How much car insurance do you actually need?

State minimums keep you legal, but they're often far too low to protect your assets. If you cause a serious accident, anything above your limit comes out of your pocket.

A sensible starting point

Many advisors suggest liability limits around 100/300/100 ($100k per person, $300k per accident, $100k property) for typical households, plus uninsured-motorist coverage. If you have significant assets, consider an umbrella policy on top.