New Driver Auto Facts
Get a Quote
A paved road runs through flat farmland beside a field of sunflowers, with several large sunflower heads in close-up on the right and a cloudy sky at low sun.

North Dakota Auto Insurance for First-Time Drivers

North Dakota requires 25/50/25 liability coverage and is a no-fault state.

Compare my rates

Free to compare

North Dakota at a Glance

25/50/25

Minimum liability limits, in thousands of dollars (per person / per accident / property)

No-fault

Each driver's own policy pays their injuries first, whoever caused the crash

Required

PIP and Uninsured motorist coverage must be on every policy

14

Minimum learner's permit age, 50 supervised driving hours

Source: state DMV, insurance department and statute records, verified July 2026

State Requirements

North Dakota operates as a traditional tort state, meaning the at-fault driver is financially responsible for damages they cause. The state requires all drivers to carry proof of insurance in their vehicle at all times — physical or electronic copies are acceptable. North Dakota's Department of Transportation can suspend your registration and driving privileges immediately if you're caught driving without insurance, and reinstatement requires filing an SR-22 certificate for three years.

Bodily Injury Liability

This coverage pays for injuries you cause to others in an at-fault accident — their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering claims. North Dakota courts can award damages beyond your policy limits, leaving you personally liable for the difference, which makes the state minimum particularly risky for first-time drivers with limited assets but decades of future earnings to protect.

Property Damage Liability

This pays for damage you cause to other vehicles, buildings, fences, or property in an at-fault crash. North Dakota's agricultural landscape also creates unique liability exposure; if you crash through a fence and livestock escape onto Highway 83, you're responsible for property damage, lost animals, and any resulting accidents.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

This protects you when you're hit by a driver with no insurance or insufficient coverage to pay for your injuries. For first-time drivers who may not fully understand policy terms, the automatic inclusion prevents accidentally going without this coverage, though many young drivers unknowingly waive it to lower premiums without realizing they're removing protection for themselves.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

You can reject this coverage in writing, but doing so means you'll rely entirely on health insurance for accident injuries — and many health plans have high deductibles or exclude auto accident care. For first-time drivers often still on parents' health plans or with limited medical coverage, PIP provides a safety net that covers treatment immediately without determining fault, which can take months in North Dakota's tort system.

Collision Coverage

Collision is optional unless required by your lender or lease, but it pays to repair or replace your vehicle when you cause an accident or hit an object like a deer (if impact is unavoidable). First-time drivers statistically have accident rates 2-3 times higher than experienced drivers — if you're financing a vehicle worth more than a few thousand dollars, collision coverage prevents a single at-fault crash from leaving you paying a loan on a totaled car.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive covers damage to your vehicle from non-collision events — theft, vandalism, hail, fire, floods, and animal strikes. North Dakota ranks among the highest states for deer-vehicle collisions, with over 4,000 crashes reported annually, particularly during fall migration along rural highways in the western and central regions.

Cost Overview

$212/mo

Typical monthly rate in North Dakota, new drivers

Rate data: Insurify, 2026

A woman in a cream sweater and scarf stands beside an open car door on a residential street at sunset, looking into the distance.

Start Your First Policy on the Right Foot

Get Your First Auto Quote

Rules for new drivers

Night driving

restricted license only; sunset-sunrise for under-16 restricted

Passengers

graduated; no more than 1 passenger under restricted license

Source: IIHS and state DMV records, verified July 2026

Coverage Types

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance is the foundation of any auto policy — it pays for injuries and property damage you cause to others when you're at fault. Your premium (the amount you pay monthly or annually) covers bodily injury liability and property damage liability, with limits expressed as three numbers like 25/50/25.

Full Coverage

Full coverage is an industry term (not an actual policy type) that refers to carrying liability plus collision and comprehensive coverage, which together protect both your legal responsibility and your own vehicle. This combination is required by lenders if you finance or lease a vehicle, but it's also the most complete protection available.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle after damage from events other than collisions — theft, vandalism, fire, floods, hail, falling objects, and animal strikes. You choose a deductible (typically $250-$1,000), which is what you pay out-of-pocket before coverage applies.

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage repairs or replaces your vehicle when you're at fault in an accident or you hit an object like a guardrail, utility pole, or another vehicle. Your deductible (commonly $500 or $1,000) is what you pay before insurance covers the rest.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

This coverage protects you and your passengers when you're hit by a driver who has no insurance or insufficient coverage to pay for your injuries. In North Dakota, this coverage is automatically included at limits matching your liability coverage unless you reject it in writing.

SR-22 Insurance

An SR-22 isn't insurance — it's a certificate your insurance company files with the North Dakota Department of Transportation proving you carry at least state-minimum coverage. The state requires SR-22 filing for three years after certain violations like DUIs, driving without insurance, or multiple at-fault accidents.

Find Your City in North Dakota

Fargo

suburban

Bismarck

suburban

Grand Forks

urban

Minot

urban

West Fargo

suburban