California Auto Insurance for AB-60 / ITIN Drivers: 2026 Guide

California auto insurance is available to AB-60 license holders and ITIN drivers from multiple licensed carriers, including Mercury, Wawanesa, Kemper, Bristol West, and Aspire General. The California Insurance Code prohibits insurers from using immigration status to deny coverage or set rates. You need a valid driver's license (an AB-60 counts), proof of address, vehicle registration, and either a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for underwriting.

This guide walks through how AB-60 and ITIN auto insurance actually works in California in 2026. We name the carriers, list the documents, give real cost ranges, and explain the rights protecting you when you shop for a policy.

What Is an AB-60 License?

AB-60 is a California driver's license issued under Assembly Bill 60, a state law that took effect on January 1, 2015. It allows California residents to get a driver's license regardless of immigration status, as long as they pass the same written and behind-the-wheel tests as any other driver and provide acceptable proof of identity and California residency.

According to the California DMV, more than 1.1 million AB-60 licenses have been issued since the program started. The license looks almost identical to a standard California license. The main visible difference is the phrase "FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY" printed on the front. That phrase exists because the card cannot be used for federal purposes like boarding a domestic flight or entering a federal building.

For driving and for buying car insurance in California, an AB-60 license has the same legal weight as a standard Class C license. You can register a vehicle, get insured, drive, and renew your policy with it.

What Is an ITIN and Why Does It Matter for Auto Insurance?

An ITIN is an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number issued by the IRS to people who need to file U.S. taxes but are not eligible for a Social Security Number. The IRS started the ITIN program in 1996. ITINs are nine digits, formatted like an SSN, and always start with the number 9.

Some California insurers ask for an SSN or ITIN to run a soft credit check used in underwriting. Carriers that write AB-60 policies are typically comfortable using an ITIN in place of an SSN. A few carriers will even write a policy without either number, using the AB-60 license alone as the identity anchor, though those policies tend to price higher because the carrier has less data to underwrite with.

An AB-60 license is a fully valid California driver's license for the purposes of buying auto insurance, registering a vehicle, and driving on California roads. Insurers in California cannot legally deny coverage or charge a different rate because a customer holds an AB-60 license instead of a standard license, or because the customer uses an ITIN instead of a Social Security Number. The California Insurance Code, specifically Section 11628.5, prohibits using immigration status as a rating factor or as a reason to refuse to issue, renew, or cancel a private passenger auto policy.

Which California Carriers Write AB-60 and ITIN Policies?

Not every insurer in California will quote a driver who only has an AB-60 license or an ITIN. Big captive carriers like State Farm and GEICO will sometimes write these policies, but the experience varies a lot by agent. The carriers below have the most consistent track record with California's non-standard market:

Mercury Insurance. Headquartered in Los Angeles. Accepts AB-60 license + ITIN. Strong in Southern California. Often one of the cheapest options for clean drivers.
Wawanesa Insurance. California-focused carrier with a long history of writing AB-60 holders. Accepts ITIN. Competitive on minimum-coverage policies.
Kemper Auto. Specializes in non-standard auto across California. Accepts AB-60, ITIN, and in some cases foreign licenses with an ITIN.
Bristol West (a Farmers company). Non-standard specialist. Writes AB-60 and ITIN policies through independent agents.
Aspire General Insurance. California non-standard carrier. Writes AB-60. Quick-issue process through a wide independent agent network.
Alliance United Insurance. Bilingual customer service. Writes AB-60 and ITIN policies. Common in the Central Valley.
Infinity Auto Insurance. Hispanic-market focus. Accepts AB-60, ITIN, and sometimes Mexican federal licenses paired with an ITIN.

Independent agents who work the California non-standard market usually carry three or four of these carriers and can quote them all in a single visit. That is almost always faster than calling each company yourself.

Documents You Need to Buy an AB-60 / ITIN Policy

The exact paperwork varies by carrier, but most will ask for the same core stack:

Your AB-60 California driver's license (or a foreign license + ITIN, depending on carrier).
Proof of California address. A utility bill, lease, or bank statement dated within the last 60 days usually works.
Vehicle registration in the name of the policy holder, or the title if registration is pending.
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). 17 characters, found on the dashboard, door jamb, or registration card.
ITIN letter from the IRS if the carrier asks for one. Not every carrier requires this.
Prior insurance declarations page if you have one. Continuous coverage usually unlocks a better rate.

If you do not have an ITIN and the carrier requires one, the IRS allows you to apply using Form W-7. Processing takes several weeks. If you need coverage today, ask the agent for a carrier that does not require an ITIN. Aspire General and Alliance United are the most common AB-60-only writers.

Real Costs: What an AB-60 / ITIN Policy Looks Like in 2026

California's non-standard auto market sits in a different price band than the standard market. As of 2026, an AB-60 driver in California can expect:

State minimum 30/60/15 policy (effective January 1, 2025 under SB 1107): roughly $95 to $180 per month for a single driver, clean record, older paid-off vehicle.
Same policy with one at-fault accident in the last three years: roughly $160 to $260 per month.
Same policy with a DUI on record: roughly $260 to $420 per month, plus a one-time SR-22 filing fee around $25.
Full coverage (liability + comprehensive + collision) on a financed late-model vehicle: roughly $220 to $380 per month.

