Here you’ll learn everything you need to know to buy the best car insurance policy in San Jose for your particular situation. You’ll see which carriers are rated as the best car insurance companies for customer satisfaction and what the average car insurance rates are for your neighborhood.
You’ll also discover how much you can save from knowing how to make smart choices about coverage. And, find out how rates for San Jose drivers are affected by tickets, accidents and adding teen drivers.
- The average car insurance rate for San Jose drivers for minimum coverage is $521 a year, according to Carinsurance.com analysis.
- The liability coverage in San Jose, CA costs $753 per year.
- In San Jose, full coverage car insurance policy costs $1,819 a year.
- As per Carinsurance.com research, in San Jose, comparing quotes from companies can help you save an average $1,260 on your car insurance rates annually.
How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in San Jose, CA?
We all know that the cost of car insurance varies depending on your individual needs. But how much does it actually costs? CarInsurance.com analysed major insurers including Geico, Progressive Insurance Company (Progressive), State Farm, Allstate Co. and others, to determine average San Jose coverage costs for different levels and types.
The average rate for San Jose drivers for a year of minimum coverage is $521 according to our rate analysis. If you increased your coverage to 50/100/50, you would pay just about $19.33 more a month, or $232 more a year.
You can get full coverage (100/300/100) by paying $108.17 more a month, or an additional $1,298 a year more than minimum-level coverage.
Average Auto Insurance Rates in San Jose, CAThe following data shows, what you can expect to pay for car insurance in San Jose, on average.
- State Minimum Policy: $521 per year
- Liability Coverage (50/100/50): $753 per year
- Full Coverage (100/300/100): $1,819 per year
Who Has Cheapest Car Insurance in San Jose, California?
GEICO and United Financial Casualty Co have the cheapest car insurance rates in San Jose, based on our rate analysis for three different coverage levels.
The driver profile is for age 40, with good credit and a clean driving record. You can see how major insurers rank for price in the chart below.
| Company | Liability Only – State Minimum BI/PD | Liability Only – 50/100/50 BI/PD | Full Coverage – 100/300/100 BI/PD – 500 Comp/Coll |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEICO General Ins Co | $273 | $424 | $1,116 |
| USAA Casualty Ins Co | $337 | $485 | $1,235 |
| Alliance United Ins Co | $416 | $658 | $2,277 |
| United Financial Casualty Co | $423 | $582 | $1,171 |
| CSAA Ins Exchange | $429 | $561 | $1,932 |
| Mercury Ins Co | $466 | $712 | $1,476 |
| Travelers Commercial Ins Co | $468 | $698 | $1,998 |
| State Farm Mutl Automobile Ins | $502 | $814 | $2,157 |
| Interinsurance Exchange | $519 | $705 | $1,848 |
| Hartford Underwriters Ins Co | $600 | $809 | $2,000 |
| Metropolitan Direct P&C Ins Co | $620 | $926 | $1,942 |
| Nationwide Ins Co of Am | $626 | $945 | $1,956 |
| Allstate Northbrook Ind Co | $629 | $795 | $1,888 |
| California Capital Ins Co | $638 | $934 | $1,916 |
| Farmers Ins Exchange | $870 | $1,250 | $2,376 |
Who Has The Best Car Insurance in San Jose, CA?
Deciding who has the best car insurance to suit your needs depends on what is most important to you. For some it may be price, while others may value customer service the most. Still others may be looking for the convenience of mobile apps, or a company that offers the most car insurance discounts.
Below we list car insurance companies in San Jose, and who they are the best at serving, based on CarInsurance.com’s customer satisfaction survey of current policy holders and rate data analysis.
| Best for | Company |
|---|---|
| Claims | Esurance |
| Value/Price | Travelers |
| Customer Service | Geico |
| Websites/Apps | Safeco |
| Recommend | Geico |
| Low Annual Mileage | Farmers Ins Exchange |
| Good Student | AMCO Insurance |
| Bundle | Farmers Ins Exchange |
| Married | United Financial Casualty |
How Much Car Insurance do I Need in San Jose, CA?
Below we’ll explain what coverage you need to drive legally, which is your state required minimum liability limits, and what types of car insurance you may need to be truly protected.
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in San Jose, CA
California car insurance laws require only that you insure yourself against bodily injury and property damage liability, so it’s your choice whether to add coverage for yourself, your passengers, and your vehicle.
If you have a newer model car, it makes sense to get comprehensive insurance and collision coverage. In California, comprehensive costs $103 and collision costs $880, on an average per year, according to a rate data analysis done by CarInsurance.com.
These optional coverages come with a deductible. That’s the amount you pay before your insurance company pays. Typical deductibles amounts are $1,000, $500 and $250 – you choose which one you want. The higher the deductible is, the lower your rate will be.
The best car insurance coverage usually isn’t the cheapest. You may be used if you’re in an accident and your insurance doesn’t cover all of the damages. That means your home or savings could be in jeopardy.
