Cheapest Car Insurance in California (Best Rates in 2024)
Geico has the best cheap car insurance in California, at $124 per month for full coverage.
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Best cheap car insurance companies in California
How we chose the top companies
Best and cheapest car insurance in California
- Cheapest full coverage: Geico, $124/mo
- Cheapest minimum liability: Geico, $35/mo
- Cheapest for young drivers: State Farm, $100/mo
- Cheapest after a ticket: AAA NorCal, $184/mo
- Cheapest after an accident: Mercury, $211/mo
- Cheapest for teens after a ticket: Geico, $123/mo
- Cheapest after a DUI: Mercury, $236/mo
Monthly rates based on full coverage car insurance for a 30-year-old man. Some rates use different ages or coverage limits.
Geico, Mercury, Progressive and AAA all offer cheaper rates than average. Geico and AAA also have reliable customer service.
All four companies offer online quotes, so you can quickly find the cheapest rates for you.
Cheapest car insurance in California: Geico
Geico has the cheapest full coverage car insurance quotes in California, at $124 per month.
That's $31 per month cheaper than the statewide average. The average cost of car insurance in California is $155 per month for full coverage.
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Best full coverage car insurance in California
Company | Monthly rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | $124 | |
| Mercury | $133 | |
| Progressive | $134 | |
| AAA NorCal | $146 | |
|
| AAA SoCal | $149 | |
Mercury, Progressive and AAA also have rates that are cheaper than average.
However, Geico and AAA have better customer service reviews than Mercury or Progressive. That could be important if you ever need to contact customer service or make a claim.
AAA offers car insurance to Northern California drivers through AAA of Northern California, also called AAA NorCal or CSAA. The Auto Club of Southern California (AAA SoCal) covers Southern California drivers.
Cheap liability insurance in California: Geico
Geico has the cheapest liability-only car insurance in California.
The company charges $35 per month on average for a minimum liability policy. That's $12 per month cheaper than the California average, which is $47 per month.
Cheapest liability car insurance companies in California
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $35 |
| AAA NorCal | $38 |
| Progressive | $39 |
| Mercury | $43 |
| AAA SoCal | $50 |
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Cheapest insurance for California teens: State Farm
State Farm has the cheapest auto insurance in California for young drivers, at $100 per month for minimum liability coverage.
That's $24 per month cheaper than the statewide average of $124.
State Farm also has the cheapest full coverage quotes for 18-year-old drivers in California. At $282 per month, full coverage from State Farm is $93 per month less than average.
Cheapest car insurance in California for young adults
Company | Liability only | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $100 | $282 |
| Mercury | $108 | $318 |
| Geico | $109 | $322 |
| Progressive | $112 | $407 |
| AAA NorCal | $120 | $457 |
Young California drivers pay around two and a half times as much as older drivers for auto insurance. That's because young drivers have less experience behind the wheel, which means they're more likely to cause a crash.
Young drivers in California should consider sharing a car insurance policy with their parents. A family policy costs an average of 62% less than two separate policies.
Teens should get full coverage if they drive a lot or have a newer car.
The added protection of collision and comprehensive insurance is especially useful if you're worried about paying for another car if your car is totaled in an accident.
Best cheap CA car insurance after a speeding ticket: AAA NorCal
AAA NorCal has the most affordable rates for drivers with a recent speeding ticket in California. Full coverage from AAA NorCal costs $184 per month after one ticket. That's 18% cheaper than the state average of $226 per month for drivers with a speeding ticket.
Mercury is a good option for drivers who live outside AAA NorCal's footprint. At $189 per month, full coverage from Mercury is only $5 per month more than AAA NorCal.
Cheapest California auto insurance for drivers with a ticket
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| AAA NorCal | $184 |
| Mercury | $189 |
| Geico | $194 |
| Progressive | $206 |
| AAA SoCal | $234 |
A full-coverage policy in California is $71 more expensive per month after a speeding ticket. That's a 46% increase. You'll typically pay more for car insurance after a speeding ticket because insurance companies believe you're a risky driver.
Don't rush to switch insurance companies if you just got a speeding ticket in the mail or made a car crash claim. You won't pay higher rates until your current policy renews.
Wait to shop for quotes until you see your new rate from your current company. Then, compare that with rates from cheaper companies in California.
