Key Takeaways
- GEICO offers the cheapest car insurance for a typical adult driver in California with a clean record.
- The average rate of full-coverage auto insurance is less than half the national average.
- A DUI nearly triples the cost of car insurance for California drivers.
In this article
Cheapest car insurance companies in California
Our analysis of more than 300,000 car insurance quotes for drivers across the state shows that the following companies offer the cheapest car insurance in California.
Cheapest overall: GEICO
Cheapest for drivers with a ticket or accident: CSAA
Cheapest for drivers with a DUI: Mercury
In addition to the lowest full-coverage rates for typical adults with a clean record, GEICO is also cheapest for married drivers and seniors. In California, GEICO is only available online or through its smartphone app.
CSAA’s rates are among the lowest for most driver profiles in our analysis.
CSAA is only available to AAA members in Northern California. Auto Club insurance is available to AAA members in Southern California. AAA memberships begin at $54 a year in Southern California and $60 a year in Northern California.
Along with offering the lowest rates for drivers with a DUI, Mercury’s rates are below the state average for many other driver profiles.
As you shop for car insurance, it’s best to compare quotes from multiple companies to make sure you are getting the best rate.
California’s minimum state car insurance requirements
California requires all vehicle owners and drivers to carry liability insurance, although alternatives such as posting a bond or cash deposit with the state are available.
California's minimum insurance requirements:
| Coverage | Minimum required limit |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $15,000 per person/$30,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $5,000 |
| Source: California Department of Insurance | |
When you purchase car insurance in California, you can choose liability limits that exceed the state’s minimum requirements and/or also add the following coverages to your policy:
- Collision: Covers damage to your vehicle, typically from an accident you cause.
- Comprehensive: Covers theft of your vehicle or damage to it from any cause other than a collision.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist: Covers injuries you and/or your passengers suffer in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist, as well as up to $3,500 in vehicle damage.
- Medical payments: Covers injuries you and/or your passengers suffer in a car accident, regardless of fault.
- Guaranteed asset protection (GAP): If you’re upside down in your financing and total your car, GAP covers the difference between your loan balance and insurance settlement.
- Towing and road service: Terms vary by insurance company.
- Rental reimbursement: Covers car rental fees while your vehicle is in the shop for covered repairs, such as after an accident.
Cheapest minimum-coverage auto insurance in California: CSAA and GEICO
The average cost of minimum-coverage car insurance in California is $69 per month, or $828 per year.
CSAA and GEICO tie for cheapest minimum-coverage auto insurance in California, each charging rates that average $51 a month statewide.
Liability insurance covers the costs of other people’s medical treatment and car repairs from an accident you cause. In California, a minimum-coverage policy does not cover injuries or damage to you or your own vehicle.
If the costs of treating injuries or repairing damage you cause exceed your liability limits, you may have to tap into your savings or other assets to cover the shortfall. This is why it’s best to choose liability limits that match or exceed your net worth.
Get cheap car insurance in California
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in California: GEICO
GEICO and Progressive offer the cheapest full-coverage car insurance in California, charging rates that average $125 a month and $140 a month, respectively.
The average price of full-coverage car insurance in California is $157 a month. This is 57% less than the national average of $369 a month.
Full-coverage car insurance includes liability limits that exceed the state’s minimum requirements, as well as collision coverage and comprehensive coverage.
Although collision and comprehensive are not required by state law, both are typically required for car loans and leases.
| Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| GEICO | $125 |
| Progressive | $140 |
| CSAA | $145 |
| Allstate | $149 |
| State average | $157 |
| Auto Club | $160 |
| Mercury | $164 |
| State Farm | $170 |
| Farmers | $200 |
| Rates are for full-coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old male with a good driving record. | |
Cheapest car insurance for California drivers with a prior incident
CSAA and GEICO offer the cheapest car insurance to California drivers with a prior ticket or accident, while Mercury and GEICO offer the cheapest rates to drivers with a DUI.
Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket: CSAA
In California, a speeding ticket raises the average price of full-coverage car insurance by 48% to $232 a month.
| Company | Monthly rate (full coverage) |
|---|---|
| CSAA | $183 |
| GEICO | $196 |
| Allstate | $213 |
| Mercury | $217 |
| State average | $232 |
| Auto Club | $238 |
| State Farm | $261 |
| Progressive | $268 |
| Farmers | $282 |
| Rates are for full-coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old male with one speeding ticket on his driving record. | |
Cheapest for drivers with an at-fault accident: CSAA
The average price of full-coverage car insurance for a California driver with a prior accident is $163 a month. This is 68% higher than the rate available to drivers with a clean record.
| Company | Monthly rate (full coverage) |
|---|---|
| CSAA | $183 |
| GEICO | $229 |
| Auto Club | $242 |
| State average | $263 |
| State Farm | $271 |
| Farmers | $282 |
| Mercury | $286 |
| Progressive | $291 |
| Allstate | $317 |
| Rates are for full-coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old male with one at-fault accident on his driving record. | |
Cheapest for drivers with a DUI: Mercury
A DUI raises the average price of full-coverage car insurance for California to $433 a month, which is more than two-and-a-half times the rate available to a driver with a clean record.
