According to California law, every owner and driver of a car must maintain financial responsibility for accidents. There are four ways to prove your financial responsibility:
Coverage by an automobile or motor vehicle insurance policy
A deposit of $35,000 with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV);
A surety bond of $35,000 obtained from a company licensed to do business in California;
DMV-approved self-insurance.
In California:
Average auto liability insurance premium - $391.24
Average auto collision insurance premium - $391.24
Average auto comprehensive insurance premium - $263.64
Average auto combined insurance premium - $765.20
California’s Compulsory Financial Responsibility Law requires every driver and owner of a motor vehicle to be financially responsible for their actions. The statutory minimum limits of liability insurance in California are as follows:
Bodily Injury
$15,000 for death or injury of any one person, any one accident.
There are four ways to accomplish financial responsibility:
Coverage by a motor vehicle or automobile liability insurance policy;
A cash deposit of $35,000 with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV);
A certificate of self-insurance issued by DMV to owners of fleets of more than 25 vehicles; or
A surety bond for $35,000 obtained from an insurance company licensed to do business in California.
All California drivers and owners must have at least the statutory limits of minimum liability insurance or an approved alternative way to pay for injury or property damage they may cause. Penalties are very severe for non-compliance with this section of the vehicle code.
When your car is in an accident for which you are found legally liable, bodily injury(BI) liability covers your liability to others for injuries to them. Property damage (PD)liability covers your liability for damage to someone else’s property.
A policy with bodily injury of $15,000/$30,000 and property damage of $5,000 will pay out as follows:
The maximum limit for one person’s injuries, medical expenses is $15,000 under the bodily injury portion;
If two or more people are injured, the maximum limit for the accident will be $30,000;
The maximum limit for damage to other people’s property (their car, their fence, etc.) is $5,000.
Comprehensive coverage (other than collision), uninsured motorist, medical payments and collision insurance are not required by law.
California Department of Insurance 300 South Spring Street, South Tower Los Angeles, CA 90013 800-927- HELP (4357)
California Department of Motor Vehicles 2415 1st Avenue Mail Station F101 Sacramento, CA 95818 800-777-0133
California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan 595 Market St., #1250 San Francisco, CA 94105 (800) 622-0954 Toll-free within California only.
