California's minimum auto liability coverage is 30/60/15: $30,000 for one person's injuries, $60,000 for injuries to two or more people in one accident, and $15,000 for property damage. Those limits took effect January 1, 2025, under Senate Bill 1107. Before that, the minimum was 15/30/5 for more than 50 years.

What changed in 2025?

SB 1107 amended Vehicle Code section 16056 and raised every number. The California Department of Insurance (CDI) laid out the jump:

• Bodily injury, one person: $30,000, up from $15,000.
• Bodily injury, one accident: $60,000, up from $30,000.
• Property damage: $15,000, up from $5,000.

CDI issued a bulletin to insurers about the change well ahead of the effective date, and the new limits apply to policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025.

The California DMV lists the same 30/60/15 minimums for private passenger, commercial and fleet vehicles. The DMV also points out that comprehensive or collision insurance doesn't meet the financial responsibility requirement. Only liability does.

What does each number pay for?

CDI's auto guide explains it simply. If one person is injured, the coverage pays up to $30,000. If two or more people are injured, it pays up to $60,000 total, and the injured people share that money. The $15,000 pays for damage you cause to someone else's car or to objects and structures your car hits.

Liability doesn't pay for injuries to you or people in your household. CDI says you can buy medical payments coverage for that.

Does the Low Cost Auto program use the new limits?

No. CDI said in July 2024 that the California Low Cost Auto (CLCA) program's limits stayed the same:

• Up to $10,000 per person for bodily injury or death.
• Up to $20,000 per accident.
• Up to $3,000 for property damage.

CLCA is meant for income-eligible drivers who can't afford standard premiums. CDI reported an 83% increase in active CLCA policies in 2023 as statewide prices rose. To qualify, CDI says you must:

• Have a valid California driver's license.
• Meet the income eligibility guidelines.
• Own a vehicle valued at $25,000 or less.
• Be at least 16, and legally emancipated if you're under 18.
• Have a good driving record or be a new driver.

You can learn more at mylowcostauto.com or by calling 866-602-8861. CDI's own consumer hotline is 800-927-4357.

Is 30/60/15 enough coverage?

It's more than before, but it's still a floor. Think about what $15,000 buys in property damage today. Many newer cars, trucks and EVs cost far more than that to replace, and a multi-car crash on a busy freeway can blow through it quickly. If you're at fault and the damage passes your limit, the other side can come after you for the difference.

The injury limits have the same problem. A single hospital stay can cost more than $30,000. If you own a home or have savings, ask how much protection you'd need to keep a judgment from reaching them.

How do you check your own policy?

Open your declarations page, the summary page at the front of your policy. Look for:

• Bodily injury liability, shown as two numbers. Anything below 30/60 on a standard policy renewed after January 1, 2025, is worth a call.
• Property damage liability, at least $15,000.
• Uninsured motorist coverage, which pays your injuries if the other driver has no insurance.
• Medical payments coverage, if you want something for your own household's medical bills.
• Collision and comprehensive deductibles, if you have them.

What should you weigh when you shop?

Start with your assets and your driving. Long commutes, teen drivers and a paid-off home all point toward higher limits. Then get quotes at two or three levels. Ask each company to show the price at the minimum, at 100/300/100 or similar, and with an umbrella policy if you own property.

California is also in a period of rising auto rates, so compare more than one company. Prices for the same coverage can vary a lot between insurers.

Does uninsured motorist coverage matter more now?

It can. The higher minimums only help you when the other driver actually carries a policy. If you're hit by someone with no insurance, or by a driver whose 30/60 limit doesn't come close to your medical bills, your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is what fills the gap. Ask what yours pays per person and per accident, and whether it matches your liability limits. Many people pick the same numbers for both so they protect their own family at the level they protect strangers.

What happens if you drive without coverage?

CDI's guide says plainly that driving without insurance is illegal and that you must have liability coverage to register your car. If you're stopped or in a crash without proof of coverage, you can face fines and trouble with your registration and license. A lapse can also make your next policy cost more.

FAQ

What is California's minimum car insurance in 2026? 30/60/15: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $15,000 for property damage. It's been the minimum since January 1, 2025.

