California Personal Lines Insurance License Registration Guide

How to get your California Personal Lines Broker-Agent license — the entry-level P&C license for selling personal auto and residential property insurance only.

Quick Answer

To get a California Personal Lines Broker-Agent license: complete 32 hours of pre-licensing (20 Personal Lines + 12 ethics), apply to CDI at insurance.ca.gov ($229), complete Live Scan fingerprinting, schedule the ~100-question / ~2.5-hour PSI exam at psiexams.com ($54, 60% to pass), and obtain an appointment from an admitted insurer before selling. This license sells personal auto + residential property only — no commercial.

Exam Facts

FormatMultiple choice, computer-based at PSI testing centers
ScopePersonal auto + residential property only (no commercial)
Questions~100
Time~2.5 hours
Passing score60%
License validity2 years (24 hours CE per renewal, 3 ethics)
Application fee$229 to CDI
Exam fee$54 to PSI per attempt
Languages (AB 451)English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean

Step-by-Step Process

1

Complete pre-licensing education

20 hours Personal Lines content + 12 hours ethics = 32 hours total (vs. 52 hours for the full P&C license). CDI-approved online or classroom providers.

32 hours total (20 Personal Lines + 12 ethics)
2

Apply with CDI

Apply online at insurance.ca.gov, pay the $229 application fee, complete Live Scan fingerprinting (~$58) for the background check.

insurance.ca.gov · $229 · Live Scan required
3

Schedule the exam with PSI

Schedule at psiexams.com. About $54 per attempt. ~100 multiple-choice questions over ~2.5 hours, computer-based at a PSI center.

psiexams.com · ~$54 · 100 questions · 2.5 hours
4

Pass the exam

Passing score is 60%. Immediate pass/fail results on screen. Wait the required period to retake after a failure.

60% to pass · immediate results
5

Get appointed by an insurer

License is INACTIVE after issuance until an admitted insurer files an appointment with CDI. Only then can you legally sell.

License inactive until insurer appointment

Contacts & Resources

CDI Producer Licensinginsurance.ca.gov · (800) 967-9331
PSI Exam schedulingpsiexams.com · (855) 579-4632
CDI License Lookupcdi.ca.gov/licensing
AB 451 Multilingual Resourcesinsurance.ca.gov
IIABCal (CA agents association)iiabcal.org
PIA of Californiapiaca.org

Frequently Asked Questions

Who needs a California Personal Lines Broker-Agent license?+

Anyone in California who sells PERSONAL auto and PERSONAL residential property insurance only (not commercial). It's the entry-level P&C license with a narrower scope.

What's the difference between Personal Lines and the full P&C Broker-Agent license?+

Personal Lines is limited to PERSONAL auto + homeowners/renters/dwelling (1-4 family residential). The full P&C license also includes commercial property, commercial auto, casualty/liability, and workers' compensation. Personal Lines requires fewer pre-licensing hours and a shorter exam.

How much does the California Personal Lines license cost?+

Roughly $350-450 total: $229 CDI application fee + ~$54 PSI exam fee + ~$58 Live Scan fingerprinting + $30-80 pre-licensing course.

How many hours of pre-licensing are required?+

20 hours Personal Lines content + 12 hours ethics = 32 hours total (vs. 52 hours for the full P&C license).

How long is the exam?+

About 100 multiple-choice questions over ~2.5 hours, with a 60% passing score.

Is the California Personal Lines exam available in Spanish, Chinese, or Vietnamese?+

Yes. AB 451 (2018) legally requires CDI to offer producer license exams in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese (Mandarin), and Korean.

Can I upgrade from Personal Lines to the full P&C license later?+

Yes. You can take additional pre-licensing hours for the commercial Property and Casualty content, then sit for the full P&C exam. Many agents start with Personal Lines and upgrade as their book grows.

Last updated: May 2026