California Minimum Car Insurance Requirements
Photo by Tim Mossholder

Drivers in California must carry auto insurance and meet the state's minimum coverage levels. Here are the key requirements to know.

Liability Insurance

California requires all drivers to carry liability insurance. This covers injuries and property damage you cause to others when an accident is your fault.

The minimum liability limits are:

  • $15,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $5,000 property damage liability

Having only minimum liability limits means you may need to pay out-of-pocket if damages exceed your coverage. Higher limits provide more protection.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist

Uninsured motorist coverage protects you when an at-fault driver has no insurance.

Underinsured motorist coverage kicks in when an at-fault driver lacks sufficient coverage to pay for your damages.

California requires a minimum of $15,000/$30,000 in uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage.

Collision and Comprehensive Coverage

Collision and comprehensive are optional but recommended.

Collision covers damage to your car from an accident.

Comprehensive covers theft, vandalism, fire, flood, and animal collisions.

Proof of Insurance

Drivers must carry proof of auto insurance in their vehicle at all times. You must provide it if law enforcement requests it.

Penalties for No Insurance

The penalties for driving without insurance in California include:

  • Fines up to $500
  • Vehicle impoundment
  • Driver's license suspension

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Steven Reilly is a qualified mechanic and his passion for cars goes beyond just the technical aspects. He is also an amateur racer and all round car enthusiast. When he is not driving them, he can often be found in his garage under the hood of a rare model. Steven Reilly has lost track of the number of hours he has spent setting up his fine collection of rebuilt models. He believes that cars can provide a constructive and fun opportunity to teach the youth important life skills. In line with this, he is developing a community outreach program, potentially dubbed ‘Cars for change'.