California, known for its high cost of living, surprisingly offers reasonably priced car insurance compared to other states, thanks to stringent state regulations on how insurers price policies. However, with rising insurance costs, it’s crucial to find the most affordable options. Here, we delve into the cheapest car insurance providers in California based on various factors including age, coverage type, and driving history.
Average Car Insurance Costs in California
- Full Coverage: The average cost is $1,630 per year, or about $136 per month.
- Minimum Coverage: The average cost is $456 per year, though you can find cheaper options.
Cheapest Car Insurance Providers in California
Our analysis identifies Auto Club of SoCal as the cheapest provider for full coverage at an average of $1,187 per year or $99 per month. For minimum coverage, Geico offers the lowest rates at an average of $239 per year.
How We Determined the Cheapest Providers
NerdWallet’s editorial team analyzed car insurance rates from 25 insurers in California for a 2021 Toyota Camry LE, across various age brackets and driving histories. Here’s a breakdown of the coverage limits used:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Cheapest Car Insurance by Age
20-Year-Old Drivers
- Full Coverage:
- Auto Club of SoCal: $1,948/year
- CIG: $2,074/year
- Minimum Coverage:
- Geico: $475/year
- Auto Club of SoCal: $523/year
30-Year-Old Drivers
- Full Coverage:
- Mercury: $1,205/year
- Auto Club of SoCal: $1,223/year
- Minimum Coverage:
- Geico: $242/year
- Auto Club of SoCal: $301/year
40-Year-Old Drivers
- Full Coverage:
- Auto Club of SoCal: $1,187/year
- Grange Insurance Association: $1,193/year
- Minimum Coverage:
- Geico: $239/year
- Grange Insurance Association: $292/year
50-Year-Old Drivers
- Full Coverage:
- Auto Club of SoCal: $1,187/year
- Grange Insurance Association: $1,193/year
- Minimum Coverage:
- Geico: $239/year
- Grange Insurance Association: $292/year
60-Year-Old Drivers
- Full Coverage:
- Auto Club of SoCal: $1,187/year
- Grange Insurance Association: $1,193/year
- Minimum Coverage:
- Geico: $239/year
- Grange Insurance Association: $292/year
70-Year-Old Drivers
- Full Coverage:
- Auto Club of SoCal: $1,187/year
- Grange Insurance Association: $1,193/year
- Minimum Coverage:
- Geico: $239/year
- Grange Insurance Association: $292/year
Impact of Driving Record on Insurance Costs
Drivers with Poor Credit:
- 20-Year-Olds:
- Geico: $475/year
- Auto Club of SoCal: $523/year
- 30-Year-Olds:
- Mercury: $1,205/year
- Auto Club of SoCal: $1,223/year
- 40-Year-Olds:
- Auto Club of SoCal: $1,187/year
- Grange Insurance Association: $1,193/year
Drivers with One Speeding Ticket:
- 20-Year-Olds:
- Geico: $533/year
- National General: $665/year
- 30-Year-Olds:
- Geico: $388/year
- Auto Club of SoCal: $418/year
- 40-Year-Olds:
- Geico: $383/year
- Grange Insurance Association: $410/year
Drivers with One At-Fault Crash:
- 20-Year-Olds:
- Geico: $654/year
- Grange Insurance Association: $807/year
- 30-Year-Olds:
- CIG: $1,670/year
- Auto Club of SoCal: $1,891/year
- 40-Year-Olds:
- CIG: $1,670/year
- Grange Insurance Association: $1,673/year
Drivers with a DUI:
- 20-Year-Olds:
- Geico: $858/year
- National General: $900/year
- 30-Year-Olds:
- Mercury: $2,125/year
- Grange Insurance Association: $2,399/year
- 40-Year-Olds:
- Grange Insurance Association: $2,091/year
- Mercury: $2,125/year
Conclusion
Finding the cheapest car insurance in California requires understanding the factors that affect insurance rates, such as age, driving record, and credit history. By comparing quotes from multiple insurers, you can identify the best coverage options at the lowest prices. Auto Club of SoCal and Geico frequently offer competitive rates across various categories, making them excellent starting points for your search.
