Are there any states that don't require auto insurance?
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Unfortunately there are, but only idiots drive without insurance whether it is the law or not. I have contempt for anybody that even thinks of driving without insurance. Without insurance, who do you think is going to look after you if you lose control and are severely injured hitting a bridge abutment? Without insurance, who do you think is going to look after you if your car is written off by a hit-and-run driver? Without insurance, who do you think is going to look after you if you are in an accident, whether you are at fault or not, with another clown that has no insurance? Just look at some of the other posters in YA, saying "I was hit by an uninsured driver. Help!" Or "My car was stolen and I only had liability? What do I do now?"
Nope. Move to Mexico
Some states, such as New Hampshire, don't require auto liability insurance, but have personal financial responsibility laws. This means that if you have enough money or financial assets to cover any lawsuit you may encounter as a result of an at-fault accident, you don't need insurance. You would be "self-insured."
In this case, you would be putting your own financial assets at risk instead of letting an insurance company take the risk and responsibility. This may be OK if you're rich, but for most of us, insurance is the way to go.
Furthermore, if you don't have insurance, you have to be able to buy a new car if you total yours, if it's stolen, or if it burns. Also, you have to be able to pay for repairs, medical bills, towing, and a rental car if you have an accident that is your fault. Further, if an uninsured person causes an accident, you would have to pay to repair or replace your car, and pay your own medical bills.
In short, it's not very smart to be without insurance, even if it's not required. You don't need insurance until you need it, and then you REALLY need it. To convince yourself that you'll never have an accident and never need insurance is just plain ignorance.
There are more states than you think that don't require insurance. If you're looking for a state that would let you be at-fault for an accident and let you walk away without paying you're in for severe disappointment.
Any state that doesn't require insurance does require "Financial Responsibility" which basically means that any damages you cause are paid out of your own pocket. If you don't pay, you lose your drivers license.
Everybody hates paying for car insurance. I been in the insurance claims game for 20 years and I hate writing that premium check myself. However, I have seen hundreds of lives get screwed up because people are paying $200 a month for 10 years for damages they caused.
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