Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in San Diego, CA (2024 Rates)


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The cheapest car insurance in San Diego depends on your needs and driver profile. GEICO is the cheapest for teens and young adults. National General is the most budget-friendly for full coverage and drivers with traffic violations. Progressive is the least expensive for sports car drivers, State Farm for seniors and USAA for military members. MoneyGeek also analyzed the best car insurance in San Diego for those looking to balance affordability with quality service.

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2024

Cheapest Car Insurance in San Diego, CA

Why Trust MoneyGeek? MoneyGeek gathered car insurance quotes and data from the California Department of Insurance and Quadrant Information Services.

352,910Quotes Analyzed
 
18Companies Compared

Cheapest Minimum Coverage Car Insurance in San Diego

The following companies provide the cheapest minimum coverage car insurance policies in San Diego:

  • GEICO: $355 per year
  • Progressive: $424 per year

Chubb offers the priciest minimum coverage policy, costing $716 annually. Meanwhile, CSAA offers California's cheapest minimum coverage car insurance company at $125 per year. This state's average cost is lower than the cheapest insurer in San Diego, illustrating how location can affect insurance rates.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Age Group:
Age Group:30-59
Coverage:
Coverage:Minimum Coverage
GEICO$355$30
Progressive$424$35
AAA California$433$36
Mercury$439$37
State Farm$469$39
Kemper$493$41
Travelers$517$43
National General$517$43
Nationwide$526$44
State National$573$48
Farmers$600$50
Allstate$609$51
Capital Insurance Group$612$51
Hartford$626$52
Chubb$716$60
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California state law mandates that minimum coverage insurance policies must include:

  • $15,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $5,000 property damage liability per accident

In the event of an accident where you are at fault, liability-only coverage will provide compensation for damages to the other driver up to the designated limit. For instance, your insurance provider will pay medical expenses up to $15,000 per injured person, with a cap of $30,000 for the entire incident. You are responsible for paying any costs that surpass the limit.

Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in San Diego

In San Diego, the following offer the most affordable full coverage auto insurance:

  • National General: $891 per year
  • GEICO: $918 per year

At $1,703 per year, Chubb is San Diego's most costly full-coverage insurer. California state’s least expensive full coverage car insurance provider is CSAA, with an average rate of $369. Note that National General, the cheapest full-coverage insurer in San Diego, is more expensive than the state's cheapest average rate. This cost difference illustrates how location can affect insurance costs.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Age Group:
Age Group:30-59
Coverage:
Coverage:Full Coverage
National General$891$74
GEICO$918$76
Progressive$937$78
Mercury$1,056$88
AAA California$1,057$88
Allstate$1,110$92
State Farm$1,113$93
Nationwide$1,223$102
Capital Insurance Group$1,298$108
Kemper$1,303$109
State National$1,341$112
Hartford$1,357$113
Travelers$1,369$114
Farmers$1,504$125
Chubb$1,703$142

A full coverage policy includes comprehensive and collision insurance.

  • Collision insurance: Covers damages from a collision with another car or a stationary object like a tree, light pole or fence.
  • Comprehensive insurance: Covers damages from non-collision events like theft, vandalism, vehicle fire and natural disasters.

A full coverage policy may not be worth it for low-value older vehicles. You could pay hundreds of dollars more per year in premiums than the car is worth.

Cheapest Car Insurance in San Diego After a Driving Offense

National General, an Allstate company, is the cheapest auto insurance for drivers with traffic infractions on their records, offering the following rates:

  • Speeding ticket: National General ($935 per year)
  • At-fault accident: National General ($1,317 per year)
  • DUI: National General ($935 per year)

Chubb is the costliest after a speeding ticket ($2,229) or an at-fault accident ($2,736) and Hartford after a DUI ($4,903). Rates for drivers with violations are higher than for those with clean driving histories.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Age Group:
Age Group:30-59
Coverage:
Coverage:Full Coverage
Incident:
Incident:Speeding
National General$935$78
AAA California$1,361$113
GEICO$1,374$115
Mercury$1,391$116
Capital Insurance Group$1,487$124
Allstate$1,609$134
State Farm$1,653$138
Kemper$1,730$144
Progressive$1,756$146
State National$1,905$159
Hartford$2,024$169
Travelers$2,065$172
Farmers$2,077$173
Nationwide$2,108$176
Chubb$2,229$186

Typically, the more severe the driving offense, the more the insurance premiums increase. After a speeding ticket, San Diego drivers will pay $489 more for insurance per year, while those with a DUI will pay $1,700 more. An at-fault accident will also increase your rate, and California prohibits insurance companies from offering accident forgiveness. Nonetheless, it is still possible to find affordable insurance rates if you have a bad driving record.

