Cheap Car Insurance Quotes in Santa Maria, California (October 2026)

Santa Maria drivers can find the cheapest liability-only car insurance quotes through GEICO, with coverage averaging $51 per month. The city’s relatively small population and low vehicle theft rate may influence car insurance costs.

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Writer: Danny SmithInsurance Writer

Qualifications:
  • Licensed auto and home insurance agent

  • 4+ years in content creation and marketing


As Insurify’s home and pet insurance editor, Danny also specializes in auto insurance. His goal is to help consumers navigate the complex world of insurance buying.

Taylor Milam-Samuel
Editor: Taylor Milam-Samuel Insurance Writer

Qualifications:
  • 8+ years writing for major outlets, including MarketWatch and Business Insider

  • Master’s in Education


Taylor Mlam-Samuel is a personal finance writer and credentialed educator. When she’s not helping readers better save and spend money, she can be found teaching.

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Reviewer: John LeachLicensed P&C Agent, Chief Copy Editor

Qualifications:
  • Licensed property and casualty insurance agent

  • 10+ years editing experience

  • NPN: 20461358


John is Insurify’s Chief Copy Editor, helping ensure the accuracy and readability of Insurify’s content. He’s a licensed agent specializing in home and car insurance topics.

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How much is car insurance in Santa Maria, CA?

Santa Maria drivers pay a monthly average of $155 for full-coverage car insurance and $74 for minimum-liability coverage. Santa Maria’s auto insurance rates are lower than the California average of $203 per month for full coverage and $98 per month for liability-only coverage.

Rates in Santa Maria are also lower than the national averages of $187 per month for full coverage and $99 per month for liability-only coverage.

On average, drivers in Santa Maria pay less for car insurance than drivers in Los Angeles and San Francisco, but more than drivers in Lompoc and Redding.

Santa Maria’s smaller population and low incidence of vehicle theft contribute to its below-average car insurance rates in California.

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Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Santa Maria: GEICO

California drivers must have car insurance to drive legally. The state mandates at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage, as well as $15,000 in property damage liability coverage.[1]

In Santa Maria, the company with the cheapest liability insurance is GEICO. On average, policyholders pay $51 per month.

The following table shows the cheapest liability insurance rates in Santa Maria.

The below rates in Santa Maria, CA, are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, September 30 at 5:00 PM PDT. 
Insurance Company
Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only
GEICO$51
USAA$51
Aspire General$52
Sun Coast$54
Mercury$55
National General$55
Progressive$57
Dairyland$62
Direct Auto$64
Root$66
Anchor$71
Farmers$71
Bristol West$77
State Farm$77
Kemper Special$78
Travelers$81
Kemper Rsvp$87
21st Century$88
Hugo$113
First Acceptance$117
Chubb$138
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time Santa Maria car insurance quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual car insurance quotes in Santa Maria may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Santa Maria: Aspire General

Santa Maria drivers pay $155 per month, on average, for full-coverage car insurance.

The cheapest insurer for a full-coverage insurance policy in Santa Maria is Aspire General, with rates averaging $94 per month — significantly less than the state average of $203 per month.

You may want to consider full coverage if you live in one of several flood-prone areas of the city, as comprehensive coverage pays for flood damage, vandalism, and other non-collision events.

The following table shows companies with cheap full-coverage car insurance quotes in Santa Maria.

The below rates in Santa Maria, CA, are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, September 30 at 5:00 PM PDT. 
Insurance Company
Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage
Aspire General$94
Root$104
GEICO$109
Mercury$110
Progressive$113
USAA$115
Kemper Special$124
Kemper Rsvp$127
Sun Coast$131
Anchor$136
National General$153
Dairyland$155
Direct Auto$159
Farmers$163
Bristol West$169
State Farm$176
Travelers$186
21st Century$202
First Acceptance$265
Chubb$314
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time Santa Maria car insurance quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual car insurance quotes in Santa Maria may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Car insurance rates in other California cities

At $115 per month, the average cost of auto insurance in Santa Maria is slightly lower than in other California cities. Factors such as the city’s smaller population and shorter average commute times compared to larger metro areas like Los Angeles and San Diego may contribute to lower car insurance costs.[2]

Rates in nearby San Luis Obispo are comparable, averaging $109 per month, according to Insurify data. Cities like Chico, Hanford, and Lompoc have some of the lowest car insurance rates in California.

The following table shows average car insurance for various California cities, according to Insurify data.