What were the old California minimums? 15/30/5. SB 1107 doubled the injury limits and tripled property damage.

Do comprehensive and collision count toward the requirement? No. The DMV says only liability coverage meets the financial responsibility requirement.

Did the Low Cost Auto program change? No. CLCA kept its 10/20/3 limits for eligible drivers.

Next step

Check your declarations page for 30/60/15 or higher, then talk with a licensed local agent about quotes at a few liability levels. Seeing the prices side by side makes it easier to choose limits that match what you'd want protected.

Sources: California Department of Insurance: SB 1107 bulletin; California DMV: Auto Insurance Requirements; California Department of Insurance: California's Low Cost Auto Insurance; California Department of Insurance: Auto Insurance guide.

A standard California homeowners policy does not cover flood. The Department of Insurance says homeowners and commercial policies typically exclude flood, mudslide, debris flow, and similar disasters. If you want that protection, you buy it separately, usually through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood policy.

Earthquake is a different exclusion, with its own offer rules. Flood is the one people skip because the house is not on a coast.

What does the Department of Insurance say is left out?

The department's residential insurance guide lists perils a homeowners policy typically does not cover. Flood and earthquake are at the top, along with earth movement, termites, seepage, mold, and wear and tear. The same guide says coverage for losses from floods is generally not in a homeowners or renters policy.

A burst pipe inside the house is a different kind of water. The department's flood sheet says flood insurance usually does not pay for moisture or mold you could have prevented, or for water that starts inside the home, such as a burst pipe. Read your own policy. Sudden accidental water damage can be a covered homeowners peril even when flood is excluded.

Does the FAIR Plan cover a storm?

No, not by itself. The department says the California FAIR Plan currently does not cover storm-related damage unless you also bought a supplemental difference-in-conditions policy from another company. The FAIR Plan is a basic fire policy. It is not a full homeowners package, and it is not flood insurance.

If your only property policy is a FAIR Plan policy, ask a licensed agent what a difference-in-conditions policy would add, and ask about flood as its own policy. Our guide to how the California FAIR Plan works covers the fire policy. This page is the flood gap next to it.

How does NFIP flood insurance work in California?

Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program in 1968. FEMA runs it. The department says property owners, renters, and businesses in participating communities can buy protection against direct physical loss by flood, flood-related erosion, and mudslide. The department does not regulate the NFIP. For a claim or a policy question on an NFIP policy, the department lists 1-800-638-6620, and it points people to floodsmart.gov for program information.

There is a waiting period. The department's flood guide says the policy generally takes effect 30 days after you buy it, not the day you sign. A 2025 department release repeats that, and adds the usual exception: when flood insurance is required as part of a home purchase, the wait can be different. Don't buy a policy on the morning a river is already rising and assume you are covered that afternoon.

Private flood insurance is also sold in California. The department says the NFIP provides most of the flood coverage written in the state, and that private policies exist. Compare what each one calls a flood, the building limit, and whether contents are included. Building coverage and contents coverage are separate choices on an NFIP policy.

Do I need it if I am not in a high-risk zone?

The department tells people in traditionally low-risk areas to check anyway, before the next storm. A mapped high-risk zone, or a mortgage from a government-backed lender, can make flood insurance a loan requirement. Being outside that zone does not mean the policy you already have will pay.

You can look up a flood map at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center. A map is a starting point. Local drainage, a burn scar, and a creek behind the house do not always show up as a bright zone on the first screen.

What about mudflow after a wildfire?

The department has warned that homeowners and commercial policies typically exclude flood, mudslide, and debris flow, unless the damage is directly or indirectly caused by a recent wildfire or another peril the policy covers. That "unless" is narrow. It is not a promise that a winter mudflow on a burn scar is a homeowners claim. The department posted a consumer fact sheet and told people to consider flood insurance for future disasters in addition to the homeowners policy.

If you are renewing in a wildfire area, read the wildfire terms too. See Safer from Wildfires discounts and the 75-day nonrenewal notice and wildfire moratorium. Those pages do not replace a flood policy. Earthquake is separate again. Insurers must offer earthquake coverage when they write a homeowners policy. Our earthquake insurance guide covers the California Earthquake Authority offer.

