Best Car Insurance Companies in Bakersfield, CA

The best car insurance provider in Bakersfield depends on your driver profile and car insurance needs. GEICO is MoneyGeek’s pick for the best provider overall, the best for minimum coverage and the best for young adult drivers. Teens and drivers with offenses can get the best deal from Capital Insurance Group. Chubb is best for customer service, State Farm for seniors and Travelers for drivers with new cars.

For drivers prioritizing savings, MoneyGeek analyzed numerous providers to determine the cheapest car insurance in Bakersfield.

The best car insurance companies in Bakersfield are as follows:

• GEICO: MoneyGeek score 73 out of 100 ($949 per year)
• Progressive: MoneyGeek score 69 out of 100 ($1,037 per year)

GEICO scored highest in affordability and customer service, so expect an excellent customer experience at an affordable rate. USAA is MoneyGeek’s top pick for military-affiliated drivers in Bakersfield, with a MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100. AAA California offers the best car insurance in California as a whole.

We analyzed 15 companies in Bakersfield, among which GEICO and Progressive had the highest MoneyGeek scores for full coverage policies, but neither was the cheapest. National General had a lower average annual premium than GEICO at $888, but its low claims management scores and limited coverage options caused it to fall to third place for best overall provider. Capital Insurance Group received the highest customer service score, but its low coverage availability rating and high premiums lowered its ranking.

Note that insurers only qualify for a MoneyGeek score if we can find enough data for all individual scoring components.

Without considering cost, the best auto insurance companies in Bakersfield for customer service are:

• Chubb: MoneyGeek score 76 out of 100 ($1,711 per year)
• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score 68 out of 100 ($1,309 per year)

Chubb ranks highest in customer service and claims management in the city. However, this comes at a cost — Chubb has the highest annual average premium among the companies MoneyGeek evaluated in Bakersfield.

Well-managed expectations, client responsiveness and efficient claims processing are trademarks of high-quality customer service. Nothing is more stressful than jumping through hoops when looking for information about your insurance policy or filing a claim after a crash.

Chubb ranked as the second-best provider on Crash Network's Insurer Report Card, with an A- rating. It also has the highest claims management score among all providers MoneyGeek analyzed. Chubb received the second-highest score for customer service, surpassed only by Capital Insurance Group.

For policies with minimum coverage, the car insurance companies in Bakersfield that balanced service and cost best are:

• GEICO: MoneyGeek score 78 out of 100 ($342 per year)
• Progressive: MoneyGeek score 67 out of 100 ($448 per year)

Minimum car insurance requirements in California determine minimum coverage limits for all cities in the state, and policies with these coverages are typically your cheapest options. However, these policies offer the least protection against liability costs and won't help pay for any expenses from damages to your car.

Although good customer experience usually translates to higher premiums, it isn't always the case — in many instances, you can still get good service from an affordable insurer offering minimum coverage.

GEICO has the lowest average annual rate for minimum coverage policies among all insurers MoneyGeek evaluated. Although it didn't receive the highest score for customer service, it outranked 10 of the 14 providers we assessed in Bakersfield.

You can find the best car insurance for young drivers in Bakersfield from the following companies:

GEICO: MoneyGeek score 75 out of 100 ($1,095 per year) Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score 74 out of 100 ($1,475 per year)

Based on MoneyGeek's internal scoring system, GEICO's two highest scores are on affordability and service. These scores mean young adult drivers can get coverage for a manageable rate without sacrificing customer service quality.

If you're a young adult looking for car insurance, an insurer with affordable rates and good customer service will likely be the best fit for you. Providers offering age-specific discounts should be at the top of your list since these discounts can help make your costs significantly more manageable.

National General has a lower average premium than GEICO but lacks discounts that benefit young drivers. Although GEICO costs more per year, its score for customer satisfaction and available discounts moved it to the top of MoneyGeek’s list of best insurers for young adults.

