California requires every driver to carry at least $30,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $60,000 per accident and $15,000 of property damage liability, often written as 30/60/15. Those limits took effect in 2025 and are scheduled to rise to 50/100/25 in 2035.
Liability is the only coverage California requires. Insurers must offer uninsured motorist coverage, though, and you have to sign a waiver to turn it down.
Key Takeaways
- California’s minimum is 30/60/15 liability coverage, and it’s scheduled to rise to 50/100/25 on January 1, 2035.
- Insurers must offer uninsured motorist coverage. To decline it, you have to sign a written waiver.
- A first conviction for driving uninsured carries a $100 to $200 fine plus penalty assessments. A crash without insurance can cost you your license for up to four years, no matter who caused it.
- Lower-income drivers may qualify for the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program, and drivers who can’t find coverage can apply through the state’s assigned risk plan.
California Minimum Car Insurance at a Glance
| Coverage | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $15,000 per accident |
| Uninsured motorist | Must be offered. You can decline it only by signing a waiver. |
| Medical payments | Optional |
| Collision and comprehensive | Not required by law, but usually required by lenders and lessors |
The California DMV also accepts three alternatives to an insurance policy: a $75,000 cash deposit with the DMV, a $75,000 surety bond from a company licensed in California, or a DMV-issued self-insurance certificate.
A 30/60/15 policy pays up to $30,000 for each person you injure, up to $60,000 for everyone injured in one accident and up to $15,000 for property damage. RateFrog’s guide to liability limits explains how those numbers work.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage in California
California doesn’t require you to buy uninsured motorist coverage, but insurers have to offer it. The California Department of Insurance’s auto insurance guide says, “If you choose not to buy it, you must sign a form, called a waiver.” Under state law, it’s included at 30/60 or higher unless you and your insurer agree in writing to remove it or lower it. It can’t be lowered below 30/60.
California’s uninsured motorist property damage coverage has limits of its own under Insurance Code section 11580.26. If you don’t have collision coverage, it pays up to your car’s actual cash value or $3,500, whichever is less. If you do have collision coverage, collision pays for the damage and this coverage pays only your collision deductible, up to $3,500. Either way, it applies only when the uninsured car actually hit yours and the other driver or the car’s license plate is identified. RateFrog’s guide to uninsured motorist coverage explains how UM works in other states.
Proof of Insurance in California
You have to show proof of insurance when a police officer asks, when you renew your registration and after a traffic collision. You can show it on your phone. California Vehicle Code section 16028 allows proof on a mobile device and says the officer can view only the insurance information.
Insurers also report your coverage to the DMV electronically. If the DMV doesn’t have proof of insurance for your car, it will suspend your registration. That can happen when:
- Your insurance information isn’t reported within 30 days after you get a registration card.
- Your policy is canceled and a replacement isn’t reported within 45 days.
A suspended registration means the car can’t be driven or parked on public roads until proof is submitted, plus a $14 reinstatement fee. To avoid this, the DMV says to notify it before you cancel your insurance. If your car is registered and you stop driving it, the DMV says you must either keep liability insurance or file an Affidavit of Non-Use (ANU). When it’s time to renew, you can choose Planned Non-Operation (PNO) status instead. A car on either status isn’t subject to suspension, but it can’t be driven or parked on California roads.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in California
Under Vehicle Code section 16029, the penalties are:
| Offense | Penalty |
|---|---|
| First conviction | $100 to $200, plus penalty assessments |
| Second conviction within three years | $200 to $500, plus penalty assessments |
| Either conviction | The court may order your vehicle impounded |
| A collision while uninsured | License suspension for up to four years, regardless of fault |
Penalty assessments are added on top of the base fine, so the total you owe will be higher than the numbers above.
The collision rule is the one that hurts most. The DMV’s driver handbook says your driving privilege “will be suspended for up to four years if you are in a collision and do not have proper insurance coverage,” and it doesn’t matter who was at fault. You can get your license back during the last three years of the suspension if you file a California Insurance Proof Certificate (SR 22/SR 1P) and keep it for three years.
You also have to report certain crashes to the DMV. If a collision causes more than $1,000 in property damage, or anyone is injured or killed, you must file an SR 1 report within 10 days.
