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Louisiana is an at-fault (tort) state. Drivers must carry at least 15/30/25 in coverage, and the average full-coverage premium is $3,322 a year, 14% above the national average of $2,922. This guide covers what Louisiana requires, what drivers pay, the rules on fault, uninsured drivers, penalties, teen drivers and phone use, and how to pay less.
| Minimum coverage | 15/30/25 |
| Fault system | At-fault (tort) |
| Average full coverage | $3,322 a year ($277 a month), 14% above the national average of $2,922 |
| Uninsured drivers | 11.7% (2023), the 32nd highest rate of 51 |
| Filing after serious violations | SR-22 |
Louisiana requires $15,000 bodily injury liability per person, $30,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage liability, among the lowest bodily injury minimums in the country (CarInsurance.com, "US State Minimum Liability Car Insurance Requirements," updated April 15, 2026).
The minimums are a legal floor, not a recommendation. Property damage limits in particular don't go far when a new car can cost more than the limit to replace, and anything above your limits is your personal responsibility. See how limits and deductibles work and every type of coverage explained.
The average full-coverage premium in Louisiana is $3,322 a year, 14% above the national average of $2,922. That makes Louisiana the 11th most expensive of 49 (48 states plus D.C.; Alaska and Hawaii aren't in the data) (Experian, "Car Insurance Average Costs by State," published September 9, 2026; full coverage, 12 months to August 2026).
Within Louisiana, prices still vary a lot by ZIP code, driving record and car, and 11.7% of drivers on Louisiana roads were uninsured in 2023, so the coverage you choose matters as much as the premium.
Your own price depends on your ZIP code, age, driving record, car and coverage. Try our car insurance calculator with Louisiana preselected for a personal estimate, and see what determines your car insurance cost.
Louisiana changed its rule for claims arising on or after January 1, 2026: it now uses modified comparative fault, so you recover nothing if you are more than 50% at fault (before 2026 it used pure comparative fault). (Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, "Contributory Negligence/Comparative Fault Laws in All 50 States," updated June 10, 2026)
An estimated 11.7% of Louisiana drivers were uninsured in 2023, the 32nd highest rate among the 50 states and D.C. (Insurance Research Council, uninsured motorist estimates for 2023, via Insurance Information Institute "Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists"). Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects you when one of them hits you. See coverage types.
You must keep documents in the vehicle showing it meets Louisiana's compulsory liability requirement, such as an insurance card. If a registered vehicle's coverage is canceled and it isn't insured or disposed of in time, the Office of Motor Vehicles charges reinstatement fees based on how long it went uninsured: $125 for 2 to 30 days, $275 for 31 to 90 days, and $525 for 91 days or more. The fees are capped at $850 plus a $25 administrative fee ($250 if you are 65 or older). (Louisiana R.S. 32:863.1; Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, "Cancellations & Revocations")
Besides the reinstatement fees, Louisiana's "No Pay, No Play" law means an uninsured owner or driver can't recover the first $100,000 of bodily injury or the first $100,000 of property damage after a crash, even if the other driver caused it (with limited exceptions). (Louisiana R.S. 32:866)
A conviction for driving uninsured also follows you into your next policy. In CarInsurance.com's rate analysis, it raised the average full-coverage premium in Louisiana from $2,883 to $3,566 a year, an increase of 24% (CarInsurance.com, "Penalty for driving without insurance in every state," updated March 24, 2026; rate analysis).
Beyond the penalties, driving uninsured leaves you personally liable for any damage you cause. See what happens if you drive without car insurance.
Louisiana uses the SR-22 for drivers who must prove future financial responsibility, typically after certain suspensions.
Louisiana uses graduated driver licensing (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, "Graduated licensing laws" table):
Adding a teen is usually the biggest single increase in a family's premium. Keeping them on the family policy, a good-student discount and a safe, modest car help most.
A distracted-driving ticket can count against your record and your premium. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, "Electronic device laws" table)
See how to compare car insurance quotes, or get quotes for your ZIP code.
For questions about a policy, a claim or an insurer's conduct, contact the Louisiana Department of Insurance. It handles consumer questions and complaints about insurers in Louisiana.
AutoInsuranceQuery editorial team. Last reviewed: September 29, 2026.
