Compare Auto Insurance in New Mexico
New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment. Here at QuoteWizard, we’ve compiled useful insurance information from industry and government sources which New Mexicans can use to find the best car insurance rates.
This page will show you which types of coverage are legally required in New Mexico, inform you about important insurance laws, and provide both information about the cost of driving, and some insights about insurance risk in New Mexico, all to help protect you and your family.
Average New Mexico Car Insurance Rates
How much is car insurance in New Mexico? Insurance premiums in New Mexico are lower than both the national average. The average cost of auto insurance in New Mexico is $762.56 a year. But you can be sure that rates in Albuquerque are much higher than the state average. The national average price is $889.01.
Prices may vary depending on your limits, coverage, and the total number of claims filed in your zip code.
| Coverage | Rates |
|---|---|
| Liability | $488.03 |
| Collision | $276.98 |
| Comprehensive | $172.57 |
| Total Cost Per Year | $762.56 |
| Price Per Month | $63.54 |
| Source: Facts + Statistics: Auto insurance | |
The graph below shows the change in average New Mexico rates from 2011 to 2015, the most recent year the data is available. According to the III, New Mexico car insurance rates increased from $691 in 2011 to $762 in 2015, a jump of $70 dollars, or 10.24 percent.
Finding the right car insurance in New Mexico for your needs and budget doesn’t have to be stressful. Then again, you want to make sure that whichever company you choose is the right fit, and that means comparing car insurance rates.
Comparing auto quotes can be time-consuming. With a little help from QuoteWizard, you’ll have a policy in no time. We’ll connect you with top auto insurance companies so you can find the best coverage at the best price.
Last year, 20,748 people used QuoteWizard to compare auto insurance quotes in New Mexico from multiple companies.
Best Car Insurance Companies in New Mexico
Last year, these were the most common car insurance companies reported by QuoteWizard users living in the state of New Mexico. Out of the 20,748 New Mexico drivers that used QuoteWizard to request insurance quotes last year, 2,486 had no car insurance.
Top 10 Vehicles in New Mexico
These are the most common vehicles owned by New Mexico drivers requesting car insurance quotes through QuoteWizard in the past year.
- Ford F150
- Chevrolet C1500 Silverado
- Ford Ranger
- GMC Sierra
- Ford Mustang
- Ford Focus
- Ford F250 Super Duty
- Dodge RAM
- Ford Explorer
- Ford Fusion
New Mexico Car Insurance Laws
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in New Mexico
Legally, nearly all US drivers are required to carry a minimum level of insurance, but these minimums vary from state to state. In New Mexico, drivers need to follow what is known as the 25/50/10 rule when it comes to their insurance policies.
This means that any policy must include the following:
- $25,000 of coverage for bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 of coverage for bodily injury liability per incident
- $10,000 of coverage for property damage liability per incident
Remember, you can purchase more inclusive plans that cover more, but if you want the bare minimum required to keep you legal on the road, make sure your policy has the above protection. And, if you’ve financed your car through a lender, they’ll require that you purchase collision and comprehensive coverage to protect their investment.
Recommended Coverage Levels
New Mexico has the second highest auto theft rate of all states. And the Albuquerque has a higher theft rate than any other metro area. Auto theft is one of those factors that can jack up insurance rates for all drivers in the area. If you want your insurance to have your back you if your car is stolen, get comprehensive coverage.
Consider boosting your liability coverage limits as well. Minimum coverage is by no means adequate if you have a serious crash. If your liability policy doesn’t cover it all, the rest comes out of your pocket. To keep this from happening, we recommend:
- $100,000 Individual Body Injury Liability
- $300,000 Total Bodily Injury Liability
- $100,000 Property Damage Liability
Required Proof of Car Insurance
New Mexico's "Mandatory Financial Responsibility Act" requires that all drivers carry proof of insurance in their vehicles at all times. You'll get this proof in the form of an identification card from your car insurance company when you buy a policy. The insurance ID card must include all of the following:
- Name of the insurance company
- Policy number
- Effective date of the policy
- Expiration date of the policy
- Description of the year, make, or model of the insured vehicles, or the name of the insured driver. The word “fleet” may be used for more than 5 vehicles owned by the same person or business
Penalties
If you can't prove that you meet the minimum New Mexico insurance requirements, your vehicle registration could be suspended by the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD).
SR-22 Requirements
An SR-22 is a form of proof of car insurance. New Mexico does not require its drivers to obtain an SR-22 after being convicted of a DUI. If, however, you have an SR-22 from another state, you must maintain it as long as that state requires it.
State of New Mexico Traffic Safety Laws
Distracted Driving Laws
New Mexico prohibits novice drivers from using cell phones while driving. All drivers are prohibited from sending or receiving text messaging while driving.
