InSure

New Hampshire offers a vast array of recreational activities: white water rafting in summer, skiing in winter, and Mount Washington for spectacular views (on those few days of the year without fog).

Driving is a part of the average New Hampshire resident’s daily life. Trying to figure out where to start when looking for insurance policies can feel daunting. What are the best auto insurance companies? What coverage do you need?

We’ll answer those questions and give you some tips to find the best coverage for your situation. Get started comparing quotes right now to find out if you could be saving money over what you’re currently paying for coverage.

You won’t want to miss this next section because we’ll show you the coverage you need and the rates you can expect.

New Hampshire Auto Insurance Coverage and Rates

Now, in the “live free or die” state, you are free to not purchase auto insurance. New Hampshire is the only state that doesn’t require coverage.

Before you get excited and head driving without auto insurance, think about the repercussions of not having insurance. Are you prepared to pay for accident costs out of pocket? Because that’s what’s going to be required if you don’t have insurance.

If you cause an accident and you don’t have insurance, you’ll have to prove that you have enough money to cover the physical and property damage to the other party or your license can be suspended.

So, while it’s true that auto insurance isn’t required in New Hampshire, for the average person, it might as well be. In fact, over 90 percent of residents have auto insurance which is a higher percentage than 34 other states (including Washington D.C.).

New Hampshire Minimum Coverage

New Hampshire has minimum coverage for auto insurance in New Hampshire.

That may sound funny coming from a state where auto insurance isn’t required. Well, should you choose to purchase insurance, there are regulations, and the lowest limits are 25/50/25, Medical Payments Insurance, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. In other words:

• $25,000 – Bodily injury liability for one person per accident
• $50,000 – Bodily injury liability total for multiple persons per accident
• $25,000 – Property damage liability per accident

If you do purchase an auto insurance policy, in addition to the minimum liability limits, you must also purchase Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay) with a minimum limit of $1000.

Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage at the same minimum limits as liability coverage is also a requirement.

Forms of Financial Responsibility

Some states that require auto insurance allow the option of an alternate form of financial responsibility, usually in the form of a surety bond, a deposit, or a certificate of self-insurance. Since New Hampshire doesn’t have required auto insurance, they don’t have specified required financial responsibility proof.

However, if you cause an accident, you ARE financially responsible for it. And if you aren’t able to show that you have the ability to pay for the damage, you can have your license suspended.

Premiums as a Percentage of Income

Taking the state as a whole, a person with an average income would spend 1.65 percent of that income on auto insurance. There are many variables, so what percentage you pay will likely vary, but this gives you a point of reference.

Use the calculator below to determine how much you might expect to pay.

CalculatorPro

Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates in NH (Liability, Collision, Comprehensive)

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has gathered data for each state, and those average rates are reflected in the table below.

Additional Liability

There are a few other types of coverage that you can purchase (some places they’re required) that will ensure your physical injuries will be paid for.

We already talked about Medical Payments coverage or MedPay. If you purchase an auto insurance policy in New Hampshire, you will be required to purchase this coverage.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) compiled data for MedPay and Uninsured/Uninsured Motorist Coverage in New Hampshire. Here’s what they found for 2014:

So what?

A loss ratio is the number of dollars paid in claims divided by the number of dollars earned in premiums. New Hampshire’s MedPay loss ratio indicates that out of every $100 earned in premiums, $68.50 was spent to pay claims. That’s a healthy number.

Too much higher and the insurance company won’t be making enough to cover costs and too much lower and the insurance company is overcharging customers.

Another optional protection listed above with its loss ratio is uninsured/underinsured motorist protection. Since New Hampshire is a tort state, the person responsible for the accident must pay for the injuries and physical damages to the other party.

If the at-fault party is uninsured and unable to pay for the damages, you will likely be forced to pay for it yourself. That’s where uninsured/underinsured coverage comes in. It will kick in to pay for your medical bills.

You should also consider adding uninsured motorist property damage coverage.

Nearly 10 percent — 9.9 percent to be exact — of drivers in New Hampshire are uninsured. That number ranks New Hampshire at 35 out of all the United States, which is better than average.

It’s likely that a portion of that number is comprised of individuals who have the means to be financially responsible, but the rest are simply driving irresponsibly and if they cause an accident, they won’t be able to pay.

Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage is one of the lower-cost coverages and can provide peace of mind and may even save your financial situation if you’re in a situation where you need to use it.