To protect your assets, you should buy liability insurance in the following amounts:
- $1,00,000 to pay for others’ medical bills
- $3,00,000 to pay for injuries to others in an accident you cause
- $1,00,000 to pay for damage to others’ property
You should also consider buying these optional coverages:
- Comprehensive, which replaces stolen cars and covers damage to your car from floods, fire, hail, vandalism.
- Collision, which pays for damage to your car from accidents.
Compare Car Insurance Quotes in San Jose, CA & Save Money
You can save an average of $1,260 annually on a full coverage policy in San Jose by comparing car insurance quotes, according to CarInsurance.com’s rate analysis. While savings will depend on your particular circumstances, this shows that there is a significant benefit to shopping your policy.
San Jose, CA Car Insurance FAQ’s
How much does insurance go up after a speeding ticket in San Jose, CA?
A speeding ticket in San Jose will hike your car insurance rates by an average of 55% , or about $1,334 yearly. CarInsurance.com’s rate analysis shows how much more drivers in San Jose can expect to pay, on average, for speeding and other common violations.
Minor traffic violations, such as speeding, typically stay on your record for about three years, and you can expect to see the rate increase upon your policy renewal date. More severe infractions, such as DUI, typically stay on your record much longer.
How much does insurance go up for tickets in San Jose, CA?
San Jose drivers can expect to see a hike in their rates in the range of 55% for minor moving violations such as tailgating or blowing through a stop sign, 181% for more severe infractions such as DUI.
Below you’ll see how much rates increase, on average, for common traffic violations.
Remember, though, that because insurance companies assess risk differently, you can still save by comparison shopping, because one carrier may ding you a lot for a citation, while another may spike your rate by much less.
| Violation | Average rate | Rate after violation | $ Increase | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 speeding tickets 11 mph or over | $2,408 | $4,877 | $2,469 | 103% |
| Careless driving | $2,408 | $4,652 | $2,244 | 93% |
| Distracted driving ticket | $2,408 | $3,436 | $1,028 | 43% |
| Driving without a license or permit | $2,408 | $3,837 | $1,429 | 59% |
| Driving without insurance | $2,408 | $3,199 | $791 | 33% |
| DUI/DWI first offense | $2,408 | $7,232 | $4,824 | 200% |
| DUI/DWI second offense | $2,408 | $12,235 | $9,827 | 408% |
| Failure to stop | $2,408 | $3,394 | $986 | 41% |
| Failure to yield | $2,408 | $3,394 | $986 | 41% |
| Following too closely | $2,408 | $3,394 | $986 | 41% |
| Improper turn | $2,408 | $3,394 | $986 | 41% |
| Improper/illegal pass | $2,408 | $3,394 | $986 | 41% |
| Operating a vehicle in a race (highway racing) | $2,408 | $6,970 | $4,562 | 189% |
| Reckless driving | $2,408 | $7,014 | $4,606 | 191% |
| Seatbelt infraction | $2,408 | $3,027 | $619 | 26% |
| Talking on cellphone ticket | $2,408 | $3,414 | $1,006 | 42% |
| Texting ticket | $2,408 | $3,414 | $1,006 | 42% |
How much will an accident raise my insurance in San Jose, CA?
An accident will increase car insurance rates by 67% to 163%, on average, for drivers in San Jose. When you file a claim for an accident that’s your fault, typically your car insurance rates will increase.
However, claims under your comprehensive coverage, if you have it as it’s optional, typically won’t trigger an increase. That’s because comprehensive claims are for damage insurers consider to be beyond your control, for instance due to hail, fire, flooding, falling objects or collisions with an animal.
The table below shows how much for drivers in San Jose can expect to pay for common car insurance claims.
| Accident | Average Rate | Rate after claim | $ Increase | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 At-fault property damage accident over $2K | $2,408 | $4,014 | $1,606 | 67% |
| 1 At-fault property damage accident under $2K | $2,408 | $4,014 | $1,606 | 67% |
| 2 At-fault property damage accident over $2k | $2,408 | $6,330 | $3,922 | 163% |
| At-fault bodily injury accident | $2,408 | $4,686 | $2,278 | 95% |
How much does it cost to add a teen driver to your insurance in San Jose, CA?
In San Jose, adding a 16-year-old daughter to your policy will hike your rates by $2,578 annually, or 142% It’s more for boys. Insuring your 16-year-old son will increase your yearly rate by $2,578, or 142% according to CarInsurance.com rate data.
Teen drivers are inexperienced, and are involved in more accidents than older drivers, according to federal research, and insurance companies categorize them as high-risk drivers, so they cost more to insure.
If you’re insuring a teen driver of any age, you can get expert tips, more rate data by age and details from our “Parents guide to insuring a teen driver.”
How much is SR-22 insurance in San Jose, CA?
CarInsurance.com data show that for drivers in San Jose, your rate will go up by an average of $2,443 or 101%. If you’re convicted of a serious offense, such as DUI or reckless driving, you may be required to have your insurance company file an SR-22 form on your behalf.
An SR-22 is a car insurance company’s guarantee to the state that you are carrying the legally mandated coverage. If you are required to have an SR-22 filed, your car insurance rates will increase.
San Jose Commuters
San Jose drivers don’t usually carpool.
