Legal and regulatory insurance rules
48 states shield stables from ordinary-negligence claims under an Equine Activity Liability Act, but none of them require insurance, and California and Maryland offer no such statute at all.
CBP's $50,000-minimum customs bond belongs to the importer, not the broker — brokers are licensed under exam and character review, with no federal insurance mandate at all.
No law mandates builders risk insurance, but construction lenders almost universally require it as a loan condition — and FHA 203(k) loans carry their own HUD-guideline requirement.
Freight brokers must post a $75,000 FMCSA bond or trust fund — not liability insurance — under 49 CFR 387.307, and confusing the two costs new brokers money.
Texas requires assisted living facilities to carry $100,000/$300,000 minimum general liability coverage before licensure; Florida mandates coverage without setting a fixed dollar floor. See what applies state to state, and when a separate bond is required.
The federal health insurance penalty is $0, but California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and D.C. still fine residents for going uninsured. See each state's 2026 penalty amount, exemptions, and how the mandates actually work.
No state requires GAP insurance, but New York and Virginia regulate how GAP waivers are sold. Learn who actually needs coverage, what happens without it, and how dealership GAP compares to standalone policies.
Flood insurance becomes mandatory the moment a property sits in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area with a federally backed mortgage. See NFIP coverage limits, private flood insurance rules, and what triggers force-placed coverage.
No state requires homeowners insurance, but mortgage lenders universally require it at full replacement cost with $100,000+ liability. See what triggers force-placed insurance and where flood coverage adds a separate mandate.
Festivals, fairs, and farmers markets require $1M-$2M general liability naming the event as additional insured before setup, and host liquor liability is a separate requirement whenever alcohol is served.
FAA Part 107 governs airspace authorization, not liability — commercial drone operators typically need $500K-$1M in aviation-specific liability coverage required by clients and property owners, not the FAA.
The SCRA does not exempt service members from state minimum auto insurance — the registration state's limits still apply during a PCS move, and deployment does not automatically suspend the requirement.
No U.S. state mandates personal umbrella insurance — but landlords, contractors, and commercial tenants face contractual and municipal requirements that effectively require $1M–$5M in umbrella coverage above their standard policies.
Personal injury protection (PIP) is mandatory in 12 no-fault states with minimums ranging from $3,000 in Utah to $50,000 in New York — and Michigan reformed its unlimited PIP system in 2020 with a tiered opt-out structure.
All 50 states require proof of auto insurance at traffic stops — 47+ states accept digital proof on a smartphone. Failure to show proof carries fines of $50–$500, often dismissible when coverage is confirmed.
Non-owner auto insurance is required when an SR-22 or FR-44 filing is mandated and the driver does not own a vehicle — the certificate cannot exist without an underlying policy. Florida's FR-44 requires $100,000/$300,000 liability on a non-owner policy, more than 10 times the state's standard minimum.
Most licensing states require contractor license bonds of $5,000–$25,000 as a condition of licensure. California requires $25,000 (CSLB); Washington requires $12,000 (L&I); federal projects over $150,000 require performance and payment bonds under the Miller Act.
FMCSA requires commercial motor carriers to file proof of financial responsibility ranging from $300,000 for light non-hazmat freight to $5,000,000 for bulk hazardous materials — and authority is suspended the moment the BMC-91 filing lapses.
A certificate of insurance (COI) proves coverage exists but does not create it — and "additional insured" on a certificate means nothing without an actual policy endorsement. Here's what landlords, GCs, and municipalities require and how to comply.
Georgia has no state law requiring homeowners insurance, but mortgage lenders on FHA, VA, and conventional loans require it — typically at replacement cost value with $100,000+ liability coverage.
Virginia, Florida, and Massachusetts impose the toughest consequences for uninsured driving — from $5,000 fines to mandatory imprisonment. This ranking compares penalties across all 50 states on fines, suspensions, impoundment, and SR-22 duration.
FR-44 is required in Florida and Virginia after DUI convictions. Learn what coverage is required, how it differs from SR-22, how long you must maintain it, and what it costs.
Commercial trucks need $750,000-$5,000,000 liability depending on cargo. Learn FMCSA requirements, how to file Form MCS-90, owner-operator coverage, and how to get authority.
SR-22 is a certificate proving you carry required auto insurance. Learn when it's required, how long you need it, costs, and how to file in your state.
Browse insurance requirement guides across other coverage areas
State minimum auto coverage rules
Insurance rules for businesses
Rules for contractors & trades
Professional & general liability rules
Country-specific travel rules
Insurance for motorcycles, boats & more
Side-by-side insurance requirement comparisons
Insurance requirements for delivery & rideshare drivers
SR-22, FR-44, bonding, state filings, federal DOT requirements, and regulatory compliance basics.
All guides are written by the Coverage Criteria editorial team and verified against official government and regulatory sources. We translate complex insurance rules into plain language so you know exactly what coverage is required — without needing a lawyer.