The below rates in Santa Maria, CA, are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, September 30 at 5:00 PM PDT. 
City
Average Monthly Quote
Lompoc$108
Ridgecrest$109
San Luis Obispo$109
Chico$110
Santa Cruz$112
Redding$113
Hanford$114
Woodland$115
Tulare$118
Visalia$118
Palm Desert$119
Campbell$121
Poway$121
Santee$121
Santa Barbara$123
Hollister$125
La Quinta$125
La Mesa$127
Napa$127
Petaluma$129
Dublin$130
Santa Rosa$130
Cathedral City$131
Chula Vista$131
Vista$131
Novato$132
Pacifica$132
San Marcos$132
Bakersfield$133
Brentwood$133
Yuba City$133
Folsom$134
Fresno$134
Milpitas$134
Palm Springs$134
Beaumont$135
Oceanside$135
San Clemente$135
San Diego$135
Hemet$137
Lake Forest$137
Temecula$137
Fremont$138
Lodi$138
San Ramon$138
Concord$139
Oxnard$139
Camarillo$140
Cupertino$140
Escondido$140
San Jose$140
Saratoga$140
West Sacramento$140
Aliso Viejo$141
Palo Alto$141
Redlands$141
Ceres$142
Fairfield$142
San Mateo$143
El Cerrito$144
Menifee$144
Modesto$144
Roseville$144
Laguna Niguel$145
National City$145
Watsonville$145
Citrus Heights$146
Elk Grove$146
Santa Clara$146
El Cajon$147
Norco$147
Tracy$147
Colton$148
Wildomar$148
Murrieta$149
South San Francisco$149
Placentia$150
Stockton$150
Thousand Oaks$151
Antioch$153
Huntington Beach$153
Pittsburg$153
Vallejo$153
Corona$154
Lathrop$154
Orange$154
Riverside$154
Hayward$155
Moreno Valley$155
Berkeley$156
Chino$156
Perris$156
Brea$157
Cypress$157
San Leandro$157
Chino Hills$158
Newport Beach$158
La Mirada$159
Ontario$159
Santa Ana$159
Irvine$161
Rialto$161
Sacramento$161
San Bernardino$161
Fontana$162
Garden Grove$162
Fountain Valley$164
Hesperia$164
Azusa$165
Rancho Cucamonga$165
Victorville$165
Anaheim$167
Buena Park$167
Adelanto$169
San Pedro$169
La Puente$170
Simi Valley$170
Whittier$170
Norwalk$171
Pomona$172
San Francisco$172
Covina$173
Diamond Bar$173
Torrance$174
Long Beach$175
Oakland$175
Paramount$175
Carson$178
Richmond$178
Cerritos$179
Temple City$179
Walnut$179
Lancaster$182
Santa Clarita$186
Culver City$187
Pasadena$188
El Monte$189
Palmdale$189
Bell Gardens$191
San Gabriel$195
Lynwood$204
Compton$206
Santa Monica$207
Inglewood$210
Burbank$221
Studio City$224
Los Angeles$230
Winnetka$242
Reseda$247
Northridge$250
West Hollywood$256
Glendale$276
Beverly Hills$279
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time Santa Maria car insurance quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual car insurance quotes in Santa Maria may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Cheapest recent car insurance quotes in California

Recent Santa Maria, California car insurance prices for KIA, Jeep, Toyota, and more.

*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Santa Maria, California within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 3, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.

Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 500+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from October 3, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.

*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Santa Maria, California within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 3, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.

Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 500+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from October 3, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.

Cheapest car insurance quotes in Santa Maria by driving record

Your driving record affects the auto insurance rates you qualify for. For example, if you have a speeding ticket or driving under the influence (DUI) conviction, you’ll likely pay higher rates than drivers with a clean record.

Below are the companies with the lowest rates in Santa Maria based on driving record, according to Insurify data.

  • Cheapest car insurance for Santa Maria drivers with a clean driving record: GEICO

  • Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Santa Maria: GEICO

  • Cheapest car insurance for Santa Maria drivers with an at-fault accident: GEICO

  • Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in Santa Maria: GEICO

Affordable car insurance for drivers with an incident in Santa Maria

California is an at-fault state, meaning a driver who causes a car accident is responsible for the damages. In Santa Maria, 4.4% of drivers have a car accident on their driving record, according to Insurify data.

In Santa Maria, 1.3% of drivers have a DUI. If the state convicts you of DUI in California, you’ll have to complete a DUI program, file an SR-22, and pay any applicable fees to reinstate your license. You may also receive a fine and a jail sentence of up to six months.

The table below shows the average monthly insurance costs for Santa Maria drivers by driving history.

Driving Record
Average Monthly Quote
Clean driving record$115
Speeding ticket$146
At-fault accident$148
DUI$158
Disclaimer: Table data is based on real-time Santa Maria quotes from Insurify’s network of 500+ insurance partners. Actual rates may vary depending on the policyholder’s individual profile and coverage needs.

What to know about driving in Santa Maria

Although Santa Maria has a relatively small population, it’s the most populous city in Santa Barbara County. Areas with high population density often have more expensive insurance rates than suburban and rural parts of the state.

When driving in Santa Maria, be prepared for potential traffic congestion and deteriorating road conditions around U.S. Highway 101 and State Route 135. Drivers may also encounter sudden, dense fog along California’s Central Coast.

Santa Maria is prone to heavy rain. Exercise caution when driving during storms, especially in flood-prone parts of the city, including Black Road between Betteravia Road and Stowell Road.

To help address flood-related road closures, the federally funded Bonita School Road bridge replacement is scheduled to begin in 2027. This major project will close the road during the expected two-year construction period.

How Santa Maria traffic affects car insurance rates

While Santa Maria experiences less traffic congestion than larger metros like Los Angeles and San Francisco, the heaviest bottlenecks typically occur on U.S. Highway 101.

