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CSAA offers the cheapest insurance for minimum coverage and full coverage policies, as well as policies for young adults, seniors and military drivers. CSAA also offers the most affordable insurance to drivers with an accident or ticket on their driving record.

State Farm provides the cheapest auto insurance for teens and their families. Sports car drivers can get the most affordable deal from Progressive. Lastly, National General has the cheapest insurance for drivers with a DUI.

Drivers looking to balance cost with quality service should look for the best car insurance in California.

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2023

Cheapest Car Insurance California (April 2023)

Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in California (April 2023)

The cheapest car insurance companies for a minimum coverage policy in California are:

  • CSAA: $125 per year
  • AAA California: $355 per year

Chubb is the most expensive insurance provider, with policies costing an average of $791 per year.

These rates are for a policy that only includes the state’s minimum car insurance requirements for bodily injury liability and property damage liability.

Company
Annual Premium
Monthly Premium

CSAA

$125

$10

CSAA

$127

$11

CSAA

$137

$11

AAA California

$355

$30

CSAA

$367

$31

CSAA

$369

$31

AAA California

$372

$31

CSAA

$408

$34

A minimum coverage only covers damages or injuries to others — not damages to your car or injuries to yourself. To avoid paying high out-of-pocket costs for damages to your own car, you should purchase a full coverage policy that includes comprehensive and collision insurance.

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Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in California (April 2023)

The following insurers offer the cheapest full coverage auto insurance in California:

  • CSAA: $369 per year
  • AAA California: $826 per year

Chubb offers the most expensive full coverage policies in the state at $1,868 per year. The cheapest insurer, CSAA, charges $244 more for a full coverage policy than a minimum coverage policy. Although more expensive, full coverage policies cover more costs in the event you have a car accident.

Company
Annual Premium
Monthly Premium

CSAA

$125

$10

CSAA

$127

$11

CSAA

$137

$11

AAA California

$355

$30

CSAA

$367

$31

CSAA

$369

$31

AAA California

$372

$31

CSAA

$408

$34

The amount of car insurance you need will significantly affect your premium. MoneyGeek’s sample full coverage policy includes liability protection of $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.

You can buy lower liability limits, reduce comprehensive and collision insurance or raise your deductible to save money, but this could mean paying more out of pocket if you get into an accident that causes significant injuries or damages.

How to Compare Cheap California Car Insurance Quotes Online

Insurance companies provide online quotes for their customers, but it can take up to 15 minutes to input the required personal data for each company. If you're comparing multiple companies, this time could add up.

MoneyGeek’s car insurance calculator helps you find the cheapest car insurance without having to provide personal information. This gives you an idea of what you can expect to pay for car insurance before beginning your search.

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Cheapest Car Insurance in California for Teens and Their Families (April 2023)

The following companies offer families with teens the most affordable car insurance:

  • State Farm: $2,943 per year for males and $2,943 per year for female teens
  • GEICO: $3,117 per year for males and $2,978 per year for female teens

Car insurance rates differ big time between 16- and 19-year-old drivers, with the latter paying the lowest premiums. GEICO ($2,082 per year) offers the most affordable rate for 19-year-old male drivers in California.

At $5,378 per year, Kemper is the most expensive insurer for both male and female teenage drivers in California. Teens who are added as additional drivers to their family’s plan will pay approximately $673 less than if they buy an individual policy.

Company
Family Plan Annual Premium
Individual Plan Annual Premium

GEICO

$1,276

$1,428

GEICO

$1,297

$1,594

GEICO

$1,306

$1,462

GEICO

$1,332

$1,638

GEICO

$1,338

$1,498

GEICO

$1,369

$1,683

GEICO

$1,372

$1,536

GEICO

$1,391

$1,576

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MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

On average, car insurance rates for male teens tend to be significantly more expensive than for female teens. This rate difference is not as notable when drivers reach their 20s and beyond.

Due to their lack of driving experience, providers typically charge teen drivers more for insurance. However, you may be able to reduce the cost of your annual premium through good student or distant student discounts commonly offered by insurers.

Cheapest Car Insurance in California for Young Adults (April 2023)

Drivers in their 20s will find the most affordable rates from the following companies:

  • CSAA: $408 per year
  • AAA California: $1,086 per year

Chubb has the most expensive annual premium at $2,752 for a full coverage policy.