Mercury’s average rate for drivers with a DUI is 66% higher than its price for those with a clean record.
| Company | Monthly rate (full coverage) |
|---|---|
| Mercury | $272 |
| GEICO | $318 |
| Progressive | $336 |
| Farmers | $353 |
| State average | $433 |
| Auto Club | $490 |
| CSAA | $519 |
| Allstate | $572 |
| State Farm | $602 |
| Rates are for full-coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old male with one DUI on his driving record. | |
Compare quotes from top car insurance companies
Cheapest car insurance for senior drivers: GEICO
GEICO, Progressive and CSAA have the lowest rates for senior citizen drivers.
In California, auto insurance rates for seniors are on par with those for drivers in their 40s and 50s. However, since seniors have slightly higher accident rates than middle-aged drivers, some insurance companies may increase your rates as you reach your retirement years.
If you’re a senior driver, you may qualify for an auto insurance discount by completing a mature-driver safety class, in person or online. It’s best to find out which classes your insurance company approves before you enroll in the class.
| Company | Monthly rate (full coverage) |
|---|---|
| GEICO | $125 |
| Progressive | $140 |
| CSAA | $145 |
| Allstate | $149 |
| State average | $157 |
| Auto Club | $160 |
| Mercury | $164 |
| State Farm | $170 |
| Farmers | $200 |
| Rates are for full-coverage car insurance for a 60-year-old male with a clean driving record. | |
Cheapest car insurance for young drivers
CSAA and Mercury have the cheapest car insurance for young drivers in California, while State Farm and GEICO offer the lowest full-coverage rates to teens.
Teens are charged the highest car insurance rates among all age groups, because they have the highest crash rates. Young drivers typically get a lower rate on car insurance when added to a parent’s policy than they do on their own.
| Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| CSAA | $148 |
| Mercury | $149 |
| GEICO | $153 |
| State Farm | $156 |
| State Average | $172 |
| Progressive | $182 |
| Auto Club | $185 |
| Allstate | $196 |
| Farmers | $210 |
| Rates are for minimum-coverage car insurance for an 18-year-old male with a clean driving record. | |
| Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $315 |
| GEICO | $339 |
| Allstate | $350 |
| State Average | $399 |
| Mercury | $400 |
| Auto Club | $431 |
| Progressive | $439 |
| CSAA | $452 |
| Farmers | $466 |
| Rates are for full-coverage car insurance for an 18-year-old male with a clean driving record. | |
Cheapest car insurance for married drivers: GEICO
Most car insurance companies view married people as less likely to be involved in car accidents than unmarried drivers. This translates to lower rates for those who have tied the knot.
Our research shows the average price of car insurance in California is 8% lower for married drivers than it is for single drivers.
GEICO and Progressive offer the cheapest car insurance in California to married drivers.
| Company | Monthly rate (full coverage) |
|---|---|
| GEICO | $107 |
| Progressive | $113 |
| Allstate | $140 |
| CSAA | $145 |
| Mercury | $145 |
| State average | $145 |
| Auto Club | $151 |
| State Farm | $170 |
| Farmers | $192 |
| Rates are for a 35-year-old married driver with a good driving record. | |
How do auto insurance laws work in California?
California uses an online system to verify your car insurance status and follows comparative fault laws to settle car accident injury and damage claims. Here’s what else you should know about the state’s insurance laws.
Proof of insurance
Insurance companies in California are required to provide the DMV with information that allows the state to verify the insurance status of registered vehicles.
If the DMV does not receive confirmation that you have valid insurance within 30 days after you register your vehicle or 45 days after you cancel an existing policy, your vehicle’s registration may be suspended.
You are still also required to show proof of insurance when asked by law enforcement officers during traffic stops, accident investigations and other occasions. The penalties for driving without insurance include fines, a suspension of your registration and possible vehicle impoundment.
Comparative fault laws for accidents
Under California’s comparative fault laws, the amount of money an at-fault driver owes you for injuries or property damage may be reduced by your share of responsibility for an accident.
For example, if you are 25% responsible for a car accident, the driver who is primarily at fault may only have to cover 75% of your medical and car repair bills.
SR-22 insurance in California
In order to reinstate your driver’s license or registration after a suspension, you typically need to file an SR-22 insurance certificate with the DMV.
In California, insurance companies file the certificate electronically on your behalf. Make sure to let your insurance company know about the requirement when you purchase your policy.
The filing fees insurance companies charge for SR-22s is usually small, and some companies file the certificate for you at no extra charge. However, the offense that led to your license or registration being suspended may result in a high insurance rate, depending on your driving record.
GAP insurance in California
California prohibits car dealerships from forcing customers to purchase a GAP waiver for financed vehicles.
