Car Insurance in Tennessee: 2026 Rates & Requirements

Tennessee keeps a standard 25/50/25 minimum with no added PIP or mandatory uninsured motorist requirement, but the state has seen above-average premium growth in recent years, driven more by severe weather and litigation trends than by the legal minimums themselves.

Minimum Insurance Requirements in Tennessee

Tennessee requires drivers to carry at least $25,000/50,000 in bodily injury liability (per person / per accident) and $25,000 in property damage liability. Tennessee is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver who caused the accident, through their liability coverage, pays for the other party's injuries and property damage. These are legal minimums, not a safety net for your own finances — most independent advisors recommend carrying meaningfully higher limits than the state requires, especially if you own a home or have savings to protect.

What Drives the Cost of Car Insurance in Tennessee

Nashville and Memphis carry noticeably higher premiums than the state's smaller cities and rural counties, from denser traffic and higher accident and theft rates. Tennessee sees significant severe-weather activity - tornadoes and hail in particular - which drives up comprehensive coverage costs on top of the standard liability minimums. The state has also seen elevated litigation activity tied to auto claims in recent years, a factor commonly cited when explaining above-average rate increases across the Southeast.

Get Your Own Tennessee Estimate

The figures above are state averages for a 35-year-old driver with a clean record and full coverage — useful as a benchmark, but your own rate depends on your exact ZIP code, vehicle, driving history, and coverage choices. Run your own free, no-signup estimate below, pre-filled for Tennessee.