The “Golden State” of California is the third-largest state in the union. It was admitted to the United States in 1850, right after the gold-rush boom of 1849. Now it is home to around 37 million people and is one of the richest and most prominent states, due to its great amounts of natural resources, excellent farmland, good climate and concentration of key industries. However, like the cost of living in general, car insurance in California is expensive.

California Driving Hazards

California is a large state, with almost every type of terrain and climate to be found somewhere in its length and breadth. Its twisting mountain highways of Big Sur and the Pacific Coast Highway are frequent scenes of accidents caused by fog, rain, snow, landslides, and driver under-estimation of the difficulty of driving in the mountains. Drivers in the deserts frequently encounter car trouble due to the heat or rough roads. However, the biggest driving hazards in California are the congested roads and the drivers using them.

“California Drivers”

Los Angeles California drivers are disparaged around the world for their poor skills and lack of courtesy or observation of traffic laws. The term “road rage” originated in California; the state’s DMV website has an entire section dealing with the concept. Drivers in this state are known to rarely use turn signals, drive too fast, drive aggressively, drive distracted, and to not stop or yield properly. These issues contribute greatly to the state being in the top-ten for the highest auto insurance rates in the country. California car insurance is very expensive for all drivers.

California Facts and Figures

• 65,000 Car accidents in California in 2008, almost 10,000 of those were alcohol-related (15%) (CHP Report)
• Spending for lost wages, medical bills and fatalities related to car accidents in California topped $4.6 billion in 2005 (CDC)
• 4,478 people died in car accidents in California in 2005, the highest number in the country (CDC)
• California ranks number 43 on the list of states by auto insurance premium costs. It is in the ten most expensive states, with a six-month liability-only policy costing $809 on average. (InsWeb)
• California ranks number 1 in the nation for auto theft, with 242,693 thefts reported in 2005, more than twice the number of the next-runner-up, Texas. Four California cities are on the list of top-ten cities for auto theft, with Modesto, San Diego, Stockton and San Francisco claiming the numbers 1, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. (NICB)

These facts combine to produce the verdict that California car insurance is a major budget factor. Finding the best prices for California car insurance is crucial; let us help you get the right deal for the right price.

Mandatory Coverage

Los Angeles California requires every driver in the state to maintain liability insurance at minimum limits of 15/30/5. This translates to $15,000 in bodily injury coverage per injured person in medical bills, $30,000 total in bodily injury per accident, and $5,000 in property damage coverage. These are some of the lowest minimum requirements in the country. It is advised that drivers maintain higher liability limits to protect them against the risk of repair or medical costs exceeding these limits, since any overage will be the at-fault driver’s responsibility out of pocket.

Getting Cheap California car insurance

The key to getting inexpensive California car insurance is to be a good driver and drive a safe vehicle. Increase your skills by taking driving safety courses, which will also usually qualify you for a discount on insurance, too. Choose a vehicle that has good performance ratings and safety features like airbags and anti-lock brakes. Install anti-theft features in your vehicle such as alarm systems. If your vehicle is older or paid in full, consider dropping collision and comprehensive coverage, or at least raise the deductible to $500 or more to save on monthly premiums.

Penalties for Driving Uninsured

It is extremely important to have California car insurance. New California residents need to procure local auto insurance within 30 days of moving to the state or risk having their license, registration and vehicle tags cancelled by the DMV. Insurers are required to notify the state about cancellations and policy lapses, so those who allow their insurance to expire will face heavy penalties and even the loss of their license. Even if someone’s license is suspended they have to keep insurance current, as any car registered in the state must have valid insurance.

California is a beautiful state full of opportunities, but it is also one of the most expensive states in the nation as far as cost of living. When living in California, maintain your auto insurance coverage at all times to avoid legal problems. To find the best California car insurance, request multiple cheap auto insurance quotes online from several companies in order to find the best coverage for the lowest price. You can even find great deals on teen car insurance. Let us help you do this!