In California, the minimum car insurance requirement is $15,000 for injury/death to one person, $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person, and $5,000 for property damage. This is often expressed as 15/30/5 coverage. You must carry proof of this insurance in your vehicle at all times. While this meets the legal minimum, it's often considered insufficient to provide adequate financial protection in a serious accident, leaving you personally responsible for costs that exceed these limits.
The core requirement is liability insurance, which pays for the other party's expenses if you are at fault in a crash. It does not cover your own vehicle repairs or medical bills. California law also requires your insurance company to offer you uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (15/30) and uninsured motorist property damage coverage ($3,500), though you can reject these in writing.
| Insurance Coverage Type | California Minimum Requirement | What It Covers |
|---|
| Bodily Injury Liability (per person) | $15,000 | Medical costs for one person injured in an accident you cause. |
| Bodily Injury Liability (per accident) | $30,000 | Total medical costs for all people injured in an accident you cause. |
| Property Damage Liability | $5,000 | Damage to another person's property (e.g., their car, a fence). |
| Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (per person) | $15,000 (Must be offered) | Your medical bills if hit by a driver with no insurance. |
| Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (per accident) | $30,000 (Must be offered) | Total medical bills for you and your passengers. |
| Uninsured Motorist Property Damage | $3,500 (Must be offered) | Damage to your car from a hit-and-run or uninsured driver. |
Driving without the minimum insurance can result in fines, license suspension, and impoundment of your vehicle. For better protection, most financial advisors and insurance agents recommend carrying liability limits of at least 100/300/100 and adding comprehensive and collision coverage for your own car.