What should I ask before I buy flood coverage?

• Whether your homeowners policy, in its own words, excludes flood, mudslide, and debris flow
• Whether you are in a community that participates in the NFIP
• The building limit and whether you are also buying contents
• The effective date, including the 30-day wait if you are not in the middle of a home purchase
• Whether a lender is requiring the policy, and which policy form it will accept

Renters should ask a separate question. A landlord's policy does not cover a tenant's belongings. The department has told renters to consider their own policy for personal property.

FAQ

Does a California homeowners policy pay for flood? Typically no. The Department of Insurance says standard homeowners policies exclude flood, and that flood coverage is bought separately.

Does the FAIR Plan cover flood or a winter storm? The department says the FAIR Plan does not cover storm-related damage unless you also have a difference-in-conditions policy from another insurer.

When does an NFIP policy start? Generally 30 days after purchase. The department notes an exception when flood insurance is required for a home purchase.

Who regulates the NFIP in California? Not the Department of Insurance. It is a federal program. The department lists 1-800-638-6620 for NFIP claims and policy questions.

Is mudflow the same as a burst pipe? No. Flood insurance is aimed at flooding from outside. A pipe that breaks inside the house is a homeowners question, and flood policies often exclude that.

Next step

Pull your declarations page and ask a licensed agent to show you the flood exclusion in writing. If you want coverage, ask for an NFIP quote and a private flood quote with the effective date on the page, before the next storm is in the forecast.

Sources: California Department of Insurance: Flood insurance resources, CDI residential insurance guide (updated May 21, 2024), CDI homeowners flood insurance sheet, CDI release, March 11, 2025, on flood and mudslide coverage.

California's Safer from Wildfires program ties home insurance discounts to ten specific wildfire-hardening steps, like a Class A roof, ember-resistant vents, and a 5-foot ember-resistant zone around the house. Under the state regulation, every qualifying action earns a discount. If you do more, you save more. FAIR Plan customers can get it too.

The California Department of Insurance (CDI) built the program with the state's emergency agencies. The list is short and concrete, which is the best thing about it. You can walk around your house with it this weekend.

What is Safer from Wildfires?

It's a ground-up approach to wildfire resilience with three layers: the structure, the area right around it, and the community. CDI adopted it as an insurance regulation, so insurers have to recognize these mitigation steps in their rates.

CDI puts it simply: "Every action under Safer from Wildfires will qualify you for an insurance discount. By doing more, you can save more."

The discount amount varies by insurer and by policy. Ask your agent to show you the actual number on a quote before and after.

What are the 10 steps?

CDI lists these:

• Class A fire-rated roof. Most asphalt shingle, concrete, brick or masonry tile, and metal roofs qualify. Wood shake doesn't
• 5-foot ember-resistant zone, including fencing. Clear plants and swap wood chips for stone or decomposed granite within 5 feet of the house. Replace wood fencing that connects to the home with metal
• Ember- and fire-resistant vents. 1/16 to 1/8 inch noncombustible, corrosion-resistant metal mesh over exterior vents
• 6 inches of noncombustible material at the base of exterior walls. Measured from the ground and from any attached deck. Brick, stone, fiber-cement siding, or concrete count
• Enclosed eaves. Soffits under the eaves keep heat and embers from getting trapped
• Upgraded windows. Multi-paned glass or added shutters
• Cleared space under decks. Concrete, gravel, or bare soil underneath
• Sheds and outbuildings moved at least 30 feet away. That includes gazebos, ADUs, dog houses, and playhouses
• Defensible space compliance. Follow state and local rules on trimming and brush removal
• Community programs. Firewise USA sites and Fire Risk Reduction Communities

That fencing item is the one people miss. CDI says a wood fence touching the house "can act like a candle wick" leading fire to your walls. Swapping the last few feet for metal is cheap compared to most of this list.

How do I get the discount?

Tell your insurer what you've done and back it up. Insurers ask for different proof, so ask yours first. In general:

• Take dated photos of each item, before and after
• Keep receipts and contractor invoices
• Note the roof rating from the product label or the installer's paperwork
• If your neighborhood is a Firewise USA site, get the site name and status

Then ask your agent to re-rate the policy. Don't wait for renewal if the work is done now.

