GEICO and National General offer the cheapest auto insurance in Santa Maria for minimum and full coverage, respectively. The best option for military drivers and those with a history of offenses is National General. For teenage drivers, State Farm is the best. Overall, Chubb has the best customer service in Santa Maria, while GEICO provides the best and cheapest auto insurance. The best option will depend on your driving history and customer needs.
Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Santa Maria, CA








Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Santa Maria
The companies below offer the most affordable minimum coverage prices in Santa Maria out of the 15 insurers we evaluated:
- GEICO: $321 per year
- Mercury: $327 per year
The average cost of GEICO in California is higher than in Santa Maria, at $438 per year, making it the third-cheapest in the state. Chubb has the most expensive minimum coverage in the city at an estimated cost of $675 per year.
California law mandates the following minimum liability limits:
- $15,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $5,000 property damage liability per accident
Minimum coverage enables you to cover a portion, if not all, of the damages and harm you are accountable for after an accident. For instance, if your bodily injury liability is $30,000 per accident and $15,000 per person, your insurance company will only cover $15,000 in damages for any victims and a maximum of $30,000 per accident.
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in Santa Maria
MoneyGeek’s analysis identified the following as the most affordable options for full coverage car insurance in Santa Maria:
- National General: $709 per year
- GEICO: $906 per year
However, National General is only the fifth-cheapest in California, at $1,218 annually, indicating how location can affect rates. Chubb charges the highest yearly premiums in the city for full coverage, at $1,568.
Full coverage insurance includes comprehensive and collision coverage.
- Collision insurance: Covers collisions with stationary objects like poles and other moving cars.
- Comprehensive insurance: Covers non-collision damage, like running over an animal or having a tree branch fall on your car.
Full coverage provides more protection, but if your car is old, it can cost more than your vehicle is worth.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Santa Maria After a Driving Offense
National General offers the cheapest car insurance in Santa Maria for individuals with the following violations on their records:
- Speeding ticket: National General ($744 per year)
- At-fault accident: National General ($1,046 per year)
- DUI: National General ($744 per year)
The most expensive in the city are Nationwide ($2,094 for a speeding ticket), Kemper ($2,855 for an at-fault accident) and Hartford ($4,475 for a DUI). Rates for even the most inexpensive policies will increase after a traffic violation.
The insurance cost increase in Santa Maria depends on the seriousness of the driving violation. Prepare for significant premium increases of at least $1,549 after a DUI and $451 after a speeding citation. However, you can still find the most inexpensive auto insurance if you have a poor driving record.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Santa Maria for Teens and Their Families
The following providers offer the most affordable options in Santa Maria for adding teens to a family car insurance policy:
- State Farm: $2,423 per year for female and male teens
- Allstate: $2,426 per year for female and male teens
Male teens typically pay more because they are considered riskier. For example, a GEICO policy costs $2,615 for female teens, while Farmers charges $2,699 for male teens. Nationwide has the highest rates in the city, at $4,463. Always shop around before selecting an option.
Adding a teen to a family policy is significantly cheaper than purchasing a separate policy. For instance, by adding a male teen to a family plan in Santa Maria, families can save an average of $673. To compare costs and save additional money, evaluate the cheapest teen auto insurance options.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Santa Maria for Military Drivers
The following companies in Santa Maria provide military members, veterans and their families with the cheapest full coverage auto insurance:
- National General: $709 per year
- USAA: $800 per year
USAA is a nationwide car insurance provider that exclusively caters to military members and families. It is the second-cheapest in the city. GEICO is the most affordable choice in Santa Maria for minimum coverage insurance at $321 annually.
How to Compare Cheap Santa Maria Car Insurance Quotes Online
We used a sample driver profile to analyze insurance rates and recommend comparing quotes from at least three insurance providers in Santa Maria to obtain a better idea of the prices and coverage.
Getting insurance quotes online can take up to 15 minutes per insurer. MoneyGeek's insurance calculator lets you determine your rates quickly based on your age, coverage, car type and driving record.
Auto Insurance Calculator
See how the Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates vary with the options chosen.
Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates
Click the section of the wheel in your price range to see options.
low end
on average
high end
Click an insurer below to visit their review page or continue to your personalized quote.
Best Car Insurance in Santa Maria: Summary
The overall best car insurance options in Santa Maria are:
- Best overall: GEICO (MoneyGeek score 68 out of 100)
- Best for service: Chubb (MoneyGeek score 76 out of 100)
- Best cheap: GEICO (MoneyGeek score 78 out of 100)
We do not factor in cost while evaluating service. Despite Chubb’s high rates in Santa Maria, it landed the top spot for customer satisfaction for its high service quality score.
Best Overall Car Insurance in Santa Maria
Among the 14 insurers evaluated, the following companies are the overall best auto insurance providers in Santa Maria:
- GEICO: MoneyGeek score 68 out of 100 ($906 per year)
- National General: MoneyGeek score 68 out of 100 ($709 per year)
The top two companies have similar overall MoneyGeek ratings. However, GEICO earned the top spot for its outstanding affordability, stability and customer satisfaction ratings.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

