Auto Insurance Across California

Since 1 January 2025 it's 30/60/15: $30,000 for injury to one person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage. We'll check your declarations page against it for free, whether or not you buy from us.

Often, yes. Some California carriers accept a foreign licence, a passport or a matrícula consular. Tell us what you have and we'll find the carriers that take it.

It narrows the field, but it rarely ends it. We work with carriers that specialise in high-risk drivers, and if the DMV wants an SR-22 we arrange that too.

To get a quote and bind a policy, we'll need a photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, or matrícula) showing your current California address, your vehicle's VIN, and a phone number and email where we can reach you. If you choose full coverage, we'll also need photos of your vehicle, plus an odometer photo if comprehensive or collision applies. Your agent will walk you through the rest of the paperwork, including your signed application, as part of sign-up.

Liability-only pays for injuries and damage you cause to others; it doesn't pay to repair or replace your own vehicle. Full coverage adds collision and comprehensive, which cover your own car after a crash, theft, vandalism or other covered loss.

Comprehensive covers damage to your own vehicle from causes other than a collision — theft, vandalism, fire, flooding, falling objects, or hitting an animal, for example.

Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your own vehicle after it hits another vehicle or object, or rolls over, regardless of who was at fault.

It protects you if another driver causes an accident but carries little or no insurance of their own, helping pay for your injuries and, depending on the policy, your vehicle's damage. It's optional under California law, but worth asking your agent about.

Gap insurance covers the difference between what your vehicle is worth and what you still owe on a loan or lease if it's totaled or stolen. It's most relevant for newer financed or leased vehicles, where the loan balance can exceed the car's value. Ask your agent whether it fits your situation.

A non-owner policy provides liability coverage for someone who drives regularly but doesn't own a vehicle — for example, someone who borrows or rents cars often. It's also commonly used to satisfy an SR-22 requirement without owning a car.

Yes. Most carriers allow you to add a household driver, including a teen or a driver with no prior history, to an existing policy. Your agent will need their license information and may ask a few questions about their driving.

Often, yes. We work with carriers that specialize in drivers with a complicated history, including tickets, at-fault accidents and DUIs. If the DMV requires an SR-22 filing, we can arrange that as part of the policy.

Rules vary by carrier. A driver with a suspended license generally can't be listed as an active driver, but your agent can walk you through how to handle a household member in that situation, including excluding them from coverage if needed.

A lapse can mean a gap in your coverage history, which some carriers weigh when pricing a new policy, and if you're required to carry an SR-22, a lapse gets reported to the DMV and can suspend your license. Contact us before a payment issue turns into a lapse if at all possible.

Yes. Many clients switch mid-term. Bring your current declarations page and we can review your coverage, compare options across our carriers, and help time the switch so you're not paying for two policies at once.

Carriers typically weigh your driving record, the vehicle you drive, the coverage and limits you choose, where you live and park the car, and how the vehicle is used. Because every carrier weighs these differently, comparing across multiple carriers can turn up different results for the same driver.

It depends on your policy and the carrier. Some policies extend liability and even physical damage coverage to a rental car; others don't. Check with your agent before you rent, so you know whether to also buy the rental company's coverage.

Many carriers offer optional roadside assistance covering things like towing, a flat tire, or a dead battery. Availability and what's included vary by carrier, so ask your agent whether it can be added to your policy.

Permissive use generally extends your liability coverage to someone you allow to drive your car occasionally, as long as the carrier's rules permit it. It's not automatic for every situation — regular use by someone not on your policy should usually be discussed with your agent first.

Almost always, yes. Lenders and leasing companies typically require collision and comprehensive coverage for as long as you owe money on the vehicle, to protect their financial interest in it.

It depends on the carrier and your relationship to the registered owner — carriers generally want to see an insurable interest in the vehicle. Tell your agent the situation and we'll find a carrier whose rules fit.

Yes. Once your vehicle is in California, a California auto policy meeting the state's minimum requirements can be set up, and your agent can help line up the timing with your registration and license requirements.

Often, yes, especially if they're not taking a vehicle with them or are only driving occasionally when home. Rules vary by carrier, so let your agent know the details of where they're studying and whether they have a car there.

Yes. We work with service members stationed in or outside California, including questions about storing a vehicle while deployed or insuring a car kept in another state.

The declarations page ("dec page") summarizes your policy — who's covered, what vehicles, your coverage types and limits, and your premium. Your insurance ID card is the smaller proof-of-insurance card you keep in your vehicle or on your phone for traffic stops and registration.

Some of our carriers offer specialty policies for classic and antique vehicles, which value the car differently than a standard policy would. Tell your agent about the vehicle's age, use and value and we'll look for a fitting carrier.

A named-driver policy only covers the specific people listed on it; anyone else driving the car may not be covered. Most standard California auto policies instead cover all licensed household members and occasional permitted drivers, but it's worth confirming exactly who's listed with your agent.

Only if the DMV or a court has specifically required one from you, usually after certain violations or a license suspension. If you need an SR-22, we file it alongside your auto policy — see our SR-22 filing questions for more detail.

Many of our carriers let you hold auto and home or renters policies together, which can simplify renewals and billing. Ask your agent whether bundling makes sense for your situation.

Your carrier pays covered claims according to your policy, and the accident becomes part of your driving record, which can affect future pricing and which carriers are a good fit at renewal. Your agent can talk through what to expect at your next renewal.