When shopping for a California car insurance quote online, keep in mind the state requirements for auto insurance. Here are some things you should know.

California has a Compulsory Financial Responsibility Law which requires that every driver and owner of a vehicle be financially responsible for their actions. This includes having proper auto insurance, a bond or a cash deposit with the Department of Motor Vehicles in the amount of $35,000.

The state of California requires, at the minimum, that you have coverages for Bodily Injury and Property Damage. The penalties are severe if you are not in compliance.

Bodily Injury. This is to pay for injury or death to other people besides you who are hurt in an accident that you are legally responsible for: Minimum of $15,000 per person and $30,000 if two or more persons are injured per accident.

Property Damage. This is to pay for damage to vehicles or other property that were damaged by you in a collision. Minimum of $5,000 per accident. .

Keep in mind that these are the minimums required by California state law. You still could be financially liable for any costs above those minimum amounts, so you may want to consider raising the limits on these coverages.

When you shop for California car insurance quotes, it's good to have this information ready. Since auto insurance costs vary from company to company, you should always get at least three different quotes. By using the same information for each quote, you can get a more accurate comparison.