The Best Cheap 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.
Cheapest insurance companies in California
The cheapest full-coverage car insurance in California: 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 | 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 in California: 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.
Best rates in California 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 in California: 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 in California: Mercury
After an accident, California drivers pay the lowest rates with Mercury. It charges an average yearly rate of $2,530 if you have an accident on your record. 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 in California after a DUI: Mercury
If you have a DUI on your record, Mercury has the cheapest car insurance rate at $2,828 a year. Geico offers the next cheapest rates 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.
Best car insurance companies in California
Geico, Mercury and Progressive are some of the best car insurance companies in California because of their affordable rates, customer service, coverage options and discounts.
| Company | LendingTree score | J.D. Power customer satisfaction |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | 4.5 | 842 |
| Progressive | 3.8 | 819 |
| Geico | 3.7 | 835 |
| Allstate | 3.2 | 824 |
| Farmers | 3.1 | 815 |
| Mercury | Not rated | 827 |
| AAA | Not rated | 827 |
Geico
- Low full-coverage average rate of $1,486 a year
- 20% lower than state average
- AM Best’s financial strength rating: A++
Pros
Cheapest rates in California
Wide variety of discounts
A++ rating for financial strength from AM Best
Cons
Few optional coverages
Geico has the cheapest average rate in California for both full-coverage and liability-only car insurance policies, at $124 and $35 a month, respectively. Geico also offers 16 car insurance discounts to help bring down your rate further. You could save up to 23% just by having airbags in your car.
However, Geico offers few optional coverages for you and your car compared to competitors. Geico offers emergency road service, rental reimbursement and mechanical breakdown insurance for a cost.
Mercury
- Low full-coverage average rate of $1,596 a year
- 15% lower than state average
- Low NAIC complaint rating 0.25
Pros
Cheapest rates
Discounts that are easy to get
Cons
Only a few optional coverages
Sub-par customer satisfaction ratings
Mercury has affordable car insurance rates in California for both a full-coverage and liability-only car insurance policies, at $133 and $43 a month, respectively. Mercury also offers discounts that are easy to qualify for, such as its auto pay discount.
However, Mercury has average customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power and offers few optional coverages.
Progressive
- Low full-coverage average rate of $1,609 a year
- 14% lower than state average
- Low NAIC complaint rating 0.56
Pros
Affordable rates
Several discounts and optional coverages
Cons
Sub-par customer satisfaction ratings
Although Progressive isn’t the cheapest car insurance company in California, it offers affordable rates and many ways to save if you take advantage of its discounts. Drivers pay $134 a month, on average, for a full-coverage policy with Progressive, and $39 a month for a liability-only car insurance policy.
Progressive also has a low complaint rating of 0.56 from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The NAIC looks at the number of complaints customers file against a company and compares it to the size of the company to come up with a rating.
On the other end, Progressive received below-average customer satisfaction ratings on J.D. Power’s latest auto insurance study.
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.
Best and worst drivers in California
According to the World Population Review, California has the second-highest rate of fatal crashes in the U.S., at 3,847 in 2024. This is just behind Texas, at 3,874. However, accident rates can vary significantly between cities and age groups.
Bakersfield has the best drivers in California, while Moreno Valley has the state’s worst drivers. Younger drivers are also more likely to be involved in an accident.
ZIP codes and age groups with high accident rates usually pay higher insurance rates. Auto insurance companies charge these increased rates to offset the cost of a claim.
California cities with the best and worst drivers
Of the biggest cities in California, Bakersfield has the fewest car-related incidents with around 6 incidents occurring per 1,000 drivers. Stockton is the next best city for incidents.
Best drivers by city
| City | Incidents per 1,000 drivers |
|---|---|
| Bakersfield | 5.58 |
| Stockton | 6.16 |
| Glendale | 6.30 |
| Santa Clarita | 6.51 |
| Sacramento | 7.16 |
On the other end, Moreno Valley has the most car-related incidents in California with around 16 incidents occurring per 1,000 drivers. Moreno Valley also has some of the highest rates for car insurance in the state, at $1,991 a year. Fresno has the next-highest rate of driving incidents in California with around 15 incidents.
