California car insurance: minimum coverage, rules & quotes

Minimum liability: $30,000 bodily injury liability per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 property damage liability per accident. In effect since January 1, 2025.

Required coverages: BI & PD liability.

At-fault (tort) state. In an at-fault (tort) state, the driver who caused the crash — through their liability insurance — is responsible for the other people's injuries and property damage.

Credit-based insurance scores: Insurers in this state may not use your credit history or a credit-based insurance score to price auto insurance.

Raised from 15/30/5 on January 1, 2025 (California Insurance Code §11580.1(b)).

Low-income drivers may qualify for the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program, which has lower limits (10/20/3 per the Triple-I table).

Official help: find the California insurance department (consumer help, agent license lookup) in the NAIC, State insurance departments directory ↗, and the California DMV in the USA.gov, State motor vehicle services (DMV) directory ↗.

Body-type mix: Cars & Sedans 59% · SUVs 28% · Trucks 10% · Vans 3%. Most-listed models: Ford F-150 (654), Chevrolet Silverado (493), Toyota Camry (388), Ford Explorer (365), Ford Bronco (361), Honda Civic (356).

Why it matters: a financed car at the $32,400 median price will normally need collision and comprehensive, and repair costs, theft rates and safety equipment differ by model — the VIN decode on the form shows the agent the exact vehicle.

• Sacramento 3,981 cars
• San Jose 2,980 cars
• Fresno 1,418 cars
• Bakersfield 1,368 cars
• Roseville 1,137 cars
• San Diego 1,095 cars
• Santa Clara 1,042 cars
• Colma 942 cars
• Elk Grove 767 cars
• Oakland 712 cars
• Modesto 696 cars
• Belmont 691 cars
• Fremont 689 cars
• Rancho Cordova 683 cars
• Hayward 679 cars
• Newark 612 cars
• Rocklin 603 cars
• Los Angeles 584 cars
• Anaheim 555 cars
• South San Francisco 554 cars
• Woodland 541 cars
• Yuba City 462 cars
• San Francisco 453 cars
• Dublin 444 cars
• Long Beach 416 cars
• Irvine 396 cars
• Folsom 375 cars
• San Leandro 362 cars
• San Rafael 357 cars
• Palo Alto 343 cars
• Redwood City 324 cars
• Livermore 314 cars
• Fairfield 312 cars
• Vacaville 299 cars
• Stockton 293 cars
• Riverside 286 cars
• Gilroy 275 cars
• Milpitas 271 cars
• Lodi 252 cars
• Chico 243 cars
• Pleasanton 240 cars
• Sunnyvale 232 cars
• Tracy 221 cars
• Mountain View 219 cars
• Beverly Hills 208 cars
• Santa Rosa 198 cars
• Burlingame 187 cars
• Watsonville 181 cars
• Culver City 163 cars
• Oakdale 150 cars
• Richmond 143 cars
• Santa Ana 134 cars
• Signal Hill 129 cars
• Petaluma 118 cars
• Dixon 116 cars
• Riverbank 110 cars
• Fair Oaks 109 cars
• Davis 106 cars
• West Sacramento 101 cars
• Eureka 94 cars
• Ceres 80 cars
• Redding 68 cars
• North Highlands 54 cars
• Whittier 54 cars
• Salinas 52 cars
• Vallejo 50 cars
• Berkeley 42 cars
• San Marcos 41 cars
• Auburn 39 cars
• Citrus Heights 37 cars
• Los Banos 37 cars
• El Cajon 33 cars
• El Cerrito 33 cars
• Clovis 32 cars
• Huntington Beach 32 cars
• San Carlos 32 cars
• La Jolla 31 cars
• Spring Valley 31 cars
• Rio Vista 28 cars
• Manteca 27 cars

• Good / safe driver

  For drivers with no at-fault accidents or major violations for a set number of years (often three or more). California law requires insurers to offer qualifying good drivers a Good Driver Discount.

  Check this discount
• Multi-policy (bundling)

  Buying auto with homeowners, renters, condo or another policy from the same insurer.

  Check this discount
• Multi-car

  Insuring two or more vehicles on the same policy.

  Check this discount
• Good student

  For students with good grades, commonly a B average or better (insurers set their own rules).

  Check this discount
• Defensive-driving course

  Completing an approved course. Some states require insurers to offer a discount for approved courses, often for older drivers.

  Check this discount
• Telematics / usage-based

  An app or plug-in device that measures how, when and how much you drive. Safe habits can earn a discount; in some programs risky driving can raise the price.

  Check this discount
• Paid in full / autopay / paperless

  Paying the whole term up front, enrolling in automatic payments or going paperless.

