- Cheapest Full Coverage: GEICO at $89/month
- Cheapest Minimum Coverage: GEICO at $38/month
- Cheapest for Teens, Young Adults & Families (16-25): GEICO at $167/month
- Cheapest for Drivers With a DUI: GEICO at $9/month
- Cheapest for Drivers with an At-Fault Accident: GEICO at $68/month
- Cheapest for Drivers with a Speeding Ticket: GEICO at $57/month
Cheapest Car Insurance in Bakersfield, CA (2026 Rates)
Updated: September 2, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Cheapest Car Insurance in Bakersfield by Coverage Type
GEICO offers the cheapest minimum coverage in Bakersfield at $38 per month. AAA is the second-cheapest option, with monthly premiums at $50. Bakersfield drivers who prioritize affordability save $12 monthly or $144 per year by choosing GEICO over AAA.
GEICO also has the cheapest full coverage in Bakersfield, with an average monthly rate of $89. Progressive offers the second-lowest rate at $108 per month, but got a better rating in MoneyGeek’s analysis (89 vs. GEICO’s 87). Drivers concerned about claims handling and customer experience who can afford the additional premium will find Progressive the better choice. GEICO receives more customer complaints than the industry average (1), with a NAIC complaint index of 1.37. Progressive has a score of 0.98, which is below average.
Driving record, age and ZIP code affect your car insurance rates in Bakersfield. Request personalized quotes from multiple carriers to find the best available rate based on your profile.
$38 | $89 | -42% | |
$50 | $114 | -25% | |
$56 | $108 | -25% | |
$62 | $141 | -8% | |
Mercury Insurance | $68 | $139 | -6% |
Cheapest Car Insurance in Bakersfield by Age
- Teens & Young Adults: GEICO at $167/month
- Adult drivers: GEICO at $89/month
- Senior drivers: GEICO at $95/month
Cheapest Bakersfield Car Insurance for Teen and Young Drivers
GEICO offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance for teen and young drivers in Bakersfield at $167 per month or $2,006 per year. Wawanesa Insurance is the second-cheapest insurance company at $191 per month or $2,295 per year. Parents who already have a Wawanesa Insurance policy save $289 per year if they switch to GEICO, a justified step despite the hassle of a new application process. GEICO’s 24/7 mobile claims filing is also a practical gap if you’re worried about your teen getting into an accident.
GEICO remains the cheapest option in Bakersfield through adulthood, but get new quotes at your first renewal after turning 25. Insurers reclassify drivers out of the youth risk bracket, and rates drop. GEICO's full-coverage rate, for instance, drops from $167 for young drivers in Bakersfield to $89 per month for adults, a $936 annual reduction.
$167 | $2,006 | -37% | |
$191 | $2,295 | -28% | |
$196 | $2,351 | -27% | |
$215 | $2,578 | -20% | |
$235 | $2,823 | -12% |
Cheapest Bakersfield Car Insurance for Senior Drivers
The cheapest full coverage car insurance for drivers 65 and older in Bakersfield is from GEICO, at $95 per month or $1,142 per year. State Farm follows at $121 per month or $1,452 per year.
Seniors who don’t shop again before renewal miss out on a real savings opportunity, with the price gap between the cheapest (GEICO) and most expensive (Wawanesa Insurance) amounting to $512 per year.
Senior drivers who want to save more on car insurance can further lower their premiums with an online Mature Driver course. GEICO offers 5% discount in California, so eligible Bakersfield drivers would pay $90 per month instead. That’s a $57-per-year savings.
$95 | $1,142 | -43% | |
$121 | $1,452 | -28% | |
$131 | $1,567 | -22% | |
$131 | $1,576 | -21% | |
$138 | $1,654 | -17% |
Cheapest High-Risk Car Insurance in Bakersfield
GEICO offers the cheapest high-risk car insurance in Bakersfield. A DUI leads to the biggest price gap between carriers in Bakersfield: $196 between the cheapest and most expensive insurer. GEICO charges the lowest rate at $92 per month for minimum coverage. California requires SR-22 filing for three years after a DUI conviction. Get new quotes as soon as the filing period ends, since your rate drops once your record clears.
GEICO has the lowest rates for Bakersfield drivers with an at-fault accident on record, at $68 per month. It also offers the cheapest rates for a person with a speeding ticket at $57 per month.