Worst drivers by city
| City | Incidents per 1,000 drivers |
|---|---|
| Moreno Valley | 15.71 |
| Fresno | 14.59 |
| Fremont | 13.58 |
| Irvine | 13.35 |
| Oakland | 12.79 |
California cities with the most speeding tickets
Modesto has the highest rate of speeding tickets in California with around 9 out of every 1,000 drivers receiving a speeding ticket. Oxnard has the next highest rate for speeding tickets.
Most speeding tickets by city
| City | Speeding-related incidents per 1,000 drivers |
|---|---|
| Modesto | 8.94 |
| Oxnard | 8.37 |
| Fremont | 7.59 |
| Fresno | 6.96 |
| Moreno Valley | 6.11 |
California cities with the most accidents
Moreno Valley has the highest number of car-related accidents in California with around 7 accidents occurring per 1,000 drivers. The top five cities with the most accidents are all located in Southern California.
| City | Accidents per 1,000 drivers |
|---|---|
| Moreno Valley | 7.03 |
| Irvine | 5.87 |
| Santa Clarita | 5.21 |
| Ontario | 5.08 |
| Huntington Beach | 4.68 |
California cities with the most DUIs
Modesto drivers get the most DUIs among California’s largest cities with around 4 out of every 1,000 drivers receiving a DUI.
Most DUIs by city
| City | DUIs per 1,000 drivers |
|---|---|
| Modesto | 3.58 |
| Stockton | 1.94 |
| Santa Ana | 1.47 |
| Irvine | 1.40 |
| Oxnard | 1.39 |
In 2024, California made DUI laws more strict by changing the blood alcohol content (BAC) that qualifies for a DUI from 0.08% to 0.05%, according to the California DMV.
Worst drivers by age group
Younger drivers have the highest number of traffic-related incidents in California, while middle-aged drivers have the lowest number of traffic-related incidents.
Worst drivers by generation
| Generation | Incidents per 1,000 drivers |
|---|---|
| Gen Z (circa 1997-2012) | 67.37 |
| Millennial (circa 1981-1996) | 45.86 |
| Gen X (circa 1965-1980) | 36.40 |
| Boomer (circa 1946-1964) | 38.16 |
| Silent Generation (circa 1928-1945) | 43.84 |
Teens and young adults also pay the highest car insurance rates among all age groups due to their inexperience. Fortunately, your rates decrease as you get older if you maintain a clean driving record.
Worst drivers by car make
Subaru is the automobile brand most often involved in a traffic-related incident in California with around 57 incidents occurring per 1,000 Subaru drivers. Mazda comes in second.
Worst drivers by car brand
| Make | Incidents per 1,000 drivers |
|---|---|
| Subaru | 57.16 |
| Mazda | 53.77 |
| Ram | 50.99 |
| Volkswagen | 48.85 |
| Tesla | 48.63 |
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
Our team of insurance experts rated insurance companies based on several categories. These categories include average rates, discounts, coverage options, third party customer service ratings, and app / website experience. We weighted these categories based on what customers value in an insurance company.
For 3rd party customer service ratings, we included NAIC’s Complaint Index scores and financial strength ratings from A.M. Best. NAIC Complaint Index scores are used to determine how satisfied customers are with their claims, while financial strength ratings from A.M. Best reflect the ability to pay out claims.
To determine the best and worst drivers by city in California, researchers calculated the numbers of driving incidents per 1,000 drivers in the 25 biggest cities (by population) in California.
The same process as above was used to determine the best and worst drivers by generation in California as well as the brand with the worst drivers in California.
To define generations, LendingTree analysts used the following ranges from Pew Research Center:
- Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2005: ages 18-26 in 2023 – we only included Gen Z adults)
- Millennial (born between 1981 and 1996: ages 27-42 in 2023)
- Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980: ages 43-58 in 2023)
- Baby boomer (born between 1946 and 1964: ages 59-77 in 2023)
- Silent generation (born between 1928 and 1945: ages 78-95 in 2023)
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.