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  "id": "ca-veh-code-16020",
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  "contentVersion": "2026.08.31",
  "generatedFor": "2026-09-06",
  "operator": {
    "legalName": "WJB Services, Inc.",
    "dba": "Bollinsure Insurance Services",
    "license": "6013787",
    "licenseAuthority": "California Department of Insurance"
  },
  "license": "Text on this page may be quoted with attribution and a link to the canonical URL.",
  "notice": "Public page facts only. This record contains no visitor question, no tool input, and no identifier. It is not a coverage determination, an eligibility decision, or individualized advice.",
  "title": "California Vehicle Code Section 16020 (duty to establish and carry evidence of financial responsibility)",
  "publisher": "California Legislative Counsel (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)",
  "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=16020",
  "officialHost": true,
  "sourceType": "statute",
  "authorityLevel": "primary-law",
  "primary": true,
  "jurisdiction": "CA",
  "publishedDate": "unknown",
  "effectiveDate": "2023-01-01",
  "accessedDate": "2026-09-02",
  "lastChecked": "2026-09-02",
  "updateCadence": "Amended only by legislation. Last amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 295, Sec. 13 (AB 2956), effective January 1, 2023.",
  "status": "active",
  "supportsClaims": [
    {
      "claimId": "ca-veh-code-16020#c1",
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      "checksum": "d8cf7246a623",
      "text": "Section 16020(a) requires all drivers and all owners of a motor vehicle to be able to establish financial responsibility pursuant to Vehicle Code section 16021 at all times, and to carry in the vehicle at all times evidence of the form of financial responsibility in effect for the vehicle."
    },
    {
      "claimId": "ca-veh-code-16020#c2",
      "canonicalUrl": "https://bestinsuranceresearch.com/sources/ca-veh-code-16020#c2",
      "checksum": "7a1e7839b146",
      "text": "Section 16020(b)(1) provides that evidence of financial responsibility includes a form issued by an insurance company or charitable risk pool, as specified by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to Vehicle Code section 4000.37."
    },
    {
      "claimId": "ca-veh-code-16020#c3",
      "canonicalUrl": "https://bestinsuranceresearch.com/sources/ca-veh-code-16020#c3",
      "checksum": "c636c9d91936",
      "text": "Section 16020(b)(2) provides that evidence of financial responsibility includes, where the owner is a self-insurer under Vehicle Code section 16052 or a depositor under Vehicle Code section 16054.2, the certificate of self-insurance or the assignment of deposit letter issued by the department."
    },
    {
      "claimId": "ca-veh-code-16020#c4",
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      "checksum": "7efb75451afa",
      "text": "Section 16020(b)(3) provides that evidence of financial responsibility includes an insurance covering note or binder pursuant to Insurance Code section 382 or 382.5."
    },
    {
      "claimId": "ca-veh-code-16020#c5",
      "canonicalUrl": "https://bestinsuranceresearch.com/sources/ca-veh-code-16020#c5",
      "checksum": "9ed3e614be60",
      "text": "Section 16020(b)(4) provides that evidence of financial responsibility includes a showing that the vehicle is owned or leased by, or under the direction of, the United States or a public entity as defined in Government Code section 811.2."
    },
    {
      "claimId": "ca-veh-code-16020#c6",
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      "checksum": "59b0941175fb",
      "text": "Section 16020(c) provides that evidence of financial responsibility may also be obtained by a law enforcement officer and court personnel from an electronic reporting system when that system becomes available for use by law enforcement officers."
    }
  ],
  "reliedOnBy": [
    {
      "kind": "Coverage",
      "title": "Personal auto insurance (California)",
      "url": "https://bestinsuranceresearch.com/insurance/personal-auto-california"
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  "reliedOnByCount": 1,
  "citation": {
    "text": "California Legislative Counsel (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov). \"California Vehicle Code Section 16020 (duty to establish and carry evidence of financial responsibility).\" unknown. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=16020 (retrieved 2026-09-02).",
    "viaThisSite": "BestInsurance Research source record ca-veh-code-16020, content version 2026.08.31. https://bestinsuranceresearch.com/sources/ca-veh-code-16020",
    "note": "Cite the underlying source when you can. Cite this record when you are describing our synthesis or our claim list."
  }
}