California car insurance: minimums, prices and your estimate
California requires at least $30,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 of property damage liability (written 30/60/15).
California bans gender in auto pricing and does not allow credit history as a rating factor; your driving record, annual mileage and years of experience must count most. Good drivers must get rates at least 20% lower than they would otherwise pay.
Since January 1, 2025, new and renewed policies must carry at least 30/60/15, up from 15/30/5, and the minimum rises again to 50/100/25 for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2035.
- Legal minimum
- 30/60/15
- Fault system
- At-fault
- Personal injury protection
- Not required
- Uninsured motorist
- Must be offered; you can turn it down
- Underinsured motorist
- Must be offered; you can turn it down
- Credit-based pricing
- Not allowed as a rating factor
- Gender-based pricing
- Not allowed
- High-risk proof filing
- SR-22
What drivers in California can expect to pay
Monthly ranges from our model, anchored to California's position in 7 published price studies from 2025 and 2026 ($3,094 a year for full coverage and $811 for minimum coverage for a standard adult driver; which studies). Suburban ZIP code, mid-size sedan a few years old.
| Driver | Estimated monthly | About per year |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, full coverage35, clean record, 100/300/100, $500 deductibles | $222-$294 | $3,094 |
| Adult, state-minimum coverage35, clean record, only what the law requires | $58-$77 | $811 |
| Young driver, full coverage20, own policy, clean record | $413-$619 | $6,188 |
| Senior, full coverage70, clean record | $222-$294 | $3,094 |
| After one at-fault accident35, full coverage | $333-$441 | $4,641 |
| After a DUI35, full coverage | $388-$582 | $5,817 |
Build your California estimate
Rules worth knowing in California
- Uninsured motorist coverage, which also protects you against underinsured drivers, is included unless you sign a written waiver to drop or lower it. Uninsured motorist property damage is a separate option.
- California has no PIP. Medical payments coverage is optional, and the lowest limit you can buy is $1,000 per person.
- To count as a good driver, you need at least 3 straight years with a license and no more than one point on your record. Going without prior insurance cannot, by itself, be held against you.
- Once your policy is in force, it can be cancelled or nonrenewed only for nonpayment, fraud or material misrepresentation, or a substantial increase in risk.
- Income-eligible good drivers can buy a California Low Cost Auto policy, which keeps lower limits of 10/20/3.
- When the DMV requires it, you need an SR-22, California's Proof of Insurance Certificate; the state sets how long it must stay on file, so check with the California DMV.
Questions about California car insurance
What is the minimum car insurance in California?
California requires at least $30,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 of property damage liability (written 30/60/15).
How much is car insurance in California per month?
For a 35-year-old with a clean record, our model puts full coverage at about $222 to $294 a month and state-minimum coverage at about $58 to $77. Age, record, car, ZIP code and the company you choose move the real number a lot.
Is California a no-fault state?
At-fault (tort) state: the driver who causes a crash, and their insurer, pays for the other side's injuries and damage.
Can insurers in California use my credit score?
No. California does not allow credit-based insurance scores in car insurance pricing.
Do I need an SR-22 in California?
Only if a court or the state requires one, usually after a serious violation or a lapse. When the DMV requires it, you need an SR-22, California's Proof of Insurance Certificate; the state sets how long it must stay on file, so check with the California DMV.