How much do people really know about car insurance? Not a whole lot, it turns out, considering how expensive and important it is.

Few drivers have escaped the pain of soaring insurance premiums over the past two years. But the worst may still lie ahead for many in California, where sharply higher minimum coverage requirements take effect in January and insurers are still playing catch-up with rate hikes after decades of lagging behind due to regulatory hurdles.

American drivers, especially the young and women, are struggling with a staggering rise in car insurance premiums over the past couple of years, according to the results of a new survey conducted by Jerry.