Does it work if I'm on the FAIR Plan?

Yes. CDI says residential FAIR Plan policyholders can get a discount on the wildfire portion of their FAIR Plan premium for hardening their property. Contact the FAIR Plan or your broker for its documentation rules. If you're there now, see how the California FAIR Plan works.

Will hardening my home stop a non-renewal?

Not guaranteed. A discount is a rate rule. Whether a company writes or renews your home is an underwriting decision, and that still depends on the company's appetite in your area.

It can still help. A hardened home gives an agent something real to show underwriters when shopping you. If you've already gotten a notice, read up on the 75-day non-renewal rule and wildfire moratoriums so you know your timeline.

Before you spend money, it's worth seeing your property's exposure. FloodFireCheck gives a quick read on flood and fire risk for an address, which helps you decide which upgrades to do first.

Where do I start if money is tight?

Start with what costs the least. Clearing the 5-foot zone, cleaning under the deck, moving firewood and sheds back, and adding vent mesh are mostly labor. A new roof or new windows are the expensive end.

Defensible space isn't optional in a lot of areas anyway. Check CAL FIRE's defensible space page and your city or county's rules. Doing it can count toward the discount and keep you in line with local law.

FAQ

What is Safer from Wildfires?
A California Department of Insurance regulation and program that ties home insurance discounts to ten wildfire mitigation steps at the structure, yard, and community levels.

Does every step get a discount?
CDI says every action under Safer from Wildfires qualifies for an insurance discount, and doing more saves more. The dollar amount depends on your insurer and policy.

Do wood shake roofs qualify?
No. CDI says wood shake shingles aren't Class A fire-resistant rated.

Can FAIR Plan customers get the discount?
Yes, on the wildfire portion of the FAIR Plan premium, according to CDI.

Does a Firewise USA community count?
Yes. CDI recognizes Firewise USA sites and Fire Risk Reduction Communities as the community-level step.

Next step

A licensed local insurance agent can tell you which Safer from Wildfires steps your insurer recognizes, what proof it wants, and how much each one moves your premium. Bring photos of the work and your declarations page. More guides are on the California insurance page.

Sources: CDI: Safer from Wildfires, CDI: California FAIR Plan.

In California, your home insurer has to send a non-renewal notice at least 75 days before your policy expires. If the notice is late, your current policy stays in force, unchanged, for 75 days from when the notice was delivered or mailed. After a declared wildfire emergency, insurers also can't drop nearby homes for one year because of the fire.

Those two rules come from the California Insurance Code, sections 678 and 675.1. They don't stop every non-renewal. They do buy you time, and in some ZIP codes they can undo a notice you already got.

How much notice does my insurer have to give?

At least 75 days before the policy expires, for policies expiring on or after July 1, 2020. The insurer has to deliver the notice to you or mail it to the address on the policy.

If it misses that deadline, section 678 says the existing policy, "with no change in its terms and conditions," stays in effect for 75 days from the date the notice was delivered or mailed. The insurer also has to tell you that in writing along with the late notice.

Check the date on the letter against your expiration date. Write both down. If the math doesn't reach 75 days, ask your agent or the insurer, in writing, to confirm your coverage extension.

What is the one-year wildfire moratorium?

After the Governor declares a state of emergency for a wildfire, the California Department of Insurance (CDI) works with CAL FIRE and the Governor's Office of Emergency Services to map the fire perimeter. CDI then publishes a bulletin listing the ZIP codes within or next to that perimeter.

In those ZIP codes, under section 675.1:

• Insurers can't cancel or non-renew a residential policy for one year after the emergency declaration based only on the fact that a wildfire happened in the area
• The protection covers homeowners, condo unit owners, mobile home owners, and renters policies
• It applies to policyholders who had a partial loss and to those who had no loss at all
• People with a total loss have additional protections under the law

CDI's bulletins also require insurers to offer to rescind wildfire-related cancellation or non-renewal notices sent on or after the declaration date, and to offer reinstatement or renewal for those homes.

How do I know if my ZIP code is covered?

