Southern California Auto Insurance - Consumer Info and Insurance Requirements

Do you know the top ten cars that are stolen in California? Do you own one? You should become aware of which ones are on the list. It is quite possible that it could affect your insurance rates if you own such a vehicle. Below you will find a record of the ten most stolen cars. Let's hope yours is not one of them.Southern California Auto Insurance Data - California's Ten Most Stolen Cars

Acura Integra (1990)

Chevrolet 1500 Pickup - C/K Full Size (1992)

Ford Mustang (2000)

Honda Accord (1991)

Honda Civic (1995)

Nissan Sentra (1991)

Saturn SL (1993)

Toyota Camry (1989)

Toyota Corolla (1987)

Toyota Pickup (1988)
In just Los Angeles alone with a population consisting of 3,870,487 people, in 2007 there were:

19,629 cases of burglary

58,304 cases of theft

23,524 cars stolen
Something else to keep in mind is that Los Angeles is also known for expensive auto insurance compared to other areas across the state. The average yearly premium is approximately $3,000, while the state itself averages slightly under $1,800.Southern California Auto Insurance - Liability RequirementsAs with every state, insurance levels vary depending on location but no matter what, there are three fundamental components of liability coverage.1. Bodily Injury Liability or BILThis is what your insurance company pays per person injured in a vehicle accident when you are at fault. Nationally minimums vary anywhere from $10,000 - $50,000. Note: California's BIL is $15,000.  2. Total Bodily Injury Liability or Total BILThis is the total of what will be paid out for all persons injured in the auto accident. National minimums are $20,000 - $100,000. Note: The minimum for California's total BIL is $30,000. 3. Property Damage Liability or PDLThis insurance covers property damage that was sustained by the car accident. Physical damage includes:

Vehicle damage

Non-medical expenses

Telephone poles

Road sign damage, etc. 
National minimums go from $5,000 - $25,000.  Note: Here the minimum for California's PDL is $15,000.Nowadays there are plenty of vehicles costing $50,000 and up so when an automobile accident does occur, the damage is sizeable. While Southern California auto insurance only requires a ratio of 15/30/15 do you really think that it is wise to carry the bare minimum? Absolutely not! I suggest you pay a few dollars more (it won't be substantial) to boost your liability coverage up to 100/300/100. In today's environment where ambulance attorneys file law suits at the drop of a hat, the extra coverage could mean the difference between adequate coverage and financial ruin. I urge you to not take it lightly. Tidbit for thought: Based on the most recent information available - California ranks 7th on the country's most uninsured drivers list at 18%. Break that down and it is 1 in 5 drivers. Not only does this mean that CA state liability limits are grossly inadequate, but also that you need coverage for uninsured/underinsured motorists.

California Auto Insurance Requirements - Financial Responsibility

As of 2006, California enforced the Monetary Responsibility Law. This law was place into location to make certain that vehicles occupying the roadways had liability coverage and that compensation was obtainable for harm or injury induced by a visitors accident regardless of who was at fault. This also helps to eliminate uninsured automobiles from utilizing the roads.In order to register automobiles, proof of economic responsibility ought to be submitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).Once a policy is bought by a motorist, auto insurance businesses are needed to electronically report the policy details to the DMV. They are also needed to notify in the occasion of the cancellation of policies. In this case, if coverage is not reinstated within 45 days, the vehicle's registration will be suspended. California Auto Insurance Company.The minimum requirements determined by the state are liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage. This compensates individuals other than the policyholder in the occasion that they endure injuries or damages to property due to a site visitors collision exactly where the insured is at fault.

Minimum Liability Requiremento$15,000 for injury/death to 1 persono$30,000 for injuries/deaths to two or more individualso$5,000 for damage of propertyProof of coverage ought to be supplied whenoRequested by law enforcementoUpon renewing registrationoWithin 45 days of cancellation of a policy for a registered automobileoAfter involvement in a targeted visitors accidentIt is absolutely imperative to generally carry evidence of financial responsibility when operating a automobile. Failure to offer such facts when asked to do so by a law enforcement agent can result in fines, the impounding of an automobile and any towing and storage fees as a outcome of the impounding. It is not only illegal to drive without having the minimum liability insurance but it can also be extremely pricey. If a motorist causes a collision and are uninsured, they may possibly be forced to offer compensation for any injuries or damages that they have triggered. California Auto Insurance Company.

What Are California Auto Insurance Requirements

In California, all vehicle owners are required to have auto insurance to ensure that they are protected in case of any accident. In 2006, a law was passed to remove all uninsured vehicles on the roads of California. Before any resident can register a vehicle, they are required to carry liability insurance, which includes $15,000 for any personal injury and $30,000 for multiple people. It also includes an additional $5,000 for any damage to property.Cash Deposit

In lieu of car insurance, a driver or owner may deposit $30,000 to the Department of Motor Vehicles of California to be able to meet the requirement. Once a driver provides this amount of money to the DMV, he will no longer have to buy an insurance policy. Because the money is only "deposited", he can request to request the money back from the DMV once he avails of an insurance policy.Self-Insurance

The government of California allows motorists to avail of a self-insurance. This is most ideal for businessmen or for those people who own several vehicles. People usually save more money by issuing their own insurance. This is most beneficial for those companies who have good knowledge about insurances. Once this option is selected, the California Department of Motor Vehicles will issue self insurance.Other Types of Insurance

Aside from the mandatory auto insurance, the state does not require any other insurance from the vehicle owners of California. There are several auto insurance types available including collision, liability coverage, uninsured motorist and comprehensive insurance.California Law

