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HomeVehicle CodeDiv. 7Ch. 3Art. 1§ 16430 Vehicle Financial Responsibility Requirements

§ 16430 Vehicle Financial Responsibility Requirements

Vehicle Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Related Statutes·References
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§ 16430 Vehicle Financial Responsibility Requirements

The law says drivers must have insurance that can pay at least $30,000 for each person they hurt, $60,000 total if they hurt two or more people, and $15,000 for property damage over $1,000. Starting Jan 1 2035, those minimum amounts go up by $20,000 per person, $40,000 total for all people, and $10,000 for property damage.

Key Takeaways

  • •You must have insurance that can pay at least the set minimum amounts for injuries and property damage.
  • •The minimum amounts are $30k per injured person, $60k total if more than one person is hurt, and $15k for property damage over $1k.
  • •Those minimums get bigger on Jan 1 2035: $50k per person, $100k total for multiple people, and $25k for property damage.
  • •The law starts working on Jan 1 2025, so the old limits apply until the 2035 increase.

Example

A driver crashes into another car, injuring two passengers and causing $2,000 worth of damage to the other car.

The driver must have insurance that can cover at least $60,000 for the injuries (the law’s $60k minimum for two or more people) and at least $15,000 for the property damage (the law’s $15k minimum for damage over $1,000).

How to Calculate

New per‑person limit = $30,000 + $20,000; New total limit for two or more persons = $60,000 + $40,000; New property‑damage limit = $15,000 + $10,000

  1. Start with the original minimum amounts ($30k per person, $60k total for multiple people, $15k for property).
  2. Add the increase amounts listed in subsection (b)(1) ($20k per person, $40k total for multiple people, $10k for property).
  3. The result is the new minimum coverage that must be carried after Jan 1 2035.

Two people are injured and $2,000 of property is damaged in a crash after Jan 1 2035.

Result: Required per‑person coverage = $50,000; Required total coverage for the two injuries = $100,000; Required property‑damage coverage = $25,000

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 16430 Vehicle Financial Responsibility Requirements

(a)“Proof of financial responsibility,” when required by this code, means proof of financial responsibility resulting from the ownership or operation of a motor vehicle and arising by reason of personal injury to, or death of, any one person, of at least thirty thousand dollars ($30,000), and, subject to the limit of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) for each person injured or killed, of at least sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) for the injury to, or the death of, two or more persons in any one accident, and for damages to property in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000), of at least fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) resulting from any one accident. Proof of financial responsibility may be given in any manner authorized in this chapter. (b)(1)On January 1, 2035, the minimum liability coverage shall be increased by twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for bodily injury or death for each person, by forty thousand dollars ($40,000) for bodily injury or death for all persons, and by ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for property damage. (2)The Insurance Commissioner shall, by July 1, 2033, distribute a bulletin soliciting rate applications from insurers to effectuate the January 1, 2035, increase and shall process and approve them consistent with the manner outlined in Section 12960 of the Insurance Code. (c)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2025.

Last verified: February 26, 2026

Related Statutes

  • § 13800 Driver License Suspension Grounds
  • § 13801 License Re-Examination Requirement
  • § 13802 Vehicle Use Consideration
  • § 16431 Insurance Proof For Vehicles
  • § 16433 Insurance Cancellation Notification Requirement

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Vehicle Code. Section 16430.
View Official Source