Updated: December 16, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
GEICO: Most affordable for diverse driver types in San Diego. You'll pay just $37 monthly for minimum coverage or $86 for full coverage, saving 20% compared to the city average.
Progressive: Runner-up for affordability with $48 monthly minimum and $92 full coverage rates. It's competitive for drivers with a DUI who pay higher premiums.
AAA: Has the best pricing for drivers with an accident and drivers with a speeding ticket, making it a smart choice if you have violations on your record.
Cheapest by Coverage and Driver Profile in San Diego:
San Diego drivers looking for full coverage can save with GEICO at $86 monthly, delivering nearly 40% savings compared to the city average. Progressive comes in second at $92 per month, still offering solid 31% savings.
For minimum coverage, GEICO offers $37 monthly with the same 40% discount, while AAA takes second place at $45 per month with 26% savings.
| Geico | $37 | $87 | -40% |
| AAA | $45 | $106 | -26% |
| Progressive | $49 | $93 | -31% |
| State Farm | $57 | $128 | -10% |
| Mercury Insurance | $65 | $133 | -3% |
Not in San Diego? Read more about the cheapest car insurance in California or the best car insurance in California.
Young drivers in San Diego pay high costs due to their lack of driving experience. GEICO offers the most affordable coverage at $162 monthly, followed by State Farm at $178 and Wawanesa at $184.
Before shopping for your own policy, consider staying on your parents' plan since this typically saves hundreds of dollars annually. Completing a defensive driving course can reduce your premiums by 5% to 15%.
| Geico | $163 | $1,954 | -35% |
| State Farm | $179 | $2,147 | -28% |
| Wawanesa Insurance | $185 | $2,217 | -26% |
| Progressive | $202 | $2,420 | -19% |
| AAA | $204 | $2,443 | -19% |
GEICO has the most affordable full coverage for seniors at $92 monthly, followed by State Farm at $110 and Progressive at $112. Most insurers offer accident forgiveness programs for drivers 65 and older.
Seniors can also reduce premiums up to 10% by completing a defensive driving course. State Farm provides additional age-specific discounts and credits for defensive driver class completion.
| Geico | $93 | $1,112 | -41% |
| State Farm | $110 | $1,325 | -29% |
| Progressive | $113 | $1,354 | -28% |
| AAA | $123 | $1,478 | -21% |
| Allstate | $124 | $1,482 | -21% |
If you have a DUI, GEICO offers the most affordable coverage at $89 monthly for minimum limits, while Progressive comes in second at $109. For speeding tickets, GEICO costs $56 monthly, followed closely by AAA at $58.
At-fault accidents see AAA taking the top spot at $61 per month, with GEICO as the runner-up at $66. Shopping around after any violation makes sense since there are rate differences among providers.
| At-Fault Accident | AAA | $62 | -40% |
| At-Fault Accident | Geico | $67 | -36% |
| DUI | Geico | $90 | -42% |
| DUI | Progressive | $109 | -30% |
| Speeding Ticket | Geico | $56 | -41% |
| Speeding Ticket | AAA | $59 | -38% |
Your specific ZIP code matters when it comes to insurance rates because of differences in traffic density and crime rates. The difference is dramatic: drivers in 92136 pay around $173 monthly for full coverage, while those in 92128 pay just $118. That's a $55 monthly gap between the most and least expensive areas in the city.
| 92136 | $173 |
| 92108 | $167 |
| 92135 | $161 |
| 92102 | $161 |
| 92130 | $157 |
| 92155 | $155 |
| 92120 | $154 |
| 92126 | $154 |
| 92134 | $153 |
| 92131 | $151 |
| 92128 | $118 |
| 92129 | $119 |
| 92124 | $121 |
| 92154 | $121 |
| 92103 | $122 |
| 92116 | $123 |
| 92117 | $124 |
| 92110 | $124 |
| 92104 | $125 |
| 92111 | $126 |
Progressive is best in San Diego with a MoneyGeek score of 91 out of 100. This insurer offers good coverage options paired with top-tier customer service. GEICO, AAA, State Farm and Mercury round out the top five contenders worth considering.
| Progressive | 91 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Geico | 87 | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| AAA | 84 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| State Farm | 80 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| Mercury Insurance | 79 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
Snapshot program personalizes rates based on driving
Extensive coverage options for comprehensive protection
Accepts high-risk drivers others may decline
Higher deductibles than many competitors
Inconsistent customer service for claims handling
Fewer discounts are available compared to other insurers
Progressive excels at digital innovation with 24/7 mobile app access and real-time claims tracking that serves San Diego's tech-forward culture perfectly. The company offers competitive rates for drivers with violations and provides comprehensive coverage that addresses San Diego's high vehicle theft rates.
Top affordability across all driver categories
Generous military discounts for San Diego personnel
DriveEasy app rewards safe driving with discounts
Fewer local agents for face-to-face service
May not cover specialty items like custom parts
Some repair costs not covered in full
GEICO combines competitive rates with technology-driven customer service. The company offers the lowest rates for young drivers, seniors, and those with violations like speeding tickets or DUI convictions. Its 24/7 digital tools and mobile app provide easy claims filing and policy management.
San Diego drivers can find good rates by comparison shopping.
Combine auto with home or renters insurance for 15% to 25% savings. Stack on good driver and paperless billing discounts. Multi-car households can save an additional 10% to 25% per vehicle, creating total savings of 30% to 40% when properly combined.
Increasing your deductible from $500 to $1,000 typically reduces premiums by 10-15% annually in San Diego. This works when you have emergency savings to cover the higher out-of-pocket cost if needed.
Insurance companies regularly adjust pricing for San Diego's changing risk factors. Your driving record also improves after three years without incidents.
Our San Diego FAQ section answers common questions about finding affordable coverage that fits your budget and needs.
Car insurance in San Diego runs about $137 monthly for full coverage. While that's not cheap, it's reasonable compared to Granada Hills at $243 per month or incredibly affordable Weed at just $47 monthly, showing San Diego falls in the middle range for California.
Finding affordable car insurance in San Diego starts with understanding how insurers price policies across the city. Traffic congestion, theft risk and California’s insurance requirements all shape your premium.
We partnered with the California Department of Insurance and Quadrant Information Services to analyze hundreds of thousands of quotes from 12 insurers across every San Diego ZIP code.
Our ratings for the best car insurance in San Diego are calculated by a weighted score incorporating affordability (60%), customer experience (30%) and coverage options (10%).
Read more about our methodology, which reveals which insurers maintain competitive rates across San Diego neighborhoods and driver categories while delivering reliable claims service, not just advertised rates for perfect-record drivers.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.