Implied Consent Law
New Mexico’s Implied Consent law requires that any driver submit to testing to determine the alcohol or drug content of their blood, breath, or urine when arrested by law enforcement for suspicion of driving while under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol. Refuse the test and you’ll face the following penalties as well as those for a DUI:
- First Offense: 1-year loss of license and/or driving privileges
- Second Offense: 1-year loss of license and/or driving privileges
- Third Offense: 1-year loss of license and/or driving privileges
DUI Law and Penalties
If you drive or operate a motor vehicle in New Mexico with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, you are guilty of Driving While Under the Influence (DUI).
The penalties for a first offense DUI conviction are:
- Up to 6 months in jail
- A fine of between $500 and $1,000
- 12 to 24 month driver’s license suspension
The penalties for a second offense DUI conviction are more severe:
- Between 2 and 18 months in jail
- A fine of between $750 and $2,500
- 12 to 24-month driver’s license suspension
- An ignition-interlock device may be possible after 24 months
After a third DUI conviction the penalties increase to:
- Between 1 and 2 years in jail
- A fine of between $1,500 and $5,000
- 24 to 36-month driver’s license suspension
- An ignition-interlock device may be possible after 24 months
After a fourth DUI conviction the penalties are raised to:
- Between 2 and 5 years in jail
- A fine of between $3,000 and $7,000
- 60-month driver’s license suspension
- An ignition-interlock device may be possible after 48 months
5th DUI Offense: If convicted of a fifth DUI, you'll be guilty of a class E felony, be fined between $3,500 and $10,000, and be imprisoned for between 3 and 5 years.
6th DUI Offense: If convicted of a sixth DUI, you'll be guilty of a class D felony, be fined between $5,000 and $10,000, and be imprisoned for between 5 and 8 years.
7th DUI Offense: If convicted of a seventh DUI, or any subsequent offense, you'll be guilty of a class C felony, be fined between $10,000 and $15,000, and imprisoned for between 10 and 15 years.
Senior Drivers in New Mexico
New Mexico drivers have a choice of how frequently they renew their driver’s licenses. They can renew their driver’s licenses every 4 years, or every 8 years. Drivers over the age of 75 are required to renew their licenses every year.
Seat Belt Laws
New Mexico requires that all drivers and passengers in a moving vehicle age 18 or over wear seat belts. Children are required to use approved child seats as described above. The maximum fine for a first offense is $25.
Vehicles Registered in Another State
When you drive a vehicle in New Mexico that is required to be registered in another state, you must have the type of insurance required by that state. You must be able to provide proof of this insurance to law enforcement if requested.
The Cost of Driving in New Mexico
Average New Mexico Car Insurance Rates
The average cost of car insurance in New Mexico in 2015 was $762.56 compared to a national average of $889.01. New Mexico is the 32nd most expensive state for car insurance.
Car Insurance Risk in New Mexico
Traffic Fatalities
In 2014, there were 383 traffic fatalities in New Mexico, a 2.3% increase from the state’s 311 traffic fatalities in 2013.
Vehicle Thefts
New Mexico had 6,290 vehicle thefts reported in 2014, a 5.1% increase compared to 2013. In 2014, the vehicle theft rate was 301.6 per 100,000, an increase of 5.2% from the 2013 rate of 286.7 per 100,000.
The vehicle theft rate in the State of New Mexico is slightly higher than the overall US vehicle theft rate, which was 216.2 per 100,000 in 2014.
Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in New Mexico
Some cars are more prone to theft than others, so be sure to check the list below to see if your car is a target on the streets.
Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau - Hot Wheels Report 2014
- 2006 Ford Pick-Up (Full Size)
- 2005 Chevrolet Pick-Up (Full Size)
- 1997 Honda Accord
- 1998 Honda Civic
- 2001 Dodge Pick-Up (Full Size)
- 2005 GMC Pick-Up (Full Size)
- 1997 Chevrolet Pick-Up (Small Size)
- 1999 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
- 1990 Toyota Camry
- 2004 Ford Mustang
Uninsured Motorists
The percentage of New Mexico residents estimated to be driving without insurance is a whopping 21.6%. That ranks New Mexico as #4 among US states. Only Oklahoma, Florida, and Mississippi have a larger percentage of uninsured drivers. Even though uninsured driver coverage is not required in New Mexico, it would be a very good idea to purchase it given how many uninsured drivers are around.
Crash Statistics
The Traffic Safety Bureau of the New Mexico Department of Transportation has archived numerous reports, multiple types of crash data, and other assorted traffic safety information here: http://dot.state.nm.us/en/Traffic_Safety.html
New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance
- Website:
- Homepage
- Insurance Commissioner:
- John G. Franchini
- Insurance Hotline:
- (855) 427 - 5674
- Office Hours:
- Monday - Friday
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
- File a Consumer Insurance Complaint
- Complaint Page
Sources:
- Insurance Information Institute – Minimum Coverage Levels by State
- National Insurance Crime Bureau
- Governors Highway Safety Association
- Insurance Information Institute – Insurance Expenditures by State
- New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD)
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