California · Uninsured driver · Updated Oct 2026

Hit by an uninsured driver in California: coverage, penalties and what to do

Your coverage, the penalties and how to claim your losses.

Short answer

Insurance is required on every vehicle driven or parked on California roads, and insurers report coverage to the DMV electronically.

Minimum liability
30/60/15
Insurance system
Fault (tort)

Uninsured motorist coverage in California

Liability minimum
30/60/15
Official text
Read the official text

Compare every state in the minimum insurance table.

If the other driver has no insurance in California

  • Insurance is required on every vehicle driven or parked on California roads, and insurers report coverage to the DMV electronically.
  • If an uninsured driver hits you, you can sue that driver or use your own uninsured motorist coverage if your policy has it.

State forms and programs in California

  • If you can't afford insurance, you may qualify for the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program (mylowcostauto.com, 1-866-602-8861).

Penalties for driving uninsured in California

  • If the DMV gets no proof of insurance, the registration is suspended.
  • If you are in a crash without proper insurance, your driving privilege is suspended for up to four years, no matter who was at fault; you can get it back for the last three years by filing an SR 22/SR 1P certificate and keeping it for three years (DMV).

More facts for California

  • Driving uninsured and getting into a crash can cost you your license for up to four years, whoever was at fault (DMV Driver Handbook).

Claiming from the uninsured driver in California

Small claims limit for car damage in California: $12,500 for people and sole proprietors, $6,250 for businesses; only two claims over $2,500 per year. California small claims guide on Small Claims Map

Step by step if an uninsured driver hits you in California

  1. Report the crash to the police. Stop. Call 911 right away if anyone is hurt. Reporting a crash in California and getting the police report
  2. Write down the other car's plate and get witness names.
  3. Ask your insurer whether your policy has uninsured motorist or collision coverage.
  4. If your coverage doesn't pay everything, sue the driver before the deadline: 3 years for property damage and 2 years for injury. Deadlines to sue in California, with the calculator

Free help in California

Questions about uninsured drivers in California

What happens if you drive without insurance in California?

If the DMV gets no proof of insurance, the registration is suspended. If you are in a crash without proper insurance, your driving privilege is suspended for up to four years, no matter who was at fault; you can get it back for the last three years by filing an SR 22/SR 1P certificate and keeping it for three years (DMV).

What can I do if an uninsured driver hits me in California?

Insurance is required on every vehicle driven or parked on California roads, and insurers report coverage to the DMV electronically. If an uninsured driver hits you, you can sue that driver or use your own uninsured motorist coverage if your policy has it. If you can't afford insurance, you may qualify for the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program (mylowcostauto.com, 1-866-602-8861).

What is the minimum car insurance in California?

30/60/15

How long do I have to sue an uninsured driver in California?

3 years for property damage and 2 years for injury.

More for California drivers

Nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.