Requesting Auto Insurance Info: California Dmv Guide

If you've been involved in a car accident in California, you'll need the other driver's insurance information to file an auto accident claim. While California law doesn't require drivers to share insurance information, you can request this information from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) by submitting form SR19C, also known as a Financial Responsibility Information Request form, to your local DMV office. This form requires the other driver's license number and/or license plate details to track down their insurance information. The California DMV can access and retrieve any registered California driver's insurance details.

California's insurance laws

The minimum amount of liability insurance in California is:

• $15,000 in bodily injury per person
• $30,000 in total bodily injury per accident
• $5,000 in property damage per accident

You can increase your auto liability limits to fully protect your assets. California also recommends uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UM/UIM BI) with the following minimum limits:

UM/UIM BI: $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident

There are other types of insurance coverage that are commonly available for purchase, such as uninsured motorist coverage, medical payments coverage, comprehensive coverage, and collision coverage.

If you cannot afford liability insurance, you may be eligible for the California Low-Cost Automobile Insurance Program.

Minimum liability insurance requirements

In California, insurance, or financial responsibility, is required for all vehicles that are operated or parked on roads. This includes private passenger, commercial, and fleet vehicles.

The minimum liability insurance requirements in California are as follows:

• $15,000 for injury/death to one person
• $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person
• $5,000 for damage to property

These requirements are set by the California Insurance Code §11580.1b. Liability insurance provides compensation to a person other than the policyholder for personal injury or property damage. It covers medical expenses and lost wages for individuals other than the driver at fault.

If you are unable to afford liability insurance, you may be eligible for the California Low-Cost Automobile Insurance Program. This program offers affordable insurance options for those who meet certain income and asset requirements.

It is important to note that comprehensive or collision insurance does not meet the minimum financial responsibility requirements in California. Therefore, if you are seeking to meet the minimum insurance requirements, comprehensive or collision insurance will not be sufficient on its own.

Additionally, if you are a resident of California, you must carry evidence of insurance in your vehicle at all times. This evidence of insurance must be provided when requested by law enforcement, when renewing your vehicle registration, or if your vehicle is involved in a traffic collision.

Insurance verification

In California, insurance (also referred to as financial responsibility) is required for all vehicles that are operated or parked on roads. This means that every legal driver must carry evidence of financial responsibility in their vehicle at all times. This evidence must be provided when:

• Requested by law enforcement
• Renewing vehicle registration
• The vehicle is involved in a traffic collision

The minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in California are:

• $15,000 for injury/death to one person
• $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person
• $5,000 for damage to property

Effective January 1, 2025, the minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles will increase to:

• $30,000 for injury/death to one person
• $60,000 for injury/death to more than one person
• $15,000 for damage to property

If you are unable to provide proof of insurance, your vehicle registration will be suspended, and you will not be able to operate or park your vehicle on public roadways until proof of insurance is submitted.

If you are involved in a collision, you are required to make sure the other drivers are safe, contact the police, and share your driver's license information with each other. However, California law does not require drivers to share insurance information. If the other driver refuses to provide their insurance information, or in the case of a hit-and-run accident, you can request the insurance information of the other driver by submitting form SR19C (also known as a Financial Responsibility Information Request form) to your local DMV office. This form requires the other driver's license number and/or license plate information to track down their insurance details.

If you have the other driver's license plate number, you can also contact the Orange County Sheriff's Department or California Highway Patrol to request a copy of your accident report, which should include the other driver's insurance information.

Vehicle registration suspensions

In California, drivers must carry a minimum amount of car insurance. Driving without insurance, or without proof of insurance, can result in penalties, including vehicle registration suspension. If you receive a notice of suspension, you must act quickly to stop the suspension or reinstate your registration.

Reasons for Vehicle Registration Suspension

The California DMV can suspend your registration for the following reasons:

• You don't provide proof of insurance within 30 days of registering your car in the state.
• You don't provide proof of insurance within 45 days of being contacted by the DMV.
• You provided false proof of insurance when registering your vehicle.

How to Reinstate Your Registration

If you've received a Notice of Intent to Suspend, you'll need to:

• Obtain vehicle insurance (if you don't already have it).
• Send proof of coverage to the DMV within 30 days.
• Pay a $14 reinstatement fee.
• Wait a few days for the suspension to be cleared.

You may also request a hearing, but you must do this within 10 days of receiving the notice. If you don't request a hearing, respond to the notice, or provide proof of coverage within 30 days, the DMV will suspend your driving privileges.

How to Respond to the Notice

There are five ways to respond to the notice:

• Respond by phone: Call 800-777-0133.
• Respond by mail: Send the detachable stub from your notification letter with your proof of insurance and the reinstatement fee to: DMV PO Box 997405 Sacramento, CA 95899-7405. If you don't have a notification letter with a stub, mail your proof of insurance and/or reinstatement fee to: DMV — VRFRP Unit PO Box 997408 M/S N305 Sacramento, CA 95899-7408.
• Respond by email: Email a scanned copy of your proof of insurance to [email protected].
• Use a kiosk at a local DMV: Submit your proof of insurance, reinstatement fee, and/or Affidavit of Non-Use (ANU). You can also use the kiosk to remove an ANU.
• Respond online: Visit the California Online Vehicle Registration Suspension and Insurance Program website.

Financial responsibility hearings

In California, every driver is required to have evidence of financial responsibility, or insurance, on them at all times. This means that in the event of an accident, the driver must be able to provide monetary protection to those injured or whose property is damaged, regardless of who is at fault.

If a driver or owner of a vehicle receives a notice of intent to suspend their driving privilege for failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility, they are entitled to a financial responsibility hearing upon request. This request must be made in writing within 10 days of receiving the notice of suspension. The address to submit the request to is:

> Department of Motor Vehicles Financial Responsibility Unit

> Mail Station J237

> P.O. Box 942884

> Sacramento, CA 94284-0884

At the hearing, the driver will be informed of the legal grounds for the action and will have the opportunity to review and challenge the evidence, as well as present their own evidence, witnesses, and testimony. The hearing will be conducted by a Driver Safety Hearing Officer from the DMV and will be recorded. The hearing can be held either in person or remotely, via Microsoft Teams videoconference.

It is important to note that a hearing request does not automatically stay the suspension of a person's driving privilege. However, if the request is timely and the DMV is unable to conduct a hearing and make a decision within 30 days after mailing the order of suspension, the law requires the suspension to be stayed pending the determination.

The issues to be considered in a financial responsibility hearing are:

• Was the respondent the driver or owner of the vehicle involved in the accident?
• Was there property damage over $1,000, or was any person injured or killed?
• Did the respondent have automobile liability insurance or one of the other approved types of financial responsibility in effect at the time of the accident?

Frequently asked questions