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A popular vacation spot in Southern California, San Diego offers driving that is often anything but relaxing. With nearly 1.5 million residents and many more people coming and going year-round, freeways are often congested, and finding parking downtown can be quite difficult. It’s recommended that you allow extra time for any trips you’re making, particularly from 7 to 9 a.m. and from 4 to 7 p.m., as traffic is at its peak. Due to the sheer number of cars on the road, accidents happen often, so it’s important to enroll in auto coverage that keeps you protected.
The average cost of California car insurance will vary from city to city and between insurance companies. Insurify analyzed the latest insurance rates in San Diego, CA to find you the cheapest quotes in the area.
Here are the cheapest carriers in San Diego 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.
| Cheapest Companies | Quotes |
|---|---|
 State Farm | $61/mo |
 GEICO | $67/mo |
 Nationwide | $120/mo |
 Mercury | $122/mo |
 American Family | $129/mo |
| Best Companies | Quotes | |
|---|---|---|
 Clearcover | $113/mo | |
Mercury | $161/mo | |
 Travelers | $129/mo | |
 21st Century | $135/mo | |
 National General | $173/mo |
California Cities | |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $149/mo |
| San Jose | $100/mo |
| San Francisco | $132/mo |
| Fresno | $102/mo |
| San Diego | $100/mo |
| California | $117/mo |
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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:
Home to beautiful weather and busy freeways, San Diego tends to favor drivers when it comes to car insurance rates. As is common, those under the age of 20 pay the most for coverage at around $360. But this drops down to $148 by the time you reach age 30. As motorists in San Diego get older, their rates do fluctuate up and down by $20 to $30 each decade, with those in their 70s paying about the same as those in their 30s.
| Driver's Age | Avg. Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| teens | $361 |
| 20s | $230 |
| 30s | $149 |
| 40s | $164 |
| 50s | $236 |
| 60s | $172 |
| 70s | $149 |
| 80s | $183 |
| Driving History | Avg. Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| No Violation | $189 |
| Speeding Ticket | $238 |
| At-Fault Accident | $221 |
| Failure to Stop for Red Light / Stop Sign | $223 |
Anyone with a clean driving history should aim to keep it that way in San Diego, as their car insurance premiums will be the lowest around. Starting at $188 with no violations, rates will get a boost from an at-fault accident to $220 a month. Failing to stop at an intersection drives prices an average of $2 higher, yet the real increase comes if you’re involved in an at-fault accident. Motorists with that violation on their record pay up to $237 on average.
The majority of drivers in San Diego have excellent credit, but that doesn’t necessarily equate to great prices. Individuals in this tier pay an average of $191, while those slightly below them in the good category are charged $217. Having average or even poor credit won’t affect your rates much in San Diego, as residents often pay $169 and $115, respectively. Keep in mind that car insurance premiums are affected by a variety of factors.
| Credit Tie | Avg. Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Excellent | $192 |
| Good | $218 |
| Average | $170 |
| Poor | $116 |
Drivers who need to visit a DMV office should plan ahead, as San Diego only has one location in the greater metropolitan area. Open Monday through Friday only, wait times can exceed an hour, depending on the time of day you visit. If you’re in a rush, it might be worth taking a 20-minute drive to a nearby suburb and visiting a DMV office there.
Given that San Diego is a hub of adventure, the city offers a lot of options when it comes to public transportation. Bus routes can take you to every corner of the area, while a waterfront shuttle is available between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. Trains, trolleys, and pedicabs are also popular options if you want to do some sightseeing around the area. As is the case in most major U.S. cities, it’s easy to take Uber or Lyft to any number of destinations.
While driving in San Diego may not be as stressful as Los Angeles, this busy city certainly has its fair share of congested freeways. Before you hit the road, it’s best to familiarize yourself with California driving regulations and have a full understanding of what you can and cannot do on the road.
Whether you’ve just moved to San Diego and you need new auto coverage or you’re simply looking to change your current policy, it’s best to shop around for the policy that offers the most coverage at a rate you can afford. Visit Insurify today to see all of your options and have peace of mind that you’re adequately protected while on the road.
Using a proprietary dataset of over 1.6 million car insurance shopper applications, the data scientists at Insurify have run various studies on driver behavior across geographical locations, age ranges, motor vehicle registration, and other variables all related to auto insurance coverage.
We’ve been able to determine the speediest cities in the nation, the most popular cars among age groups, and the occupations with the worst drivers, among other insightful reports. We’ve also launched annual awards campaigns to congratulate the communities across the country who have excelled in environmentally friendly initiatives, educational attainment, and other areas.
Here's how San Diego stacks up for the state of California:
