Finding the cheapest or best car insurance in Santa Rosa, California, depends on coverage needs and driver specifics. Progressive offers the lowest rates for full coverage, while GEICO leads in minimum coverage. Farmers is the most budget-friendly option for families with teens. Chubb excels in customer service, and Capital Insurance Group provides the best affordability and service.
Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Santa Rosa, CA (2024)
GEICO offers Santa Rosa's cheapest minimum car insurance coverage at $399 yearly. Capital Insurance Group is the best for cost and service, scoring 82 out of 100 with MoneyGeek.
Updated: November 21, 2024
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Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Santa Rosa
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We analyzed 352,910 quotes from 18 companies in California, used six sources and did original research to rate the cheapest companies and develop a scoring system for Santa Rosa insurance providers based on ZIP codes in the city only. Our scores are based on affordability, customer satisfaction, claims experience, coverages offered and financial stability.
These rates reflect the cheapest car insurance quotes in Santa Rosa, CA as of July 2024.
Cheapest Minimum Coverage Car Insurance in Santa Rosa
GEICO the cheapest option for minimum coverage car insurance in Santa Rosa, offering significant savings. Discover the provider with the cheapest car insurance and compare costs:
- GEICO: $399 per year
- Mercury: $439 per year
While GEICO has the most affordable rate, Chubb offers the most expensive minimum coverage policy at $746 per year. The $347 difference highlights the importance of shopping around to find the best rates and avoid overpaying for car insurance.
- 22-29
- 30-59
- 60 +
- Full Coverage
- Minimum Coverage
GEICO | $399 | $33 |
Mercury | $439 | $37 |
CSAA | $448 | $37 |
Progressive | $461 | $38 |
National General | $489 | $41 |
Farmers | $547 | $46 |
Kemper | $559 | $47 |
Capital Insurance Group | $571 | $48 |
State National | $588 | $49 |
Allstate | $604 | $50 |
State Farm | $608 | $51 |
Travelers | $627 | $52 |
Hartford | $629 | $52 |
Nationwide | $652 | $54 |
Chubb | $746 | $62 |
State Minimum Liability Requirements
For all cities in California, the state requires all drivers to carry the minimum car insurance coverage with the following limits:
- $15,000 bodily injury per person
- $30,000 bodily injury per accident
- $5,000 property damage liability per accident
If you have the minimum required coverage and are at fault in an accident, your policy would cover up to $15,000 for one person's injuries. If three people are injured and the total cost is $45,000, your policy would pay only up to $30,000 for the accident. You need to pay any additional expenses out of pocket.
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in Santa Rosa
Progressive offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance in Santa Rosa.
- Progressive: $1,119 per year
- National General: $1,132 per year
Travelers has the most expensive full coverage policy in Santa Rosa at $1,976 annually, emphasizing the need to compare rates. The $857 difference between the cheapest and priciest options shows why full coverage policies, including comprehensive and collision insurance on top of liability, vary widely in cost.
- 22-29
- 30-59
- 60 +
- Full Coverage
- Minimum Coverage
Progressive | $1,119 | $93 |
National General | $1,132 | $94 |
Allstate | $1,136 | $95 |
GEICO | $1,177 | $98 |
Mercury | $1,278 | $107 |
Capital Insurance Group | $1,404 | $117 |
State National | $1,410 | $117 |
Hartford | $1,412 | $118 |
CSAA | $1,456 | $121 |
Kemper | $1,573 | $131 |
State Farm | $1,586 | $132 |
Nationwide | $1,662 | $139 |
Chubb | $1,784 | $149 |
Farmers | $1,957 | $163 |
Travelers | $1,976 | $165 |
Why Full Coverage Is Necessary in California
Upgrading your Santa Rosa policy through MoneyGeek to full coverage enhances your liability protection. It covers up to $100,000 for bodily injury per person, $300,000 for bodily injury per accident and $100,000 for property damage per accident. This is known as a 100/300/100 policy.
Aside from increased liability coverage, a full coverage policy includes comprehensive and collision insurance.
- Collision insurance covers your vehicle against accidents involving other vehicles, objects like trees or light poles, rollovers and pothole damage.
- Comprehensive insurance covers non-collision incidents that cause vehicle damage or loss, such as theft, natural disasters and collisions with animals like deer.
Selecting full coverage insurance is wise for new cars to protect your investment. For older vehicles, the cost of additional coverage outweighs the benefits, adding hundreds to your premiums. If you lease or loan a car, full coverage is required.
