Non-owner car insurance in California: Best and cheapest companies

Which companies offer the cheapest non-owner car insurance in California?

The cheapest non-owner car insurance in California is from Kemper, with an average rate of $145. The second most affordable option in California is Auto Club Enterprises (AAA), with an average rate of $173.

The table below shows the most affordable non-owner car insurance companies in California.

Company	Average annual premium	Average monthly premium
Kemper	$145	$12
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)	$173	$14
Farmers	$215	$18
Mercury Insurance	$304	$25
Travelers	$371	$31
Nationwide	$376	$31
Progressive	$384	$32
GEICO	$391	$33
State Farm	$440	$37
USAA	$197	$16

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Best non-owner car insurance in California

While Farmers is the top choice, Travelers and GEICO are also great options for non-owner coverage.

To find the best non-owner car insurance companies in California, we looked at several factors, including how many complaints each company receives, financial stability and average rates. We used rate data from Quadrant Information Services as well as third-party ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

The table below shows a comparison of the best non-owner car insurance companies in California.

Company	Average annual premium	J.D. Power	NAIC	AM Best	Overall score
Farmers	$215	810	0.80	A	3.58
Travelers	$371	810	0.49	A++	3.41
GEICO	$391	830	0.91	A++	3.29
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)	$173	832	2.21	A+	3.24
State Farm	$440	826	0.70	A++	3.21
Nationwide	$376	794	0.64	A+	3.20
Progressive	$384	809	0.65	A+	3.18
Mercury Insurance	$304	794	0.84	A	3.09
Kemper Insurance	$145	736	2.16	A-	2.45

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Insurance.com's top choices for non-owner car insurance

Explore our top recommendations for non-owner car insurance in California.

Farmers

Our top choice for non-owner car insurance in California is Farmers, with an average rate of $215 for liability coverage. Farmers holds an AM Best rating of A and has an NAIC complaint ratio of 0.8.

Travelers

Another excellent choice for non-owner car insurance in California is Travelers. Average rates are $371 annually. Travelers has an AM Best rating of A++ and an NAIC complaint ratio of 0.49.

GEICO

Our third recommendation is GEICO, with average rates of $391. It has an NAIC complaint ratio of 0.91 and holds an AM Best rating of A++.

PEOPLE ASK:

Do I need California non-owner car insurance to drive a friend's car?

Probably not, unless you use the car a lot. If you only drive your friend's car occasionally, their insurance usually covers it under something called permissive use-as long as it's less than 12 times a year. Still, it's a good idea to check with your friend's insurance company just to be sure.

Average cost of non-owner car insurance in California

The average cost of non-owner car insurance in California is $299, but your rate will vary based on:

Your driving record
The coverage levels on your policy
Your ZIP code
Your age and gender
Your credit history

Non-owner car insurance in California by age and gender

Both your age and gender can affect your insurance rates, whether you're looking for non-owner or standard car insurance in California.

How it works:

Teen drivers pay the highest rates due to lack of experience and a statistically higher risk of a crash
Rates start to level out around the age of 25 and continue to drop
Drivers in their 50s pay the lowest average rates
After 65, rates increase, but not dramatically

Even in a state that bans the use of age and gender for car insurance rates, like California, your years of driving experience will still impact what you pay.

Below are the average non-owner car insurance rates in California by age and gender.

Age group	Female	Male
Teens (16-19)	$711	$710
Young Adults (20-24)	$420	$420
Adults (25-60)	$305	$305
Seniors (65-75)	$327	$326

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Do you need non-owner car insurance in California?

You may need non-owner car insurance if:

You frequently drive cars owned by others and want an extra layer of protection
You frequently rent cars
You need insurance to file an SR-22 in order to reinstate your license
You want to prevent a lapse in coverage while in between cars

You don't need a non-owner policy if:

You own and insure your own vehicle
You only drive cars owned by others occasionally
You drive a company car for which insurance is provided by your employer

Non-owner vs. traditional car insurance

Non-owner car insurance is typically cheaper than standard car insurance since coverage is minimal. Non-owner car insurance only includes liability coverage, while owner car insurance can include a lot more coverage.

For example, non-owner car insurance in California doesn't pay for damages to the car you're driving or any injuries you sustain. Owner car insurance can include collision and comprehensive coverage to pay for vehicle damages.

Insurance companies assume that people without a car drive less often, and because non-owner car insurance works as a backup to the owner's policy, the risk of a claimAn insurance claim is a request you make to your insurance company for coverage after your car is damaged or you have an accident. You can file a claim online, by phone, or in writing. is much lower.

The table below shows a comparison of average yearly rates for non-owner and standard car insurance.

Non-owners state minimum policy	$299
Traditional state minimum policy	$551
State minimum car insurance limits	15/30/5

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What does California non-owner car insurance cover?

A California non-owner car insurance policy provides only the basic coverage required to drive legally. It satisfies all the minimum car insurance requirements in California, but it won't cover any damage to the vehicle you're driving.

Non-owner car insurance is considered secondary coverage, meaning it only kicks in after the car owner's policy limits are exceeded.

The bottom line: Non-owner car insurance in California

California drivers may need non-owner car insurance for various reasons, such as renting or borrowing a car. However, this type of coverage typically only offers liability coverage to pay for property damage or bodily injuries you cause to others. Coverage does not extend to you or the vehicle you're driving.

Non-owner car insurance in California costs an average of $299, with Kemper offering the lowest rates. Our analysis found that Farmers is the best overall choice. Keep in mind that your age, gender and driving record play a significant role in determining your insurance rates.

Take the time to compare options to find the best non-owner car insurance in California. Use the tool above to easily compare non-owner insurance providers near you.

Methodology

170+

insurance companies analyzed

34,000+

ZIP codes examined

$53M

insurance quotes analyzed

Non-owner car insurance rates were fielded by Quadrant Data Services for a sample policy 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++.

FAQ: Non-owner car insurance in California

Do I need non-owner insurance to drive a friend's car in California?

No. If you are driving the car with permission, your friend's insurance will cover you. However, non-owner car insurance adds an extra layer of protection in case your friend's limits are exceeded.

Can I use non-owner insurance for Uber or delivery driving in California?

No. Non-owner car insurance is a personal car insurance policy that doesn't cover business use of any vehicle. The vehicle being used for ridesharing or deliveries must have the correct coverage.

Does non-owner insurance cover rental cars?

Yes. A non-owner policy will provide you with liability coverage in a rental car. However, it doesn't cover damage to the vehicle itself, only injuries and damage to others.