Important Facts About California’s Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law
Purpose of the law
In 2006, the California Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law changed the way the Department of Motor Vehicles verifies insurance for privately owned vehicles.
Changes were made to ensure that vehicles driven on California roads have liability insurance that provides financial responsibility for any damage or injury caused by a traffic accident, regardless of fault, and to remove uninsured vehicles from the highways.
Insurance companies in California are required by law (California Vehicle Code (CVC) §6058) to electronically report private-use vehicle insurance information to DMV. Insurance companies are not required to electronically report information for vehicles covered by “commercial” or “business” insurance policies. Customers whose vehicles are covered by this type of policy will be required to submit paper proof of insurance when required for registration renewal and when a vehicle is registered in their name for the first time in California.
Law enforcement and court personnel have electronic access to insurance status on DMV records.
Minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles
(California Insurance Code §11580.1b)
- $15,000 for injury/death to one person
- $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person
- $5,000 for damage to property.
Liability insurance compensates a person other than the policy holder for personal injury or property damage (comprehensive or collision insurance does not meet vehicle financial responsibility requirements). Check your policy or talk to your agent or broker to make sure you have sufficient liability insurance coverage for each vehicle you own.
Types of financial responsibility
- A motor vehicle liability insurance policy
- A cash deposit of $35,000 with DMV
- A DMV issued self-insurance certificate
- A surety bond for $35,000 from a company licensed to do business in California.
For information regarding cash deposits, or self insurance, please contact:
Department of Motor Vehicles
Financial Responsibility MS J237
PO Box 942884
Sacramento, CA 94284-0884
(916) 657-6520
To locate a company that issues surety bonds, please contact the Department of Insurance at 1-800-927-4357 or visit insurance.ca.gov.
The following vehicle types are not required to provide evidence of liability insurance to DMV:
- Trailers
- Off-Highway vehicles
- Vehicles registered to a government entity (city, county, state, federal)
- Special Equipment vehicles
- Vehicles registered under a PNO status.
Mandatory vehicle registration financial responsibility requirements
Financial responsibility must be obtained and maintained on any vehicle operated or parked on California roadways and must be provided as specified below:
- When requested by law enforcement
- When renewing vehicle registration (if requested)
- Within 30 days of issuance of a registration card for a vehicle being registered in California for the first time, or transfer of ownership.
- Within 45 days of the cancellation of a policy for a currently registered vehicle
- When the vehicle is involved in a traffic accident.
You must carry evidence of financial responsibility (proof of insurance) in your vehicle at all times.
Acceptable evidence of financial responsibility
Your insurance company is required to electronically report insurance information for all private-use vehicle liability policies. In some cases, however, you may also be requested to submit this information to DMV by providing:
- A document or identification card from your insurance company indicating that the vehicle is insured. (Documents mailed to the department will not be returned).
- A DMV authorization letter, if you are a cash depositor or are self-insured.
- California Proof of Insurance Certificate (SR-22) for broad coverage or owner’s policy. (Operator’s policy does not satisfy financial responsibility requirements.)
- Evidence that the vehicle is owned or leased by a public entity defined in Government Code §811.2.
- Motor carriers as defined in CVC §34601 may complete a statement of facts indicating that the carrier has evidence of insurance on file with the Public Utilities Commission or DMV pursuant to CVC §34630.
What happens when DMV does not have insurance information for a vehicle?
Vehicle registrations are subject to suspension (CVC §4000.38) when:
- DMV is notified that a policy has been cancelled and a replacement policy has not been submitted within 45 days.
- Insurance information is not submitted to DMV within 30 days of the issuance of a registration card upon initial registration or transfer of ownership.
- The registration is obtained by providing false evidence of insurance.
Customers registering a vehicle covered by a commercial or business policy should complete the Notification of Alternative Forms of Financial Responsibility (REG 5085) form when the vehicle is registered for the first time. This form incorporates all the necessary information to verify insurance coverage.
Notify DMV before you cancel your insurance to prevent a vehicle registration suspension
If you are not operating your currently registered vehicle, and it is not parked on a California road, you may notify DMV in advance that you are not planning to operate the vehicle by completing an Affidavit of Non-Use (REG 5090)(PDF). This form is only valid for currently registered vehicles.
If you have received a renewal notice for your vehicle, you are not eligible to file an Affidavit of Non-Use; you must file a Certificate of Non-Operation/Planned Non-Operation Certification (PNO) (REG 102)(PDF). Filing the Affidavit of Non-Use or the PNO prior to DMV being notified of the cancellation of the insurance policy will prevent the vehicle registration suspension.
When you are ready to put the vehicle back on the road, you must submit a Statement of Facts (REG 256)(PDF) and evidence of insurance.
If you fail to maintain financial responsibility on your vehicle
- Registration of your vehicle will be subject to suspension. DMV will begin the process to suspend your registration if:
— Liability insurance is cancelled and a replacement policy is not submitted within 45 days
or
— Your insurance company has not electronically provided evidence of insurance within 30 days of a registration card being issued on a vehicle being registered in California for the first time
or
— You provide false evidence of insurance.
- You may be cited. Failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility when requested by a peace officer may result in a citation with fines that could reach $1,000 or more. (DMV cannot clear or sign citations relating to financial responsibility. Only a court can clear or sign these citations.)
- Your vehicle may be impounded. Failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility may result in your vehicle being impounded, in addition to any fines.
- You may be personally liable for damages. If you contribute to the cause of an accident and cannot provide evidence of financial responsibility, you may be forced to compensate the other party for any injuries and damages.
If your vehicle registration is suspended, contact the Vehicle Registration Financial Responsibility Program at 1-866-664-4545. Vehicle financial responsibility services cannot be completed at your local DMV field office.
FFVR 18 Online Version 8/2008
