California Auto Insurance Requirements
The California auto insurance requirements stipulated by law are:
- $15,000 for injury/death to one person
- $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person
- $5,000 for damage to property
Liability insurance compensates a person other than the policy holder for personal injury or property damage. Comprehensive or collision insurance does not meet vehicle financial responsibility requirements.
If you cannot afford liability insurance you may be eligible for the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program. Additional information is available at www.aipso.com/lc/ or call 1-800-602-8861.
Please note that these are minimums required by California state law, not suggested coverage amounts. The simple fact is, each state’s minimum requirements are typically inadequate to sufficiently cover your costs should you be involved in a major accident. The shortfall will have to be made up out of your own pocket. Obviously, having to pay this difference could easily destroy one’s financial situation should they be sued in such cases. Therefore, it is highly recommended to get much higher coverage amounts. Consult pages elsewhere on this site for recommendations in this regard.
California Auto Insurance Requirements – More Information
For more information regarding auto insurance requirements in California, contact the state regulatory agency:
CALIFORNIA – DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
300 South Spring Street, South Tower
Los Angeles, CA 90013 United States
Phone: 213-897-8921
Web: http://www.insurance.ca.gov
Description: Steve Poizner, Commissioner of Insurance
Also see:
California Dept. Of Motor Vehicles
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/
Note that this information is provided for as a general guide and is for reference purposes only and should in no way be considered legal advice. Contact the regulatory agency for the state in question for definitive answers that apply to that state.
