Compare California Car Insurance Rates [2026]

California car insurance rates cost an average of $145 per month for full coverage, which is slightly lower than the national average. Finding affordable California car insurance quotes is usually simple, but some drivers will see higher rates than others. For example, car insurance in California costs more if you have accidents in your driving record.

Finding the best car insurance companies in your area might seem complicated, but getting the cheapest California car insurance doesn’t have to be a struggle. Read on to learn more about the best car insurance in California, no matter what you drive. Then, compare California car insurance rates to find the best policy for you.

How to Get California Insurance

Rummaging through all the data to find the most pertinent nuggets of information on all the car insurance companies in California can hardly be described as a glamorous task.

The good news is we’ve taken all the pomp and circumstance out of the research process for you. By utilizing this helpful guide, you’ll ensure that you can get quality car insurance that’s right for you without having to have been born with a silver spoon in your mouth.

We’ll help you to know what the Golden State requires, what you may desire, and where you can get the best auto insurance in California for your circumstance.

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in California

While some states offer no-fault car insurance, California is a fault state (also commonly known as “tort”), meaning the person who is found to be responsible for causing the auto accident is also legally and financially responsible for any subsequent damages.

All drivers in California are required to carry minimum liability insurance levels of 15/30/5 to satisfy basic overage. This means that car owners must carry the following minimum levels of liability insurance:

• $15,000 for bodily injury or death per person in an accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle

• $30,000 for total bodily injury or death per accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle

• $5,000 for property damage per accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle

Drivers in California have the option to purchase Medical Payments Coverage (Med Pay) of at least $1,000 to cover medical expenses after a crash regardless of who caused the car crash.

As long as you were not at fault in an automobile accident, insurance companies cannot raise your insurance rates for activating your insurance benefits, including Med Pay coverage.

The state of California does not require you to carry Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage, but it might not be a bad idea for you to add it to your base coverage.

The onus is on each individual motorist on how much risk he or she is willing to assume. One must decide if the extra dozens of dollars a month he or she saves from foregoing Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is worth the potential tens of thousands of dollars of personal liability to which one would be exposed in litigation in the case of an at-fault accident.

If a driver has substantial assets that he or she desires to protect, he or she should consider increasing his or her liability coverage.

Experts advise that if you do choose to purchase liability coverage make sure to increase the limits to 100/300/50.

Next, we will explore how much money drivers in California spend on average on their car insurance. The amount you will actually pay will more than likely differ from these stated amounts; however, this data should serve as a helpful blueprint that you can apply to your current situation with confidence.

Compare California Car Insurance Rates as a Percentage of Income

The late comedian Fred Allen once bemoaned, “An income tax form is like a laundry list – either way, you lose your shirt.”

This kidding-not-kidding joke captures America’s love-hate (and really only hate) relationship with income taxes because of how they affect one’s Disposable Personal Income (DPI), which is the amount of money left over after paying taxes.

You are mandated by law to carry at least the basic liability coverage. Full coverage refers to an auto insurance policy that includes liability, comprehensive, and collision insurance. Here’s a peek at the average cost of each:

California Average Annual Rates Compared to National Average

Now that we have sorted through some data about auto insurance costs to the individual consumer, let’s take a look at some important statistics about the insurance companies themselves.

Loss Ratio and California Car Insurance Rates

First, let’s examine loss ratio and what it means for your insurance. What exactly is a loss ratio? How and why does it affect your premiums?

The insurance loss ratio is the proportionate relationship of incurred losses to earned premiums expressed as a percentage. A high loss ratio means that an insurance company has too many customers filing claims, which will subsequently lead to a rise in future premiums for all consumers.

For example, if an auto insurer collects $100,000 of premiums in a given year and pays out $25,000 in claims, the company’s loss ratio is 25 percent ($25,000 incurred losses/$100,000 earned premiums).

Popular Add-ons for California Car Insurance

Just over 15 percent of drivers in California (15.2 percent to be precise) are driving without insurance, which ranks as the 12th highest percentage in the nation.

The California Department of Insurance has created the Automobile Insurance Information Guide as a thorough and useful reference for all the insurance enhancements available to you, complete with tips and tidbits on how to select from among the many options.

Pay-by-the-mile auto insurance plans offered by companies like Metromile are increasingly popular and available in the California Commonwealth.

Other Usage-Based Insurance programs (UBI) are active and available to drivers in California. Programs like SmartRide from Nationwide or Drive Safe & Save from State Farm offer discounts to drivers based on their driving acumen.

