In our research, we found that average car insurance in California (CA) is $177 per month for a full coverage policy. This guide to buying car insurance for California drivers is based on rate data research and expert advice from our veteran staff of insurance analysts and editors. You’ll learn how much coverage to buy, how much it will cost, and learn how auto insurance in California works to protect you and your family.
Here you will find out everything you need to know to buy car insurance in California. We provide average California auto insurance rates for your neighborhood. You’ll also learn how much car insurance you need for your particular situation. That means you’ll know what to expect when shopping for auto insurance in California – and you won’t overpay for it. You'll also see rates for the following:
- Low cost auto insurance for drivers with tickets
- Companies ranked from cheapest to most expensive for drivers with accidents
- Ranking of the best car insurance companies for California drivers
- Rates and savings by coverage level, ZIP code and company
- How much is car insurance in California, CA ?
- Best Car Insurance in California
- How to Get Cheap Car Insurance in California?
- Cheapest car insurance in California by company
- Get car insurance quotes in California
- California car insurance rates near you by ZIP Code
- Average cost of car insurance in California by city
- California car insurance laws
- Recommended car insurance coverage in California
- SR-22 car insurance in California without a car
- Largest car insurance companies in California
How much is car insurance in California, CA ?
The average car insurance rate in California is $2,125 a year ($177 monthly) for a driver age 30 for full coverage. That’s $367 more a year than the nationwide average annual rate of $1,758.
Coverage limits | Average annual rate |
---|---|
Liability Only - state minimum | $606 |
Liability Only - 50/100/50 BI/PD | $752 |
Full Coverage - 100/300/100 BI/PD $500 Comp/Collision deductible | $2,125 |
- Average rates for three coverage levels and six age groups by ZIP code
- Rates and savings by coverage level, ZIP code and company
- Average increase to rates for accidents, tickets, bad credit
- Best California car insurance companies based on customer satisfaction survey

Best Car Insurance in California
There’s no one best type of car insurance for everyone. Some drivers are willing to pay a bit more for outstanding customer service, some want the lowest rates, while others prefer carriers who can handle claims and payments through mobile apps. Here we highlight the best car insurance companies in California for various services, based on a survey of current policyholders. Scores are out of 100.
- Best car insurance in California for customer service: Allstate ranked as the best in this category, with a score of 91 out of 100. It was followed by USAA, which serves active military members and their immediate family members, with a score of 90. CSAA Insurance group placed third with a score of 88.
- Best for claims handling: American family placed first in this category (95), followed by Mercury (94). Rounding out the top three was CSAA Insurance group, with a score of 93.
- Best for mobile apps/website: Safeco was the top insurer when it came to ease-of-use and functionality of its website and apps, scoring 89. USAA placed second (87) and Farmers was third (86).
How to Get Cheap Car Insurance in California?
The most effective way to find low cost California insurance is to compare car insurance quotes from multiple carriers. Your age, your driving record, the model of car you have, the severity and frequency of claims in your neighborhood and other variables are used by insurance companies to figure out the cost of your policy. That’s why the price for the same coverage can vary significantly among insurance companies — and why you should compare rates. You should comparison shop upon renewal, but also if you move, add a vehicle or teen driver to your policy, get married or divorced or buy a home.
Other tips for garnering the most affordable California car insurance include:
- Maximizing discounts, for instance bundling your home and auto with the same company can save up to 12% on your auto costs.
- Dropping comprehensive and collision for cars that are worth less than $3,000
- Hiking your deductible amount, for instance, from $500 to $1,000
Cheapest car insurance in California by company
Below you'll see how car insurance companies in California rank on price. Below are average annual rates for California, ranked cheapest to most expensive, for three coverage levels:
- State minimum liability requirements
- Liability limits of $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident and $50,000 property damage
- Liability of $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident and $100,000 property damage, with comprehensive and collision at $500 deductible
Company | State minimum average annual rate | 50/100/50 average annual rate | 100/300/100 average annual rate |
---|---|---|---|
Geico Gen Ins Co | $358 | $470 | $1,490 |
United Financial Cas Co | $499 | $667 | $1,795 |
Allstate Northbrook Ind Co | $651 | $714 | $2,223 |
State Farm Mut Auto Ins Co | $681 | $883 | $2,345 |
Farmers Ins Exch | $717 | $859 | $2,387 |
Amco Ins Co | $728 | $918 | $2,510 |
Get car insurance quotes in California
When comparing car insurance quotes, you will typically need to provide fairly basic information:
- ZIP code
- Basic personal information – name, age, birthday
- Driving history
- Current insurance company
- Information on other drivers in your household
- Vehicle make and model
- Desired coverage types, limits and deductibles
More detailed quotes may also require:
- All vehicles VIN (vehicle identification number)
- If you own, lease or financed your vehicle
- Annual mileage
- All household driver’s license numbers
- Amount of time you’ve been insured
Once you provide the information, you will typically get a quote that is in many cases an estimate of what you will pay. Generally, you won’t get the actual rate until you lock in a policy. If the difference between the quote and your rate is significant, you can opt out of buying the policy, though generally the estimate will be fairly accurate. Once you are ready to buy a policy you will for certain need to have handy specific information, such as your driver’s license number, VIN and so on.
