- Average cost of car insurance in California
- Best car insurance companies in California: Geico
- Cheapest car insurance companies in California: Geico
- California car insurance requirements
- Cheapest car insurance companies for minimum liability coverage in California
- Cheapest car insurance cost in California by age
- Cheapest car insurance companies in California by driver profile
- Compare auto insurance rates by city in California
- Car insurance premium trends in California
- Methodology
- Compare California car insurance rates with other states
Average cost of car insurance in California
The average car insurance rate in California is $2,416 a year for a full coverage policy with a coverage level of 100/300/100 for a driver age 40, according to a rate analysis by Insurance.com. For the state minimum coverage, the average annual cost in California is $551.
The California Department of Insurance says...
California's Low Cost Automobile Program (CLCA) was established by the Legislature in 1999 and exists pursuant to California Insurance Code Section 11629.7 as a program designed to provide income eligible persons with liability insurance protection at affordable rates as a way to meet California's financial responsibility laws.
- The California Department of InsuranceBest car insurance companies in California: Geico
Geico is the best car insurance company in California, based on an analysis by Insurance.com, with an overall rating of 4.02. Progressive came second.
Below is a full list of the top California insurance companies based on price, NAIC complaint ratio and AM Best financial ratings. The total Insurance.com score is calculated out of five using these factors.
| Company | AM Best | JD Power | NAIC | Insurance.com score | Average annual premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | A++ | 830 | 0.91 | 4.02 | $1,919 |
| Progressive | A+ | 809 | 0.65 | 3.69 | $2,179 |
| Travelers | A++ | 810 | 0.49 | 3.65 | $2,460 |
| State Farm | A++ | 826 | 0.7 | 3.47 | $2,701 |
| Mercury Insurance | A | 794 | 0.84 | 3.47 | $2,031 |
| Allstate | A+ | 816 | 0.65 | 3.35 | $2,627 |
| CSAA Insurance (AAA) | A | 822 | 0.75 | 3.28 | $2,600 |
| Nationwide | A+ | 794 | 0.64 | 3.2 | $2,799 |
| Farmers | A | 810 | 0.8 | 2.91 | $3,035 |
| Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) | A+ | 832 | 2.21 | 2.89 | $2,466 |
| Kemper Insurance | A- | 736 | 2.16 | 2.05 | $2,429 |
Cheapest car insurance companies in California: Geico
Don't just go with the first insurer you come across. Comparison shopping is the key when it comes to finding the best deal on auto insurance. Get quotes from several different insurers and compare their rates. You may be surprised at how much difference there can be in rates from one company to another.
We have gathered price quotes from all the major insurance providers in California and put together a list of the cheapest car insurance companies. Based on a rate analysis by Insurance.com, Geico is the cheapest auto insurance company in California with average annual rates of $1,919 annually. USAA offers cheaper rates if you are eligible.
| Company | State minimum liability | 50/100/50 liability | 100/300/100 liability with $500 deductible |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | $410 | $653 | $1,827 |
| Geico | $367 | $591 | $1,919 |
| Mercury Insurance | $458 | $766 | $2,031 |
| Progressive | $433 | $637 | $2,179 |
| Kemper Insurance | $492 | $803 | $2,429 |
| Travelers | $629 | $954 | $2,460 |
| Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) | $623 | $974 | $2,466 |
| CSAA Insurance (AAA) | $457 | $627 | $2,600 |
| Allstate | $717 | $1,104 | $2,627 |
| State Farm | $569 | $900 | $2,701 |
| Nationwide | $712 | $1,123 | $2,799 |
| Farmers | $774 | $1,280 | $3,035 |
*USAA offers car insurance only to military members, veterans and their families.
California car insurance requirements
The minimum car insurance required in California is 15/30/5. The average cost of the state minimum liability insurance is $551 a year, or $46 per month.
Minimum liability insurance requirements for California:
- Bodily injury liability (BI): $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident
- Property damage liability (PD): $5000 per accident
Cheapest car insurance companies for minimum liability coverage in California
Insurance.com data show that Geico offers the most affordable state minimum liability coverage, costing an average of $367, or $31 a month.
The table below shows the cheapest car insurance companies for minimum coverage in California.
| Company | Liability insurance premium | Monthly liability insurance premium |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $367 | $31 |
| USAA* | $410 | $34 |
| Progressive | $436 | $36 |
| CSAA Insurance (AAA) | $458 | $38 |
| Mercury Insurance | $458 | $38 |
| Kemper Insurance | $505 | $42 |
| State Farm | $581 | $48 |
| Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) | $623 | $52 |
| Travelers | $652 | $54 |
| Allstate | $735 | $61 |
| Nationwide | $740 | $62 |
| Farmers | $801 | $67 |
*USAA offers coverage only to military veterans and their family
Cheapest car insurance cost in California by age
In California, car insurance rates are higher for teenagers (16- to 19-year-olds) as they are more prone to accidents due to their lack of experience on the road.