SR 22 Filings in California
California’s version of an SR-22 is the SR 22 or SR 1P, officially called a California Insurance Proof Certificate. The DMV can require one after an uninsured collision or a DUI, among other situations, and you usually have to keep it for three years. RateFrog’s SR-22 guide explains how the filing works.
Low-Cost and Hard-to-Place Coverage
California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program
The California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program offers low-cost liability policies to drivers who meet these requirements:
- A valid California driver’s license
- A household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level
- A vehicle worth $25,000 or less
- At least 16 years old, with applicants under 18 legally emancipated
- A good driving record, or status as a new driver
The program’s coverage is 10/20/3: up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per accident for injuries, and $3,000 for property damage. Uninsured motorist bodily injury and $1,000 of medical payments coverage are optional. It doesn’t cover theft of or damage to your own car. You can apply at mylowcostauto.com or by calling 1-866-602-8861.
California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan
If you can’t buy liability coverage because of your driving record, the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP) assigns you to an insurer. The Department of Insurance says all insurers licensed to sell auto insurance in California must accept CAARP assignments. You can reach CAARP at 1-800-622-0954.
How California Insurers Set Rates
California limits how insurers can set auto rates. Under Proposition 103, codified in Insurance Code section 1861.02, insurers must base auto rates mainly on three factors: your driving safety record, the number of miles you drive each year and your years of driving experience. They can use other factors only if the Insurance Commissioner has approved them by regulation. Credit history isn’t on that approved list.
A few other California rules:
- Gender can’t be used. The Department of Insurance banned gender as a rating factor effective January 1, 2019.
- A gap in coverage alone can’t be held against you. The law says the absence of prior insurance, “in and of itself,” can’t be used to set rates or eligibility.
- Good drivers get a discount. The Department of Insurance says that if you’ve been licensed for at least three consecutive years and have no more than one point on your record, your rate must be at least 20% lower than a non-Good Driver’s rate at the same insurer. The law adds other conditions, including no at-fault accident that injured or killed someone during those three years and no DUI conviction in the past 10 years.
Is California’s Minimum Coverage Enough?
For many drivers, no. A $15,000 property damage limit may not cover a newer car you damage, and injury claims can run past $30,000 per person. If a claim is more than your limits, you can be personally responsible for the difference. RateFrog’s guide to how much car insurance you need can help you choose limits, and you can compare car insurance quotes at several coverage levels.
Where to Get Help
The California Department of Insurance runs a consumer hotline at 1-800-927-4357 and accepts online requests for assistance through its consumer help page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Car Insurance Mandatory in California?
Yes. You need at least 30/60/15 liability coverage, or another form of financial responsibility the DMV accepts: a $75,000 cash deposit, a $75,000 surety bond or a DMV-issued self-insurance certificate.
Can I Show Proof of Insurance on My Phone in California?
Yes. California law allows proof on a mobile device, and the officer may view only the insurance information.
What Happens If I Cancel My Insurance but Keep My Car Registered?
The DMV will suspend your registration if no replacement policy is reported within 45 days. If you won’t be driving the car, file an Affidavit of Non-Use with the DMV before you cancel, or choose Planned Non-Operation status when you renew. A car on either status can’t be driven or parked on California roads.
Does California Require Full Coverage?
No. State law requires only liability coverage. Lenders and leasing companies usually require collision and comprehensive, though. See RateFrog’s guide to what minimum coverage covers.
Sources
- California DMV: Insurance Requirements
- California DMV: Suspended Vehicle Registration
- California DMV Driver Handbook: Financial Responsibility
- California Vehicle Code section 16028
- California Vehicle Code section 16029
- California Department of Insurance: Auto Insurance Information Guide (PDF)
- California Department of Insurance: Automobile Insurance Guide
- California Low Cost Auto Insurance: Qualifications
- California Low Cost Auto Insurance: Coverage
- California Insurance Code section 11580.26
- California Insurance Code section 1861.02
- California Insurance Code section 1861.025
- California Department of Insurance: Gender Rating Ban
- California Department of Insurance: Consumer Help