California Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements Explained

Minimum Liability Limits in California

California law mandates that every driver carry at least $15,000 for injury or death to one person, $30,000 for injury or death to two or more people, and $5,000 for property damage. These three figures are often written as 15/30/5 and represent the state's baseline liability coverage.

What the Minimum Covers

The required limits apply only to bodily injury liability and property damage liability. They do not include collision, comprehensive, medical payments, or uninsured/underinsured motorist protection, which drivers may add voluntarily.

Optional Coverages Often Paired with the Minimum

While not required, many Californians choose additional policies to fill gaps in the basic minimum:

• Uninsured Motorist (UM) – protects you if the at‑fault driver has no insurance.
• Underinsured Motorist (UIM) – covers the shortfall when the other driver's limits are low.
• Medical Payments (MedPay) – pays for medical expenses regardless of fault.
• Comprehensive and Collision – cover damage to your own vehicle from non‑collision events and collisions respectively.

How Minimum Requirements Affect Premiums

Choosing only the state‑required 15/30/5 limits typically yields the lowest premium, but the savings can be modest compared to the risk of being underinsured after a serious accident. Insurers also factor driving history, vehicle type, and location when pricing the minimum policy.

Comparing Minimum vs. Higher Limits