Accidents & Injuries · Vehicle collisions
Auto insurance minimums and claims
In this guide
- Since January 1, 2025, California’s minimum liability coverage is 30/60/15.
- Insurers must follow the state’s Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations.
- The Department of Insurance takes complaints about claim handling.
Required coverage
California drivers must carry proof of financial responsibility, usually liability insurance. The minimum limits increased on January 1, 2025, and are scheduled to rise again in 2035.
Minimum liability limits since January 1, 2025
- Injury or death of one person: $30,000
- Injury or death of more than one person: $60,000
- Property damage: $15,000
Minimum liability insurance pays others when the insured driver is at fault. It does not pay for the insured driver’s own car or injuries. Optional coverages include collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist, and medical payments. California’s Low Cost Auto Insurance program offers basic coverage to eligible low-income drivers.
How claims work
After a collision, a person may file a claim with their own insurer (a first-party claim) or with the other driver’s insurer (a third-party claim). An adjuster reviews the claim, the vehicle damage, and any injury information.
Fair claims rules
California’s regulations set time frames insurers must generally meet, including acknowledging a claim within 15 days and accepting or denying it within 40 days after receiving proof of claim, with written explanations for denials.
When there is a disagreement, the Department of Insurance can review complaints about how an insurer handled a claim.
Official sources for this guide
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