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As the most populous state in the nation, it's no wonder that California is notorious for jammed roadways.
With all those cars on the road, a solid auto insurance policy is essential for Golden State drivers of all ages and backgrounds. This guide to California car insurance will get you on the right path to the perfect policy for you and your lifestyle. Compare the cheapest and best quotes in California here.
Here are the cheapest carriers in California for the following user profile: a single, 30 year old male with a clean driving record who drives a 2012 Honda Accord and pays a $1,000 deductible for the state’s minimum liability insurance. We averaged rates for the twenty most populous cities in California.
| Cheapest Companies | |
|---|---|
 State Farm | $61/mo |
GEICO | $64/mo |
 Nationwide | $106/mo |
 Mercury | $106/mo |
 American Family | $124/mo |
The Insurify Composite Score is calculated by analyzing multiple factors that indicate the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company. Inputs to the score include financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings, Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys, mobile app reviews, and user-generated carrier reviews. The following are the top rated carriers that offer car insurance in California. For the complete list, see Insurify's best car insurance companies.
| Best Companies | ||
|---|---|---|
Nationwide | $106/mo | |
American Family | $124/mo | |
State Farm | $61/mo | |
GEICO | $64/mo | |
Mercury | $106/mo |
Auto insurance costs will vary between locations and insurance carriers. Insurify analyzed the latest data for the five most populous cities in California to find you the cheapest quotes in each of these metropolitan areas.
California's most populous city is Los Angeles - home to over 4 million people and notoriously difficult commutes for drivers.
| City | Cheapest Carrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | GEICO | $90/mo |
| San Diego |  State Farm | $61/mo |
| San Jose | State Farm | $64/mo |
| San Francisco | State Farm | $76/mo |
| Fresno | GEICO | $73/mo |
| Sacramento | GEICO | $79/mo |
| Long Beach | State Farm | $80/mo |
| Oakland | GEICO | $93/mo |
| Bakersfield | GEICO | $71/mo |
| Anaheim | State Farm | $79/mo |
| Santa Ana | GEICO | $81/mo |
| Riverside | GEICO | $72/mo |
| Stockton | State Farm | $80/mo |
| Chula Vista | State Farm | $63/mo |
| Irvine | GEICO | $67/mo |
| Fremont | State Farm | $65/mo |
| San Bernardino | State Farm | $79/mo |
| Modesto | State Farm | $79/mo |
| Oxnard | State Farm | $79/mo |
| Fontana | GEICO | $76/mo |
| Alameda |  Clearcover | $110/mo |
| Alhambra |  Travelers | $161/mo |
| Aliso Viejo | Travelers | $118/mo |
| Antelope |  Anchor | $135/mo |
| Antioch | Clearcover | $125/mo |
| Berkeley | Travelers | $115/mo |
| Beverly Hills | Clearcover | $158/mo |
| Brentwood | Travelers | $141/mo |
| Buena Park | Anchor | $139/mo |
| Burbank |  Metromile | $137/mo |
| Camarillo |  Freedom National | $102/mo |
| Campbell | Freedom National | $116/mo |
| Canoga Park | Travelers | $167/mo |
| Carlsbad | Freedom National | $106/mo |
| Carmichael | Freedom National | $126/mo |
| Carson | Travelers | $138/mo |
| Cerritos | Clearcover | $145/mo |
| Chatsworth | Travelers | $180/mo |
| Chico | Freedom National | $97/mo |
| Chino Hills | Clearcover | $141/mo |
| Citrus Heights | Anchor | $122/mo |
