State law requires a minimum of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $10,000 per accident for property damage liability for auto insurance. Uninsured motorist liabilities, with a limit of $20,000/$40,000, and personal injury protection, with an $8,000 limit, are also required. Check with your auto insurance company to understand the details of coverages they offer. All coverages are limited to any terms and liabilities of your auto insurance company.

Bodily injury liability will cover someone else’s injuries or death when you’re at fault in the accident, but this does not cover the injuries or death of you, your passengers, or anyone else on your policy. It will also cover any pain and suffering and lost wages the other driver sustains. If you need medical attention, you will need your own health insurance to cover medical expenses, or you may additionally purchase Medical Payment coverage. In the event you need a lawyer to defend you in court for your accident, this coverage provides you representation from your auto insurance company.

Property damage liability covers damage you incur to property that is not your own, be it someone’s car, fence, pole, guardrail, et cetera. Remember you should carry enough to cover any damages you could possibly cause. Any cost that exceeds your coverage amount will leave you paying the difference between the two numbers for the repairs out of pocket. If you want coverage of your own vehicle in this instance, you will need to purchase collision coverage.

Uninsured motorist liability: In the scenario you’re in an accident and the other driver, who is at fault, does not have auto insurance, uninsured motorist liability will cover you, passengers in your car, and any of your dependents for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of wages, and funeral expenses up to the limit you purchased for your policy. If you do not have health insurance, this particular coverage is especially beneficial for you.

Personal injury protection: Regardless of who was the driver at fault, personal injury protection covers the medical expenses of you and your passengers when in an accident. You may consider using this coverage in conjunction with the coverage of your current health insurance policy. It also covers the medical expenses of any pedestrians struck by your vehicle. If you constantly carpool, you will want to consider increasing the limit of your personal injury protection above the minimum to provide monetary help to your passengers if they’re ever involved in your accident.

New Mexico follows a tort auto insurance system instead of a no-fault system. In a tort system, the driver who is at fault in an accident and their auto insurance company are responsible for all medical expenses of the driver and passengers in the other vehicle, including any lost wages or pain and suffering claims. This information may factor your decision of how much liability you purchase for your auto insurance policy.

In the state of New Mexico, failure to carry sufficient auto insurance will result in the suspension of your registration.

New Mexico Auto Insurance Requirement Chart:

• Bodily Injury Liability: $20,000/$40,000 Limit
• Property Damage Coverage: $5,000 Limit

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