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MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

Your motor vehicle record has an immense impact on how much you pay for car insurance in San Diego, but a few common rating factors are prohibited in California. Your gender, ZIP code and credit history won't affect the cost of your policy. Also, insurers cannot use telematics to collect information on driving behavior or habits to influence how much to charge a policyholder. — Mark Friedlander, Director, Corporate Communications, Insurance Information Institute

Cheapest Car Insurance in San Diego for Teens and Their Families

For a 16-year-old teenage driver on a family policy, the cheapest car insurance companies in San Diego are:

  • GEICO: $2,074 per year for female teens; $2,167 per year for male teens
  • State Farm: $2,277 per year for male and female teens

In San Diego, Nationwide is the most expensive insurer for teenagers, with a yearly rate of $4,063.

Generally, males are perceived as riskier to insure due to higher accident frequency and thus pay more for auto insurance, although the gap closes by early adulthood. However, since California does not allow gender as a rating factor, being a male or female should not affect the cost, regardless of age, although other factors will.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Age:
Age:16
Gender:
Gender:Female
GEICO$2,074$4,915
State Farm$2,277$5,031
Allstate$2,757$5,964
Farmers$2,898$5,647
Progressive$3,009$6,054
Capital Insurance Group$3,059$3,861
Travelers$3,210$5,023
Nationwide$4,063$11,221
Kemper$4,489$8,908

In San Diego, families can save thousands annually by including a teenage driver on their auto insurance policy rather than buying a separate policy. And a teenager under 18 cannot legally buy auto insurance without a parent or guardian as a co-signer. To get the most affordable rate, families should compare teen driver insurance prices to find the best deal.

Cheapest Car Insurance in San Diego for Military Drivers

In San Diego, the most affordable auto insurance providers for those in the military are:

  • USAA: $860 per year
  • National General: $891 per year

The rates above are for a full coverage policy. GEICO is the most affordable for a minimum coverage policy, costing an annual rate of $355, while USAA is the second most affordable at $371 per year.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Age Group:
Age Group:30-59
Coverage:
Coverage:Full Coverage
USAA$860$72
National General$891$74
GEICO$918$76
Progressive$937$78
Mercury$1,056$88
AAA California$1,057$88
Allstate$1,110$92
State Farm$1,113$93
Nationwide$1,223$102
Capital Insurance Group$1,298$108
Kemper$1,303$109
State National$1,341$112
Hartford$1,357$113
Travelers$1,369$114
Farmers$1,504$125
Chubb$1,703$142

How to Compare Cheap San Diego Car Insurance Quotes Online

Gathering quotes for auto insurance in San Diego, California, can be a tedious and time-consuming process, taking over 15 minutes per company and requiring you to provide a lot of personal information. MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator streamlines the process, allowing you to just enter your age, vehicle type, driving record and coverage preferences to get multiple rates from insurers quickly.

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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.

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Rates updated:

Dec 06, 2024

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Cheapest Car Insurance in San Diego for Young Adults

The following companies offer the most affordable full coverage car insurance for young adults in San Diego:

  • GEICO: $1,059 per year
  • National General: $1,079 per year

Chubb is the most expensive insurer for young adults in San Diego, costing $2,500 per year. Generally, young adults pay more for auto insurance than their middle-aged counterparts. For instance, a 40-year-old middle-aged driver pays an average of $1,202 per year, while a 25-year-old young adult pays an average rate of $1,514 per year, a difference of $312 per year.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Age Group:
Age Group:22-29
Coverage:
Coverage:Full Coverage
GEICO$1,059$88
National General$1,079$90
Progressive$1,124$94
Allstate$1,226$102
State Farm$1,301$108
Mercury$1,367$114
AAA California$1,385$115
Capital Insurance Group$1,461$122
Nationwide$1,586$132
Travelers$1,620$135
State National$1,651$138
Hartford$1,756$146
Farmers$1,779$148
Kemper$1,939$162
Chubb$2,500$208

Cheapest Car Insurance in San Diego for Seniors

The most budget-friendly car insurance providers for seniors who want a full coverage plan in San Diego are:

