Low-cost car insurance in California

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GEICO provides the lowest car insurance rates in California at $2,038 a year. The average premium is $251 per month in California, though your actual rate may vary.

Car insurance requirements differ by state. In California, drivers are required to carry at least the minimum liability coverage: $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage per accident.

Full coverage car insurance can be a smart choice for drivers who want more than the bare minimum. It combines liability with collision and comprehensive coverage, protecting not only other drivers and their property but also your own vehicle in cases of accidents, theft, or weather damage.

Below, you’ll find which insurance companies are the most affordable for different categories.

Key Takeaways

GEICO offers the lowest car insurance rates in California, at $2,038 per year, which is about $972 the state average.
GEICO has the lowest car insurance rates for drivers with a history of at-fault accidents, with an average annual cost of $4,117.
The ZIP code 96067 has the low-cost car insurance rates in California, at an average annual rate of $2,258.

Low-cost car insurance companies in California

Among all insurers in California, GEICO comes in lowest at $2,038 per year – $972 less than the statewide average. Keep in mind that your actual premium depends on factors like age, driving history, ZIP code, and the type of car you drive.

Comparing quotes from multiple companies is the best way to make sure you’re getting a competitive rate.

Below are the annual premiums from the cheapest car insurance companies in California.

Company	Average annual rates
GEICO	$2,038
Kemper	$2,584
Progressive	$2,684
Mercury Insurance	$2,782
CSAA Insurance (AAA)	$2,874
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)	$2,967
State Farm	$3,078
Farmers	$3,409
Travelers	$3,604
Allstate	$3,922
Nationwide	$4,227
USAA*	$2,080

*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

How we choose low-cost car insurance companies in California

170+

Carriers reviewed

78M+

Quotes analysed

34K+

ZIP codes examined

ZIP codes with the cheapest car insurance in California

Drivers in the 96067 ZIP code pay the lowest average annual premium in California, at $2,258. See which other areas of the state offer more affordable rates below.

ZIP code	City	Average annual rates
96067	Mount Shasta	$2,258
96097	Yreka	$2,294
96094	Weed	$2,304
93402	Los Osos	$2,360
96080	Red Bluff	$2,361
93950	Pacific Grove	$2,382
96064	Montague	$2,391
93428	Cambria	$2,399
93930	King City	$2,408
96093	Weaverville	$2,409

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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.

Car insurance rates in California by city

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Low-cost car insurance in California by age

Young drivers often face the highest premiums. In California, for example, a 16-year-old pays $5,030 more than a 40-year-old driver.

The table below shows how rates change by age group.

Age group	Full coverage annual premiums
Teens (16-19)	$7,103
Young Adults (20-24)	$4,391
Adults (25-60)	$3,052
Seniors (65-75)	$3,016

Low-cost car insurance in California by driver history

Your driving record is one of the biggest factors in your insurance price. Tickets or accidents will raise your premium, while drivers with clean records are considered lower risk and typically receive more affordable coverage.

Low-cost car insurance after a speeding ticket in California

One speeding ticket in California can cause your insurance rates to jump by 48%, or roughly $1,444 per year. Combined with the cost of the fine, a violation can get expensive fast. The table below highlights insurers with lower-priced options even after a ticket.

Company	Average annual premium	New rate after accident	% Increase	$ Increase
GEICO	$2,038	$3,180	56%	$1,142
CSAA Insurance (AAA)	$2,874	$3,646	27%	$772
Mercury Insurance	$2,782	$3,963	42%	$1,180
Progressive	$2,684	$4,149	55%	$1,465
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)	$2,967	$4,273	44%	$1,307
State Farm	$3,078	$4,640	51%	$1,562
Farmers	$3,409	$4,745	39%	$1,336
Travelers	$3,604	$5,419	50%	$1,815
Allstate	$3,922	$5,685	45%	$1,763
Nationwide	$4,227	$7,914	87%	$3,687
USAA*	$2,080	$2,537	22%	$458

*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

Low-cost car insurance after an accident in California

GEICO offers the lowest car insurance rates to drivers after an at-fault accident at $4,117 a year.

