ARTICLE 2. Insurance Policy [16450. - 16457.]

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH 2.

in effect

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 16450. Section 16450.

A “motor vehicle liability policy,” as used in Chapters 1 (commencing with Section 16000), 2 (commencing with Section 16250), and 4 (commencing with Section 16500), and this chapter, means an owner’s policy or an operator’s policy, or both, of liability insurance, certified as provided in Section 16431 as proof of financial responsibility, issued by an insurance carrier authorized to transact that business in this state to or for the benefit of the person named therein as assured. Any requirements set forth in Chapters 1 (commencing with Section 16000), 2 (commencing with Section 16250), and 4 (commencing with Section 16500), and this chapter relating to a motor vehicle liability policy shall apply only to those policies which have been certified as proof of financial responsibility as provided in Section 16431.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 16451. Section 16451.

(a) (1) An owner’s policy of motor vehicle liability insurance shall insure the named insured and any other person using any motor vehicle registered to the named insured with the express or implied permission of the named insured against loss from the liability imposed by law for damages arising out of ownership, maintenance, or use of the motor vehicle within the continental limits of the United States to the extent and aggregate amount, exclusive of interest and costs, with respect to each motor vehicle, of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for bodily injury to or death of each person as a result of any one accident, and, subject to the limit as to one person, the amount of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) for bodily injury to or death of all persons as a result of any one accident and the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000) for damage to property of others as a result of any one accident. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an owner’s policy of motor vehicle liability insurance issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, shall insure the named insured and any other person using any motor vehicle registered to the named insured with the express or implied permission of the named insured, against loss from the liability imposed by law for damages arising out of ownership, maintenance, or use of the motor vehicle within the continental limits of the United States to the extent and aggregate amount, exclusive of interest and costs, with respect to each motor vehicle, of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) for bodily injury to or death of each person as a result of any one accident, and, subject to the limit as to one person, the amount of sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) for bodily injury to or death of all persons as a result of any one accident and the amount of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for damage to property of others as a result of any one accident. (b) For an owner’s policy of motor vehicle liability insurance issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2035, the minimum liability coverage shall be increased by twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for bodily injury or death for one 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. (c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2025.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 16452. Section 16452.

An operator’s policy of motor vehicle liability insurance shall insure the person named as insured therein against loss from the liability imposed on that person by law for damages arising out of use by that person of any motor vehicle not owned by that person, and for any subsequently acquired motor vehicle for a period not to exceed 10 days from date of purchase, within the same territorial limits and subject to the same limits of liability as are provided for in an owner’s policy of liability insurance.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 16453. Section 16453.

Any motor vehicle liability policy may grant any lawful coverage in excess of or in addition to the coverage herein specified or contain any agreements, provisions or stipulations not in conflict with the provisions of this code and not otherwise contrary to law.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 16454. Section 16454.

Any motor vehicle liability policy need not cover any liability for injury to the assured or any liability of the assured assumed by or imposed upon the assured under any workers’ compensation law nor any liability for damage to property in charge of the assured or the assured’s employees or agents.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 16455. Section 16455.

The provisions of Section 16451 shall not apply to vehicles in storage if the current license plates and registration cards are surrendered to the department in Sacramento.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 16457. Section 16457.

Whenever proof of financial responsibility is required to be filed pursuant to this chapter, no person of whom that proof is required shall drive any motor vehicle not covered by the certificate of proof of financial responsibility filed by him or her with the department, nor shall any applicant for that proof knowingly fail to disclose ownership of a motor vehicle in the application for proof of financial responsibility or to disclose any subsequently acquired motor vehicle.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026