Cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers in California

Cheapest car insurance in California for a bad driving record

If you have a poor driving record in California, Mercury Insurance, GEICO, Progressive are the cheapest options. Mercury Insurance has the lowest annual rate at $3,182 per year.

Having accidents, DUIs or traffic tickets on your driving record, will make you pay more for insurance. Most tickets will affect your rates for three to five years. A DUI can affect your rates for up to 10 years and can stay on your record for life.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for high-risk driver
Mercury Insurance	$2,031	$3,182
GEICO	$1,919	$3,454
Progressive	$2,179	$3,848
Travelers	$2,460	$4,319
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)	$2,466	$5,224
CSAA Insurance (AAA)	$2,600	$5,736
State Farm	$2,701	$6,242
Nationwide	$2,799	$6,354
Allstate	$2,627	$6,477
Farmers	$3,035	$7,345
USAA	$1,827	$3,169

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How much is high-risk car insurance in California?

A problematic driving record or poor credit score may mean higher insurance rates, but affordable options exist. In California, high-risk car insurance costs $5,180 per year. However, you can get rates as low as $3,182 annually from Mercury Insurance.

Although you may be labeled high-risk for many reasons, some factors raise rates more than others. For example, multiple speeding tickets may significantly raise car insurance rates, but so can a single ticket for excessive speed in a school zone.

Read on as we explain high-risk car insurance factors and rates below.

Average annual car insurance rate for At-fault bodily injury accident in California, CA is $4,779

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Company	Annual premium for clean record	Annual premium after violation
Mercury Insurance	$2,031	$3,190
USAA	$1,827	$3,470
Progressive	$2,179	$3,600
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)	$2,466	$4,221
Travelers	$2,460	$4,590
GEICO	$1,919	$4,784
State Farm	$2,701	$5,242
CSAA Insurance (AAA)	$2,600	$5,287
Farmers	$3,035	$5,322
Nationwide	$2,799	$6,117
Allstate	$2,627	$7,240

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Average annual rate

PEOPLE ASK:

Who is considered high-risk for insurance in California?

Each insurance company has its own rules for deciding who is a high-risk driver. But usually, things like a DUI, several tickets or accidents, or serious violations like reckless driving will put you in the high-risk category.

Cheapest car insurance in California with a DUI

While many insurers offer coverage after a DUI, Mercury Insurance provides the average cheapest coverage for $3,616 annually.

A DUI is one of the most serious traffic violations to have on your record. Not only do you have to pay fines, but you'll also see vastly higher car insurance rates for up to 10 years. Multiple DUIs will cause your premiums to skyrocket.

The table below compares average car insurance rates with a clean driving record and rates after a DUI in California.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for a DUI
Mercury Insurance	$2,031	$3,616
GEICO	$1,919	$4,825
Travelers	$2,460	$5,250
Progressive	$2,179	$5,283
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)	$2,466	$7,730
Nationwide	$2,799	$8,024
CSAA Insurance (AAA)	$2,600	$9,392
State Farm	$2,701	$9,499
Allstate	$2,627	$10,478
Farmers	$3,035	$12,025
USAA	$1,827	$5,690

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Cheapest car insurance in California with multiple tickets

For drivers with multiple tickets, Mercury Insurance offers the lowest premiums, averaging $2,893 per year or $241 per month.

A single ticket can raise your car insurance premiums, but multiple tickets will push them even higher. Repeatedly violating speed limits and other traffic laws signals risky behavior, increasing the likelihood that insurers will have to pay claims.

This table shows drivers in California how much having multiple tickets can raise their insurance premiums.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium with a speeding ticket
Mercury Insurance	$2,031	$2,893
GEICO	$1,919	$2,994
CSAA Insurance (AAA)	$2,600	$3,299
Progressive	$2,179	$3,368
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)	$2,466	$3,553
Travelers	$2,460	$3,700
Allstate	$2,627	$3,808
State Farm	$2,701	$4,071
Farmers	$3,035	$4,224
Nationwide	$2,799	$5,241
USAA	$1,827	$2,230

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Cheapest car insurance in California with a reckless driving conviction

GEICO offers the most affordable rates for drivers with reckless driving convictions, averaging $3,466 per year.

Engaging in driving behaviors that put others at risk can lead to a reckless driving charge. A conviction for reckless driving results in higher car insurance rates.

