Wyoming Car Insurance Requirements: What State Law Says in 2026

What are the minimum car insurance requirements in Wyoming?

As of October 2026, Wyoming requires the owner of any vehicle that must be registered in the state to have a motor vehicle liability policy, or a qualifying bond, in force before driving it or letting anyone else drive it (W.S. 31-4-103). The policy must pay at least $25,000 for injury to or death of one person in an accident, $50,000 for injury to or death of two or more people in one accident, and $20,000 for damage to other people's property in one accident (W.S. 31-9-405(b)). It must also include uninsured motorist coverage at the same $25,000 and $50,000 injury limits unless the named insured rejects it (W.S. 31-10-101). You must keep an insurance ID card or temporary proof of insurance in the vehicle at all times, and an electronic card counts if you and your insurer agree to it (W.S. 31-8-201). Collision, comprehensive, medical payments and underinsured motorist coverage are optional under state law.

• Bodily injury liability, per person: Wyoming minimum: $25,000. What it pays for: Injuries you cause to one person.
• Bodily injury liability, per accident: Wyoming minimum: $50,000. What it pays for: All injuries you cause in one crash.
• Property damage liability, per accident: Wyoming minimum: $20,000. What it pays for: Other people's vehicles and property.
• Uninsured motorist, bodily injury: Wyoming minimum: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident. What it pays for: Your injuries caused by an uninsured driver (can be rejected).

How do Wyoming's 25/50/20 liability limits work?

The Insurance Information Institute (III) explains that the first two numbers are your bodily injury liability limits and the third is your property damage liability limit. Liability coverage pays other people when you cause a crash. It does not pay for your own car or your own injuries.

In a crash you cause, the limits work like this:

1. One person is hurt. Your insurer pays up to $25,000 for that person's injuries.
2. Several people are hurt. It pays up to $50,000 for everyone combined, and no more than $25,000 to any one person.
3. Property is damaged. It pays up to $20,000 for everything you damage, which the III notes can include other cars, fences and buildings.

Do you need proof of insurance in your car in Wyoming?

Yes. Your insurer must give you an ID card for each insured vehicle, or temporary proof that is valid for up to 60 days. Keep it in the vehicle at all times (W.S. 31-8-201).

Officers ask for proof when they write a ticket for a moving violation or inspect a vehicle, and they can check WYDOT's online insurance verification system during a stop. If you were insured but could not show proof, you have seven days to produce it, and you cannot be convicted if you bring to court a policy that was valid when you got the ticket (W.S. 31-4-103).

Using a fake, cancelled or borrowed card can add a fine of up to $750, up to six months in jail, or both (W.S. 31-8-202).

What happens if you drive without insurance in Wyoming?

Wyoming law and WYDOT spell out five main consequences:

1. A misdemeanor charge. You face up to six months in jail, a $500 to $1,500 fine, or both. The judge can also order you to pay restitution (W.S. 31-4-103).
2. Plates and registration held. For a second or later violation, the judge must order you to turn in the vehicle's registration and plates to the county treasurer, where they stay until you have met all legal obligations.
3. A three-year SR-22. After a conviction, WYDOT requires proof of financial responsibility for three years. If you do not file it within 30 days of being notified, your license is suspended until you do.
4. A suspension after a crash, even one you did not cause. WYDOT says drivers in a crash with over $1,000 in property damage, or an injury to someone outside their household, must show proof of insurance. If Driver Services cannot confirm coverage, the suspension applies "regardless of fault or residency."
5. Extra penalties for driving while suspended. That is a separate misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $750, up to six months in jail, or both (W.S. 31-7-134).

To lift an uninsured accident suspension, WYDOT accepts a notarized release from the other people in the crash, a notarized agreement to pay them, or a deposit covering the property damage plus $25,000 for each injured person.

When do you need an SR-22 in Wyoming?

An SR-22 is not a separate kind of insurance. It is a form your insurer files with WYDOT to show you carry at least the state minimum liability coverage, which Wyoming law calls "proof of financial responsibility" (W.S. 31-9-401 through 31-9-403). WYDOT's guide to driving privilege withdrawals lists it as a reinstatement requirement after:

• A conviction for driving without insurance
• An uninsured accident suspension that took effect
• A conviction for driving while under the influence (DWUI)
• A suspension for reckless driving
• A revocation for leaving the scene of an injury crash or for homicide by vehicle

How long it lasts. You must keep it for three years from the date it is required (W.S. 31-9-401(e)). For an uninsured accident suspension, WYDOT counts the three years from the start of the suspension. If the policy is cancelled, your insurer must notify WYDOT (W.S. 31-9-406), and a lapse leads to a new suspension.

How to get one. WYDOT says to contact an insurance company authorized to write policies in Wyoming and pay for the SR-22, which usually reaches Driver Services electronically within 24 to 72 hours. You will also owe a $50 reinstatement fee.

Questions about your situation? Talk with the ChaCha Insurance team.

Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Wyoming?

Yes, unless you turn it down. Every auto liability policy for a vehicle registered or mainly garaged in Wyoming must include uninsured motorist (UM) coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries (W.S. 31-10-101). The named insured can reject it. After that, the same insurer does not have to add it back at renewal unless you ask for it in writing.

UM pays for your injuries when an uninsured driver is legally responsible. Wyoming also treats a driver as uninsured when their insurance company is insolvent (W.S. 31-10-102), and the Wyoming Department of Insurance notes UM applies if you are hurt by a hit-and-run driver. Insurance Research Council estimates published by the III put Wyoming's uninsured rate at 5.9% in 2022, the lowest of any state. Low is not zero.

What about underinsured motorist coverage?

Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is optional in Wyoming. A federal appeals court has noted that "Wyoming does not require insurers to offer underinsured motorist coverage" (Winegeart v. American Alternative Insurance Corp., 10th Cir. 2007). UIM pays when the at-fault driver has insurance, but not enough to pay for your loss. A driver with only 25/50/20 coverage has at most $25,000 for your injuries.

Does Wyoming require full coverage car insurance?

No. "Full coverage" is not a legal term. It usually means liability plus collision and comprehensive. The Wyoming Department of Insurance explains that collision pays when your car collides with an object, and comprehensive pays for almost all other losses.

Lenders are a different story. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) says that if you have an auto loan, your lender requires full coverage. The III says the same is likely if you lease, and the Wyoming Department of Insurance adds that your lienholder should be listed on the policy. Because these coverages pay only the car's market value, the III suggests gap insurance if you owe more than the car is worth.

Why is the Wyoming state minimum often not enough?

The III explains that your auto policy pays legal judgments against you only up to your policy limits, and warns that after a serious accident you may be sued for a large sum of money. Anything above your coverage can become your responsibility.

The 25/50/20 limits are easy to outgrow:

• One badly hurt person can receive no more than $25,000 from your policy, however serious the injury.
• Several injured people all share one $50,000 limit.
• Every car, fence, pole or building you damage in one crash shares one $20,000 limit.

The III says state minimums may not cover the costs of a serious accident and suggests carrying enough liability coverage to protect assets such as your home and savings. The same logic applies to UM: rejecting it, or keeping it at the minimum, limits what you can collect after a crash with an uninsured driver.

For another layer of protection, an umbrella policy kicks in when you reach the limit on your underlying auto or homeowners liability coverage. The III notes that most insurers want about $250,000 of auto liability coverage in place before they sell one.