pros
Ranks #2 for affordability out of 14 companies
High customer satisfaction rating
Offers mechanical breakdown insurance
cons
Provides few add-on coverages
Below-average claims management score
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
GEICO is the overall best car insurance in Santa Maria.. This insurer boasts an outstanding customer satisfaction rating and affordability at an average cost of $906 each year.
The company’s add-on coverage options are limited to rental car reimbursement, accident forgiveness, roadside assistance, mechanical breakdown insurance and antique car insurance — fewer than other insurance companies offer.
However, GEICO’s mechanical breakdown coverage and antique/classic car insurance distinguish it from its counterparts. Mechanical breakdown coverage applies to cars less than 15 months old with under 15,000 miles. It is a unique add-on coverage that provides better security for less money than the standard dealer-extended warranty.
Best Car Insurance in Santa Maria for Customer Service
We did not consider affordability when we assessed quality service. The best auto insurance providers in Santa Maria for service are as follows:
- Chubb: MoneyGeek score 76 out of 100 ($1,568 per year)
- Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score 68 out of 100 ($1,283 per year)
Despite having the highest prices in the city, Chubb gets excellent satisfaction reviews, making it the best auto insurance in Santa Maria for customer service.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

pros
Ranked #2 in customer satisfaction among 14 insurers
Excellent claims management
Unique add-on coverages available
cons
Most expensive insurance rate, at $1,568 per year
Lacks some common coverages
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Out of 14 insurance providers assessed in Santa Maria, Chubb provides the best car insurance for consumers who value excellent customer service. It earned high MoneyGeek ratings for claims and client satisfaction. However, the company has the most expensive insurance rate, at an annual average cost of $1,568.
Chubb provides special add-on coverages, including antique/classic car insurance, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage and diminished value coverage. Unfortunately, several common coverages are missing from its list, including roadside assistance, accident forgiveness and gap insurance.
Best Cheap Car Insurance in Santa Maria
Based on MoneyGeek’s analysis, the following offer the best minimum coverage policies in Santa Maria:
- GEICO: MoneyGeek score 78 out of 100 ($321 per year)
- Mercury: MoneyGeek score 74 out of 100 ($327 per year)
Although minimum coverage is the least expensive, it may not offer adequate liability insurance and does not cover damage to your vehicle.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

pros
An affordable minimum coverage policy costs $321 per year
Good rating for customer satisfaction
Offers a wide range of discounts
cons
Below-average claims management score
No new car replacement or better car replacement coverage
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
GEICO offers the cheapest minimum coverage auto insurance in Santa Maria for $321 a year. The company offers discounts for bundling, safe driving, airbags, anti-theft systems, good grades and defensive driving courses. These discounts help drivers who want to save further on their auto insurance. Some of GEICO's special discounts also include those for seat belt use, anti-lock brakes, new cars and daytime running lights.
If you are a federal employee, teacher, a senior driver, or a member of the military, you can qualify for a discount. GEICO also has a good reputation for customer satisfaction. The company offers a mobile app, online bill payment and an online calculator.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Santa Maria
Several factors besides location can affect the price of insurance. As of October 2022, Santa Maria's average yearly car insurance cost ($1,106) is lower than the California and national averages — at $1,387 and $1,265, respectively. These full coverage rates have bodily injury liability limits of $100,000 for accidents, $300,000 for individuals and $100,000 for individuals for property damage liability.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
