Drivers in California are required to carry minimum liability auto insurance, including property damage and bodily injury liability coverage. Most insurance companies sell policies that take effect the same day if you need coverage fast, but processing delays can happen.
More: What is property damage liability?
What are California’s insurance requirements?
California requires auto policies to have at least 30/60/15 coverage, which includes:
- $30,000 per person for bodily injury liability.
- $60,000 for bodily injury per accident for multiple persons injured.
- $15,000 for property damage liability per accident.
This may not be enough coverage to adequately protect yourself and others in an accident, so many drivers increase their liability limits. Insurance experts generally recommend liability limits of at least 100/300/100.
You may also consider adding physical damage protection — comprehensive and collision insurance — to cover damage to your own car and uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance (UM/UIM) in case you’re hit by a driver without adequate liability coverage. Personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage (MedPay) can each help cover any injuries you might sustain, regardless of which driver is at fault in an accident.
How to buy same-day car insurance in California
1. Gather your personal information
To streamline your quote-shopping process, have any relevant documents and information on hand. You may be asked to provide your:
- Name and date of birth.
- Phone number and email address.
- Driver’s license number.
- Address (where your vehicle is primarily parked).
- Vehicle’s make, model and license plate number or vehicle identification number (VIN).
- Average daily mileage.
- Date of any traffic violations or insurance claims from the past five years.
- How many years you’ve had your current insurance policy.
More: The cheapest car insurance in California
Jerry insight If you’re shopping for same-day insurance because you’re planning to buy a new car, you can request quotes using the make and model of the vehicle(s) you’re considering. Once you decide for sure that you want to buy that car, add the VIN to finish purchasing your insurance policy.
2. Choose your coverage levels
Before you start shopping for a new policy, take some time to research the different types of coverage. You can choose any amount from liability-only coverage up to full coverage insurance with additional customizations.
| Coverage | Definition |
|---|---|
| Collision insurance | An optional coverage type that pays to repair or replace your car if it’s damaged in a collision with another vehicle. You can only file an accident-related claim for your vehicle’s repairs if your policy has collision coverage. |
| Comprehensive insurance | An optional coverage type that covers damage to your vehicle caused by non-collision hazards, such as car theft, falling tree branches, hail and other unexpected events. |
| Bodily injury liability (BI) | Pays others’ medical costs in an accident you cause, up to your policy limits. It’s mandatory in most states. |
| Property damage liability (PD) | Pays for repairs or replacements of any vehicles or objects you damage in a crash, up to your policy limits. It’s mandatory in most states. |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Helps cover medical expenses for you and your passengers after a car accident, regardless of who caused it. This is required in some states. |
| Medical payments | Additional coverage outside of PIP that pays for medical care for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of who caused it. This is optional in most states. |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) | Covers you, your passengers and any property damage in a case where the other driver is at fault but doesn’t have insurance, or carries insufficient coverage to pay for your costs. This is required in some states. |
More: The best car insurance in California
3. Compare quotes to save on your car insurance
Drivers who quote shop before buying car insurance save an average of $600 a year on their policies. Even if you’re in a hurry to buy a policy, it’s still worth taking the time to compare auto insurance quotes.
4. Finalize your policy
Once you’ve found the right policy and insurer, it’s time to lock in coverage.
At this point, your insurer may request additional information, including:
- Proof of your current insurance policy.
- Details of your car’s equipment, such as safety features and anti-theft devices.
- Lien holder information if your car is financed.
- Proof of address and/or home ownership, such as mortgage documents.
- Student report card or driver safety course completion certificate to qualify for discounts.
You may be asked to provide certain personal information, like your vehicle’s VIN or your driver’s license number, at this time.
Then, provide your payment information and choose a payment plan. Most insurers let you make quarterly or monthly installments, though you may qualify for additional discounts if you pay your full premium up front.
Roadblocks to same-day insurance
While you can often buy same-day auto insurance in California, a few things could slow down the process.
- When you buy the policy matters. If you’re finalizing your policy after business hours — like late at night or on a holiday — you may have to wait until the next business day for your policy to be finalized.
- Uploaded documents need to be verified. If there’s an issue verifying the information in your uploaded documents, your new policy’s effective date may be delayed until it’s resolved.
- Incomplete or incorrect information will slow things down. Failing to disclose previous tickets or insurance claims could slow down the start of your policy. This could lead to a increase in your quoted rates or your new policy could even be canceled, so be sure to disclose everything at the start.
- Unique vehicles require a unique process. Rare, unique or classic cars may not qualify for same-day insurance. Insurance companies may need an underwriter to review your application before determining your coverage levels and premium, and an additional appraisal may sometimes be required.
FAQ
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What are the requirements for auto insurance in California?
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Can I buy car insurance and register my car the same day in California?
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Can I get insurance the same day as an accident?
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
Jessica Barrett is a senior insurance writer and editor with 10 years of experience in the automotive and travel industries. A specialist in car insurance, car loans, and car ownership, Jessica’s mission is to create comprehensive content that car owners can use to manage their costs and improve their lives. As a managing editor for a team of writers and insurance specialists, Jessica has edited over 2,000 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from local insurance shopping tips to refinancing car loans with bad credit. Before joining Jerry as a senior content editor in 2021, Jessica created visual content for clients such as Expedia, Vivid Seats, Budget Direct Car Insurance, Angie’s List, and HomeAdvisor. Her content was published in Business Insider, Forbes, Apartment Therapy, and the BBC.