Due to inadequate state and local funding, Santa Barbara County’s Pavement Condition Index (PCI) score is lower than the California average.[3] Poor road conditions can increase the risk of vehicle damage and crashes, potentially leading to higher insurance costs.

But Santa Maria drivers have a shorter average commute than many drivers in the state, which may help keep insurance rates lower.

Cheap car insurance for Santa Maria teen drivers: GEICO

In California, teens can get a learner’s permit at age 15 and a half.[4] Due to their limited driving experience, teens typically pay the highest car insurance rates in Santa Maria, with monthly averages of $131 for liability-only insurance and $275 for full coverage.

Car accidents are the No. 1 cause of preventable death for U.S. teens, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. To help keep teen drivers safe, the city of Santa Maria recently partnered with the Santa Maria Policy Department Traffic Unit to offer a teen driver safety workshop.

The table below highlights the companies with the cheapest insurance for teen drivers in Santa Maria.

The below rates in Santa Maria, CA, are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, September 30 at 5:00 PM PDT. 
Insurance Company
Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only
GEICO$91
USAA$91
Aspire General$92
Sun Coast$96
Root$98
Mercury$98
Progressive$101
Dairyland$105
National General$107
Direct Auto$123
Bristol West$134
Anchor$134
Kemper Special$138
Farmers$139
State Farm$146
21st Century$153
Kemper Rsvp$154
Travelers$165
Hugo$200
First Acceptance$208
Chubb$276
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time Santa Maria car insurance quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual car insurance quotes in Santa Maria may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

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Cheap car insurance quotes for Santa Maria senior drivers: GEICO

In Santa Maria, 11% of the population is aged 65 and older, according to U.S. Census data. Senior drivers in their 60s living in Santa Maria pay a monthly average of $67 for liability insurance and $141 for full-coverage insurance.

The following table shows the cheapest liability-only rates for senior drivers in Santa Maria.

The below rates in Santa Maria, CA, are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, September 30 at 5:00 PM PDT. 
Insurance Company
Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only
GEICO$42
USAA$42
National General$44
Mercury$44
Aspire General$47
Sun Coast$49
Progressive$52
Direct Auto$54
Dairyland$54
Farmers$58
Anchor$58
State Farm$62
Root$62
Bristol West$66
Travelers$67
Kemper Special$71
21st Century$71
Kemper Rsvp$79
Hugo$102
First Acceptance$106
Chubb$107
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time Santa Maria car insurance quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual car insurance quotes in Santa Maria may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Santa Maria auto insurance FAQs

Check out the answers to frequently asked questions about Santa Maria car insurance below.

What is the average cost of car insurance in Santa Maria?

Santa Maria drivers pay an overall monthly average of $115 for car insurance, or $155 for full coverage and $74 for liability-only insurance.

How can you get the best car insurance quotes in Santa Maria, CA?

You can get the best car insurance quotes in Santa Maria by comparing rates from several insurers. Bundling other insurance products, such as your homeowners insurance or renters insurance, dropping optional coverages, and asking about insurance discounts, such as a good student discount, can help you lower your rates, too.

What is the cheapest car insurance in Santa Maria?

GEICO has the cheapest car insurance coverage in Santa Maria. A liability-only policy costs an average of $51 per month.

What are the best car insurance companies in Santa Maria?

There isn’t a single car insurance company or insurance agency in Santa Maria that’s best for every driver, since insurance needs vary. If cheap rates matter most to you, then some of the best insurers in Santa Maria are GEICO, USAA, and Aspire General.

What is the minimum liability coverage requirement in Santa Maria, CA?

All California drivers must have at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $15,000 in property damage liability. You may see this written as $30,000/$60,000/$15,000. If you’re unsure whether these limits offer enough protection for your needs, speak to your insurance agent.

Sources

  1. State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. "Insurance Requirements."
  2. U.S. Census Bureau. "QuickFacts Santa Maria, California."
  3. Rural Counties Task Force Regional Transportation Planning Agencies. "California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment."
  4. State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. "Learner's Permits."

Methodology

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 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 500+ 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
Photo of an Insurify author
Writer: Danny SmithInsurance Writer

Qualifications:
  • Licensed auto and home insurance agent

  • 4+ years in content creation and marketing


As Insurify’s home and pet insurance editor, Danny also specializes in auto insurance. His goal is to help consumers navigate the complex world of insurance buying.

Taylor Milam-Samuel
Editor: Taylor Milam-Samuel Insurance Writer

Qualifications:
  • 8+ years writing for major outlets, including MarketWatch and Business Insider

  • Master’s in Education


Taylor Mlam-Samuel is a personal finance writer and credentialed educator. When she’s not helping readers better save and spend money, she can be found teaching.

Photo of an Insurify author
Reviewer: John LeachLicensed P&C Agent, Chief Copy Editor

Qualifications:
  • Licensed property and casualty insurance agent

  • 10+ years editing experience

  • NPN: 20461358


John is Insurify’s Chief Copy Editor, helping ensure the accuracy and readability of Insurify’s content. He’s a licensed agent specializing in home and car insurance topics.