Automobile Insurance

8 Liability Coverage and California Law Liability coverage helps pay for injuries or damage to others when you are responsible. If you own and drive a vehicle, you must follow the financial responsibility laws in the state Vehicle Code. The most common way to do this is to buy auto liability coverage. Liability coverage does not pay for injuries to you or the people in your household. You can buy medical payments coverage for you and your household members. Minimum Liability Coverage By law, the limits below are the minimum insurance limits for a standard auto policy. You must have at least this much coverage. Minimum Bodily Injury Liability Limits • $15,000 for the death or injury of any one person. If one person is injured in the accident, your coverage pays up to $15,000. • A total of $30,000 for the death or injury of more than one person in any one accident. If two or more people are injured, the coverage pays up to $30,000. The coverage will not pay more. The injured people share the money. • This coverage applies to injuries that you cause to someone else. Minimum Property Damage Liability Limits • $5,000 for damage to the property of other people. • This pays for damage you cause to someone else’s car, or to objects and structures that your car hits.