To know how much car insurance you need, weigh the pros of increased protection against the cost of higher premiums. This balance is crucial, as lower coverage could leave you underinsured.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Santa Rosa After a Driving Offense
National General is the cheapest option for drivers in Santa Rosa with speeding and DUI violations, while Capital Insurance Group offers the most competitive rates for accidents. Here are the lowest premiums for the various offenses:
- Speeding ticket: National General ($1,186 per year)
- At-fault accident: Capital Insurance Group ($1,661 per year)
- DUI: National General ($1,186 per year)
CSAA charges the highest annual premium, $5,208, after a DUI, compared to the cheapest option, $1,618. The $3,590 difference shows how rates rise significantly with the seriousness of the driving offense.
- 22-29
- 30-59
- 60 +
- Full Coverage
- Minimum Coverage
- Accident
- DUI
- Speeding
National General | $1,186 | $99 |
Capital Insurance Group | $1,618 | $135 |
Allstate | $1,640 | $137 |
Mercury | $1,689 | $141 |
GEICO | $1,742 | $145 |
CSAA | $1,842 | $154 |
State National | $2,002 | $167 |
Kemper | $2,091 | $174 |
Progressive | $2,106 | $175 |
Hartford | $2,106 | $175 |
Chubb | $2,335 | $195 |
State Farm | $2,350 | $196 |
Farmers | $2,710 | $226 |
Nationwide | $2,873 | $239 |
Travelers | $2,977 | $248 |
In Santa Rosa, insurance rates are higher for drivers with serious offenses due to their increased risk to insurers. For example, drivers with a DUI pay an average annual premium of $3,532, while those with a speeding ticket have a lower rate of $2,084. Given this big difference, comparing rates is crucial for drivers with offenses to save money.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Santa Rosa for Teens and Their Families
Farmers provides the cheapest car insurance for teens. Here are the two most affordable providers for teen drivers (the rates are for insuring two parents and a teenager):
- Farmers: $2,807 per year for female and male teens
- Allstate: $2,847 per year for female and male teens
Nationwide has the most expensive policy at $4,931 annually for families with a male or female teen in Santa Rosa. The difference of over $2,000 compared to Farmers highlights the importance of shopping around for the best rates, particularly for teens who are considered higher-risk drivers.
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- Female
- Male
Farmers | $2,807 | $4,138 |
Allstate | $2,847 | $3,067 |
State Farm | $2,848 | $3,153 |
GEICO | $2,920 | $3,297 |
Capital Insurance Group | $3,310 | $3,232 |
Progressive | $3,361 | $3,694 |
Travelers | $3,876 | $3,504 |
Kemper | $4,736 | $6,323 |
Nationwide | $4,931 | $6,999 |
In Santa Rosa, teen drivers often face high car insurance premiums. An individual teen policy costs an average of $4,221 annually, while adding a teen driver to a family’s existing policy typically averages $3,533 per year. This big gap exists because insurers consider young drivers high-risk due to inexperience, preferring to provide family plans that usually include more experienced drivers to mitigate risks.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Santa Rosa for Military Drivers
Progressive offers the cheapest car insurance for military backgrounds in Santa Rosa.
- Progressive: $1,119 per year
- National General: $1,132 per year
Among the providers, USAA ranks fifth with an annual premium of $1,212. While its rates are not the lowest, USAA is renowned for its services tailored to the needs of active-duty military members.
- 22-29
- 30-59
- 60 +
- Full Coverage
- Minimum Coverage
Progressive | $1,119 | $93 |
National General | $1,132 | $94 |
Allstate | $1,136 | $95 |
GEICO | $1,177 | $98 |
USAA | $1,212 | $101 |
Mercury | $1,278 | $107 |
Capital Insurance Group | $1,404 | $117 |
State National | $1,410 | $117 |
Hartford | $1,412 | $118 |
CSAA | $1,456 | $121 |
Kemper | $1,573 | $131 |
State Farm | $1,586 | $132 |
Nationwide | $1,662 | $139 |
Chubb | $1,784 | $149 |
Farmers | $1,957 | $163 |
Travelers | $1,976 | $165 |
How to Compare Cheap Santa Rosa Car Insurance Quotes Online
A thorough comparison helps you find affordable car insurance rates in Santa Rosa. However, reviewing three or more providers is time-consuming, usually taking over an hour. The MoneyGeek car insurance calculator speeds up this task. By entering details such as age, driving history, credit score and desired coverage level, residents can swiftly receive a personalized estimate, making it a practical tool for saving time and money.
Car Insurance Calculator
MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator will give you a customized estimate of your auto insurance cost. It's free to use, requires no personal information and we won't send you any spam.