If you’re in an accident and are at fault, you will see your car insurance premiums increase. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t shop around to find better rates.

Below, you’ll see which companies offer low-cost car insurance for drivers with one accident on their record.

Company	Average annual premium	New rate after accident	% Increase	$ Increase
GEICO	$2,038	$4,117	102%	$2,079
CSAA Insurance (AAA)	$2,874	$4,379	52%	$1,505
Progressive	$2,684	$4,435	65%	$1,751
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)	$2,967	$4,818	62%	$1,852
Mercury Insurance	$2,782	$4,880	75%	$2,097
State Farm	$3,078	$5,179	68%	$2,100
Farmers	$3,409	$5,495	61%	$2,086
Travelers	$3,604	$6,244	73%	$2,640
Nationwide	$4,227	$8,006	89%	$3,779
Allstate	$3,922	$9,367	139%	$5,445
USAA*	$2,080	$3,423	65%	$1,343

*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

Low-cost car insurance after a DUI in California

A DUI often places drivers in the high-risk driver category, resulting in much higher rates. Still, some companies in California keep their premiums lower than others. The table below shows the most affordable options available after a DUI.

Company	Average annual premium	New rate after accident	$ Increase	% Increase
Mercury Insurance	$2,782	$4,954	$2,172	78%
GEICO	$2,038	$5,125	$3,087	151%
Progressive	$2,684	$6,506	$3,823	142%
Travelers	$3,604	$7,690	$4,086	113%
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)	$2,967	$9,299	$6,333	213%
CSAA Insurance (AAA)	$2,874	$10,382	$7,508	261%
State Farm	$3,078	$10,827	$7,749	252%
Nationwide	$4,227	$12,117	$7,890	187%
Farmers	$3,409	$13,507	$10,098	296%
Allstate	$3,922	$15,641	$11,719	299%
USAA*	$2,080	$6,477	$4,397	211%

*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

Average cost of car insurance California

While full coverage is more expensive than minimum liability, the extra protection is worth it for most drivers. Liability-only policies cover damage you cause to others, but not your own car. Full coverage adds collision and comprehensive protection, covering accidents, theft, weather, and other risks.

In California, the average cost of full coverage is $497 more compared to the national average.

We recommend carrying at least 100/300/100 in coverage – $100,000 for bodily injury per person, $300,000 per accident, and $100,000 in property damage liability. These limits provide stronger protection in serious accidents that could otherwise exceed state minimums.

What is full coverage car insurance?

Full coverage includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage. Collision covers your car if it’s damaged in an accident, while comprehensive applies to damage from non-collision events such as theft, fire, or hail.

If you finance or lease your vehicle in California, your lender may require both collision and comprehensive coverage in addition to state-mandated liability insurance.

The bottom line on saving and staying protected

It’s natural to look for ways to lower your insurance costs, but cutting corners on coverage can leave you financially vulnerable after an accident.

Make sure you choose a policy that balances affordability with protection. Always compare quotes from at least three companies to find low-cost car insurance in California.

Methodology

Insure.com gathered data from Quadrant Information Services to get car insurance rates in California. The rates are based on a sample profile of a 40-year-old male and female driving a Honda Accord LX with a good insurance score and no violations on record for a full coverage insurance policy with limits 100/300/100 and $500 comprehensive and collision deductibles.

We analyzed 53,409,632 insurance quotes from 170 insurance companies across 34,588 ZIP codes nationwide.

To determine car insurance rates for high-risk drivers with a history of traffic violations, we used a sample profile of a 40-year-old male and female driver who own a Honda Accord LX.

We also used sample profiles of drivers from different age groups: Teen drivers (Age 16-19), young drivers (Age 20-24), adult drivers (Age 25-60) and senior drivers (Age 65-75)

We determined the premiums for a high-risk driver with the following incidents applied

1 At-fault property damage accident over $2K
1 At-fault property damage accident under $2K
At-fault bodily injury accident
Poor credit
DUI/DWI first offense
Speeding 30+ over limit
Speeding ticket 1-10 MPH over limit
Speeding ticket 11-29 MPH over the limit

These are sample rates, and your exact rates may vary.

Shivani Gite

Contributing Writer

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.