Just as in most cities throughout the United States, San Diego auto insurance is a mandatory expense for the residents of this fine city in California. Drivers who fail to purchase the proper San Diego auto insurance coverage are driving illegally, especially in this California city which has one of the highest rates of traffic accidents in the country. San Diego is a busy town with often-crowded streets even outside of rush hours, so the refusal to purchase auto insurance in San Diego is a financial death wish.

Uninsured San Diego drivers are in for a rude awakening even if they are never involved in an auto accident. Whenever stopped by the police while driving, you must present proof of insurance. San Diego auto insurance is mandatory when filing for vehicle registration in California, so being pulled over for a traffic violation with no insurance or registration may result in hundreds of dollars in unnecessary fines. Extra tickets which would not exist, of course, had the driver purchased their auto insurance in the first place. Community service, driving classes, and a suspended license are also common penalties for uninsured drivers in traffic court.

Currently, as of February 17, 2008 to purchase the least amount of auto insurance coverage in San Diego, there are certain minimum requirements that your insurance premium must cover. In San Diego as defined by California State Insurance Law, these minimums are $15,000 per person for injuries, $30,000 to cover injuries for all people involved in the accident, and a measly $5,000 for property damage, commonly referred to as 15/30/5.

That may not sound like a lot of coverage and that is because it certainly isn’t. Purchasing additional coverage, if it does fit into your budget, is always a major positive. Many San Diego drivers are surprised to find out that the bare bone requirements for San Diego auto insurance coverage are more often than not insufficient to cover even a minor accident. Minimum coverage is not recommended for driving in San Diego and is very inadequate for people who drive every day.

The idea behind a low-coverage insurance policy may appear ideal because you may think it saves you money, but purchasing the least amount of coverage required by San Diego auto insurance standards is definitely not ideal. It is far more efficient to adjust your deductibles to purchase a low cost insurance policy. Although the minimum liability requirements will have you driving legally, always keep a look out for the best auto insurance coverage in San Diego that will keep you, your family & and all other drivers safe.