Car Insurance in San Mateo

GEICO leads San Mateo with the lowest car insurance rates, offering minimum coverage for $519 and full coverage for $1,166 annually. AAA, Progressive and State Farm also provide affordable coverage options in the city.

GEICO offers the cheapest rates in four driver categories in San Mateo. AAA wins for drivers with accidents or tickets, while State Farm provides the lowest rates for young drivers and those with newer vehicles.

Your driving history and personal details directly affect what you pay for car insurance. Find the best rates for your situation by matching your profile to the companies below.

San Mateo's highest-rated car insurance companies are Progressive, GEICO, AAA and State Farm. These providers stand out for competitive rates, quality customer service and comprehensive coverage options.

In San Mateo, minimum coverage costs about $70 per month or $834 per year, ranking 1,076th out of all California cities for affordability. Full coverage averages $147 monthly or $1,762 annually, ranking 1,065th among California cities.

In San Mateo, monthly car insurance rates range from $56 to $356 based on your driver profile. Check the table below to see rates for your category.

In San Mateo, car insurance rates by ZIP code range from $60 to $156 per month. ZIP code 94401 is the most affordable, while 94403 costs the most. Check average rates for your ZIP code below.

While our previous breakdowns show average rates by ZIP code and coverage type, this table lets you filter San Mateo rates by specific combinations of age, driving record and other personal factors that match your exact situation.

While San Mateo drivers face some of California's highest car insurance rates, you can lower your costs significantly by following these proven steps to find the right coverage at the best price.

Car insurance rates in San Mateo depend on your age, driving history and vehicle type. While GEICO and AAA offer the lowest average premiums in the area, compare quotes from multiple providers to find your best rate.

Get straightforward answers about finding affordable car insurance in San Mateo. Our FAQ section helps you choose coverage that fits your budget and needs.

San Mateo drivers face higher insurance costs than those in many California cities due to dense Bay Area traffic, elevated property values, and above-average vehicle theft rates that push premiums higher in San Mateo County. We built this research to show you which insurers offer the lowest rates for your specific driving profile, so you can maintain required coverage without overpaying in one of the Bay Area's most expensive insurance markets.

We collected rate data from the California Department of Insurance and Quadrant Information Services, analyzing hundreds of thousands of quotes from 12 companies across every ZIP code in San Mateo. This ensures our data reflects what you'll actually pay based on your neighborhood's accident rates, theft frequency, and local repair costs.

We created a sample driver profile to calculate quote averages: a 40-year-old male driving a 2012 Toyota Camry LE with a clean record, good credit, and no claims history. This driver logs 12,000 miles annually and maintains continuous coverage with a valid license. We adjusted factors such as age, driving record, credit score, and military affiliation to find the most suitable insurance companies for specific driver profiles.

California requires minimum liability coverage of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. These minimums satisfy legal requirements but leave you financially exposed after serious accidents, especially in a Bay Area city where medical costs and vehicle values run exceptionally high.

For full coverage comparison, we used $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 liability limits plus comprehensive and collision with $1,000 deductibles. This level provides stronger financial protection when you cause an accident or your car gets damaged, stolen, or totaled—particularly important given San Mateo's elevated auto theft rates and congested commuter corridors.

We rated all companies using three weighted categories: 

Affordability (60%), evaluating quotes for various common driver profiles compared to local competition. 

Customer Experience (30%) using sources such as agency reviews on Google, J.D. Power, AM Best, and forums like Reddit to gauge customer sentiment.

Coverage Options (10%,) considering the number of coverage options a provider offers and the uniqueness of offerings and benefits. This methodology identifies insurers offering genuine value for San Mateo drivers navigating one of California's most expensive insurance environments.