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New Mexico Auto Insurance
Finding cheap auto insurance that covers everything you need is like encountering a UFO, and unless you’re in Roswell, it’s not easy. Fortunately, the best thing you can do before deliberating over multiple quotes and deals from insurance companies is to arm yourself with essential information about auto insurance in New Mexico. Understanding things like how cost varies by age, New Mexico driving laws, and insurance requirements will give you a better idea of what your rate should be as soon as you start shopping.
Car Insurance Requirements in New Mexico
Although there are plenty of good reasons to include additional coverage for your vehicle, knowing the minimum car insurance laws can help you develop a baseline when shopping around. According to the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division, New Mexico minimum auto insurance requirements include the following:
- $25,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person,
- $50,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons, and
- $10,000 for property damage in any one accident.
All of these fall under the category of liability, but wouldn’t cover your own expenses if you were found at fault for the accident.
Is New Mexico a No-Fault State?
New Mexico is a fault state, which means that the driver found to be at fault for the accident is solely responsible for all damages incurred.
Insurance rates change constantly. Find out if you’re eligible for lower premiums from leading providers.
Car Insurance Prices in New Mexico
The average car insurance premium in the state of New Mexico is about $1,331 per year, which is 6.8 percent lower than the national average. Younger drivers tend to pay higher premiums on average, with auto insurance running about $6,861 per year for a 16-year-old driver, compared to just $1,188 for a driver in his or her 50s.
| Age | Most Popular Vehicle | Gender | Most Common City | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 – 24 | Chevrolet | Male – 61% | Female – 39% | Albuquerque | ||
| 25 – 54 | Chevrolet | Male – 42% | Female – 58% | Albuquerque | ||
| 55 – 64 | Ford | Male – 38% | Female – 62% | Albuquerque | ||
| 65 + | Ford | Male – 45% | Female – 55% | Albuquerque | ||
* This information is based on Pretected.com users.
Traffic Violations and Fines in New Mexico
Speeding Ticket Cost in New Mexico
The average cost of a speeding ticket for driving fewer than 10 miles over the speed limit is $120 with $65 in fees, totalling $185. However, if you are going nearly 30 miles over the speed limit, this is considered reckless driving in New Mexico and will come with a $320 fine and $65 in court fees, totalling a staggering $385.
Driving While High Laws in New Mexico
Although it is nominally illegal to drive while high in New Mexico, the law states that, “The state must prove to your satisfaction beyond a reasonable doubt…the defendant was under the influence of drugs to such a degree that the defendant was incapable of safely driving a vehicle.”
Driving Without Car Insurance in New Mexico
The penalties for driving without insurance is either a $300 fine or up to 90 days of jail time. In some cases, a driver may be hit with both penalties.
Texting and Driving in New Mexico
In 2025, New Mexico enacted a statewide distracted driving ban on cell phone use while driving that made it illegal for drivers to text or talk on the phone while driving. Other forms of distracted driving that can come with penalties in the state include eating while driving and reading while driving.
Cab drivers, and presumably now Uber drivers, cannot reach out and pull potential customers into their taxis””it’s against the law.
New Mexico Car Accidents
According to a 2025 report (most recent available) of car accident statistics compiled by researchers at the University of New Mexico, there were 123 crashes on an average day in New Mexico, involving 313 people with 56 injured and 1 killed. Total car accident statistics in New Mexico amounted to 45,071 traffic accidents in the state in 2025.
Reasons for Car Accidents in New Mexico
This same report indicated that the top contributing factors in car accidents included driver inattention (21 percent), alcohol or drug involvement (50 percent), failure to yield right of way (14 percent), excessive speed (11 percent), and following too closely (12 percent). About 62 percent of pedestrians killed in crashes were under the influence of alcohol.
Car Accident Statistics by Vehicle Type in New Mexico
Car accidents involving heavy trucks rose to 2,326 in 2025, which is their highest level in the past five years. The vehicles most often in crashes were passenger vehicles (53.3 percent), pickup trucks (18.2 percent), and van/SUV/4-wheel drive vehicles (16.9 percent).
Car Accidents in New Mexico – More Facts
On average in New Mexico,
- A motor vehicle crash occurred every 12 minutes.
- In Bernailo County, a crash occurred every 27 minutes.
- An alcohol-involved crash occurred every 4 hours.
Bonus: Most Weird, Funny, and Ridiculous Traffic Laws in New Mexico
- Though it’s unlikely to be the cause of hydroplaning, spitting on a roadway in New Mexico is a petty misdemeanor.
- Women in New Mexico probably break the law on a daily basis, since it’s technically illegal for any woman to pump her own gas or change a flat tire.
Looking for Auto insurance in New Mexico? Compare Between Relevant Insurance Quotes And Save Money Using Pretected’s “Smart Match”:
Insurance rates change constantly. Find out if you’re eligible for lower premiums from leading providers.
Sources and References
- http://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/vehicle-insurance.aspx
- https://www.2keller.com/blog/new-mexicos-car-accident-insurance-laws.cfm
- https://www.thezebra.com/new-mexico-car-insurance/nm-average-cost-of-auto-insurance/
- https://www.berniesez.com/speeding-ticket-cost-new-mexico/
- https://www.valuepenguin.com/auto-insurance/new-mexico/penalties-driving-without-insurance
- https://gps.unm.edu/gps_assets/tru_data/Crash-Reports/Annual-Reports/annual-report-2025.pdf
- https://blog.nationwide.com/weird-traffic-laws-by-state/
- https://www.thisisinsider.com/weird-driving-laws-us-2025-10#new-jersey-drivers-cannot-pump-their-own-gas-30