If you drive in Long Beach with tickets or an accident on your record, a DUI, or a license from another country, finding affordable auto insurance can feel like a run of closed doors. It usually isn't. Carriers price the same record very differently, and some specialize in exactly these situations. Here's how each one affects your insurance, and what you can do about it.
Tickets
Most moving violations add one point to your California driving record, and insurers look at your record when they price your policy. Points can cost you the Good Driver Discount, which California law sets at 20% or more for drivers who qualify. If you're eligible, traffic school keeps a one-point ticket confidential from insurers; you can use it once every 18 months.
Accidents
An at-fault accident usually raises your premium at renewal and stays on your record for years. Accidents where you weren't at fault are treated very differently, so if the other driver was to blame, make sure your insurer has the police report or claim details.
A DUI
A DUI adds two points, raises premiums sharply, and usually means the DMV wants an SR-22 on file before it reinstates your license, typically for three years. Some carriers stop offering coverage after a DUI; others specialize in it. That makes a DUI the moment when comparing carriers matters most. Read more about SR-22 insurance in California.
No license, a foreign license, or new to California
Insurance and a driver's license are separate things, and the difference matters:
- Insuring a car you don't drive. You can often insure a car you own without holding a license yourself, with a licensed family member listed as the driver.
- A foreign license. Some carriers accept a foreign license, a passport or a matrícula consular. Visitors can generally drive on a valid license from home, but California expects new residents to get a California license within 10 days.
- No license at all. Under AB 60, California issues driver's licenses to residents who can't prove legal presence in the U.S., so a license may be within reach. Insurance never makes it legal to drive without one.
What affects what you pay
Under California's Proposition 103, the biggest factors are your driving record, the miles you drive each year, and how long you've been driving. Your vehicle, where it's kept and the coverage you choose count too. Because every carrier weighs these differently, the only reliable price is a quote. Ways to bring it down:
- Compare several carriers instead of renewing on autopilot.
- Choose a higher collision and comprehensive deductible, if you could pay it after a claim.
- Tell your insurer if you now drive fewer miles.
- Ask which discounts apply: good driver, multi-car, bundling with renters or home insurance, and others.
Why auto insurance matters
California requires drivers to carry liability insurance, or another approved form of financial responsibility, of at least 30/60/15: $30,000 for injury to one person, $60,000 per accident and $15,000 for property damage. Driving uninsured risks fines, a license suspension and paying for an accident yourself. The minimum keeps you legal, but it doesn't go far in a serious accident, so ask what higher limits would cost.
Getting started
- Call or start online. Call (562) 273-3989 or start a free quote. There's no obligation.
- Tell us your situation. Tickets, accidents, a DUI, the license you hold: the more we know, the better we can match carriers.
- Compare and choose. We'll lay the options side by side and explain them, in English or Spanish.
- Stay covered. If a payment or a renewal is going to be a problem, call us before it becomes a lapse.
We quote drivers anywhere in California. If you're local, see our Long Beach car insurance page.
Updated 8 October 2026: this article no longer quotes example prices or past promotions. What you pay depends on your vehicle, driving record, coverage and ZIP code, and a free quote is the only reliable number.