California Car Insurance

State legislature passed a couple of years ago makes it very easy for drivers to get California car insurance quotes. Perhaps easy access to this information is one way the state of California is helping to make insurance a possibility for all vehicles on the roads of the state. Auto insurance is mandatory in the state of California.

The assembly bill (AB) in question is AB 2677, which became effective on the first day of January in 2005. This law requires all insurers offering coverage on private passenger vehicles to furnish a toll-free telephone number, an internet web site, or both where a consumer can obtain an insurance coverage quote or find the name of an agent or broker who can provide the requested information.

AB 2677 also requires the price quote to be for the lowest priced personal auto policy that California car insurance laws allow.

The bill also states that the insurer must provide this same contact information to the California Department of Insurance. The state’s insurance commissioner then posts this contact information on the department’s web site and toll-free telephone line available to consumers.

It is important to know that the California car insurance providers listed on the state’s insurance commission web site and phone line is not all inclusive. Even though the state agency is continuously updating its contact information, new insurance carriers are added on a frequent basis. Contact names and numbers are often updated for the insurers, too.

Before purchasing California car insurance from a carrier not on the state’s list, please verify that they are, in fact, licensed to sell car insurance in the state of California. This precaution applies to anyone buying or selling auto insurance in the state, whether it is done in person or via the internet.

Studies frequently indicate that requiring all drivers to carry auto insurance leads to a reduced number of auto accidents. Failing to comply with state insurance requirements is a violation of the law and carries serious repercussions for uninsured drivers.