In addition to these add-ons, there are several more optional enhancements that you can explore to decide which ones may be right for you:

• Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP)
• Personal Umbrella Policy (PUP)
• Rental Car Reimbursement
• Emergency Roadside Assistance
• Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
• Non-Owner Car Insurance
• Modified Car Insurance Coverage
• Classic Car Insurance

Compare California Car Insurance Rates by Gender

California boasts scores of Leading Men and Leading Ladies as permanent residents of the state. If you’re as curious as I am, you may catch yourself, from time to time, about the following question: Which group gets better auto insurance quotes? California Bros or California Girls?

Only one way to find out. Let’s take a look at the data.

Here’s a look at the most expensive demographic rates in the Golden State. Where do you fit in the grand scheme of things? Which company is the best value for you and your family?

While you cannot ever put a price on independence, it’s if you’re an independent woman who is single and 17 in California, you’re going to pay over four times as much to be insured with USAA as a married 35-year-old woman.

Compare California Car Insurance Rates by ZIP Code

Which area has better car insurance rates, the Hollywood Hills or San Fernando Valley? East Bay or Palo Alto? La Jolla or Rancho Bernardo?

Let’s find out by taking a look at the most expensive zip codes in California. Here is a chart with the most expensive average annual premiums in California by zip code:

Where does your hometown rank statewide? If it’s not on our list of the most expensive zip codes, below are the least expensive zip codes.

Compare California Car Insurance Rates by City

Wondering what the most expensive city for car insurance is?

One of the most famous cities in California, Beverly Hills is also the most expensive city for car insurance. Now let’s see which cities offer cheap auto insurance in California.

The Best Car Insurance Companies in California

Choosing the correct auto insurance coverage for your budget is an important decision. That decision can become even more difficult to make when you try to compare and contrast the hundreds of different companies vying for your business.

How can you possibly do enough research on each one to feel good about your choice? Well, this is how we do it.

We have combed through all the data and have extrapolated the information that is most helpful to you in making your choice of the best car insurance company for you.

You should seriously take into account the public reputation and perception of any company from which you’re considering purchasing auto insurance.

An insurer’s public reputation can be a clear indication of the kind of rates it offers to its consumers. We’ll show how the largest companies rate in the areas of financial stability and customer satisfaction.

Financial Ratings of Car Insurance Companies in California

AM Best is a credit rating agency. It evaluates insurance companies and grades them based on their financial stability. The table below shows the ten largest insurance companies in California as measured by direct premiums written with their AM Best rating.

Customer Satisfaction Ratings in California

Based on 2018 data from J.D. Power and Associate, Ameriprise had the best customer satisfaction rating in California, followed by Wawanesa, Auto Club of Southern Californian, The Hartford, and 21st Century.

Read more: Wawanesa car insurance review

The three insurance companies that rated the lowest were Farmers, Mercury, and Kemper.

Read more: Compare Mercury Car Insurance Rates

Car Insurance Companies in California by Complaints

In the ever-growing world of materialism and consumerism, brand loyalty and customer satisfaction long-term can be hard to come by. It takes effort, clear communication, courteous customer service, and consistent delivery of quality service and goods to achieve high customer retention and satisfaction.

If a company cuts corners and leaves the consumer dissatisfied more often than not, that company runs the risk of its customer base moving on to a competitor.

When the consumer is left with a bad taste in his or her mouth from an unpleasant experience with an insurer, he or she can file a complaint. Those complaints, justified or not, are factored into a company’s complaint ratios.

The complaint ratio is how many complaints a company receives per one million dollars of business written.

Largest Car Insurance Companies in California

This table gives a representation of the car insurance companies with the largest market share in California.

Read more: CSAA Car Insurance Review

Complaint Ratios of the Largest California Car Insurance Companies

There are just under 770 auto insurance companies registered in the state of California. Of the 770, 99 of them are homegrown; while 671 are transplants.

Read more:

• Compare Infiniti Car Insurance Rates
• Interinsurance Exchange Car Insurance Review

Compare California Car Insurance Rates by Company

Now, we’re going to compare and contrast the top car insurance companies to see which of them gives the best rates on average in California.

Compare California Car Insurance Rates by Commute

Compare California Car Insurance Rates by Coverage Level

Compare California Car Insurance Rates by Driving Record

Accumulating points on your license will have a negative impact on your car insurance rates. How severely depends on the company. Each company uses its own underwriting metrics when assessing risk. Here is a quick look at how top car insurance companies in California price various driving infractions:

Compare California Car Insurance Rates by Demographic

A single 25-year-old male will pay $2,523.86 on average with USAA, compared to the  $4,428.83 a 17-year-old single male would pay with the same company.

