Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: How much liability insurance am I required to have according to the California DMV?

California DMV monitors insurance coverage through insurance verification. (Get Auto Insurance Quote)

California DMV requires that drivers and vehicle owners carry the following minimum monetary limits:

• $15,000 for injury or death of 1 person per accident
• $30,000 for injury or death of 2 or more persons per accident
• $5,000 for property damage per accident

California DMV mandates evidence of financial responsibility that must be carried at all times in the vehicle. California DMV states that drivers should maintain financial responsibility through insurance companies, which provide the policy holder with an identification card as evidence of coverage. The card must state the insurance company's name and address, the period of coverage and policy number. This is a requirement of the California DMV. (Get Auto Insurance Quote)

California DMV requires persons operating a vehicle in this state who are unlicensed or have an invalid California or out-of-state driver license are subject to the same financial responsibility laws as valid California licensed drivers. Insurance carriers provide the California DMV with electronic updates of insured information and vehicle description when they cancel, add and write new coverage for motor vehicles.

California DMV verifies that motor vehicles are properly insured by comparing vehicle registration information on file with California DMV with liability information on the owner and vehicle transmitted to California DMV by the insurance carrier.

If no insurance is found, California DMV requires the motor vehicle owner to furnish the liability insurance information to the California DMV for verification. Registering or driving a vehicle without insurance or without paying the uninsured motor vehicle fee will result in fines and other penalties as stated by the California DMV. (Get Auto Insurance Quote)

Note: If liability insurance coverage on a vehicle terminates or cancels during the registration period, either reinsure the vehicle, pay the uninsured motor vehicle fee or surrender the license plates to the California DMV. All drivers in California must be able to demonstrate ability to be * financially responsible for damages or injury to others resulting from the ownership or operation of a motor vehicle. (Get Auto Insurance Quote)

Important to Note: * There are four ways to accomplish financial responsibility with the California DMV

• Coverage by a motor vehicle or automobile liability insurance policy;
• A cash deposit of $35,000 with the California DMV. A certificate of self-insurance issued by California DMV to owners of fleets of more than 25 vehicles; or
• A surety bond for $35,000 obtained from an insurance company licensed to do business in California.

Per the California DMV, all California drivers and owners must have at least the statutory limits of minimum auto liability insurance or an approved alternative way to pay for injury or property damage they may cause. Penalties are very severe for non-compliance with this section of the vehicle code. (Get Auto Insurance Quote)

Tips to shorten or eliminate your visit to California DMV

We realize your time is important. Appointments are available at all California DMV offices for faster service.
Ask if your transaction can be processed by mail. If the answer is yes, then request the forms be mailed to you. After you receive the forms, complete the information and mail them to any California DMV office. Please allow 3 to 6 weeks to process your new documents.

If it is necessary for you to visit a California DMV office, make an appointment for faster service.

If you will be getting new plates or replacing your old ones at the California DMV, please bring a screwdriver with you to remove your old plates and put on your new plates. Be sure to bring the right type of screwdriver. (Get Auto Insurance Quote)

Note: California DMV field offices accept payment by cash, check, or money order. Credit cards are not accepted in California DMV field offices.

How can I notify California DMV when I change my address?.

Law states that you must notify the California DMV within 10 days of changing your address. There is no charge to change your address, and you may notify the California DMV by any of the following ways:

• 1. Call any California DMV offices and request that a change of address form be mailed to you. It will take 5 days for you to receive it. Complete the information required on the form, then mail it to the address listed at the top of the form.
• 2. Obtain a Change of Address form from the California DMV, complete the information, and mail it to the address listed at the top of the form.
• 3. Visit any California DMV office, complete a change of address form, and give it to a technician. The technician will give you a Change of Address Certificate card (DL 43) to complete and carry with your license.

If you do 1 or 2 above, type or write in ink your new address on a small piece of paper, sign and date it. Carry this piece of paper with your license. Do not tape or staple the change of address information to your driver license. (Get Auto Insurance Quote)

What methods of payment are acceptable with the California DMV ?