Geico offers the cheapest car insurance for teen drivers in California at $4,836 per year for a full coverage policy. USAA offers cheaper rates if you are eligible.
Car insurance rates will decrease as teens age and keep a good driving record. Car insurance rates for adults 25+ and seniors 60+ are lower than those for teens and young adults.
In California, Geico offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance for adult drivers (25-60 year-olds) and senior drivers (60-75 year-olds) at $1,937 per year and $1,935 per year, respectively. USAA offers cheaper rates if you are eligible.
Select your age group and age below to see the insurance company and its Compare car insurance rates by age
average annual and average monthly premium rates.USAA $4,404 $367 Geico $5,503 $459 Travelers $5,701 $475 State Farm $5,770 $481 Mercury Insurance $6,050 $504 Allstate $6,486 $541 Progressive $6,931 $578 Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) $6,963 $580 Farmers $7,373 $614 Kemper Insurance $9,116 $760 CSAA Insurance (AAA) $11,477 $956 Nationwide $12,495 $1,041
*USAA offers car insurance only to military members, veterans and their families.
Cheapest car insurance companies in California by driver profile
Accidents and tickets can negatively affect car insurance rates. Drivers who have accidents or tickets are considered a higher risk and will pay more.
However, the severity and frequency of the incidents will also play a role in the insurance rates. For instance, drivers with a single minor accident may see a smaller increase in their rates compared to those with multiple major accidents.
Below are average California rates by company for drivers with accidents and tickets on their driving record.
| Company | Clean record | Accident | Speeding ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | $1,827 | $3,007 | $2,230 |
| Mercury Insurance | $2,031 | $3,563 | $2,893 |
| Geico | $1,919 | $3,876 | $2,994 |
| CSAA Insurance (AAA) | $2,600 | $3,961 | $3,299 |
| Progressive | $2,179 | $3,600 | $3,368 |
| Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) | $2,466 | $4,005 | $3,552 |
| Travelers | $2,460 | $4,263 | $3,700 |
| Allstate | $2,627 | $6,275 | $3,808 |
| State Farm | $2,701 | $4,543 | $4,071 |
| Farmers | $3,035 | $4,892 | $4,224 |
| Nationwide | $2,799 | $5,302 | $5,241 |
*USAA offers car insurance only to military members, veterans and their families.
*USAA offers car insurance only to military members, veterans and their families.
Compare auto insurance rates by city in California
Auto insurance rates in your city can differ significantly from the state average due to factors such as population density, increased instances of auto theft or accidents, and a few other factors. It's best to compare quotes from various insurance providers to find the most competitive rates for your specific city in California.
| City | Annual insurance premium |
|---|---|
Hayward | $2,546 |
Irvine | $2,502 |
Los Angeles | $3,149 |
Sacramento | $2,665 |
San Diego | $2,324 |
San Jose | $2,406 |
Temecula | $2,356 |
Car insurance premium trends in California
Car insurance average rates increase most years and various factors contribute to these changes, including shifts in economic conditions, changes in state laws, and the number and severity of insurance claims.
That's why it's important to keep track of car insurance premiums to make better decisions. The graph below shows how insurance rates in California have increased or decreased from 2020 to 2023.
Whether you're planning to renew your policy with your current insurer or looking for a new one, this analysis is invaluable for making informed insurance choices.
Methodology
Insurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services in 2023 to field rates from major insurers in every state across most ZIP codes. Driver profile: male, age 40, driving a 2023 Honda Accord LX with full coverage of 100/300/100 with comprehensive and collision; $500 deductible.
The car insurance rates for drivers with accidents and tickets are averaged based on rates for the following accidents and tickets:
Accidents:
- 1 at-fault property damage accident over $2k
- 1 at-fault property damage accident under $2k
- At-fault bodily injury accident
- Single vehicle accident
Tickets:
- Distracted driving ticket
- Speeding ticket 1- 10 MPH over limit
- Speeding ticket 11- 29 MPH over limit
- Talking on cellphone ticket
- Texting ticket
Insurance.com analyzed rates from more than 34,000 ZIP codes, 56 million quotes, and 136 companies. Rates sourced from Quadrant Data Services are for comparison purposes only; your rates may differ.
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