Note: Focus on the company that best suits your specific circumstance.

The only way to ensure that you’re getting the best quotes for your specific circumstance is to compare rates from multiple carriers.

Another way to keep your rates low is to be a good driver. Being a good driver entails knowing the rules of the road and adhering to them. We’ll review the traffic laws in California so that you can keep a 24-karat driving record.

Compare Car Insurance Rates in California

Unearth the disparities in car insurance rates across various cities in California. Delve into the premiums of Alpine, Marin City, Salinas, and beyond to make informed decisions about your coverage. Start optimizing your insurance plan today.

California Car Insurance Laws

State insurance commissioners have ample authority over the auto insurance industry in their respective commonwealths. Each state determines the type of tort law and threshold (if any) that applies in the state, the type and amount of liability insurance required, and the system used for approval of insurer rates and forms.

Insurance companies in California are subject to the regulations set by that state’s insurance commissioner. Ultimately, all rates and regulations must meet the fair competition standards set by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

How to Get High-Risk Insurance in California

The SR-22 form must be filed by drivers who have committed violations or have multiple infractions, as well as uninsured drivers and others. If your license has been revoked or suspended, you may need to file an SR-22 to have it reinstated.

SR-22 car insurance may be required after committing the following infractions in California:

• A DUI or wet-reckless suspension/revocation
• Being involved in an accident when you were uninsured
• Having your driving privileges suspended/revoked by DMV because it declared you a negligent operator (you may be declared a negligent operator if you obtain too many points on your driving record within a specific timeframe)

Traffic violations in California are broken down into one-point violations and two-point violations. Here is a list of some common infractions that can earn you points in the state of California:

• DUI/alcoholic beverage or any drug: 2 points
• Speed contest/aiding or abetting: 2 points
• Reckless driving/injury: 2 points
• Driving while suspended or revoked: 2 points
• Speed/too fast or over the speed limit: 1 point
• Disobedience to law enforcement officer: 1 point
• Following too close: 1 point
• Erratic driving/suddenly changing speeds: 1 point

Racking up too many points on your driving record will cause your premiums to skyrocket.

Windshield Coverage in California

California has no specific laws requiring insurance companies to offer special glass coverage or no-deductible windshield replacement. Your insurance company may require you to use a specific repair shop in order to receive coverage. As a consumer, you have the right to choose a repair vendor, but you may be required to pay the difference in the quote.

Aftermarket parts are allowed to be used by insurance companies with written notice to the consumer and at least equal in terms of fit, quality, performance, and warranty as the OEM.

For a detailed summary of windshield and glass coverage in California, click here.

Insurance Fraud in California

Insurance fraud is the second-largest economic crime in America. Premium rates are raised dramatically by insurance companies and passed on to consumers in attempts to combat fraud.

There are two classifications of fraud: hard and soft.

• Hard Fraud: A purposefully fabricated claim or accident
• Soft Fraud: A misrepresentation of information to the insurance company

Soft fraud is more common than hard fraud. Twenty to 40 percent of consumers admitted to lying to their insurer about one of the following:

• Number of annual miles driven
• Number of drivers in the household
• How the vehicle would be used

Insurance fraud is a crime no matter how you slice it. Even the “little, white lie” you tell to get a lower rate can lead to harmful consequences. That kind of willful misrepresentation of facts is called known as “rate evasion” and it is a $16 billion annual expense to auto insurers.

If you suspect insurance fraud or have been the victim of fraud, you can contact the California Department of Insurance to report such activity.

Statute of Limitations in California

California’s statute of limitations for filing a claim is two years for personal injury and three years for property damage.

Vehicle Licensing Laws in California

California’s DMV has an online portal where residents can perform tasks such as renewing their registrations and drivers’ licenses, updating or changing their address, and retrieving their driving history. Vehicle registration and insurance information can be easily accessed through the state database.

Teen Driver Laws in California?

The State of California DMV wants to ensure that all teenage drivers are equipped with all the tools and resources to be safe and knowledgeable behind the wheel.

Here are California’s requirements for obtaining a driver’s license.

There are also some additional restrictions for teen drivers in California.

Cell Phone Use Laws in California

California does not take cellphone use behind the wheel lightly. It was one of the first six states in America to adopt a comprehensive texting ban.