| Clovis | Travelers | $116/mo |
| Concord | Freedom National | $104/mo |
| Corona | Freedom National | $153/mo |
| Costa Mesa | Metromile | $80/mo |
| Covina | Anchor | $152/mo |
| Cupertino | Freedom National | $89/mo |
| Cypress | Anchor | $145/mo |
| Daly City | Freedom National | $155/mo |
| Danville | Freedom National | $122/mo |
| Davis | Clearcover | $105/mo |
| Diamond Bar |  Mercury | $158/mo |
| Dublin | Clearcover | $114/mo |
| El Cajon | Freedom National | $113/mo |
| El Dorado Hills | Clearcover | $116/mo |
| Elk Grove | Progressive | $136/mo |
| Emeryville | Freedom National | $112/mo |
| Encinitas | Freedom National | $94/mo |
| Escondido | Freedom National | $114/mo |
| Fairfield | Anchor | $128/mo |
| Folsom | Clearcover | $118/mo |
| Fountain Valley | Travelers | $122/mo |
| Fullerton | Freedom National | $135/mo |
| Garden Grove | Travelers | $134/mo |
| Gilroy | Freedom National | $106/mo |
| Glendale | Clearcover | $181/mo |
| Goleta | Travelers | $100/mo |
| Hacienda Heights | Freedom National | $97/mo |
| Hawthorne | Travelers | $138/mo |
| Hayward | Freedom National | $125/mo |
| Hesperia | Freedom National | $138/mo |
| Hollister | Travelers | $120/mo |
| Huntington Beach | Travelers | $123/mo |
| Indio | Progressive | $123/mo |
| La Habra | Travelers | $150/mo |
| La Jolla | Clearcover | $115/mo |
| La Mesa | Freedom National | $122/mo |
| La Puente | Freedom National | $147/mo |
| Laguna Niguel | Travelers | $112/mo |
| Lake Elsinore | Anchor | $138/mo |
| Lake Forest | Travelers | $125/mo |
| Lancaster | Anchor | $130/mo |
| Livermore | Clearcover | $124/mo |
| Manteca | Anchor | $134/mo |
| Marina Del Rey | Freedom National | $141/mo |
| Menifee | Freedom National | $125/mo |
| Menlo Park | Anchor | $116/mo |
| Milpitas | Clearcover | $124/mo |
| Mission Viejo | Travelers | $124/mo |
| Monrovia | Anchor | $142/mo |
| Moreno Valley | Anchor | $141/mo |
| Morgan Hill | Freedom National | $109/mo |
| Mountain View | Freedom National | $111/mo |
| Murrieta | Travelers | $131/mo |
| Napa | Clearcover | $112/mo |
| Newark | Clearcover | $99/mo |
| Newport Beach | Travelers | $121/mo |
| North Hollywood | Clearcover | $169/mo |
| Northridge | Clearcover | $162/mo |
| Norwalk | Travelers | $152/mo |
| Oceanside | Travelers | $123/mo |
| Ontario | Anchor | $145/mo |
| Orange | Freedom National | $112/mo |
| Pacifica | Freedom National | $84/mo |
| Pacoima | Freedom National | $153/mo |
| Palm Desert | Clearcover | $113/mo |
| Palm Springs | Travelers | $109/mo |
| Palmdale | Anchor | $139/mo |
| Palo Alto | Freedom National | $92/mo |
| Pasadena | Freedom National | $142/mo |
| Perris | Anchor | $147/mo |
| Pittsburg | Anchor | $133/mo |
| Placentia | Anchor | $136/mo |
| Pleasanton | Travelers | $122/mo |
| Pomona | Anchor | $135/mo |
| Porterville | Freedom National | $98/mo |
| Rancho Cordova | Travelers | $127/mo |
| Rancho Cucamonga |  Aspire General | $143/mo |
| Rancho Palos Verdes | Travelers | $128/mo |
| Rancho Santa Margarita | Clearcover | $123/mo |
| Redding | Freedom National | $90/mo |
| Redlands | Freedom National | $104/mo |
| Redondo Beach | Travelers | $120/mo |
| Redwood City | Freedom National | $93/mo |
| Reseda | Freedom National | $171/mo |
| Rocklin | Travelers | $131/mo |
| Rosemead | Anchor | $137/mo |
| Roseville | Travelers | $122/mo |
| Salinas | Aspire General | $76/mo |
| San Bruno | Freedom National | $143/mo |
| San Leandro | Freedom National | $130/mo |