Those in their 20s will likely be charged more for car insurance than middle-aged drivers, since they’re more likely to file insurance claims. For a full coverage policy, CSAA charges $39 more to drivers in their 20s than middle-aged drivers.

Company
Annual Premium
Monthly Premium

CSAA

$125

$10

CSAA

$127

$11

CSAA

$137

$11

AAA California

$355

$30

CSAA

$367

$31

CSAA

$369

$31

AAA California

$372

$31

CSAA

$408

$34

Cheapest Car Insurance in California for Seniors (April 2023)

The following companies offer the cheapest car insurance in California for seniors:

  • CSAA: $367 per year
  • AAA California: $818 per year

Chubb offers the most expensive auto insurance policy for seniors in California at $1,929.

Seniors in California pay slightly less for car insurance than middle-aged drivers. However, as drivers reach their 70s and 80s, the cost of car insurance increases.

Company
Annual Premium
Monthly Premium

CSAA

$125

$10

CSAA

$127

$11

CSAA

$137

$11

AAA California

$355

$30

CSAA

$367

$31

CSAA

$369

$31

AAA California

$372

$31

CSAA

$408

$34

Senior drivers may be able to save on car insurance by comparing rates from carriers and applying for discounts with providers. Companies, like American Family, offer discounts to seniors who have completed an approved defensive driving course.

Cheapest Car Insurance in California After a Ticket, Accident or DUI (April 2023)

Drivers with violations on their record will pay more car insurance than those with clean driving records. Those with a ticket or an accident will get the cheapest car insurance from CSAA, whereas drivers with a DUI should consider National General.

CHEAPEST CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES AFTER A DRIVING INCIDENT

Cheapest after a ticket: CSAA ($466 per year)
Cheapest after an accident: CSAA ($466 per year)
Cheapest after a DUI: National General ($1,280 per year)

Cheapest Car Insurance in California After a Ticket

We found that the cheapest car insurance companies in California for drivers with a speeding ticket are:

  • CSAA: $466 per year
  • AAA California: $1,067 per year

Travelers offers the priciest insurance, with an average annual premium of $2,640.

In comparison to drivers with a clean driving history, those with a speeding ticket pay an average of $556 more for car insurance.

Company
Annual Premium
Monthly Premium

CSAA

$155

$13

CSAA

$158

$13

CSAA

$170

$14

CSAA

$464

$39

CSAA

$466

$39

AAA California

$473

$39

AAA California

$495

$41

CSAA

$516

$43

Cheapest Car Insurance in California After an Accident

We found that the cheapest car insurance companies for drivers with an at-fault accident are:

  • CSAA: $466 per year
  • AAA California: $1,252 per year

The most expensive insurance is provided by Kemper at $3,345. Insurance companies charge at-fault drivers more due to the increased risk of accidents. Expect to pay an average of $810 more for car insurance if you have an at-fault accident on your record.

Company
Annual Premium
Monthly Premium

CSAA

$155

$13

CSAA

$158

$13

CSAA

$170

$14

CSAA

$464

$39

CSAA

$466

$39

CSAA

$516

$43

AAA California

$565

$47

AAA California

$592

$49

Cheapest Car Insurance in California After a DUI

We found that the cheapest car insurance companies in California for drivers with a DUI are:

  • National General: $1,280 per year
  • CSAA: $1,315 per year

Hartford offers the most expensive full coverage insurance at $5,759.

If you get a DUI, you may struggle to find an insurer or be subject to an extremely high car insurance cost. Drivers with a DUI pay more than $1,853 for car insurance, on average, than those with a clean driving history.

Company
Annual Premium
Monthly Premium

CSAA

$428

$36

CSAA

$436

$36

CSAA

$471

$39

Mercury

$796

$66

National General

$806

$67

Mercury

$818

$68

National General

$831

$69

National General

$998

$83

Cheapest Car Insurance in California for Sports Cars (April 2023)

We found that the cheapest car insurance companies in California for drivers with sports car are:

  • Progressive: $1,277 per year
  • GEICO: $1,491 per year

Chubb offers the most expensive insurance for luxury cars with an average premium of $2,198 per year. These premiums are more than three times as much as the lowest premium for a 2012 Toyota Camry LE.

