California Minimum Auto Liability: 30/60/15

For policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, California's minimum auto liability limits are $30,000 bodily injury per person / $60,000 per accident / $15,000 property damage—30/60/15. The scheduled floor rises to 50/100/25 in 2035. Confirm the current figures with the California DMV and review your declarations; liability is a legal minimum, not a statement that the limit fits a particular household.

• $30,000 bodily injury, per person: the most your policy pays for one person you injure — medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering.
• $60,000 bodily injury, per accident: the cap across everyone you injure in one crash.
• $15,000 property damage: the other party's vehicle and property.

Liability coverage applies to covered harm you cause to others. Damage to your own vehicle and your own injuries involve different optional coverages—such as collision, medical payments, or uninsured/underinsured motorist—each subject to its own triggers and terms.

Two hypothetical examples show the gap:

• If an insured driver is legally responsible for $45,000 of covered property damage, a $15,000 property-damage limit can pay no more than $15,000; the remaining liability is outside that limit.
• If two injured people have $40,000 each in covered bodily-injury damages, 30/60 limits cap payment at $30,000 per person and $60,000 for the accident.

Actual fault, damages, defense, exclusions, and settlement are fact-specific. Ask for higher-limit comparisons using identical driver, vehicle, deductible, and coverage inputs. An umbrella policy may require specified underlying auto limits.

Evaluate uninsured-motorist coverage separately

California insurers must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage; rejecting it requires a signed waiver. CDI's auto guide explains its parts.

• Bodily injury, per person: $15,000 before 2025 → $30,000 for policies issued or renewed from 2025 → $50,000 from 2035.
• Bodily injury, per accident: $30,000 → $60,000 → $100,000.
• Property damage: $5,000 → $15,000 → $25,000.

The schedule comes from SB 1107. Check current law when a policy is issued or renewed.

If another driver is legally responsible, that driver's liability policy cannot pay above its applicable limit. Your own policy may include:

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury, subject to its limits and terms.
• Uninsured motorist property damage, which has identification and coverage conditions, or collision coverage subject to its deductible.
• Medical payments, which may cover specified medical expenses regardless of fault, subject to its limit and exclusions.

These coverages do different jobs. Review the declarations and any signed UM/UIM waiver before deciding what to change.

• Insurers electronically report California vehicle coverage to DMV. Missing proof can result in registration suspension.
• Carry acceptable evidence and provide it when law enforcement, registration, or a collision requires it.
• DMV may require an SR-22 proof-of-financial-responsibility filing in specified circumstances; it is not a separate coverage.
• If a registered vehicle will not be operated or parked on a California road, review DMV's Affidavit of Non-Use and planned-nonoperation rules before canceling.

The DMV insurance page lists current proof requirements and alternatives.

General information, not legal advice or an offer of coverage. Current law, policy forms, declarations, fault, and claim facts control. Confirm requirements with DMV, CDI, and the insurer.