Average New Mexico Car Insurance Costs
- New Mexico minimum liability costs $83 a month or $995 a year on average. Full coverage costs around $303 a month or $3,599 a year.
CheapCarInsurance pulls cost data from recent real time auto policy quotes across the state. Data is based on a driver profile of a single person with a clean driving record that is middle aged and drives a modern vehicle.
New Mexico gets its nickname, “The Land of Enchantment”, from a combination of its sweeping scenic beauty and its rich Native American and Hispanic heritage. The state’s landscape is intriguing with treasures such as the Rio Grande Gorge, Carlsbad Caverns, Chaco Canyon and Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range. Mountain peaks in the north and white-sandy deserts in the south, “The Land of Sunshine” offers visitors and residents not only natural wonders but an abundantly rich southwestern art community. A good drive through the state shows off its unique variety, and CheapCarInsurance.net has been working hard to let drivers experience this landscape. After sifting through all the driving laws and information for the state of New Mexico, this list has been compiled to give drivers a quick-reference guide to let them get back to enjoying their sunshine.
New Mexico Auto Policy Costs by County & Vehicle Type
These costs will fluctuate based on your personal driving record, the city you live, type of vehicle you drive, and if your insurance provider has any available discounts to apply to your policy.
We’ve broken down the average costs for a New Mexico auto policy based on vehicle type and your current county below:
| Costs by County: | Sedan: | SUV: | Coupe: | Truck: | Hybrid: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernalillo | $1,084 | $946 | $1,039 | $1,099 | $1,149 |
| Catron | $760 | $664 | $725 | $777 | $812 |
| Chaves | $911 | $791 | $868 | $931 | $976 |
| Cibola | $823 | $723 | $788 | $837 | $874 |
| Colfax | $938 | $815 | $889 | $958 | $1,003 |
| Curry | $927 | $809 | $884 | $946 | $989 |
| De Baca | $938 | $817 | $894 | $958 | $1,003 |
| Dona Ana | $815 | $715 | $783 | $825 | $861 |
| Eddy | $876 | $761 | $835 | $895 | $938 |
| Grant | $752 | $658 | $715 | $771 | $806 |
| Guadalupe | $913 | $795 | $867 | $937 | $981 |
| Harding | $938 | $817 | $894 | $958 | $1,003 |
| Hidalgo | $752 | $656 | $714 | $773 | $808 |
| Lea | $907 | $788 | $863 | $926 | $969 |
| Lincoln | $878 | $763 | $834 | $900 | $943 |
Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in New Mexico
- The car insurance companies in NM with the cheapest rates are usually State Farm, Progressive and GEICO. State minimum liability car insurance starts at $44 a month or $526 a year. Full coverage car insurance starts at $192 a month or $2,310 a year with State Farm.
Minimum Requirements for Car Insurance in New Mexico
- The New Mexico Office of Secretary of Insurance states that while all vehicles must be covered by Liability Insurance and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage, the latter may be refused by the driver in writing.
- Liability Coverage and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists minimums:
- $25,000 per individual to cover bodily injury or death.
- $50,000 per accident involving bodily injuries or deaths.
- $10,000 for property damage.
New Mexico’s Consumer Assistance Bureau offers assistance to consumers who have questions regarding insurance laws in New Mexico.
New Drivers Licensing Requirements:
- The New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) requires New Mexico residents who drive a vehicle in the state to possess a valid state driver license. The state has instituted a Graduated Driver License (GDL) program to allow drivers under the age of 18 an opportunity to gain driving experience prior to applying for their regular drivers license. The program consists of three parts, each of which are listed below:
- Instructional Permit. Beginning at age 15, applicants must pass the vision and knowledge tests and enroll in a MVD-approved Driver Education Course. After paying the required fees, the following requirements/restrictions apply while the permit is held:
- Must hold the permit for at least 6 months
- Complete and pass the Driver Education requirement
- The applicant must be accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older who has held his/her license for at least 3 years.
- Complete 50 hours of supervised driving including 10 hours of night driving
- Maintain a clean driving record for at least the 90 days preceding level 2
- Provisional License. At age 15 years, 6 months, applicants who have completed the requirements for the Instructional Permit may pass the Road Skills Test to obtain their Provisional License. While holding this license, the following applies:
- Must hold the license for at least 12 months
- The applicant may not drive between 12am and 5am unless accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older. Exemptions include driving to activities associated with:
- School
- Employment
- Family
- Medical
- Religion
- No unrelated passengers under 21 years of age are allowed unless the driver is accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older.
- Full License. To obtain a Full License, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Successful completion of stage 2
- Holding no pending violations or alcohol-related offenses, and has not been convicted of either within the past 90 days
- Vision Exam. Applicants must pass the vision test with a visual acuity of at least 20/40 in at least one eye. Corrective lenses may be used, and restrictions may be made for certain applicants with varying visual acuity.
- Knowledge Test. The knowledge test is comprised from concepts included in the New Mexico Driver’s Manual, and a passing score of 70 percent is needed.
- Road Skills Test. The vehicle used for the test must be provided by the driver, and it also must be licensed, registered and insured. Additional information for the road test requirements can be found on the New Mexico MVD’s website. The test administrator will evaluate the driver’s skill in a number of areas:
- Left and right turns
- Approaching intersections with traffic signals
- Obeying stop signs
- Grade stopping, parking and starting
- Upon failing the test, the applicant must wait one week before he/she can re-take the test.
- Fees. New Mexico drivers license fees are as follows:
- Instructional Permit, $10.
- Provisional License, $10
- Full Driver’s License, $18 for a 4-year license and $34 for an 8-year license
DUI & DWI Laws in NM
- BAC limit: .08 The New Mexico MVD website provides a helpful overview of the state’s DWI process and penalties. Included here are New Mexico’s minimum penalties for DWI offenses:
- First Offense:
- Fine: maximum $500
- Jail: maximum 90 days
- License revocation: 1 year
- Ignition Interlock Device: 1 year
- Community service: minimum 24 hours
- DWI school
- Second Offense within 10 Years:
- Fine: maximum $1,000
- Jail: maximum 1 year and possible 5 years of probation
- License revocation: 2 years
- Ignition Interlock Device: 2 years
- Community service: minimum 48 hours
- Ignition Interlock Device (IID) during suspension and 1-3 years following re-instatement.
- Third Offense within 10 Years:
- Fine: maximum $1,000
- Jail: maximum 1 year and possible 5 years of probation
- License revocation: 3 years
- Ignition Interlock Device: 3 years
- Community service: minimum 96 hours
- Complete a court-mandated alcohol or drug abuse evaluation and/or treatment program
- Fourth and subsequent offense(s) result in a lifetime license revocation in addition to increasingly severe fines and jail terms.
