California Car Insurance: New 30/60/15 Minimums, Average Cost and How Location Is Priced
Enter the ZIP code where your car is parked overnight to compare California auto insurance quotes with the same limits and deductibles.
By the AutoQuotesByZip editorial team. Last reviewed: October 4, 2026. Data: NAIC, IRC, IIHS, NICB and official state sources listed below.
California changed its minimum liability limits for the first time in decades. Since January 1, 2025, every policy must carry at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for injuries and $15,000 for property damage — double or triple the old 15/30/5 floor, according to the California DMV and Department of Insurance.
Costs moved quickly too. NAIC puts the average California expenditure at $1,454 for 2024, up 18.7% in a single year — the second-largest jump of any state. The most striking number is collision: at $718, California has the most expensive average collision premium in the country. Location still matters, but under Proposition 103 it is not allowed to matter as much as your driving record.
Enter the ZIP code where your car is parked overnight to compare California auto insurance quotes with the same limits and deductibles.
California car insurance at a glance
| Fact | California | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum liability limits | 30/60/15 for policies issued or renewed since January 1, 2025 (previously 15/30/5) | California DMV |
| Main rating factors | Driving safety record, annual miles driven and years of driving experience, in that order of importance | 10 CCR §2632.5 |
| Low-cost state program | California Low Cost Auto Insurance for income-eligible drivers with a vehicle worth $25,000 or less | CLCA program |
| Average annual spending on auto insurance (2024) | $1,454.27 — 18th highest of 51 (US: $1,431.63) | NAIC |
| Change in average spending | +18.7% vs 2023; +38.9% vs 2020 (US: +11.7% and +36.6%) | NAIC |
| Average liability / collision / comprehensive premium | $760 / $718 / $211 | NAIC |
| Estimated uninsured drivers (2023) | 20.4% — 8th highest (US: 15.4%) | IRC via III |
| Traffic deaths (2024) | 3,876 — 9.8 per 100,000 people; 1.19 per 100 million miles (US: 11.5 and 1.19) | IIHS |
| Vehicle thefts (2025) | 136,988 — the most of any state; Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim recorded 53,911 | NICB |
| Highest metro theft rates | San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont (477.51 per 100,000 people) and Bakersfield (477.27) ranked 1st and 2nd nationally | NICB |
Compare California quotes for your ZIP code at the new 30/60/15 minimum or higher limits — keep the same limits on every quote.
What changed with the 30/60/15 minimum
Senate Bill 1107 raised California’s minimums in two steps, with the first taking effect on January 1, 2025. The California Department of Insurance notes that existing policies move to the new limits at renewal. The property damage floor tripled from $5,000 to $15,000; a minor collision with a late-model car can exceed the old amount on its own.
Minimum liability still pays only for others. If you finance or lease, collision and comprehensive will usually be required, and given California’s collision costs they are the biggest part of a full-coverage quote. Our full coverage vs liability guide shows how to decide.
Why collision is so expensive in California
NAIC’s 2024 breakdown shows liability at $760 (21st nationally) and comprehensive at a relatively low $211 (40th). Collision, at $718, ranks 1st of 51 and is about 39% above the U.S. average of $516. Repair labor, parts and the value of the cars on California roads all feed into that line.
| 2024 NAIC measure | California | United States | Rank (1 = most expensive) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average expenditure (all coverages actually bought) | $1,454.27 | $1,431.63 | 18th of 51 |
| Liability premium | $760.49 | $813.27 | 21st |
| Collision premium | $718.35 | $516.39 | 1st |
| Comprehensive premium | $211.39 | $283.15 | 40th |
| Liability + collision + comprehensive combined | $1,690.23 | $1,612.81 | 14th |
For a full picture of how California compares with neighboring states, see our average cost by state table.
How much your ZIP code can matter under Prop 103
Proposition 103 requires insurers to rate drivers primarily on three mandatory factors — driving safety record, annual mileage and years of driving experience — applied in that order of importance, as set out in 10 CCR §2632.5. Other factors insurers may use, including where the car is garaged, must carry less weight than those three. In practice, two drivers with clean records may still see different prices in different ZIP codes, but a ticket or accident usually moves a California quote more than a move across town.
Location does still reflect local risk. California led the country with 136,988 vehicle thefts in 2025, and the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont and Bakersfield metros had the highest theft rates in the U.S., according to NICB. That is why comprehensive pricing varies by address even in a Prop 103 state. See how ZIP codes affect car insurance rates for the national picture.
Uninsured drivers and the low-cost program
About 20.4% of California drivers were uninsured in 2023, the 8th-highest share in the country, according to IRC estimates. Uninsured motorist coverage is worth pricing on every quote; compare the rates in our uninsured motorist guide.
For income-eligible drivers, the state’s California Low Cost Auto Insurance program offers basic liability coverage. The program publishes household income limits (for example, $39,900 for a single person and $82,500 for a household of four at the time of review) and requires a vehicle valued at $25,000 or less.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum car insurance in California now?
For policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, California requires 30/60/15: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury and $15,000 for property damage.
How much is car insurance in California on average?
NAIC reports average spending of $1,454.27 per insured vehicle in 2024, 18th among 51 jurisdictions, after an 18.7% increase from 2023.
Does my ZIP code affect car insurance in California?
Yes, but less than in many states. Under Proposition 103 your driving record, annual mileage and years of experience must have the most weight; location is an optional factor with less weight.
Is California a no-fault state?
No. California is an at-fault state: the driver who causes a crash is responsible through liability insurance. There is no PIP requirement.
Sources
- California DMV — Insurance requirements
- California Department of Insurance — New year changes for insurance
- 10 CCR §2632.5 (rating factors)
- California Low Cost Auto Insurance — Qualifications
- NAIC, 2024 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement
- Insurance Information Institute, Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists (Insurance Research Council estimates for 2023)
- NICB, U.S. vehicle thefts experience historic decline (2025 data)
- IIHS-HLDI, Fatality facts 2024: State by state
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