Best Cheap Car Insurance in California (2025)
Cheapest insurance companies in California
Cheapest full-coverage insurance in California: Geico
Members of the military should also get a quote from USAA, as its average rate for full-coverage car insurance is $129 a month.
Full-coverage insurance rates in CA
| Company | Annual rate | LendingTree score | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Geico | $1,486 |  |
 | Mercury | $1,707 |  |
 | Progressive | $1,745 |  |
 | AAA SoCal | $1,912 |  |
 | State Farm | $2,158 |  |
California’s cheapest liability-only car insurance: Geico
Most states (including California) require drivers to buy at least a minimum amount of liability car insurance, which covers you if you injure someone or damage their property while driving.
For the cheapest liability coverage, compare car insurance quotes from multiple companies before renewing or buying a policy.
Liability insurance rates in CA
| Company | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $505 |
| AAA NorCal | $604 |
| Progressive | $639 |
| AAA SoCal | $687 |
| Mercury | $687 |
| State Farm | $712 |
| Allstate | $849 |
| Farmers | $1,024 |
| USAA* | $591 |
Best California car insurance for young drivers: State Farm
Geico is the next-cheapest company, at $1,561 a year for liability coverage and $3,867 a year for full coverage.
Cheapest car insurance companies for teens
Getting good grades could help you save money on car insurance with both State Farm and Geico. State Farm has a discount of up to 25% for teens with good grades, while Geico’s discount is for up to 15%.
Another way to get cheap car insurance for teens is to add them to a parent’s policy. Your rate will go up as the parent, but the overall cost should still be cheaper than if you and your teen have your own policies.
Cheap insurance quotes after a speeding ticket in California: Geico
A speeding ticket or similar violation typically stays on your driving record for an average of three to seven years. You can expect to see your car insurance premium go up around 43% during that time.
Best car insurance after a speeding ticket
| Company | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $2,326 |
| Mercury | $2,420 |
| Progressive | $2,684 |
| AAA NorCal | $2,813 |
| AAA SoCal | $3,016 |
| Allstate | $3,102 |
| State Farm | $3,278 |
| Farmers | $4,536 |
| USAA* | $1,888 |
Best cheap auto insurance after an accident in California: Mercury
An accident stays on your record for three years in California. You’ll probably pay higher car insurance rates during that time, unless you get the accident struck from your record.
Cheapest car insurance rates with an accident
| Company | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| Mercury | $2,706 |
| Progressive | $2,877 |
| AAA SoCal | $3,275 |
| Geico | $3,780 |
| State Farm | $4,229 |
| AAA NorCal | $4,519 |
| Farmers | $5,670 |
| Allstate | $5,837 |
| USAA* | $2,955 |
Cheapest car insurance for CA teens with a bad driving record: Geico
Teens with a bad driving record in California get the cheapest car insurance from Geico.
Best insurance for teens with a ticket or accident
Cheapest auto insurance in California after a DUI: Mercury
Geico also has cheap car insurance with a DUI at $313 a month.
Cheap car insurance quotes with a DUI
| Company | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| Mercury | $3,026 |
| Geico | $3,759 |
| Progressive | $4,195 |
| Farmers | $5,670 |
| AAA SoCal | $6,072 |
| State Farm | $7,600 |
| AAA NorCal | $8,009 |
| Allstate | $8,438 |
| USAA* | $4,797 |
A DUI (driving under the influence) conviction can lead to fines, jail time and a license suspension. It also usually causes your car insurance rates to go up by an average of 184%. Your current policy may be canceled, too, and you could have a hard time buying a new one.
Best car insurance companies in California
Geico has the cheapest average rates in California for both full-coverage and liability-only car insurance. Geico also offers many car insurance discounts to help you save. For example, you could save up to 23% just by having airbags in your car.
Mercury and Progressive both offer affordable rates and several ways to save with discounts. Their J.D. Power customer satisfaction ratings are average at best, though.
California car insurance company ratings
| Company | J.D. Power** | A.M. Best | LendingTree |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAA | 684 | A | |
| Allstate | 634 | A+ | |
| Farmers | 617 | A | |
| Geico | 626 | A++ | |
| Mercury | 596 | A | |
| Progressive | 635 | A+ | |
| State Farm | 658 | A++ | |
**Source: J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. Higher is better; 644 is average.
California insurance rates by city
Mount Shasta pays the cheapest average rate for full-coverage car insurance in California, at $1,511 a year. Beverly Hills has the most expensive rate of $3,232 a year.
Beverly Hills doesn’t have a nearby major freeway, causing residents to have to rely on residential roads that backup easily. This increases the odds of accidents and insurance claims.
Car insurance rates near you
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 |
Average cost of car insurance in California
What you pay for a car insurance policy depends on several factors, including:
- Make and model of your car
- Address and ZIP code
- Claim history
- Coverage limits and the deductible
- Discounts
Minimum coverage for car insurance in California
California’s minimum car insurance requirements are often written as 15/30/5:
- $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person
- $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident
- $5,000 of property damage coverage
Instead of buying car insurance, California drivers can deposit $35,000 with the state DMV or get a surety bond in the same amount.
- $30,000 bodily injury coverage per person
- $60,000 bodily injury coverage per accident
- $15,000 property damage coverage
California law doesn’t require you to buy full-coverage car insurance, though lenders usually do require it if you’re financing. Even if you don’t have to buy it, full coverage is a good idea if your car is newer or still worth close to what you paid for it.
SR-22 insurance in California
California law requires drivers with DUI convictions to file an SR-22 form with the state to reinstate their driver’s license.
An SR-22 proves you have at least the minimum car insurance coverage amounts the state requires. Your car insurance company can file the form for you with the state DMV.