3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content
Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score
Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.
Clinical Professor of Finance, University of San Diego
Dan is a well-recognized and widely quoted financial services expert, regularly appearing in a variety of national and local media as a subject matter expert.
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Located outside of Los Angeles and surrounded by mountains within driving distance, Riverside, California, has a vibrant arts and recreation community. Residents enjoy car insurance rates that are on par with state averages but lower than costs in other California cities. The city’s smaller population and lower accident rates, compared to nearby cities, could attribute to its competitive car insurance rates.[1]
The average cost of car insurance in Riverside is $253 per month for full coverage and $122 for liability-only, according to Insurify data. California's state averages, by comparison, are $232 and $119, respectively.
Riverside drivers can find cheap car insurance that fits their needs by comparing quotes from multiple insurance companies. Here's what to know about car insurance in Riverside, California.
Quick Facts
Mile Auto, Sun Coast, and Mercury are the three cheapest insurance companies for Riverside drivers.
California’s low-cost auto insurance plan is available to qualifying drivers who need affordable car insurance.
California is updating its car insurance minimum requirements to 30/60/15 in 2025.[2]
Best car insurance companies in Riverside
Finding the best car insurance company for you depends on your particular budget, coverage preferences, and driving record. Insurify analyzed and identified the best auto insurers in Riverside based on customer satisfaction, A.M. Best ratings, average quotes, and more.
Best insurer for liability-only coverage: Mile Auto
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
3.4
A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
NR
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$66/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$123/mo
Mile Auto is a pay-per-mile insurer, meaning its rates are based on how many miles you drive. It offers basic coverage options and a few add-ons. If you don’t drive very often, you may score the best rates on a policy with Mile Auto.
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
3.1
A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
NR
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$88/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$147/mo
Clearcover uses AI technology and a robust mobile app to simplify the way customers purchase and manage their auto policies. It only sells car insurance but partners with Hippo to provide home insurance as well.
Pros
Offers discounts at select maintenance shops
Comprehensive mobile app
Cons
No bundling discounts
Few discounts available compared to competitors
Larry - February 9, 2024
Verified
Excellent
No problems.
Oladiran - February 4, 2024
Verified
Poor
They are not friendly to the customer. They refused to renew despite me not having any claims.
Oladiran - February 4, 2024
Verified
Poor
They are not friendly to the customer. They refused to renew despite me not having any claims.
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
Not rated
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$73/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$172/mo
Based in Laguna Beach, Sun Coast offers car insurance as well as other insurance products, like boat insurance and business insurance. Its lineup of auto policies includes basic coverage, like liability protection, and optional coverage, such as 24/7 roadside assistance.
Pros
Long list of discounts available
A+ BBB rating
Cons
No home insurance product for bundling
No online claims process
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Riverside
The state of California requires liability-only car insurance minimum limits of 15/30/5. This type of policy pays for the other driver’s property damage and injuries after an accident you cause. Due to the bare-bones nature of this auto policy type, it’s generally cheaper than full-coverage insurance, and drivers can get low premiums with this policy. But you need to carefully consider your ability to cover potentially large out-of-pocket expenses in case of an accident.
If you only want to meet California’s minimum requirements, these are the cheapest liability-only insurance companies in Riverside.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Tuesday, March 26 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company
Average Monthly Quote
Mile Auto
66
Sun Coast
73
Mercury
89
Anchor
95
Safeco
97
USAA
105
Dairyland
118
National General
129
GEICO
141
Allstate
145
Farmers
149
Direct Auto
153
State Farm
161
Travelers
169
Bristol West
184
21st Century
185
Nationwide
227
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Riverside
For extra protection, you might want full-coverage car insurance, which typically includes liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance. If you drive a newer or expensive vehicle, full-coverage car insurance may provide the extra protection you’re looking for. Plus, drivers who lease or finance their vehicles may have to buy full-coverage insurance while paying off their auto loans. Full coverage is typically more expensive than minimum coverage car insurance.
The table below shows the most affordable full-coverage car insurance companies in Riverside.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Tuesday, March 26 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company
Average Monthly Quote
Mile Auto
123
Mercury
165
Sun Coast
172
Safeco
175
Anchor
204
USAA
226
Dairyland
273
National General
275
GEICO
302
Allstate
312
Farmers
321
State Farm
348
Travelers
366
Direct Auto
370
21st Century
398
Bristol West
410
Nationwide
490
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Car insurance requirements in California
Like many states, California is an at-fault state, also called a tort state.[3] This means that the driver responsible for the accident must pay for the other driver’s damage or injury costs. Drivers must carry bodily injury and property damage liability coverage but may purchase additional coverage for more financial protection.
