# What do California’s car insurance minimums mean? Canonical: https://californiapersonalinjurylaws.com/guides/california-auto-insurance-minimums/ Reviewed by Andrew (Andy) R. Gillin; publisher reported approval on 2026-11-04. Original review date was not supplied. ## Short answer California’s standard car policy minimums are often called 30/60/15. That means $30,000 for injury or death to one person. It means $60,000 for all injury or death in one crash, and $15,000 for property damage. These limits do not promise a payment. ## Hypothetical example Two people are hurt in a crash. The at-fault driver has a standard policy with the minimum limits. They must check the limit for each person. They must also check the total injury limit for the crash. ## How the rule works This type of coverage pays for covered harm you cause to others. A policy limit caps what it may pay. You still need proof of fault and loss. ## The standard 30 / 60 / 15 limits 1. **$30,000**: Injury or death to one person. 2. **$60,000**: Total injury or death in one crash. 3. **$15,000**: Damage to other people’s property. Current standard-policy limits checked November 4, 2026. Special programs can differ. The diagram does not promise a payment. ## Read the three numbers separately The first number is the injury-or-death limit for one person. The second is the total for the crash. The third is for harm to property. It is not extra money for an injury. These standard minimums took effect for policies issued or renewed starting in 2025. Old articles may show lower amounts. Do not use an old web page in place of the policy that applied on the event date. Sources: [California DMV — Current auto insurance requirements](https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/insurance-requirements/); [California Department of Insurance — Automobile insurance guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/01-auto/auto101.cfm); [California Department of Insurance — Standard minimums effective in 2025](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0102-alerts/2025/New-Year-Means-New-Changes-for-Insurance.cfm) ## What if the loss is more than the limit? A policy limit and the amount of harm are different. A low limit may lead you to check other people who shared fault. Check other policies too. Your own UIM coverage may be one source to review. The Waller case explains why the policy’s terms matter. It does not set the dollar limits. The state’s current statute and agency guides are the sources for those limits. If the other policy may be too small, read [underinsured motorist coverage](https://californiapersonalinjurylaws.com/guides/underinsured-driver/). For the role of your own policy, compare [liability-only coverage](https://californiapersonalinjurylaws.com/guides/liability-only-injury-coverage/). Sources: [California Department of Insurance — Automobile insurance guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/01-auto/auto101.cfm); [Insurance Code § 11580.2 — Uninsured motorist coverage](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=INS§ionNum=11580.2.); [Waller v. Truck Ins. Exchange, Inc. (1995) 11 Cal.4th 1](https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/4th/11/1.html) ## What can change the answer Special low-cost programs may have other limits. A work trip or rideshare trip can raise more rules. Check the date, the full policy, and any other coverage. ## A useful next step Get the coverage page and full policy. Check the policy in force on the crash date and all possible sources of payment. ## Does meeting the minimum mean my own injuries are covered? No. Liability coverage has a different purpose from first-party injury coverage. Check UM, UIM, medical payments, and health coverage separately. ## Are these the limits for every policy or program? No. Higher limits may have been bought. Special low-cost programs and some work-related settings can differ. Review the exact policy and legal setting. ## Court decisions behind this answer ### Waller v. Truck Ins. Exchange, Inc. (1995) 11 Cal.4th 1, pp. 18–19. The court read the policy to decide if a loss might be covered. What the contract says matters. Limit: This was a business policy. It does not show what your own car policy pays. Source: https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/4th/11/1.html ## Sources - [California DMV — Current auto insurance requirements](https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/insurance-requirements/) - [California Department of Insurance — Automobile insurance guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/01-auto/auto101.cfm) - [Insurance Code § 11580.1 — Motor vehicle liability policies](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=INS§ionNum=11580.1.) - [Waller v. Truck Ins. Exchange, Inc. (1995) 11 Cal.4th 1](https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/4th/11/1.html) - [Insurance Code § 11580.2 — Uninsured motorist coverage](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=INS§ionNum=11580.2.) - [California Department of Insurance — Standard minimums effective in 2025](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0102-alerts/2025/New-Year-Means-New-Changes-for-Insurance.cfm) General information, not legal advice.