How Much Is New Mexico Car Insurance?

Ever wonder how much drivers in New Mexico pay for car insurance? Check out the average price that most people pay and see if you can find a cheaper rate.

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Affordable Car Insurance in New Mexico

The fifth-largest state by land area, New Mexico is a place of stunning natural beauty. It's desert landscapes, mesas, canyons, snow-capped mountains, and other awe-inspiring features create some of the most captivating scenery in the country. The abundant cultural and historical connection to Native Americans and early indigenous people also make the state quite an American treasure.

All this outdoor appeal brings in lots of tourists, many taking road trips and camping throughout the state. Unfamiliar motorists can create extra dangers, especially on long, isolated roads that encourage high speeds. In fact, speeding is one of the top contributors to traffic crashes in the state.

As for car insurance, New Mexico residents pay middle-of-the-road rates relative to the rest of the country. The state usually even ranks right at or around 25th on lists of average premiums. So, while you’re not shelling out exorbitant monthly fees, you are likely to pay more than a lot of other Americans.

But there’s an antidote for that! By comparison shopping for the lowest quotes on coverage tailored to your vehicle and driver’s lifestyle, you can knock your payments down considerably. And that’s where SmartFinancial comes in. Answer a few basic questions for us, and we quickly set you up with quotes from leading carriers in New Mexico—all based on objective info and analysis—and entirely for free!

Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates in New Mexico

Carriers look at multiple variables when determining your insurance rate. Your age, location, driving history, and state requirements are all factors in determining the price you pay. We used our in-house reporting to determine the companies that offer the cheapest car insurance rates in New Mexico. Liberty Mutual came in with the lowest rate currently available in New Mexico at $402.63 per month. Followed by at per month and at per month.

RankCompanyAvg monthly rate
1 Liberty Mutual $402.63 / month

Top 10 Cheapest Cities for Car Insurance

If you are lucky enough to live in one of these cities you are likely paying some of the lowest car insurance rates available in New Mexico. According to our data, Truth Or Consequences comes in at the cheapest at only $82.75 per month. Other cities that made the top 10 list include Silver City at $84.65 per month, Deming at $87.23 per month, and Socorro at $88.56 per month.

RankCityAvg monthly rate
1 Truth Or Consequences, NM$82.75 / month
2 Silver City, NM$84.65 / month
3 Deming, NM$87.23 / month
4 Socorro, NM$88.56 / month
5 Alamogordo, NM$89.21 / month
6 Tularosa, NM$93.86 / month
7 Grants, NM$95.45 / month
8 Tucumcari, NM$97.42 / month
9 Raton, NM$97.70 / month
10 Bloomfield, NM$98.79 / month

Top 10 Most Expensive Cities for Car Insurance

These top 10 cities ranked as the most expensive places in New Mexico for car insurance. Location is a big factor when determining the price you pay for car insurance and these cities came in at the top. Chaparral is the most expensive city in New Mexico at $145.33 per month. Second and third place goes to Espanola at $137.37 per month and Albuquerque at $136.59 per month.

RankCityAvg monthly rate
1 Chaparral , NM $145.33 / month
2 Espanola , NM $137.37 / month
3 Albuquerque , NM $136.59 / month
4 Sunland Park , NM $135.46 / month
5 Rio Rancho , NM $132.22 / month
6 Hobbs , NM $131.37 / month
7 Lovington , NM $126.70 / month
8 Edgewood , NM $124.00 / month
9 Los Lunas , NM $123.91 / month
10 Carlsbad , NM $121.45 / month

Average Quotes by Top Companies

Rates can vary wildly from company to company. Here is a quick look at a few rates from some of the top car insurance companies in New Mexico.

Compare Recent Car Insurance Quotes in New Mexico

SmartFinancial helps thousands of drivers every day find and compare the best car insurance rates available. Here is a list of some recent quotes that we recently found for drivers in New Mexico.

CompanyMonthly rateVehicle
Metlife $592015 Nissan Frontier
Liberty Mutual $1402015 Nissan Frontier
Safe Auto $1012015 Nissan Frontier
Foremost Auto $662013 Ford Edge
Safe Auto $772001 Toyota Camry
ClearCover $562001 Toyota Camry
Dairyland $462001 Toyota Camry
Metlife $1072001 Toyota Camry
General $702006 Chrysler 300
Metlife $1362012 Dodge Journey
21st Century $1122012 Dodge Journey
Liberty Mutual $1902012 Dodge Journey

Methodology

The statistics listed on this page are from our own in house reporting. We track and record quotes that carriers have provided based on various criteria. The rates and averages shown on this page should only be used as an estimate.

Minimum Car Insurance Coverage in New Mexico

Every state requires drivers to have a minimum amount of liability coverage. New Mexico drivers are required to carry liability insurance to pay for damages and injuries inflicted on someone else in an auto accident.

