The Best, Cheapest Car Insurance in California
- Expertise: Auto insurance, home insurance and renters insurance
- Education: Sonoma State University (BA in English)
Aaron Besson has worked at LendingTree for more than seven years and has been a staff writer for the last five years. He specializes in producing research-backed content about auto, home and renters insurance. Aaron enjoys the deep dig into insurance data to get the right answers to hard questions. His work has been cited by CBS, iHeart Radio, the Sacramento Bee and Yahoo.
Geico has the cheapest full-coverage car insurance in California, charging an average rate of $1,486 a year. Mercury and Progressive also offer Californians affordable coverage at $1,596 and $1,609 a year, respectively.
Cheapest insurance companies in California
The cheapest full-coverage car insurance: Geico
Geico has the cheapest average cost for full-coverage car insurance in California, at $124 a year. Mercury is next at $133.
Cheapest companies for full-coverage car insurance in California
| Company | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $1,486 |
| Mercury | $1,596 |
| Progressive | $1,609 |
| AAA | $1,768 |
| State Farm | $1,942 |
| Allstate | $2,091 |
| Farmers | $2,579 |
Rates are for full-coverage car insurance for a 30-year-old male with a clean driving record.
A full-coverage car insurance policy includes liability, comprehensive and collision insurance. Full coverage protects you after an accident no matter whose car is damaged or who is injured. It protects you in other situations, too, like if a tree branch falls on your car.
You’re not required by law to carry full-coverage car insurance, though your lender may require it if you’re financing. But even if it doesn’t, full coverage is a great investment if your car is new or worth a lot.
Cheapest liability-only coverage: Geico
Geico also has the cheapest liability auto insurance in California, with an average rate of $35 a month. Progressive is the next-cheapest at $39 a month.
Cheapest companies for liability car insurance in California
| Company | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $425 |
| Progressive | $463 |
| Mercury | $511 |
| AAA | $527 |
| State Farm | $622 |
| Farmers | $666 |
| Allstate | $781 |
Rates are for liability-only car insurance for a 30-year-old male with a clean driving record.
Liability car insurance pays medical and legal bills that arise from an accident you cause. Most states have minimum requirements for liability insurance.
To get the cheapest liability coverage for your needs and situation, compare car insurance quotes from multiple companies before buying a policy.
Cheapest rates for young drivers: State Farm
State Farm has the cheapest average car insurance rate for California teens, at $1,195 a year. Runner-up Mercury is close behind at $1,301.
Cheapest car insurance companies for young drivers
| Company | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,195 |
| Mercury | $1,301 |
| Geico | $1,314 |
| Progressive | $1,345 |
| Farmers | $1,530 |
| AAA | $1,564 |
| Allstate | $2,090 |
Rates are for liability-only car insurance for an 18-year-old male with a clean driving record.
Teen drivers pay the highest car insurance premiums of any age group, mostly due to their lack of driving experience. To save money on insurance for a young driver in your home, consider adding them to your policy. It’s usually cheaper than getting them their own coverage.
Cheapest rates after a speeding ticket: Mercury
Mercury has the lowest rates for car insurance in California if you have a ticket on your record, at $2,262 a year. Geico is next at $2,325.
Cheapest car insurance companies after a speeding ticket
| Company | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| Mercury | $2,262 |
| Geico | $2,325 |
| Progressive | $2,473 |
| AAA | $2,510 |
| State Farm | $2,957 |
| Allstate | $2,996 |
| Farmers | $3,651 |
Rates are for full-coverage car insurance for a 30-year-old male with one speeding ticket.
A speeding ticket may affect your car insurance rates, depending on your provider. A ticket stays on your record for three to five years — plus, you may see higher premiums during that time.
Cheapest rates after an accident: Mercury
After an accident, California drivers pay the lowest rates with Mercury. It charges an average yearly rate of $2,530 in this situation. Progressive is the next-cheapest company at $2,655 a year.
Cheapest car insurance companies after an accident
| Company | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| Mercury | $2,530 |
| Progressive | $2,655 |
| AAA | $3,302 |
| Geico | $3,779 |
| State Farm | $3,818 |
| Farmers | $4,564 |
| Allstate | $5,633 |
Rates are for full-coverage car insurance for a 30-year-old male with one accident.
