Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Downey, CA (July 2024)

In Downey, California, Progressive offers the lowest price for minimum and full coverage, while GEICO has the best rates for families with teenagers.

For customer service, Chubb leads. Capital Insurance Group, which balances cost with service, provides the best overall value. Your optimal choice will align with your own service and coverage requirements.

Progressive offers the cheapest car insurance in Downey, ensuring that consumers get the most value for their car insurance dollar.

• Progressive: $501 per year
• GEICO: $541 per year

Nationwide offers the most expensive minimum coverage policy in Downey, with an annual premium difference of $400 compared with Progressive. This contrast in pricing highlights the need for drivers to compare rates and shop around to find the best car insurance deal.

State Minimum Liability Requirements

Across California, the minimum car insurance coverage required is set by state law.

• $15,000 bodily injury per person
  
• $30,000 bodily injury per accident
  
• $5,000 property damage liability per accident
  

For example, if you hold a minimum coverage policy and are at fault in an accident, your insurance would cover up to $15,000 for each injured person, with a maximum of $30,000 per accident. Should the injured party's expenses exceed these limits, you would be responsible for the difference out of pocket.

Progressive offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance in Downey, making it an excellent option for budget-conscious drivers.

• Progressive: $1,223 per year
• National General: $1,416 per year

Full coverage policies are pricier than minimum coverage because they provide more comprehensive protection, covering a range of incidents beyond just liability.

Travelers offers the most expensive full coverage policy in Downey at $2,337 annually. This signifies a $1,114 difference compared to Progressive, underlining the importance of comparing rates to ensure you're not overpaying.

Do You Need Full Coverage in California?

A full coverage policy in Downey includes coverage for damage to your own vehicle in the form of comprehensive and collision coverages. It usually also includes increased liability limits.

• Collision Insurance: This provides coverage for your vehicle in the event of a collision, whether with another vehicle or or a stationary object like a tree or light pole. It also covers rollover accidents and pothole damage.

• Comprehensive Insurance: This coverage insures your vehicle against various types of damage not caused by collisions, including theft, vandalism, fires, natural disasters and being struck by an animal like a deer.

If you have a new vehicle, it's wise to opt for full coverage insurance for more robust financial protection. If you're leasing or have a car loan, you are typically required to carry full coverage insurance.

On the other hand, owners of older vehicles may find that the extra cost — which can amount to several hundred dollars more per year — is not justified by the value of the vehicle. When deciding how much car insurance coverage you need, consider your ideal balance: more extensive coverage comes with higher premiums, but getting less coverage means you may pay more out of pocket if you need to file a claim.

The cheapest car insurance options in Downey vary depending on the specific driving offense. If you’re seeking the cheapest company for drivers with a poor driving record, compare rates tailored to the type of infraction:

• Speeding ticket: National General ($1,486 per year)
• At-fault accident: Capital Insurance Group ($1,890 per year)
• DUI: National General ($1,486 per year)

This showcases how the severity of driving infractions can substantially alter car insurance rates. Hartford has the highest rates for DUI offenses at $6,395 per year, which is $4,909 more than that with National General.

Insurance rates in cities like Downey typically increase with the severity of a driving infraction, reflecting greater risk for insurers. For instance, drivers with a speeding ticket might face an average annual premium of $2,483, while those with a DUI offense could see their rates soar to $4,166.

People with driving offenses should diligently compare insurance quotes because this could potentially lead to substantial savings on their car insurance expenses.

Farmers offers the cheapest car insurance for teens in Downey.

• Farmers: $3,278 per year for female and male teens
• State Farm: $3,493 per year for female and male teens

The premium includes coverage for a combination of two parents and a teen. Nationwide stands as the most expensive option, with family annual premiums reaching $6,430 for female teens. This significant price disparity underscores the importance of comparing quotes, especially when insuring high-risk drivers such as teenagers.

Teen drivers in Downey and surrounding cities face vastly higher car insurance premiums when purchasing an individual policy as opposed to joining a family plan. On average, an individual teen policy costs around $5,051 annually, significantly higher than the $4,216 average for teens added to a family policy. This difference in rates stems from the increased risk insurers associate with inexperienced, adolescent drivers.

Furthermore, teenagers may struggle to secure an individual policy due to stringent underwriting standards that typically require a more established driving record and credit history. Consequently, it’s often more practical and economical for teens to be insured under a family car insurance plan.

In Downey, Progressive offers the cheapest car insurance for military backgrounds.

• Progressive: $1,223 per year
• USAA: $1,375 per year

USAA, the second-cheapest option, provides service that's tailored specifically to the needs of active-duty military members. It is therefore a valuable option for those who qualify.

In Downey, comparing car insurance rates is a key strategy for cost savings. However, the process is often cumbersome, potentially requiring over an hour to examine rates from three or more companies.

MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator can help you streamline this process. By inputting details like age, driving history, credit score and preferred coverage, you can instantly receive rate estimates.

Selecting the best auto insurance hinges on your priorities, such as service level, cost, and coverage options. The Downey's top insurers for varying customer preferences are:

• Best overall: Capital Insurance Group (MoneyGeek score: 82 out of 100)
• Best for service: Chubb (MoneyGeek score: 94 out of 100)
• Best cheap: Mercury (MoneyGeek score: 77 out of 100)

Those prioritizing costs alongside service might find Mercury's policy to be the most advantageous. Chubb scores highest for customer service. Capital Insurance Group emerges as the well-balanced option, offering strong performance in both service and affordability.

Capital Insurance Group offers the best option for car insurance in Downey, with a comprehensive policy that customers can rely on.:

• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 82 out of 100 ($1,607 per year)
• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 80 out of 100 ($2,138 per year)

Capital Insurance Group not only offers competitive pricing but also maintains high customer satisfaction, making it a leading contender for residents seeking a trustworthy and budget-friendly insurance provider for full coverage.

Chubb is the best option in Downey, offering top-notch car insurance for customer service. This distinction is derived from an analysis focusing on general satisfaction, claims handling and coverage options without prioritizing rates.

• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 94 out of 100 ($2,138 per year)
• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 82 out of 100 ($1,607 per year)

Chubb has high performance in claims satisfaction and the breadth of their coverage options. Customers seeking reliable and comprehensive car insurance in Downey will find Chubb to be a superior choice for their needs.

Mercury offers the best option for cheap car insurance in Downey, prioritizing the financial ease of its customers without compromising on quality service. The MoneyGeek score, with a special focus on affordability, reflects the balancing act between cost, claims handling and customer satisfaction.

• Mercury: MoneyGeek score of 77 out of 100 ($584 per year)
• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 76 out of 100 ($684 per year)

Mercury stands out not only for its impressive affordability but also for its strong claims handling and customer satisfaction. This score based on a minimum coverage policy, accentuiating the value Mercury offers to drivers in Downey looking for reliable yet financially manageable car insurance.

Residents of Downey, California, face an average car insurance premium of $1,722, which lies above the statewide average of $1,562. When compared to the average cost of car insurance in California, Downey's average cost is higher by $160. However, California's average comes in at a lower rate when set against the national average premium of $1,781.

The calculus behind car insurance premiums is complex, because it encompasses a variety of factors, of which location is paramount. Insurers weigh the risk factors associated with specific locales, considering accident rates, thefts and local laws — variables that can significantly impact rates.

Santa Maria enjoys the cheapest insurance premium at $1,106, while Glendale stands out with the highest at $2,115, showcasing a striking $1,009 difference within California. Rates can dip even further in less populous, non-metropolitan areas where traffic density lessens and the risk of collisions drops.