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If you want to secure auto insurance coverage in California, know the associated costs. On average, premiums for car insurance in California cost $2,416 per year or $201 monthly. While the national average is $1,682, highlighting a difference of $521.

Various factors influence car insurance rates, including age, gender, driving history, credit score, and location.

This guide covers the average cost of full coverage in the state, the factors impacting auto insurance rates, identifies companies providing affordable monthly premiums for car insurance, outlines average car insurance rates across cities in California, and breaks down car insurance rates by age group.

Shop around and compare quotes to save money on your auto insurance. Continue reading the guide to ensure your insurance policy meets your needs within your budget.

Summary of average car insurance cost in California

Average annual cost
$2,416

Average per month cost
$201

Average cost for state minimum coverage
$551 / Year

Cheapest car insurance company
Geico
($1,919 / Year)

Average cost for young drivers
$3,622 / Year

Average cost for Senior drivers
$2,424 / Year

Key Takeaways

  • Based on Insure.com’s analysis, car insurance in California costs $2,416 per year.
  • Car insurance in California costs $201 per month.
  • Geico has the cheapest car insurance rates in California, at an average annual rate of $1,919 a year.

Average car insurance cost in California per month

In California, the average monthly rate for car insurance is $201.

This cost can vary among insurers, which is true of every auto insurance company. When exploring car insurance options in California, it’s advisable to obtain quotes from multiple companies.

Cheapest car insurance companies in California

According to Insure.com’s rate analysis, the most affordable provider of car insurance premiums in California is Geico, with an average annual cost of $1,919 and a monthly average of $160. Following closely is Mercury Insurance, providing coverage at an average monthly rate of $169.

The following table lists additional car insurance companies operating in California and their respective average monthly and annual costs.

Company nameAverage per month costAverage annual cost
Geico$160$1,919
Mercury Insurance$169$2,031
Progressive$182$2,179
Kemper$202$2,429
Travelers$205$2,460
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$205$2,466
CSAA Insurance (AAA)$217$2,600
Allstate$219$2,627
State Farm$225$2,701
Nationwide$233$2,799
Farmers$253$3,035
USAA$152$1,827

Read our guide to cheap car insurance companies

Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to calculate average auto insurance rates for vehicles from 2006 to 2023.

Our hypothetical driver is a 40-year-old male who commutes 12 miles to work each day, with policy limits of 100/300/50 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $50,000 for property damage in an accident) and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage.

Rates for vehicles up until 2023 includes uninsured motorist coverage (since some states require it, we do it for all) and PIP or Medical Payments, if it is required by state law. This hypothetical driver has a clean record and good credit.

For liability 100/300 is rates the same hypothetical driver but with liability limits of 100/300/50, uninsured/underinsured motorist in matching amounts and PIP or MedPay, if required by state. We recommend limits this high, even if you have only liability coverage. A state-minimum policy includes only the basic state liability limits and any other state-required coverages, such as uninsured motorist or PIP.

Averages were calculated using data from six large carriers, such as Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm. Rates were averaged across multiple ZIP codes and insurance companies. Average rates are for comparative purposes; your rate will depend on your personal factors.

Average cost of car insurance by coverage levels in California

Car insurance rates in California are directly proportional to the amount of coverage you buy. Your premium is determined by factors such as your liability limits and your choice of comprehensive and collision coverage.

Liability-only insurance protects against third-party property damage and personal injuries in an accident. However, relying solely on liability coverage would not cover your injuries or property damage if you are considered at fault in a collision. Liability-only insurance for a coverage limit of 50/100/50 costs $864 per year in California.

As mentioned earlier, increasing the coverage on your policy leads to a rise in your premium, as the insurer will need to provide compensation in case of accidents or other damages. The average annual cost of full coverage car insurance in California amounts to $2,416 per year.

If you don’t own a car but frequently rent one, non-owner state minimum liability coverage is the most suitable option. Similar to liability-only coverage, it protects property damage and bodily injury caused by another driver. In California, the average annual cost for non-owner state minimum liability coverage is $299.

For individuals seeking to reduce their car insurance expenses, selecting only the state minimum liability coverage is an option to ensure legal driving privileges within the state. This coverage, which includes only the minimum liability requirements, carries an annual cost of $551 in California.

Coverage limitsAverage annual cost
State Minimum BI/PD$551
Liability Only – 50/100/50 BI/PD$864
Full Coverage – 100/300/100 BI/PD – 500 Comp/Coll$2,416
Non-Owners$299

Auto insurance premiums vary significantly from city to city, so drivers need to be sure they’re getting the best deal. Insure.com has done the research for you. Get more information on auto insurance rates by city below.

Average car insurance cost in California by city

Your car insurance premium is impacted by numerous factors, including your state, city, and even ZIP code. The incidents of accidents and the probability of vehicle theft or vandalism can significantly sway the overall cost within a city or ZIP code.

The table below depicts the top popular cities in California:

CityAverage annual cost
Anaheim$2,572
Bakersfield$2,477
Fresno$2,385
Long Beach$2,681
Los Angeles$3,149
Oakland$2,802
Sacramento$2,665
San Diego$2,324
San Francisco$2,777
San Jose$2,406

Average car insurance cost in California by age of the driver

Age is a significant factor affecting auto insurance premiums. Teenagers have a higher likelihood of being involved in car accidents compared to any other age group. For instance, in California, the average annual rate for young drivers is $3,622, whereas for seniors, it’s $2,424. Notably, the rate for young drivers surpasses that of senior drivers by $1,198.

