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

Finding the most cost-effective or best car insurance in Oceanside varies with your coverage needs and driver profile. For full coverage, Progressive offers the lowest rates, unlike GEICO, which is the cheapest for minimum coverage. Those with teen drivers find State Farm most affordable. Capital Insurance Group scores highly as the overall best provider, considering both price and service, while Chubb stands out solely for customer service. Choosing the best option will reflect your specific requirements and preferences.

MoneyGeek found that GEICO is the cheapest option in Oceanside for minimum coverage car insurance.

• GEICO: $410 per year
• Progressive: $437 per year

While GEICO offers the most affordable rate, Chubb has the most expensive policy at $758 annually. This significant price gap of $348 between the cheapest and most expensive insurers underscores the importance of comparing rates to ensure you're getting the cheapest car insurance.

Across California, including in Oceanside, state law determines the minimum required car insurance coverage. For drivers, here's a breakdown:

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

For instance, if you're insured for the minimum, your policy would cover up to $15,000 for a single person's injuries and up to $30,000 for all injuries in an accident. However, if the actual cost of a person's injuries exceeds $15,000, or if all the injuries in the accident surpass $30,000, the remaining balance would come out of your pocket.

MoneyGeek found that Progressive is the most affordable option in Oceanside for drivers seeking the most affordable full coverage insurance. Here are the two companies with the best rates:

• Progressive: $999 per year
• GEICO: $1,076 per year

The most costly full coverage policy in Oceanside comes from Farmers, with an annual premium of $1,812. Full coverage car insurance generally costs more due to its comprehensive protection, including collision and comprehensive insurance.

In Oceanside, full coverage insurance increases the liability limits over the minimum required, providing you with $100,000 for bodily injury per individual, $300,000 for bodily injury per incident, and $100,000 for property damage per incident. Concisely, this is referred to as a 100/300/100 policy.

Full coverage insurance extends beyond increased liability limits and includes both comprehensive and collision insurance:

• Collision Insurance: This protects your automobile from damage due to impacts with vehicles or other objects like a tree or light pole. It also covers rollover accidents and pothole damage.

• Comprehensive Insurance: This coverage compensates for damage to your car from non-collision events, such as theft or natural disasters and being struck by an animal like a deer.

If your automobile is new, opting for full coverage is prudent to protect your investment. For older models, the added expense may not be as beneficial. When deciding how much car insurance you need, be aware that a more robust policy leads to higher premiums, yet skimping on coverage could result in being underinsured.

MoneyGeek found that National General offers the most affordable car insurance rates for drivers with infractions in Oceanside. The cheapest options for various offenses are listed below:

• Speeding Ticket: National General ($1,192 per year)
• At-fault Accident: National General ($1,680 per year)
• DUI: National General ($1,192 per year)

Nationwide is the most expensive for speeding tickets, at $2,803, while Traveler's is the highest for accidents, at $2,997; Hartford presents the most expensive rate, at $5,020 annually after a DUI.

Insurance premiums in cities like Oceanside escalate with the severity of a driving infraction, reflecting the higher risk presented by drivers with serious offenses. In Oceanside, individuals with a speeding ticket may pay an average annual rate of $1,968, whereas those with a DUI could face an average of $3,290.

MoneyGeek found that Farmers offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance for male and female teens in Oceanside. Looking for the cheapest car insurance for teens? Start here:

• Farmers: $2,718 per year for female teens and $2,718 per year for male teens
• GEICO: $2,745 per year for female teens and $2,894 per year for male teens

These rates reflect the cost of insuring a combination of two parents and a teen driver on a full coverage policy. Nationwide holds the position for the most expensive teen family policy in Oceanside, with an annual premium of $4,886 for female teens. This rate difference of $2,168 highlights the significance of comparing insurance options, particularly when adding high-risk teen drivers to your policy.

In Oceanside, and other cities, teenage drivers looking for car insurance will find that getting insured on a family plan is significantly more cost-effective. On average, an individual annual premium for teens is approximately $4,031, compared to $3,379 for those added to a family policy. The stark difference in rates is due to insurers viewing teens as high-risk drivers.

MoneyGeek found that Progressive is the cheapest option in Oceanside for full coverage car insurance for those with a military background.

• Progressive: $999 per year
• GEICO: $1,076 per year

While USAA isn't the cheapest in Oceanside, with an annual premium of $1,382, it is noteworthy for its specialized services for active duty military members. USAA offers coverage that caters to the unique needs of service members, making it a valuable option for military families despite not being the lowest-priced insurer on the list.

While looking for car insurance savings in Oceanside, you can use MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator. By inputting your age, driving history, credit score and coverage preferences, among other factors, you can receive immediate rate estimates.

Finding the right auto insurance hinges on what you prioritize — be it service quality, cost, coverage or other factors. MoneyGeek's unique scoring system caters to these varied priorities, highlighting top insurers in Oceanside for different needs.

• Best overall: Capital Insurance Group (MoneyGeek score 77 out of 100)
• Best for service: Chubb (MoneyGeek score 94 out of 100)
• Best cheap: Mercury (MoneyGeek score 75 out of 100)

If you're striving for a balanced mix of quality and rate, Capital Insurance Group is the best for overall value. Mercury may appeal to budget-conscious drivers without compromising too much on service. Meanwhile, those who prioritize service experiences will find Chubb stands out.

MoneyGeek found that Capital Insurance Group is the best option in Oceanside, offering the highest ranked best car insurance with a MoneyGeek score of 77 out of 100, at an annual premium of $1,463.

• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 77 out of 100 ($1,463 per year)
• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 77 out of 100 ($1,777 per year)

Capital Insurance Group stands out in Oceanside with top-rated service and value, providing comprehensive coverage at a competitive cost. The company achieves its high MoneyGeek score largely due to its satisfaction and affordability scores.

MoneyGeek found that Chubb is the best option for car insurance in Oceanside, prioritizing customer service excellence. Their superior performance is evident without considering rates, focusing on overall satisfaction, meticulous claims handling and extensive coverage options.

• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 94 out of 100 ($1,777 per year)
• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 82 out of 100 ($1,463 per year)

Chubb's outstanding MoneyGeek score reflects its commitment to providing premium car insurance service.

MoneyGeek found that Mercury is the best option in Oceanside for cheap car insurance. While affordability is a significant factor, the MoneyGeek score also considers claims handling and general satisfaction to provide a comprehensive view of each company's value.

• Mercury: MoneyGeek score of 75 out of 100 ($497 per year)
• GEICO: MoneyGeek score of 75 out of 100 ($410 per year)

Drivers in Oceanside, California, typically face an average car insurance cost of $1,396. This figure rests below the state's average car insurance cost of $1,562 in California, yet still above the national average of $1,781. The state of California generally offers lower premiums than the average national rates, with a noticeable difference of $219 less.

Many factors influence insurance rates. Insurers consider location crucial as it influences rates through factors such as accident rates, theft and vandalism, which tend to be higher in urban areas. For instance, among the cities analyzed, Glendale has the most expensive premium at $2,433, showing a stark contrast with Santa Maria, where premiums are the cheapest at $1,251.