Add-ons, Endorsements, and Riders

• Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP)
• Personal Umbrella Policy (PUP)
• Rental Reimbursement
• Emergency Roadside Assistance
• Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
• Non-owner Auto Insurance
• Modified Auto Insurance Coverage
• Classic Auto Insurance
• Pay-as-you-drive or Usage-based Insurance

Metromile is one of the leading strictly pay-as-you-go auto insurance companies. They’re not offering coverage in New Hampshire yet. However, there are several companies that offer discounts based on your driving habits.

• Progressive Snapshot – a telematics device installed in the diagnostic port
• Allstate Drivewise – App-based
• Nationwide SmartRide – a telematics device installed in the diagnostic port

The list above is not exhaustive. It merely demonstrates that there are several companies with usage-based options in New Hampshire.

If you’re considering non-owner coverage, keep in mind that you probably don’t need it if your plans for driving only include borrowing a friend’s insured vehicle on occasion.

All Auto Liability Policies in New Hampshire cover a “nonowner” operator if they are driving the auto with the permission of the “named insured.”

There is no need to purchase your own liability policy when your friend’s policy will be sufficient.

Average Auto Insurance Rates by Age & Gender in NH

There are so many variables that go into setting your auto insurance premiums. Your driving history factors in greatly as you’ll see in a bit. Some might argue that your history is the only thing that should matter in your rates.

It’s not that simple, though. Your driving history doesn’t provide enough information because accidents and traffic violations don’t happen often enough to give an accurate representation of risk.

Insurance companies use information like age, gender, marital status, and credit rating to formulate rates. Rates represent a risk. If an insurance company classifies your demographic information as low risk, you’ll pay lower premiums. Higher risk will translate into higher premiums.

Some people are shocked that men and women often pay different rates for coverage even with all else being equal. Some argue that is gender discrimination. Insurance companies argue that it can be statistically proven that one sex presents more risk.

Interestingly enough, in most of the U.S., women (except for in the 16–25 age range) are charged more for insurance. Insurers in New Hampshire must use different analytical practices because as you can see, most of the insurance companies charge males more.

If the table above demonstrates just one thing, it’s the importance of comparing quotes! If your family had used Safeco insurance for years, and then you add your newly licensed teenage son to the policy, you may need to file for bankruptcy.

If that family compared quotes first, they would find savings in the thousands of dollars! I think it’s safe to say, Safeco is not the best insurance company for teen drivers in New Hampshire!

USAA tends to be one of the lowest cost insurers nationwide, but they only offer policies to active and retired members of the armed forces and their families, so not everyone is eligible for their coverage.

You may have noticed in our statistics summary above the average rate for full coverage for New Hampshire drivers was $818.75. That statistic came from the NAIC. You may have also noticed that not one of the quotes in this section shows a company that offers coverage for that low of cost.

We partnered with Quadrant to bring this data to you. The figures we’ve shown you in this section represent the averages for all driver types (including high risk) and coverage levels. It was collected differently from the NAIC information.

Rates by ZIP Code

The cost for auto insurance can vary by as much as $1000 depending on where in New Hampshire you live!

Check out this table to find the average cost in the cheapest ZIP codes.

This table shows the average cost in the most expensive ZIP codes.

Rates by City

If the city where you live isn’t listed above, your rate falls in the middle, somewhere between $2,895 and $3,798.

It’s interesting that out of the 10 largest cities in New Hampshire, the two largest cities have the highest rates.

You’ll pay about $900 less annually in Keene than you will in Manchester.

New Hampshire Companies

There are a plethora of auto insurance companies to choose from. Finding the best one that offers you a great rate AND great service can feel overwhelming. Take a breath. You’ve come to the right spot because we’ll show you that information!

We’re going to look at rates from different companies, customer satisfaction information, financial stability ratings, and more.

Financial Ratings for the 10 Largest Companies in New Hampshire

AM Best rates companies’ financial standings. It’s no surprise that the largest insurance companies almost always rate very high. Large insurance companies have gotten where they are by being responsible financially.

Companies With the Best Ratings

J.D. Power compiles an auto insurance study for each region of the U.S. Here’s how the car major auto insurance companies rank in the region:

Companies With the Worst Complaint Record

The complaint ratios listed below are from the companies’ national records compiled by the NAIC. They may or may not indicate how New Hampshire agencies operate. Lower numbers are better than higher ones.

New Hampshire Auto Insurance Rates by Company

These average rates were formulated using all the profiles we listed in the auto insurance rates by gender section with driving histories from clean to one DUI. So, if you have a clean record, you will likely pay much less than these figures. If you’ve had a DUI, you’ll pay more.