GAP waivers are similar to GAP insurance. Both cover the difference between your loan balance and your car’s value, if your vehicle is totaled. GAP insurance is purchased from insurance companies, while GAP waivers are offered by dealerships and financing companies.
If your car’s value is less than your loan balance, the amount you receive from the insurance company for a total loss won’t be enough to retire your loan. If you have GAP insurance or purchase a GAP waiver, you won’t have to cover the shortfall out of your own pocket.
Low Cost Auto Insurance in California
The California Low Cost Auto (CLCA) insurance program offers affordable car insurance to good drivers and new drivers who meet income eligibility requirements.
New drivers and those with good driving records are eligible for coverage through the program if your income adds up to 250% of the federal level or less and you have a car worth $25,000 or less.
Insurance for high-risk drivers in California
If a history of prior accidents and tickets prevents you from qualifying for standard car insurance, you may be eligible for coverage through the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP).
CAARP policies provide basic coverage at relatively high rates. If you can maintain a good driving record for a few policy terms, you’re likely to qualify for standard insurance again as prior incidents start coming off your record.
California car insurance: FAQs
The average cost of minimum liability car insurance in California is $834 a year, or $69 a month. The cost of full coverage, which includes collision and comprehensive coverage, averages $1,884 a year, or $157 a month.
California requires drivers to carry insurance with bodily injury liability limits of at least $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident as well as a property damage liability limit of at least $5,000. If you have an auto loan, your lender is likely to require collision and comprehensive coverage, which are also typically required for leased vehicles.
GEICO, CSAA and Progressive generally have the cheapest car insurance in California. GEICO is only available online or through its smartphone app. CSAA is only available to AAA members in Northern California.
You are expected to have car insurance when you register your vehicle in California, and it is illegal to drive a car without insurance. Your vehicle’s registration will be suspended if you do not provide proof of insurance within 30 days of registering your vehicle.
California driver report
California drivers face some difficult challenges on the road. The state has the second-worst drivers and the seventh-worst infrastructure in the nation. However, despite these challenges, California's average cost of car insurance has dropped by 25%.
- Santa Clarita, Orange and Huntington Beach are the worst-driving cities in California
- Vellejo, Glendale and Concord are the best-driving cities in California
- Poor infrastructure costs drivers $862 a year
- The average annual cost of car insurance is $825 for minimum coverage and $1,875 for full coverage
Best and worst drivers in California
California is home to some of the worst drivers in America. Drivers in the Golden State ranked second in our annual list of the Best and Worst Drivers by State. Some cities, though, are worse than others. Our team of analysts looked at over 100,000 car insurance quotes and found that Santa Clarita is the worst-driving city in California.
Best Drivers by City
- Vallejo
- Glendale
- Concord
- Fremont
- Victorville
- Hayward
- Chula Vista
- San Bernardino
- Salinas
- Oakland
Worst Drivers by City
- Santa Clarita
- Orange
- Huntington Beach
- Fullerton
- Elk Grove
- Roseville
- Oceanside
- Simi Valley
- Santa Rosa
- Thousand Oaks
California infrastructure rating
QuoteWizard found that California has the seventh-worst road infrastructure in the nation. Our team of analysts looked at road and bridge conditions nationwide and found that California has a high number of roads and bridges in poor or unacceptable condition.
- 35% of roads are in non-acceptable condition
- 7% of bridges are in poor condition
- $862 average annual cost per motorist due to roads and bridges in poor condition
California’s roads are by far the main problem with the state’s driving infrastructure. California’s bridges are the 25th worst in the nation but their roads are the fourth worst. California also has a particularly pronounced problem with potholes — especially around Los Angeles and Monterey.
Best and worst drivers by age group
California drivers between the ages of 20 and 29 have more dangerous driving incidents than any other age group. Our team of analysts found that drivers under the age of 29 are twice as likely to be involved in a dangerous driving incident as drivers over the age of 50. The difference in incidents for each age group is often why younger drivers pay more for car insurance.
Methodology
The rates shown in this article are based on an analysis of more than 300,000 auto insurance quotes obtained from Quadrant Information Services for sample drivers from across California.
Unless otherwise noted, our sample driver is a single 35-year-old. All sample drivers own a 2012 Honda Accord LX that they drive for an average of 13,500 miles per year.
Minimum-coverage rates reflect the cost of policies meeting the minimum liability limits required by the state.
Full coverage policies include the following coverages, limits and deductibles:
- Bodily injury liability: 100,000 limit per person/$300,000 limit per accident
- Property damage liability: $100,000 limit
- Collision: $500 deductible
- Comprehensive: $500 deductible
Driver report: QuoteWizard analyzed over 100,000 car insurance quotes to determine the best- and worst-driving cities in California. Drivers were evaluated based on the number of accidents, citations, speeding tickets and DUIs in each city. QuoteWizard evaluated FHA data on road and bridge quality to determine the number of roads and bridges in “poor” or “unacceptable” condition.
Sources:
Auto insurance by city
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