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$25,000

Bodily injury coverage per person

Maximum payment for serious or permanent injury or death to a single person

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$50,000

Bodily injury coverage per accident

Maximum payment for serious injury or death to more than one person

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$10,000

Property damage per accident

Maximum payment for all damaged property in an accident caused by you

As per New Mexico car insurance laws, all drivers in the state must carry a minimum amount of liability coverage. This includes $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 bodily injury per accident, and $10,000 property damage per accident. Alternatively, they may demonstrate financial responsibility with a $60,000 surety bond or cash deposit with the New Mexico State Treasurer.

New Mexico is a tort, or at-fault, state. That means the fault is assigned in an accident, and victims may pursue compensation through their own auto insurance provider, the at-fault party’s carrier, or through a personal injury lawsuit. Residents are therefore not required to carry no-fault or personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.

New Mexico’s minimum coverage requirements offer a good deal of protection, but there’s always the risk that it won’t be adequate to pay for everything in the event of a serious accident. That’s why many motorists opt to increase their coverage beyond the minimum, gaining more peace of mind and financial security.

Also, drivers have access to a variety of optional coverages. There are lots of circumstances under which liability coverage doesn’t pay for expenses a vehicle can incur. Read on to learn more about these additional protections.

Optional Coverage in New Mexico

  • Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist
  • Collision
  • Comprehensive
  • Medical Payments
  • Gap Coverage
  • New Car Replacement
  • Accident Forgiveness
  • Towing and Labor
  • Custom Equipment
  • Loss of Use
  • Travel Expenses
  • Rental Car

If you have a vehicle loan, check with your lender about the required extra coverage, as this is common. Providers of financing often insist that you carry collision and comprehensive coverage, for example. In other words, not all optional coverages are always optional.

New Mexico Car Safety

While many factors contribute to crashes, some of the leading ones in New Mexico include inattentive drivers, failing to yield, tailgating, failing to obey traffic signs and signals, speeding, and drug and alcohol-impaired driving.

For a lot more information about crash data and road safety, take a look at the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s 2017 New Mexico Traffic Crash Annual Report.

Car Safety for New Mexico Kids

Car safety seat laws in New Mexico state that all children younger than 7 years old or weighing less than 60 pounds must be properly secured in a car or booster seat appropriate for their age, height, and weight. All children 7 to 12 years of age and who weigh over 60 pounds must be properly restrained in a booster seat appropriate for their age, height, and weight until they can be safely secured with the vehicle’s seat belts.

Kids can typically be properly secured in a vehicle’s factory-installed restraint system at 4′ 9” tall. They should be able to sit up straight with their back against the seat and have their knees bend over the front of their seat; the shoulder strap should cross their shoulder and chest—not their neck or face—and the lap belt should drape over their upper thighs.

To expand a bit on the law, infants should be in a rear-facing car seat until age 2 or until reaching the seat’s size limit. After that, a forward-facing car seat is appropriate, again until reaching the size limit. A belt-positioning booster seat is the third step for child safety seats. And remember, children are always safer in the back seat of a vehicle.

Leaving a young kid alone in a car, SUV, van, or truck is very dangerous, especially in New Mexico’s hot, sunny climate. Even if you leave the windows cracked, the interior can heat up about 30 degrees in as many minutes or less. And it doesn’t even have to be hot out if you’re parked in the sun. This can lead to dehydration, heatstroke, brain damage, and death in children and in pets.

Of course, there are other obvious risks associated with young children left unsupervised as well. Just don’t do it. While there isn’t a dedicated law for this scenario in New Mexico, a parent, guardian, or other caregivers can be prosecuted under child neglect laws should something happen.

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45,906

Number of reported traffic accidents in 2017

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19,219

Number of people injured in those accidents

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298

Number of deaths resulting from those accidents

Driving Green in New Mexico

It’s only natural that a state with such glorious natural scenery as New Mexico would have lots of eco-minded citizens. If you’re one of them and you know where to look, you’ll find some opportunities to save money with green driving incentives from various sources. We’ve listed a few below.

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Emissions Test Exemption in Bernalillo County

New Mexico emissions testing requirements only pertain to people with registered vehicles in, or who commute in, Bernalillo County. However, if you drive a dedicated electric, hybrid, or new car, you’re exempted from these mandatory tests, saving you some time and cash.

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Auto Insurance Discounts for Green Driving

Most carriers licensed to insure New Mexico motorists offer premium discounts on the economy, hybrid, electric, and other alternative fuel vehicles. So, there’s a great opportunity to save some green month after month by going green. Low-mileage discounts are common too, since minimizing your driving reduces your risk of an accident right along with your carbon footprint.

