California Auto Insurance - What You Now Need and Savings Coming Up
As with most states, California state auto insurance law requires all motorists to carry three fundamental liability components.
Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) of $ 15,000 / person
Total Bodily Injury Liability (Total BIL) of $ 30,000 for each accident
Property Damage Liability or PDL of $ 15,000 / accident
The insurance business knows this as 15k/30k/15k.
But to rely on this coverage alone, would be sheer foolishness. Multi-car collisions & legal fees commonly boost the cost of an automobile accident into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you’re at fault & you’ve stuck to the minimums, you and your estate, are now liable for the shortfall. So, you’ll have to sell your property, deplete your bank balance and maybe even more…how do you feel about that?
From experience, I recommend no less than 100k/300k/100k and more, if you are on the road frequently…particularly in the abundant elite communities of Californ-i-a. Spending a few extra dollars here is money well spent.
Thus far, we have discussed only liability insurance which doesn’t cover your injuries and damages to your car. The rest of what we will talk about is not required by California statute.
First, let’s think about you. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) covers injury to you and/or your passengers. I recommend PIP coverage of no less than $ 100,000.
Next, your vehicle. To most people, full coverage means collision and comprehensive.
The purpose of collision insurance is two-fold; to cover the cost of the repair to your damaged vehicle or if “totaled” to make a cash settlement. You are liable for a nominated “deductible” amount…and the insurance company pays the remainder.
Comprehensive protects your auto for theft and vandalism and damages caused by Mother Nature, animal impact and fire.
Another valuable coverage — protection from uninsured drivers. The accident is not your fault, but the guilty party can’t pay. Your uninsured driver coverage kicks in here.
Southern California auto insurance may offer “Pay-per-mile”.
The California Insurance Commission has proposed that insurance companies be allowed to charge policy holders on the basis of actual miles driven. Just like buying prepaid minutes for your cell phone…you would pay in advance for a specified number of miles to be traveled in a fixed period of time. A device installed in the automobile will allow the insurance company to monitor a car’s mileage and charge appropriately.
Consumer advocate groups are backing the plan because paying for miles traveled, instead of an insurer’s estimate, will provide savings for low mileage drivers.
And maybe more importantly, the plan will act as an incentive for drivers to stay off the pavement. Environmentalists predict this type of auto insurance in La Mesa and other California cities will encourage consumers to drive less…leading to lower fuel consumption, reduced pollution & less congestion on the road.
The program looks like a winner to me.