License Renewal Procedure for Older Drivers in California

• Elderly drivers in California must get their licenses renewed every five years just like every other driver in the general population.
• Senior drivers must show proof of adequate vision at every renewal once they reach age 70; while the general population must only do so when renewing in person.
• Senior drivers 70 and older are not permitted to renew online or by mail; while the general population is only permitted to do so for two consecutive renewals.

Licensing Procedure for New Residents in California

All new residents and first-time driver’s license applicants must visit a DMV office in person and present proof of California residency. New residents must register any out-of-state vehicles within 20 days of establishing residency.

California Real ID

California is currently under review for federal REAL ID compliance. You may visit the California DMV to apply for a federal-compliant REAL ID card or a federal non-compliant one. As of October 1, 2020, anyone wishing to board an airplane or enter a federal facility must have a REAL ID-compliant form of identification.

The Rules of the Road in California

Let’s take a look at some of California’s traffic laws.

Keep Right and Move Over Laws

California law requires that you keep right if driving slower than the average speed of traffic around you.

California released an updated memo to its “Move Over” law on July 11, 2011. The California DMV, the California Highway Patrol, and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) teamed up to form the legislation and launch a statewide media campaign that implores motorists to move over when safe to do so or slow down when they see amber flashing lights on Caltrans vehicles.

“This traffic safety campaign isn’t about writing citations, it’s about providing a safer work environment for everyone who does business along the side of a highway,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “The only way to prevent tragedies from occurring on the side of the road is by giving emergency personnel, highway workers, and the public adequate space.”

Speed Limits in California

Seat Belt Laws in California

Car Seat Laws in California

Companies That Provide Ridesharing Protection in California

The following companies offer ridesharing protection in California:

• Allstate
• Farmers
• Liberty Mutual
• Mercury
• Metlife
• Metromile
• State Farm
• USAA

The California government recently passed a new bill (AB 5) that will classify the majority of rideshare drivers as employees rather than contractors. This isn’t exactly great news, as it means rideshare driving will turn into more of a job than a way to earn extra cash.

Automation on the Roads in California

Safety Laws in California

Promoting safety and preventing chaos are the ultimate goals of any traffic laws. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has developed the Highway Safety Improvement Program to provide tips, facts, and interactive maps and guides of which all drivers are encouraged to take advantage.

In accordance with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), California released its most recent Strategic Highway Safety Plan as an additional resource for drivers.

DUI Laws in California

The Blood-Alcohol Content (BAC) limit in California is 0.08 percent; the High BAC limit is between 0.15 to 0.20 percent.

The DUI penalties in the state of California are listed as follows:

DUI 1st offense:

DUI 2nd offense:

DUI 3rd offense:

DUI 4th offense:

Drug-Impaired Driving Laws

At present, California has no marijuana-impaired specific laws.

California Can’t-Miss Facts

Eureka! We’ve discovered some more fun facts about California

Vehicle Theft in California

Whether it happens to your little Deuce coupe (or your 409) or your little red Corvette, being the victim of car theft is no laughing matter. The chart below reveals which cars in California are most susceptible to such larceny.

Vehicle Theft by City in California

The table below gives a breakdown of the top cities for auto theft within the state.

Risky and Harmful Driving Behavior in California

For your information, we’ve compiled a list of all driving-related fatalities in California.

Fatalities by County (Speeding and Drunk Driving)

Fatality Rates Rural vs. Urban

Fatalities by Demographic

EMS Response Rime

Transportation in California

So, how bad is the commute look for the drivers of California? In a word: Very. How does rush-hour traffic compare to the rest of the nation? Depending on your proximity to a SoCal metropolis or NorCal metropolis, the answer will differ only by degree. Both ends of the state are notorious for congestion.

Percentage of Car Ownership in California

Two-vehicle households are the largest group of car owners in California making up nearly 40 percent of the population. Three-vehicle and one-vehicle homes are the next largest groups at roughly 20 percent and 19 percent respectively.

Average Commute Time in California

At 27.7 minutes, drivers in California surpass the national average of 25.3 minutes of commute time. A whopping 4.06 percent of drivers in California experience a “super commute” of 90 minutes or more.

These cities in California are the worst culprits for traffic:

Preferred Commuter Transportation in California

Commuters in California prefer to go solo with more than 70 percent driving to work alone. About 10 percent of commuters carpool and about half that many take public transportation.

Now you have all the information you need about California driving laws and insurance requirements. Make sure to put all that wealth of knowledge to good use by getting yourself the best insurance quotes possible.

Get rate quotes from multiple carriers so that saving money on your car insurance premiums won’t have to be California Dreaming; it can be a reality!