Advertiser Disclosure


At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.

We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.

Why you can trust Insurify: As an independent agent and insurance comparison website, Insurify makes money through commissions from insurance companies. However, our expert insurance writers and editors operate independently of our insurance partners. Learn more.

Cheapest Companies for Drivers With Bad Credit in California (2022)

For drivers with bad credit in California, it's important that you evaluate all of your potential insurance options to ensure you are finding the best rate. Comparing the right insurance companies will allow you to get the best possible insurance rate for drivers with bad credit.

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 car insurance for drivers with bad credit in California.

CarrierAvg. Monthly Cost
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.
Clearcover Inc$92
Anchor$108
Freedom National$109
21st Century Insurance$118
Aspire General Insurance$146
Travelers$146
Mercury$165
Workmen's$165
National General$166
Dairyland Insurance$186

Bad Credit Car Insurance in California

California has a reputation for being an easygoing, non-judgemental place. Whether you agree with that sentiment or not, if you’re worried your poor credit will hike your car insurance rates, California is a “chill” state to live in.

State law prohibits insurance companies from taking your credit information into account when they’re setting your rates on auto insurance, so even though drivers with bad credit pay more than the average driver, it’s not because of their personal financial information.

California Car Insurance Rates for Bad Credit Drivers

Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Insurify's comparison tool will help you make sure you're getting the best possible quote even with a bad credit rating. You can have peace of mind you're not paying any more than need to, and customers save $48 per month on average.

How Much Does Bad Credit Impact Car Insurance Rates in California?

Drivers with bad credit pay about 25 percent more than average in California, but since state law prevents these companies from discriminating based on credit, this is due to other factors.

California is on the expensive side when it comes to insurance rates, on average. In Massachusetts, where insurance companies are also prohibited from checking your credit to set your rates, drivers with bad credit pay the same as the average driver.

Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Can I Get Car Insurance With No Credit Check in California?

In the Golden State, it’s illegal for insurance companies to discriminate based on your credit when setting car insurance rates, so Californians don’t undergo a credit check when shopping for car insurance.

For those with bad credit, this is a pretty lucky break. Insurance companies almost always take credit into account when it’s legal for them to do so, and only Hawaii and Massachusetts have similar laws to protect customers from discrimination.

California Car Insurance Rates by Credit Tier

On average drivers in California with Good and Average credit scores, typically pay between 11-12% more per month than drivers who have an Excellent credit rating. For drivers with Poor credit scores, on average they pay 22% more than those in the Excellent tier. But drivers across all tiers should take advantage of quote comparison tools like Insurify to ensure that they are getting the best insurance rate for their situation, regardless of credit tier.

Credit TierAvg. Monthly Cost
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.
Excellent$232
Good$259
Average$261
Poor$282

Compare Car Insurance Quotes Instantly

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualTravelers

Car Insurance Rates With Bad Credit in California Cities

Inland cities appear to be cheaper places to drive for those with less-than-excellent credit, as well as San Diego. Predictably, Los Angeles isn’t the cheapest place to be insured, but in Whittier, southwest of the city, you’ll pay a bit less.

CityCredit TierAvg. Monthly Cost
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.
Los AngelesPoor$92
SacramentoPoor$108
StocktonPoor$109
San DiegoPoor$118
WhittierPoor$146
FresnoPoor$146
Tips for Researching Bad Credit California Car Insurance Rates

Insurance prices and policies can vary significantly between companies, and a large and growing state like California draws a wide variety of choices when factoring insurance rates for drivers with bad credit.
Insurify's rate comparison tool will help you make sure you're getting the best possible quote based on your needs and location. You can have peace of mind you're not paying any more than you need to, and customers save $585 per year on average.

Top Auto Insurance Companies

Compare Top Auto Insurance Companies

Use Insurify for all of your car insurance comparison needs! Compare and connect directly with the top insurance companies to find the best rates as well as the most personalized discounts and coverage options. Insurify’s network includes over 200 insurance companies throughout the U.S. who can work with you to get you the right auto insurance policy at the cheapest price. See All Auto Insurance Companies

FAQs - California Car Insurance

  • Why is car insurance so expensive in California?

    There are many different factors that go into the how expensive your car insurance is. That said, some of the reasons why you could be paying so much for your insurance include: living in a state with high minimum insurance requirements, being a young or new driver, committing past traffic offenses like at-fault accidents or DUIs, and having a low credit score.

  • Do car insurance rates vary by county in California?

    Auto insurance costs will vary between locations and insurance carriers, depending on the county California. 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.

  • Which providers have the best auto insurance ratings in California?

    The way to find the carrier with the best auto insurance ratings in California and save on your insurance premiums is to compare quotes from all companies in your area. Use a car insurance quotes comparison site like Insurify to compare up to 10+ real quotes for your specific driver profile and unlock savings and discounts. Rates can fluctuate greatly based on whether you're a safe driver or a high risk one, but you should never overpay. Insurify provides the cheapest car insurance quotes and companies in your area in just a few seconds.

  • How much do annual auto insurance rates increase in California?

    During the past three years in the United States, national premium costs have risen an average of 4.5 percent annually. In states where quotes have risen, this figure has been 7.8 percent; and in those where rates have fallen, prices have decreased by approximately 6.0 percent. Individual rates by state will of course vary depending on the driver’s history and a multitude of factors.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes Instantly

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualTravelers

Methodology

Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page. The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers' vehicles, driving records, and demographic information. Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Service's database of auto insurance rates. With these insights, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums.

Charlie Mitchell
Charlie MitchellInsurance Writer

Charlie Mitchell is a journalist, researcher, and writer specializing in personal finance subjects. He holds a degree from Middlebury College. His work can be found in Vox, Mother Jones, The New Republic, and other publications. Charlie uses his expertise in home, renters, and auto insurance subjects to help inform people to make better financial decisions. Connect with Charlie on LinkedIn.