ARTICLE 1. Proof Requirements [16430. - 16436.]

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH 1.

in effect

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 16430. Section 16430.

(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.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 16431. Section 16431.

(a) Proof of financial responsibility may be given by the written certificate or certificates of any insurance carrier duly authorized to do business within the state, that it has issued to or for the benefit of the person named therein a motor vehicle liability policy as defined in Section 16450, an automobile liability policy as defined in Section 16054, or any other liability policy issued for vehicles with less than four wheels that meets the requirements of Section 16056, which, at the date of the certificate or certificates, is in full force and effect. Except as provided in subdivision (b), the certificate or certificates issued under any liability policy set forth in this section shall be accepted by the department and satisfy the requirements of proof of financial responsibility of this chapter. Nothing in this chapter requires that an insurance carrier certify that there is coverage broader than that provided by the actual policy issued by the carrier. (b) The department shall require that a person whose driver’s license has been revoked, suspended, or restricted under Section 13350, 13351, 13352, 13353, 13353.2, 13353.3, 13353.7, or 16370, provide, as proof of financial responsibility, a certificate or certificates that covers all motor vehicles registered to the person before reinstatement of his or her driver’s license. (c) Subdivision (b) does not apply to vehicles in storage if the current license plates and registration cards are surrendered to the department in Sacramento. (d) (1) A resident of another state may provide proof of financial responsibility when required to do so under this code from a company authorized to do business in that person’s state of residence, if that proof is satisfactory to the department, covers the operation of a vehicle in this state, and meets the minimum coverage limit requirements specified in Section 16056. (2) If the person specified in paragraph (1) becomes a resident of this state during the period that the person is required to maintain proof of financial responsibility with the department, the department may not issue or return a driver’s license to that person until the person files a written certificate or certificates, as authorized under subdivision (a), that meets the minimum coverage limit requirements specified in Section 16056 and covers the period during which the person is required to maintain proof of financial responsibility. (e) This section shall become operative on September 20, 2005.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 16433. Section 16433.

A certificate or certificates shall certify, if the liability policy therein cited has been canceled, that the department shall be notified in writing within 10 days after the cancellation of insurance becomes final. Nothing in this section extends coverage beyond the date stated in the notice of cancellation.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 16434. Section 16434.

(a) Proof of financial responsibility may be given by a bond. The bond shall be conditioned for the payment of the amount specified in Section 16430, and shall provide for the entry of judgment on motion of the state in favor of any holder of any final judgment on account of damages to property over one thousand dollars ($1,000) in amount, or injury to any person caused by the operation of the person’s motor vehicle. (b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 16435. Section 16435.

(a) Proof of financial responsibility may be given by the deposit of seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) as provided in Section 16054.2. The department shall not accept a deposit where any judgment theretofore obtained against that person as a result of damages arising from the operation of any motor vehicle shall not have been paid in full. (b) The deposit requirement in subdivision (a) shall be increased by fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) on January 1, 2035. (c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2025.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 16436. Section 16436.

Proof of financial responsibility may be given by the written certificate of a self-insurer holding a certificate of self-insurance for bodily injury and property damage issued by the department. The certification shall name the employee in whose behalf it is filed and shall bind the self-insurer in a like manner and to the same amounts as provided for in Section 16430 for damages arising from the operation of a motor vehicle by the employee within the scope of his or her employment by the self-insurer. In that case, the department shall restrict any driver’s license issued to the employee to the operation of motor vehicles owned by the self-insurer within the scope of his or her employment by the self-insurer. The certificate shall be canceled upon 10 days’ prior written notice to the department by the self-insurer.

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