bestauto insuranceBerkeley2022Compare the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Berkeley, CA
The average car insurance rate in Berkeley is $1,361 per year, approximately 4.8% cheaper than the state average. Esurance offers the cheapest policy at $1,021 per year. MoneyGeek also analyzed the cheapest rates for different coverage amounts and driving history to help you find something that fits your needs based on a balance of quality and affordability.
REVIEW AUTO INSURANCE RATES
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your auto insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 11/24/2022
Edited By |
Morgan Hull
Written By |
Mark Fitzpatrick
Esurance is the most affordable option for average Berkeley drivers and those with speeding tickets. The cheapest company for a state minimum policy is Progressive. Military families may also find USAA to be a cheap option. Based on MoneyGeek’s analysis, AAA is the best car insurance company in Berkeley for those looking for a balance in cost and customer service.
bestauto insuranceBerkeley2022The Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Berkeley
Cheapest Overall - Esurance
Cheapest State Minimum - Progressive
Cheapest With a Driving Violation - Esurance
Best Overall - AAA
The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Berkeley
The most affordable car insurance companies in Berkeley for drivers looking for a full coverage policy are:
- Esurance: $1,021 per year
- Progressive: $1,050 per year
For drivers who are from military families, another cheap option is USAA. It has an average rate of $1,040 per year.
On average, the cost of an Esurance full coverage policy is $1,021 per year. That is the most affordable option in Berkeley and is 65.1% cheaper than Travelers, the most expensive provider in the city. A full coverage policy has comprehensive and collision insurance, but costs may vary depending on the liability insurance coverage you select.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Berkeley
Full Coverage 100/300/100
- Company100/300/100per year
- 1.$1,021
- 2.$1,040
- 3.$1,050
- 4.$1,155
- 5.$1,233
In accordance with our methodology, MoneyGeek collected average car insurance rates for a sample driver profile, a 40-year-old male driver with a full coverage policy.
Full coverage insurance costs more than the state minimum coverage requirement. However, it adds comprehensive and collision protection that protects you against possible expenses incurred from damages to your vehicle.
- Collision insurance: covers damages due to a collision with another vehicle or an object
- Comprehensive insurance: covers damages caused by non-collision accidents like weather-related incidents, animal damage, vandalism and theft
If you are driving an older car, full coverage may not be ideal because you may end up paying more for insurance than the car is worth. In this case, getting liability-only insurance or a policy that only meets the state minimum coverage requirements may be the best option.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Berkeley
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Berkeley for Minimum Coverage
Drivers may find minimum car insurance in Berkeley to be the cheapest available option. Based on average rates, the two cheapest companies in the city for minimum coverage are:
- Progressive: $446 per year
- CSAA: $455 per year
USAA has an average annual rate of $426 but was excluded from the rankings because it only caters to military families.
Getting a minimum coverage policy will help you save money, but it has low levels of liability coverage and does not include comprehensive and collision insurance. That means you risk not being fully covered. You can toggle the table to see how much it would cost to have higher liability coverage.
Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Berkeley
State Minimum
- CompanyState Minimumper year
- 1.$426
- 2.$446
- 3.CSAA$455
- 4.$474
- 5.$551
For Berkeley drivers, a policy that only meets California’s minimum coverage is the cheapest available insurance. However, it only includes 15/30/5 liability coverage. Even if you save on your monthly bill, you may have to pay more out of pocket in the event of an accident.
For example, if you are in an at-fault accident that caused another person to incur $20,000 in medical bills, your policy will only cover $15,000 and you will pay $5,000 out of pocket.
California Minimum Liability Requirements
- ItemDescription
- Bodily Injury and Property Damage$15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident and $5,000 for property damage. A more protective level is 100/300/100.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Berkeley if You Have Driving Violations
A driving violation on your record can cause higher insurance premiums. Based on MoneyGeek’s analysis, the cheapest car insurance companies in Berkeley if you have violations are:
- Cheapest after a ticket: Esurance, $1,291 per year
- Cheapest after an at-fault accident: CSAA, $1,555 per year
- Cheapest after a DUI: Progressive, $2,478 per year
For military families, the cheapest option after a speeding ticket is USAA. It has an average insurance rate of $1,138 per year.
