Cal. Codes » Vehicle Code / DIVISION 9. CIVIL LIABILITY / CHAPTER 1. Civil Liability of Owners and Operators of Vehicles / ARTICLE 2. Private Owners
California Codes

Cal. Vehicle Code § 17150 (2026)

Private Owners

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Every owner of a motor vehicle is liable and responsible for death or injury to person or property resulting from a negligent or wrongful act or omission in the operation of the motor vehicle, in the business of the owner or otherwise, by any person using or operating the same with the permission, express or implied, of the owner.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 67 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1961–2026 · leading case: Castro v. Budget Rent-A-Car Sys., Inc., 154 Cal. App. 4th 1162 (Cal. Ct. App. 2007).
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Castro v. Budget Rent-A-Car Sys., Inc., 154 Cal. App. 4th 1162 (Cal. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 3× “(Veh. Code, §§ 17150, 17151, subd. (a).) 13 We therefore assume, for purposes of analysis, that the application of Alabama law to this case would result in a finding that Budget has no liability, whereas the application of California law could result in a finding that Budget is…”
Rayii v. Gatica, 218 Cal. App. 4th 1402 (Cal. Ct. App. 2013). “) Vehicle Code section 17150 states, “Every owner of a motor vehicle is liable and responsible for death or injury to person or property resulting from a negligent or wrongful act or omission in the operation of the motor vehicle, in the business of the owner or otherwise, by…”
Rashtian v. Brac-BH, Inc., 9 Cal. App. 4th 1847 (Cal. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 3× “We conclude that the provisions of Proposition 51 do not operate to reduce the liability of vehicle owners imposed by Vehicle Code section 17150.”
Miller v. Stouffer, 9 Cal. App. 4th 70 (Cal. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 2× “Gregory was found liable under the permissive user statute (Veh. Code, §§ 17150, 17151) and faced a judgment of $15,000 in compensatory damages plus costs.”
Campbell v. Sec. Pac. Nat'l Bank, 62 Cal. App. 3d 379 (Cal. Ct. App. 1976). · cites it 3× “The court granted the motion on the grounds that the Bank’s contract with Adjusters established the relationship of independent contractor, and the Bank, as a matter of law, was not liable as an owner for permissive use of the car (Veh. Code, § 17150). Thereafter, Campbell…”
Hegyes v. Unjian Enter., Inc., 234 Cal. App. 3d 1103 (Cal. Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 2× “By example, Vehicle Code section 17150 provides that an owner is responsible for the negligent operation of his or her vehicle that causes injury or death to a person or property.”
Lindgren v. Baker Eng'g Corp., 197 Cal. App. 3d 1351 (Cal. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 4× “This is in no way prejudicial to the rights of the injured party as far as the collection of this joint liability of owner and operator is concerned.”
Taylor v. Roseville Toyota, Inc., 138 Cal. App. 4th 994 (Cal. Ct. App. 2006). “In this regard, Vehicle Code section 17150 (section 17150) provides: “Every owner of a motor vehicle is liable and responsible for death or injury to person or property resulting from a negligent or wrongful act or omission in the operation of the motor vehicle, in the business…”
Lopez v. Blecher, 143 Cal. App. 3d 736 (Cal. Ct. App. 1983). · cites it 2× “) The rights and obligations of Lopez, the permissive owner of a vehicle involved in an accident, are determined by statute—Vehicle Code sections 17150 through 17158.”
Srithong v. Total Inv. Co., 23 Cal. App. 4th 721 (Cal. Ct. App. 1994). “) 6 Vehicle Code section 17150 makes an owner of a motor vehicle liable for injuries caused by another’s negligent operation of that vehicle if the person so operating the vehicle is operating it with the owner’s express or implied permission.”
Wright v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Companies, 11 Cal. App. 4th 998 (Cal. Ct. App. 1992). “(Veh. Code, §§ 17150, 17151.) The judgment provided that any sums paid to the Wrights on behalf of Overlie under the judgment against him were to be credited to the judgment against Rose.”
Fahey v. Gledhill, 663 P.2d 197 (Cal. 1983). · cites it 2× “(Veh. Code, §§ 17150, 17151.) [3] Restatement Second of Contracts section 195, subdivision (2)(b) provides that an agreement exempting a person from liability for negligence is invalid if the provision "exempts one charged with a duty of public service from liability to one whom…”
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