Company
Annual Premium
Monthly Premium

CSAA

$125

$10

CSAA

$127

$11

CSAA

$137

$11

AAA California

$355

$30

AAA California

$372

$31

State Farm

$420

$35

GEICO

$429

$36

GEICO

$438

$36

MoneyGeek used a Ford Mustang as its sample sports car in its analysis. The costs can differ greatly depending on your car model and other factors. For example, luxury, electric and sports cars are charged higher premiums. Their models are not major determinants of premiums.

Cheapest Car Insurance in California for Military Drivers (April 2023)

We found that the cheapest car insurance company in California for active-duty or military veterans is CSAA, with an average premium of $369.

CSAA isn’t the only insurer that offers affordable and quality coverage to military members in the state. USAA also provides coverage exclusively to military members and their families and has an average annual premium cost of $1,073.

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MoneyGeek Top Pick
CSAA
  • $369 per year
  • CSAA ranks first out of 17 insurance providers
  • CSAA offers discounts for safe drivers, bundling, good student and more

Cheapest Car Insurance in California by City

The cost of car insurance varies by state and city. Depending on which city or area you live in, you could pay more or less for car insurance.

Car insurance typically costs more in cities, since they’re considered riskier to live than rural areas. This is typically because the incidence of accidents or theft is higher in cities than in rural areas.

Santa Maria has the cheapest premium in the state offered by National General at $775. Meanwhile, Glendale has the most expensive rates at $1,807 from AAA California.

City
Cheapest Company
Annual Premium

Anaheim

Progressive

$1,153

Antioch

National General

$1,015

Arden-Arcade

Progressive

$1,265

Bakersfield

National General

$968

Berkeley

National General

$1,015

Burbank

AAA California

$1,614

Carlsbad

National General

$972

Chula Vista

GEICO

$993

Car Insurance in California: What You Need to Know

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires that all drivers have at least liability insurance. Our guide below offers key information on auto insurance in the state.

California is among the many states that require coverage for both bodily injury and property damage liability. Learn more about its requirements below.

California Car Insurance Requirements

California drivers must carry at least basic liability insurance on their vehicles. At a minimum, your insurance must include bodily injury liability per person, bodily injury liability per accident and property damage liability per accident.

The required coverage also increases for drivers with a history of violations, as SR-22 insurance is required for repeat driving offenders in the state.

To save money, you can purchase the minimum amount of coverage required. However, this may not fully cover all your expenses if you get into an accident. Because of this, MoneyGeek recommends purchasing as much liability coverage as you can reasonably afford for added security in case of accidents.

  • male icon

    Bodily Injury Liability

    This helps cover the costs if you are responsible for a car accident that injured another person. In California, insurance must cover up to $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident. Opting for the minimum may leave you vulnerable if someone is seriously injured in an accident where you were at fault.

  • accident2 icon

    Property Damage Liability

    By California law, a $5,000 property damage liability per accident is required. This helps pay for repair damages to another person's property, where you are found at fault. This could also be used to pay for other tasks, such as debris removal and cleanup. However, the minimum coverage may not be enough to cover all expenses related to the accident.

MoneyGeek recommends getting $100,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per person, $300,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per accident and $100,000 in property damage insurance per accident. This will provide more coverage in the event another person or their property is harmed from an accident involving your vehicle.

Collision coverage pays for repairs to your vehicle from collisions like those with a pole or tree.

Comprehensive coverage pays to repair your car when it’s damaged by something other than a collision, including fire, vandalism, fallen branches and natural disasters.

These insurance policies are ideal for drivers who have new or expensive vehicles.

Car Insurance Alternatives in California

Though car insurance is required in the state of California, there are a few alternative options, depending on your situation.

These options require cash upfront, which can be challenging to obtain. However, they can present advantages for people with particular requirements and preferences.

