Home Car insurance Car insurance rates by state Low-cost car insurance in California Low-cost car insurance in California GEICO offers the lowest car insurance rates in California, based on our data. View Carriers Please enter valid zip Compare top carriers in your area Written by Shivani Gite Shivani Gite 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. | Reviewed by Nupur Gambhir Nupur Gambhir Nupur Gambhir is an insurance expert and managing editor of Insure.com. She specializes in life and health insurance content, and has experience as a marketing consultant. | Updated on: September 23, 2025 Why you can trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing the timely, accurate and expert information consumers need to make smart insurance decisions. All our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. Our team carefully vets our rate data to ensure we only provide reliable and up-to-date insurance pricing. We follow the highest editorial standards. Our content is based solely on objective research and data gathering. We maintain strict editorial independence to ensure unbiased coverage of the insurance industry. In California, GEICO offers the cheapest average premium at $1,919 per year. For comparison, the statewide average monthly cost is $201, though individual rates vary depending on your driving profile, location, and vehicle. Every state sets its own car insurance rules. In California, the minimum liability requirement is $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage per accident.For drivers who want greater protection, full coverage can be a smart investment. It combines liability with both collision and comprehensive coverage, ensuring that your own car is also covered in the event of an accident, theft, weather damage, or other unexpected events.Below, we highlight which insurers provide the most affordable rates across different driver categories. Key Takeaways GEICO has the cheapest average premium in California, coming in at $1,919 per year – about 21% compared to the state average.For drivers with an at-fault accident on their record, Mercury Insurance offers the lowest rates, with annual costs averaging $3,563.The 96067 ZIP code is the least expensive area in California for car insurance, with an average yearly premium of $1,832. Low-cost car insurance businesses in CaliforniaWhen comparing insurers in California, GEICO leads the pack with an annual average of $1,919. That’s 21% less than the statewide average. Individual premiums vary depending on your driving record, vehicle type, age, and ZIP code.To make sure you’re getting the best price, it’s always smart to check quotes from multiple carriers.Here are the annual averages from the most affordable insurance companies in California.CompanyAverage annual ratesGEICO$1,919Mercury Insurance$2,031Progressive$2,179Kemper$2,429Travelers$2,460Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$2,466CSAA Insurance (AAA)$2,600Allstate$2,627State Farm$2,701Nationwide$2,799Farmers$3,035USAA*$1,827*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.Powered by:How we choose low-cost car insurance companies in California 170+ Carriers reviewed 53M+ Quotes analysed 34K+ ZIP codes examined ZIP codes with the cheapest car insurance in CaliforniaDrivers in 96067 benefit from the lowest average premium in the state, at $1,832 per year. See the table below to find other ZIP codes in California where insurance tends to be cheaper.ZIP codeCityAverage annual rates96067Mount Shasta$1,83296097Yreka$1,85896094Weed$1,85996080Red Bluff$1,91693402Los Osos$1,92796064Montague$1,93093950Pacific Grove$1,93696093Weaverville$1,94493930King City$1,94693428Cambria$1,949Powered by: You might find interesting Average car insurance cost in CaliforniaCalifornia car insurance calculatorCar insurance calculator for teens in CaliforniaCheapest SR-22 insurance in CaliforniaDo you need insurance to register a car in California?How long does a speeding ticket stay on your record in CaliforniaHow much car insurance costs in California vs. FloridaHow much car insurance costs in California vs. NevadaHow much car insurance costs in California vs. New YorkHow much car insurance costs in California vs. OregonHow much car insurance costs in California vs. TexasHow much car insurance costs in California vs. WashingtonHow much is gap insurance in CaliforniaNon-owner car insurance in California: Which company has the cheapest rates?The best, cheapest car insurance in CaliforniaBest and cheapest companies for home and auto bundles in California 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 cityFresnoLos AngelesSan DiegoSan FranciscoSan Jose Our agents make it hassle-free to get the right quote. Call (844) 814-8854 Ethan Available Now Jack Available Now Robbie Available Now Ellie Available Now Low-cost car insurance in California by ageTeen drivers in California pay higher insurance rates than adult drivers because they are more likely to get into accidents and file claims. For example, our data shows that a 16-year-old driver pays $4,908 more than a 40-year-old driver in California.The table below shows low-cost car insurance rates for drivers of different ages. Age groupFull coverage annual premiumsTeens (16-19)$6,233Young Adults (20-24)$3,622Adults (25-60)$2,460Seniors (65-75)$2,424Powered by:Low-cost car insurance in California by driver historyInsurers weigh your driving record heavily when setting premiums. You can expect your