California Property & Casualty Insurance License Practice Exam
150 practice questions covering national property & casualty concepts and California-specific regulations.
About the California Property & Casualty Insurance Exam
The California Property and Casualty insurance producer license exam is required by the California Department of Insurance (CDI) before selling homeowners, auto, commercial, or liability insurance products in California. The exam is administered by PSI Exams on behalf of the CDI and tests both national P&C insurance concepts and California-specific provisions of the California Insurance Code (CIC).
The exam contains 75 questions with a 60-minute time limit and a 60% passing score — you need 45 correct answers. Before sitting, you must complete 40 hours of CDI-approved pre-license education. California's P&C exam is known for heavily testing the California FAIR Plan, the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP), and California's unique regulations around rate increases and cancellations.
California P&C Insurance Exam Topic Breakdown
| Section | Approx. Weight | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Property Insurance | ~30% | Homeowners (HO-3, HO-6), fire insurance, dwelling policies, inland marine |
| Casualty/Liability Insurance | ~25% | Auto liability, personal umbrella, workers' compensation, GL coverage |
| Commercial Lines | ~15% | BOP, commercial property, commercial auto, E&O, D&O |
| California Insurance Code (CIC) | ~20% | Producer duties, unfair practices, cancellation/nonrenewal rules, FAIR Plan |
| Personal Auto | ~10% | California minimum limits, SR-22, CAARP, uninsured motorist |
Sample California P&C Insurance Exam Questions
1. Under California law, an insurer who wishes to cancel a personal auto insurance policy that has been in force for more than 60 days may do so only for which of the following reasons?
2. The California FAIR Plan provides coverage for:
3. A California homeowner's dwelling is insured under an HO-3 policy. The policy covers the dwelling on an open-perils basis and personal property on a named-perils basis. A flood damages the home and destroys personal belongings. Which of the following is correct?
Study Tips for the California P&C Insurance Exam
California's cancellation and nonrenewal rules are unique and heavily tested. Know the notice periods required for cancellation (10 days for nonpayment, 20 days for other reasons, 45 days for nonrenewal), what grounds permit mid-term cancellation after 60 days, and the special rules for personal auto policies. Proposition 103 and its impact on rate regulation (requiring CDI approval for rate increases) also appears frequently.
The California FAIR Plan and CAARP (California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan) are California-specific programs that don't exist in most states — know what each covers, who qualifies, and how coverage compares to standard market policies. For property insurance, know the HO policy forms (HO-1 through HO-8), what open perils vs. named perils means in practice, and the major exclusions (flood, earthquake) that require separate coverage.
The national exam content is covered in our national P&C practice exam. Getting both lines? See the California Life & Health exam, and use the insurance license study guide for a full prep plan. Also licensed in real estate? See the California real estate exam.
Frequently Asked Questions — California P&C Insurance Exam
How many questions are on the California P&C insurance exam?
The California P&C exam contains 75 questions with a 60-minute time limit. The passing score is 60%, meaning you need at least 45 correct answers. The exam is administered by PSI Exams on behalf of the California Department of Insurance.
What pre-license education is required in California for P&C insurance?
California requires 40 hours of CDI-approved pre-license education for the Property and Casualty exam: 20 hours of property/casualty insurance and 12 hours of ethics and California insurance code (8 hours of general concepts). Courses can be completed online or in person through CDI-approved providers.
What is the California FAIR Plan?
The California FAIR (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) Plan is a state-mandated insurer of last resort for residential and commercial property owners who cannot obtain coverage in the standard market — typically due to high wildfire risk. FAIR Plan coverage is more limited than a standard HO-3 policy and does not include liability coverage. Policyholders can supplement FAIR Plan with a Difference in Conditions (DIC) policy.
What are the California rules for canceling a homeowner's insurance policy?
In California, insurers must provide: 10 days notice for cancellation due to nonpayment of premium; 20 days notice for other valid cancellation reasons (fraud, material misrepresentation); and 75 days notice for nonrenewal. After the first 60 days, mid-term cancellations are severely restricted to only nonpayment, fraud, or specific license issues.
What is Proposition 103 and how does it affect insurance in California?
Proposition 103, passed in 1988, requires prior approval from the California Department of Insurance before insurers can raise rates on personal auto, homeowners, and other personal lines. It also gives consumers the right to intervene in rate filing proceedings and allows for rate rollbacks if rates are found to be excessive. Prop 103 makes California's rate regulation among the most consumer-protective in the nation.
What are the minimum auto liability limits required in California?
California requires a minimum of 15/30/5 for personal auto liability: $15,000 bodily injury per person, $30,000 per accident, and $5,000 property damage. These are among the lowest minimum limits in the US and were set decades ago. California increased these limits to 30/60/15 effective January 1, 2025 — know the new limits for the exam.
What is the difference between a California property insurance policy and a casualty policy?
Property insurance covers physical damage to owned property (home, auto, business assets). Casualty insurance covers liability — the legal obligation to pay damages to third parties due to bodily injury or property damage you cause. Most personal lines policies combine both: a homeowners policy covers dwelling damage (property) and personal liability (casualty); an auto policy covers collision and comprehensive (property) and bodily injury/property damage liability (casualty).