Starting in 2025, the minimum coverage levels California drivers were allowed to have changed. Drivers in the state must carry $30,000 in protection for injury or death to one victim. Up to $60,000 for bodily injury or death for more than one victim (per accident). And coverage up to $15,000 for property damage.

California insurance often includes uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage. Drivers can also pay extra to opt into additional medical coverage, providing support for hospital bills if you or a family member is hurt in a crash. Other optional policy add-ons involve protection for the costs of repairing or replacing a car if it’s damaged.

Traffic Accident Coverage from California Car Insurance

California drivers travel on some of the most dangerous freeways and boulevards in the nation. Careless drivers and surging traffic congestion lead to accidents each day. These collisions might cause major injuries and also lead to financial turmoil.

Some drivers respond to this risk by protecting themselves with additional car insurance protection…even more than is required by the state. A new car insurance law went into effect at the start of 2025.  California insurance minimums now sit at $30,000/$60,000/$15,000. This insurance mandate provides money to cover victims hurt by policyholders and to repair cars damaged by policyholders.

• Drivers can decide to increase these limits by buying a stronger policy. Full coverage would usually be considered as $100,000/$300,000 for bodily injury and $50,000 for property damage.

This insurance coverage is meant to help the victims of accidents you cause, but it doesn’t help you with your own damages. If another driver caused you to suffer damage or injuries, that driver’s policy would hopefully cover the damages. But what if the other driver had no insurance?

There are other insurance protections drivers can sign up for to help protect themselves, their family members, and their property further.

Uninsured and Underinsured Coverage

Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM) and Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM) are generally included in basic California car insurance policies for a small additional charge. It can only be removed if the driver requests it in writing.

UM Coverage: Uninsured motorist coverage kicks in if you are struck by a driver who doesn’t have insurance or you are hit by a hit-and-run driver who is never identified. In California, motorists who drive illegally without insurance are common. If you are struck by one, your uninsured motorist coverage would help cover your medical bills, your lost income while you can’t work, and provide support for the physical and emotional pain you endure. There would also usually be help provided to pay for car repairs, although this support isn’t always available in unsolved hit-and-run cases. This coverage could also cover you if you are hit by an uninsured driver while walking or riding a bike.

UIM Coverage: Underinsured coverage is meant to protect you if you are struck by another motorist and that motorist has too little insurance coverage to fund your recovery. Your insurance would kick in to hopefully make up the difference, so you wouldn’t be left to pay half or more of your own medical invoices yourself.

• The California Department of Insurance reports that basic UM/UIM coverage would generally provide up to $30,000/$60,000/$3,500 in coverage to victims of an uninsured or underinsured driver.

Med-Pay Coverage in California

Med-Pay insurance isn’t required in California, but it can greatly help victims who get injured in an accident. The best part is, the protection is covered even if you caused your accident.

The add-on provides support for your hospital bills, emergency room costs, and ambulance fees after a crash, no matter who was at fault. Your passengers would generally be covered, too.

Med-pay extends to pay your health insurance deductibles in some cases.  It might even pay for funeral costs in case you or a loved one were killed in an accident. It can also protect you if you are struck as a pedestrian or a cyclist.

Comprehensive and Collision Insurance in California

Standard car insurance coverage would usually only provide for the victims in an accident you cause, leaving you with minimal support. This includes a lack of help with cosmetic repairs, structural repairs, and mechanical repairs. Drivers might also have to face the enormous cost of replacing a car they still owe money on.

Collision and Comprehensive Insurance are other types of add-on insurance coverage for drivers in California.

These policies help you with your car repair costs, no matter who was at fault. Collision Insurance kicks in if you crash into another vehicle.

Comprehensive coverage kicks in for the damage to your car that can happen other than a crash. It can provide help if your car is damaged by fire, by the weather, or by a tree. It might even provide help fixing your car after you hit a deer.

Support for California Accident Victims

If you or a loved one is seriously injured due to the carelessness of another driver, discuss your options with a real California car accident lawyer. We provide a free, no-obligation consultation to all traffic accident victims.

We can help if another driver’s car insurance provider or your own attempts to blame you for an accident you didn’t cause or tries to question how badly you are hurt. These are often tactics meant to rob you of support or get you to accept less in a settlement check. We fight back on your behalf. We seek the most possible for your claim while giving you a stress-free time to focus on getting better.

If you do feel we can help you earn more, you won’t need to find any money to hire us. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the money a car insurance company is forced to pay you.