Cheap auto insurance in CA after an accident: Mercury
Mercury has the cheapest full coverage car insurance quotes in California for drivers with an accident on their record.
The company's average rate after an accident is $211 per month. That's 32% cheaper than the California average of $308 per month.
Most affordable car insurance in California after an accident
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Mercury | $211 |
| Progressive | $221 |
| AAA SoCal | $255 |
| AAA NorCal | $295 |
| Geico | $315 |
California drivers pay twice as much for car insurance after an accident. That's an average increase of $154 per month for full coverage.
Cheapest for teens after a ticket or accident: Geico and Mercury
Geico has the best rates for young drivers in California after a speeding ticket. Minimum liability insurance from Geico costs $123 per month for an 18-year-old with a speeding ticket in California. That's $24 cheaper than the average cost after one ticket, which is $167 per month.
Mercury has the cheapest quotes after an accident. It charges $136 per month for minimum liability coverage for teens after an at-fault accident. The average cost for an 18-year-old with an accident on their record is $185 per month in California.
Both Geico and Mercury have accident forgiveness. So, teens could avoid higher rates after their first accident if they have this perk.
Cheap quotes for CA teens after a ticket or accident
Company | Ticket | Accident |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $123 | $151 |
| Mercury | $143 | $136 |
| Progressive | $145 | $161 |
| State Farm | $158 | $166 |
| Farmers | $161 | $161 |
In California, 18-year-old drivers pay 35% more for car insurance after getting a speeding ticket. Rates go up by an average of 49% after an accident.
Cheap auto insurance in California after a DUI: Mercury
Mercury has the most affordable car insurance in California for drivers with a DUI. Its average rate of $236 per month for full coverage is more than $200 cheaper than the California average.
Best price for CA car insurance after a DUI
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Mercury | $236 |
| Geico | $313 |
| Progressive | $322 |
| Farmers | $380 |
| AAA SoCal | $471 |
The average cost of full-coverage insurance after a DUI in California is $437 per month. That's nearly three times more than what drivers with a clean record pay for coverage.
You may also need SR-22 insurance after a DUI in California. An SR-22 filing typically costs between $15 and $50.
Best car insurance in California: State Farm
State Farm is the best California auto insurance company because of its dependable coverage and great support.
However, State Farm's car insurance rates can be expensive in California.
AAA and Geico are also great options for California drivers looking for reliable service at an affordable price.
Best insurance companies in California
Company |
Editor's rating
|
J.D. Power
|
A.M. Best
|
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | 842 | A++ | |
| AAA NorCal | 827 | A | |
| AAA SoCal | 827 | A | |
| Geico | 835 | A++ | |
| Farmers | 815 | A |
You should consider customer reviews along with prices when shopping for car insurance in California.
If you're in an accident, a company with excellent customer service can help you get back on the road quickly. Poor customer service could mean you'll end up paying more out of pocket or waiting longer for car repairs.
Average car insurance cost in California by city
The most expensive city in California for car insurance is Beverly Hills, at $254 per month for full coverage.
The cheapest city, Mount Shasta, has an average rate of $113 per month.
California car insurance quotes near you
City | Monthly rate | % from average |
|---|---|---|
| Acalanes Ridge | $140 | -9% |
| Acampo | $147 | -5% |
| Acton | $157 | 2% |
| Adelanto | $180 | 16% |
| Adin | $130 | -16% |
The average cost of a full coverage car insurance policy in California is $155 per month, or $1,855 per year. But the cost of car insurance varies by up to $141 per month based on where you live.
You might have a higher insurance rate if there's a lot of car theft in your area, your roads are in bad shape or the average car value is high, like in Beverly Hills. If your neighbors all drive Teslas, a crash will be more expensive because there's a higher cost to repair the vehicle.
Minimum car insurance requirements in California
California requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 for bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage.
- Bodily injury liability: $15,000 per person; $30,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $5,000 per accident
This is the lowest amount of insurance coverage you can have. But you should choose your coverage limits based on your driving habits and budget.
For example, you should add collision and comprehensive coverage if your car is worth more than $5,000 or less than eight years old. Your lender will typically require you to have both if your car is loaned or leased.
If you live in one of California's expensive ZIP codes and have savings or investments, you should increase your liability insurance limits. You should also consider adding umbrella coverage to protect your assets.
