120+ more*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Santa Maria, California within the last 10 days. Last updated on July 17, 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 July 17, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
)
)
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years in content creation and marketing
Featured in
){kind=small}
)
)
8+ years writing for major outlets, including MarketWatch and Business Insider
Master’s in Education
Featured in
){kind=logo}
){kind=small}
){kind=logo}
)
)
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Featured in
Updated
Santa Maria drivers pay a monthly average of $155 for full-coverage car insurance and $73 for minimum-liability coverage. Santa Maria’s auto insurance rates are lower than the California average of $200 per month for full coverage and $96 per month for liability-only coverage.
Rates in Santa Maria are also lower than the national averages of $186 per month for full coverage and $98 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.
Insurify partners with 120+ top insurers for real-time quotes
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 USAA. On average, policyholders pay $52 per month.
The following table shows the cheapest liability insurance rates in Santa Maria.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only |
|---|---|
| USAA | $52 |
| Aspire General | $54 |
| GEICO | $56 |
| Sun Coast | $57 |
| Mercury | $58 |
| National General | $58 |
| Dairyland | $64 |
| Root | $69 |
| Direct Auto | $70 |
| Allstate | $71 |
| Farmers | $73 |
| Anchor | $76 |
| State Farm | $79 |
| Bristol West | $80 |
| Kemper Special | $83 |
| Travelers | $83 |
| 21st Century | $91 |
| Kemper Rsvp | $91 |
| Chubb | $141 |
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 $96 per month — significantly less than the state average of $200 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.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Aspire General | $96 |
| Root | $107 |
| Mercury | $112 |
| GEICO | $114 |
| USAA | $116 |
| Kemper Special | $127 |
| Kemper Rsvp | $130 |
| Sun Coast | $133 |
| Anchor | $143 |
| Dairyland | $152 |
| National General | $155 |
| Allstate | $159 |
| Farmers | $164 |
| Bristol West | $171 |
| Direct Auto | $173 |
| State Farm | $178 |
| Travelers | $186 |
| 21st Century | $202 |
| Chubb | $316 |
At $114 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 $110 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.
City | Average Monthly Quote |
|---|---|
| Anaheim | $163 |
| Bakersfield | $132 |
| Berkeley | $153 |
| Chula Vista | $128 |
| Elk Grove | $143 |
| Fontana | $160 |
| Fremont | $138 |
| Fresno | $131 |
| Glendale | $268 |
| Hayward | $153 |
| Long Beach | $171 |
| Los Angeles | $225 |
| Modesto | $143 |
| Moreno Valley | $147 |
| Oakland | $170 |
| Oxnard | $138 |
| Riverside | $150 |
| Roseville | $140 |
| Sacramento | $158 |
| San Bernardino | $157 |
| San Diego | $130 |
| San Francisco | $171 |
| San Jose | $136 |
| Santa Ana | $154 |
| Santa Barbara | $120 |
| Santa Maria | $114 |
| Stockton | $146 |
| Temecula | $130 |
| Victorville | $161 |
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Santa Maria, California within the last 10 days. Last updated on July 17, 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 July 17, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
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: USAA
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Santa Maria: USAA
Cheapest car insurance for Santa Maria drivers with an at-fault accident: USAA
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in Santa Maria: USAA
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 | $114 |
| Speeding ticket | $145 |
| At-fault accident | $146 |
| DUI | $154 |
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.
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.
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 $279 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.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only |
|---|---|
| USAA | $95 |
| Aspire General | $97 |
| GEICO | $101 |
| Sun Coast | $103 |
| Root | $103 |
| Mercury | $105 |
| Dairyland | $111 |
| National General | $115 |
| Direct Auto | $135 |
| Allstate | $139 |
| Bristol West | $141 |
| Anchor | $144 |
| Farmers | $145 |
| Kemper Special | $149 |
| State Farm | $152 |
| 21st Century | $162 |
| Kemper Rsvp | $164 |
| Travelers | $171 |
| Chubb | $288 |
Check quotes from 120+ top insurance companies
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 $66 for liability insurance and $141 for full-coverage insurance.
The following table shows the cheapest liability-only rates for senior drivers in Santa Maria.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only |
|---|---|
| USAA | $43 |
| GEICO | $46 |
| National General | $47 |
| Mercury | $47 |
| Aspire General | $49 |
| Sun Coast | $52 |
| Dairyland | $56 |
| Direct Auto | $59 |
| Allstate | $59 |
| Farmers | $59 |
| Anchor | $63 |
| State Farm | $64 |
| Root | $65 |
| Travelers | $68 |
| Bristol West | $69 |
| 21st Century | $74 |
| Kemper Special | $75 |
| Kemper Rsvp | $83 |
| Chubb | $110 |
Check out the answers to frequently asked questions about Santa Maria car insurance below.
Santa Maria drivers pay an overall monthly average of $114 for car insurance, or $155 for full coverage and $73 for liability-only insurance.
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.
USAA has the cheapest car insurance coverage in Santa Maria. A liability-only policy costs an average of $52 per month.
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 USAA, Aspire General, and GEICO.
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.
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:
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years in content creation and marketing
Featured in
8+ years writing for major outlets, including MarketWatch and Business Insider
Master’s in Education
Featured in
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Featured in
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.
