Penalties for driving without insurance in California include fines and impounding of your car. You can avoid these consequences by meeting California’s financial responsibility test requirements. California requires all drivers to carry at least $15,000 in bodily injury liability coverage, up to $30,000 per accident, along with $5,000 in property damage liability coverage.
Buying California minimum liability auto insurance coverage is the easiest way to satisfy the financial responsibility requirement. Drivers in California pay an average of $631 per year to maintain the minimum amount of coverage. That’s nothing compared to the consequences of driving without insurance, especially if you’re in an accident.
penalties for driving without insurance in california
drivers in california can also have their car impounded for driving without insurance.
Not having car insurance and not being able to prove you have it are two different violations. If you have insurance but can’t prove it when you’re pulled over or at the scene of an accident, you’re guilty of an “administrative violation,” similar to a seat belt ticket. Your citation will not be dismissed even if you can provide the court with proof of valid insurance on the date of the citation. but you may be able to appeal to the court for a reduced fine.
driving without car insurance is much more serious and the penalties are more severe. In addition to the legal consequences, you can also expect your auto insurance premium to go up. A single conviction for driving without insurance increases annual premiums by an average of 36%, or $647, in California.
what if you have a car accident without insurance in california?
If you are in an accident while driving without insurance in California, you will be ticketed and all penalties for driving without insurance will apply, no matter who is at fault. Driving without insurance can make it difficult to recover damages if you are not at fault and can have long-lasting, life-changing consequences if you are at fault.
If the accident is your fault, you will have to pay all the damages out of your own pocket. In addition to the legal consequences of driving without insurance, you could easily be responsible for tens of thousands of dollars or more in damage to your vehicle, the other driver’s repair and hospital bills, and your own medical care. both the other driver and their insurance company can sue you and garnish your wages and future savings to pay for the damages. You could face mounting debt or even bankruptcy, especially if the other driver doesn’t have uninsured motorist coverage or personal injury protection.
Even if the accident is not your fault, driving without insurance leaves you vulnerable to expensive hospital bills and repairs. California is a guilty state. in at-fault states, the other driver is often responsible for the damage to his car and any medical treatment he may need, assuming the other driver is found to be entirely at fault. California uses a system of pure comparative negligence, which means that you may not be able to recover all of the costs associated with the accident if you are found to be partially responsible for causing it.
driving without insurance doesn’t completely negate the other driver’s fault, but you will almost certainly be penalized and won’t be able to recover all that you would be entitled to if you had insurance.
You can get car insurance in California, even if it’s…
Uninsured: Unless you are a newly licensed driver, having a history of driving without insurance or gaps in coverage is a risk to insurers. To insurance companies, it’s akin to a bad driving record, which is why drivers who let their insurance lapse for 60 days pay about 6% more than the average premium in California.
usaa, state farm, national and geico tend to have the lowest rates for drivers who want to get coverage back.
Driving someone else’s car: It’s not illegal to drive someone else’s car if you don’t have insurance, but non-owner car insurance can protect you if you don’t have a car but continue to drive regularly. If you borrow a car from someone who lives in your own home, it should be listed on the car owner’s policy. But you may want to explore non-owner coverage if you need to reinstate a driver’s license, rent or borrow cars frequently, or want to maintain continuous auto coverage between vehicles.
geico, state farm, across the country and general good places to shop if you need auto insurance other than driver.
High Risk: If you are a high-risk driver who has been denied coverage by traditional insurance companies, check out the California Assigned Risk Program. Whether you need an assigned risk program or still qualify for high-risk insurance from conventional providers, you’ll pay more. In California, drivers with just two speeding tickets pay an average of 97% more in their annual car insurance premiums, for example.
Depending on your driving record and the severity of your violations, you could pay even more. still, even though the fees may be higher, at least you can drive legally and avoid further fines.
Final Thoughts: How to Avoid Driving Without Insurance in California
To avoid penalties for driving without insurance, look for at least $15,000 in bodily injury liability coverage, up to $30,000 per accident, along with $5,000 in property damage liability coverage in California, you can find basic auto liability insurance for about $631 per year if you have a clean driving record. The consequences of driving without insurance are ultimately more expensive than purchasing minimal car insurance coverage.
No matter what your unique needs are, the best way to get accurate quotes and the best prices is to shop around.
