California SB 1107: What the new $30/$60/$15 auto insurance minimums mean for you

For the first time since 1967, California raised its minimum auto insurance liability requirements. Senate Bill 1107 also called the Protect California Drivers Act took effect January 1, 2025 and changed the math for every driver in the state. If you haven’t reviewed your policy since, there’s a real chance you’re underinsured for the exposure California now expects you to carry.

What the law actually changed

• Old minimums (pre-2025) $15,000 bodily injury per person / $30,000 per accident / $5,000 property damage ("15/30/5"). These were the lowest minimums in the country.
• Current minimums (1/1/2025) $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident / $15,000 property damage ("30/60/15"). Double the old BI limits and triple the old PD limit.
• Next increase (1/1/2035) $50,000 / $100,000 / $25,000 ("50/100/25"). Already written into law no further legislative action needed.

Why the change happened

Medical costs and vehicle repair costs have climbed dramatically since 1967. A single serious accident today can produce medical bills in six figures and property damage claims exceeding $15,000 for a totaled vehicle making the old $15k/$30k/$5k minimums effectively unusable for any real incident. Lawmakers concluded the old minimums were leaving victims uncompensated and forcing injured parties into personal bankruptcy proceedings.

What it means for your wallet

If your policy renewed after 1/1/2025 at the new state minimum, your premium went up typically 8% to 15% depending on carrier. Some drivers who were paying the absolute bare minimum saw larger jumps. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that higher liability limits often don’t cost proportionally more. Raising from 30/60/15 to 100/300/100 (a common "good coverage" level) frequently costs $8–$20/month a small price for dramatically better protection.

What you should do right now

• Pull out your current declarations page. Check the first three numbers in the liability section.
• If they read 15/30/5 and your policy renewed after 1/1/2025, your carrier already updated you confirm the new limits are on your card.
• If you own a home, have savings, or have a steady income, 30/60/15 is still the legal floor, not adequate protection. Most people should carry at least 100/300/100.
• Ask about adding uninsured motorist (UM/UIM) at matching limits. California still has a meaningful uninsured-driver rate despite the new law.

Getting a second opinion

Because we’re an independent agency in El Cajon, we can check your current carrier against 25+ others in a single conversation. Most of our clients post-SB-1107 end up with better coverage for the same premium, or the same coverage for less. Call (619) 777-7067 or request a free quote online we’ll do a no-pressure review in 15 minutes.