The cheapest insurance will depend on your needs and profile. Based on MoneyGeek’s research, State Farm is San Mateo’s best overall car insurance provider, the least expensive for minimum coverage and the most affordable for teens. National General is the cheapest for full coverage and drivers with offenses. Chubb offers the best customer service, and USAA is the cheapest for current and former military members.
Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in San Mateo, CA








Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in San Mateo
The most affordable car insurance companies for a minimum coverage policy in San Mateo, California, are:
- GEICO: $370 per year
- State Farm: $403 per year
GEICO offers the cheapest minimum coverage car insurance policy in the city at $370 per year. It balances affordability, claims management and customer satisfaction for its policyholders.
In California, car insurance policies must meet the state's mandatory liability limits for bodily injury liability and property damage liability to qualify for minimum coverage.
The amounts are as follows:
- $15,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $5,000 property damage liability per accident
Liability coverage is essential to protect you financially if you cause damage or injury to others. Minimum coverage insurance in California will only pay $15,000 per injured person, up to $30,000 per accident, regardless of how many people are injured.
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in San Mateo
The cheapest car insurance companies for a full coverage policy in San Mateo, California, are
- National General: $921 per year
- GEICO: $978 per year
Chubb provides the area’s most expensive car insurance policy with an annual premium of $1,656.
A full coverage car insurance policy includes comprehensive and collision insurance.
- Comprehensive coverage: Protects against damages caused by theft, natural disasters, vandalism and fire.
- Collision coverage: Protects against damages caused by hitting another car or object.
Though full coverage policies provide more protection for your vehicle, they may not be worth the cost for older low-value cars. In some cases, the policy can cost more than the car’s value.
Cheapest Car Insurance in San Mateo After a Driving Offense
The cheapest car insurance company for those with driving violations in San Mateo is National General.
- Speeding ticket: National General ($968 per year)
- At-fault accident: National General ($1,367 per year)
- DUI: National General ($968 per year)
Nationwide offers the most expensive car insurance for drivers with speeding tickets at $2,330. Hartford provides the most costly insurance for drivers after a DUI at $4,817 yearly. Kemper’s offers a $2,955 yearly premium after an at-fault accident is the least affordable.
Car insurance providers calculate insurance premiums based on various factors, including a driver's history of accidents and traffic violations. Motorists with poor driving records are considered riskier and typically face higher premiums.
Insurance rates for motorists with driving offenses increase in relation to the severity of the offense. Rates in San Mateo go up an average of $549 after a speeding ticket and $1,854 after a DUI. Drivers with bad records can find the best rates by shopping around.
Cheapest Car Insurance in San Mateo for Teens and Their Families
The most affordable car insurance providers for teens on a family policy in San Mateo, California. are
- State Farm: $2,296 per year for female and male teens
- GEICO: $2,832 per year for female teens
- Farmers: $$2,893 per year for male teens
Nationwide provides the least affordable insurance for teens, costing $4,797 per year for female or male teens. It is common for car insurance premiums to be more expensive for male teenagers because statistics show they are at higher risk for accidents. However, the gender-based price difference drops off in early adulthood.
Adding a teen to a family policy is generally more budget-friendly than obtaining a separate policy. In San Mateo, families can save an average of $673 this way. Assess all the available options and consider the factors influencing insurance premiums when searching for inexpensive car insurance for young teens.
Cheapest Car Insurance in San Mateo for Military Drivers
The following offer the cheapest full coverage car insurance for current or former military members and their families in San Mateo, California:
- USAA: $848 per year
- National General: $921 per year
USAA serves active or former military personnel exclusively. The company has a reputation for delivering a balanced blend of affordability, stability and customer satisfaction. USAA and GEICO offer the cheapest minimum coverage policies at $369 and $370, respectively.
How to Compare Cheap San Mateo Car Insurance Quotes Online
Obtaining an online car insurance quote can take more than 15 minutes and requires inputting a good amount of personal information. MoneyGeek’s car insurance calculator can give you a quick estimate of your rates. All it needs is your age, vehicle type, level of coverage and driving history.
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Best Car Insurance in San Mateo: Summary
The best car insurance will depend on your needs in terms of price, available coverage options and the level of customer service you prefer. MoneyGeek’s picks for several of these categories are as follows:
- Best overall: State Farm (MoneyGeek score of 73 out of 100)
- Best for service: USAA (MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100)
- Best cheap: GEICO (MoneyGeek score of 75 out of 100)
A company’s MoneyGeek score can vary based on how we weigh certain factors in different categories. From a statewide perspective, CSAA offers the best car insurance in California.
Best Overall Car Insurance in San Mateo
The best car insurance companies in San Mateo are:
- State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 73 out of 100 ($994 per year)
- GEICO: MoneyGeek score of 73 out of 100 ($978 per year)
Both companies score high for affordability and customer satisfaction. With an annual premium of $848 and a MoneyGeek score of 85, USAA is a great option for those with military ties.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

