bestauto insuranceSalinasCompare the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Salinas, CA
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Ensure you're getting the best rate. Review quotes from a top insurance company.
On average, Esurance offers the cheapest car insurance in Salinas, but the cheapest for you depends on your profile and coverage. CSAA is the cheapest for minimum coverage, while Esurance is for drivers with a ticket. For the military, USAA may provide the lowest price. MoneyGeek ranked AAA as the best insurer for quality coverage and affordability in Salinas.
bestauto insuranceSalinasThe Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Salinas
Cheapest Overall - Esurance
Cheapest State Minimum - Esurance
Cheapest With a Driving Violation - Esurance
Best Overall - AAA
The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Salinas
In Salinas, the cheapest auto insurers for a full coverage policy are:
- Esurance: $927 average per year
- MetLife: $1,047 average per year
USAA offers current and former military members a full coverage policy at roughly $1,059 a year.
Allied is the most expensive option for a full coverage policy in Salinas, costing around $1,666, which is 44% more than Esurance, the cheapest option.
Rates do vary depending on the liability coverage selected.
Full coverage includes comprehensive and collision insurance to ensure compensation for damage to your car in case of an accident or another incident.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Salinas
Full Coverage 100/300/100
- Company100/300/100per year
- 1.$927
- 2.$1,047
- 3.$1,054
- 4.$1,059
- 5.CSAA$1,063
MoneyGeek collected quotes for a 40-year-old male driver in Salinas with a full coverage policy, as defined in our methodology.
Choosing a full coverage policy may cost you more than minimum coverage, but you get liability and additional coverages, which include:
- Comprehensive insurance: covers you for risks not related to collisions like theft.
- Collision insurance: covers you for collisions with other cars or stationary objects.
Full coverage may cost more than your car’s value if it’s older. In such a case, minimum coverage is a less expensive option that could make more sense.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Salinas
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Salinas for Minimum Coverage
A minimum coverage policy is the most affordable option for drivers in Salinas. The cheapest insurers for minimum coverage in Salinas, on average, are:
- CSAA: $398 per year
- Progressive: $418 per year
USAA has a cheap rate for minimum coverage at roughly $395 per year for drivers with a military background.
Compared to the most expensive option, Farmers, at $699 yearly, CSAA is up to 43% cheaper.
In Salinas, minimum coverage is budget-friendly, but the trade-off is that you do not get comprehensive or collision insurance, and liability limits are low, so you are not fully covered.
See how much higher liability coverage costs in the table below.
Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Salinas
State Minimum
- CompanyState Minimumper year
- 1.$395
- 2.CSAA$398
- 3.$418
- 4.$426
- 5.$471
A state minimum policy in Salinas carries the minimum liability limits required by California, 15/30/5. That means you get minimal coverage and although your premium is low, you risk incurring high out-of-pocket costs in case of an accident.
For instance, if you are at fault for an accident and the property damage exceeds the $5,000 limit on your state minimum policy, you have to pay for the additional amount yourself.
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 Salinas if You Have Driving Violations
If you have a ticket, DUI or at-fault accident violation, you pay a higher car insurance rate in Salinas.
The most affordable insurers for violations in Salinas are:
- Cheapest after a ticket: Esurance, $1,170 average per year
- Cheapest after an at-fault accident: CSAA, $1,332 average per year
- Cheapest after a DUI: Mercury, $2,206 average per year
If you have a military background, USAA has a cheap rate with a ticket of around $1,159 per year.
Drivers in Salinas with poor records can get better rates by improving them over time. For now, shop around and compare quotes to identify the cheapest car insurance with a violation.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Salinas With a Violation
Speeding Ticket
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Salinas
Salinas$1,252
California$1,429
U.S.$1,424
Knowing the average auto insurance rates in your area can help you find the best car insurance for you.
The average car insurance rate in Salinas is $1,252. This is 12.4% less than the state average and 12.1% less than the national average.
Personalized Quotes to Get You the Cheapest Car Insurance in Salinas
The cost of car insurance in Salinas varies based on different factors. Quotes are determined by age, gender, driving history, vehicle type, coverage level and more.
For example, 40-year-old male drivers in Salinas will pay an average of $927 per year for a policy with Esurance. This rate may increase as the driver gets older.
It’s important to compare car insurance quotes regularly to find the most accurate policy, especially if your life circumstances change.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Salinas
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
The Best Car Insurance Companies in Salinas
MoneyGeek reviewed the best car insurance companies in Salinas. The following are the top car insurance companies in the city based on their average pricing, claims history and user satisfaction ratings:
- AAA: 95 out of 100
- Esurance: 86. out of 100
We excluded USAA from this study since it's only eligible for military people and their families. USAA is the best car insurance company in Salinas for eligible military members, with an overall MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100.
1
AAA
Score:95
AAA has the best auto insurance in Salinas, with a perfect score for claims. It provides identity theft coverage as a rare add-on policy. An annual full coverage policy costs a 40-year-old driver in Salinas $1,063 on average.
More About AAA
With AAA, policyholders in Salinas can get add-on coverages — two common and one rare among Salinas insurers. To protect your identity, AAA membership has unique identity theft monitoring coverage, which includes credit notifications and resolution support in the event of fraud.
Two of AAA's most common add-on coverages are roadside assistance and rental car and/or trip reimbursement. The former covers gasoline delivery, flat tires, battery jump-start and replacement, vehicle lockout service and trip continuation coverage. The latter covers car rental or public transit costs if your car is not drivable.
Read MoneyGeek's AAA auto Insurance Review2
Esurance
Score:86
A full coverage Esurance policy for a 40-year-old driver in Salinas costs roughly $927 per year. Esurance ranks high for financial stability and affordability. It offers custom parts coverage as a unique add-on.
More About Esurance
Esurance offers multiple add-on coverages, with four prevalent among Salinas insurers. These include roadside assistance, rental car and/or travel reimbursement, gap insurance and ridesharing insurance. Gap insurance, for instance, will pay up to 25% more than the real cash value of your car to assist you in paying off your loan or lease.
Esurance's custom parts coverage is unique as it safeguards your car's aftermarket modifications. If you choose bespoke parts and equipment coverage, you will be covered if something goes wrong with your upgrades.
Read MoneyGeek's Esurance auto Insurance Review3
GEICO
Score:80
4
MetLife
Score:76
5
Progressive
Score:71
6
State Farm
Score:62
7
Allstate
Score:61
8
Mercury
Score:60
9
Travelers
Score:56
10
Farmers
Score:45
11
Hartford
Score:31
12
Allied
Score:14
Average Cost of Car Insurance by Postal Code
Where you live in Salinas will impact the cost of your auto insurance. Average rates can vary since each ZIP code has different accident, car theft and uninsured motorist statistics.
In Salinas, rates differ by neighborhood. Drivers residing in ZIP code 93906 may pay an average of $91 less than residents living in the 93905 community.
- Zip CodeState Minimumper year
- 93906$1,206
- 93905$1,297
Factors That Impact Insurance Costs in Salinas
In addition to individual driver needs and history, location-specific factors like the percentage of uninsured motorists and the rate of fatal accidents also contribute to car insurance rates in Salinas. How Salinas ranks compared to the 300 most populous cities in the United States can have a significant impact on premium costs.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
