Section 16431 Of Article 1. Proof Requirements From California Vehicle Code >> Division 7. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 1.
16431
. (a) Proof of financial responsibility may be given by the
written certificate or certificates of any insurance carrier duly
authorized to do business within the state, that it has issued to or
for the benefit of the person named therein a motor vehicle liability
policy as defined in Section 16450, an automobile liability policy
as defined in Section 16054, or any other liability policy issued for
vehicles with less than four wheels that meets the requirements of
Section 16056, which, at the date of the certificate or certificates,
is in full force and effect. Except as provided in subdivision (b),
the certificate or certificates issued under any liability policy set
forth in this section shall be accepted by the department and
satisfy the requirements of proof of financial responsibility of this
chapter. Nothing in this chapter requires that an insurance carrier
certify that there is coverage broader than that provided by the
actual policy issued by the carrier.
(b) The department shall require that a person whose driver's
license has been revoked, suspended, or restricted under Section
13350, 13351, 13352, 13353, 13353.2, 13353.3, 13353.7, or 16370,
provide, as proof of financial responsibility, a certificate or
certificates that covers all motor vehicles registered to the person
before reinstatement of his or her driver's license.
(c) Subdivision (b) does not apply to vehicles in storage if the
current license plates and registration cards are surrendered to the
department in Sacramento.
(d) (1) A resident of another state may provide proof of financial
responsibility when required to do so under this code from a company
authorized to do business in that person's state of residence, if
that proof is satisfactory to the department, covers the operation of
a vehicle in this state, and meets the minimum coverage limit
requirements specified in Section 16056.
(2) If the person specified in paragraph (1) becomes a resident of
this state during the period that the person is required to maintain
proof of financial responsibility with the department, the
department may not issue or return a driver's license to that person
until the person files a written certificate or certificates, as
authorized under subdivision (a), that meets the minimum coverage
limit requirements specified in Section 16056 and covers the period
during which the person is required to maintain proof of financial
responsibility.
(e) This section shall become operative on September 20, 2005.