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

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

Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) has the cheapest non-owner car insurance in California at an average annual premiumThe payment required for an insurance policy to remain in force. Auto insurance premiums are quoted for either 6-month or annual policy periods. of $269. Farmers is the second-cheapest insurer at $339 per year, although rates vary significantly between companies.

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

Company	Average annual premium	Average monthly premium
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)	$269	$22
Farmers	$339	$28
Progressive	$476	$40
Mercury Insurance	$492	$41
GEICO	$564	$47
Nationwide	$609	$51
State Farm	$802	$67

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Best non-owner car insurance in California

Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) is the best non-owner car insurance company in California based on cost, customer complaints and financial strength ratings. Progressive and GEICO are also strong choices for drivers looking for affordable liability coverage.

To identify the best non-owner car insurance companies in California, we considered several key factors, such as the number of customer complaints, financial strength, and average premium rates. Our analysis used rate data from Quadrant Information Services, along with third-party ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

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

Company	Average annual premium	J.D. Power	NAIC	A.M Best	Overall score
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)	$269	676	1.29	A+	4.42
Progressive	$476	638	0.60	A+	4.21
GEICO	$564	644	0.60	A++	4.18
Farmers	$339	599	1.24	A	3.60
Nationwide	$609	586	0.64	A	3.42
Mercury Insurance	$492	594	1.07	A	3.39
State Farm	$802	635	0.87	B	2.97

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

Take a closer look at our top picks for non-owner car insurance in California

Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)

Our number one pick for non-owner car insurance in California is Auto Club Enterprises (AAA). The average rate for liability coverage is $269. Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) has an AM Best score of A+ and an NAIC complaint ratio of 1.29.

Progressive

Progressive is also a great choice for non-owner car insurance in California, offering coverage at an average annual rate of $476. It has earned an AM Best rating of A+ and maintains a low NAIC complaint ratio of 0.60.

GEICO

Our third recommendation is GEICO, with average rates of $564. It has an NAIC complaint ratio of 0.60 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 $500 per year. Your rate depends on several personal and location-based factors.

Your rate will vary based on:

Your driving record
The coverage levels on your policy
Your ZIP code

Non-owner car insurance in California by age and gender

Teen drivers and younger motorists usually pay the highest premiums because insurers consider them higher risk. Rates generally decrease after age 25, remain lowest for drivers in their 50s and may increase slightly after age 65.

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	Male	Female
Teens (16-19)	$1,112	$1,112
Young Adults (20-24)	$673	$673
Adults (25-60)	$507	$507
Seniors (65-75)	$540	$540

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Do you need non-owner car insurance in California?

You may need non-owner car insurance in California if you frequently borrow or rent cars, need to file an SR-22, or want to maintain continuous coverage. However, it's unnecessary if you already own a vehicle or only drive occasionally.

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 costs less than standard car insurance because it provides minimal coverage. It only includes liability coverage, while standard auto insurance offers many additional types of coverage.

For example, non-owner car insurance in California doesn't cover damage to the car you're driving or your injuries. Standard car insurance may include collision and comprehensive coverage to help pay for car repairs.

Additionally, since insurance companies expect that people without a car will drive less often and because non-owner car insurance serves as secondary coverage to the vehicle owner's policy, the overall 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 liability only	$500
Traditional state minimum policy	$897
State minimum car insurance limits	30/60/15

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What does California non-owner car insurance cover?

Non-owner car insurance in California covers liability claims when you cause an accident in a borrowed or rented vehicle and other state-required coverage. Liability coverage pays for injuries and property damage caused to others.

This coverage may include:

Bodily injury liability
Property damage liability

However, it does not cover:

Damage to the car you are driving
Theft or vandalism

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 $500 per year. Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) offers the cheapest average premium at $269. Based on our analysis of rates, complaint data and financial strength, Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) is the best overall insurer for non-owner coverage in California.

Be sure to compare your options to find the best non-owner car insurance in California. You can use the tool above to quickly and easily compare non-owner insurance providers in your area.

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 have permission to drive the vehicle, the owner's insurance policy will normally cover you. However, if accident costs exceed the policy limits, non-owner insurance can provide additional liability protection.

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

No. Non-owner car insurance does not cover commercial driving activities such as Uber, Lyft or food delivery services. Drivers using vehicles for rideshare or delivery work need commercial or rideshare insurance coverage that specifically includes business-related driving risks.

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.