Just wondering that if I rent a car in CA without any auto insurance, am I covered to the minimum state mandated limits (3rd party liability, property damage, etc.) without purchasing anything from the rental agency? Do they ask for proof of insurance? I'm not asking about SLI or anything just basic liability insurance.

Also, does the Amex and CDW coverage automatically kick in if I don't have primary insurance? I know these programs are supposed to act as secondary insurers but what happens if I don't have any primary insurance?

Can't find the answer to these questions on the Web at all.

Thanks.