How to find the cheapest car insurance quotes in California
Finding a provider with the best car insurance and the most affordable policy rate can take time. After all, there are many well-known companies with competitive prices.
To secure the best coverage and rate, you should shop around and collect car insurance quotes from various companies and pick the one that fully and fairly fits your needs.
|
Insurance Company
|
Premium (monthly)
|
Customer
|
Car
|
Liability Limits
|
Has Full Coverage
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspire Advantage | $274 | Bertie, 30, San Diego, CA | Toyota Scion Ia | State Minimum | Yes |
| National General | $57 | Olivia, 47, Long Beach, CA | Audi A6 Premium Plus | State Minimum | No |
| Dairyland | $139 | Laura, 40, San Jose, CA | Chevrolet Caprice | State Minimum | Yes |
| National General | $343 | Eleanor, 22, San Jose, CA | Toyota Prius | 25/50 | Yes |
| Bristol West | $404 | Rose, 22, Seaside, CA | Honda Civic Sport | State Minimum | Yes |
Cheapest car insurance companies in California
Jerry administered a national insurance shopping survey to uncover the best providers for California drivers.
Findings from the survey show that there isn’t a “best” or “most affordable” insurance provider for all drivers. Each company uses a different formula to calculate rates, which means each policyholder gets a unique rate.
State Farm, GEICO, Progressive, Allstate, USAA, and Liberty Mutual dominate the insurance market in California, boasting the largest market shares. Discover drivers’ opinions on these insurers.
| Insurance Company | Date | Cost Rating (out of 5) | What our customer said: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairyland | October 13, 2024 | 4 | “So far, I’m having a very good experience with the insurance that I received through Jerry way to go and keep up the good work” – Alexander |
| AAA | October 12, 2024 | 3 | “I loved AAA coverage for many years, but over the last half decade or so they’ve slowly been increasing my premiums” – Chester |
| Amica | October 8, 2024 | 5 | “Driving in California I need a piece of mind that if something does happen I’m covered.” – Lilian |
| Allstate | October 6, 2024 | 3 | “Amazing service, however they raised my monthly payment without notifying me” – Esther |
| Madison Mutual | October 5, 2024 | 5 | “Allstate General Insurance has been a phenomenal partner in my journey through life’s uncertainties” – Helene |
How’d we get these scores?
Jerry’s experts conducted one of the largest car insurance surveys in the United States. We surveyed 15,000 policyholders, in all 50 states, over the span of 18 months. These policyholders hold insurance policies with 87 different insurance companies. We surveyed policyholders to gauge their satisfaction with their insurance carriers in: policy cost, customer service, buying and renewal experience, as well as claim experience. These scores were all reported by real customers of the insurance companies.
To swiftly and effortlessly compare car insurance quotes online, the most convenient method is to use a car insurance comparison app or website.
Jerry is a leading insurance agency with an app that not only compares car insurance quotes for free, but also offers comprehensive service to customers through a team of over 100 licensed insurance agents.
Minimum liability and full coverage in California
All California drivers must meet the state’s minimum liability coverage requirements. You may also consider full-coverage insurance for added vehicle protection, depending on your circumstances.
Cheapest minimum liability coverage car insurance quotes in California
California’s minimum insurance requirements—known as the 15/30/5 rule—mandate the following:
- $15,000 in bodily injury liability per person
- $30,000 for bodily injury liability per accident
- $5,000 for property damage liability per accident
Jerry recently assisted several car owners in California in obtaining minimum liability coverage. Here are a few examples.
Do you need more than minimum coverage in California?
Most Cali drivers opt for coverage that exceeds the state’s 15/30/5 minimum.
If an at-fault accident occurs, you could find yourself responsible for vehicle repairs and medical bills that surpass the 15/30/5 limit. If the other vehicle is totaled or the crash incurred serious injuries to another individual, you could face expenses of over $50,000.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance quotes in California
Full-coverage insurance will help safeguard you against expenses related to repairing or replacing your car.