CDI keeps a running list on its "Mandatory 1 Yr Moratorium on Non-Renewals" page, with a bulletin for each fire. Each bulletin names the fire, the declaration date, and the ZIP codes.

For example, CDI's Bulletin 2026-01 covers the Gifford Fire in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. It protects residential policies in 29 listed ZIP codes, including 93401, 93405, 93420, and 93454, for one year starting December 23, 2025. So that window runs out in late December 2026.

Moratorium dates run out. Look up the bulletin for your fire and note its end date, then put your renewal date next to it.

What should I do after a non-renewal notice?

Start right away. Seventy-five days goes faster than it sounds, especially if regular insurers are slow to quote in your area.

A practical order:

• Read the notice for the reason given and the expiration date
• Check whether your ZIP code is on a CDI moratorium bulletin
• Call your agent and ask for quotes from other admitted insurers first
• Ask what home-hardening work might change an underwriter's answer (see Safer from Wildfires discounts)
• If nobody will write you, ask about the California FAIR Plan paired with a Difference in Conditions policy
• Tell your mortgage servicer before coverage lapses, so it doesn't force-place a policy on you

It also helps to see your address the way an underwriter might. FloodFireCheck gives a quick look at a property's flood and fire exposure.

Can I complain about a non-renewal?

Yes. CDI runs a consumer hotline and takes complaints about insurers. If you think the notice was late, or your ZIP code was under a moratorium when it was sent, raise it with the insurer first and then with CDI. Keep copies of the notice, the envelope if it was mailed, and your policy.

A complaint won't make an insurer renew a policy it's legally allowed to drop. It's still the right step when the timing or the reason looks wrong.

FAQ

How many days' notice does a California insurer have to give before non-renewing my home policy?
At least 75 days before the policy expires, under Insurance Code section 678.

What happens if the notice comes late?
Your existing policy stays in effect with the same terms for 75 days from the date the notice was delivered or mailed.

Does the wildfire moratorium protect me if my house wasn't damaged?
Yes. CDI says the one-year protection applies to residential policyholders in the listed ZIP codes who had less than a total loss, including those with no loss.

Does the moratorium cover renters and condo owners?
Yes. CDI bulletins say it applies to homeowners, condo unit owners, mobile home owners, and residential renters policies in the listed ZIP codes.

How long does a moratorium last?
One year from the date of the Governor's emergency declaration for that fire.

Next step

A licensed local insurance agent can check your notice dates, look up whether a moratorium applies, and start shopping replacement coverage before your 75 days run short. Bring the non-renewal letter and your declarations page. More guides are on the California insurance page.

Sources: Cal. Ins. Code § 678, Cal. Ins. Code § 675.1, CDI: Mandatory 1 Yr Moratorium on Non-Renewals, CDI Bulletin 2026-01.

No. In most cases, a California homeowners policy doesn't cover earthquake damage. You need a separate earthquake policy, and state law requires your home insurer to offer you one. Most earthquake coverage in California comes from the California Earthquake Authority (CEA), sold through the company that writes your homeowners policy.

Google search interest in "does homeowners insurance cover earthquakes" has been climbing in California this fall. Fair question. The answer on the declarations page usually surprises people, because the exclusion is buried with flood and earth movement in the fine print.

Why doesn't my homeowners policy cover earthquakes?

Earthquake is one of the perils standard policies leave out. The California Department of Insurance (CDI) lists earthquake, flood, mold, earth movement, and wear and tear as perils that are usually excluded from homeowners coverage.

The CEA says the same thing in plain words: "In most cases, damage to your home from an earthquake is not covered by a homeowners insurance policy."

Fire that follows an earthquake is a different story. Ask your agent how your policy treats it. That's a common question after a big quake.

Does my insurer have to offer earthquake coverage?

Yes. Under California Insurance Code section 10081, a residential property insurer can't issue or renew a policy without offering earthquake coverage.

CDI spells out how the offer works:

• Your insurer must offer earthquake insurance in writing
• The offer has to list the coverage limits, the deductible, and the premium
• You have 30 days from the date it's mailed to accept
• If you don't reply, that counts as a rejection
• If you decline, the insurer has to offer it again every other year

So if you've been tossing the earthquake letter that shows up with your renewal, that's the offer. It's worth one careful read.