Safeco insurance wasn’t even in the same ballpark as the rest of the companies we have featured. Their average comes in at $8476.85. Ouch!

Safeco is a Liberty Mutual company, and so the two names are used interchangeably in this article.

Commute Rates

The rates don’t change much between a 10-and-20-mile commute. The biggest difference is with Allstate where the longer commuters pay about $75 more per year. Most of the companies’ rates don’t even change.

Coverage Level Rates

Nationwide, surprisingly, charges less for high coverage than low coverage.

For the rest of the companies, a $200 annual premium difference between low and high coverage levels is common.

Credit History and Rates

As you can see, your credit rating makes a bigger difference in your rates than any variable we’ve examined so far!

A common question is, “Do insurance companies consider credit score?” The answer is quite obvious, yes, in New Hampshire at least!

But they’re not just basing your rate on your score like a bank would for a loan. Instead, they are pulling your credit report and basing the rates on certain items in your credit report.

An insurance credit rating differs from your raw credit score, but they both are drawn from your credit report.

You may be wondering why in the world a seemingly unrelated area of your life would impact your auto insurance costs. The NAIC argues,

They do this because studies show a correlation between this score and the likelihood of filing a claim.

The average person’s credit score in New Hampshire is 701, which is higher than the national average of 675. Only Vermont had a higher average, at 702.

Since the average New Hampshire resident has good credit, odds are good that your score will be good and you won’t be faced with the inflated rates for bad credit history.

Driving History and Rates

Geico appears to be the most forgiving of driving infractions. They don’t even charge extra for one speeding violation, and a DUI on your record will increase premiums by $500 annually.

Liberty mutual on the other hand will hike your rates by almost $4000 annually just for getting a speeding ticket! I’m sure you’ve seen by now that Liberty Mutual/Safeco isn’t the cheapest option in New Hampshire!

Surprisingly enough, Progressive charges those with a speeding violation more per year than someone with a DUI on their record!

Largest Auto Insurance Companies

The ten largest auto insurance providers account for over 75 percent of the market share in New Hampshire.

Total Auto Insurance Companies

We’ve been focusing on the largest auto insurance companies in the state, but there are so many more options. In fact, there are 50 domestic insurers, and 647 foreign insurers licensed in New Hampshire. That means you have just shy of 700 companies to choose from!

With so many options, a quote comparison tool can be of great help narrowing the list. We have one right here!

State Laws

If you think choosing between 700 insurers is overwhelming, try learning the state driving laws! It’s not so bad, really. We’ll show you the most important ones to be aware of if you’re going to hit the road.

Read on to learn everything from how insurance laws are made to what the penalties for a DUI are.

Auto Insurance Laws

The rules governing New Hampshire auto insurance companies and rate-setting are as follows:

Regarding rate filings, file and use (30 days) in a competitive market. Prior approval (30 day deemer can be extended 30 days) in a non-competitive market.

In other words, in a competitive market, rates must be filed with the state insurance department but they do not need to be approved whereas, in a non-competitive market, rates need to be filed and approved by the state insurance department.

High-risk Insurance

Even though auto insurance is not a requirement in New Hampshire, for some drivers, it may become a requirement. High-risk drivers may be required to file an SR-22 which is proof of insurance for a certain amount of time.

If your driving record is not so hot, you may wonder if you should be filing an SR-22. Unless you are notified by the Department of Motor Vehicles in writing, you’re not required to file an SR-22.

The following offenses will require an SR-22 filing according to the New Hampshire Department of Public Safety.

• DWI – First, second, subsequent, and aggravated).
• Underage DWI – First, second, subsequent, and aggravated).
• Leaving Scene of Accident.
• Conduct After Accident.
• Subsequent (Second) Offense Reckless Operation.

Some individuals may be unable to find insurance coverage in the general market. New Hampshire has an assigned risk pool from which people can purchase insurance when they’re unable to find it elsewhere.

Windshield Coverage

Breaking a windshield isn’t on most people’s to-do lists. But if yours is damaged by a crack or shattered area, New Hampshire requires you to have the windshield replaced or repaired.

If you have comprehensive coverage, you may use that coverage to replace the windshield. There are no laws mandating deductible-free replacement, but some companies may offer that as a perk.

The replacement may be with aftermarket parts unless the vehicle is two years old or newer and has fewer than 30,000 miles and the consumer requests original manufacturer parts.

Consumers have the right to choose a repair vendor.

