Balber acknowledged that a bulletin Lara sent in 2020 resulted in auto-premium refunds to California drivers who had to stop driving because of pandemic lockdowns, though she said “a lot of money was left on the table.” Lara asked insurers for additional refunds the next year and continues to pursue them, Soller said Friday, adding that the amount refunded has now reached $2.6 billion, with $200 million returned to drivers since 2021.