California drivers have plenty of car insurance companies to choose from but selecting the right auto insurance coverage is a little harder. California residents do not enjoy the protection of no-fault car insurance and any injuries or damages are subject to complex tort law.

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Additionally, while car insurance is required by law some estimates show up to 30% of California drivers are either uninsured or underinsured which means your odds of getting in a car accident with someone who may not have enough insurance to pay for damages is quite high.

How much car insurance do I need in California?

California has two different programs for drivers. The standard minimum car insurance requirements for vehicles registered in California are:

• $15,000 bodily injury liability for accidents with one injured party
• $30,000 combined bodily injury liability for accidents involving 2 or more people
• $5,000 property damage insurance

However California also has lower car insurance requirements for low income families. The purpose of this program “the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan” is to allow those drivers who cannot afford typical auto insurance coverage purchase a lower amount to comply with the law. These lower minimum car insurance requirements are:

• $10,000 bodily injury liability for accidents with one injured party
• $20,000 combined bodily injury liability for accidents involving 2 or more people
• $3,000 property damage insurance

Drivers who wish to qualify for the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan must apply to the state and be approved before being allowed to drive with lower limits.

The upside of this low income car insurance plan is that more drivers can afford some type of insurance however the downfall is you also have greater potential liability in the event of an accident. Remember that car insurance caps out at your policy limits and any injuries or damage you caused exceeding your policy limits the injured party may sue you personally for.

Regardless of what California car insurance policy you choose purchasing only the minimum required by law is never advisable unless you have no other choice. Even a minor accident involving minor injuries can easily rack up a hefty bill in medical expenses. Its also important to note that California (much like other states) only requires liability insurance which does not provide coverage for damages to your vehicle in an accident where you were at fault.

Although cheap car insurance quotes can seem attractive all California drivers would be wise to look at a full coverage car insurance policy which contains liability, collision and comprehensive coverage with much greater limits than just the minimum auto insurance requirements required by California law.

California DUI Laws

California is extremely strict about enforcing DUI laws and any driver found guilty of driving under the influence will be exposed to great financial pains including higher car insurance rates, state fines, attorney fees and more. DUI laws in California have 2 basic categories including a basic DUI and an enhanced DUI depending on the blood alcohol content of the drivers. Learn more about California DUI Laws here.

California Car Insurance Companies

Nationwide, 21st Century, GEICO, Progressive and almost all the major brand names offer car insurance in California but the trick is to find the best provider for your unique profile. Young drivers, good drivers, high risk drivers, luxury car owners – whatever your profile is the first step to finding the best car insurance rates will be to understand how car insurance works. Once you learn about the different types of coverage, auto insurance discounts, deductible options and other basic foundations of car insurance you will be better prepared to compare car insurance quotes and ultimately find the best rates. We can help with our auto insurance guide to switching car insurance companies or if you’re ready to shop around simply enter your ZIP code and get FREE quotes from local providers today!

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