Average car insurance cost in San Diego, California

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According to our data, the average annual cost of car insurance in San Diego is $2,835 – $175 less than the California average cost and $322 more than when compared to the national average.

Insurance rates can vary significantly depending on where you live. Factors such as population density and accident and theft rates influence premium costs, making some areas more expensive or affordable than others.

Understanding how rates in San Diego compare to state and national averages can help you spot a good deal, or know when it’s time to shop around. Below, we’ll break down local trends, show how rates vary, and explain how to save.

Cheap car insurance companies in San Diego

GEICO offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance in San Diego at $1,814 per year with coverage limits of $100,000 in bodily injury per person, $300,000 total per accident and $100,000 for property damage.

The second most affordable option in San Diego is Kemper, with an average annual premium of $2,360.

Car insurance rates differ from one company to another because each insurer has its own underwriting process to determine premiums. That’s why shopping around and comparing quotes from multiple insurance companies is key to finding affordable coverage that meets your needs.

The following table compares average yearly and monthly car insurance costs from different companies in San Diego.

Read about the best car insurance companies.

Average car insurance cost in San Diego by coverage limits

Here’s a breakdown of average car insurance rates in San Diego by coverage type.

• State minimum coverage: $737 per year (limits are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 total bodily injury liability per accident and $25,000 property damage liability per accident).
• Liability only coverage: $986 per year (limits are $50,000 bodily injury liability per person, $100,000 total bodily injury liability per accident and $50,000 property damage liability per accident).
• Full coverage: $2,835 per year (limits are $100,000 bodily injury liability per person, $300,000 total bodily injury liability per accident and $100,000 property damage liability per accident).
• Non-owners coverage: $386 per year

Most states require drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance to legally operate a vehicle, but the specific coverage limits vary by state. Liability insurance is designed to cover injuries or property damage you cause to others in an accident.

However, it’s important to understand that minimum coverage won’t pay for your own medical bills or repairs to your vehicle if you’re at fault. If you want protection for your own car, you’ll need to add collision and comprehensive coverage to your policy.

Average car insurance rates by gender in San Diego

Female drivers in San Diego pay about $2,835 per year for car insurance, while male drivers spend $2,835, which is equals to what females pay.

Gender is commonly used to calculate premiums in most states, but some states, including California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, don’t allow insurers to use gender to calculate premiums.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, or Triple-I, women generally demonstrate safer driving habits and are less likely to be involved in severe accidents. Insurers account for this elevated risk, resulting in increased insurance premiums for male drivers.

Read more on how gender affects car insurance rates.

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Average car insurance rates by age in San Diego

Teen drivers in San Diego pay the highest car insurance premiums, at $6,663 per year or $555 per month.

Data from the Insurance Information Institute shows that teens aged 16 to 19 are more likely to be involved in crashes due to inexperience, which leads to higher insurance rates. On average, teen drivers pay $2,478 more annually than young adult drivers.

As teen drivers get older and gain more experience, their car insurance premiums usually decrease. On average, young adults aged 20 to 24 pay $4,185 per year for car insurance – that’s $2,478 less than what teen drivers typically pay.

Adult drivers aged 25 to 55 pay an average of $2,878 per year for car insurance, while seniors aged 60 to 75 pay around $2,835 annually.

Read more on auto insurance for seniors.

Below you’ll find average annual full coverage car insurance rates for drivers of different age groups.

Car insurance rate trends in San Diego

Car insurance premiums in San Diego showed an upward trend between 2023 to 2025, with average rates changing by 22% or about $511.

The graph below tracks insurance costs from 2022 to 2025, highlighting long-term trends that help explain today’s rate changes.

How drivers can save on insurance even with higher rates

Drivers in San Diego pay lower than the state average for car insurance. The good news? You can often cut costs by comparing quotes from several insurers and using discounts – like bundling policies, safe driver rewards, or low-mileage savings.

Methodology

Insure.com commissioned car insurance rates in 2025 from Quadrant Information Services. To determine the average premiums, our team of data analysts and expert editors analyzed 53,409,632 insurance quotes from 170 insurance companies across 34,588 ZIP codes.

The insurance rates are based on a sample profile of a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record and a good insurance score. Quotes premiums are for a full coverage policy with limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury per person
• $300,000 bodily injury per accident
• $100,000 property damage per accident
• $500 comprehensive and collision deductible

The quoted insurance rates are for comparison purposes, and your rates may vary.

Shivani Gite

Contributing Writer

 

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Shivani Gite is a personal finance and insurance writer with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She is passionate about making insurance topics easy to understand for people and helping them make better financial decisions.