| San Luis Obispo | Freedom National | $89/mo |
| San Marcos | Travelers | $110/mo |
| San Mateo | Travelers | $127/mo |
| San Pablo | Travelers | $161/mo |
| San Ramon | Freedom National | $111/mo |
| Santa Barbara | Clearcover | $99/mo |
| Santa Clara | Travelers | $126/mo |
| Santa Cruz |  Kemper | $71/mo |
| Santa Maria | Freedom National | $88/mo |
| Santa Monica | Progressive | $129/mo |
| Santa Rosa | Travelers | $121/mo |
| Sherman Oaks | Clearcover | $176/mo |
| Simi Valley | Travelers | $136/mo |
| South Gate | Freedom National | $141/mo |
| South Pasadena | Clearcover | $138/mo |
| South San Francisco | Clearcover | $118/mo |
| Spring Valley | Travelers | $120/mo |
| Studio City | Freedom National | $157/mo |
| Sun Valley | Freedom National | $152/mo |
| Sunnyvale | Travelers | $113/mo |
| Sylmar | Anchor | $159/mo |
| Tarzana | Clearcover | $179/mo |
| Temecula | Freedom National | $133/mo |
| Thousand Oaks | Freedom National | $110/mo |
| Torrance | Freedom National | $127/mo |
| Tracy | Travelers | $129/mo |
| Turlock | Anchor | $133/mo |
| Tustin | Freedom National | $129/mo |
| Union City | Freedom National | $115/mo |
| Upland | Freedom National | $118/mo |
| Vacaville | Travelers | $118/mo |
| Valencia | Clearcover | $135/mo |
| Vallejo | Progressive | $93/mo |
| Valley Village | Anchor | $175/mo |
| Van Nuys | Anchor | $174/mo |
| Venice | Clearcover | $131/mo |
| Ventura | Freedom National | $99/mo |
| Victorville | Travelers | $145/mo |
| Vista | Freedom National | $117/mo |
| Walnut Creek | Freedom National | $106/mo |
| Watsonville | Kemper | $86/mo |
| West Hollywood | Clearcover | $167/mo |
| Westminster | Travelers | $132/mo |
| Whittier | Anchor | $141/mo |
| Winnetka | Freedom National | $183/mo |
| Woodland Hills | Freedom National | $166/mo |
| Yucaipa | Clearcover | $128/mo |
For drivers in California, that are looking for the cheapest quote possible, you can consider a state minimum policy for liability insurance.
To simplify finding the cheapest minimum liability quote, Insurify has analyzed rates from top insurance providers in California. The following are the cheapest insurance rates from carriers that offer minimum liability auto insurance in California.
| Cheapest companies | |
|---|---|
 Freedom National | $76/mo |
 Anchor | $76/mo |
 21st Century | $77/mo |
Progressive | $84/mo |
 SafeAuto | $90/mo |
For drivers in California, that are looking for a full coverage policy that includes comprehensive and collision insurance it’s important that you evaluate all of your potential insurance options to ensure you are finding the best rate.
To simplify comparing companies, Insurify has analyzed rates from top insurance providers in California. The following are the best insurance rates from carriers that offer full coverage auto insurance in California.
| Cheapest companies | |
|---|---|
 Travelers | $155/mo |
 Clearcover | $162/mo |
Anchor | $172/mo |
21st Century | $173/mo |
Freedom National | $186/mo |
California effected a number of new traffic laws for 2018, including legislation on DUI policies for rideshare service drivers, seat belts on public transport, and smoking or ingesting cannabis in moving vehicles. Most significantly, a change in the California Department of Motor Vehicle's road rehabilitation and maintenance program signals that registration or renewed registration of a motor vehicle will now come with a fee of $25 to $175.