  • State Farm: $869 per year
  • GEICO: $888 per year

Chubb is the priciest insurer for seniors in San Diego, at $1,756 per year. In San Diego, seniors enjoy lower insurance rates compared to their middle-aged counterparts, who pay approximately $33 more. After reaching the age of 65, seniors may experience further increases in their insurance rates, primarily because they are perceived as higher-risk drivers. This is attributed to a higher probability of having medical conditions and slower reaction times.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Age Group:
Age Group:60 +
Coverage:
Coverage:Full Coverage
State Farm$869$72
GEICO$888$74
National General$904$75
Progressive$935$78
Mercury$1,035$86
AAA California$1,047$87
Allstate$1,054$88
Nationwide$1,129$94
Hartford$1,181$98
Capital Insurance Group$1,225$102
State National$1,247$104
Travelers$1,312$109
Farmers$1,473$123
Kemper$1,604$134
Chubb$1,756$146

Cheapest Car Insurance in San Diego for Sports Cars

The most affordable car insurance providers for drivers with sports cars who want comprehensive coverage in San Diego are:

  • Progressive: $1,099 per year
  • GEICO: $1,141 per year

At $2,014 per year, Chubb has the most expensive premium for drivers with sports cars in San Diego.

The average cost of car insurance for a Toyota Camry in San Diego is $1,202 per year, while the average cost of car insurance for a sports car is $1,418 per year. A sports car costs $215 more to insure per year (18%) than a Toyota Camry.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Age Group:
Age Group:30-59
Coverage:
Coverage:Full Coverage
Progressive$1,099$92
GEICO$1,141$95
Travelers$1,285$107
State Farm$1,325$110
Allstate$1,402$117
Nationwide$1,422$119
Capital Insurance Group$1,441$120
Kemper$1,520$127
Farmers$1,529$127
Chubb$2,014$168

We used a Ford Mustang as a sample sports car, but rates can vary by model. Luxury, electric and sports cars are usually the priciest to insure.

Average Cost of Car Insurance in San Diego

San Diego residents enjoy lower car insurance rates than the median rate across California and the national average. On average, a full coverage policy in San Diego costs $1,202 per year, which is $185 less than the median rate in California ($1,387 per year) and $63 lower than the national average ($1,265 per year).

These rates include $100,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $300,000 in bodily injury liability for every accident and $100,000 in property damage liability per incident. The city's low population, crime and accident rates are primary factors in the lower cost of car insurance in San Diego compared to other places in the state.

Santa Maria$1,106$462
Visalia$1,179$500
Chula Vista$1,189$501
Ventura$1,189$539
Salinas$1,199$496
San Diego$1,202$521
Vista$1,205$533
Carlsbad$1,225$542
Escondido$1,232$533
Bakersfield$1,234$527
Clovis$1,239$549
Fairfield$1,241$520
Oceanside$1,246$550
San Mateo$1,249$537
Murrieta$1,250$554
Oxnard$1,260$549
Temecula$1,270$552
Sunnyvale$1,279$551
Fresno$1,281$549
El Cajon$1,285$560
Santa Clara$1,289$559
San Jose$1,290$551
Fremont$1,296$540
Roseville$1,309$587
Orange$1,310$587
Concord$1,315$558
Jurupa Valley$1,324$573
Santa Rosa$1,326$543
Rancho Cucamonga$1,330$568
Sacramento$1,331$576
Berkeley$1,342$551
Costa Mesa$1,342$621
Huntington Beach$1,349$617
Torrance$1,351$608
Riverside$1,351$583
Corona$1,351$589
Simi Valley$1,352$621
Moreno Valley$1,357$578
San Bernardino$1,369$583
Elk Grove$1,370$598
Ontario$1,374$594
Hayward$1,374$559
Vallejo$1,378$556
Fontana$1,384$589
Rialto$1,391$585
Santa Ana$1,399$622
Richmond$1,400$583
Modesto$1,401$608
Victorville$1,402$594
Antioch$1,403$570
Stockton$1,407$590
Thousand Oaks$1,408$638
Irvine$1,411$633
Arden-Arcade$1,430$647
Pomona$1,432$618
Santa Clarita$1,444$654
Anaheim$1,448$648
Norwalk$1,460$633
Lancaster$1,462$659
Oakland$1,469$598
West Covina$1,478$656
Fullerton$1,480$657
San Francisco$1,486$613
Garden Grove$1,488$682
Long Beach$1,497$649
Palmdale$1,507$667
Daly City$1,528$621
Downey$1,531$657
East Los Angeles$1,562$677
El Monte$1,586$693
Pasadena$1,598$704
Burbank$1,733$782
Inglewood$1,740$774
Los Angeles$1,877$820
Glendale$2,115$913

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

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.