Automobile Insurance Fraud in New Hampshire

Insurance fraud is any form of lying to an insurance company to receive a benefit. It can include “soft fraud” actions like lying about your annual miles to receive a discount to “hard fraud” offenses of staging an accident to receive an insurance settlement. Both are wrong, and both cost the consumer.

Soft fraud is also called “premium leakage.” Because consumers often justify the “white lies” that constitute soft fraud, the auto insurance industry loses $29 billion a year!

What does fraud loss mean to consumers? It means they pay premiums 10 percent higher than they would in a world where everyone was honest.

If your annual premium for auto insurance is $1500 currently, your premium would instantly drop to $1350 if the industry wasn’t wasting 10 percent of their revenue on fraud.

New Hampshire has an Insurance Department Fraud Unit to investigate and prosecute cases of insurance fraud. If you witness or suspect fraudulent behavior, you are invited to fill out this form or call 1-800-852-3416.

According to their annual report,

In fiscal year 2018, the Fraud Unit received 267 referrals of suspected fraud or other insurance-related crimes. Of these referrals, the unit conducted 44 criminal investigations, of which 11 were presented for prosecution to either by the County Attorney’s office, the NH Attorney General’s office, or the United States Attorney’s office.

Soft-fraud cases aren’t likely to be investigated and prosecuted by the Fraud Unit, but if your insurer finds out you’ve been lying to them, they can cancel your coverage.

Statute of Limitations

If you have an accident, it’s in your best interest to report it to your insurance company right away as auto insurance claims may expire. Sometimes, though, you might not be sure if you should file a claim or pay for the damage yourself for a variety of reasons.

New Hampshire’s statutes of limitations are as follows:

• Personal Injury – Three years
• Property Damage – Three years

At the very most, you have three years to file a claim in New Hampshire. After that deadline, you are out of luck.

If you do file a claim, the insurance company must respond to you within 10 working days of receiving the claim.

Vehicle Licensing Laws

You need to be aware of these laws so you can make sure you avoid penalties for non-compliance.

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance

For the most part, there is no penalty for driving without insurance since it’s not required. However, should you be responsible for an accident and you don’t have insurance your driving privileges can be suspended until you to reach an agreement with the other party and pay for the damage you caused.

If you have an SR-22 requirement, you will be required to show proof of insurance. Your license will be suspended if you can’t show proof of insurance.

Teen Driving Laws

Unlike most other states, teens 15 1/2 are not required to have a permit. They are allowed to drive with a licensed adult 25 years old or older supervising in the passenger seat.

Read about the child safety seat laws in New Hampshire

Driver License Renewal Procedures

While some states have different license renewal guidelines for older residents than the rest of the population, New Hampshire has the same requirements for everyone. They include:

• Renewal every five years
• Proof of adequate vision at every renewal
• May renew in person at every renewal or online at every other renewal

New Residents

Upon establishing residency, a new resident has 60 days to register his or her vehicle and obtain a New Hampshire license.

If you have a valid out-of-state license and are a U.S. citizen, you’ll need to go to any DMV office and show proof of identity and residency and complete an application.

You must also surrender any valid license from another state in order to receive a New Hampshire license.

Rules of the Road

Most of these rules are fairly standard, but they’re important to take note of just to be safe and stay out of trouble.

Fault Versus No-fault

We’ve covered this previously, but to make sure you understand, New Hampshire is a fault or “tort” state. The person who causes the accident has to pay for the property damage and bodily injuries of the victim(s).

Keep Right and Move Over Laws

Vehicles are required to travel on the right side of the roadway in most circumstances. The exceptions are:

• When passing another vehicle
• When there is an obstruction in the roadway
• When preparing for a left turn

Stay on the right of the roadway and use common sense to help decide if you should move left. Also, take note of two amendments effective January 2019.

First:

Motor vehicles shall not be operated continuously in the left lane of a multilane roadway whenever it impedes the flow of other traffic at or below the posted speed limit unless reasonable and prudent under the conditions having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing.

Second:

Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a violation and shall be fined $50 plus penalty assessment.

For optimum traffic flow, the left lane of a highway should be used for passing.

When approaching emergency vehicles and personnel, all drivers must

• Maintain a reduced speed.
• Obey the directions of any authorized person directing traffic and of all applicable emergency signals and traffic control devices.
• Vacate as soon as possible any lane wholly or partially blocked.
• Give a wide berth, without endangering oncoming traffic, to public safety personnel, any persons in the roadway, and stationary vehicles displaying blue, red, or amber emergency or warning lights.

Speed Limits

Car Seat Laws

Please follow the American Academy of Pediatrics car seat recommendations for a safer experience as New Hampshire laws leave much wiggle room for child seating.

