For Carlsbad drivers, GEICO offers the most affordable rates for a minimum coverage policy. National General is the cheapest option for a full coverage policy and driving offenses such as a speeding ticket, an at-fault accident or a DUI. Meanwhile, State Farm is ideal for teen drivers on a family policy, and USAA is best for military members.
If customer service is your priority, Chubb is the best option.
Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Carlsbad








Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Carlsbad
We found that the cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Carlsbad is offered by:
- GEICO: approximately $376 per year
- State Farm: approximately $423 per year
Hartford has the highest average annual rate for a minimum coverage policy at $700.
California’s minimum car insurance requirements only include bodily injury liability and property damage liability with the following coverage amounts:
- $15,000 in bodily injury liability per person
- $30,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
- $5,000 in property damage liability per accident
Liability-only coverage goes towards the cost of repairs for property damage or medical treatment to the other driver and their passengers in an accident. If you are at fault in an accident and have $15,000 in bodily injury liability per person and $30,000 per accident, your insurer will only cover medical expenses up to those limits. You’ll have to pay any extra out of pocket.
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in Carlsbad
For full coverage, the most affordable car insurance providers in Carlsbad are:
- National General: approximately $897 per year
- GEICO: approximately $959 per year
The most expensive company for full coverage is Farmers, with an average annual rate of $1,656. Your geographical location tends to affect how much you’ll pay for coverage.
Full coverage car insurance adds comprehensive and collision insurance to your auto policy.
- Collision Insurance: Provides protection against the cost of damages to your vehicle caused by colliding with another vehicle or an object.
- Comprehensive Insurance: Provides protection against the cost of damages to your vehicle due to a non-accident incident like weather-related events, fire, theft or vandalism.
Although a full coverage policy offers extra coverage, it may not be worth getting it if it costs more than your car's actual value.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Carlsbad After a Driving Offense
In Carlsbad, your cheapest options for full coverage car insurance after the following driving violations are:
- Speeding ticket: National General (approximately $941 per year)
- At-fault accident: National General (approximately $1,326 per year)
- DUI: National General (approximately $941 per year)
On average, the most expensive companies after getting a speeding ticket, an at-fault accident or a DUI are Farmers ($2,288 per year), Kemper ($2,994 per year) and Hartford ($5,357 per year), respectively. A poor driving record can significantly affect how much you pay for car insurance, with the cheapest rates often costing more than those for drivers with clean records.
How much car insurance rates increase can depend on the severity of the infraction. For instance, drivers in Carlsbad with a DUI may pay around $1,852 more for auto insurance, while those with a speeding ticket could pay around $500 more. By finding the cheapest car insurance with a bad driving record, you may potentially reduce insurance payments.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Carlsbad for Teens and Their Families
For 16-year-old teens on a family policy, the most affordable car insurers in Carlsbad are:
- State Farm: approximately $2,438 per year for male and female teens
- GEICO: approximately $2,842 per year for female teens; $2,997 per year for male teens
The most expensive option is Nationwide, costing about $4,611 per year for male or female teens on a family policy.
In some cases, male teens may pay higher car insurance rates than female teens because they are considered riskier to insure. For instance, male teens may pay $155 more for a GEICO policy than female teens.
Car insurance rates are much more expensive for teen drivers if they buy a policy themselves than if they’re added to a family policy. In Carlsbad, for example, a male teen buying an individual policy would pay at least $800 to $2000 more than a male teen on a family policy. You might get more potential savings if you shop around for the cheapest car insurance for teens.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Carlsbad for Military Drivers
The cheapest car insurance providers for military drivers in Carlsbad are:
- USAA: approximately $861 per year
- National General: approximately $897 per year
The rates above are for a full coverage policy. If you want minimum coverage, USAA is still the cheapest option for military families at $372 per year, whereas GEICO is the second-cheapest company at $376 per year.
How to Compare Cheap Carlsbad Car Insurance Quotes Online
Getting an online quote from a car insurance company can take 15 minutes or more because you have to submit lots of personal information. It may take you even longer to compare quotes from multiple providers since you have to repeat this process with each insurer.
Our car insurance calculator offers a convenient way to get a rough estimate of rates with different insurers based on just your age, vehicle type, coverage level and driving record.
Auto Insurance Calculator
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Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates
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Best Car Insurance in Carlsbad: Summary
Your best option for car insurance will depend on your needs. The best car insurance providers in Carlsbad are:
- Best overall: GEICO (MoneyGeek score of 73 out of 100)
- Best for service: Chubb (MoneyGeek score of 76 out of 100)
- Best cheap: GEICO (MoneyGeek score of 78 out of 100)
A company’s overall MoneyGeek score may change depending on weightings in each category.
The best car insurance company in California is CSAA, indicating that location impacts ratings. If you come from a military family, USAA offers the best car insurance, earning a score of 85 out of 100.
Best Overall Car Insurance in Carlsbad
Overall, the best auto insurers in Carlsbad are:
- GEICO: MoneyGeek score of 73 out of 100 (approximately $959 per year)
- Progressive: MoneyGeek score of 72 out of 100 (approximately $959 per year)
GEICO scored highly in affordability and satisfaction, making it the best overall insurer since it successfully balances both these factors.
If you have a military background, USAA is your best option for car insurance. This company earned a MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

