Driving to California: Tips, Tricks, and Laws

Before you drive to California, you should plan out a fantastic route, aim to miss traffic, and learn a little bit about the state’s laws.
Written by Samuel Todd
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
California
has a convenient network of toll roads that can help you avoid bumpy streets and heavy traffic—but driving in California isn’t all smooth sailing.
There’s no doubt about it: the Golden State offers some of the best road trips in America, with its beautiful scenic drives and bustling cities. Unfortunately, California also has some of the worst traffic in the nation. Couple that with a whirlwind of complicated driving laws, and you’ve got a perfect storm of confusion and frustration.
Here to unpack California’s driving laws (and share some killer road-tripping tips!) is
Jerry
—the
trustworthy super app
built to save you money on
car insurance
. We’ll give you the inside scoop on the state’s road conditions, how to avoid traffic, and which laws you need to know to make your trip to California as fun-filled and stress-free as can be.
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The best routes for driving to California

Whether you hail from the Northeast or you’re cruising up the California coast from
Texas
, we’ll help you find a fantastic route for your journey. Here are some popular ones:
  • New York City—San Francisco (46 hours): Nothing beats a coast-to-coast voyage from the Empire State to the Golden State. Better have your
    road trip playlist
    ready, because this cross-country trek will take several days!
  • Austin—Los Angeles (21 hours): How about a windows-down, armadillo-dodging odyssey down Interstate 10? This trip from the musical heart of Texas to the City of Angels will be unforgettable.
  • Seattle—Monterey (14 hours): Every person should joyride down the Pacific coast at least once in their lifetime—and what better place to finish than a seaside city with a world-class aquarium?
  • Denver—Sacramento: (18 hours): Finally, if you’re interested in a bit of national park-hopping, the capital of California has easy access to parks that are perfect for
    Colorado
    adventurers.
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How good are California’s roads?

Though California spends plenty of taxpayer money on road maintenance, the state still has some of the
worst roads in America
. When you couple that with the sky-high gas prices on the western coast, you’ve got a recipe for financial disaster.
Of course, if you’re able to avoid the state’s pothole hotspots (for example, San Francisco and Los Angeles), you’ll be treated to some comfortable, scenic driving.

Does California have toll roads?

Yes! It’s not all doom and gloom—California has a network of toll roads that make navigating the city much easier, especially in
Los Angeles
and the Bay Area. 
If you’re planning on hanging out in Cali for a while, you should
sign up for Fastrak
, which works for every toll road in the state. Though the exact toll varies, you can expect to pay between $2 and $5 for most roads.

How bad is California traffic?

Traffic is another area where California leaves something to be desired: it consistently ranks as one of the most congested states in the country.
So, which cities have the worst traffic? You guessed it:
If you’re driving to California as part of a road trip, aim to miss rush hour in the urban areas! Make it a smooth weekend drive if you can—or slip through the major cities before 6 am or after 7 pm to avoid heavy traffic.
Key Takeaway California has some of the worst roads in the nation. You can steer clear of potholes and traffic by using toll roads and avoiding rush hour.
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What are California’s speeding laws?

California has three types of speed limits: basic speed limits, maximum speed limits, and presumed speed limits. Let’s take a look at what each one means and what fines you’ll face for breaking it.
  • Basic speed limits: You should drive at a safe speed given the context. So, 60 mph might be safe during a sunny day, but it could be considered reckless during a midnight snowstorm.
  • Maximum speed limits: You can’t drive faster than the posted speed. These are super simple—if the sign says 70, you’re speeding if you go higher than 70!
  • Presumed speed limits: These are blanket speed limits that you should follow: for example, 15 mph at a railroad crossing or 25 mph in a school zone. If you break the presumed speed limit, you aren’t automatically guilty—you’ll get a chance to explain why your speed was safe.
MORE: How long does a speeding ticket stay on your record?

Fines for speeding in California

If you’re driving under 100 mph:
  • $35 for going 1-15 mph over
  • $70 for going 16-25 mph over
  • $100 for going 26+ over
If you’re driving over 100 mph:
  • For your first offense, a $500 fine and possible license suspension
  • For your second offense, a $750 fine and three-month license suspension
  • For your third offense, a $1,000 fine and a year-long license suspension
Remember,
points stay on your record after a speeding ticket
for quite a while and cause your car insurance payments to jump! If you want to keep your monthly payment low, give
Jerry
a try. Our insurance shopping super app will get you the best rates on the market in a blink of an eye.

What are California’s alcohol laws?

California’s alcohol laws are a bit easier to keep track of: you can’t drive with a BAC that’s higher than 0.08% (for adults), 0.04% (for commercial drivers), or 0.01% (if you’re under 21).
It’s important to keep in mind that even one drink impairs your ability to drive—so it’s best to get a ride home, no matter how much you’ve had to drink! For a full breakdown of BAC laws,
check out this chart
from California’s DMV.
Okay the
California DUI Laws
make sense—but what about
open container laws in California
? Under California law, it’s illegal to drive with an open container of alcohol in the car. However, you can carry alcohol in your car as long as the container is full, sealed, and unopened.
Alcohol violations—
especially DUIs
—have severe consequences, including fines, license suspensions, and possible jail time. So, if you’re rolling through Cali on a road trip, stay committed to safe and alcohol-free driving! 

Can you use headphones while driving in California?

Under
California’s Vehicle Code
, you cannotwear headphones in both ears while driving. You can wear a device in one ear, though—so an earbud or Bluetooth headset should be fine.
As with most rules, there are a few exceptions, for:
  • Emergency workers
  • Construction or maintenance workers
  • Equipment operators (e.g. waste collection)
  • People who need ear protection or prosthetic devices for a medical condition

What are some of California’s best road trips?

Whew! Now that we’re done with the law books, it’s time to break out the road maps and nav apps. If you’re driving to or through Cali anytime soon, but you haven’t decided on a route, check out our article on the
seven best California road trips
.
From the alluring cruise down Highway 1 to the 400-mile trek from LA to Mammoth Lakes, our list has everything an aspiring road-tripper could need. Heck, if you’re in the mood for something a little nerve-rattling, we’ve got that too—in our breakdown of the best spots for a haunted California road trip.

How to find affordable car insurance in California

If you do run into Cali’s notorious rush hour traffic, you’ll want to be protected with some excellent insurance.
Jerry
, our
car insurance
shopping super app, will get you the best rates and give you peace of mind while you’re driving—even on those eight-lane superhighways!
Here’s all you need to do: download Jerry’s top-rated and
trustworthy super app
, sign up in less than a minute, then tap your favorite policy from Jerry’s recommendations. We’ll take it from there, helping to cancel your old policy and get you off on the right foot with your new one.
The best part? The savings are real! The average Jerry driver saves $887 on car insurance without sacrificing a shred of coverage.
Jerry
has amazing communication! And even better deals! Thanks to Jerry, I went from $327 to $182 on my payments. I’m so grateful!” —Kim T. 

FAQs

The combination of poor road conditions and lots of traffic makes driving in Los Angeles or San Francisco pretty stressful. On the flipside, Napa and Palm Springs have more to offer than just wine and hot springs—they’re also a joy to drive in.
The north-south road trip through California covers 850 miles in about 14 hours. If you want to stop at the scenic overlooks on the way, plan to make the trip in two or three days.
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