Auto liability insurance is required in every state. You can get away without collision and comprehensive coverage if you own the car with no loan, but every driver is required to have liability insurance. The penalties for not having insurance tend to be very steep and minimum coverage tends to be pretty cheap so don't break the law and drive without proper liability coverage.
Branch Owner, TWFG Insurance Services, Fremont California and the Greater Bay Area Representing Dozens of Insurance Carriers
If you operate a vehicle in the state of California the vehicle must be insured. You are not required to be the owner of the vehicle because in California insurance follows the vehicle. So in other words if a friend loaned you his or her car that fried is responsible for the insurance on the vehicle. If you did carry your own insurance your insurance would become secondary to the primary vehicles insurance. However, at the end of the day the vehicle must be insured to be operated on the road or you may be subject to stiff penalties. On a side note not all vehicle insurance has permissive driver use. I recommend you always consult with your insurance company to find out what exclusions may apply.
If you own a car that you are driving, you need evidence of Financial Responsibility. Car insurance is the most common form. Here are your options:
Motor vehicle liability insurance policy.
Cash deposit of $35,000 with DMV.
DMV-issued self-insurance certificate.
Surety bond for $35,000 from a company licensed to do business in California.
Business Development Officer, T.D. McNeil Insurance Services, Fresno, California
I have been driving a car, mostly in California, for almost fifty-eight years. Fifty-six years ago I had a minor fender bender that resulted in a claim for about $100. I have paid out approximately $90,000 in insurance premiums. That doesn’t seem like a very good deal, however, if I had ever hit a kid in a cross walk as someone in my neighborhood did recently, I could have never paid the $750,000+ judgment. Yes, in California we have financial responsibility laws but insurance is the only reasonable way that most of us can take care of this issue.
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Motor vehicle liability insurance policy.
Cash deposit of $35,000 with DMV.
DMV-issued self-insurance certificate.
Surety bond for $35,000 from a company licensed to do business in California.