Do You Need Insurance to Register a Car in California in 2025

California state law requires all motor vehicle owners to obtain and maintain liability insurance before registering vehicles or operating them on public roadways. The financial responsibility requirements, established through California Vehicle Code (§16056) and related statutes, create mandatory standards applicable to vehicle registration and continuous highway operation.

Legal Requirement for Insurance Coverage

California prohibits motor vehicle operation or parking on state roads without proper financial responsibility coverage. Insurance companies licensed in California must electronically report private-use vehicle information to the Department of Motor Vehicles under California Vehicle Code §16058, with commercial and fleet vehicle reporting implemented since January 1, 2023.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles administers registration and insurance compliance statewide through field offices and electronic monitoring systems. The Department processes registration applications, verifies insurance electronically, and conducts ongoing coverage monitoring. When DMV does not receive proof of insurance for a vehicle, its registration will be suspended and the vehicle may not be operated or parked on public roadways until proof is submitted.

Vehicle owners must maintain uninterrupted insurance coverage throughout registration periods. Insurance information not submitted to DMV within 30 days of initial registration or transfer of ownership triggers compliance actions. Electronic reporting and programming changes implemented in 2006 and 2023 allow DMV to monitor insurance coverage and take appropriate enforcement measures when coverage lapses occur.

California Department of Motor Vehicles
2415 1st Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95818
Phone: (800) 777-0133
Official Website: California Department of Motor Vehicles

Minimum Insurance Coverage Requirements

California establishes specific minimum liability insurance thresholds under California Insurance Code §11580.1b:.

California Department of Insurance
300 Capitol Mall, 17th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (800) 927-4357
Official Website: California Department of Insurance

Proof of Insurance Documents

California law requires vehicle operators to carry evidence of insurance at all times and provide it when requested by law enforcement. Under California Vehicle Code §16028, evidence of financial responsibility may be provided using mobile electronic devices.

California accepts multiple documentation formats:

• Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Policy: Standard policy documentation from authorized insurers
• Insurance Identification Card: Card issued by insurance companies displaying policy information
• Electronic Proof: Digital display on cellular phones or portable electronic devices showing insurance information as clearly as paper documents
• California Proof of Insurance Certificate (SR 22): Form for broad coverage or owner's policy
• Cash Deposit Authorization: DMV authorization letter for cash depositors
• Self-Insurance Certificate: DMV-issued certificate for self-insured entities
• Surety Bond Documentation: Documentation of surety bond coverage from licensed companies
• Public Entity Evidence: Evidence that vehicles are owned or leased by public entities defined in California Government Code 811.2

Exceptions to Insurance Requirements

California law establishes specific exemptions from regular registration requirements for certain vehicle categories:

• Aircraft refueling vehicles: Vehicles designed exclusively for aircraft refueling at public airports, operated under local authority control for continuous distances not exceeding one-quarter mile
• Cemetery equipment: Vehicles designed exclusively for cemetery maintenance, only incidentally operated on highways, displaying special identification plates
• Disaster relief vehicles: Vehicles operated within disaster areas under special permits valid during proclaimed emergencies
• Firefighting equipment: Privately-owned vehicles designed for firefighting purposes, operated only when responding to or returning from emergency calls
• Forklift trucks: Forklifts operated solely for loading/unloading purposes across highways, not operated along highways for distances exceeding one-quarter mile
• Golf carts: Vehicles with not less than three wheels, unladen weight under 1,300 pounds, designed for 15 miles per hour or less, operated pursuant to specific statutes
• Logging vehicles: Vehicles used exclusively for logging operations, displaying special identification plates
• Self-propelled wheelchairs: Wheelchairs, invalid tricycles, or quadricycles operated by persons with physical disabilities
• Special mobile equipment: Road construction or maintenance machinery including graders, rollers, scrapers, and similar equipment, displaying special identification plates
• Hauled vehicles: Vehicles transported upon highways with no part contacting the highway surface

Insurance Requirements for Vehicle Registration

The California Department of Motor Vehicles requires insurance verification before issuing, renewing, or modifying vehicle registrations. Applicants must provide evidence that vehicles and their operation meet liability insurance requirements during all registration transactions. DMV verifies this information electronically through insurer reporting systems before completing registrations.

• New vehicle purchases require insurance coverage establishment before registration completion. Initial registration applications must include proof of current insurance meeting minimum statutory requirements. DMV will not issue registration documents until insurance verification confirms proper coverage exists.
• New California residents bringing vehicles into California from other states or countries must register them within 20 days of becoming residents or obtaining employment in California. New residents must obtain California-issued insurance policies meeting state requirements before registering vehicles. Out-of-state insurance policies do not satisfy California registration prerequisites, as coverage must be provided by companies authorized to conduct business in California.
• Registration renewals require maintained insurance coverage verified electronically through DMV systems. The Department automatically checks insurance status when processing renewals submitted online, by mail, or at field offices. Renewals cannot be completed when insurance verification fails, requiring owners to submit current proof of insurance before renewal authorization.

Vehicle owners may submit proof of insurance online or through email when DMV identifies coverage issues. If not operating currently registered vehicles and not parking them on California roadways, owners may submit Affidavit of Non-Use forms to DMV before canceling insurance. However, if vehicles remain unused when registration renewal fees become due, owners must pay renewal fees or request planned nonoperation status. Affidavits of Non-Use cannot be filed after registration expiration.