As with most states, California state car insurance law requires all motorists to carry 3 fundamental liability components.

Bodily Injury Liability or BIL of $ 15,000 per person

Total Bodily Injury Liability of $ 30,000 per accident

Property Damage Liability or PDL of $ 15,000 / accident

Your insurance agent calls this 15k/30k/15k.

However, to rely solely on this amount of coverage, would be foolish. Multiple car accidents and ambulance chasers (i.e. lawyers) can drive the cost of a car accident to six figures and well beyond. If you’re at fault and you’ve gone with the minimums, you personally, are now on the hook for the shortfall. As a result, you’ll need to sell your home, empty your savings account and possibly more. How does that sound to you?

On the basis of experience, I recommend a minimum of 100k/300k/100k…more if you’re on the road often, particularly in the up-market communities of California. Spending a few extra bucks here is money well spent.

Thus far, we have discussed only liability insurance which doesn’t cover your injuries and damages to your car. What we will discuss from here on is not mandated by law in California.

First, let’s take care of you. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) provides injury, death and disability coverage for you & your passengers. I suggest PIP coverage of no less than $ 100,000.

Next, your vehicle. To most people, having both collision and comprehensive insurance is known as full coverage.

Collision insurance has a two-fold purpose; to cover the repair cost of your damaged vehicle or, if “totaled”, to make a monetary settlement. You are liable for a nominated “deductible” amount…and the insurance company pays the remainder.

Comprehensive insurance protects your vehicle against theft & vandalism and damages from fire & smoke, animal impact and Mother Nature.

Another vital coverage is protection against uninsured drivers. It’s not your fault, but he can’t pay…your uninsured driver coverage kicks in.

Auto insurance in Southern California proposes “Pay-Per-Mile”.

California’s Insurance Board has put forth a proposal to allow insurers to charge consumers based on miles traveled. Similar to purchasing prepaid cellular phone minutes…consumers would pay in advance for a number of miles to be driven during a specified time period. A monitoring device installed in the car will allow insurance companies to observe a driver’s car usage and charge accordingly.

Consumer advocate groups are backing the plan because paying for miles traveled, instead of an insurer’s estimate, will provide savings for low mileage drivers.

And more importantly to some, the program will provide an incentive for motorists to stay away from the road. Environmentalists say this type of auto insurance La Mesa will encourage motorists to drive less…leading to lower fuel usage, reduced pollution & less congestion on the road.

The plan looks like an all-out winner to me.

As with most states, {California auto insurance} law requires all motorists to carry three fundamental liability components.

Bodily Injury Liability (i.e. BIL) of $ 15,000 per person

Total Bodily Injury Liability (Total BIL) of $ 30,000 for each accident

Property Damage Liability or PDL of $ 15,000 per accident

In insurance industry jargon, this is known as 15/30/15.

But please understand that to rely on this coverage alone, would be asking for trouble. Multiple car accidents and ambulance chasers (i.e. lawyers) can drive the cost of a car accident to six figures and well beyond. If you are at fault and you have gone with the minimums, you personally, must cover the shortfall. So, you’ll have to sell your property, deplete your bank balance and maybe even more…how do you feel about that?

Based on experience, I strongly suggest a bare minimum of 100/300/100 and more if you’re often on the road…particularly in the many elite communities of the Golden State. Spending a few extra dollars here is money well spent.

So far, we’ve discussed only liability coverage and that doesn’t apply to injuries to you and damages or loss of your vehicle. The rest of what we will discuss is not required by CA law.

First, let’s look after you. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) covers injury to you and/or your passengers. I recommend PIP coverage of no less than $ 100,000.

Next, your vehicle. To most folks, full coverage means the combination of collision and comprehensive.

The purpose of collision insurance is two-fold; to cover the cost of the repair to your damaged vehicle or if “totaled” to make a cash settlement. You are liable for a predetermined “deductible” amount and the insurer pays the balance.

Comprehensive protects your auto for theft and vandalism and damages caused by Mother Nature, animal impact and fire.

Another valuable coverage — protection from uninsured drivers. It’s not your fault, but he can’t pay…your uninsured driver coverage kicks in.

{Southern California auto insurance} proposes “Pay-Per-Mile”.

CA’s Insurance Commissioners have tabled a plan allowing insurance companies to charge based on actual miles driven. Similar to buying prepaid cell phone minutes…consumers would pay upfront for a specified number of miles to be driven over a limited period of time. A monitoring device installed in the car will allow insurance companies to observe a driver’s car usage and charge accordingly.

Consumer advocate groups are backing the plan because paying for miles traveled, instead of an insurer’s estimate, will provide savings for low mileage drivers.

And possibly more important, it will serve as an incentive for drivers to stay off the road. Environmentalists say this type of {auto insurance in La Mesa and other California cities} will encourage motorists to drive less…leading to lower fuel consumption, reduced pollution and less congestion on the road.

The plan looks good to me.

As with most states, {California state auto insurance} law requires all motorists to carry three fundamental liability components.

Bodily Injury Liability or BIL of $ 15,000 per person

Total Bodily Injury Liability of $ 30,000 / accident

Property Damage Liability or PDL of $ 15,000 per accident

In insurance industry jargon, this is known as 15/30/15.

But please understand that to rely on this coverage alone, would be asking for trouble. Multi-car collisions & legal fees commonly boost the cost of an automobile accident into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you’re at fault & you’ve stuck to the minimums, you and your estate, are now liable for the shortfall. So, you’ll have to sell your property, deplete your bank balance and maybe even more…how do you feel about that?

On the basis of experience, I recommend a minimum of 100k/300k/100k…more if you’re on the road often, particularly in the up-market communities of California. Spending a few extra bucks here is money well spent.

Thus far, we have discussed only liability insurance which doesn’t cover your injuries and damages to your car. What we will discuss from here on is not mandated by law in California.

First, let’s think about you. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) covers you and your passengers for injury and/or accidental death. I suggest PIP coverage of no less than $ 100,000.

Next, your vehicle. To most folks, full coverage means the combination of collision and comprehensive.

There are two purposes of collision insurance; to cover the cost of damages to your vehicle or, if your car is a total write-off, to provide a cash settlement. You will pay for a pre-specified deductible amount and your insurer will pay for the balance.

Comprehensive covers your ride for vandalism, theft and damages due to fire, animals and acts of God.

Another valuable coverage — protection from uninsured drivers. It’s not your fault, but he can’t pay…your uninsured driver coverage kicks in.

{Auto insurance in Southern California} introduces “pay-by-mile” program.

The California Insurance Commission has proposed that insurance companies be allowed to charge policy holders on the basis of actual miles driven. Just like buying prepaid minutes for your cell phone…you would pay in advance for a specified number of miles to be traveled in a fixed period of time. A mileage monitor will be installed in the vehicle, and insurance companies will charge on the basis of miles driven.

Consumer advocates are in favor of the proposal because charging for miles driven (as opposed to an insurance company’s projection) should mean savings to low mileage motorists.

And maybe more importantly, the plan will act as an incentive for drivers to stay off the pavement. Environmentalists predict this type of {car insurance in La Mesa} will encourage motorists to drive less…meaning lower fuel usage, reduced pollution & less road congestion.

The plan looks good to me.