Southern California Auto Insurance – Consumer Info And Insurance Requirements
posted by matt @ 10:12 AM
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Do you know the most stolen cars in California? Do you own one? It is important that you are aware of which ones are on the list. Owning such a vehicle might have a huge impact on your insurance rates. Here is a recorded list of the ten most stolen cars. Let's hope yours is not one of them.
Southern California Automobile Insurance Data - California's Ten Most Stolen Cars
- Acura Integra (1990)
- Chevrolet 1500 Pickup - C/K Full Size (1992)
- Ford Mustang (2000)
- Honda Accord (1991)
- Honda Civic (1995)
- Nissan Sentra (1991)
- Saturn SL (1993)
- Toyota Camry (1989)
- Toyota Corolla (1987)
- Toyota Pickup (1988)
In just Los Angeles alone with a population consisting of 3,870,487 people, in 2007 there were:
- 19,629 cases of burglary
- 58,304 cases of theft
- 23,524 cars stolen
Something else to keep in mind is that Los Angeles is also known for expensive auto insurance compared to other areas across the state. The average yearly premium is approximately $ 3,000 while the state itself averages slightly under $ 1,800.
Southern California state auto insurance - Liability Requirements
As with every state, insurance levels vary depending on location but no matter what, there are three fundamental components of liability coverage.
1. Bodily Injury Liability or BIL
This is what your insurance company pays per person injured in a vehicle accident when you are at fault. Nationally minimums range from $ 10,000 - $ 50,000. Note: California's BIL is $15,000.
2. Total Bodily Injury Liability or Total BIL
This is the total of what will be paid out for all persons injured in the auto accident. Nationally, minimums range between $ 20,000 to $ 100,000. Note: The minimum for California's total BIL is $30,000.
3. Property Damage Liability or PDL
This insurance covers property damage that was sustained by the car accident. Physical damage includes:
- Vehicle damage
- Non-medical expenses
- Telephone poles
- Road sign damage, etc.
National minimums can range from $ 5,000 - $ 25,000. Note: Here the minimum for California's PDL is $15,000.
There are a lot of automobiles today costing $ 50,000 and up so when an vehicle accident does happen, there is major damage. While Southern California car insurance only requires a 15/30/15 ratio, do you think it is wise to adhere to the minimum? Absolutely not!
I recommend that you pay a few more dollars to boost your liability coverage up to 100/300/100.
In today's environment where ambulance chasing attorneys file law suits at the drop of a hat, the extra coverage could mean the difference between adequate coverage and financial ruin. You are urged not to take it lightly.
Tidbit for thought:
Based on the most recent information available - California ranks 7th on the country's most uninsured drivers list at 18%. Break that down and it is 1 in 5 drivers. California state liability limits are unfairly severely inadequate, which is sad enough, but it also means you need coverage for uninsured/underinsured motorists.
For more info, please click auto insurance La Mesa
.
