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California-Specific Rules
12 questionsCal. Ins. Code §10081 requires every admitted insurer that writes residential property insurance to offer earthquake coverage in writing at each renewal. The offer must state the premium and basic terms. The policyholder may decline, but the offer itself must be made — it is not contingent on a written request or seismic activity.
Cal. Ins. Code §10081Cal. Ins. Code §675.1, strengthened by SB 824 (2018), imposes a one-year moratorium on non-renewal of residential property policies in ZIP codes within or adjacent to a wildfire disaster area following a gubernatorial state-of-emergency declaration. The moratorium runs from the date the emergency is declared, not from containment.
Cal. Ins. Code §675.1Proposition 103, codified at Cal. Ins. Code §1861.05, requires prior approval of rate changes for personal auto, homeowners, and many other P&C lines. The insurer files the proposed rate with the Department of Insurance and may not implement it until the Commissioner approves. California is a true prior-approval state, not file-and-use or use-and-file.
Cal. Ins. Code §1861.05 (Proposition 103)10 CCR §2695.5(e) requires the insurer to acknowledge receipt of a claim within 15 calendar days and to begin any investigation necessary. A separate 40-day window applies to accepting or denying the claim, and a 30-day window applies to payment after agreement, but the initial acknowledgment is 15 days.
10 CCR §2695.5 (Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations)10 CCR §2695.7(b) gives the insurer 40 calendar days from receipt of proof of claim to accept or deny in whole or in part. The deadline may be extended in writing for good cause, but the default rule is 40 days. After acceptance and agreement, payment must be tendered within 30 days.
10 CCR §2695.7Cal. Civ. Code §3287, together with Article XV §1 of the California Constitution, sets the statutory interest rate at 10% per year (simple) on damages that are certain or capable of being made certain by calculation. This rate applies to delayed claim payments once the amount is established and is the figure tested on the P&C exam.
Cal. Civ. Code §3287; Cal. Ins. Code §10111.2At least 30 days, under §663(a)(2). The cited §662 is the wrong section entirely: it governs cancellation — 20 days, or 10 for non-payment — and §662(b) says in as many words, "This section shall not apply to nonrenewal." There is no 60-day auto non-renewal period in California law, and no statutory ceiling either. If the insurer gives neither an offer of renewal nor a notice of non-renewal, §663(c) keeps the existing policy in force on the same terms for 30 days from the date the notice is finally delivered.
Cal. Ins. Code §663(a)(2)Cal. Ins. Code §11580.2 makes UM coverage automatic in every California auto liability policy unless the named insured rejects it in writing. The rejection must be a signed, written waiver — an oral statement to the agent is not sufficient. If no written rejection is on file, UM applies at the bodily-injury limits of the policy.
Cal. Ins. Code §11580.2The California FAIR Plan Association, created under Cal. Ins. Code §10091 et seq., is an industry-funded syndicated pool that serves as the insurer of last resort. It offers basic property (mostly fire and limited perils) coverage to applicants who cannot obtain insurance through the voluntary market — most often properties in high brush or wildfire areas. It is not a government program and does not compete on the regular voluntary market.
Cal. Ins. Code §10091+ (California FAIR Plan)The CEA, established under Cal. Ins. Code §10089.5 et seq., is a publicly managed but privately financed entity. Participating residential insurers issue CEA earthquake policies to their own customers, who can choose CEA coverage instead of the insurer's own. The CEA is neither a mutual insurer nor a direct-to-public carrier, and it covers only policies written by participating insurers.
Cal. Ins. Code §10089.5+ (CEA)Want these explained in order? California Property & Casualty Broker-Agent Study Guide — 2026 Edition — PDF + EPUB, $24.99 · 14-day refund →
Cal. Ins. Code §758.5 makes it an unfair practice for an insurer to require a claimant to use a particular auto repair shop, or to suggest one, without first informing the consumer in writing of the right to select the shop. The Auto Body Repair Bill of Rights also requires written estimates and parts disclosure — those practices are required, not prohibited.