pros
Second-cheapest company for a full coverage policy
Above-average customer satisfaction
Offers unique coverage options like mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI)
cons
Poor claims management
Lacks some essential coverages
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
If you value affordability and service quality, GEICO is your best option for car insurance in Carlsbad. An average full coverage policy from this insurer costs $959 per year, which is the second lowest rate in the city.
With GEICO, you can purchase mechanical breakdown insurance to supplement your auto policy. This rare add-on covers more than the typical dealer warranty and includes all parts and systems in your car at a lower price. However, MBI is only available for new or leased cars that are less than 15 months old and with less than 15,000 miles.
GEICO also offers the typical optional coverages, such as rental car and/or travel reimbursement. This pays up to a predetermined amount for a rental car if your vehicle isn't drivable for more than 24 hours due to a covered accident.
Best Car Insurance in Carlsbad for Customer Service
Without factoring in the cost of premiums, the best car insurance providers in Carlsbad are:
- Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 76 out of 100 (approximately $1,639 per year)
- Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 68 out of 100 (approximately $1,392 per year)
Chubb’s strongest areas are customer satisfaction and claims management, which are both vital to provide a good customer service experience. It is more expensive compared to other insurers, meaning you’ll pay a high price for the insurer’s quality service.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

pros
Efficient claims management
Excellent customer service
Offers unique coverages like OEM (original equipment manufacturer) coverage
cons
Lacks some basic coverages
Higher rates than other providers
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Based on J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction study and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Customer Complaint Index, Chubb provides superb customer service to its policyholders. However, this company doesn’t offer many coverage options and lacks some of the most basic add-ons.
When it comes to optional coverages, Chub has unique options like OEM (original equipment manufacturer) coverage and diminished value coverage. With OEM coverage, Chubb will cover the costs of original parts and repair processes if your vehicle gets damaged due to a covered accident. By adding diminished value coverage, you agree to the value of your car when your policy is written. If your vehicle gets damaged or stolen, you will receive a check for the agreed amount, regardless of age or mileage.
Best Cheap Car Insurance Companies in Carlsbad
In Carlsbad, the best car insurance companies that combine affordability and service quality for policies that only meet California’s minimum coverage requirements are:
- GEICO: MoneyGeek score of 78 out of 100 (approximately $376 per year)
- State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 72 out of 100 (approximately $423 per year)
Minimum coverage policies may have the lowest rates, but they provide the least amount of protection against liability costs in an accident. You also have no coverage for damages to your vehicle.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

pros
An affordable minimum coverage policy costs $376 per year.
Offers various discounts such as bundling, defensive driving and new vehicle discounts
Excellent customer service
cons
Missing some essential coverages
Lower claims management score
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
If you’re looking for a balance of affordability and quality service, GEICO is your best option for minimum coverage. With this company, customer satisfaction is above-average and car insurance rates are affordable.
It’s also possible to get lower rates since GEICO offers a variety of discounts, including bundling, multiple cars and safe driving discounts. You can also receive savings for having safety devices in your vehicle, such as airbags or anti-theft systems or completing a defensive driving or driver’s education course.
Aside from the common discounts, GEICO also offers unique discount opportunities for having a new vehicle or always using your seatbelt. However, it doesn’t have discounts for going paperless or paying in full. You may also end up having a subpar claims management experience as this company scored lower in that category.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Carlsbad
The average cost of car insurance in Carlsbad is $1,225 per year, which is $162 cheaper than the average cost of car insurance in California (as of October 2022), and $40 lower than the national average. These rates are for a full coverage policy with $100,000 bodily injury liability per person, $300,000 in bodily injury liability per accident and $100,000 in property damage liability per accident.
Keep in mind that your geographical location plays a vital role in your car insurance rates.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
