California car insurance is a cover to purchase for car! And it's required by law for all drivers to get before pulling up on the road. And its primary use is to provide financial protection against physical damage/or bodily injury resulting from traffic collisions and against liability that could also arise from there.
Yes but how can i really get it easily?
Well I promise to give my best to explain in steps, for a better understanding; but before i deep dive into the main solution, let me quickly give you a quick overview of the cogent coverage needed.
This coverage helps protect both driver and the vehicle against liabilities that could occur in operating an auto. Most especially if you are hit by an uninsured motorist.
First and foremost thing is looking for way in getting an agent that would guide you through the process. But first i want you to be aware that getting the right car insurance starts with knowing your state's minimum auto insurance requirements needed in order for you to comply with the law; and the best way to know this is contacting your agent who will tell you more about the requirements or you can preferably consulting a reputable broker who can connect you to a competent insurer company that provide an exclusive car insurance quotes, furthermore whom must be able to guarantee that you will get a very best deal at affordable rate.
As a person in need of get California car insurance and has a clean driving record; you are entitled to be offered with a good driver's discount by the insurance companies as they required to.WHAT IS CALIFORNIA CAR INSURANCE AND HOW CAN I GET IT AT THE CHEAPEST RATE
Content
- Law
- Minimum coverage and requirements
- Proof of insurance
- Waiver collision deductible
- Low cost auto insurance program
- Automobile claims mediation program
- Automobile assigned risks
How do i get California car insurance cheaper?
According to DMV, if you are pulled over in California without the proof of insurance or any other form of financial responsibility, your car may be legally be placed by court into an impounding lot which is a holding place for cars until they are either placed back in the owner's control or auctioned off for the benefit of the impounding agency. Additionally, you may face the following fines:
- $100-$200 for your first offense.
- $200-$500 for each offense within 3 years after your first.
- CA DMV (A state agency that registers motor vehicles and boats and issues driver's licenses in united state of America) is notified of your insurance cancellation and you have not replaced it within 45days.
- You registered your car with false evidence of insurance.
- Your car insurance information is not given to DMV within 30days of your car's initial registration or transfer of ownership.
LAW
California law requires that, for policies (except those insuring commercial automobiles) providing bodily injury liability coverage for uninsured motorists, must also offer coverage for damages to the insured motor vehicles, so that an insured motorist will legally be entitle to recover from the owner or operator of an uninsured motor vehicle that causes an accident.
This law also requires all drivers to provide the proof of financial responsibility or carry auto liability on any cars operated or parked on state roadways. The reason for this is that this very liability insurance provides protection against the injury and property damage caused by the insured driver. In additionally, law states that if you are under 18 year old you are not allowed to use a cell phone for any reason while driving, including text and making calls.
CALIFORNIA AUTO INSURANCE COVERAGE AND REQUIREMENTS
Your agent can take you by hand and help you understand different coverage types available in your state, in order for you to decide what limits and deductibles best fits your need and as time goes on and your life changes, your car insurance would, too. Your agent will be there to discuss your options and help you find ways to save money on premium.
In California you are legally required to have the car insurance coverage at the levels listed bellow:
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage
This is a type of coverage that required for a driver to be legally be insured in California, it covers all expenses related to the injury or death of another driver or an individual when an accident caused by you.
The minimum amount of bodily injury liability coverage required in California is $15,000 for the death or injury of any person in any one vehicular accident, and $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person in an accident. Additionally a common coverage level in California is $100,000 limit per person while $300,000 is the limit per accident.
Property Damage Liability Coverage
This coverage also required in the state of California and it covers expenses related to the damage of another person's property, such as: home, vehicles etc. when an accident is your fault. The minimum amount of property damage liability coverage required per an accident is $5,000 and the common coverage level is $100,000 limit.
Although these liability coverage represent the minimum California auto insurance, but an additional coverage amounts and other types of coverage are always needed to be purchased by drivers such as:
Collision coverage covers the expenses to repair or replace your vehicle that has been damaged in an accident, Common coverage level - $500 Deductible.
Comprehensive coverage: covers the expenses to replace or repair your vehicle that has been damaged in situation like thefts or storms and common coverage level is $250 deductible.
Medical payments coverage: if there is a hurt for either you or any of your passengers in an accident, this can cover your medical or funeral expenses, Common coverage level - $5,000 limit.
Uninsured Motorist coverage: This is a type that covers medical expenses that would serve as clue, if you are in an accident which other driver is at fault and whom does not have any insurance. Common coverage level - Bodily injury: $100,000 limit per person and $300,000 limit per accident, Property Damage: $5000
Under insured Motorist, also covers medical expenses, if you are in an accident that which other driver is guilty for, and does not have enough insurance.