These are the minimum liability limits California requires for all drivers:[4]
Bodily injury liability
$15,000 per person
$30,000 per accident
Property damage liability
$5,000 per accident
Important Information
California liability limits are increasing on Jan. 1, 2025, to $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury liability and $15,000 per accident for property damage liability.[2]
While you can purchase liability-only insurance to maintain legal requirements, more coverages may help you feel more protected on the road. You can consider adding these different types of auto insurance coverage options to your policy:
Comprehensive
Comprehensive insurance covers vehicle damage from noncollision related incidents, like vandalism, falling objects, hitting an animal, or natural disasters.
Collision
This coverage pays for repairs after an accident with another vehicle or object, regardless of fault.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist
This policy can protect you if you get involved in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your injuries and damages.
Medical payments
Medical payments coverage, or MedPay, pays for your medical bills after a collision, even if you caused it.
California’s low-cost auto insurance plan
The state government manages California’s Low Cost Automobile Insurance program (CLCA) to help low-income drivers afford car insurance. To be eligible for the program, you must meet the following requirements:
Have a valid California driver’s license
Meet income eligibility requirements
Own a vehicle valued at $25,000 or less
Be at least 16 years old
Have a good driving record or be a new driver
Car insurance through the CLCA costs $232 to $932 a year, depending on the county. But drivers can add coverage like uninsured/underinsured motorist and medical payments insurance for an extra $37 to $107 a year. You can learn more and apply for the car insurance program at MyLowCostAuto.com.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
At-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and DUIs are examples of incidents that can raise your car insurance premiums in Riverside, California.[5] Drivers in the city with clean records usually lock in the lowest prices. But even with incidents on your driving record, it’s still possible to find affordable car insurance.
Find Car Insurance in Riverside
Monthly rates start at $94 for Riverside drivers with incidents on their records
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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Mile Auto
Speeding reduces the amount of time drivers have to react to dangerous situations and often results in accidents. This higher risk for accidents is why you can expect higher premiums after a speeding ticket in Riverside.[5]
On average, Riverside drivers with speeding tickets pay $171 per month for liability coverage and $354 for full coverage. The table below shows the cheapest car insurance companies for Riverside drivers with a speeding ticket on their records.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Tuesday, March 26 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company
Full Coverage
Liability Only
Mile Auto
178
96
Mercury
242
130
Safeco
244
135
USAA
287
133
National General
352
165
Dairyland
359
155
GEICO
384
179
Allstate
396
184
Farmers
409
190
State Farm
436
202
Travelers
473
219
Direct Auto
487
201
21st Century
528
245
Bristol West
531
238
Nationwide
629
291
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Mile Auto
In 2022, Riverside had 40 fatal car accidents out of the 1,803 total crashes in the city.[6] If you cause an accident, your insurance premiums will usually increase because of your higher risk of another accident. How much your car insurance will increase depends on the severity of the crash and the total claim amount.[5]
Riverside drivers with accidents on their records see average car insurance rates of $338 per month for full coverage, and $163 for liability only. If you’re searching for cheap car insurance after an accident in Riverside, California, start by getting quotes from the insurers below.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Tuesday, March 26 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company
Full Coverage
Liability Only
Mile Auto
182
98
Mercury
244
131
Safeco
247
137
Anchor
271
126
USAA
290
135
Dairyland
358
155
National General
359
169
GEICO
388
181
Allstate
400
186
Farmers
411
191
State Farm
440
204
Travelers
475
220
Direct Auto
493
204
Bristol West
525
236
21st Century
528
245
Nationwide
634
294
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Mile Auto
Not only can a DUI result in hefty fines and jail time, it may also lead to higher car insurance premiums — especially if California requires you to file an SR-22. Furthermore, a DUI can cause your insurance company to not renew your policy at the end of its term.[5]
A DUI pushes the average monthly cost of car insurance in Riverside to $356 for full coverage and $172 for liability-only policies. The table below shows the average car insurance quotes for Riverside drivers with a DUI on their records.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Tuesday, March 26 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company
Full Coverage
Liability Only
Mile Auto
182
98
Mercury
250
135
Safeco
259
143
Anchor
302
140
USAA
334
155
Dairyland
404
174
National General
407
191
GEICO
447
209
Allstate
461
214
Farmers
475
220
State Farm
515
238
Travelers
541
250
Direct Auto
547
226
21st Century
589
274
Bristol West
606
272
Nationwide
725
336
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: Mile Auto
Seniors may cause car accidents due to physical and mental limitations, like poor vision and slow reflexes.[7] Average premiums go down around age 35 and go up a bit around age 75.
Senior drivers in Riverside see average car insurance costs of $198 per month for full coverage and $95 for minimum coverage. In Riverside, seniors may find the lowest auto insurance quotes from the insurance companies below.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Tuesday, March 26 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company
Full Coverage
Liability Only
Mile Auto
92
49
Mercury
131
71
Safeco
145
80
USAA
176
82
Dairyland
216
93
National General
222
104
GEICO
233
109
Allstate
245
114
Farmers
246
114
State Farm
262
121
Direct Auto
279
115
Travelers
281
130
21st Century
293
136
Bristol West
321
144
Nationwide
360
167
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest car insurance for teens: Mile Auto
Teenagers have less driving experience and are more likely to be involved in accidents than older drivers, and face higher car insurance costs as a result.[8] To save money on a policy, teens can stay on their parents’ insurance, enroll in a defensive driving course, and secure a discount.
