Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
California requires liability insurance of at least $30,000 for one person’s injury or death, $60,000 for more than one person, and $15,000 for property damage. After a collision with more than $1,000 of damage or any injury, every driver involved must file an SR 1 report with the DMV within 10 days. This guide covers both, plus what to do at the scene.
Key facts (California Driver’s Handbook, Section 10, checked November 2026)
- Minimum liability cover: $30,000 / $60,000 / $15,000.
- You need proof of financial responsibility whenever you drive, and for the drive test.
- SR 1: within 10 days, by every driver, whoever was at fault, including on private property.
- Police do not file the SR 1 for you. Not filing means your license is suspended.
What are the minimum car insurance requirements in California?
| Liability cover | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Injury or death of one person | $30,000 |
| Injury or death of more than one person | $60,000 |
| Property damage | $15,000 |
- Carry proof of insurance when you drive. You must show it to the other drivers after a collision, and bring it to your drive test.
- Parents or guardians are financially responsible for drivers under 18. From 18 you are responsible for yourself.
- Check that your agent, broker or insurer is licensed with the California Department of Insurance.
For how cover and prices work for new drivers, see car insurance for new drivers.
What happens if you drive without insurance in California?
If you are in a collision without the right cover, your license can be suspended for up to four years, whoever was at fault. You can get it back during the last three years of the suspension by filing an SR 22 or SR 1P (California Insurance Proof Certificate) and keeping it in place for those three years.
Low-cost insurance
If you cannot afford liability insurance, you may qualify for the state’s California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program. Search for it by name or call 1-866-602-8861.
What causes most collisions
The handbook names distraction, unsafe speed, improper turns, failing to yield, running stop signs and signals, driving on the wrong side of the road, and going much faster or slower than other traffic. If you see emergency flashers ahead, slow down and pass with care, and avoid driving near a crash scene so help can reach the injured.
What to do at the scene of a collision in California
- Stop. Leaving the scene is a hit-and-run and carries severe penalties.
- Call 911 at once if anyone is hurt. If nobody is hurt, move your vehicle out of traffic first, then call 911.
- Exchange details. Show your driver’s license, vehicle registration card, insurance information and current address to the other driver, the officer and anyone else involved.
- Report injuries or deaths to law enforcement within 24 hours. Your insurance agent, broker or legal representative can make this report for you.
- File the SR 1 with the DMV within 10 days if the rules below apply.
Hit a parked car or property?
Try to find the owner. If you cannot, leave a note with your name, phone number and address, attached securely to the car or property, then report the collision to law enforcement.
Hit an animal?
Call the nearest humane society or law enforcement. Do not try to move an injured animal.
When do you need to file an SR 1 in California?
File a Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1) with the DMV within 10 days if:
- damage is more than $1,000, or
- anyone is injured, even slightly, or killed.
The rules that catch people out:
- Every driver files. It does not matter who caused the collision.
- Private property counts. A parking lot collision still needs an SR 1 if it meets the thresholds.
- The police report is not an SR 1. Law enforcement will not file it for you.
- Not filing means suspension. Your license will be suspended.
You can file the SR 1 on the DMV website. A reported collision goes on your driving record whoever caused it. Provisional drivers should know how collisions count: see California DMV points and suspension.
Scenario: a minor parking lot bump
You reverse into another car in a store parking lot. Nobody is hurt. The repair estimate for the other car comes in over $1,000. Because of that, both you and the other driver must each file an SR 1 within 10 days, even though it was on private property and even if no police came.
Common questions
What is the minimum car insurance in California?
$30,000 for one person’s injury or death, $60,000 for more than one person, and $15,000 for property damage.
Do I need to file an SR 1 if it wasn’t my fault?
Yes. Every driver involved must file if the thresholds are met, regardless of fault.
How long do I have to file an SR 1?
10 days.
Does the police report replace the SR 1?
No. Law enforcement does not file the SR 1 for you.
Do I need insurance for my California drive test?
Yes. You must show valid proof of insurance for the test vehicle.
Who pays if a 17-year-old causes a crash?
The handbook says parents or guardians are financially responsible for drivers under 18.
See also: what to do after a car crash in the US and the full California license guide.
Sources
- California DMV, “Section 10: Financial Responsibility, Insurance Requirements, and Collisions” California Driver’s Handbook (dmv.ca.gov)
- California DMV, “Section 3: The Testing Process” California Driver’s Handbook (dmv.ca.gov)