In California, drivers carry bodily injury liability insurance and property damage insurance. The purpose of this insurance is to protect the driver from any damages that may be claimed by the victims of an accident caused by the driver. A number of factors are taken into consideration when determining the rates a driver will have to pay for car insurance in California. These include the driver’s age, the type of vehicle being insured, and the person’s driving record.
The minimum liability coverage in California is 15/30/05. This means the minimum coverage the driver must carry is $15,000. In the case of personal injury, the driver must carry $30,000 in coverage for injuries caused by an accident. California drivers also must carry $5,000 in coverage for property damaged in an accident that is the driver’s fault.
California drivers may choose to carry additional coverage that is optional. This includes coverage for medical payments, comprehensive insurance, collision insurance, and insurance for the underinsured or the uninsured bodily injury.
Bodily Injury Liability, which is known as BI, must be in place for $30,000 per accident and $15,000 per person. This type of insurance covers the driver when an accident is his or her fault. The types of things covered by Bodily Injury Liability include accidental death or injury of the other driver as well as accidental injury or death of passengers involved with the accident and pedestrians.
California law also requires its drivers to have $5,000 in Property Damage insurance, which is known as PD for short. With Property Damage insurance, the driver is covered if he or she is in an accident that causes damage to another person’s property. With this insurance, for example, the other driver’s car will be replaced or repaired if the insured driver causes the accident.
In California, Med Pay coverage reimburses the insured driver after he or she is involved in an accident. The coverage reimburses the driver for medical expenses that resulted from treating injuries caused by the driver. Drivers can choose to add additional coverage in the form of PIP, or Persona Injury Protection, as well as no-fault coverage, though neither is required.
In order to register a vehicle in California, the driver must show poof of insurance. Proof of insurance can be demonstrated with a temporary insurance card that has been issued by the insurer, with a premium receipt or an insurance binder that was issued by the insurance agent, or with a current declarations page of liability insurance policy.
California drivers can also show proof of insurance by presenting the actual insurance policy that was issued for the vehicle. Or, a certificate of liability insurance policy that was issued by an authorize agent or by the insurer. If the driver has purchased a vehicle within the past 60 days, he or she may also show the proof of insurance from the vehicle that was replaced as proof that the current vehicle is covered. Those drivers that are renting a vehicle must present a copy of the rental agreement showing that rental is covered.