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

In Fairfield, California, GEICO offers the lowest rates for both minimum and full coverage, while State Farm is the most economical for families with teens.

The highest level of customer satisfaction comes from Chubb, which also reigns as the best overall. Your ideal provider will ultimately align with your specific coverage requirements and personal preferences.

GEICO is the cheapest option in Fairfield if you’re seeking the cheapest car insurance. The most affordable choices are:

• GEICO: $340 per year
• CSAA: $357 per year

Chubb offers the most costly minimum coverage policy in Fairfield, with an annual premium of $687. This demonstrates a striking $347 difference between the highest and lowest rates, highlighting the potential savings from diligent comparison shopping for car insurance.

State Minimum Liability Requirements

For Californians, state law mandates the minimum car insurance coverages:

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

For instance, if your policy is at the state minimum and you're involved in an accident where the bodily injury to the other person is $15,000, your insurance will cover it in full. However, if the injuries total $20,000, you'd be personally responsible for the remaining $5,000.

GEICO is the cheapest option in Fairfield for cheapest full coverage car insurance. Drivers can secure their vehicles at competitive rates with the following insurers:

• GEICO: $993 per year
• Mercury: $1,134 per year

Comparatively, Farmers has the most expensive full coverage policy in Fairfield at $1,956 annually — almost double GEICO's rate, highlighting the importance of shopping around. Full coverage policies cost more since they offer extensive protection beyond the state's minimum requirements, safeguarding against a variety of events including theft, vandalism and accidents.

Do You Need Full Coverage in California?

A full coverage policy in Fairfield 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.

National General offers the most affordable premiums for Fairfield drivers with infractions on their driving records.

• Speeding ticket: National General ($1,320 per year)
• At-fault accident: CSAA ($1,487 per year)
• DUI: National General ($1,320 per year)

Hartford has the most expensive rates for those with a DUI at $5,181 annually. There's a significant $3,861 difference in annual premiums between National General, the cheapest option for a speeding ticket, and Hartford, the most expensive after a DUI. This highlights how the type of violation can considerably affect car insurance costs.

Insurance premiums typically escalate with the severity of a driving offense to account for the increased risk posed to insurers. For instance, in Fairfield, drivers with a DUI infraction can expect an average annual rate of $3,304, while those with just a speeding ticket face a lower rate, averaging $1,961.

Motorists with violations should diligently compare insurance rates because finding the most competitive price can mitigate the financial impact of their driving record.

State Farm offers the cheapest car insurance for teens in Fairfield.

• State Farm: $2,467 per year for female and male teens
• GEICO: $2,508 per year for female teens and $2,644 per year for male teens

These rates reflect the cost of adding a teenager to a policy with two parents. Nationwide has the most expensive teen family policy in Fairfield, with a premium at $4,814 per year for female teens. This demonstrates a difference of $2,347 annually from the cheapest option, highlighting the importance of comparing quotes to find the most affordable insurance for high-risk teen drivers.

In Fairfield and other cities, teenage drivers face steep car insurance premiums. On average, a teen purchasing an individual policy may expect to pay approximately $4,009 annually, while being added to a family plan typically costs much less at about $3,364 per year — a difference of $645.

Insurers justify this disparity in rates due to the higher risks associated with youthful, less experienced drivers. Consequently, securing an individual policy as a teen can be challenging, as insurers are often hesitant to underwrite policies for high-risk individuals without the balanced risk that a family policy presents.

GEICO is the cheapest option for Fairfield residents with military backgrounds seeking the cheapest car insurance for military backgrounds.

• GEICO: $993 per year
• Mercury: $1,134 per year

Although USAA is not the cheapest in this dataset, with an annual premium of $1,159, it is known for its tailor-made services for active duty military members. This specialization often makes USAA a top choice nationally for those in the armed forces seeking value beyond price alone.

In Fairfield, 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.

Choosing the best auto insurance depends on what you prioritize — be it service, cost, coverage or other factors. MoneyGeek's unique scoring system evaluated various carriers in Fairfield to find which ones excel in different criteria:

• Best overall: Chubb (MoneyGeek score 83 out of 100)
• Best for service: Chubb (MoneyGeek score 94 out of 100)
• Best cheap: Mercury (MoneyGeek score 78 out of 100)

When a single company like Chubb leads in both the overall and service categories, it's clear it provides a balance of quality service and competitive pricing. Conversely, Mercury's top ranking for affordability suggests it’s the go-to for budget-conscious consumers who still value a quality service experience.

Chubb is the best option for car insurance in Fairfield. Here's how the top providers measure up:

• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100 ($1,631 per year)
• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 80 out of 100 ($1,383 per year)

Chubb particularly excels in claims handling and coverage options. Its score indicates that it offers a well-rounded full coverage policy, with a focus on customer satisfaction and financial stability.

Chubb is the best option in Fairfield for car insurance based on customer service. This conclusion reflects general satisfaction, claims handling and coverages, which are important for policyholders who value quality service over cost considerations.

• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 94 out of 100 ($1,631 per year)
• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 82 out of 100 ($1,383 per year)

Chubb has high performance in customer satisfaction and claims services. The company's top marks for coverage options also contribute to its leading position, offering customers comprehensive protection that meets a variety of needs.

Mercury is the best option in Fairfield for consumers seeking cheap car insurance while still valuing quality service. This ranking takes into consideration a blend of factors including affordability and customer satisfaction.

• Mercury: MoneyGeek score of 78 out of 100 ($393 per year)
• GEICO: MoneyGeek score of 75 out of 100 ($340 per year)

Mercury stands out thanks to its combination of a high satisfaction score and a commendable claims rating, alongside competitive pricing. The score is based on a policy offering minimum coverage, indicating that Mercury excels in providing affordable basics without sacrificing customer experience.

Residents of Fairfield, California find themselves paying an average car insurance cost of $1,562 per year, identical to the statewide figure for California. The state's average car insurance cost is less than the national average of $1,781 annually — Californians pay about $219 less.

Car insurance premiums aren't solely influenced by location, but it is a critical factor. This is largely because location reflects variables like the frequency of accidents, auto theft rates and the cost of repairs within an area.

Santa Maria offers the most affordable car insurance within California at $1,106, lower than Fairfield’s average. Conversely, Glendale stands out as the most expensive city for car insurance, with premiums averaging $2,115. This illustrates a considerable disparity of $1,009 between the cheapest and the most expensive premiums in the state. In non-urban areas where traffic density diminishes, rates may drop even further.