Car insurance premiums in California can vary widely based on the vehicle you own. Insurers consider not only the make and model, but also safety ratings, likelihood of theft, cost of repairs and other factors, including age, location and driving record.
We’ve listed the most affordable cars to insure in California by category, from sedans to sports cars and EVs.
Ranked: The cheapest cars to insure in California
In California, Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester have the cheapest car insurance rates, followed by Volkswagen Tiguan and Honda HR-V, based on our research.
The table below highlights the most affordable vehicles to insure in California, including their average six-month full coverage premiums.
| Car make-model | Average six-month premium |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | $1,161 |
| Subaru Forester | $1,184 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | $1,185 |
| Honda HR-V | $1,190 |
| Honda Odyssey | $1,192 |
| Chevrolet Express | $1,227 |
| Honda Pilot | $1,236 |
| Mazda CX-5 | $1,240 |
| Hyundai Tucson | $1,243 |
| Hyundai Kona | $1,250 |
Read more: Cheapest cars to insure across the United States
Most affordable cars to insure by vehicle type in California
Auto insurance rates differ based on the type of vehicle. Typically, Van models have the lowest premiums, while Performance Car tend to cost the most to insure.
Whether you drive a sedan or a luxury vehicle, we’ve crunched the numbers to find out which models cost the least to insure by vehicle type and their average six-month full-coverage premiums.
Cheapest sedans to insure in California
Our data shows that Subaru Legacy is the most affordable sedan to insure in California. Its average six-month full coverage cost is $1,320 for a policy with limits of 100/300/100 and $500 collision and comprehensive deductibles.
The Volkswagen Jetta takes the second spot at $1,358, while the Honda Civic Sedan comes in third with an average cost of $1,409.
The table below shows the cheapest sedans to insure in California and their average full coverage six-month costs.
| Vehicle model (sedan) | Average six-month premium |
|---|---|
| Subaru Legacy | $1,320 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | $1,358 |
| Honda Civic Sedan | $1,409 |
| Nissan Versa | $1,413 |
| Nissan Sentra | $1,417 |
| Kia Forte | $1,441 |
| Toyota Corolla | $1,459 |
| Volkswagen Jetta GLI | $1,466 |
| Hyundai Elantra | $1,466 |
| Honda Accord | $1,493 |
| Nissan Altima | $1,496 |
| Toyota Camry | $1,530 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | $1,548 |
| Mazda 3 Sedan | $1,580 |
| Kia K5 | $1,661 |
| Hyundai Sonata | $1,702 |
| Mitsubishi Mirage G4 | $1,707 |
Learn more: Cheapest sedans to insure across the United States
SUVs with the cheapest car insurance costs in California
The Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester are the cheapest SUVs to insure in California, with an average cost of $1,161 and $1,184 respectively for a six-month full coverage policy. The table below shows how the SUVs compare in terms of insurance rates.
| Vehicle model (SUV’s) | Average six-month premium |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | $1,161 |
| Subaru Forester | $1,184 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | $1,185 |
| Honda HR-V | $1,190 |
| Honda Pilot | $1,236 |
| Mazda CX-5 | $1,240 |
| Hyundai Tucson | $1,243 |
| Hyundai Kona | $1,250 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | $1,267 |
| Chevrolet Equinox | $1,272 |
| Subaru Ascent | $1,277 |
| Toyota RAV4 | $1,295 |
| GMC Terrain | $1,308 |
| Kia Sportage | $1,311 |
| Buick Encore GX | $1,316 |
| Nissan Murano | $1,321 |
| Mini Cooper Countryman | $1,321 |
| Toyota 4Runner | $1,321 |
| Volkswagen Atlas | $1,322 |
| Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport | $1,322 |
Learn more: Cheapest SUVs to insure across the United States
Sports cars with affordable insurance rates in California
Sports cars often come with hefty insurance premiums because of their powerful engines, making them more prone to speeding violations, accidents, costly repairs and theft.
However, some models break the mold. Take the Mazda MX-5 Miata, for example, which is among the most affordable on our list, with an average six-month full coverage cost of $1,419.
The table below highlights the average six-month full coverage cost of various sports cars.
| Vehicle model (Sport cars) | Average six-month premium |
|---|---|
| Mazda MX-5 Miata | $1,419 |
| Honda Civic Si | $1,551 |
| Chevrolet Camaro | $1,723 |
| Ford Mustang | $1,751 |
| Subaru WRX | $1,763 |
| Subaru BRZ | $1,771 |
| Porsche 718 Boxster | $1,880 |
| BMW Z4 | $1,932 |
| Honda Civic Type R | $2,008 |
| Toyota GR Corolla | $2,011 |
| Toyota GR86 | $2,012 |
| Toyota GR Supra | $2,028 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | $2,059 |
| Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 | $2,202 |
| Porsche 718 Cayman | $2,234 |
| Chevrolet Corvette Z06 | $2,456 |
| Jaguar F-Type | $2,475 |
| Porsche 911 | $2,763 |
| Nissan Z | $3,031 |
| Porsche 911 GT3 | $3,183 |
Learn more about cheapest sports cars to insure
Most affordable luxury vehicles to insure in California
Luxury cars are equipped with high-end components and advanced systems, making them expensive to fix or replace and resulting in high insurance rates. Unlike luxury vehicles, smaller SUVs such as the Honda CR-V, Honda HR-V and Volkswagen Tiguan generally have lower insurance premiums.