How does a CEA policy work?

The CEA is not-for-profit and one of the largest earthquake insurers in California. You can't buy directly from it. You buy a CEA policy through a participating insurance company, and it has to be the same company that writes your homeowners policy. The California FAIR Plan also offers CEA earthquake policies.

A CEA homeowners policy has a few parts:

• Dwelling. Covers your house and attached structures like a garage
• Personal property. Furniture, appliances, clothing, and other belongings
• Loss of use. Extra living costs if you can't safely stay in the home. The CEA says this coverage never has a deductible
• Building code upgrade. $10,000 is included, with higher limits available
• Emergency repairs. No deductible on the first $1,500

You can add it any time. The CEA says there's no need to wait for renewal.

How big is an earthquake deductible?

Big. This is the part to understand before you buy.

CEA dwelling deductibles are a percentage of your dwelling coverage limit. You can choose 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, or 25%. Some homes only get the higher choices. The CEA says a home with a dwelling limit over $1,000,000, or a home built before 1980 on a raised foundation without a verified retrofit, can only pick 15%, 20%, or 25%.

Do the math with your own number. On a $600,000 dwelling limit, a 15% deductible is $90,000. This coverage is built for a major quake that badly damages or wrecks a house. Cracked drywall usually won't reach it.

What changes the price?

The CEA says premiums depend on your home's age, foundation type, construction type, roof type, and location data like distance to a fault and soil type.

CDI adds that costs usually run higher for:

• Older homes
• Brick or masonry homes
• Homes with more than one story
• Homes on sandy soil instead of clay or rock
• Homes that aren't up to code

There's a way to bring it down. The CEA offers premium discounts of up to 25% for older houses that have been properly retrofitted. Grants through the Earthquake Brace + Bolt and Earthquake Soft-Story programs can help pay for the work.

Should I wait and buy it later?

CDI says no, and it's right. Insurance bought after an earthquake doesn't cover damage you already had. After a quake, companies often stop selling earthquake coverage for a while. When they start again, premiums may be higher.

If you're buying a home, check whether it sits in an earthquake fault zone or seismic hazard zone. California sellers have to disclose that. See California seller disclosures.

FAQ

Does California homeowners insurance cover earthquake damage?
Usually not. The CEA and CDI both say earthquake damage is generally excluded from standard homeowners policies. You need separate coverage.

Can I buy a CEA policy directly?
No. You buy it through a participating insurer, and it must be the same company that writes your residential policy.

How often will my insurer offer earthquake coverage?
If you turn it down, California law requires your insurer to offer it again every other year in writing.

What deductibles does the CEA offer?
5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, or 25% of the dwelling limit. Homes over $1 million in dwelling coverage, and pre-1980 raised-foundation homes without a verified retrofit, are limited to 15%, 20%, or 25%.

Does a retrofit lower my premium?
It can. The CEA offers discounts of up to 25% for older homes that are properly retrofitted.

Next step

A licensed local insurance agent can pull your last earthquake offer, run CEA quotes at a few deductible levels, and show you what each one means in dollars. Bring your declarations page and the year your home was built. More guides are on the California insurance page.

Sources: CEA homeowners earthquake policies, CDI: Earthquake Insurance, Cal. Ins. Code § 10083.

The California FAIR Plan is the state's insurer of last resort for basic fire coverage. If no regular insurance company will write your home, a licensed broker registered with the FAIR Plan can apply for you. A FAIR Plan dwelling policy is limited, so most owners pair it with a separate Difference in Conditions policy.

A lot of Californians are in this spot right now. The FAIR Plan reports 698,307 dwelling and commercial policies in force as of September 2026, up 8% from a year earlier and up 157% since September 2022. Its total exposure hit $773 billion. Those are the FAIR Plan's own numbers, and they tell you this isn't a fringe option anymore.

What is the California FAIR Plan?

It's a private association of insurers, created by the Governor and Legislature, that sells basic property insurance when the regular market won't. The California Department of Insurance (CDI) oversees it. Day-to-day operations are run by insurance companies, not taxpayers.

