MINIMUM AUTO INSURANCE COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS SET TO INCREASE

5 Dec, 2024

As per Senate Bill 1107 effective January 1, 2025, the minimum auto liability limits in California will be increasing from $15,000 per person Injury to $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident for bodily injury. Property damage minimum coverage requirements will increase from $5,000 to $15,000.

The California Office of Traffic and Safety did an auto accident study in 2021 and found that:

Traffic Fatalities:

  • Traffic fatalities increased approximately 7.6% from 3,980 in 2020 to 4,285 in 2021.
  • The 2021 Mileage Death Rate (MDR) – fatalities per 100 million miles traveled – is 1.38.

Alcohol-Impaired Driving

  • Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities (fatalities in crashes involving a driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, of 0.08 or higher) increased 16% from 1,180 in 2020 to 1,370 in 2021.

Drug-Impaired Driving

  • In 2021, 52.9% of all drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes, who were tested, tested positive for legal and/ or illegal drugs, a decrease of approximately 5.5% from 2020.

Occupant Protection

  • Unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities in all seating positions increased 12.4% from 782 in 2020 to 878 in 2021.

Motorcycle Safety

  • Motorcycle fatalities increased 3% from 549 in 2020 to 565 in 2021.
  • Motorcyclist deaths from not wearing a helmet increased 9% from 34 in 2020 to 37 in 2021.

Teen Safety

  • Teen drivers involved in fatal crashes (age 15-20) increased 14.8% from 413 in 2020 to 474 in 2021.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

  • Pedestrian fatalities increased 9.4% from 1,013 in 2020 to 1,108 in 2021.
  • Bicycle fatalities decreased 8% from 136 in 2020 to 125 in 2021.

For these reasons, I strongly recommend that you carry more coverage than what is legally required. In addition, while it is only optional and requires a small additional premium, I strongly recommend that you also carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in a sum greater than $30,000.

Bill Text – SB-1107 Vehicles: insurance.

California Traffic Safety Quick Stats | Office of Traffic Safety