GEICO | $38 | $57 (+50%) | $68 (+79%) | $92 (+142%) |
AAA | $50 | $67 (+34%) | $71 (+42%) | $176 (+252%) |
Progressive | $56 | $83 (+48%) | $92 (+64%) | $127 (+127%) |
State Farm | $62 | $93 (+50%) | $96 (+55%) | $194 (+213%) |
Mercury Insurance | $68 | $94 (+38%) | $128 (+88%) | $118 (+74%) |
Wawanesa Insurance | $69 | $119 (+72%) | $129 (+87%) | $147 (+113%) |
Farmers | $71 | $97 (+37%) | $97 (+37%) | $121 (+70%) |
Auto Owners | $78 | $87 (+12%) | $90 (+15%) | $136 (+74%) |
Allstate | $87 | $119 (+37%) | $146 (+68%) | $266 (+206%) |
Travelers | $88 | $134 (+52%) | $149 (+69%) | $181 (+106%) |
Nationwide | $103 | $180 (+75%) | $161 (+56%) | $288 (+180%) |
How Much Do Rates Go Up After a Violation?
A DUI leads to the largest surcharge: minimum coverage rates after a DUI range from $92 (GEICO) to $288 (Nationwide), a $196 gap depending on the insurer. Percentage increases by carrier and violation type range from 70% to 252% for a DUI.
Auto Owners is the most forgiving carrier for speeding tickets and at-fault accidents in Bakersfield. It raises rates by only 12% for a speeding ticket and 15% for an at-fault accident.
The price gap across insurers widens after a violation. With a clean record, the difference between the cheapest (GEICO at $38) and most expensive (Nationwide at $103) is $65 a month. After a DUI, the gap widens to $196 between GEICO ($92) and Nationwide ($288), so the dollar value of comparing carriers is higher after a violation than before.
Average Car Insurance Cost in Bakersfield
Bakersfield drivers pay an average of $69 per month for minimum coverage and $146 per month for full coverage. The city averages are $8 and $15 more than the California monthly averages, which are $61 for minimum and $131 for full coverage.
The cost differences between city and state averages matter less than the carrier-to-carrier gap within Bakersfield itself. GEICO’s full coverage rate of $89 per month, for example, is $57 below the city average. Drivers who compare quotes from multiple insurers save more in dollar terms.
Minimum Coverage | $69 | $61 |
Full Coverage | $146 | $131 |
Your Next Step:
Get your real quotes from trusted insurance providers.
Bakersfield Car Insurance Costs by ZIP Code
ZIP code 93313 has the cheapest full coverage rate in Bakersfield at $135 per month. 93306 is the most expensive at $170. The $35 monthly difference is meaningful, but it's less than the $57 a month you'd save by choosing GEICO over a policy at the city average. Your carrier matters more than your address in Bakersfield.
Drivers in the city's five most populated ZIP codes pay: $141 in 93307, $170 in 93306, $138 in 93309, $161 in 93312 and $135 in 93313.
93301 | $66 | $142 |
93304 | $65 | $141 |
93305 | $63 | $135 |
93306 | $82 | $170 |
93307 | $65 | $141 |
93309 | $64 | $138 |
93311 | $64 | $138 |
93312 | $79 | $161 |
93313 | $62 | $135 |
93314 | $77 | $159 |
How to Get Cheap Car Insurance in Bakersfield
For most Bakersfield drivers, the biggest savings opportunity comes from switching carriers. The cost difference between GEICO ($89 per month) and State Farm ($141 per month) for full coverage is $52 a month. If you’ve paid off your vehicle, dropping to minimum coverage will cut your premiums by $51 a month. The steps below highlight ways to get cheap car insurance in Bakersfield.
- 1Compare quotes from multiple insurers and save $52 a month.
GEICO, the cheapest insurance provider, offers full coverage to Bakersfield drivers for $89 per month. State Farm prices a similar policy at $141 per month. That’s a $52 monthly difference or $624 per year. For minimum coverage, GEICO ($38) and Mercury Insurance ($68) rates are $30 apart.
Your actual quote will differ based on your driving record and ZIP code. Get prices from at least three companies to find your lowest rate.
- 2Match coverage to vehicle value to save up to $51 per month.
GEICO offers the cheapest minimum- and full-coverage car insurance in Bakersfield. Choosing to stay with GEICO but changing your coverage level from full to minimum will save you $51 a month. If you’ve already paid off your vehicle, check your car’s actual cash value. If the annual premium of $1,068 for full coverage is more than what you’d recover in a total loss claim, dropping comprehensive and collision coverage makes sense. But if you have a financed or leased vehicle, keep the full coverage as lenders require it.
