Car insurance is required for all drivers in California. It’s especially vital for drivers with their instruction permits, who are new to the road and more likely to be involved in car accidents. Here’s what motorists in California should know about auto insurance and why it’s so important to have coverage if a crash occurs.
Is Car Insurance Mandatory in California?
California law requires all drivers to have auto liability insurance, which covers any injury or property damage you cause others. Minimum liability insurance requirements in California include:
- $30,000 for injury or death of one person
- $60,000 per accident for bodily injury/death
- $15,000 for property damage
Other acceptable types of car insurance for instruction permit drivers include:
- A cash deposit of $75,000 with the California DMV
- A DMV-issued self-insurance certificate
- A surety bond of $75,000 issued by a company licensed to do business in California
If you cause a collision, your liability insurance will not cover any of your own injuries or vehicle damage. You would need separate insurance (like Personal Injury Protection or MedPay) to cover your medical bills and collision coverage for auto repairs or vehicle replacement.
Why Is Car Insurance Important for Instruction Permit Drivers?
Due to their lack of experience, instruction permit drivers pose a higher risk of accidents than experienced drivers with full driver’s licenses. Car insurance provides significant financial protection for a permit holder and their family since it will pay for an accident victim’s medical bills and other expenses up to the policy limits. It also lowers the risk of someone suing the driver’s parents, guardians, or supervising adult for the accident and making them personally responsible for paying the crash-related expenses.
Furthermore, driving without insurance is against the law in California, potentially exposing instruction permit drivers to fines or the loss of their license.
Whose Insurance Covers a Crash Involving a Driver With a Learner’s Permit?
In most cases, an instruction permit driver will go on the insurance of a family or household member with a full driver’s license. For example, a teen driver’s parents may place them on the family auto insurance plan, allowing the teen to practice driving with the family’s vehicles. When an instruction permit driver causes a car accident, their family’s insurance will provide liability coverage for injuries and property damage. However, when another negligent driver hits an instruction permit driver’s vehicle, the at-fault driver’s insurance should cover the crash.
How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you sustained injuries in a collision, an experienced car accident lawyer can help you by:
- Thoroughly investigating the crash to determine liability and gather evidence
- Evaluating your options for seeking financial compensation
- Calculating your losses to place a fair value on your car accident claim
- Filing your insurance claim and handling settlement negotiations while you heal
- Taking your claim to court if necessary
Contact Our Trusted Sacramento Car Accident Attorneys for a Free Case Review
If you’ve been injured in a car crash caused by someone with an instruction permit, the Sacramento personal injury lawyers at Demas Law Group can help. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