Drivers with poor records can improve their driving history to get lower rates over time. In the meantime, you can find cheap car insurance for drivers with bad records by shopping around.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Berkeley With a Violation
Speeding Ticket
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Berkeley
Berkeley$1,361
California$1,429
U.S.$1,424
The average car insurance rate in Berkeley is $1,361 per year, cheaper than both the state and national annual averages. Berkeley drivers typically pay 4.8% less than California’s average and 4.4% less than the average cost of car insurance in the United States.
Personalized Quotes to Get You the Cheapest Car Insurance in Berkeley
Car insurance quotes in Berkeley are based on several factors, including age, gender, car make and model, coverage level and ZIP code. Make sure you regularly compare personalized quotes from different auto insurers to find out if you are qualified for any discount or rebate. Doing this can also help you find the best policy at a fair price.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Berkeley
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
The Best Car Insurance Companies in Berkeley
MoneyGeek found the best car insurance providers in Berkeley, California by gathering hundreds of quotes from multiple providers and analyzing their average rates, claims ratings and user satisfaction scores. Based on this criteria, the top two companies with the highest scores are:
- AAA: MoneyGeek score of 92.4 out of 100
- Esurance: MoneyGeek score of 87.4 out of 100
USAA was excluded from this analysis, but it received a score of 92.2 out of 100, making it the best car insurance in Berkeley for military members.
1
AAA
Score:100
AAA scored high for financial stability, customer satisfaction and affordability. The provider also received a perfect claims rating, indicating that it’s able to fulfill customer claims regularly. Berkeley drivers will pay an average of $1,238 annually for a full coverage policy. One unique offering provided by the insurer is identity theft coverage.
More About AAA
AAA offers identity theft coverage to Berkeley drivers. A basic plan comes at no cost with a AAA membership. With this coverage, the insurer monitors credit reports, social media, the internet and the dark web for any identity fraud activity. Additional fees apply if you want broader protection. Rental car and/or travel reimbursement is a standard coverage from AAA. To add rental coverage, you must have collision coverage included in your policy. This covers rental or public transportation expenses while waiting for your vehicle to be repaired or after totaling your vehicle.
Read MoneyGeek's AAA auto Insurance Review2
Esurance
Score:100
Esurance scored high on customer satisfaction, financial stability and affordability but received low claims ratings. Policies from Esurance cost $1,021 per year in Berkeley. The insurer offers custom parts coverage that protects aftermarket upgrade damages to your vehicle.
More About Esurance
Berkeley drivers who own vehicles with custom parts may want custom parts coverage, an option rarely offered by other insurers. The coverage has a limit of up to $4,000 and pays for aftermarket upgrade damages, including a custom grill, fancy sound system and exhaust system. Another unique coverage offered by the insurer in select states, including California, is rideshare insurance. This ensures that you don’t have gaps when you switch between your personal policy and your rideshare insurance policy and that you are paying the lowest comprehensive and collision deductible of the two policies.
Read MoneyGeek's Esurance auto Insurance ReviewAverage Cost of Car Insurance by Postal Code
Average car insurance rates in Berkeley also vary depending on your ZIP code. Variations in car theft statistics, number of accidents and percentage of uninsured drivers can affect the cost of auto insurance.
ZIP code 94703 has the cheapest average insurance rate in Berkeley at $1,315 per year, whereas the most expensive neighborhood is 94704 with an average annual rate of $1,407.
- Zip CodeState Minimumper year
- 94703$1,315
- 94704$1,407
Factors That Impact Insurance Costs in Berkeley
In addition to individual driver needs and history, location-specific factors like the percentage of uninsured motorists and the rate of car thefts also contribute to car insurance rates in Berkeley. How Berkeley ranks compared to the 300 most populous cities in the United States can have a significant impact on premium costs.
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