Cal. Ins. Code §758.5Created under Cal. Ins. Code §11629.7 et seq., CLCA provides liability-only auto coverage to income-eligible good drivers who have a valid license and would otherwise have difficulty affording the financial responsibility limits. CLCA is not for high-risk drivers, commercial fleets, or non-residents — eligibility hinges on income, driving record, and California residency.
Cal. Ins. Code §11629.7+ (California Low Cost Automobile Program)Last reviewed: · editorial process
What's on the California Property & Casualty Broker-Agent License?
The California Property & Casualty Broker-Agent License is administered by the California Department of Insurance (CDI). The topic weights below are a PrepPass estimate, not figures published by the California Department of Insurance (CDI).
Every figure above, with the document it came from and the date we read it →
Topic blueprint
How hard is the exam?
Difficult. The California P&C broker-agent exam is 150 questions, 195 minutes, 60% to pass at PSI. Strong overlap with Personal Lines but adds commercial property + workers' comp + casualty/liability.
- Recommended study hours
- 100-150 hours over 6-10 weeks (only the 12-hour ethics course is required for prelicensing — AB 943, 2026)
- First-attempt pass rate
- 57% on the first attempt (n = 3,153) — California Department of Insurance, 2025. CDI’s row is “Property / Casualty”. It was 55% (n = 2,516) in 2024. CDI states these are the rates for candidates taking the exam on their first attempt.Source: California Department of Insurance — 2025 Annual Report of the Commissioner (PDF), “LSD Licensing Examination First-Time Pass Rates”
- Where to focus first
- Personal Lines Insurance and Commercial Insurance Coverages — CDI's 2025 examination objectives put them at 38% and 30% of the property exam and 35% each of the casualty exam; the California Insurance Code rules inside every section are where out-of-state candidates struggle most.
Fees and salaries are approximate and change over time. The pass rate above is quoted from the source linked beside it, for the period that source covers — where we have not checked a source, we say so and give no number.
Frequently asked questions
How many California Property & Casualty practice questions?+
531 original practice questions across all 11 topics of the California Department of Insurance Property & Casualty Broker-Agent license exam, with California Insurance Code citations on 215 of them.
Is the P&C practice test free?+
Yes, completely free. No signup, no credit card. Unlimited practice rounds and a 150-question timed mock exam included.
Are these real CDI P&C exam questions?+
No. All questions are original prose authored from the California Insurance Code, Title 10 CCR, Civil Code, Labor Code, Vehicle Code, and standard ISO insurance form concepts. We never copy from real exams or paid prep providers.
What's the passing score for the California P&C Broker-Agent exam?+
60%, and CDI publishes no sectional or per-subject cut score — a failing candidate gets a per-topic diagnostic, which is a diagnostic, not a cut score. The real CDI exam is 150 multiple-choice questions over 195 minutes at a PSI testing center.
What does the P&C Broker-Agent license let me sell?+
Auto insurance (personal + commercial), homeowners, dwelling, commercial property, casualty/liability (CGL), and workers' compensation insurance — to California residents and businesses.
Is the California P&C exam offered in Vietnamese or Chinese?+
Yes — AB 451 (Stats. 2023, ch. 136) legally requires CDI to offer producer license exams in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Tagalog.
Should I take the P&C license or Personal Lines license first?+
P&C is broader (commercial + personal). Personal Lines is narrower (residential + personal auto only) and has a shorter exam (~100q vs ~150q). As of 2026 (AB 943) both require only the 12-hour ethics course for prelicensing. Many agents start with whichever matches the business they want to write first; many upgrade Personal Lines → P&C later.
Is there a study guide for the Property & Casualty Insurance Producer?+
Yes. PrepPass sells California Property & Casualty Broker-Agent Study Guide — 2026 Edition, a PDF + EPUB download, $24.99 one-time; the practice on this page stays free without it. See the study guide →