“Most carriers offer a good student discount for teens with a GPA of at least 3.0,” says Earl Jones, insurance agent and owner at Earl L. Jones Insurance Agency in California. “In addition, most providers offer a ‘student away’ discount for those students who [attend college] hours away from home.”
Teens who purchase their own policies in Riverside face average car insurance rates of $394 per month for full coverage and $190 for liability-only policies. For teens and young adults looking for cheap car insurance in Riverside, start with the insurers in the table below.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Tuesday, March 26 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company
Full Coverage
Liability Only
Mile Auto
222
119
Mercury
286
154
Safeco
294
163
Anchor
343
160
USAA
348
162
Dairyland
413
178
GEICO
442
206
National General
494
232
Allstate
513
238
Farmers
523
243
State Farm
556
257
Travelers
619
286
21st Century
620
288
Direct Auto
635
263
Bristol West
636
285
Nationwide
783
363
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Riverside
Finding the cheapest car insurance requires a little work on your part during the insurance-shopping process. To score a great deal on an auto policy in Riverside, follow these tips:
Shop around. It may be tempting to choose a policy from the first car insurance company you find. But if you’d like to save as much money as possible, it’s a good idea to get quotes from several companies and compare your insurance options.
Take advantage of discounts. It’s quite common for car insurance companies to offer discounts. A few examples include the good driver discount and multi-vehicle discount.
Bundle policies. Chances are you need more than one type of insurance policy. If this is the case, you may lock in a discount for bundling an auto policy with homeowners insurance, renters insurance, or life insurance.
Consider usage-based insurance. Usage-based or pay-per-mile insurance might make sense if you only drive occasionally. You ’ll only pay for the number of miles you drive, plus a base rate.
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Is car insurance more expensive in Riverside?
The average cost of a liability-only auto policy in the U.S. is $122 per month. For full coverage, the average monthly cost is $253. While liability-only coverage is cheaper in Riverside, full coverage is a bit more expensive.
Car insurance premiums vary by city and ZIP code within California due to factors like population, crime rates, and the number of uninsured drivers.[8] For example, full-coverage quotes for Anaheim are nearly the same as for Riverside, but Irvine and Modesto’s quotes are lower than Riverside’s.
More cities in California
More populated cities, like Los Angeles, have higher rates than Riverside due to the higher rates of car accidents and crime. However, even though San Diego has a higher population than Riverside, it has cheaper average quotes.
Here’s an overview of average car insurance quotes for other cities in California.
City
Full Coverage
Liability Only
Anaheim
$285
$131
Bakersfield
$212
$104
Fresno
$217
$120
Long Beach
$216
$134
Los Angeles
$289
$179
Modesto
$238
$121
Oakland
$218
$138
Sacramento
$280
$129
San Diego
$199
$108
San Francisco
$240
$142
San Jose
$235
$118
Stockton
$270
$124
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.
Riverside car insurance FAQs
Check out Insurify’s guide on how much car insurance you need to help you during the quote-comparison process, and read the answers to common questions about car insurance in Riverside, California, below.
What are the cheapest car insurance companies in Riverside?
Mile Auto is the cheapest insurer for Riverside drivers, with liability-only rates as low as $66 per month. Riverside drivers can also find cheap coverage with the city's second- and third-cheapest companies, Sun Coast and Mercury. They have liability rates starting at $73 and $89, respectively.
What are the best car insurance companies in Riverside?
The best car insurance companies in Riverside include Allstate, GEICO, and USAA. Although these insurers don’t have the lowest average quotes compared to other insurers in Riverside, they have above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction ratings and high Insurify Quality Scores.
While Insurify identified these companies as the best for Riverside drivers, the best insurance company for you will depend on your coverage needs and budget, so you should compare auto insurance quotes from multiple insurers.
Can credit history affect your car insurance rates in Riverside?
No. California doesn’t allow auto insurers in the state to use customer credit history when underwriting premiums. This means that your credit, whether good or bad, won’t influence your auto insurance rates.[9]
How much car insurance do you need in Riverside, California?
California requires drivers to carry 15/30/5 minimum liability limits. These requirements translate to $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for bodily injury liability and $5,000 per accident for property damage liability.[4]
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
No additional coverage
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
Anna Baluch is a Cleveland-based personal finance and insurance expert. With an MBA from Roosevelt University, she enjoys writing educational content that helps people make smart financial decisions. Her work can be seen across the internet on many publications, including Freedom Debt Relief, Credit Karma, RateGenius, and the Balance. Connect with Anna on LinkedIn.
3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content
Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score
Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.
Clinical Professor of Finance, University of San Diego
Dan is a well-recognized and widely quoted financial services expert, regularly appearing in a variety of national and local media as a subject matter expert.