Cheapest and Best California Car Insurance Companies (2023)
Geico has the best cheap car insurance in California, at $31 per month for liability-only coverage and $109 for full coverage.
Best cheap car insurance companies in California
To help you get the best cheap auto insurance in California, our editorial team compared quotes in every ZIP code for the top car insurance companies in California.
We ranked the best California companies based on customer service, convenience and coverage availability. We also rated the best cheap companies based on the cost for different drivers.
To find the cheapest companies, we compared quotes for the minimum coverage required in California. This covers $15,000 in bodily injury liability per person and $30,000 per accident plus $5,000 in property damage coverage.
Quotes for full coverage policies included higher liability limits than state minimums, plus collision and comprehensive coverage.
How to find the best car insurance in CA
- Geico, AAA and Mercury have the best combo of good customer support and affordable rates for most drivers in California.
- The average cost of full coverage insurance in California is $145 per month. You could save up to $432 per year by switching to a cheaper company.
- Liability-only insurance is probably not enough coverage for most drivers in California, considering the high amount of traffic and car accidents.
Cheapest full coverage car insurance in California: Geico
Geico has the cheapest full coverage car insurance quotes in California, with an average of $109 per month. Mercury, Progressive and AAA also have rates that are cheaper than average.
On average, full coverage car insurance costs $145 per month in California — or $1,744 per year.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in California
Cheap full coverage insurance in California
Company | Monthly rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $109 |
| Mercury | $124 |
| Progressive | $134 |
| AAA SoCal | $143 |
|
| AAA NorCal | $146 |
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in California: Geico
Geico has the cheapest liability-only insurance for most drivers in California. The company charges $31 per month on average for a minimum liability policy. That's 36% cheaper than the state average.
The average cost of minimum coverage car insurance in California is $49 per month, or $587 per year.
AAA offers car insurance to residents of Northern California through AAA of Northern California, also called AAA NorCal or CSAA. The Auto Club of Southern California (AAA SoCal) covers Southern California drivers.
Cheap car insurance quotes in CA
Company | Monthly rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
| Geico | $31 |
|
| AAA NorCal | $38 |
|
| Progressive | $39 |
|
| Mercury | $44 |
|
| AAA SoCal | $48 |
Full coverage vs minimum liability
Minimum coverage car insurance quotes meet California's minimum legal requirements: $15,000 in bodily injury liability per person and $30,000 per accident and $5,000 in property damage coverage.
Full coverage goes beyond minimum coverage to include comprehensive and collision insurance. This protects your car from damage after a collision, theft, vandalism or a storm — regardless of who's at fault.
Full coverage costs more than minimum coverage. However, people who own a car that's less than 10 years old should usually get higher liability coverage limits and add comprehensive and collision coverage. It's also required if you have a car loan or lease.
Cheapest car insurance for teens in California: Geico
Geico's the cheapest auto insurance company for young drivers in California, with a rate of $97 per month for liability-only insurance. That's 24% cheaper than average.
For full coverage, State Farm is slightly cheaper than Geico. A policy from State Farm costs $268 per month, versus Geico's average rate of $284 per month.
Cheap car insurance quotes for teen drivers in CA
Company | Liability only | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $97 | $284 |
| State Farm | $105 | $268 |
| Mercury | $108 | $299 |
| Progressive | $112 | $407 |
| AAA NorCal | $120 | $457 |
Young California drivers pay around two and a half times as much as older drivers for auto insurance. An 18-year-old driver pays an average of $127 per month for minimum coverage. In comparison, 30-year-olds pay just $49 per month for the same coverage.
Even though full coverage is expensive for young drivers, it could be a good idea if you drive a lot or have a newer car. The added protection of collision and comprehensive insurance is particularly useful to young drivers, who might not be able to pay for another car if their car is totaled after an accident.
Best cheap California car insurance after a speeding ticket: Mercury
Overall, Mercury has the most affordable rates for drivers with a recent ticket, accident or DUI.
Full coverage policies from Mercury average $164 per month for California drivers with a speeding ticket. That's 24% cheaper than the state average of $216 per month for drivers with a speeding ticket.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Mercury | $164 |
| Geico | $170 |
| AAA NorCal | $184 |
| AAA SoCal | $212 |
| Allstate | $229 |
Drivers typically pay more for car insurance after they get a speeding ticket because it shows they are riskier drivers. A full coverage policy in California is $71 more expensive per month after a speeding ticket. That's a 49% increase.
Cheap auto insurance after an accident in California: Mercury
Mercury offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance quotes for California drivers who caused a car accident.
The company's average rate after an accident is $186 per month. That's 36% cheaper than the California average of $292 per month.
Cheapest car insurance in California after an accident
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Mercury | $186 |
| AAA SoCal | $228 |
| Progressive | $277 |
| Geico | $278 |
| AAA NorCal | $295 |
California drivers who were in an accident pay twice as much for car insurance as a good driver with no previous accidents.
Cheapest car insurance for young drivers after a ticket or accident: Geico
In California, 18-year-old drivers can find the best quotes from Geico after a speeding ticket. Geico and Mercury are tied for having the cheapest rates for teens after an at-fault accident.
18-year-old drivers pay 34% more for car insurance after getting a speeding ticket, and 47% more after an accident.
Cheapest quotes for teens after a speeding ticket or accident
Company | Ticket | Accident |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $109 | $133 |
| Mercury | $141 | $133 |
| Progressive | $145 | $161 |
| State Farm | $167 | $175 |
| AAA NorCal | $182 | $223 |
Cheap car insurance rates after a DUI: Mercury
If you have a DUI in California, you can get a good deal on full coverage auto insurance from Mercury. Its average rate of $205 per month is half the state average.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Mercury | $205 |
| Geico | $275 |
| Progressive | $322 |
| Farmers | $347 |
| AAA SoCal | $425 |
A DUI conviction usually means a large increase in your car insurance rates. The average cost of DUI insurance in California is $406 per month. That's a 180% jump compared to a driver with a clean driving record.
Best cheap car insurance quotes for married drivers: Geico
Geico has the best quotes for married drivers in California, at $93 per year for full coverage insurance. That's 30% less than the average across all insurance companies. You can also find cheap rates from Progressive, which has the biggest discount for married drivers, at 22%.
Company | Monthly rate per car |
|---|---|
| Geico | $93 |
| Progressive | $105 |
| Mercury | $110 |
| AAA SoCal | $133 |
| Allstate | $142 |
California insurance companies offer 9% cheaper rates to married drivers, on average. Most insurance companies offer slightly cheaper rates to married drivers because married drivers tend to be safer drivers.
Best car insurance in California: AAA
AAA is the best auto insurance company in California because of its affordable rates, dependable coverage and great support.
AAA has a wide variety of coverage types and is a great choice for bundling with other types of insurance, such as home or renters insurance. It's also one of the cheapest companies in California.
State Farm also offers excellent customer service and coverage for California drivers, but its rates are much more expensive.
Best CA auto insurance companies
Company |
Editor's rating
|
J.D. Power
|
AM Best
|
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | 842 | A++ | |
| AAA | 827 | A | |
| Geico | 835 | A++ | |
| Farmers | 815 | A | |
| Mercury | 827 | A |
Consider customer reviews along with prices when shopping for car insurance in California. If you're in an accident, a company with excellent customer service will help you get back on the road quickly. Poor customer service reviews could mean you'll end up paying more out of pocket or waiting longer for car repairs.
Average cost of car insurance in California by city
The most expensive city in California for car insurance is Beverly Hills, at $238 per month on average. The cheapest city, Mount Shasta, has an average rate of $106 per month.
The average cost of a full coverage car insurance quote in California is $145 per month, or $1,744 per year. But the cost of car insurance varies by up to $132 per month based on where you live.
You might have a higher insurance rate if there's a lot of car theft in your area, your roads are poorly maintained or the average car value is high, like in Beverly Hills. If your neighbors all drive Teslas, a liability claim will be more expensive because there's a higher cost to repair the vehicle.
California car insurance quotes near you
City | Monthly cost | % from average |
|---|---|---|
| Acalanes Ridge | $133 | -9% |
| Acampo | $140 | -4% |
| Acton | $149 | 3% |
| Adelanto | $168 | 15% |
| Adin | $122 | -16% |
Minimum auto insurance requirements in California
California requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 for bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage.
Coverage | Limit |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury (BI) | $15,000 per person/$30,000 per accident |
| Property damage (PD) | $5,000 per accident |
While this is the lowest amount of insurance coverage you can have, choose your coverage limits based on your driving habits and budget.
For example, you should add collision and comprehensive coverage if your car is worth more than a few thousand dollars. You'll probably be required to have both if your car is loaned or leased.
On the other hand, if you're a college student with an older car who doesn't drive often, you may not need the same level of protection.
If you live in one of California's expensive ZIP codes and have savings or investments, we recommend that you increase your liability insurance limits and consider adding umbrella coverage to protect your assets.
Will car insurance costs in California go up?
Car insurance costs are expected to go up by less than 1% in California in 2023, thanks to the state's strict control over rate increases.
But the California Legislature has passed a bill that will increase the minimum required liability coverage to 30/60/15 starting January 1, 2025.
Increase to California minimum insurance requirements
Starting in 2025, drivers with minimum coverage will likely pay more for car insurance when they renew.
These drivers could see about 16% higher rates, which could be between $8 to $20 more per month. But the increases may differ because the extra coverage would be spread across every insured driver.
California's current minimums (15/30/5) are among the lowest in the country. Only three other states have the same or lower required liability limits.
The change would make California's requirements among the top 10 highest in the country. Only eight states have requirements at that level or higher.
Affinity group car insurance discounts in California
The California Department of Insurance has recently proposed regulations to mitigate the effect of affinity group discounts on insurance prices. This includes discounts for your job (such as lawyers and teachers) or group discounts (such as an alumni association).
Farmers offers the largest affinity group discount among the largest insurance companies in California. The company discounts policies by 14% for a variety of professionals.
Company | Affinity group | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 21st Century | American Medical Association membership | 4% |
| AAA | Accountants, educators | 8% |
| Allied | Accountants, dentists, educators | 10% |
| Allstate | Specialized professionals | 3% |
| Farmers | Accountants, aerospace engineers, dentists, educators, scientists | 14% |
Frequently asked questions
What's the average cost of car insurance in California?
The average cost of car insurance in California for a minimum coverage policy is $49 per month. The average cost for a full coverage policy is $145 per month.
Is insurance expensive in California?
The cost of car insurance in California is about average compared to other states. California ranks as the 22nd most expensive state for minimum coverage insurance. It is the 31st most expensive state for full coverage policies.
Which company has the cheapest car insurance in California?
Which car insurance company is the best-rated in California?
State Farm is the best-rated car insurance company in California for customer satisfaction. State Farm consistently gets great scores for customer service and coverage options. It's also a great company for drivers who want to bundle policies.
Is Geico insurance leaving California?
In California, Geico insurance is only available online because Geico shut down its physical offices in the state. Geico is still selling policies in California and maintaining current policies. It's still a good idea to get an online quote from Geico because it offers the cheapest rates on California car insurance, with an average of only $31 per month for minimum coverage.
Methodology
We collected thousands of rates from ZIP codes across California for the largest insurance companies. Quotes are for a 30-year-old man with good credit who drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX.
For all quotes with a minimum coverage policy, we used the minimum required limits in California.
Full coverage quotes include 50/100/25 liability and uninsured driver limits, $10,000 in medical payments coverage plus collision and comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible.
AAA insurance is available from two companies in California: AAA SoCal and AAA NorCal. These are two separate companies with different rates. You'll only be able to buy insurance from one or the other based on where you live. Other data sources include J.D. Power and AM Best.
ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only. Your own quotes may be different.