at-fault for causing a traffic accident where another party is injured or sustains property damage, the uninsured motorist will be held liable and if the other party files a lawsuit, a court order can be issued requiring the uninsured to pay for damages by utilizing assets of their own. If the motorist had been insured, the automobile policy would have covered these costs up to the limits purchased.
Even though the Granite State does not mandate that motorist be insured while operating a vehicle, the state does, however, have a set minimum on the level of coverage that must be obtained for those that choose to purchase auto insurance. Vehicle policies must consist of liability limits of at least $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for bodily injury to two or more persons and $25,000 for property damage. This will cover the medical expenses of another party injured and the repair or replacement of property that is caused by the insured in their car up to the policy limits.
In addition, according to the Guide to Understanding Auto Insurance in the Granite State, New Hampshire Statutes, NH RSA 264:15 and NH RSA 264:16 also require motorist who purchase policies to also obtain Uninsured Motorist coverage to pay for injuries that an “insured” may sustain if involved in an accident with an individual who is operating a vehicle uncovered or a hit-and-run driver. The limits must be in the amount of $25,000 for one person and $50,000 per accident and must match the liabiltiy limits acquired. The statutes also mandate that consumers obtain Medical Payments in an amount of no less than $1,000 to pay for the insured’s injuries resulting from traffic accidents; this will pay regardless of fault. These are the absolute minimums required by the state and higher limits and additional coverage may be purchased.
Source: http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/new-hampshire/
