Arkansas Auto Insurance

The state of Arkansas uses a Tort insurance system. If you cause an accident, you and your insurance company are responsible for paying for the medical expenses of all passengers injured, as well as property damages you have caused.

Minimum Liability Requirements in Arkansas

As of April 2026, Arkansas requires drivers to carry minimum liability coverage of 25/50/25 — at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability per injured person, up to $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage liability.

Source: CarInsurance.com, "US State Minimum Liability Car Insurance Requirements," updated April 15, 2026.

Average Car Insurance Premiums in Arkansas

Drivers in Arkansas pay an average of $2,563 a year for full-coverage car insurance — 12% below the national average of $2,922 a year.

Source: Experian, "Car Insurance Average Costs by State," published September 9, 2026.

About using cellphones when driving

Arkansas has taken a more aggressive stance against the use of cellphones than the better part of the rest of the country. While it is still not one of the few states to completely ban the use of mobile devices, Arkansas has ruled that text messaging is not allowed for any category of drivers, and the use of cellphones is banned for school bus drivers and teens under 18.

Teenage driving laws in Arkansas

Arkansas uses the GDL (Graduated Driver Licensing) system for all drivers between 14 and 18. The concept is meant to minimize the occurrence of high-risk situations for inexperienced drivers and, consequently, protect all traffic participants.

Arkansas uses three types of restricted licenses:

• The Instruction Permit is meant for young drivers to get hands-on experience with driving a car. They must be supervised by their parents or a licensed driver at all times.
• The Learner’s License is for kids between 14 and 16 who have passed a series of tests. Parental supervision is, again, required.
• The Intermediate Licensing is for teenagers between 16 and 18 and is the final step in getting the full-fledged Class “D” license. Parental supervision is only required for the first six months.

What happens if you drive without insurance in Arkansas

Driving without insurance in Arkansas is, according to the AR Code 27-16-301, a misdemeanor. Upon the first offense you will be fined between $50 and $250, $250 to $500 for the second one and $500 to $1,000 or a year in prison or both from the third one onwards.

AutoInsuranceQuery editorial team. Last reviewed: September 16, 2026.