California DMV field offices accept payment by cash, check, or money order. Credit cards are not accepted in California DMV field offices.

Your California DMV record is available to you during normal working hours. You may obtain a copy of your California driving license/identification card and/or vehicle/vessel registration information by:

• Visiting your local California DMV office (make an appointment for faster service)
• Completing a Request for Driver Record Information form INF 1125
• Showing identification
• Paying the $5 fee

If going into a local field office is not convenient for you or you are out of state, you may request your record by mail. Complete the INF 1125 form available on this web site or prepare a written request, including your name, date of birth, social security number, California driver license number, and your signature, along with a check or money order for $5, and mail to:

California DMV Office of Information Services Public Operations
Unit G199 P. O. BOX 944247 Sacramento,
California 94244-2470

California DMV can also provide you a copy of your spouse or minor children's record as long as they are living at the same address. The Request for Driver License/Identification Card or the Request for Vehicle/Vessel Registration form must be completed and submitted with the appropriate fee (provided on the form) for each request with the California DMV. (Get Auto Insurance Quote)

How can I get a copy of someone else's driver license, ID card, vehicle or vessel record from the California DMV ?

Vehicle, vessel, driver license and identification (ID) card records are open to public inspection. Confidential information, such as social security numbers and residence addresses, may only be disclosed to a court, law enforcement agency or other individual when they are authorized by a specific federal or state statute. (Get Auto Insurance Quote)

To request information from the California DMV, complete a Vehicle/Vessel Registration Information Request form INF 70-R for a vehicle or vessel record or a Driver License/Identification Card Record Request form INF 70-D for a driver license or ID card record. Mail your request with the appropriate fees (provided on form) to:

California DMV Office of Information Services Public Operations,
Unit-G199 P. O. BOX 944247 Sacramento,
California 94244-2470.

The form must be submitted to California DMV headquarters in Sacramento for processing as the law requires California DMV send a copy of the request form to the subject of record.

Note: You will not receive residence address information unless a state or federal statute is cited and approved by code name and section number that authorizes or requires the release. (Get Auto Insurance Quote)

How long does the California DMV keep records on vehicles and vessels?

The department began microfilming all vehicle and vessel documents in 1992. This increased accessibility of these records. There are some records dating back to 1976 that may be accessed. Records with no activity, such as tickets, renewals, transfers, etc., are usually purged from the database after 4 years.

How long does the California DMV report actions or convictions on driver license records?

• Most convictions of traffic offenses, such as hit and run, reckless driving, and driving under the influence (DUI) will remain on your record for 7 years from the violation date and count as 2 points.
• Most other traffic offense convictions will remain on your record for 3 years from the violation date and count as 1 point.
• Accidents are reported for 3 years from the accident date. If you are found to be at fault, the accident normally counts as 1 point with the California DMV
• Actions taken against your driving privilege, such as a suspension or revocation due to a DUI or a failure to provide proof of financial responsibility, will be reported for 3 years from the proof termination date or the reinstatement date, whichever is earlier.
• A Failure To Appear for DUI offenses will be reported for 10 years from the violation date. All other Failure To Appears and Failure to Pay fines will be reported for 5 years from the violation date. (Get Auto Insurance Quote)

I was in a reportable accident. How do I get information on the other party?

Each driver involved in an accident that caused more than $750 ($500 for accidents prior to January 1, 2003) worth of property damage or injured or killed any person must complete a Traffic Accident Report form SR1 to the California DMV within 10 days. You may obtain information about the other driver from the accident report that he or she submitted.

To request this information, complete a Financial Responsibility Document Request form SR 19C and mail it to:

California DMV Financial Responsibility
Unit P.O. Box 942884 Sacramento,
California 942884-0884.

Also available are the other driver's insurance information and a photocopy of the accident report and/or certification that the other driver in the accident was not insured (Uninsured Motorist Certificate). A $20 fee is required for each type of information requested. (Get Auto Insurance Quote)