---
title: "Daylight Saving Time & Driving Dangers: Protect Yourself this Spring"
description: "Driving during the first few weeks of the DST time change isn't fun - and it's dangerous. Make sure you're protected!"
canonical: "https://www.coveragecat.com/blog/daylight-saving-time-car-insurance"
last-updated: "2026-10-31"
---

# Daylight Saving Time & Driving Dangers: Protect Yourself this Spring

Even if you're ready for Winter to end, Spring brings its downsides, including the dreaded daylight saving time change.

## Did you wake up feeling especially exhausted this week? 

A 2020 study by Fritz et al. analyzed fatal U.S. motor-vehicle accidents from 1996 to 2017 and found a 6% increase in fatal crash risk associated with the spring DST transition. The researchers did not find the same effect after the fall transition, and the spring increase waned in the following week [(Fritz et al., "A Chronobiological Evaluation of the Acute Effects of Daylight Saving Time on Traffic Accident Risk", 2020)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32008905/).

That short window of elevated risk is a good reason to stay cautious behind the wheel and **a good time to make sure you're adequately protected by your insurance policies.**

## How does Daylight Saving Time affect driving patterns?

The spring transition moves the clock forward an hour, changing sleep timing and morning daylight. The researchers identified sleep loss and circadian misalignment as possible contributors to the increase in fatal crashes [Ibid.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32008905/).

## Why does insurance matter during DST?

No one wants to think about a crash or accident, but making sure you're financially protected on the road is like wearing a seatbelt: you don't think about it until you need it. One bad crash can end up costing you thousands of dollars in repairs, property damage, or medical bills. Unfortunately, many drivers don't know [what coverage they really need](https://www.coveragecat.com/insurance-types/car-insurance-recommendations). According to a 2025 Insurance Research Council study, about 15.4% of motorists were uninsured in 2023, more than one in seven [(Insurance Information Institute, "Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists", 2025)](https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists).

Make sure you're prepared with these tips.

### 1. Review Your Liability Limits

Start by comparing your current liability limits with the [minimum coverage](/insurance-types/minimum-car-insurance-requirements) your state requires.

[Liability coverage](/insurance-types/liability-car-insurance) can pay for covered bodily injury and property damage you cause to others, up to your policy's limits.

In California, standard auto policies must carry at least the following minimums, effective January 1, 2025. These are legal minimums, not a recommendation for every household. (The separate California Low Cost Auto program has different, lower limits.)

| Coverage | Minimum for Standard CA Auto Policies | How the Limit Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily Injury / Death | $30,000 | Per person |
| Bodily Injury / Death | $60,000 | Per accident |
| Property Damage | $15,000 | Per accident |

[(California Department of Insurance, "New Year Means New Changes for Insurance, Make Sure You are Protected", 2025)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0102-alerts/2025/New-Year-Means-New-Changes-for-Insurance.cfm)

**Car repairs and hospital bills can exceed these limits, so if you've just been carrying minimum insurance, it's time to re-evaluate.**

### 2. Evaluate Your Need for Collision, Comprehensive, and UM/UIM Coverage

If your car is leased or financed, your lender or lessor may require collision and comprehensive coverage. Review the following options alongside your liability coverage. Coverage details and exclusions depend on your policy [(Ibid., "Automobile Insurance", 2025)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/01-auto/auto101.cfm).

| Coverage | What It Covers | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Collision | Damage to your own car from a collision | Deductible amount; whether your lender or lessor requires it |
| Comprehensive | Covered non-collision losses such as theft, fire, or weather damage | Deductible amount; whether your lender or lessor requires it |
| Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UM/UIM BI) | Injury coverage when an at-fault driver has no or insufficient liability insurance | Policy limits and terms; bodily injury coverage does not pay for vehicle repairs |

Understanding [the different types of car insurance](https://www.coveragecat.com/insurance-types/types-of-car-insurance) can help you decide which coverages make sense for your situation.

### 3. Avoid Insurance Lapses

If you're moving or shopping after a renewal increase, check the effective date of your new policy before cancelling the old one. Confirm that the replacement coverage is in force and that the cancellation dates leave no gap. Ask your insurer about cancellation terms and any refund.

### 4. Cover All Household Drivers

If you share a home with anyone else who has access to your car, such as significant others, children, extended family, or roommates, disclose them to your insurer when you obtain or renew coverage. Ask who must be listed and how each person is covered. Check for excluded drivers before allowing someone to drive your vehicle [Ibid.](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/01-auto/auto101.cfm).

### 5. Compare Liability and Umbrella Limits as Your Exposures Change

Review your liability limits when your household's assets, drivers or properties change. A personal umbrella policy may pay covered liability claims and defense costs above your auto and home policy limits [(National Association of Insurance Commissioners, "What's an Umbrella Policy?", 2022)](https://content.naic.org/article/whats-umbrella-policy). Compare available limits, required underlying coverage and exclusions with an agent. You can learn more about typical costs in our [umbrella insurance cost guide](https://www.coveragecat.com/insurance-types/umbrella/typical-umbrella-insurance-costs-per-year).


Need help reviewing your car insurance this spring? [Compare insurance options with Coverage Cat.](https://www.coveragecat.com/intake)


Keep your coverage review alongside safe driving habits as the clocks change.