The single biggest variable is the zip code. A clean AB-60 driver in a low-cost zip in the Central Valley often pays half what an identical driver pays in South Los Angeles or Oakland. The second biggest variable is whether you can show prior continuous insurance. Even six months of clean prior coverage can drop the rate 10 to 20 percent at most California carriers.

The state minimum auto insurance requirement in California changed on January 1, 2025 under Senate Bill 1107. The new minimum is 30/60/15: thirty thousand dollars of bodily injury coverage per person, sixty thousand dollars of bodily injury per accident, and fifteen thousand dollars of property damage per accident. This minimum applies to every driver on California roads, including AB-60 license holders and drivers using an ITIN. Older policies written under the previous 15/30/5 minimum had to be brought up to the new 30/60/15 floor at first renewal after the law took effect.

Your Rights as an AB-60 / ITIN Driver in California

California has the strongest insurance consumer protections in the country. Three rules matter most for AB-60 and ITIN drivers:

1. Immigration status cannot be used to set rates. The California Insurance Code Section 11628.5 prohibits insurers from using immigration status as a rating factor. An insurer cannot charge you more, deny you coverage, or refuse to renew because you hold an AB-60 license or use an ITIN.

2. Proposition 103 limits rating factors. Passed in 1988, Proposition 103 says California auto insurance rates must be based primarily on the driver's safety record, miles driven per year, and years of driving experience. Credit score, occupation, and education cannot be the primary factors. This protects AB-60 drivers who often have shorter U.S. credit histories.

3. The California Department of Insurance accepts complaints in any language. If a carrier denies you coverage based on immigration status or refuses to use your ITIN, file a complaint with the California Department of Insurance at 1-800-927-4357 or insurance.ca.gov. Complaints can be submitted in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and English.

SR-22, Non-Owner, and Other Special Situations

An SR-22 is a financial responsibility certificate the carrier files with the California DMV after a DUI, an at-fault uninsured accident, or a license suspension. AB-60 drivers can file an SR-22 the same way any other California driver does. Mercury, Kemper, Bristol West, and Aspire General all file SR-22s for AB-60 holders.

If you need a license back after a suspension and you do not own a car, ask for a non-owner SR-22 policy. It covers you when you drive a vehicle you do not own and gives the DMV the filing it needs to lift the suspension. Mercury and Bristol West write non-owner SR-22 policies for AB-60 holders in California.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a California auto insurer deny me coverage because I have an AB-60 license?

No. The California Insurance Code Section 11628.5 prohibits insurers from refusing to issue, renew, or cancel an auto policy based on immigration status or because the applicant holds an AB-60 license. If a carrier tells you otherwise, file a complaint with the California Department of Insurance at 1-800-927-4357.

Do I need a Social Security Number to buy auto insurance in California?

No. Many California carriers, including Mercury, Wawanesa, Kemper, Bristol West, and Aspire General, accept an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) in place of a Social Security Number. A few carriers will write a policy with just an AB-60 license and no ITIN at all.

Can my AB-60 license be revoked retroactively if immigration policy changes?

An AB-60 license is a California-issued license, governed by California state law. State licenses are not revoked retroactively because of changes in federal immigration policy. The California DMV has issued more than 1.1 million AB-60 licenses since 2015, and the program remains active in 2026.

What is the minimum auto insurance I need to drive in California with an AB-60 license?

The same minimum every California driver needs: 30/60/15. That is thirty thousand dollars in bodily injury coverage per person, sixty thousand per accident, and fifteen thousand in property damage per accident. The 30/60/15 minimum took effect on January 1, 2025 under Senate Bill 1107.

Can I file an SR-22 in California with an AB-60 license?

Yes. AB-60 drivers can file an SR-22 with the California DMV through any carrier that writes SR-22 policies. Mercury, Kemper, Bristol West, and Aspire General are the most common SR-22 writers for AB-60 holders. The SR-22 filing fee is usually around twenty-five dollars, plus the higher policy premium that triggered the SR-22.

Can I buy insurance with a foreign license and an ITIN, without an AB-60?

Sometimes. A few California carriers, including Infinity and Kemper, will write a policy on a Mexican federal driver's license combined with an ITIN. The rate is usually higher than an AB-60 quote, and the carrier may require you to obtain an AB-60 within a set period after binding the policy.

Will I be reported to immigration if I file an insurance claim?

No. California auto insurers are private companies and do not share customer data with federal immigration authorities. The California DMV is also legally restricted from sharing AB-60 applicant data for federal immigration enforcement purposes under California Vehicle Code Section 12801.9.

Bottom Line

An AB-60 license and an ITIN are enough to buy real, fully legal California auto insurance from a recognized carrier. The fastest path is an independent agent who carries Mercury, Wawanesa, Kemper, Bristol West, or Aspire General and can quote three or four of them at once. Bring your AB-60, proof of address, vehicle registration, and ITIN letter if you have one. Expect a state-minimum policy in the ninety-five to one-hundred-eighty dollar range for a clean driver in 2026.

If you want to compare California rates side by side, get a quote at QuoteMoto's California non-owner page or our California SR-22 quote page.

Sources

California DMV, AB-60 Driver License Program: dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses-identification-cards/applying-for-a-driver-license/ab-60
California Department of Insurance: insurance.ca.gov
IRS, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN): irs.gov/individuals/individual-taxpayer-identification-number
California Insurance Code Section 11628.5
California Senate Bill 1107 (2022), effective January 1, 2025