Among luxury vehicles, the Acura RDX has the lowest insurance cost at $1,276 for a six-month full coverage policy. The Cadillac XT4 and Acura MDX also have affordable insurance rates at $1,313 and $1,329, respectively.
This table highlights the average full coverage insurance cost for different luxury vehicles for a six-month policy with limits of 100/300/100 and $500 collision and comprehensive deductibles.
| Vehicle model (Luxury cars) | Average six-month premium |
|---|---|
| Acura RDX | $1,276 |
| Cadillac XT4 | $1,313 |
| Acura MDX | $1,329 |
| Cadillac XT5 | $1,383 |
| Jaguar E-Pace | $1,438 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class | $1,503 |
| BMW X3 | $1,516 |
| Audi Q3 | $1,524 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class | $1,530 |
| Land Rover Discovery Sport | $1,535 |
| Lincoln Corsair | $1,548 |
| Infiniti QX50 | $1,559 |
| BMW X1 | $1,563 |
| Porsche Macan | $1,565 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe | $1,571 |
| Cadillac XT6 | $1,609 |
| BMW X2 | $1,622 |
| Acura TLX | $1,626 |
| Audi Q7 | $1,645 |
| Infiniti QX60 | $1,645 |
Read more about insuring luxury cars in 2025
Top electric cars with cheap insurance rates in California
Electric vehicles are more expensive to buy and insure than many of their gas-powered counterparts because of their expensive components, such as batteries, and the cost of parts and labor to repair them.
According to our data analysis, insuring an electric vehicle costs an average of $4,241 a year or $353 a month.
Below is a list of the most affordable EVs to insure in California for a full coverage policy and average six-month premiums.
| Vehicle model (EVs) | Average six-month premium |
|---|---|
| Mini Cooper Electric | $1,287 |
| Nissan Leaf | $1,400 |
| Hyundai Kona Electric | $1,561 |
| Kia Niro EV | $1,598 |
| Chevrolet Silverado EV | $1,636 |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | $1,642 |
| Chevrolet Blazer EV | $1,657 |
| Subaru Solterra | $1,730 |
| Genesis Electrified GV70 | $1,773 |
| Volvo XC40 Recharge | $1,812 |
| Jaguar I-Pace | $1,817 |
| Nissan Ariya | $1,819 |
| Audi Q4 e-tron | $1,825 |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | $1,830 |
| Toyota bZ4X | $1,834 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | $1,835 |
| Kia EV6 | $1,897 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | $1,904 |
| Volvo C40 Recharge | $1,912 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQB | $2,007 |
Learn more about how much does insuring an electric vehicle cost
Cheapest cars to insure for teens and young drivers in California
Young drivers, especially those under 25, typically face higher car insurance premiums due to their inexperience behind the wheel. Opting for a vehicle that’s safe, affordable to repair and less likely to be targeted by thieves can make a big difference in keeping insurance costs down.
An 18-year-old driver can expect to pay $3,031 to insure a Honda CR-V, while insuring a Honda Odyssey costs $3,049 for a six-month full coverage policy for 18-year-olds.
The table below lists the most affordable cars to insure in each category, making it easier for young drivers and their families to choose and make informed insurance decisions.
Choose your state and vehicle type to see average six-month insurance rates by vehicle make-model for teens and young drivers.
Final thoughts
While your choice of car has a major impact on your insurance premium, it’s not the only factor. Your driving record, location and coverage level all play a role in calculating your premium. We’ve put together this guide to help you decide on a car that aligns with your needs and keeps your insurance rates in check.
See which cars are cheapest to insure in neighboring states
Frequently asked questions
Do electric cars have lower insurance costs in California?
Generally speaking, EVs are more expensive to insure than gas-powered vehicles. However, some electric cars are relatively affordable to insure compared to similar gas-engine vehicles.
For example, it costs $1,287 to insure a Mini Cooper Electric for a six-month policy, whereas the insurance cost of a Nissan Leaf is $1,400, according to our analysis.
Which SUVs are the cheapest to insure in California?
The Honda CR-V is one of the cheapest SUVs to insure in California, with an average cost of $1,161 for a six-month car insurance plan. The Subaru Forester and Volkswagen Tiguan also come with relatively low insurance premiums.
What are the cheapest cars to insure for teen drivers in California?
The Honda CR-V, Honda Odyssey, Subaru Forester and Volkswagen Tiguan are some of the cheapest cars to insure for an 18-year-old driver in California. On the other hand, Mercedes-AMG GT, BMW i7 and Maserati Quattroporte are the most expensive vehicles to insure for a young driver.
Methodology
CarInsurance.com collected data from Quadrant Information Services for different makes and models. The rates are based on sample profiles of 18-year-old and 40-year-old drivers carrying full coverage policies with limits of 100/300/100 and $500 collision and comprehensive deductibles.
To evaluate the premiums, we have compared 67,566,780 insurance quotes from 57 insurance companies for 1,661 makes and models across 510 ZIP codes nationwide. The rates are for comparison purposes only; your exact rates may vary.
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