Full coverage typically includes comprehensive and collision coverage:
- Collision coverage ensures the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle following an accident
- Comprehensive coverage compensates for theft or damage caused by non-collision incidents, as specified by California’s insurance laws
If you are leasing your vehicle, your lienholder will require full coverage with collision and comprehensive coverage.
Here are some recent cases where Jerry’s agents helped customers find the most affordable full coverage policies.
|
Liability Limits
|
Has Full Coverage
|
Insurance Company
|
Premium (monthly)
|
Customer
|
Car
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Minimum | Yes | Aspire Advantage | $274 | Bertie, 30, San Diego, CA | Toyota Scion Ia |
| State Minimum | Yes | Dairyland | $139 | Laura, 40, San Jose, CA | Chevrolet Caprice |
| 25/50 | Yes | National General | $343 | Eleanor, 22, San Jose, CA | Toyota Prius |
| State Minimum | Yes | Bristol West | $404 | Rose, 22, Seaside, CA | Honda Civic Sport |
| 50/100 | Yes | Progressive | $370 | Billy, 22, Tustin, CA | Honda Accord Sport |
Average rates for state minimum liability coverage and full coverage
We’ve worked extensively with Californian insurance policy holders and have found that the average monthly cost for minimum liability coverage is $116, totaling $1,392 annually. In contrast, the average cost for full-coverage insurance in California is $205 per month or $2,466 per year.
Average insurance rates can offer insight to help you estimate your own insurance expenses—but it’s important to remember that each drivers’ insurance premiums are determined by factors like the type of vehicle, driving record, demographics, and history of claims.
Jerry finds that California drivers typically pay around $116 per month for minimum liability coverage, while full-coverage policies can reach up to $205 per month. Costs can vary based on driver-specific factors.
California car insurance: Additional coverages
Besides collision and comprehensive insurance, policyholders in California should consider the following optional car insurance coverages:
- Medical payments
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist
- Towing and labor coverage
- Roadside assistance
- Rental reimbursement coverage
If you have a loan on a car that you recently purchased: Gap insurance offers protection in the event that you owe more on the vehicle than its appraised value. This can be useful in case of a total loss or theft.
Car insurance premium by rating factors in California
Insurance companies consider multiple factors when dictating your car insurance rate:
- Your driving record and claims history: More accidents, tickets, and claims can lead to higher premiums.
- Where you keep your car: City dwellers tend to pay higher rates. ZIP codes can also affect costs, even if they’re in the same city.
- The kind of car you drive: Luxury, sports, and high-performance cars typically come with higher expenses for collision and comprehensive coverage.
- How you use your car: Driving to and from work rather than driving leisurely can incur extra charges from your insurance company.
Cheapest California car Insurance after a driving violation
A driving violation can have a significant impact on your car insurance rates.
If your driving record has a minor or major violation, your insurance provider will view you as a riskier driver—which will result in higher premiums.
Cheapest car insurance for California drivers with a speeding ticket
There are different levels of speeding:
- 1-5 mph over the limit
- 6-10 mph over the limit
- 11-15 mph over the limit
- 16-20 mph over the limit
- 21 mph or more over the limit
Getting a speeding ticket will typically impact your car insurance premiums. Jerry has helped drivers with speeding violations reduce their car insurance costs.
Browse the table below to uncover how Jerry helps policyholders with speeding infractions save on car insurance in California.
|
Speeding Type
|
Insurance Company
|
Premium (monthly)
|
Customer
|
Liability Limits
|
Has Full Coverage
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speeding Violation-Minor | Aspire Advantage | $51 | Jack, 55, Alpine, CA | State Minimum | No |
| Speeding Violation-Minor | Mercury | $286 | Dale, 23, Bakersfield, CA | State Minimum | Yes |
| Speeding Violation-Minor | Anchor General | $393 | Amelia, 22, Antioch, CA | State Minimum | Yes |
| Speeding Violation-Minor | Aspire Advantage | $273 | Steven, 24, Inyokern, CA | State Minimum | Yes |
| Speeding Violation-Minor | Progressive | $37 | Maud, 31, Ridgecrest, CA | State Minimum | No |
Cheapest auto insurance in California after a DUI
A serious violation like a DUI in California can increase your car insurance premiums, and the price hike is usually steep.