California car insurance rates near you by ZIP Code
You can see average car insurance rates for nearly all ZIP codes in California by using the tool below. Unlike nearly all other states, in California your credit history isn't allowed to be factored into your car insurance rate, and where you live is considered, but not given as much weight as in other states. California insurance companies primarily factor in the number of years you've been driving, your driving record and how many miles you drive when deciding how much you pay. But every company uses its own method for assessing risk. That’s why the cost for the same policy can vary significantly among insurance companies – and why you should compare rates.
How do I use the calculator to get average car insurance rates in California?
Enter a ZIP code in the tool below to see the average premium for the location. You will also see the highest and lowest rates from the six major carriers surveyed. You can get a more customized rate by choosing from among six age groups and three coverage levels. This way you can tell if your quotes are too high and if you should keep shopping for a lower rate.
California Car Insurance Rates by ZIP Code
Average cost of car insurance in California by city
Below you'll see how average annual rates for several of the largest cities in the state compare to state and national averages. Rates are for coverage of $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident in liability and $50,000 of property damage coverage, with comprehensive and collision carrying a $500 deductible.
City | Average Premium |
---|---|
Anaheim | $2,233 |
Bakersfield | $2,113 |
Chula Vista | $1,944 |
Fremont | $1,999 |
Fresno | $2,135 |
Garden Grove | $2,324 |
Glendale | $3,390 |
Huntington Beach | $2,101 |
Irvine | $2,104 |
Long Beach | $2,322 |
Los Angeles | $3,142 |
Modesto | $2,115 |
Oakland | $2,422 |
Oceanside | $1,960 |
Ontario | $2,329 |
Oxnard | $2,093 |
Pomona | $2,382 |
Riverside | $2,198 |
Sacramento | $2,312 |
Salinas | $1,981 |
San Bernardino | $2,451 |
San Diego | $1,996 |
San Francisco | $2,411 |
San Jose | $2,082 |
Santa Ana | $2,250 |
Santa Clarita | $2,312 |
Santa Rosa | $1,977 |
Stockton | $2,253 |
California | $2,125 |
National | $1,759 |
California car insurance laws
Car insurance rates vary by state, as each state has its own laws that stipulate how much coverage you need to drive legally. Other state laws may or may not ban the use of credit or gender and other factors when rates are being set by insurance companies. For instance, California does not allow the use of credit, or gender. Here we’ll explain California insurance laws that impact your rates, as well as those that relate to moving violations.
Minimum bodily injury liability | $15,000/$30,000 |
Minimum property damage liability | $5,000 |
California laws mandate that you carry minimum liability coverage limits of 15/30/5 on your vehicle. While buying just minimum coverage means you are getting the cheapest car insurance in California, you are only covered for damage you do to other drivers’ cars and for others’ injuries. That means your insurer won’t pay for damage to your car or for your injuries if you cause an accident.
Keep in mind that a minor accident could easily exceed minimum liability coverage limits, leaving you responsible to pay for damages not covered by insurance. For example, if you have $30,000 in bodily injury liability insurance and you cause an accident that costs $50,000, you have to pay $20,000 out-of-pocket. If you don’t have the money on hand, your assets may be taken to cover the costs. California also has one of the lowest property damage liability limits in the country at just $5,000. If you hit a car and it costs more than $5,000 to fix it, you’re on the hook for the rest of the bill.
Recommended car insurance coverage in California
When deciding how much car insurance to buy, you need to assess your particular situation. To drive legally, you must buy at least the minimum liability insurance required by your state. If you didn’t borrow money from a lender to buy your car and you don’t have a lot of money or assets to protect, that might be a wise choice. If, however, you don’t own your car outright, you will be required to get comprehensive and collision coverage. Additionally, if you have a home and savings to protect, it’s wise to buy more coverage.