Best rates after a DUI: Mercury
If you have a DUI on your record, Mercury has the cheapest car insurance rate — $2,828 a year. Geico offers affordable rates here, too, at $3,758.
Cheapest car insurance companies after a DUI
| Company | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| Mercury | $2,828 |
| Geico | $3,758 |
| Progressive | $3,866 |
| Farmers | $4,564 |
| AAA | $5,963 |
| State Farm | $6,852 |
| Allstate | $8,138 |
Rates are for full-coverage car insurance for a 30-year-old male with one DUI.
A DUI can lead to fines, jail time and a license suspension, and it often causes your car insurance rates to go up as well. Car insurance providers consider drivers with a DUI high risk. In the worst case, a DUI could lead to denial or cancellation of coverage.
California insurance rates by city
Of the 25 largest cities in California, Chula Vista residents pay the cheapest average rate for car insurance, at $1,725 a year. Glendale residents pay the highest rate of $2,825 a year.
Cheapest car insurance rates in California’s largest cities
| Top Cities | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| Anaheim | $1,977 |
| Bakersfield | $1,858 |
| Chula Vista | $1,725 |
| Fontana | $2,010 |
| Fremont | $1,741 |
| Fresno | $1,836 |
| Glendale | $2,825 |
| Huntington Beach | $1,899 |
| Irvine | $1,914 |
| Long Beach | $2,058 |
| Los Angeles | $2,584 |
| Modesto | $1,893 |
| Moreno Valley | $1,991 |
| Oakland | $2,109 |
| Ontario | $2,018 |
| Oxnard | $1,835 |
| Riverside | $1,920 |
| Sacramento | $2,020 |
| San Bernardino | $2,047 |
| San Diego | $1,776 |
| San Francisco | $2,098 |
| San Jose | $1,791 |
| Santa Ana | $1,995 |
| Santa Clarita | $2,023 |
| Stockton | $1,939 |
Rates are for full-coverage car insurance for a 30-year-old male with a clean driving record.
The cost of car insurance in California
The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in California is $1,867 a year. The average annual premium for liability-only coverage is $571.
What you pay for car insurance is based on several factors, including:
- The make and model of your car
- Your ZIP code
- Your insurance claim history
- Coverage limits and the deductible you choose
- Discounts provided
To find the best policy for your situation at the cheapest cost, compare quotes from several car insurance providers. Use the same coverage limits for each quote to get the most accurate comparisons.
Car insurance laws in California
California law requires drivers convicted of a DUI to file an SR-22 form to remove a license suspension. An SR-22 proves you carry at least the minimum amount of car insurance the state requires. Most insurance companies will file the form on your behalf with the DMV.
Minimum coverage for car insurance in California
California’s required liability coverage limits are:
- $15,000 bodily injury coverage per person
- $30,000 bodily injury coverage per accident
- $5,000 property damage coverage
California drivers may forgo carrying these limits if they make a $35,000 deposit with the DMV or buy a surety bond in the same amount.
Methodology
Unless stated otherwise, we used thousands of car insurance quotes in California for a 30-year-old man with good credit and no tickets, accidents or DUIs driving a 2015 Honda Civic EX.
The following coverage limits were used:
- Bodily injury liability: 50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $25,000
- Uninsured motorist: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, where required by law
- Personal injury protection: minimum limits, where required by law
- Collision: $500 deductible
- Comprehensive $500 deductible
Frequently asked questions
Geico has the cheapest rates for both full-coverage insurance at $1,486 a year and liability-only coverage at $425. Mercury has the cheapest rates after a speeding ticket, accident or DUI.
The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in California is $1,867 a year, and the cost for liability-only coverage is $571. California’s full-coverage rate is 6% cheaper than the national average rate of $1,976. The state’s liability-only average rate is 26% lower than the national average of $773.
No, California is an “at-fault” state. This means the driver responsible for an accident covers the medical and damage expenses of others involved in the accident.