According to the California’s Department of Insurance Website, all applicants must be at least 19 years old, and any college students must not be claimed as a dependent by someone else. They must have had a driver’s license for the past three years continuously. The driver must be classified as a “good driver,” which means they cannot have more than one point on their record and have only been at-fault in one accident, both within the last three years. Also, they cannot have any felony or misdemeanor conviction on their record either.

The driver’s income also plays a role in determining whether or not someone is qualified to participate in the low cost auto insurance program. The number of people in the household, related by blood, marriage or adoption, compared to the amount of income made during the year is crucial to being permitted into the program. For instance, households of 4 people can make no more than $55,125 a year, and households with 8 people cannot make more than $92,525 a year to qualify. The Department of Insurance site says, “Eligibility is based on the household’s gross annual income which must be 250% or less of the federal poverty level.”