A driver should bring with him in his car any proof of insurance coverage because law enforcers may ask for it. Failure to provide them may result in additional fines, towing or impounding of your car. Proof of insurance should also be submitted upon renewal of registration or after an involvement to any type of traffic accident. The government of California requires all these so that motorists are protected in case car-related accidents happens. Uninsured vehicle owners often end up paying for more especially if they are not insured. This law in California helps protect its citizens by making insurance mandatory.Noncompliance

Drivers in California who fail to provide proof of insurance when asked by the police or any authority is subject to the suspension of his license. Once a license is suspended, the person needs to pay for a certain fee to reinstate the condition of the license. When a license is suspended, driving privileges are also suspended. A driver issued with a noncompliance ticket can have the suspension waived by appearing in front of the traffic court and showing a valid proof of insurance.Low Cost Insurance Options

The government of California has low cost insurance options available for their residents. However, not anyone can avail of it. It is only available for those residents with very low income and those with good driving records. If you want to take advantage of this opportunity, you need to be qualified and you need to follow certain guidelines as you apply.

Auto Insurance Requirements for Citizen Drivers in California

If you are a driver in California, you have to provide proof of financial responsibility. In California, every resident is required to carry liability insurance. The minimum requirement for auto insurance is 15/30/5. Drivers need to carry a bodily liability insurance that worth $15,000. For accidents that involve several persons, the minimum liability insurance you have to carry is $30,000. The minimum requirement for property damage insurance is $5000.There are many ways Californian drivers can achieve financial responsibilities. You can place a cash deposit that worth $35,000 with the department of motor vehicles (DMV). If you own a fleet of cars, you can carry a certificate of self insurance. You must own more than 25 vehicles before you are qualified to place the cash deposit as replacement for purchasing insurance.Alternatively, you can purchase a $35,000 surety bond. The $35,000 surety bond can be purchased from an insurance company.If you are renting a car, make sure you get a copy of the car rental agreement from the car rental company. The car rental agreement includes information about the coverage for rental cars. You can also obtain auto rental insurance from credit card. Many credit card companies provide coverage for rental cars.Personal credit history is one of the factors that insurance company considers when determining the rates. According to the law in California, insurance companies can use other factors to determine the auto insurance premium rate. Some of the factors that insurance companies use to determine the rate are premiums, creditworthiness, and coverage included in the policy.California practices the tort system so the at fault person has to pay for the damages. The person who is at fault must pay for all the damages involved in the accident including car damage cost and medical cost.California does not require its residents to carry uninsured/underinsured insurance coverage. Despite that, it is recommended that you purchase an uninsured/underinsured insurance coverage that worth $50,000. You should purchase as much uninsured/underinsured coverage as you can afford. In this way, you will be safe from financial disaster.As a car driver, you have responsibility to renew the auto insurance policy every year. If you neglect to settle payment for the premium, your auto insurance will lapse. The penalty for allowing your insurance to lapse is severe. If you let your car insurance lapse, DMV will suspend your car registration. In addition, your vehicle will be impounded as well.

California Auto Insurance Laws and Car Insurance Requirements

California auto insurance laws, just like those for most other states, have been put in place to ensure that all roads and highways remain safe for users. Due to the fact that California is not a no-liability state, drivers without adequate cover who then cause accidents can be liable for paying large sums of expenses to cover injury and damage. Having proper insurance protection can help mitigate such expenses.All road vehicles with exception of trailers, off-highway vehicles and vehicles that are registered to a government entity are required to carry insurance. California auto insurance requirements stipulate that minimum liability insurance is required and that drivers must carry proof of coverage with them at all times while operating their vehicles.California auto insurance laws stipulate a minimum coverage of $15,000 for injury or death of one person, $30,000 for death or injury of more than one person and $5,000 for property damage maximum for one accident. Drivers are required to secure coverage within 30 days after first registering a vehicle. If a driver change or cancel policies, he or she has 45 days to get replacement insurance. Drivers you fail to meet these deadlines can expect to face penalties including fines, suspension or termination of their registration and impounding of their vehicles.In California, the auto laws also stipulate that drivers show proof of insurance at the scene of any accident, when pulled over for a traffic stop by a police officer and when they renew their registration. Under California law, all insurance companies are required to report private vehicle policies to the local state authorities. This gives the state information as to whether or not your vehicle is properly covered and the expiration date of your coverage.California auto insurance requirements also stipulate that when drivers fail to provide proof of insurance when pulled over by a police officer, they are liable to receive a traffic ticket carrying a fine of $1,000 or more and their vehicles can be impounded. Drivers who receive a traffic ticket will need to go through the court system in order to get their violations cleared and their driving privileges reinstated.In addition, if you fail to replace their insurance policy within 45 days of expiration or if your insurer fails to electronically notify the state of your policy within 30 days after its issuance, your registration could be suspended. An initial first offense for failure to carry proper insurance normally starts at $200.The provisions of California auto insurance laws stipulate that drivers must be able to prove financial responsibility, meaning that they are able to cover any expenses incurred as a result of an accident. This can be done with a valid auto insurance policy. You can also prove financial responsibility by making a cash deposit of $35,000 with the DMV; or putting down a surety bond for $35,000 or a certificate of self-insurance.Traffic safety is considered a very serious matter by the authorities in California. It is extremely important that all vehicles are properly covered to ensure the well being of all road users in the state. Negligence on this issue can result in a lot of trouble. By simply making sure your car meets all the statutory insurance laws, you will be able to drive with confidence.