California's minimum liability car insurance limits are as follows:
Here are the cheapest insurance companies in California based on averaged sample rates for four driver profiles that included varied gender, age, driving history, credit, marital status, prior insurance, higher education, employment, and military service. Average rates may vary depending on the profile and background of the policyholder.
For California drivers with a clean driving record free of any moving violations, auto insurance rates may be significantly lower. State Farm offers the best options for good drivers in California, at $61 a month. With both cheaper premiums and additional safe driving discounts, it can really pay to have a record free of accidents or traffic tickets.
| Insurance Company | |
|---|---|
State Farm | $61/mo |
GEICO | $64/mo |
Mercury | $106/mo |
Nationwide | $106/mo |
American Family | $124/mo |
Everybody makes mistakes and has to deal with the fallout. The fallout for a DUI is rough: court fines, reinstatement fees, SR-22 filing, and years of paying more for car insurance to name only a few. Finding affordable rates on car insurance with a DUI is no small feat. If you find yourself really struggling to get an affordable rate, consider only carrying liability coverage as a way to save.
| Insurance Company | |
|---|---|
Progressive | $87/mo |
Grange | $95/mo |
Wawanesa | $100/mo |
The sinking feeling after realizing you’ve caused an accident is no exaggeration. Even a tiny fender bender can raise rates to levels that significantly alter your budget. If you’ve paid for accident forgiveness you may have caught a break. If not: discounts, discounts, discounts.
And comparison shopping at least every time your policy is up for renewal: insurance companies look at different time windows for driving history. For example, one company might look at the last five years while the other looks at the last three. Here are the best rates we could find for drivers with one at-fault accident.
| Insurance Company | |
|---|---|
Progressive | $62/mo |
Grange | $75/mo |
USAA | $87/mo |
The need for speed can soon turn into the need for a new budget. Speeding tickets can affect people differently. But essentially, the more often you speed—and the higher your mph—the more points you’ll receive on your driver’s license. Higher points mean higher prices in the car insurance game. The best way to lower costs? Slow down and find a discount program, like a defensive driving course reduction.
| Insurance Company | |
|---|---|
USAA | $57/mo |
Progressive | $71/mo |
Grange | $79/mo |
If you’re under 40 years old in the state of California, you will likely pay more for auto insurance coverage than the average driver. Since inexperienced drivers pose a higher risk for insurance providers, their rates are often significantly higher. Progressive and USAA offer the cheapest car insurance rates for young drivers, averaging $68 a month. New drivers must abide by special driving restrictions, including curfews, electronic device limitations, and passenger age restrictions. Be sure to familiarize yourself with these rules before hitting the road.
Insurance policies for 21-year-olds generally run higher than the national average by a significant margin. Even though they’re no longer considered teen-drivers, 21-year-olds are still regarded as high-risk to insurers. Unlike most states, California 21-year-olds benefit from the state’s ban on using gender, education level, and credit score as factors when calculating premiums. This will generally help young Californians lower their monthly payments. To find the cheapest car insurance for 21-year-olds, use a car insurance quotes comparison site like Insurify.
| Insurance Company | |
|---|---|
Progressive | $68/mo |
USAA | $68/mo |
Wawanesa | $79/mo |
Esurance | $86/mo |
Grange | $87/mo |
If your license has been suspended or revoked, these car insurance companies will file an SR-22 with the state of California on your behalf.
With a population nearing 40 million, it's no wonder the California Department of Motor Vehicles has nearly 180 outposts across the state.
Every office is open weekdays from 8 AM to 5 PM, with some locations offering additional early-morning and weekend hours. The DMV is notorious for long lines and wait times; beat the wait by making an appointment online or by calling 1-800-777-0133 before your visit. Appointments can be made up to 90 days in advance. Keep in mind that before visiting a DMV to register your vehicle, you’ll need to have proof of insurance.