The alternatives are as follows:

  • Cash deposit of $35,000 with DMV: The department helps drivers without insurance to fulfill financial responsibility by accepting a deposit of $35,000.
  • DMV-issued self-insurance certificate: This is applicable to individuals who own over 25 vehicles. This type of protection requires a predetermined amount of security cash per number of vehicles registered or 130% of average annual claims paid by the self-insurer in the preceding three-year period.
  • Surety bond: A surety bond is a contract that requires the driver to pay a specific amount of money if he causes an accident. The fund will cover the driver's expenses in an accident equal to its value. However, the driver has to pay back the funds paid out of the surety bond. Drivers must opt for $35,000 from a licensed company in California.

FAQs About Car Insurance in California

Choosing the right car insurance policy can be overwhelming, particularly if you don’t know where to start. MoneyGeek answered some of the most commonly asked questions to make the process less stressful for you.

Expert Advice on Finding Cheap Car Insurance in California

To help you find credible and accurate insight on car insurance in California, MoneyGeek received expert advice from trusted professionals. The perspectives and opinions expressed are those of the individual contributor.

  1. What are the key factors drivers in California should look for when searching for the best auto insurance coverage?
  2. What steps can drivers in California take to find affordable car insurance?
  3. How do regulations and rules in California impact insurance pricing and how consumers might shop for coverage?
Michael Rainey
Michael Rainey

Practitioner Lecturer of Business Law at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School

Thomas Francl
Thomas Francl

Associate Faculty Professor at National University

Kaycea Campbell
Kaycea Campbell

Associate Professor of Economics at Chapman University

Kai  Ding
Kai Ding

Assistant Professor Department of Economics at California State University - East Bay

Audrey Guo
Audrey Guo

Assistant Professor of Economics at Santa Clara University

Daniel Roccato
Daniel Roccato

Clinical Professor of Finance at the University of San Diego School of Business

Sean Flynn
Sean Flynn

Chairman of the Economics Department at Scripps College

Andreas Rauterkus
Andreas Rauterkus

Associate Professor of Finance and Chair of the Department of Finance at California State University San Marcos

Juan Gutierrez
Juan Gutierrez

Assistant Professor of Finance at California State University, Bakersfield

(Heidi) Luo Yilan
(Heidi) Luo Yilan

Educator and Comedian, Adjunct Associate Professor in Economics at Cerritos College

Suzy Taherian
Suzy Taherian

Adjunct Professor, UC Davis Graduate School of Management; CFO, Wrightspeed

Xin Che, Ph.D.
Xin Che, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Finance at California State University, Fullerton

Frank Paiano
Frank Paiano

Professor Emeritus at Southwestern Community College, Registered Representative

Steven Shagrin
Steven Shagrin

JD, Certified Money Coach/Master Money Coach & Trainer, Certified Professional Retirement Coach, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, Registered Life Planner, Former CFP®

Delia Fernandez
Delia Fernandez

MBA, CFP® at Fernandez Financial Advisory, LLC

Alex Okugawa
Alex Okugawa

Financial Advisor, CFP(R), CKA(R), CEPA(R) at One Degree Advisors

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Scott Stanley

Founder of Pharos Wealth Management

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Tolen Teigen

Chief Investment Officer at FinDec, CFA, CFP, AIF, C(k)P, ChFC, CASL, AEP and MSFS

Sam Dogen
Sam Dogen

Founder of Financial Samurai

Cassie Pipp
Cassie Pipp

Personal Finance Mastermind

Christopher W. Bauman
Christopher W. Bauman

Associate Professor, Organization and Management, The Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine

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Kristoffer Fu

CEO and Wealth Manager at Maven Bridge Capital

Andrew Hoffarth, CFP®
Andrew Hoffarth, CFP®

Wealth Advisor at Financial Alternatives, Inc.

Michael Zeiger
Michael Zeiger

Investment Advisor Representative at Telesis Tax & Financial

Danielle Miura
Danielle Miura

Founder of Spark Financials

Kalvin Sid
Kalvin Sid

CFP® MBA, CKA®

Kevin Gotts
Kevin Gotts

Certified Financial Planner

Kurt Jackson, CFP®, C(K)P®, AIF®, CRPS®
Kurt Jackson, CFP®, C(K)P®, AIF®, CRPS®

CEO/Founder at Central Coast Wealth Management

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick is a senior content director at MoneyGeek with over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, conducting original research and creating content that can be personalized for every buyer. He has been quoted on insurance topics in several publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Mark 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 economics and insurance knowledge to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.


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