Having a DUI offense on your driving record can lead to substantial variations in car insurance rates across different insurance companies. To secure affordable options following a DUI, you’ll want to compare rates from multiple insurance providers.
Jerry has found budget-friendly auto insurance rates for numerous drivers after a DUI.
California SR-22 insurance
After a serious violation you may need to complete an SR-22 filing to get your license back. Insurance companies issue an SR-22 as proof that high-risk drivers possess the mandatory minimum liability insurance outlined by California law.
SR-22s are typically required in the following scenarios:
- DUI
- Driving without insurance
- Driving without a valid driver’s license
- Major collision
- Severe injury caused by collision
- Reckless driving or distracted driving
- Getting into a car accident as an uninsured driver
- Failing to report an accident that results in more than $1,000 in bodily injury
- If you own a vehicle that is part of an accident and you lack insurance coverage
Cheapest California auto Insurance after an at-fault accident
Car accidents on your insurance claims history are one of the most influential factors that impact car insurance premiums.
Past accidents—especially those where you were held at fault—are used to rank the risk level you pose to your provider. If you were found at fault in an accident in recent years, your car insurance premiums could surge.
|
Accident Type
|
Insurance Company
|
Premium (monthly)
|
Customer
|
Insurance Coverage
|
Has Full Coverage
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At Fault With No Injury | Aspire Advantage | $274 | Bertie, 30, San Diego, CA | State Minimum | Yes |
| Not At Fault | National General | $57 | Olivia, 47, Long Beach, CA | State Minimum | No |
| At Fault With Injury | Bristol West | $355 | Georgie, 33, Granada Hills, CA | 50/100 | Yes |
| At Fault With Injury | Aspire Advantage | $357 | Norman, 23, Riverside, CA | State Minimum | Yes |
| At Fault With Injury | Mercury | $229 | Carlos, 34, Pomona, CA | State Minimum | Yes |
FAQ
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Is California an at-fault state?
Cheapest auto insurance after other violations in California
Violations like reckless driving and driving without a valid license can also impact your car insurance rates in California.
Check out how we’ve helped drivers find car insurance savings with these violations on their driving records.
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Violation
|
Insurance Company
|
Premium (monthly)
|
Customer
|
Car
|
Liability Limits
|
Has Full Coverage
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cell Phone | Aspire Advantage | $93 | Belle, 26, Chula Vista, CA | Dodge Dart Gt | State Minimum | No |
| DUI | Progressive | $45 | Vera, 29, Glendora, CA | Chrysler 200 Limited | 25/50 | No |
| Suspension | National General | $156 | Patrick, 31, Sylmar, CA | Chevrolet Silverado C1500 Ltz | State Minimum | No |
| Cell Phone | National General | $189 | Rosie, 59, Citrus Heights, CA | Nissan Altima 2.5 | State Minimum | Yes |
| DUI | Dairyland | $49 | Leah, 40, Newman, CA | Chevrolet Silverado C1500 | State Minimum | No |
Cheapest California auto insurance based on insurance history
Your insurance history—specifically whether you currently hold an insurance policy—plays a significant role in determining your car insurance rates.
Typically, any lapse in your insurance coverage results in higher car insurance rates.
To assist our customers in ensuring timely insurance payments and avoiding any lapses in coverage, Jerry offers payment reminders to qualified customers. These signal when a payment is approaching or if they are behind schedule with their payments.
We have secured savings on new policies for numerous customers who were uninsured or experienced a lapse in coverage.