The providers in Bakersfield with the best car insurance for teens on a family policy are:

• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score 81 out of 100 ($3,303 per year)
• State Farm: MoneyGeek score 76 out of 100 ($2,943 per year)

Capital Insurance Group might not have the lowest rate in Bakersfield overall, but it's still cheaper than other insurers. It also scored highest in customer service, meaning a better customer experience for a slightly higher cost.

A family plan is a great way to insure teen drivers while keeping insurance costs low. In Bakersfield, a family policy costs an average of $3,825 a year. However, an individual teen policy requires you to pay $4,498 per year, on average.

The best auto insurance companies for teens and their families offer affordable premiums without sacrificing quality service. Capital Insurance Group fits that standard and offers the additional perk of a good student discount option. Student-specific discounts like this can help significantly reduce teen insurance costs.

Providers offering discounts for distant students or students completing driver's education may also be a good option to cut costs.

The companies with the best auto insurance options for seniors in Bakersfield are:

• State Farm: MoneyGeek score 76 out of 100 ($899 per year)
• GEICO: MoneyGeek score 75 out of 100 ($916 per year)

GEICO received high scores in customer satisfaction and affordability, meaning you can find affordable rates and still expect a positive customer experience from this provider.

Auto insurance premiums for adults in their 60s tend to be similar to those in their 30s through 50s. However, rates begin creeping upward as you enter your 70s, so comparing quotes from multiple providers can go a long way in helping you find the best car insurance for seniors.

The best provider for seniors offers coverages like medical payments (MedPay) or personal injury protection (PIP). While drivers in their 60s tend to be safe, they're more likely to get hurt in an accident.

Although State Farm doesn't have these coverages, it does offer a senior driving discount. That, along with affordable rates and excellent service, make it the best option for seniors in Bakersfield.

If you have offenses on your driving record, your best options for car insurance in Bakersfield are:

• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score 71 out of 100 ($2,343 per year)
• Chubb: MoneyGeek score 69 out of 100 ($3,603 per year)

Capital Insurance Group received high scores in customer service and claims management. Having a responsive insurer when processing an accident claim can help prevent additional stress after an accident.

Cheap car insurance after a ticket can be challenging to find, but it's not impossible. Expect to pay a higher rate depending on the offense. A safe driver pays an average of $1,329 for a full coverage policy. You'll spend an additional $540 if you have a ticket, while those with DUIs pay $1,864 more.

On-record violations typically result in higher car insurance premiums, so a provider with affordable rates and options to lower your costs is ideal.

Capital Insurance Group may not offer many discounts, but its average annual premium is more affordable than the majority of the companies MoneyGeek assessed. Its coverage options may also help you save on repair costs. All that, plus outstanding service and efficient claims processing, makes Capital Insurance Group our top choice for drivers with offenses.

Drivers with a new car can get the best car insurance in Bakersfield from the following:

• Travelers: MoneyGeek score 76 out of 100 ($1,509 per year)
• Allstate: MoneyGeek score 49 out of 100 ($1,883 per year)

MoneyGeek evaluated providers based on affordability and service quality for drivers with a 2022 model. We only included insurers that offer new car replacement as an add-on coverage, which pays for a new car of the same make and model if yours is totaled in a crash.

Travelers tops the list with high scores in affordability and coverage options, allowing you to customize your policy with your preferred add-ons at a reasonable rate.

The best provider for drivers with new cars offers add-ons specifically for new vehicles, such as new or better car replacement coverage.

Travelers offers replacement coverage on top of other coverages that benefit new vehicle owners, like gap coverage and new car replacement coverage. Travelers also has the most affordable premium among providers. Other insurers that don't provide new or better car replacement may have received higher MoneyGeek scores but didn't qualify.

Your insurance needs and preferences determine the best car insurance provider in Bakersfield for you. To help you with your search, MoneyGeek answered some of the most commonly asked questions about finding an ideal policy in your city.