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Federal Tax Credits for Environmentally Friendly Vehicles

Some states offer tax credits for buying an eco-friendly vehicle, but unfortunately, New Mexico isn’t yet one of them. However, the Federal government offers up to $7,500 in tax credits if you purchase an all-electric or hybrid vehicle. The greater your vehicle’s battery capacity, the greater your savings. Click over to FuelEconomy.gov to learn more and see vehicle-specific tax credits.

New Mexico Car Insurance FAQ

Is my credit score a factor when obtaining car insurance in New Mexico?

Yes. Only three states prohibit car insurance companies from considering your credit score when determining how much to charge you for coverage. New Mexico isn’t one of them (they’re California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts, by the way). Lots of factors affect your offer, but your credit score plays a role. Higher scores help get a lower premium, and lower scores contribute to a higher premium.

Does New Mexico offer a good-driver discount?

Most car insurance companies licensed in New Mexico offer good-driver discounts. They’re a way to attract desirable customers and incentivize careful driving, and they’re great for consumers, too! Ask your carrier if they offer this and what it takes to earn it. Typically, it’s 3 or 5 years without an accident, and often without a ticket for a moving violation, either.

  • Full Pay
  • Multiple Car
  • Multiple Policy
  • Good Student
  • Resident Student
  • Accident-Free
  • Vehicle Safety
  • Anti-Lock Brake
  • Anti-Theft Device
  • Home Ownership
  • New Car
  • Passive Restraint
  • Utility Discount

Does New Mexico allow the use of digital insurance cards?

As of this writing, Mexico is one of the last remaining states that does not allow you to show digital proof of coverage. Make sure your official printed card is in your vehicle at all times.

What happens if my coverage lapses?

New Mexico uses an automated system called the Insurance Identification Database that cross-checks vehicles registered with the MVD with insurance company records. That means you don’t have to be pulled over and asked for proof of coverage to get caught driving without insurance. If your coverage lapses or is canceled, or you just don’t buy it, your vehicle registration will be suspended. To have it reinstated, you must show proof that you obtained coverage and pay a reinstatement fee ($30 as of this writing). Failure to produce proof of coverage or to turn in your license plate within the allotted time may result in further consequences, including criminal penalties.

What are New Mexico's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) percentage limits under the state's driving under the influence (DUI) laws?

It’s against the law to operate a motor vehicle in New Mexico at the following BAC percentages:

.08%+ at 21 years old or older
.04%+ for commercial vehicle drivers
.02%+ at under 21 years old

In New Mexico, you can be convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI) even if your blood-alcohol content level is below these levels. All it takes is for your ability to drive to be even slightly impaired by drugs or alcohol.

What are the chemical test refusal penalties in New Mexico?

As is now the norm across most of the U.S., New Mexico has an implied consent law regarding blood, urine, and breath tests to ascertain impairment. That means you’re considered to have consented to chemical tests simply by having acquired a driver’s license. Refusing the test results in the immediate revocation of your driving privileges for 1 year.

What are the consequences of being convicted of a DUI?

A variety of considerations affect DWI penalties, the biggest being how many prior offenses are on your record. In New Mexico, DWI convictions remain on your record for 55 years. Having a particularly high BAC, causing an accident, causing injuries or death, having an open alcohol container or drugs in your vehicle, and driving with a minor are some examples of aggravating factors that may increase penalties.

A first-time DWI offender’s driver’s license is revoked for up to 1 year (this increases by one year for each subsequent offense, until the fourth, at which point driving privileges are lost permanently). They also face significant fines and fees, compulsory completion of a drug and alcohol treatment course, mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device at their own expense, and possible jail time.

Does New Mexico offer driver improvement courses to reduce my insurance premium?

New Mexico doesn’t have official rules or regulations about this, but it’s common practice for carriers to reward voluntary completion of a defensive driving course with a discount. Check with your provider and make sure to find a State-approved class through your local MVD or your county.

Is there any way I can reduce the cost of my New Mexico car insurance?

Sure! People often think of auto insurance as a fixed cost, but there are plenty of ways to get your payments down. For starters, pursue any of the relevant discounts and incentives we cover on this page. Be careful with your driving record and credit score, too, as part of a long-term strategy. You can also pay for a full coverage term upfront to get a better deal than with monthly installments and choose a higher deductible for a lower premium. But most importantly, when it’s time for a new policy, comparison shop for the best possible quote.

What is uninsured motorist coverage and is it required in New Mexico?

Uninsured motorist coverage pays for expenses incurred in an accident caused by a driver without any or enough car insurance. It also covers you if you’re hit by a driver who flees the scene. This type of coverage is a smart investment—especially considering that New Mexico has one of the highest uninsured driver rates in the country—but it’s not mandatory under state law.

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