Driving Without Insurance in California

Before we go into the penalties for driving uninsured in California, let’s take a look at California’s insurance limits.

Though we recommend an purchasing an insurance policy that includes more than just minimum coverage, the below is the legal limit in California:

• $15,000 for bodily injury coverage per person
• $30,000 for bodily injury coverage per accident
• $5,000 for property damage coverage per accident¹

What Happens if You Don’t Have Proof of Insurance

According to California’s Vehicle Code section 16029, the following penalties apply for driving without car insurance in California.²

In addition to a fine, you may have to pay the cost of injuries or death to another party in an accident, given the state’s at-fault laws.

What Proof Is Required?

You can use either a paper insurance ID card or show proof of insurance via a mobile app, digital download of your ID, etc.

If you did not have proof of insurance when you were stopped, but you did have a policy at that time, you must show proof of insurance in court or have the citation signed off at the DMV.³

What Happens if You Get Into a Car Accident Without Insurance?

If you get into a car accident without insurance in California, you may be subject to the following penalties:

• License revoked or suspended: Whether you’re the at-fault driver or not, if you are involved in an accident without insurance in California, you may have your license revoked for four years.⁴
• Covering the cost of medical expenses: You may be financially responsible for the medical bills of anyone you injured in the at-fault accident, including the driver and their passengers.
• Repair and replacement costs: Typically, you can expect to be responsible for covering the costs of any damage caused in the accident, including replacing or repairing property and vehicles.
• Legal fees: If the other driver sues you for damages and you cannot pay, you may be responsible for paying their legal fees.
• Fines: Drivers who are caught without insurance very often have to pay a costly fine. In California, the fine starts at $200 and can reach $500 or more.
• Jail time: Those who have been caught driving without insurance more than once are more likely to end up with jail time than first-time offenders.
• Increased insurance rates: Typically insurance companies classify previously uninsured drivers (or those who have had a lapse in coverage) as high risk, and increase their premiums accordingly.

Obtaining new car insurance after a lapse in coverage will be more difficult than getting it with continuous coverage, but the process is nearly identical:

1. Request quotes from multiple companies: Using the same information about your vehicle, identity and desired coverages will allow you to accurately compare quotes from multiple providers. Not every insurer will accept you as a customer, especially if your lapse in coverage was due to a license suspension. This means you may have to request quotes from more companies than someone with continuous coverage or a low-risk driver. You can request quotes online, over the phone or in person at a local insurance office.
2. Research companies: Read our auto insurance reviews to learn about various insurance companies’ financial strengths, customer satisfaction ratings and other factors to consider when deciding which insurer to purchase a policy from.
3. Apply: Once you’ve requested quotes and decided on a provider, you should apply for an insurance policy with that specific company, providing more detailed information about your vehicle and its drivers.
4. Pay your premium: Once approved and you pay your premium, your policy’s coverage will begin on your effective date.
5. Get an SR-22 if necessary: If your lapse in coverage was related to a license suspension, DUI, or other serious violation you may need to obtain an SR-22 certificate along with your new insurance policy. This certificate functions as proof of financial stability, and falls under California’s car insurance laws. SR–22s are also needed if you were convicted of a DUI or other reckless driving charge.

If you got a fine for driving without insurance in California that you feel was a legal error, you can appeal it within 30 days of your judgment. Note that you won’t be able to bring in any new evidence or witnesses but can merely request that a higher court review the decision. If the higher court determines there was an error, it can reverse the decision. Here’s how to appeal a traffic ticket for driving without insurance.

1. Notice of Appeal: Fill out the Notice of Appeal (form CR-142), and file it within 30 days of the court decision by either bringing or mailing it to the trial court where you were convicted.
2. Statement on Appeal: You can also fill out a Statement on Appeal within 20 days of filing the Notice of Appeal. This will require filling out a Proposed Statement on Appeal, serving the prosecuting attorney with it and then filing the Proposed Statement and the Proof of Service by the deadline.
3. Brief: This part will require a traffic attorney, typically. You’ll need to construct a brief — a written description of the facts in the case, relevant laws and your arguments. You must explain the legal errors the judge made and how that altered the case’s outcome. Serve the brief to the prosecuting attorney and file it by the deadline in the Notice of Appeal.
4. Exhibits: If you have an exhibit from the trial you want the higher court to consider, ask the trial court clerk to send it to the higher court or appellate division within 10 days after the last respondent’s brief is filed with the higher court.
5. Oral argument: You will have a chance to explain your argument to the higher court judge in person. However, this is optional on both sides.
6. Decision: Finally, within 90 days of the oral argument date, even if none took place, the judge will have to make a decision. You’ll receive a notice of this decision via mail.⁵

Low-Cost Program

If you’ve shopped around and can’t find cheap California car insurance you can afford, you may qualify for California’s Low Cost Auto Insurance program. If you’re eligible, the state will match you with a minimum coverage insurance company at low premiums. To be eligible, you’ll need to:

• Have a valid California driver’s license
• Have a good driving record or be a new driver
• Be at least 16 years old
• Own a vehicle worth $25,000 maximum
• Meet the income eligibility guidelines below

Learn more about these guidelines and qualifications at https://www.mylowcostauto.com/get-started/qualifications.

Apply online, through the mail, over the phone or by email. Even though car insurance in California is expensive, this option allows people to protect themselves financially for a fraction of the cost.

High-Risk Program

High-risk drivers, like someone with a conviction for driving without insurance, will find it harder to buy insurance, as many companies don’t want to take on the additional risk you represent. If you’ve looked everywhere and can’t find a company that will approve you, you can use the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan, which will connect you to a company that will accept you. Apply online, through the mail, over the phone or through email.⁶

Registration

You must have insurance to register a car in California. If the DMV doesn’t have proof of your insurance, it will suspend your registration, meaning you can’t use or even park your car on public roadways until the proof of insurance is filed.

Hopefully, the above has convinced you that driving without insurance (or proof of insurance) in California is not worth the risk. To learn more about the Golden State’s laws, check out our article on fines for texting and driving in California. Keep reading below to learn more about what’s required as a California driver.