Above additional coverage provide protection in different situations and all also provide financial assistance to drivers along with the vehicles owners whose automobiles have been involved in an accident.
DO I NEED A PROOF OF INSURANCE?
As a California resident you must be able to proof you have car insurance before you can register your car. And of course your insurance company must be able to give you an insurance card that can serve as your proof of insurance, and in addition your car insurance card should have the factors as:
Your name, the expiration date of your insurance policy's term, the name of any other drivers under your policy's term, and besides your car insurance card must also have: your car's information, Model, Year, Value, Make and Safety rating.
DO I NEED CALIFORNIA WAIVER COLLISION DEDUCTIBLE?
The California collision deductible waiver which is abbreviated as (CWC) is a coverage you can buy as part of your car insurance policy. This serves as the waiver for your collision deductible if you are hit by an irresponsible uninsured motorist. With this coverage if an accident with uninsured motorist causes damage to your auto and you has correct documentation that the other party is at-fault and uninsured; you can collect your collision deductible back from your insurance company. But to be realistic this can't be done until repairs to your damaged vehicle have been completed.
More so, this very coverage option with a personal auto insurance policy in California pays your collision deductible when you carry collision coverage on a vehicle that is damaged by an negligent uninsured motorist that is at-fault and however, this coverage typically applies only when there is an actual physical contact and when you can identify an uninsured driver or vehicle.
With way which too many drivers operating on the roadways without having insurance, this coverage can keep you from having to pay 'out of pocket' for any of your vehicles repairs if one of them hits you. Moreover it's especial helpful coverage if you have a high collision deductible.
For instance if you have a $2,000 collision deductible and you are hit by an uninsured motorist. Definitely the CDW will cover your $2,000 deductible amount then your collision coverage will pay for the remaining cost of the repairs to your vehicle.
As said above, this waiver collision is only available when there is a real physical contact with another vehicle and the accident caused by an unidentifiable driver.
IS CALIFORNIA'S LOW COST AUTO INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR ME?
Yes! As per Insurance.ca.gov; who let us know that California law requires that all motor vehicle drivers within the state should maintain the evidence of financial responsibility.
The California's Low Cost Automobile Program (CLCA) was established by the legislator in 1999 and exists pursuant to California insurance code section 11629.7 as a program designed to provide income eligible persons with liability insurance protection at affordable rates as a way to meet California's financial responsibility law.
To qualify for this CLCA, you must meet some certain requirements:
- You must be at least 19 yrs old
- Own a car with a value of $25,000 or less
- Meet the income requirements
- Have a valid California driver's license.
Mediation is actually a process by which you and your insurance company submit your dispute to a neutral third party (a mediator) that works in settlement of the dispute with both of you. Though this party do not has any power in imposing on you, it's only you can settle your case.
One of the purposes of mediation is to give you the opportunity to tell your insurance company your perspective regarding a dispute in a joint section.
So if you have a dispute over a claim with your insurance carrier, you may be able to take advantage of California mediation program.
Who is eligible for this program?
Any personal automobile policyholder who has purchased physical damage coverage from their insurance company and has a claim dispute can make a mediation request subject to statutory guidelines covering eligibility. Disputes qualifying for mediation are those that involve overall claim amounts exceeding $7500 and were the amount in dispute exceeds $2000.
How can i be eligible for this program?
You may be eligible for the program if the dispute with your insurance provider involves factors like:
- Extent or amounts of damage
- Methods of repair
- Cause of damage
- Prior damage vs. recent damage
- Total loss vs. repairing
- Value of total loss
- Coverage issues
- Legal Interpretations of your policy
- Statutes of limitations and contractual limitations on filling period
- Agent or broker actions
- The inclusion of a lender on a claim payment draft
- Allegations of bad faith and other demands for extra contractual payments.
WHAT IS CALIFORNIA AUTOMOBILE ASSIGNED RISK PROGRAM?
The California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP) is a California residual market which is also called non-standard market, it's where consumer go when they can't find an insurer in the regular market who is willing to quote them or perhaps fall under specific guidelines due to a poor driving record. Moreover, the effective of this program is to help getting all the drivers properly insured.
All California insurance companies are subject to accept a certain amount of CAARP applicant depending on the share of the market and the higher the amount of standard customers they have, the higher amount of CAARP applicants they must take.
Besides, when you have a clean driving record for a 3 consecutive years you can purchase your car insurance outside of CAARP, Says by DMV.
Conclusion
It is very advisable that you first study to know the best insurance company to walk with towards getting California car insurance, before seeking ways to get quotes from multiple companies. And working with an agent or a broker could also save you a lot of time. Cheer!
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