The table below compares car insurance premiums for drivers with a clean record and those with a reckless driving conviction.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for reckless driving
GEICO	$1,919	$3,466
Mercury Insurance	$2,031	$3,616
Progressive	$2,179	$3,850
Travelers	$2,460	$5,250
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)	$2,466	$7,730
Nationwide	$2,799	$8,024
CSAA Insurance (AAA)	$2,600	$9,392
State Farm	$2,701	$9,499
Allstate	$2,627	$10,478
Farmers	$3,035	$12,025
USAA	$1,827	$3,465

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Cheapest car insurance after an accident in California

Mercury Insurance has the lowest rates after an accident at $3,563 a year. Progressive also has affordable rates at $3,600 a year.

Drivers with accidents on their record typically pay higher insurance rates than those with a clean record. While car insurance rates may increase after one accident, multiple accidents can increase rates even more.

This table shows rates for drivers with a clean record, one at-fault accident and multiple accidents.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for one at-fault accident	Annual premium for multiple accident
Mercury Insurance	$2,031	$3,563	$4,223
Progressive	$2,179	$3,600	$5,845
GEICO	$1,919	$3,876	$6,612
CSAA Insurance (AAA)	$2,600	$3,961	$6,037
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)	$2,466	$4,006	$5,357
Travelers	$2,460	$4,263	$5,079
State Farm	$2,701	$4,543	$7,444
Farmers	$3,035	$4,892	$8,453
Nationwide	$2,799	$5,301	$8,067
Allstate	$2,627	$6,275	$9,667
USAA	$1,827	$3,007	$4,370

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Cheapest car insurance in California by city

Portola has the cheapest car insurance rates in California at $4,400 per year. But the most expensive city is Los Angeles with rates of $6,754 per year.

Your location in California also matters. For example, if you live in an area with heavy traffic or a high vehicle theft rate, rates will reflect the increased chance of claims.

City	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for high-risk driver
Portola	$2,058	$4,400
San Diego	$2,324	$4,978
Temecula	$2,356	$5,049
Fresno	$2,385	$5,112
Sausalito	$2,407	$5,134
San Jose	$2,406	$5,147
Irvine	$2,502	$5,354
Hayward	$2,546	$5,466
Anaheim	$2,572	$5,529
Vallejo	$2,608	$5,602
Long Beach	$2,681	$5,750
Sacramento	$2,665	$5,772
San Francisco	$2,777	$5,967
Oakland	$2,802	$5,995
Los Angeles	$3,149	$6,754

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How to reduce car insurance rates in California for a bad driving record

Finding affordable car insurance in California is possible, even with a bad driving record. Ways to lower car insurance rates include:

Where you live in California also affects car insurance rates. For example, if you live in a high-traffic or high-theft area, rates will increase because your vehicle is more likely to be damaged or stolen.

Carefully consider filing claims. Paying for minor damage out of pocket may be cheaper than filing an insurance claim and increasing rates for years.
Avoid costly infractions. Drive carefully to avoid adding traffic infractions to your record. Tickets only affect insurance rates for a few years, which will decrease if more tickets aren't added.
Improve your credit score. Raising your credit score lowers car insurance rates. Make on-time payments and consider credit usage to improve your rating.
Take a defensive driving course. Many insurance companies offer a discount for doing so, and some states remove driver's license points for successfully completing the class.
Shop around for coverage. Every car insurance company weighs factors differently and offers different rates. Compare quotes to find the cheapest rates.

PEOPLE ASK:

How long are you considered a high-risk driver in California?

Three years is common, but how long you are considered a high-risk driver in California depends on the insurance company's guidelines. The state determines how long a violation stays on your record, but the insurance company determines how long you're charged for that violation.

California car insurance laws for high-risk drivers

If you're a high-risk driver in California, you might need to file an SR-22. This is a form that your car insurance company sends in to show you have the required minimum insurance coverage. The court will let you know how long you need to keep the SR-22.

An SR-22 isn't a type of insurance; it's just a form. You don't need special coverage, but your rates might be higher because you're considered high-risk. Also, not all insurance companies offer coverage for high-risk drivers or handle SR-22 filings.

Methodology

170+

insurance companies analyzed

34,000+

ZIP codes examined

$53M

insurance quotes analyzed

National and state average rates are based on three coverage levels: state minimum, 50/100/50 liability-only, and full coverage with 100/300/100 liability and $500 deductibles.

All base rate averages are based on our full coverage data set. This data set is based on:

A 40-year-old driver
A clean record
Good credit
State minimum insurance, which includes liability coverage and may also include personal injury protection, medical payments and uninsured motorist coverage

Best company rankings use the rate data outline above, as well as:

Customer complaints ratios from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaints database, where a score of 1.00 is considered the baseline and anything below is a low complaint volume while anything above is considered a high volume.
Overall customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power's U.S. Auto Insurance Study, where companies are scored out of 1,000.
AM Best financial ratings were used to indicate financial stability, where the best possible score is A++.