Car insurance in Oakland, CA: Cheapest insurance and average rates

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Car insurance in Oakland costs $2,802 per year for full coverage – $234 monthly. In 2024, USAA offers the cheapest car insurance policies at an average of $161 monthly.

Oakland is a city in the Bay Area of California. With a population of around 430,000, it’s the eighth-largest city in the state. 

Learn about the cheapest car insurance companies in Oakland, how much car insurance you need in Oakland and how its insurance rates compare to other large U.S. cities.

How to find the best car insurance in Oakland

Shopping around is the key to finding the best car insurance in Oakland. You can compare quotes for similar policies with at least three different companies to lock in the best rates. Before you commit to a policy, don’t forget to ask if you qualify for any discounts. 

Cheapest car insurance company in Oakland

USAA offers the cheapest insurance coverage in Oakland, California, with an annual average rate of $1,934 for full coverage. But remember that USAA only works with drivers with qualifying connections to the military, such as active-duty or veteran status and their families. The next cheapest company is Geico at $2,151 per year. 

See other cheap car insurance rates in Oakland in the table below.

Average annual rates from insurers in Oakland

How much is car insurance in Oakland per month?

According to the most recent data, car insurance in Oakland costs $49 per month for a state minimum policy and $234 per month for a full coverage car insurance policy. See monthly rates from California insurers in the table below.

Monthly rates for car insurance in Oakland, California

How do rates in Oakland compare to other large cities in the U.S.?

Car insurance is cheaper in Oakland than in larger cities in the state. Compare Oakland’s monthly average rate of $234 to Los Angeles’ $262. But Oakland drivers tend to pay more than drivers in larger cities from other parts of the country and the state, including Long Beach, San Diego and San Jose.

James Brau, professor of finance at Brigham Young University, says that the more risk the insurance company must bear, the higher the premium they must charge to stay in business and make a profit. 

“Large cities tend to present more risk to the insurance companies than rural areas. Large cities have more people, more cars and higher chances of getting in wrecks or having other damage done to vehicles,” Brau says. “As such, insurance firms must charge higher premiums in cities. Cities that are relatively more dangerous, in turn, must charge higher premiums than cities that are not as risky. Insurance companies study damage losses per metropolitan area and assign premiums depending on the number of wrecks in an area.”

See how much you can expect to pay for car insurance in several major U.S. cities in the table below.

Monthly full-coverage car insurance costs in major U.S. metropolitan areas

Here’s what you need to know when driving in Oakland

Oakland drivers spend an average of 33 minutes commuting to work each way. 

Here are a few tips for drivers in Oakland, California:

• Use a maps app to get directions even if you know where you’re going – the map can reroute you to avoid traffic.
• Rush hour runs from 7:30-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. If possible, avoid the roads during these times. 

And there are a few city restrictions in Oakland. Miscellaneous driving restrictions in the city of Oakland, California:

• Drivers must stick to a speed of less than 15 mph while in the city’s parks. 
• You must turn your vehicle’s wheels against the curb if parking on a surface with a grade of at least 3%. 

How much car insurance do I need in Oakland?

In Oakland, the car insurance requirements follow the state of California’s guidelines. Here are the types of acceptable insurance:

• Motor vehicle liability insurance policy with 15/30/5 limits
• Cash deposit of $35,000 with DMV
• DMV-issued self-insurance certificate
• Surety bond for $35,000 from a company licensed to do business in California

For cash deposits or self-insurance information, contact the DMV Financial Responsibility Unit at 916-657-6677 and select Option 3. To locate a company that issues surety bonds, contact the Department of Insurance at insurance.ca.gov or 1-800-927-4357.

Remember, state minimums are merely that – the minimum insurance you must buy, according to state law. Most drivers need significantly higher coverage limits.

Average cost of car insurance in Oakland

The average annual cost of full coverage car insurance in Oakland is $2,802 – $386 more expensive than the California statewide average of $2,416. That’s quite a bit higher than the nationwide average of $1,895.

Annual average rates in Oakland for state minimum coverage and full coverage

How much does car insurance in Oakland cost with violations?

A history of moving violations can push your car insurance costs higher, especially if you commit a serious violation. 

For example, Oakland drivers see their rates increase by 78% after an at-fault accident. If you are caught speeding, that ticket could push your car insurance rates up by an average of 59%. DUIs also lead to higher costs, with an average rate increase of 178%. However, in California, credit scores cannot be used to determine car insurance rates.

See rate increases in Oakland in the table below, by violation.

Cheapest car insurance in Oakland by age

Car insurance for teens in Oakland can get expensive – the annual rate for an 18-year-old is $7,121 per year for a full coverage policy. Rates start to head down at age 25 and back up in your late 60s. See more rates by age in the table below.

Annual rates for state minimum and full coverage car insurance in Oakland, by age

Compare auto insurance rates in Oakland by ZIP code 

Where you live also plays a role in car insurance costs. In Oakland, the cheapest ZIP codes for car insurance are 94618, 9461, and 94611. The most expensive are 94601, 94606 and 94607.

See the tables below for the cheapest and most expensive ZIP codes for car insurance in Oakland. 

Cheapest annual car insurance rates in Oakland, by ZIP code 

Most expensive annual car insurance rates in Oakland, by ZIP code 

Our recommendations: Car insurance for drivers in Oakland

On average, Oakland drivers get the cheapest coverage by purchasing a policy with USAA. But USAA isn’t an option for everyone. With that, shopping around to find the most affordable policy for your unique situation makes sense. 

Don’t forget to look beyond the price point. Make sure to look at the policy details to confirm you are getting the coverage you want and need. Gather quotes from several insurance companies to find the best price. 

Many drivers get the most value out of a full coverage insurance policy with liability limits of 100/300/100. But as you accumulate wealth, consider choosing higher liability limits. Robust coverage can give you the peace of mind you need as you navigate Oakland roads. 

Resources & Methodology

Methodology

In 2024, Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to pull rates for a 40-year-old who has a 12-mile commute and drives a 2023 Honda Accord LX 10k miles annually. The hypothetical driver has full coverage, carrying policy limits of 100/300/100 with $500 deductibles for comprehensive and collision coverages. We analyzed 51,088,003 insurance quotes from 167 companies across 34,588 ZIP codes in every state and Washington, D.C.

Sarah Sharkey

Contributing Researcher

 

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Sarah Sharkey is a personal finance writer with a master’s degree in management from the Hough School of Business at the University of Florida. She enjoys helping readers find money solutions that work. She has written for numerous personal-finance publications including Money Under 30 and The College Investor.