How to Drive in California Without Owning a Car

If you live in California, driving is probably a critical part of your daily life. Between the beaches, mountains and the great wide desert highways, there is plenty of reason to get behind the wheel and cruise around. Whether you live in California or you are visiting, you don’t need to own a car to drive in California.

This article will walk you through the rules, insurance, and rental agreements that work together in order for you to maintain mobility within California. It will cover everything from premium car sharing options all the way through to rental strategies, household driver types and California DMV rules and regulations.

Start With Car-Sharing and Premium Rentals

Car-sharing is usually the simplest option. Turo and Zipcar offer vehicles on a short-term basis without the long-term commitment usually involved in ownership.Car-sharing might be an excellent option for someone who mainly relies on public transportation to get around, but occasionally requires access to a car for weekend trips, running errands, or going to business meetings.

However, just because a car-sharing provider says ‘Insurance Included’, does not mean you are fully protected. Car-sharing companies generally provide only state minimum level liability. In California, state minimum levels of liability are relatively low. 

If you cause a major accident, you could easily exceed the coverage limit. Be sure to investigate if your personal automobile policy or credit card provides additional rental coverage.

Boutique rental agencies and traditional airport rental companies are other good choices when you need to rent a car for several consecutive days.

Before you purchase rental car coverage, be sure to verify what is covered and what is not covered. Many credit cards only provide secondary coverage, and not all personal automobile insurance policies extend to peer-to-peer rentals.

 What If You’ve Had a Violation and Need an SR-22?

If your driving privileges have been suspended in California due to a DUI, reckless driving, or even a lapse in insurance coverage, there is a chance that the DMV will require an SR-22 before allowing you to drive again. However, if you do not have access to your own vehicle, there are still options to meet SR-22 requirements.

You are not required to purchase a vehicle solely to satisfy SR-22 requirements. An alternative is to obtain a non-owner’s auto insurance policy. It provides liability insurance for operating rental or borrowed vehicles, with an attached SR-22 endorsement. 

For information on California non-owner SR22 insurance, speak with your insurance provider to ensure that you remain compliant with California regulations. The central concept of an SR-22 is to demonstrate your ability to operate a motor vehicle, not whether or not you own one. 

Living with Someone Who Owns a Car

If you live with someone that has a vehicle, things are not as straightforward as they may seem. The car owner is usually required by their insurance carrier to list all the licensed drivers that live in the same home on their policy.

Even though adding drivers doesn’t dramatically increase your friend’s insurance premium, you won’t be able to just borrow your friend’s car all of the time. If you drive a vehicle that belongs to someone else and your name isn’t added to the insurance policy, any claims that you submit may be denied. No one wants to take that chance.

Therefore, when you don’t have your car, the easiest and most inexpensive solution is usually to have your friend add you to their policy so that you can legally drive their vehicle while you are living in the same household.

Visitors vs. New Residents: What the DMV Says

The DMV has put in measures to distinguish between visitors and residents. If you are from out of state and have an out-of-state valid driver’s license, you can drive legally in California, whether you are renting or borrowing someone else’s car.

You only need valid insurance on the vehicle being driven. When one moves to California, they have ten days to obtain a driver’s license. It is illegal to drive indefinitely in California with an out-of-state driver’s license.

Auto Insurance: Coverage When You’re a Non-Owner

If you’re borrowing a friend’s vehicle and you’re in an accident, the vehicle’s auto insurance will generally be your primary coverage. If the damages exceed the limits of the Insurance policy, then your non-ownership insurance policy may apply to the damages if you have one.

You would be smart to verify your insurance coverage before taking any steps.Check whether or not you have permission to drive the borrowed vehicle, how much liability protection you have as a borrowed driver, and whether or not the car share or rental car company have restrictions on the use of the vehicle.

If you do not keep your auto insurance up to date when you are borrowing a vehicle, you risk getting fined or getting your driving privileges suspended. This may have a long-term negative outcome. Driving without insurance coverage isn’t worth the risk.

A Basic Compliance Check

If you want to keep your life simple, consider these basic things before operating your vehicle:

• Verify that your driver’s license is valid, and if you are a California resident, that it has been converted to a California driver’s license
• Verify that the vehicle you will operate has sufficient liability insurance coverage
•  If you are required to file an SR-22 insurance policy with DMV, verify that your SR-22 is active and on-file
•  Make sure to have your name added to the vehicle insurance policy if you share the car with others who live in the same house.With these few guidelines, you should be able to drive legally in California without any worries.

Always ask a professional for advice if you are unsure about something.

Smart Alternatives to Car Ownership in the Golden State

Driving in California without owning a car is not only possible but also, oftentimes, a cost-affective solution for those living in cities. There are several alternatives to owning a car: car share programs, rentals, and household policies. Knowledge of non-owner liability insurance and California DMV residency requirements will help you remain compliant.