Why California’s minimum car insurance might not be enough

Title: Why California’s minimum car insurance might not be enough

I’ve been in a similar spot, trying to figure out how much insurance is actually “enough.” I used to just go with the cheapest option, mainly because I was always saving up for my next road trip. But then last summer, I had a close call—wasn’t even my fault, but someone sideswiped me in a parking lot. The repairs were way more than I thought they’d be, and it made me rethink things.

Here’s how I started looking at it:

Step 1: I checked what my current policy actually covered. Turns out, the minimum in California barely scratches the surface if you’re dealing with anything beyond a fender bender. Like, if you hit a newer car or there’s more than one person involved, those costs add up fast.

Step 2: I did some quick math on what I could realistically pay out of pocket if something big happened. Honestly? Not much. If I had to pay thousands for someone else’s repairs or medical bills, that’d wreck my travel fund for years.

Step 3: I called my insurance and asked for quotes on higher coverage limits. It was less expensive than I expected to bump things up—not pocket change, but not crazy either. For me, paying an extra $15-20 a month felt worth it for the peace of mind.

I get wanting to save every dollar, especially when you’re not exactly rolling in cash. But after seeing how fast those costs can spiral (and hearing stories like your friend’s), it feels like playing with fire to stick with the bare minimum.

One thing I will say—sometimes agents try to upsell stuff you don’t need, like roadside assistance or rental coverage if you already have AAA or something similar. That’s where I drew the line and just focused on liability and collision. Everyone’s situation is different though... For me, it came down to what would hurt more: paying a bit more now or risking a financial disaster later.

It’s not an exact science but looking at real numbers instead of just going with whatever’s cheapest helped me find that balance between being protected and not overdoing it.

Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve always been a bit paranoid about “what ifs,” especially with kids in the car. That line you mentioned stuck with me:

“it feels like playing with fire to stick with the bare minimum.”

That’s actually something I’ve been thinking about a lot since starting driving lessons. My instructor told me about a former student who only had the minimum coverage and ended up in a fender bender—nothing huge, but the other driver’s car was way more expensive than expected. The insurance barely covered half. It made me realize the “minimum” isn’t always enough, especially if you’re unlucky. I guess there’s no perfect number, but I’d rather have a little extra just in case... even if it costs more upfront.

It made me realize the “minimum” isn’t always enough, especially if you’re unlucky.

Totally get where you’re coming from. I used to think the minimum was fine too, until my cousin got rear-ended by a Tesla. The repair bill was wild. Paying a bit more for extra coverage feels like cheap peace of mind now.

Yeah, that’s what’s tripping me up right now—I’m shopping for my first car insurance policy and honestly, the minimum coverage numbers seem kinda random. Like, how do they even decide what counts as “enough”? I get that it keeps costs down, but if one accident can wipe you out financially, is it really worth the risk? I’ve seen people say “just get the cheapest” but then you hear stories like your cousin’s and it makes you think twice.

Is there a sweet spot for coverage that isn’t overkill but still keeps you safe? I don’t want to just throw money away, but getting stuck with some massive bill sounds worse. Anyone ever actually needed their insurance to cover more than the minimum? Just trying to figure out if paying extra is actually worth it or if it’s just insurance companies upselling people.