can you take liability insurance on a new car

[DeJulian]

Yes, you can and absolutely should take liability insurance on a new car. In fact, it's a legal requirement in nearly every state. Liability insurance does not cover your new car; instead, it pays for the costs of injuries and property damage you cause to others in an at-fault accident. Since a new car is a significant financial investment, you will need a separate policy, called comprehensive and collision coverage, to protect your own vehicle.

Liability insurance is typically expressed as three numbers (e.g., 25/50/25). The first number is the bodily injury liability limit per person (in thousands), the second is the total per accident, and the third is for property damage liability. State minimums are often dangerously low. For a new car, carrying only the minimum is risky because repair costs for other vehicles and medical bills can easily exceed these limits, leaving you personally responsible for the difference.

State	Minimum Bodily Injury Liability (Per Person/Per Accident)	Minimum Property Damage Liability	Average Annual Premium for State Minimum Coverage
Florida	$10,000 / $20,000	$10,000	$1,150
California	$15,000 / $30,000	$5,000	$650
New York	$25,000 / $50,000	$10,000	$1,050
Texas	$30,000 / $60,000	$25,000	$550
Alaska	$50,000 / $100,000	$25,000	$385

When you finance or lease a new car, the lender will require you to have full coverage, which includes liability plus comprehensive and collision. Your goal should be to purchase liability limits high enough to protect your assets, such as your home and savings. An insurance agent can help you balance adequate protection with an affordable premium.

[AliceDella]

You don't just can get it, you have to. The law requires liability insurance to drive a new car off the lot. It covers the other guy's medical bills and car repairs if you cause a crash. The paperwork you sign for a loan will also force you to get extra coverage for your own new car. So yes, liability is the absolute baseline, but you'll be buying a bigger package.

[LeSebastian]

Think of it this way: liability insurance is for everyone else on the road. It's mandatory. But for your brand-new car, liability alone is like wearing a raincoat but no pants in a storm. You're protected from getting others wet, but you're going to get soaked yourself. You need comprehensive and collision coverage to actually fix or replace your own car if it's damaged, stolen, or totaled. The dealership won't let you drive away without it if you're financing.

[DeZoe]

Focus on the limits, not just the policy. State minimum liability is often $25,000 for injuries per person. A single emergency room visit can blow past that. For a new car, you're a bigger target for lawsuits. I'd recommend at least 100/300/100 coverage. This means $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident for injuries, and $100,000 for property damage. It costs more per month, but it protects your financial future from a single bad accident.

[VonAnna]

I learned this the hard way with my first new car. I got the cheapest insurance possible, which was just the state's minimum liability. A minor fender bender ended up costing me thousands out-of-pocket because the other car's repairs were more than my property damage limit. My insurance paid its max and I was on the hook for the rest. Now, with a new car, I carry high liability limits plus full coverage. It’s peace of mind. Don’t make my mistake.