rates to rise if you’re ticketed or at fault in an accident. On the other hand, drivers with clean records are considered lower risk and usually qualify for cheaper coverage.Low-cost car insurance after a speeding ticket in CaliforniaA single speeding ticket in California can push your rates up by 48%, or about $1,159. Along with the fine, that makes speeding a costly mistake. Here are a few insurers that still provide lower-priced coverage after a ticket.CompanyAverage annual premiumNew rate after accident% Increase$ IncreaseMercury Insurance$2,031$2,89342%$862GEICO$1,919$2,99456%$1,075CSAA Insurance (AAA)$2,600$3,29927%$699Progressive$2,179$3,36855%$1,189Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$2,466$3,55344%$1,087Travelers$2,460$3,70050%$1,240Allstate$2,627$3,80845%$1,181State Farm$2,701$4,07151%$1,370Farmers$3,035$4,22439%$1,189Nationwide$2,799$5,24187%$2,442USAA*$1,827$2,23022%$403*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.Powered by:Low-cost car insurance after an accident in California Mercury Insurance offers the lowest car insurance rates to drivers after an at-fault accident at $3,563 a year. If you’re in an accident and are at fault, you will see your car insurance premiums increase. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t shop around to find better rates.Below, you’ll see which companies offer low-cost car insurance for drivers with one accident on their record.CompanyAverage annual premiumNew rate after accident% Increase$ IncreaseMercury Insurance$2,031$3,56375%$1,532Progressive$2,179$3,60065%$1,421GEICO$1,919$3,876102%$1,957CSAA Insurance (AAA)$2,600$3,96152%$1,361Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$2,466$4,00662%$1,540Travelers$2,460$4,26373%$1,803State Farm$2,701$4,54368%$1,842Farmers$3,035$4,89261%$1,857Nationwide$2,799$5,30189%$2,502Allstate$2,627$6,275139%$3,648USAA*$1,827$3,00765%$1,180*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.Powered by:Low-cost car insurance after a DUI in California]A DUI often places drivers in the high-risk driver category, resulting in much higher rates. Still, some companies in California keep their premiums lower than others. The table below shows the most affordable options available after a DUI.CompanyAverage annual premiumNew rate after accident$ Increase% IncreaseMercury Insurance$2,031$3,616$1,58578%GEICO$1,919$4,825$2,906151%Travelers$2,460$5,250$2,790113%Progressive$2,179$5,283$3,104142%Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$2,466$7,730$5,264213%Nationwide$2,799$8,024$5,225187%CSAA Insurance (AAA)$2,600$9,392$6,792261%State Farm$2,701$9,499$6,798252%Allstate$2,627$10,478$7,851299%Farmers$3,035$12,025$8,990296%USAA*$1,827$5,690$3,863211%*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.Powered by:Average cost of car insurance California Full coverage costs more than liability-only, but for most drivers, the additional protection is worth it. Liability-only policies cover injuries and damage you cause to others, but don’t pay for your own vehicle. Full coverage adds collision and comprehensive, protecting you against accidents, theft, weather damage, and more.In California, the average cost of full coverage is $521 more compared to the national averageWe recommend carrying coverage limits of 100/300/100 – $100,000 in bodily injury per person, $300,000 per accident, and $100,000 in property damage liability. These higher limits help protect you financially in severe accidents.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 protectedEveryone wants to save on car insurance, but skimping on coverage can leave you with big bills after an accident.The best approach is to balance affordability with protection. Always compare quotes from at least three companies to find the cheapest car insurance in California.MethodologyInsure.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 applied1 At-fault property damage accident over $2K1 At-fault property damage accident under $2KAt-fault bodily injury accidentPoor creditDUI/DWI first offenseSpeeding 30+ over limitSpeeding ticket 1-10 MPH over limitSpeeding ticket 11-29 MPH over the limitThese are sample rates, and your exact rates may vary. Shivani GiteContributing 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.Find cheapest car insurance in other statesAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashington D.C.WashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingShow more In case you missed it The most expensive and cheapest cars to insure in 2025 Do you have to add a teenage driver to your car insurance policy? Teenage car insurance rates: How much is car insurance for teens? Most and least expensive trucks to insure in 2026 How much does car insurance cost for seniors in 2025? Non-owner car insurance: How to get car insurance if you don’t own a car i... 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How much used car insurance costs: Most and least expensive models to insure Average car insurance rates by age and gender 1/1 On this page Low-cost car insurance businesses in CaliforniaHow we choose low-cost car insurance companies in CaliforniaZIP codes with the cheapest car insurance in CaliforniaLow-cost car insurance in California by ageLow-cost car insurance in California by driver historyAverage cost of car insurance CaliforniaWhat is full coverage car insurance?The bottom line on saving and staying protectedMethodology ZIP Code Please enter valid ZIP See rates (844) 645-3330