Statistics indicate that young drivers face a greater risk of car accidents than seasoned drivers. Consequently, they are classified as high-risk individuals. They are more expensive to insure due to tendencies such as speeding and limited road experience. However, premiums rise again around age 70 as certain age-related factors may affect driving capabilities.

Average car insurance cost in California for young drivers

In California, female young drivers typically pay an average annual car insurance cost of $3,620 and $302 per month.

Conversely, male young drivers pay an average annual rate of $3,623, or $302 per month.

The average annual rates for young male and female drivers are listed in the table below:

Age of driverAverage annual cost for Male driversAverage annual cost for Female drivers
20$4,380$4,381
21$3,734$3,726
22$3,508$3,506
23$3,335$3,332
24$3,149$3,149

Average car insurance cost in California for senior drivers

In California, senior female drivers pay an annual car insurance cost of $2,423, equating to $202 per month. Similarly, male senior drivers face an average yearly expense of $2,424, or $202 per month.

Age of driverAverage annual cost for Male driversAverage annual cost for Female drivers
65$2,284$2,284
70$2,416$2,416
75$2,573$2,570

Read more about senior car insurance.

Minimum car insurance requirements in California

Every state establishes guidelines regarding the minimum car insurance coverage drivers must possess to be able to drive vehicles legally. As per details provided by the California Department of Insurance, the required coverages and minimum coverage limits in California are as follows:

  • Bodily injury per person: $15,000
  • Bodily injury per accident: $30,000
  • Personal property coverage per person: $5,000

Cheapest cars to insure in California

The Subaru Forester is most affordable average annual insurance premium, standing at $2,123, with the Subaru Crosstrek trailing closely behind at $2,183. The annual difference in insurance costs between these two models amounts to $60.

MakeModelAverage annual premium
SubaruForester$2,123
SubaruCrosstrek$2,183
HondaHR-V$2,187
HondaOdyssey$2,190
VolkswagenTiguan$2,197
SubaruAscent$2,205
HondaCR-V$2,210
MazdaCX-5$2,220
KiaSeltos$2,221
MazdaCX-30$2,222

Most expensive cars to insure in California

The Audi R8 Performance, at an average annual premium of $7,967, tops the list as the most expensive car to insure. However, the difference between the cheapest and most expensive cars to insure is $5,844 annually.

MakeModelAverage annual premium
AudiR8 Performance$7,967
MaseratiQuattroporte$7,540
PorschePanamera Turbo S E-Hybrid$7,031
PorscheTaycan Turbo$6,837
Porsche911 Turbo$6,813
MaseratiQuattroporte Trofeo$6,747
PorschePanamera 4S E-Hybrid$6,662
Porsche911 Sport Classic$6,594
PorscheTaycan GTS$6,546
AudiR8$6,399

Methodology

The Insure.com team worked with Quadrant Information Service to get car insurance data. Our team of data analysts and expert editors have analyzed 56,838,240 insurance quotes from 136 insurance companies across 34,523 ZIP codes to determine the average premiums. The insurance rates are based on a sample profile of a 40-year-old male driver with a clean driving record and a good insurance score. Quotes premiums are for a full coverage policy with limits of 100/300/100. The quoted insurance rates are for comparison purposes, and your rates may vary.

How much is car insurance in other states

Alaska$1,676/Year
Alabama$1,860/Year
Arkansas$1,957/Year
Arizona$1,812/Year
Colorado$2,337/Year
Connecticut$1,725/Year
Delaware$2,063/Year
Florida$2,694/Year
Georgia$1,970/Year
Hawaii$1,517/Year
Iowa$1,630/Year
Idaho$1,428/Year
Illinois$1,532/Year
Indiana$1,515/Year
Kansas$1,900/Year
Kentucky$2,228/Year
Louisiana$2,883/Year
Massachusetts$1,726/Year
Maryland$1,746/Year
Maine$1,175/Year
Michigan$2,352/Year
Minnesota$1,911/Year
Missouri$1,982/Year
Mississippi$2,008/Year
Montana$2,193/Year
North Carolina$1,741/Year
North Dakota$1,665/Year
Nebraska$1,902/Year
New Hampshire$1,265/Year
New Jersey$1,902/Year
New Mexico$2,049/Year
Nevada$2,060/Year
New York$1,870/Year
Ohio$1,417/Year
Oklahoma$2,138/Year
Oregon$1,678/Year
Pennsylvania$1,872/Year
Rhode Island$2,061/Year
South Carolina$2,009/Year
South Dakota$2,280/Year
Tennessee$1,677/Year
Texas$2,043/Year
Utah$1,825/Year
Virginia$1,469/Year
Vermont$1,319/Year
Washington$1,608/Year
Wisconsin$1,664/Year
West Virginia$2,005/Year
Wyoming$1,758/Year
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Prachi Singh
Contributing Researcher

 
  

Prachi is an insurance writer with a master’s degree in business administration. Through her writing, she hopes to help readers make smart and informed decisions about their finances. She loves to travel and write poetry.

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