At the DMV, California residents can access services like driver's license and identification card registration and renewal, vehicle registration, and license plate pick-up, as well as service provided by the California Department of Insurance. Many services are available online and via U.S. Mail for convenience. Regardless of where you live in the Golden State, a DMV shouldn't be too far.
Drawing from their database of over 4 million car insurance shopper applications, the data scientists at Insurify have published various reports on driver behavior and car ownership — including how California drivers measure up to their fellow motorists across the United States in the rankings above.
From driver performance across different geographical locations and demographics to patterns in motor vehicle ownership and auto insurance coverage, Insurify Insights publishes data-driven articles, trend analyses, and national and local rankings each week on all factors related to cars and those who drive them.
While car accidents are a sadly unavoidable feature of time spent on the road, rates of accidents do vary from city to city and from state to state. Among all fifty states, California drivers rank 16 in the number of car accidents per driver.
Exceeding the speed limit can endanger others and leave a permanent stain on your driving record. California drivers rank 39 in the number of speeding infractions per driver across all fifty states.
While driving while intoxicated is never acceptable, it’s a more common offense than many assume. California drivers rank 17 in the number of DUI’s per driver across all fifty states.
Some car models are just more popular than others and trends can vary from place to place. The most popular vehicle in California is the Honda Civic.
The Insurify team classifies rude drivers as those who commit the following driving offenses: failure to yield or failure to stop, improper backing, passing where prohibited, tailgating, street racing, or hit-and-runs. Among all fifty states, California drivers rank 15 in rude driving infractions.
Having a squeaky-clean driving record is an accomplishment to be proud of. Some states have safer drivers than others; California drivers rank 23 in clean driving records across all fifty states.
Street racing might seem like something straight out of a Fast and Furious movie, but it’s a real issue that threatens public safety. Among all fifty states, California drivers rank 14 in street racing violations per driver.
Failing to yield the right of way isn’t just frustrating for other drivers; it’s dangerous, too. California drivers rank 44 in failure to yield violations per driver across all fifty states.
Reckless driving refers to a specific traffic violation: when drivers willfully act dangerously in spite of the risks they’re imposing on both themselves and others. Among all fifty states, California drivers rank 28 in the number of reckless driving offenses per driver.
As auto manufacturers increasingly turn towards producing greener car models, more and more motorists are embracing hybrids and EV’s. California drivers rank 2 in hybrid and electric vehicle ownership across all fifty states.
The EPA reports that the United States' transportation sector accounts for 27% of national greenhouse gas emissions. In a country of over 263 million registered vehicles, many communities are taking action to reduce their environmental impact and vehicular carbon footprint. This city has been named the "greenest" in the state by Insurify.
The Green California program, through the state government, aims to lessen California's carbon footprint and promote sustainable government-funded solutions to climate change. The state is on pace to reduce petroleum consumption by over 20 percent by 2020, thanks to statewide legislation. Over 600 state fleet vehicles are zero-emission vehicles, or ZEVs. The decades-old, Sacramento-based Planning and Conservation League continues to push for alternative and public transportation expansion statewide.
Beginning in 2018, Insurify launched the Most Patriotic Cities Awards, which salute the community in each state with the highest percentage of individuals who currently serve in the military or identify as armed service veterans.
Twentynine Palms won Insurify's Most Patriotic Cities Award for the state of California. It is adjacent to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms.
Insurify used a recent report from TripNet to rank twenty-five states by roads in poor condition, structurally deficient bridges, and fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on rural roads. Knowledge of infrastructure in California is vital for all car insurance shoppers hitting the road in The Golden State.
The car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations on this page are derived from Insurify’s proprietary database of over 4 million car insurance applications from ZIP codes across the United States. Insurify’s data science team performs a comprehensive analysis of the various factors car insurance providers take into account while setting rates to provide readers insight into how car insurance quotes are priced.
