Last updated
By Ron McMinn, Esq. | Official sources checked November 12, 2026.
Read this article in Español.
For decades, California’s minimum auto liability limits were among the lowest in the country. That changed for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025. If you are hurt by a driver who carries only the minimum, the new limits matter, but they still may not cover a serious injury.
Short answer: Under Vehicle Code section 16056, a policy issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, must cover at least $30,000 for injury or death of one person, $60,000 for injury or death of two or more people in one accident, and $15,000 for property damage. The old minimums were $15,000, $30,000, and $5,000. The limits rise again for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2035.
Where the change came from
Senate Bill 1107 (2022, Chapter 717) raised the minimums, and a 2023 cleanup bill, AB 1140, amended the same section. The current text of section 16056:
- Keeps the old 15,000, 30,000, and 5,000 limits in subdivision (a)(1).
- Sets 30,000, 60,000, and 15,000 for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, in subdivision (a)(2).
- Adds $20,000, $40,000, and $10,000 to those amounts for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2035, in subdivision (d). That works out to 50,000, 100,000, and 25,000.
Most policies renew every six or twelve months, so most minimum policies in force today should carry the higher limits. The date the at-fault driver’s policy was issued or last renewed is what counts.
What the numbers mean in a claim
- $30,000 per person. The most the policy must pay for one injured person, unless the driver bought more.
- $60,000 per accident. The most for everyone hurt in the same crash, so several injured people may have to share it.
- $15,000 property damage. For damage to other people’s vehicles and property.
Medical bills after a hospital visit, surgery, or months of therapy can pass these amounts quickly. When the at-fault driver has only the minimum, it is worth looking for every other source of payment early.
Other places to look when limits are low
- Your own underinsured motorist coverage. If your policy has uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, it may pay when the other driver’s limits are not enough. Insurance Code section 11580.2 governs this coverage, including how it can be waived and how it relates to the other driver’s limits. See our uninsured and underinsured motorist page.
- Other responsible parties. An employer, a delivery or rideshare company, a vehicle owner, or a public entity responsible for a dangerous road may also be involved. See whose insurance pays in an Uber or Lyft crash and which insurance pays after a crash with a rental car.
- Your medical payments coverage and health insurance. These can help with bills now, though some may seek repayment from a later settlement.
Check your own policy too
The minimum is only a floor. If you carry minimum limits yourself, a serious crash you cause could exceed them, and your uninsured and underinsured motorist limits are often tied to the limits you choose. A conversation with your insurance agent about your limits is worthwhile.
Deadlines
Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Uninsured motorist claims have their own two-year rule in section 11580.2(i). Claims against a public entity are usually due within six months under Government Code section 911.2.
Talk to us
Win Attorneys handles personal injury and government claims matters statewide from our only office in Tustin. We speak Spanish and Vietnamese.
Call us at (657) 235-8097, write through our contact page, or start online with our intake form. Office: 17291 Irvine Blvd., Suite 210, Tustin, CA 92780.
Sources
- Vehicle Code section 16056.
- SB 1107 (2022), Chapter 717, bill text.
- Insurance Code section 11580.2.
- Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1; Government Code section 911.2.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum car insurance in California now?
For policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, Vehicle Code section 16056 requires at least $30,000 for injury or death of one person, $60,000 for two or more people in one accident, and $15,000 for property damage.
What were the old minimum limits?
$15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident, and $5,000 for property damage. Those still appear in subdivision (a)(1) for older policies.
Will the minimums go up again?
Yes. For policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2035, subdivision (d) adds $20,000, $40,000, and $10,000, for 50,000, 100,000, and 25,000.
What if my medical bills are more than the other driver’s limits?
Look at your own underinsured motorist coverage, other responsible parties such as an employer or vehicle owner, and your medical payments coverage. A lawyer can help identify every source early.
Does the new minimum apply to every policy?
It applies to policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025. Most policies renew every six or twelve months, but the at-fault driver’s actual policy dates control.
How long do I have to make an injury claim?
Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years. Uninsured motorist claims have their own two-year rule, and claims against a public entity are usually due within six months.
Can I talk to a lawyer in Spanish or Vietnamese?
Yes. We speak Spanish and Vietnamese. Call (657) 235-8097. Our only office is at 17291 Irvine Blvd., Suite 210, Tustin, CA 92780.
This article is general information and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case depends on its own facts.