pros
High affordability rating
Good customer satisfaction rating
Roadside assistance
Rental car/travel reimbursement
cons
Limited coverage options
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
State Farm is the leading car insurance provider in San Mateo due to its reputation for providing quality service at a reasonable price. It receives positive customer feedback for its overall performance, customer service and claims handling.
The company’s rental car/travel reimbursement add-on covers expenses related to car rentals while your car is serviced for a covered incident, up to a selected limit. It also reimburses up to $500 for travel expenses (lodging, meals and transportation) and up to $500 of the deductible if you are held responsible for an accident involving your rental vehicle.
Roadside assistance offers coverage for several services, including mechanical labor for up to an hour at the site of the car's breakdown. But, it does not cover the cost of the gas, oil, batteries, or tires.
Best Car Insurance in San Mateo for Customer Service
The insurance companies offering the best customer service in Ssan Mateo are:
- Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 76 out of 100 ($1,656 per year)
- Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 68 out of 100 ($1,367 per year)
Chubb scored high in customer satisfaction and claims handling. Capital Insurance Group slightly outperformed the former in customer satisfaction. Car insurance companies that invest in staff training to improve customer service often charge higher premiums. Choosing an insurer that prioritizes customer service can be advantageous, but it may also result in higher costs.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

pros
Excellent customer service rating
Good claims experience rating
Rental car/travel reimbursement
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage
cons
Limited coverage offerings
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Chubb is MoneyGeek’s pick for having the best customer service in San Mateo. This company’s commitment to providing exceptional customer service has consistently earned it high marks in customer satisfaction surveys, making it the go-to choice for drivers seeking a superior customer experience.
Chubb offers rental car Reimbursement coverage with optional coverage limits up to $5,000 and with no per-day limit, enabling policyholders to rent a car similar to their own. Chubb pays for the use of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts and procedures when repairing your vehicle after a coverage incident. Using OEM parts helps guarantee the proper performance of a car’s safety systems in the event of another accident. This is a coverage most insurers don’t offer.
Best Cheap Car Insurance in San Mateo
We considered the affordability and quality of service of California car insurance providers who offer policies that meet the state's minimum insurance requirements.
The best insurance companies for minimum coverage in San Mateo are:
- GEICO: MoneyGeek score of 78 out of 100 ($370 per year)
- State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 74 out of 100 ($403 per year)
While minimum coverage policies come with cheaper insurance rates, they only offer limited liability protection and don’t cover damages to your car.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

pros
Affordable car insurance policy at $370
Average customer satisfaction rating
Bundling discount
Daytime running lights discount
cons
Limited coverage options
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
GEICO offers affordable rates without sacrificing coverage. This insurer has discounts for bundling, good grades and insuring multiple cars. It also offers rarer discounts, like for vehicles with daytime running lights. It also provides a discount to policyholders who have cars equipped with automatic seatbelts or factory-installed airbags, encouraging safer driving habits and helping to reduce injuries in the event of an accident.
If you’re a driver over 50, a teacher, a student with good grades or an active or retired member of the military, you qualify for a discount on your GEICO car insurance policy. GEICO also offers discounts to active and retired federal employees and their immediate family members. The discount percentage may vary based on the employee's position and other factors.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in San Mateo
The average cost of auto insurance in San Mateo for full coverage is $1,249 per year. Prices are for a policy with $100,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $300,000 in bodily injury liability per accident and $100,000 in property damage liability per accident.
The city’s average car insurance cost is $138 less than the average full coverage cost in California as of October 2022. The national average car insurance premium costs $1,265 annually. Car insurance providers consider location and other factors when determining costs.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
