Once a driver reaches age 25, they are no longer in the riskiest age category and their car insurance rates will begin to reflect that noticeably. When combined with a good driving record and few or no traffic tickets, a 25-year-old can expect to pay about $1,437 more than than they did at age 20 for a full coverage policy.

The average car insurance rate for a 25-year-old driver is about $2,259 per year or $188 per month for a full coverage policy. It’s $206 more than the average at age 24.

In California, 25-year-olds can expect to pay an average annual rate of $2,943 for a full-coverage car insurance policy.

Keep reading to learn more about car insurance for 25-year-olds in California.

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Written by:
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. When not writing, you can find her reading a book or watching anime.
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Reviewed by:
Laura Longero
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Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
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Cheapest car insurance for 25-year-olds in California

In California, a 25-year-old driver generally pays $2,943 per year for full coverage car insurance. California law prohibits insurance companies from using gender as a factor to calculate car insurance premiums. The table below shows the average full coverage rates from major insurance companies in California for 25-year-old drivers.

CompanyAverage annual rates
Geico$2,195
Progressive$2,626
Mercury Insurance$2,675
CSAA Insurance (AAA)$2,946
Travelers$2,950
Allstate$2,973
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$3,136
State Farm$3,196
Kemper$3,445
Farmers$3,494
Nationwide$3,658
USAA*$2,152

How much is car insurance for a 25-year-old in California each month?

How much you pay for car insurance as a 25-year-old in California will vary depending on where you live, coverage levels, credit score, driving record and the deductible you select.

The table below shows how much car insurance costs for a 25-year-old per month and per year, on average, in California.

25-year-old policyAverage annual ratesAverage monthly rates
State Minimum Liability Only$663$55
50/100/50 Liability Only$1,023$85
100/300/100 Liability with $500 Comp/Coll Deductible$2,943$245

How do rates for 25-year-olds compare to rates for other ages in California?

Car insurance premiums are typically highest during your teenage years and gradually decrease every year until you reach age 65, after which rates begin to increase again. See the chart below to understand how rates vary from your teens to age 70 in California.

AgeAverage annual ratesAverage monthly rates
16$7,324$610
20$4,381$365
25$2,943$245
40$2,416$201
65$2,284$190
70$2,416$201

Check out our detailed guide on the average car insurance rates by age

What’s the best car insurance for 25-year-old drivers in California?

At age 25, young adults will be starting to build financial assets so they can afford more than basic liability car insurance, which pays for others’ injuries and damage you cause to their property in an accident. Typically, the state-minimum coverage isn’t enough – medical costs can quickly escalate if significant injuries occur in an accident.

As young adults gain more disposable income, they should consider comprehensive and collision coverage – a must if you’re financing a vehicle. If you have a higher deductible, you can lower your rate, but you’ll be responsible for the deductible if you make a claim.

Ultimately, the best car insurance for 25-year-olds is the policy that meets their individual needs. The Best Insurance Companies survey found that American Family is the best insurance company for young drivers and teens. Review a company’s National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) score, which ranks a company by the number of customer complaints it receives, its J.D. Power auto claims satisfaction score and AM Best data, which measures financial strength.

Car insurance discounts for 25-year-olds in California

Kevin Lynch, an assistant professor of insurance at The American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, Penn., stresses that the three biggest favors any young adult can do for themselves in terms of getting the lowest insurance rates are to stay accident-free, maintain a clean driving record and a good credit score.

“They’re the essentials of getting affordable insurance,” he says. “After that, you can look at a variety of other things such as affiliated discounts, bundling insurance policies and perhaps an in-car monitoring device.”

Other car insurance discounts that might be available:

  • Good driver/safe driver: Up to 30%
  • Multi-policy discounts: Up to 13%
  • Lower annual mileage/driving less: Up to 9%
  • Usage-based discount programs/telematics: Up to 10%
  • Paperless discount/autopay: Up to 4%
  • Loyalty discount: Up to 11%
  • Anti-theft devices: Up to 2%

In addition to discounts, consider the kind of car you choose. Practical, safe and reliable cars are cheaper to insure than sports or luxury vehicles.

Compare rates on car models like the top teen and young adult-ready cars that cost less than $15,000 with high safety ratings.

Guide: How to lower car insurance costs

Final thoughts on car insurance for 25-year-olds in California

As you gain more driving experience, your auto insurance rates will decrease. The even better news is that your rates will keep decreasing as you age. It’s crucial to compare quotes from multiple insurers in California to find the best rate and coverage options tailored to your needs.

Resources & Methodology

Sources

  1. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute. “Fatality Facts 2020, Males and Females.” Accessed October 2024.
  2. National Association of Insurance Commissioners. “NAIC Score” Accessed October 2024.
  3. J.D. Power. “2022 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study” Accessed October 2024.
  4. AM Best. “AM Best Ratings” Accessed October 2024.

Methodology

CarInsurance.com gathered auto insurance rates from Quadrant Information Services for 25-year-old male and female drivers across various coverage levels: state minimum, 50/100/50 liability, and 100/300/100 full coverage with a $500 deductible.

The rates were obtained using a sample profile of a 25-year-old individual driving a Honda Accord LX with no history of traffic violations and a good insurance score. To evaluate the rates, we compared 53,409,632 insurance quotes from 170 regional and national insurance companies, encompassing 34,588 ZIP codes across the United States.

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

Laura Longero

Ask the Insurance Expert

Laura Longero

Executive Editor

Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.

John McCormick

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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.

Leslie Kasperowicz

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Leslie Kasperowicz

Executive 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.

Nupur Gambhir

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Nupur Gambhir

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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.

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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. When not writing, you can find her reading a book or watching anime.