Rates updated:
Dec 05, 2024
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Best Car Insurance in Santa Rosa: Summary
The best auto insurance depends on your preference for service, cost, coverage and other factors. Using distinct criteria for each category, MoneyGeek's research highlights Santa Rosa's top car insurance providers:
- Best overall: Capital Insurance Group (MoneyGeek score 82 out of 100)
- Best for service: Chubb (MoneyGeek score 94 out of 100)
- Best cheap: Mercury (MoneyGeek score 79 out of 100)
These top picks differ based on their strengths. Mercury appeals to budget-conscious drivers seeking low rates and competent service. Chubb is preferred for its top-notch customer service, regardless of cost. Capital Insurance Group is the best overall option in the city, offering a balanced mix of quality service and cost efficiency.
Best Overall Car Insurance in Santa Rosa
Capital Insurance Group has the overall best car insurance in Santa Rosa:
- Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 82 out of 100 ($1,404 per year)
- Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 81 out of 100 ($1,784 per year)
Capital Insurance Group's highest MoneyGeek score reflects superior customer satisfaction and affordability, as well as its exceptional full coverage policies.
With perfect Satisfaction and above-average Claims scores, Capital Insurance Group remains a top choice for comprehensive and responsive car insurance. While it offers common coverages like rental car and/or travel reimbursement, the lack of full glass coverage is a minor downside.
However, its standout feature is custom parts coverage, ensuring a vehicle is restored with name-brand parts. This is ideal for those who prioritize performance and aesthetics. Its roadside assistance service provides peace of mind with quick help for emergencies like tows or tire changes.
- Ranks first in the city for general customer satisfaction
- Ranks second in the city for claims satisfaction
- Offers rental car and/or travel reimbursement and roadside assistance, ranking third for key coverages.
- Ranks sixth in the city for affordability, with an average annual premium of $1,404.
- Does not offer full glass coverage
MoneyGeek ranks Santa Rosa's top car insurers based on customer satisfaction, cost-effectiveness, claims, coverage and financial stability.
Best Car Insurance in Santa Rosa for Customer Service
Chubb excels in customer service for car insurance in Santa Rosa based on general satisfaction, claims handling and coverage:
- Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 94 out of 100 ($1,784 per year)
- Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 82 out of 100 ($1,404 per year)
Chubb stands out with its exceptional balance of high satisfaction, unmatched claims service and comprehensive coverage options. These factors contribute to its high MoneyGeek score, making it Santa Rosa's best insurance provider for customer service.
Chubb excels with a MoneyGeek score of 94, driven by high Customer Satisfaction and Claims ratings. It offers common car insurance coverages like rental car and/or travel reimbursement and roadside assistance for comprehensive protection. Chubb also provides specialized coverages such as antique/classic car insurance for collectors, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage and diminished value coverage for maintaining post-accident investment value.
Despite lacking some rare coverages, Chubb's high scores in Customer Satisfaction (43 out of 45) and Claims (30 out of 30) highlight its strong offerings and satisfactory customer experience.
- Ranks second in the city for general customer satisfaction
- Ranks first in the city for claims satisfaction
- Offers OEM coverage, roadside assistance and rental car and/or travel reimbursement
- Does not offer gap insurance
- Lacks some rare coverages
MoneyGeek ranks Santa Rosa's car insurers based on customer satisfaction, claims efficiency, coverage options, and company stability.
Best Cheap Car Insurance in Santa Rosa
Mercury offers the best cheap car insurance in Santa Rosa, balancing affordability with quality service. This selection considers cost, customer satisfaction and claims handling.
- Mercury: MoneyGeek score of 79 out of 100 ($439 per year)
- Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 75 out of 100 ($571 per year)
Mercury earns a high MoneyGeek score because of its competitive rates for a minimum coverage policy. This top insurer in Santa Rosa also ensures customer satisfaction and efficient claims handling.
Mercury achieves a high MoneyGeek score due to its excellent Affordability and Satisfaction ratings. Its average annual premium of $439 for minimum coverage ensures affordable rates for drivers.
Mercury's discounts include anti-theft systems, automatic payment, bundling, multiple cars and safe driving. Additionally, drivers enjoy rare discounts like paperless billing and pay in full, simplifying processes and saving money considerably.
With high ratings for Affordability (37 out of 40), Satisfaction (21 out of 25) and Coverage (8 out of 10), Mercury provides a well-rounded, high-value insurance experience.
- Ranks second in the city for cost, with an average annual premium of $439 for minimum coverage
- Offers automatic payment and teacher discounts
MoneyGeek ranks Santa Rosa's best car insurance based on cost-effectiveness for basic policies, customer satisfaction, claims service, coverage options and company stability.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Santa Rosa
In Santa Rosa, the average car insurance cost is $1,479, close to California's average of $1,562 but much lower than the national average of $1,781.
Various factors, such as location, affect premiums. Urban areas with heavy traffic often have higher rates due to increased accident and theft risks. In California, Santa Maria has the lowest premium at $1,251, while Glendale has the highest at $2,433. The difference of $1,182 shows the impact of location on insurance costs, with rural and less populated areas generally offering lower rates.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.