- 3Get quotes for your specific ZIP code and get up to $35 savings a month.
Full coverage car insurance in Bakersfield ranges from $135 per month in 83313 to $170 in 93306, a $35 monthly gap. If you’ve moved to a different area, update your address with your insurer at renewal. A late update will result in the wrong rate for the entire policy term.
- 4Shop 30 days before your violation drops off and save up to $54 a month.
The removal of a DUI on your record results in the highest rate drop. GEICO lowers premiums from $92 (DUI) to $38 (clean), a $54 reduction. An at-fault accident clearance brings GEICO rates down $30: from $68 to $38. For a speeding ticket, GEICO’s price drop is $19.
Lower rates won’t automatically appear at renewal. Get quotes 30 days before any violation comes off your record to have enough time to compare prices and find the lowest option.
- 5Bundle home and auto policies and get 11% to 18% off.
Farmers has California's biggest home and auto bundle discount at 18%, saving Bakersfield policyholders $733 a year, but its bundled premium of $3,287 is $1,013 more than AAA's $2,274 annual rate at a 13% discount. The dollar amount saved matters more than the discount percentage, so compare total bundled premiums across carriers before committing. Confirm the discount is applied to your quote before signing. It isn't automatic.
- 6Complete the California Mature Driver course at 55+.
Most auto insurance companies in California will lower premiums for up to three years for drivers 55 and older who complete a DMV-approved Mature Driver Improvement course. At GEICO's $95 monthly senior rate for full coverage in Bakersfield, the 5% discount saves you $57 per year. This is $171 over the three-year life of the discount. Submit your completion certificate to your insurer and ask if they offer this discount. The reduction isn't applied automatically.
- 7Consider non-owner coverage if you borrow or rent cars often.
Drivers who don't own a vehicle but borrow or rent frequently can get liability coverage through a non-owner policy. GEICO's non-owner rate in California is $54 per month for minimum coverage, $67 less than Travelers' at $121 for the same coverage. Call insurers directly to get personalized quotes based on your profile and location.
Drivers who need to file an SR-22 to reinstate a suspended license can use a non-owner SR-22 policy to meet California's requirement without owning a car. A non-owner policy covers injuries and damages you cause to others if you’re at fault in an accident.
Cheap Bakersfield Car Insurance: FAQ
GEICO offers the cheapest car insurance in Bakersfield at $38 per month for minimum coverage and $89 per month for full coverage.
Bakersfield drivers pay an average of $146 per month for full coverage and $69 per month for minimum coverage. Both figures are higher than California's statewide averages of $131 for full and $61 for minimum.
Bakersfield car insurance sits in the middle of California's prices. Full coverage runs about $146 monthly here. While that's less than Granada Hills at $243 per month, it's still higher than Weed's $47 monthly rate, showing how location affects your insurance costs across the state.
Progressive is the best car insurance company in Bakersfield, with a MoneyGeek score of 88 out of 100. It’s backed by its strong digital tools and 24/7 support. Its mobile app gives drivers on-demand access to claims reporting, policy management and roadside assistance. The Snapshot program rewards safe drivers with personalized rates, and disappearing deductibles reduce out-of-pocket costs after claim-free periods.
GEICO is the better pick for drivers who prioritize price, with the lowest rates in Bakersfield across all driver types starting at $38 per month for minimum coverage.
How We Chose the Best and Cheapest Car Insurance in Bakersfield, CA
We partnered with the California Department of Insurance and Quadrant Information Services to analyze hundreds of thousands of quotes from 12 insurers across every Bakersfield ZIP code.
Ratings for the best car insurance in Bakersfield are calculated using a weighted score that incorporates affordability (60%), customer experience (30%), and coverage options (10%).
Read more about our methodology, which shows which insurers maintain competitive rates across Bakersfield neighborhoods and driver categories while delivering reliable claims service, not just advertised rates for perfect-record drivers.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut and MoneyGeek's resident expert in insurance and economics. In nearly a decade covering the insurance market at LendingTree and MoneyGeek, he's analyzed hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR. He draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnerships affect his recommendations.
Mark studied at Boston College and later earned a master's in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University. He worked in financial risk management at State Street before joining MoneyGeek. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.
Sources
- California Office of Traffic Safety. "OTS Crash Rankings Results." Accessed September 1, 2026.
- GEICO. "Find Defensive Driving Discounts & Courses by State." Accessed September 1, 2026.
- National Insurance Crime Bureau. "U.S. Vehicle Thefts Experience Historic Decline." Accessed September 1, 2026.