On the other hand, if you're a college student with an older car who doesn't drive often, you may not need the same level of protection.
What's the best car insurance coverage for California drivers?
You should get full coverage in California if you have a car loan or drive a newer car.
- Minimum coverage car insurance quotes meet California's minimum legal requirements. This includes $15,000 in bodily injury liability per person and $30,000 per accident, plus $5,000 in property damage coverage.
- Full coverage goes beyond minimum coverage to include comprehensive and collision insurance. This protects your own car from damage after a crash, theft, vandalism or storm, regardless of whose fault it is.
Full coverage costs $107 per month more than minimum coverage in California. You may need to get full coverage if you have a car loan or lease. Full coverage is also recommended if your car is worth more than $5,000 or newer than eight years old.
Will car insurance costs in California go up?
Car insurance costs are expected to go up in California in 2025. This is because of an increase in the minimum requirements.
The California Legislature has passed a bill that will increase the minimum required liability coverage to 30/60/15 starting Jan. 1, 2025.
Are California's minimum insurance requirements changing?
Starting in 2025, drivers with minimum coverage will likely pay more for car insurance when they renew.
California's current minimums (15/30/5) are among the lowest in the country. Only three other states have the same or lower required liability limits.
The change would make California's requirements among the top 10 highest in the country. Only eight states have requirements at that level or higher.
Car insurance discounts in California for affinity groups
The California Department of Insurance has recently proposed regulations to limit discounts based on your job (such as lawyers and teachers) or group discounts (such as alumni associations). These discounts are sometimes called affinity group discounts.
Farmers offers the largest affinity group discount among the biggest insurance companies in California. The company discounts policies by 14% for a variety of professionals.
Company | Affinity group | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 21st Century | American Medical Association membership | 4% |
| AAA | Accountants, educators | 8% |
| Allied | Accountants, dentists, educators | 10% |
| Allstate | Specialized professionals | 3% |
| Farmers | Accountants, aerospace engineers, dentists, educators, scientists | 14% |
Cost of California auto insurance over time
The cost of car insurance has increased 24% since the start of 2023, after a state-imposed moratorium on rate increases during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The California Department of Insurance strictly limited how much insurance companies could raise rates through 2022. But as regulators began to approve rate increases, companies raised prices significantly to match the strong inflation occurring during and after the pandemic.
Auto insurance prices saw little to no increase between 2019 and 2022, but they shot up 11% in 2023.
Insurers have already raised rates even more through May 2024 — prices have increased by 13% since January, with more than half the year left to go.
Among the biggest CA insurers, the biggest increases have been at Allstate (33%) and Mercury (30%). Customers of Geico and Progressive saw the smallest increases.
Auto insurance rate change data was compiled using RateWatch from S&P Global, which uses information from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in California per month?
The average cost of car insurance in California for a minimum liability policy is $47 per month. The average cost for a full coverage policy is $155 per month.
Is insurance expensive in California?
The cost of car insurance in California is cheaper than average compared to other states. California ranks as the 22nd-cheapest state for minimum coverage insurance. It is the 15th-cheapest state for full coverage policies.
What is the cheapest car insurance in California?
What is the number 1 car insurance in California?
State Farm is the best-rated car insurance company in California for customer satisfaction. State Farm consistently gets great scores for customer service and coverage options. But it can be expensive.
Geico and AAA are also excellent options for California drivers. Both companies offer reliable service at affordable rates.
Why is Geico no longer in California?
In California, Geico insurance is only available online because Geico shut down its physical offices in the state. Geico is still selling policies in California and maintaining current policies. It's still a good idea to get an online quote from Geico because it offers the cheapest rates on California car insurance, with an average of only $35 per month for minimum coverage.
Methodology
To find the best cheap California insurance, ValuePenguin collected thousands of rates from ZIP codes across California for the largest insurance companies. Quotes are for a 30-year-old man with good credit who drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX.
Full-coverage quotes include 50/100/25 liability and matching uninsured driver limits, plus collision and comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible.
AAA insurance is available from two companies in California: AAA SoCal and AAA NorCal. These are two separate companies with different rates. You'll only be able to buy insurance from one or the other based on where you live. Other data sources include J.D. Power and A.M. Best.
ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only. Your own quotes may be different.
Auto insurance rate change data was compiled using RateWatch from S&P Global, which uses information from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.