Of the nearly 503,000 workers 16 or older in San Jose, CA, nearly 76% commute to work alone, only 11.7% carpool and a mere 4.5% take public transportation, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The median travel time for the average worker from San Jose is 29.4 minutes.
According to Data USA, at nearly 30 minutes, San Jose employees have a longer commute than the normal U.S. worker, which is 25.5 minutes. Also, 3% of workers in San Jose drive more than 90 minutes for work, making them “super commuters.”
Vehicle ownership
Compared nationally, San Jose households are within the average range for car ownership. The largest share of households in the city has two cars, followed by three cars, according to recent statistics from Data USA.
- 2015 Households Without Vehicles: 5.5%
- 2016 Households Without Vehicles: 5.1%
- 2015 Vehicles per Household: 2.07
- 2016 Vehicles per Household: 2.12
Motor vehicle accidents
Over the last 30 years, San Jose’s injury crash rate declined to 2.2 injury crashes per 1,000 population in 2018. That’s less than one-third of the national average, according to the city’s Annual Transportation System Safety Report.
The injury crash rate dipped, but traffic fatalities are up in San Jose, according to the same report. Over the last 10 years, San Jose’s traffic fatalities declined to a low of 29 in 2010, reached a peak of 60 in 2015 and plateaued around 50 per year in recent years. While the city’s population grew less than 10% during this period, traffic fatalities have increased 37%.
In 2018, 52 people died in San Jose as the result of a traffic collision:
- Walking – 24
- Motor Vehicle – 18
- Motorcycle – 7
- Biking – 4
San Jose, as reported by the police department, historically has a high number of pedestrian-auto related fatalities.
Traffic fatalities in San Jose:
2012
- Total traffic fatalities: 30
- Pedestrian-related deaths: 12
2013
- Total traffic fatalities: 42
- Pedestrian-related deaths: 21
2014
- Total traffic fatalities: 43
- Pedestrian-related deaths: 24
2015
- Total traffic fatalities: 60
- Pedestrian-related deaths: 23
2016
- Total traffic fatalities: 50
- Pedestrian-related deaths: 18
2017
- Total traffic fatalities: 46
- Pedestrian-related deaths: 16
2018
- Total traffic fatalities: 52
- Pedestrian-related deaths: 24 Speeding-related fatal crashes
There were three speeding-related fatal crashes in San Jose in 2016, the latest report available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Two of the crashes each involved a single person. A third crash, in which one died, involved three people. All three crashes occurred on a non-Interstate roadway.
Vision Zero initiative
The Bay Area region of California, which includes San Jose, is often cited as having among the worst traffic congestion in the country.
A group of national organizations in 2014 adapted Vision Zero, which developed in Sweden, to establish a national strategy on highway safety referred to as Toward Zero Deaths (TZD). It focuses on data-driven topics such as safer drivers, safer passengers, safer users, enhanced medical services, safer infrastructure and safer vehicles. In 2014, San Jose Department of Transportation (DOT) registered as a “proud partner” of the Toward Zero Deaths program.
In March of 2015, San Jose joined nearly 200 cities across the country in becoming a “Vision Zero” city, accepting a challenge to deliver on a series of actions to support safer streets. That same year, 60 traffic-related deaths were reported in San Jose, which was the highest total in the city in more than 20 years.
DUIs
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.8% of Californians report driving after drinking too much. Those results are in line with the national average of 1.9%.
Police reported that there were 952 arrests in San Jose 2015 (the latest available) for drunk driving, down from 2014, when it was at an even 1,000. It is notable that the numbers, which are reported by the California Office of Traffic Safety, show a steady decline from 2011, during which there were 1,528 DUIs issued, 1,165 in 2012 and and 1,129 in 2013.
A recent study by the Moll Law Group shows that the decline in major cities across the United States, including San Jose, has happened since the inception of ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft.
San Jose distracted driver law
California law prohibits cell phone use while driving, except in hands-free mode. The only exceptions are if you are driving on private property or use the phone to call for emergency services.
Otherwise, it’s considered an infraction, and using a cell phone while driving can get you a $20 base fine for the first offense and $50 for the second.
San Jose’s most dangerous intersections
There were nearly 8,000 intersection-related traffic collisions in San Jose from 2013 to 2017, leaving 103 dead and another 10,118 wounded, according to a study commissioned by Henshaw & Henry, PC.
The study found Alum Rock to be the most dangerous San Jose neighborhood for car crashes, with 1,042 crashes and 1,399 injuries between 2013-2017. In that period, the most dangerous intersection proved to be McLaughlin Avenue and Story Road, with 34 total crashes and 45 total injuries.
Road test pass rate
Road test pass rate data gathered from thousands of YoGov’s DMV customers for the past years across the Bay Area shows that San Jose has a 58% pass rate. Compare that to surrounding areas, with 66% in Redwood City, 79% in Pleasanton and 33% in Oakland.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.
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John McCormick
Editorial Director
John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Managing Editor
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.
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Nupur Gambhir
Managing Editor
Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.
Guide to car insurance (with rates) in cities of California