Do You Need Insurance to Register a Car in Arkansas in 2025
Arkansas law mandates that all motor vehicle owners maintain liability insurance coverage before registering or operating vehicles on public roadways. Under Arkansas Code § 27-22-104, it is unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle within the state unless the vehicle is covered by an insurance policy issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in Arkansas. This requirement establishes financial responsibility standards that apply to vehicle registration, renewal transactions, and continuous operation throughout each registration period.
Legal Requirement for Insurance Coverage
The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration administers the state's mandatory liability insurance program through its Office of Motor Vehicle. This office maintains operational facilities throughout Arkansas counties and processes all vehicle registration applications, renewals, and compliance enforcement actions. The Department implements electronic insurance verification protocols to confirm coverage during registration transactions and conducts ongoing monitoring to identify coverage lapses after registration completion.
Vehicle owners must maintain uninterrupted insurance coverage throughout the entire registration period. Allowing coverage to lapse violates Arkansas law and may result in registration suspension, monetary penalties, and additional enforcement actions. The state's online insurance verification system monitors compliance continuously and identifies vehicles operating without valid insurance coverage.
Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration - Office of Motor Vehicle
Ragland Building, 1900 W 7th Street, Suite 1010, Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 682-4692
Official Website: Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration
Minimum Insurance Coverage Requirements
Arkansas establishes specific minimum liability insurance coverage amounts that all policies must meet or exceed. According to Arkansas Code § 27-22-104, insurance policies must provide minimum coverage of not less than twenty-five thousand dollars for bodily injury or death of one person in any one accident, not less than fifty thousand dollars for bodily injury or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and not less than twenty-five thousand dollars for damage to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.
| Liability Coverage Type | Statutory Minimum Amount |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury or death per person | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury or death per accident | $50,000 |
| Property damage per accident | $25,000 |
These minimum coverage limits apply exclusively to liability insurance. Arkansas law does not require collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, medical payments coverage, or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Arkansas Insurance Department
1 Commerce Way, Little Rock, AR 72202
Phone: (501) 371-2600
Official Website: Arkansas Insurance Department
Proof of Insurance Documents
Arkansas law requires every motor vehicle operator subject to mandatory liability insurance provisions] to carry evidence of insurance within the vehicle during operation. According to Arkansas Code § 23-89-213, insurance companies must furnish proof-of-insurance cards containing specific information to all insured parties.
Acceptable forms of insurance documentation include:
- Insurance Identification Card: Standard card issued by the insurance carrier containing the insurer's name, address, telephone number, and NAIC code number; local agent information; policy number; effective and expiration dates; vehicle identification number and vehicle description; insured person's name and address; and excluded driver designation if applicable
- Electronic Proof of Insurance: Digital proof of insurance displayed on a cellular phone or any portable electronic device with sufficient functionality to display required information as clearly as a paper proof-of-insurance card
- Temporary Proof of Insurance: Short-term documentation issued by the insurance company during policy processing periods
- Fleet Vehicle Insurance Card: Insurance card for fleet vehicles that may cover multiple vehicles without listing separate vehicle identification numbers for each vehicle
A proof-of-insurance card or temporary proof of insurance may be presented in either paper form or electronic form. The electronic display of insurance information on a smartphone or mobile device does not authorize law enforcement to search other content of the device without a search warrant or probable cause, nor does it expand or restrict law enforcement authority to conduct searches or investigations.
Law enforcement officers, court officials, and license plate issuing officials may request proof of insurance during traffic stops, accident investigations, court proceedings, or registration transactions. Failure to present valid evidence of insurance when requested creates a rebuttable presumption that the motor vehicle or its operation is uninsured and may result in citations and penalties.
Exceptions to Insurance Requirements
Arkansas law provides specific statutory exemptions from mandatory liability insurance requirements for certain vehicle categories under Arkansas Code § 27-22-207:
- Trailers: Including semitrailers, travel trailers, boat trailers, pole trailers, and utility trailers as defined in Arkansas Code § 27-14-1202
- Implements of husbandry: Agricultural equipment and farm machinery as defined in Arkansas Code § 27-14-104
- Vehicles moved solely by animal power: Animal-drawn vehicles
- Inoperable or stored motor vehicles: Vehicles not operated as defined by Department of Finance and Administration rules and not subject to mandatory insurance provisions
- Dealer inventory vehicles: Motor vehicles owned by a licensed motor vehicle dealer, wholesaler, rebuilder, or reconditioner held in inventory covered by a blanket liability insurance policy or commercial automobile liability insurance policy
- Vehicles properly registered in another jurisdiction: Motor vehicles not legally required to be registered in Arkansas
- Financial institution vehicles: Motor vehicles owned by a bank, subsidiary or affiliate of a bank, or finance company acquired as incident to their regular business and covered by a blanket liability insurance policy or commercial automobile liability insurance policy
- Blanket policy coverage: Motor vehicles prescribed by the Insurance Commissioner that are covered by a blanket liability insurance policy or commercial automobile liability insurance policy
According to Arkansas Code § 27-22-104, government-owned and government-operated storage facilities have additional exemptions including salvage motor vehicles, motor vehicles when an insurer holds the title, and motor vehicles not driven out of the facility under their own power.
These exemptions apply only under the specific circumstances described in Arkansas statutes. Vehicles qualifying for exemptions may still require registration with appropriate designation indicating exempt status.
Insurance Requirements for Vehicle Registration
The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration verifies insurance coverage as a mandatory element of all vehicle registration transactions. Registration applicants must provide proof of liability insurance coverage on the vehicle being registered and titled. The Office of Motor Vehicle confirms insurance information through the Arkansas Online Insurance Verification System before processing registration applications or renewals.
- Motor vehicles including motorcycles and commercial trucks must be titled and registered within sixty calendar days of the date of transfer or within sixty calendar days of the date a prior lien has been released. Trailers, mobile homes, ATVs, and motorboats must be titled and registered within thirty calendar days of the date of transfer or within thirty calendar days of the date a prior lien has been released.
- New residents relocating to Arkansas have sixty calendar days after becoming a resident to register vehicles in the state. Applications can be made in any state revenue office. New residents must obtain Arkansas-issued insurance coverage before registering vehicles. Insurance policies issued by carriers in other states do not satisfy Arkansas registration requirements unless the vehicle is properly registered in another jurisdiction and not legally required to be registered in Arkansas.
- Registration renewals require active insurance coverage verified through AOIVS. Vehicle assessment and personal property tax payment are automatically checked using computer systems. If insurance coverage reflects non-compliance when attempting to renew, vehicle owners cannot complete renewal transactions by phone or internet. To renew by mail or in person, written proof of compliance must be furnished for any item listed as non-compliant. Written proof of compliance includes a paper copy of either personal property tax assessment for the current year, personal property receipt for taxes due by the previous October 15th, or vehicle liability insurance coverage documentation.
Vehicles with lapsed or unverifiable insurance coverage cannot complete renewal transactions until valid coverage is established and confirmed through the verification system. The Department monitors registered vehicles continuously and identifies insurance lapses through AOIVS, initiating enforcement actions when coverage lapses are detected.