The more money and assets you have, the more likely it is that you may be sued following a car accident. Unless you are determined to pay the lowest car insurance rate possible, we recommend you buy higher than minimum liability coverage. If your net worth is:
- less than $50,000, choose at least 50/100/50
- between $50,000 and $100,000, choose at least 100/300/100
- more than $100,000, choose at least 250/500/100
If you're leasing or financing your car, you automatically need coverage of 100/300/100 or higher.
Collision coverage pays for damage to your car after an accident that you cause. Comprehensive insurance pays to replace stolen cars and for damages from vandalism, flooding, hail, fire and animal strikes. If your car is:
- less than 10 years old, you should strongly consider buying collision and comprehensive.
- more than 10 years old, only buy collision and comprehensive if your car is worth $3,000 or more, if you couldn’t afford to replace your car if it’s wrecked, or if you just want more protection on your policy.
CarInsurance.com data show that comprehensive costs an average of $151 in California yearly; collision is $997. If you buy comp and collision, check our guide to choosing a deductible amount.
Uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage pays for damages if you’re hit by a driver with no insurance or a driver with coverage that’s insufficient to pay for your repairs and medical expenses. These should match the liability limits you choose. In most states, including California, these coverages are optional.
Medical payments coverage can help pay for the medical or funeral expenses of covered drivers and passengers after an accident, regardless of fault, up to $25,000. In most states, including California, it's an optional addition to your car insurance policy. MedPay does the following:
- Covers you and your passengers’ medical expenses
- Pays for expenses after health insurance limits are exceeded
- Offers additional protection to insured drivers who are hit by a car while walking or biking
If you and your passengers:
- Don’t have health insurance, or have a plan that doesn’t cover car accidents or has low limits, we recommend that you add medical coverage of at least $5,000 to your car insurance policy.
- Do have health insurance, it’s still a good idea to have medical coverage if you want the best protection in your policy, as it can pay out after your health benefits are maxed out.
If you got a loan to pay for your car and have an accident, gap insurance pays the difference between the cash value of your car and the current outstanding balance on your loan or lease.
- If you’re financing your car, your car is less than one year old and you’ve put less than 20 percent down on it, you should buy gap insurance. If not, you don’t need gap insurance.
- If you’re leasing your car, it’s a good idea to buy gap insurance if you don't already have the coverage in your lease agreement.
- If you own your car outright, you don’t need gap insurance.
SR-22 car insurance in California without a car
If you're required to carry an SR-22 but don't own a vehicle, you need to buy a non-owner car insurance policy. An SR-22 can only be filed by car insurance companies after you have obtained at least the state-mandated coverages as part of a car insurance policy. It can be required whether you own a car or not.
If you don’t own a car, and need an SR-22, it’s likely that a state regulatory entity is requiring you to have an insurer certify that you have the ability to pay future auto accident claims (up to the certain mandated limits). This is done by having an SR-22 form filed on your behalf by your insurance provider. You’ll likely need to buy a policy before your driving privileges are reinstated if you’re not currently insured.
You’ll need to contact your insurance company once a court or state entity lets you know that you need an SR-22. Not all insurance companies file SR-22 forms, so you’ll have to check to verify yours does. The SR-22 will be on file with your state DMV or traffic authority.
States can mandate certain non-car owners to obtain car insurance and carry an SR-22 to verify financial responsibility because state agencies are aware that it’s possible for these individuals to be negligent and harm other people and their property while driving, even if the car they’re operating isn’t owned by them.
Largest car insurance companies in California
Rank | Company | Premiums Written | Market Share |
---|---|---|---|
1 | State Farm Group | 3,910,351 | 14.34% |
2 | Farmers Insurance Group | 3,158,814 | 11.59% |
3 | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group | 2,502,854 | 9.18% |
4 | Allstate Insurance Group | 2,446,564 | 8.97% |
5 | USAA Group | 1,218,792 | 4.47% |
6 | Progressive Insurance Group | 1,147,186 | 4.21% |
7 | Liberty Mutual Insurance Companies | 929,058 | 3.41% |
8 | Nationwide Group | 649,410 | 2.38% |
9 | Travelers Group | 246,416 | 0.90% |
10 | American Family Insurance Group | 66,296 | 0.24% |
Source: A.M. Best; State/Line (P/C Lines) - P/C, US; Data as of:November 28, 2018