Seat Belt Laws

There are no seat belt laws except for children under 18 years. New Hampshire is the only state in the U.S. that has no seat belt requirement for people over 18 years old.

As a result, while the national average for seat belt use is around 90 percent, New Hampshire’s is about 70 percent. Traffic fatalities have been proven to decrease when seat belt use increases.

Riding in Pickup Truck Cargo Area

There are no laws or restrictions on passengers riding in the cargo area of a pickup truck. Just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s smart. Riding in areas designated for sitting with the use of a safety belt is far safer than riding in the bed of a truck.

Ridesharing

The following companies offer ridesharing protection in New Hampshire:

• Geico
• Liberty Mutual
• USAA
• State Farm

New Hampshire does not have minimum insurance limits required for Uber, Lyft, and other ridesharing companies.

Automation on the Road

While some states are hopping with autonomous vehicles, New Hampshire’s governor issued a ban on all autonomous vehicle testing in the state in 2018.

DWI Laws

The first three non-injury Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) convictions are considered misdemeanors while the fourth and subsequent non-injury convictions are felonies.

If the intoxicated driving caused serious bodily injury, any DWI will be considered a felony.

The legal blood alcohol content(BAC) limit is 0.08 percent while the high BAC limit is 0.16 percent.

The lookback period where a previous DWI is considered in a subsequent charge is 10 years.

Marijuana-impaired Driving Laws

DWI laws apply to driving under the influence of marijuana and other drugs.

Individuals convicted of impaired driving under the influence of marijuana and other drugs must attend and participate in an Impaired Driver Care Management Program (IDCMP).

Distracted Driving Laws

The fines for violations are as follows:

• First Offense – $100
• Second Offense – $250
• Third and Subsequent Offenses – $500

Those are some steep fines. Violating the law just isn’t worth it!

New Hampshire Can’t-miss Facts

Sometimes learning about how often bad things happen can help us be more careful to avoid having them happen to us. If you were hoping this can’t-miss section covered the state flower, tree, and bird, sorry!

We’ll examine vehicle thefts, fatalities, DWI stats, and traffic information. The more you know, the better you can protect yourself.

Vehicle Theft in New Hampshire

Your best bet to avoid having your vehicle stolen is to park it in a garage. If that’s not possible, Detroit Free Press recommends these safety tips:

• Close windows tightly when you are not with the vehicle.
• Keep personal belongings, CD’s, phones and other valuables out of sight.
• Close and lock convertible tops.
• Use a steering wheel locking device, a steering column protector or an alarm with a visible flasher.
• Etch your vehicle identification number onto the glass surfaces of your vehicle.

Read about New Hampshire Windshield Insurance.

Top Make and Model Stolen

NCIB reports that the following are the makes and models of cars most often stolen in New Hampshire.

Vehicle Theft by City

Risky/Harmful Behavior

Make sure you’re following traffic laws, and watch out for others on the roadway who aren’t.

Traffic Fatalities Rural Versus Urban

Fatalities by Person Type

Fatalities by Crash Type

Five-year Trend for the 10 Largest Counties

Teen Drinking and Driving

New Hampshire ranks ninth in the U.S. for under-18 DUI arrests. Forty-two arrests in 2016 put the arrest rate at 161.17 per million residents.

The high arrest rate appears to be paying off as the death rate for people under 21 years old is 0.6 per 100,000 population which is half the national average.

EMS Response Time

Transportation

Check out the charts below where New Hampshire is displayed in orange and the U.S. average is in gray.

Car Ownership

Like most of the United States, the largest share of households in New Hampshire have 2 cars, followed by 3 cars.

Commute Time

New Hampshire commuters, on average, have a commute time that is just slightly above that of the normal US worker. Additionally, 3.67 percent of the workforce in New Hampshire have “super commutes” in excess of 90 minutes.

Commuter Transportation

At about 80 percent of the population, the most common commute option for workers in New Hampshire was to drive alone. The second most popular option was carpooling at nearly 7.5 percent. 6.86 percent of New Hampshire employees work from home.

Now, you have the facts! You’ve also been able to see what kind of auto insurance you need and how much it costs from the largest companies. Because you’re an individual, your rates will be unique to you.

Check also New Hampshire Insurance Company Auto Insurance.

It’s very important to compare rates for yourself so you can get the coverage you need at the best rate. Enter your ZIP code below to get started!

Auto Insurance Tips

22.02.2019 / auto insurance by state / car insurance by state / New Hampshire