  Check this discount
• Low mileage

  Driving fewer miles than average, for example working from home.

  Check this discount
• Safety & anti-theft features

  Airbags, anti-lock brakes, crash-avoidance technology, alarms and tracking devices. The VIN decode shows the factory safety equipment listed for your car.

  Check this discount
• Affinity / military / employer

  Membership in certain employers, alumni associations, professional groups or military service.

  Check this discount

• Bodily injury liability (BI)

  Pays for injuries you cause to other people — their medical bills, lost wages and legal claims — up to your per-person and per-accident limits. Required in almost every state.

• Property damage liability (PD)

  Pays for damage you cause to someone else's car or property. Required in nearly every state. A crash with a newer vehicle can exceed a low PD limit quickly.

• Collision

  Pays to repair or replace your own car after a crash with another vehicle or object, regardless of fault, minus your deductible. Optional by law but required by lenders and lessors.

• Comprehensive

  Covers your car for theft, vandalism, fire, flood, hail, falling objects and animal strikes, minus your deductible. Also required on most financed and leased cars.

• Uninsured / underinsured motorist (UM/UIM)

  Protects you when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough. Required in many states; where it is optional, insurers usually must offer it.

• Personal injury protection (PIP) / Medical payments

  PIP pays your and your passengers' medical costs (and in many states lost wages) regardless of fault; it is required in no-fault states. MedPay is a smaller, medical-only version.

• Gap insurance

  If your financed or leased car is totaled or stolen, gap pays the difference between the car's actual cash value and what you still owe. Often available from your auto insurer, lender or dealer.

• Rental reimbursement & roadside assistance

  Low-cost add-ons: a rental car while yours is being repaired after a covered claim, and towing, jump-starts, lockouts and flat-tire help.

What is the minimum car insurance in California?

California requires at least $30,000 bodily injury liability per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 property damage liability per accident — written 30/60/15. These limits have applied since January 1, 2025.

Is California a no-fault state?

No. California is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver who causes a crash is responsible for the resulting injuries and damage, usually through their liability insurance.

Can car insurers use my credit score in California?

Insurers in this state may not use your credit history or a credit-based insurance score to price auto insurance.

Is the California minimum enough coverage?

It is the legal minimum, not a recommendation. Medical bills and newer-car repairs can exceed 30/60/15 limits, and you can be personally responsible for the difference. Many drivers choose higher limits, and financed or leased cars also need collision and comprehensive.

Do I need insurance before buying a car in California?

You need proof of insurance to register and drive the car, and dealers usually ask for it before delivery. If you finance or lease, the lender will require collision and comprehensive. Request a quote on the exact VIN before you sign.

How do I get a car insurance quote in California?

Use the AutosXchange quote form on this page: enter your VIN (we decode the vehicle), ZIP and a few details, and a licensed insurance professional will follow up. Or call or text (916) 476-7689.

How do I get a good driver discount in California?

California law requires insurers to offer a Good Driver Discount to drivers who meet the state's criteria (generally licensed for at least three years with a clean record). Ask the agent to confirm you qualify.

• Alabama 25/50/25
• Alaska 50/100/25
• Arizona 25/50/15
• Arkansas 25/50/25
• Colorado 25/50/15
• Connecticut 25/50/25
• Delaware 25/50/10
• District of Columbia 25/50/10
• Florida PD 10 + PIP
• Georgia 25/50/25
• Hawaii 40/80/20
• Idaho 25/50/15
• Illinois 25/50/20
• Indiana 25/50/25
• Iowa 20/40/15
• Kansas 25/50/25
• Kentucky 25/50/25
• Louisiana 15/30/25
• Maine 50/100/25
• Maryland 30/60/15
• Massachusetts 25/50/30
• Michigan 50/100/10
• Minnesota 30/60/10
• Mississippi 25/50/25
• Missouri 25/50/25
• Montana 25/50/20
• Nebraska 25/50/25
• Nevada 25/50/20
• New Hampshire 25/50/25
• New Jersey 35/70/25
• New Mexico 25/50/10
• New York 25/50/10
• North Carolina 50/100/50
• North Dakota 25/50/25
• Ohio 25/50/25
• Oklahoma 25/50/25
• Oregon 25/50/20
• Pennsylvania 15/30/5
• Rhode Island 25/50/25
• South Carolina 25/50/25
• South Dakota 25/50/25
• Tennessee 25/50/25
• Texas 30/60/25
• Utah 30/65/25
• Vermont 25/50/10
• Virginia 50/100/25
• Washington 25/50/10
• West Virginia 25/50/25
• Wisconsin 25/50/10
• Wyoming 25/50/20