Car insurance for drivers with poor credit in California
In California, insurance companies cannot use credit scores as a factor to determine car insurance rates. Other states use credit scores to designate riskiness, as drivers with low credit scores tend to file more claims than drivers with high credit scores.
|
Credit Score
|
Insurance Company
|
Premium (monthly)
|
Customer
|
Car
|
Liability Limits
|
Has Full Coverage
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 660-750 | Aspire Advantage | $274 | Bertie, 30, San Diego, CA | Toyota Scion Ia | State Minimum | Yes |
| 550-659 | National General | $57 | Olivia, 47, Long Beach, CA | Audi A6 Premium Plus | State Minimum | No |
| <550 | Dairyland | $139 | Laura, 40, San Jose, CA | Chevrolet Caprice | State Minimum | Yes |
| 660-750 | National General | $343 | Eleanor, 22, San Jose, CA | Toyota Prius | 25/50 | Yes |
| 660-750 | Bristol West | $404 | Rose, 22, Seaside, CA | Honda Civic Sport | State Minimum | Yes |
Cheapest California car insurance by age
Typically, young drivers face higher insurance rates due to the risks associated with their lack of driving experience. When they reach 25 years old, their insurance rates tend to decrease—but drivers can expect their premiums to go up again when they hit the age of 75.
Cheapest California car insurance for young drivers
Teen drivers between the ages 16 to 19 tend to pay the highest insurance premiums. Teens in California with a newer vehicle may benefit from full-coverage insurance to ensure financial protection in case of an accident.
Cheapest California car insurance for senior drivers
Senior drivers also receive higher car insurance rates once they enter their mid-70s.
There are a few factors that lead to steeper premiums for seniors. As drivers get older, the likelihood of their involvement in an accident increases. They’re also more susceptible to serious injuries from collisions that may incur medical expenses—which means higher costs for insurance providers.
Cheapest car insurance for popular cars
The vehicle you choose to drive significantly influences car insurance rate. Factors related to your car type encompass repair or replacement costs, susceptibility to theft, and the safety ratings and track record of the vehicle.
Popular car models for Californians include:
- Toyota Camry
- Honda Civic
- Toyota Corolla
- Honda Accord
- Nissan Altima
|
Popular Car
|
Insurance Company
|
Premium (monthly)
|
Customer
|
Liability Limits
|
Has Full Coverage
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic Sport | Bristol West | $404 | Rose, 22, Seaside, CA | State Minimum | Yes |
| Honda Accord Sport | Progressive | $370 | Billy, 22, Tustin, CA | 50/100 | Yes |
| Toyota Camry | Progressive | $59 | Carl, 34, Turlock, CA | State Minimum | No |
| Toyota Corolla | Aspire Advantage | $132 | Joseph, 27, Escondido, CA | State Minimum | Yes |
| Honda Civic Sport Touring | Aspire Advantage | $418 | Rosa, 22, Vista, CA | State Minimum | Yes |
Car insurance cost for new vs. old car
Newer vehicles are generally more expensive to insure than older models.
Jerry finds that average full-coverage insurance costs for cars of 10 years or older is $1,908 per year in California. Alternatively, the average cost for insuring a car under 4 years old is $1,485 per year.
California cheapest car insurance by location
Your vehicle’s garaging or parking address plays a role in your car insurance premium.
Factors like population density, crime rates, accident statistics, and weather patterns all impact insurance rates. Different ZIP codes within the same city can also create variation in premiums.
Browse the table below to see how Jerry insurance Agency helped California drivers from different cities save on their insurance rates.
|
City
|
Customer
|
Insurance Company
|
Premium (monthly)
|
Car
|
Liability Limits
|
Has Full Coverage
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | Bertie | Aspire Advantage | $274 | Toyota Scion Ia | State Minimum | Yes |
| Long Beach, CA | Olivia | National General | $57 | Audi A6 Premium Plus | State Minimum | No |
| San Jose, CA | Laura | Dairyland | $139 | Chevrolet Caprice | State Minimum | Yes |
| San Jose, CA | Eleanor | National General | $343 | Toyota Prius | 25/50 | Yes |
| Seaside, CA | Rose | Bristol West | $404 | Honda Civic Sport | State Minimum | Yes |
How to lower the cost of car insurance in California
There are multiple ways to lower your car insurance expenses. Here are the top recommendations from Jerry’s team of licensed insurance agents:
- Shop around and compare quotes.