The FAIR Plan describes itself as a way for property owners to get basic fire insurance "when access to coverage in the traditional market is not available through no fault of the property owner." It writes in cities and rural areas alike. Wildfire risk is the main reason people end up there, but it's not the only one.

Who qualifies for a FAIR Plan policy?

You qualify when you can't get coverage from a regular insurer. The FAIR Plan's own application steps make that the first test.

Here's how it works in practice:

• Your agent or broker shops the regular market first and does what the FAIR Plan calls a "diligent search" for comprehensive coverage
• If a traditional company will write you, the FAIR Plan says it isn't the right fit
• If nobody will, a broker registered with the FAIR Plan submits the application
• You can also call the FAIR Plan directly at 800-339-4099, though CDI recommends working with a registered broker

CDI's advice is to shop the market before you go this route. Its "Top Ten Tips for Finding Residential Insurance" is a decent checklist. There's no extra cost for using a broker, according to the FAIR Plan.

What does a FAIR Plan policy actually cover?

Less than you'd expect if you're used to a standard homeowners policy. The FAIR Plan dwelling policy is built around fire. CDI lists what it leaves out: water damage, liability, theft, and additional living expenses aren't part of the basic FAIR Plan policy today.

A few things CDI says have improved:

• Residential coverage limits now go up to $3 million
• You can get a discount on the wildfire portion of your FAIR Plan premium if you've hardened your home under Safer from Wildfires
• Monthly payments without a fee, and credit card payments with a processing fee

CDI also says a comprehensive FAIR Plan residential option is in progress. Until it's available, don't assume your FAIR Plan policy acts like a full homeowners policy. Read it.

The FAIR Plan can also be your path to earthquake coverage. It offers California Earthquake Authority (CEA) policies to eligible residential customers. See does California homeowners insurance cover earthquakes? for how that coverage works.

What is a Difference in Conditions policy?

A Difference in Conditions (DIC) policy fills the gaps around a FAIR Plan fire policy. You buy it from a separate insurer. Together, the two are meant to look roughly like a full homeowners policy.

That's where liability, theft, water damage, and loss of use usually come from when you're on the FAIR Plan. CDI keeps a DIC page with a list of companies that sell these policies. Skipping the DIC to save money is a real gamble. A kitchen pipe leak or a guest who slips on your steps isn't a fire claim.

If you have a mortgage, check what your lender requires too. Many lenders want liability and broader property coverage, not only fire.

How do I get off the FAIR Plan later?

Keep shopping. The FAIR Plan calls itself a possible "temporary solution," and you should treat it that way.

Things that can help you get back to the regular market:

• Ask your agent to re-quote at every renewal, not just when the bill jumps
• Harden the home and document it with photos and receipts (see Safer from Wildfires discounts)
• Keep up with defensible space rules for your area
• If your old insurer dropped you, read the notice closely. California has firm rules on non-renewal notices and wildfire moratoriums

It also helps to know your address's risk picture before you talk to an underwriter. FloodFireCheck gives you a quick read on flood and fire exposure for a property.

FAQ

Can I buy a FAIR Plan policy if a regular insurer offered me coverage?
The FAIR Plan says that if coverage is available in the traditional market, it isn't the right fit. Your broker is expected to search the regular market first.

Does the FAIR Plan cover theft or water damage?
Not in the basic dwelling policy. CDI says those coverages, along with liability and additional living expenses, come from a separate Difference in Conditions policy for now.

How high can FAIR Plan dwelling limits go?
CDI says residential limits are now up to $3 million per location.

Do I have to use a broker?
CDI recommends a licensed broker registered with the FAIR Plan, and the FAIR Plan says there's no extra cost for one. You can also call the FAIR Plan at 800-339-4099.

Can I get a discount on a FAIR Plan policy?
Yes. Residential policyholders can get a discount on the wildfire part of the premium for qualifying home-hardening work under Safer from Wildfires.

Next step

A licensed local insurance agent or broker can tell you whether any regular insurer will write your home, and if not, price a FAIR Plan policy with a matching DIC policy so you're not left with fire-only coverage. Bring your current declarations page and any non-renewal letter. More guides are on the California insurance page.

Sources: California FAIR Plan, FAIR Plan Key Statistics & Data, CDI: California FAIR Plan.