California Auto Insurance FAQs

For one thing, you can use Instant Quotes California to shop around to find the best deal for the insurance you need. Don’t be afraid to get multiple quotes and compare. Second: You can look closely at what deductibles will give you the best balance between your yearly insurance costs and what you can pay out-of-pocket if you have an accident. A deductible is the amount of money you are willing to pay on your own before insurance funds click in. Third: Don’t forget that many insurance companies offer other ways to save money. Some offer savings if you also purchase home insurance from the same company. You may find discounts for having low yearly mileage, sending your new driver to driving school, or attending a specialized advanced driver training course. Finally, do your best to avoid speeding tickets or other citations. Drive safely and try to avoid accidents. Drivers with better safety records are rewarded with lower rates.

California’s auto insurance minimums for bodily injury and property damage are very low considering the number of drivers on California highways, the frequency of accidents, and the rising costs of medical treatments and car repair/replacement. Think about this. If you are responsible for an accident that seriously injures several people, with minimum coverage, the maximum payment made on your behalf to the injured parties could not exceed $30,000. Injured parties may file a legal suit for more money. The maximum coverage for the other driver’s vehicle is $5,000. How many cars on the road could be replaced or repaired for that amount of money? Buying more than the minimum could save you a lot of money in case of an accident.

Here’s one reason: Suppose you cause an accident, and your car is totaled. Without collision coverage, you would not receive any insurance money to help pay for a new automobile. Here’s another: If you were injured, without MedPay or PIP, your health insurance might not cover your medical bills, and such other expenses as lost wages. And finally: Suppose you and your passengers suffer injuries in an accident caused by an uninsured (UM) or underinsured (UIM) motorist. Without UM or UIM coverage, you would not receive insurance payments for medical expenses and property damage from the driver at fault because the at-fault motorist doesn’t have any or enough liability insurance.

Uninsured motorists face suspension of their automobile registration, and their car may be impounded until they can provide the required proof of coverage. Offenders are fined $100 to $200 for a first offense. Repeat offenders face fines of $500 and longer suspensions of registration.

A tort is a wrongful act that causes injury or damage, and can result in a law suit. Under California’s tort system, the law decides who is responsible for the accident, and that person’s insurance is liable for bodily and property damages to the injured parties. So if you cause an accident, your insurance must pay the damages.

Your insurance company normally provides you with a card that you must carry with you in your car at all times. In California, any driver without proof of insurance coverage will receive a citation, and will be required to provide proof of liability coverage within 24 hours to a court.

Yes! In fact, if you cannot get insurance under someone else’s plan, you may have to acquire your own.

A learner’s permit is effectively a Driver’s License, albeit one with certain restrictions. And in order to drive on public roads, insurance may be required in your state—and if it isn’t, having it is certainly a good idea.

You can obtain insurance by being listed on the policy used by your parents or the owner of your vehicle, or by purchasing your own insurance. All three of these provide ways to be covered properly, but may differ greatly in price. Check out what your options would be, and get quotes, to make sure you pick the best choice for you.