- Bundle your car insurance and home insurance for a discount.
- Ask about your eligibility for car insurance discounts, such as low mileage discounts, loyalty discounts, good student discounts, good driver discounts, and discounts for vehicle safety enhancements and anti theft devices, etc.
- If applicable, increase your deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage.
- Take a defensive driving course.
- Consider removing collision and comprehensive coverage for older cars.
Why is car insurance so expensive in California?
California car insurance rates may be more expensive than other areas due to:
- High population density cities: cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco have high population and tourism rates, leading to congested roads.
- High rates of uninsured drivers: As of 2019, 16.6% of drivers in California are uninsured.
Expensive healthcare: California was ranked the 16th most expensive state for healthcare by a study from the University of Berkeley. - Notable highway density: From the I-5 to the I-405—if you’ve ever driven on highways or freeways in California, you’ll know they get pretty congested.
- High rate of car thefts and crime: In 2021, the average rate of vehicle theft in California was one vehicle every three minutes.
- High risk of natural disasters: Earthquakes, floods, fires, and tsunamis are all natural risks to Californian citizens.
FAQ
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Is car insurance required in California?
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How much is car insurance in California?
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Who has the best cheap car insurance in California?
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What is the minimum car insurance required in California?
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What happens if you don’t have car insurance in California?
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Can you buy a car without car insurance in California?
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Do you need car insurance to register a car in California?
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Can your car get towed for no insurance in California?
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Does insurance follow the car or the driver in California?
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What does full coverage car insurance consist of in California?
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Can you have out of state car insurance in California?
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Is PIP required in California?
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Can you have both PIP and MedPay in California?
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What is California’s low cost auto insurance program or CLCA?
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Licensed Insurance Agent
R.E. Fulton is an expert insurance writer specializing in car ownership topics from car shopping and loan advice to insurance and repair guides. R.E.’s mission is to create unique and accessible content that helps readers to become more successful and independent car owners. R.E. has written and edited over 900 high-performing articles for Jerry, with an average of 1 million+ views. As a senior writer on Jerry’s editorial team, R.E. draws on over 10 years of experience as a professional writer and digital publishing specialist. Prior to joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2021, R.E. worked as a writing coach at Columbia University, the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), and the University of Rochester. They serve as a managing editor for peer-reviewed history publication Nursing Clio, where their work has appeared regularly since 2015.
Lina Zhang is co-founder and vice president of operations at Jerry, where she leads a global team responsible for operations, talent acquisition, content, legal, and compliance. Lina’s operational excellence was a critical enabler of Jerry’s 10x growth in its first year of operation.
Prior to Jerry, Lina and her Jerry co-founders, Art Agrawal and Musawir Shah, led YourMechanic, the largest on-demand car repair services provider. In one year, Lina built and scaled YourMechanic operations from five markets to more than 50. The trio left YourMechanic to incubate Jerry at Y Combinator in 2017.
Lina’s previous roles include intellectual property attorney at Morrison & Foerster LLP and a biomedical researcher at Stanford University.
Lina holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Nanjing University, a doctorate in biochemistry from Dartmouth College, and a juris doctorate from the University of California Berkeley School of Law. She’s a member of the State Bar of California and a licensed property and casualty insurance producer in all 50 states.
As Vice President of Insurance Operations at Jerry, Josh Damico leads teams across product development, operations and carrier relations, integrating Jerry’s smart and fast car insurance customer experience with that of traditional carriers to help customers find savings and coverage. Josh’s nearly 20 years of insurance-industry experience and knowledge generate partnerships with more than 55 name-brand and specialty insurance partners that enable Jerry to serve customers with all types of vehicle and policy needs.
Previously, Josh held executive roles at Geico, where he had vast regional oversight and leadership opportunities. In his most recent role as director of sales, servicing, and underwriting, Josh developed and executed profit and growth strategy for the New England states and New Jersey.
Josh holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Medaille College.
