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:
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$30,000 per person for bodily injury liability.
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$60,000 for bodily injury per accident for multiple persons injured.
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$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.
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Coverage Definitions
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Who it pays: The other person, for injuries when you’re at fault in a crash.
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What it covers: Medical bills, lost wages and legal costs for people injured in an accident you cause.
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How it pays: Up to your policy limits, shown as two numbers. For example, 50/100 means $50K per person and $100K per accident.*
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Do you need it? Required by law in every state except New Hampshire. Your state sets a minimum, but Jerry recommends considering limits of at least 100/300.
Property damage liability (PD)
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Who it pays: The other person, for property you damage in a crash.
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What it covers: Costs to repair or replace another person’s car, fence, mailbox or other property you hit.
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How it pays: Up to your policy’s limit. For example, $50K.*
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Do you need it? Required by law in every state except New Hampshire. Your state sets a minimum, but Jerry recommends considering limits of at least $100K.
*Bodily injury liability and property damage liability are typically shown as three numbers on your policy, like 100/300/100. The first two numbers represent your bodily injury limits per person and per accident, while the third number represents your property damage limit.
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Who it pays: You, for damage to your own car.
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What it covers: Costs to repair or replace your own car after a crash with another car or object, like a guardrail or pole.
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How it pays: You pay a deductible first, then insurance covers the rest, typically up to your car’s current market value.
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Do you need it? Required if you’re financing or leasing your car. Optional otherwise, but recommended if your car is worth more than $5,000. May not be worthwhile for older, lower-value cars.
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Who it pays: You, for damage to your own car.
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What it covers: Damage from non-crash events like theft, vandalism, hail, flooding, falling trees, fire or hitting an animal.
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How it pays: You pay a deductible first, then insurance covers the rest, typically up to your car’s current market value.
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Do you need it? Required if you’re financing or leasing your car. Optional otherwise, but recommended if your car is worth more than $5,000. May not be worthwhile for older, lower-value cars.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM)
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Who it pays: You and your passengers, for injuries and property damage.
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What it covers: Your own injuries and property damage when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough to cover your costs, including hit-and-runs in many states.
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How it pays: Up to your chosen limits, which often match your BI limits. There’s usually no deductible for UM, but UIM may have one.
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Do you need it? Required in some states, but Jerry recommends every driver get it, since about 1 in 8 drivers does not have car insurance.
Personal injury protection (PIP)
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Who it pays: You and your passengers, for medical bills and lost income, no matter who caused the accident.
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What it covers: Medical bills, lost wages, childcare, funeral costs and other expenses after an accident, regardless of fault.
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How it pays: Up to your policy limit. There’s usually no deductible, though this varies by state.
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Do you need it? Required in no-fault states. If available in your state, it’s worth considering.
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Who it pays: You and your passengers, for medical bills.
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What it covers: Medical expenses after an accident, regardless of fault.
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How it pays: No deductible. Pays up to your policy’s limit.
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Do you need it? Optional in most states, but can be valuable if you don’t have health insurance or have a high-deductible health plan.
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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.
