California Auto Insurance Regulations
California auto insurance requirements:
Minimum liability insurance:
* $15,000 for injury/death to one person
* $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person
* $5,000 for damage to property
Acceptable evidence of financial responsibility
Your insurance company is required to electronically report insurance information for all private-use vehicle liability policies. In some cases, however, you may also be requested to submit this information to DMV by providing:
* A document or identification card from your insurance company indicating that the vehicle is insured. (Documents mailed to the department will not be returned.)
* A DMV authorization letter, if you are a cash depositor or are self insured.
* California Proof of Insurance Certificate (SR-22) for broad coverage or owner’s policy
These vehicles are not required to provide evidence of liability insurance to DMV:
* Trailers
* Off-Highway vehicles
* Vehicles registered to a government entity (city, county, state, federal)
* Special Equipment vehicles
* Vehicles registered under a Planned Non-Operation status
If you fail to maintain financial responsibility
* Your driving privilege may be suspended. If you are involved in an accident and cannot provide evidence of financial responsibility, you may lose your driving privilege for up to one year.
* Registration of your vehicle will be subject to suspension (effectiveOctober 1, 2006). DMV will begin the process to suspend the registration of your vehicle if liability insurance is cancelled and a replacement policy is not submitted within 45 days, or your insurance company has not electronically provided evidence of insurance within 30 days of a registration card being issued on a newly acquired vehicle, or if you provide false evidence of insurance.
* You may be cited. Failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility when requested by a peace officer may result in a citation with fines that could reach $1,000 or more. (DMV cannot clear or sign citations relating to financial responsibility. Only a court can clear or sign these citations).
* Your vehicle may be impounded. Failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility may result in your vehicle being impounded, in addition to any fines.
* You may be personally liable for damages. If you contribute to the cause of an accident and cannot provide evidence of financial responsibility, you may be forced to compensate the other party for any injuries and damages.
If your vehicle registration is suspended, contact the Vehicle Registration Financial Responsibility Program at 1-866-664-4545. NOTE: Vehicle financial responsibility services cannot be completed at your local DMV field office.
Minimum liability insurance:
* $15,000 for injury/death to one person
* $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person
* $5,000 for damage to property
Acceptable evidence of financial responsibility
Your insurance company is required to electronically report insurance information for all private-use vehicle liability policies. In some cases, however, you may also be requested to submit this information to DMV by providing:
* A document or identification card from your insurance company indicating that the vehicle is insured. (Documents mailed to the department will not be returned.)
* A DMV authorization letter, if you are a cash depositor or are self insured.
* California Proof of Insurance Certificate (SR-22) for broad coverage or owner’s policy
These vehicles are not required to provide evidence of liability insurance to DMV:
* Trailers
* Off-Highway vehicles
* Vehicles registered to a government entity (city, county, state, federal)
* Special Equipment vehicles
* Vehicles registered under a Planned Non-Operation status
If you fail to maintain financial responsibility
* Your driving privilege may be suspended. If you are involved in an accident and cannot provide evidence of financial responsibility, you may lose your driving privilege for up to one year.
* Registration of your vehicle will be subject to suspension (effectiveOctober 1, 2006). DMV will begin the process to suspend the registration of your vehicle if liability insurance is cancelled and a replacement policy is not submitted within 45 days, or your insurance company has not electronically provided evidence of insurance within 30 days of a registration card being issued on a newly acquired vehicle, or if you provide false evidence of insurance.
* You may be cited. Failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility when requested by a peace officer may result in a citation with fines that could reach $1,000 or more. (DMV cannot clear or sign citations relating to financial responsibility. Only a court can clear or sign these citations).
* Your vehicle may be impounded. Failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility may result in your vehicle being impounded, in addition to any fines.
* You may be personally liable for damages. If you contribute to the cause of an accident and cannot provide evidence of financial responsibility, you may be forced to compensate the other party for any injuries and damages.
If your vehicle registration is suspended, contact the Vehicle Registration Financial Responsibility Program at 1-866-664-4545. NOTE: Vehicle financial responsibility services cannot be completed at your local DMV field office.