Who Has the Best Car Insurance in Los Angeles?

With a large portion of Los Angeles county residents commuting into Los Angeles daily, auto insurance is a monthly cost many have pay. Finding the cheapest auto insurance can be a hassle however, so we make it easier by comparing insurance companies in Los Angeles for you. After reading our analysis, put in your information up top to be matched with the right company for you.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Los Angeles

Overall, we found Nationwide had the best auto insurance rates in Los Angeles with an average rate of $1,280 per year—about 41% less than the city average. Other affordable insurers in LA included Century National and GEICO:

Remember these rates are for a sample 30 year old driver, so the quotes you receive will likely be different. These companies are likely a good place to start your quote gathering process however.

Where in Los Angeles is Car Insurance Most Affordable?

We also gathered rates from several neighborhoods within Los Angeles. Not every neighborhood in Los Angeles actually has the same rates, with a neighborhood like Watts being over $200 more expensive than Hobart. The most expensive neighborhood, Pico-Union, is over $1,000 more expensive per year than Westchester.

Even if your neighborhood is not listed, nearby neighborhoods to the ones above will likely have similar pricing. If you find that you live in a neighborhood with higher pricing, it will be more important for you to search around for as many insurance companies as you can find to get as low a price as possible.

Best Car Insurance in Los Angeles

Who has the best car insurance in Los Angeles? It depends on what you want from your insurer; convenience, good claims handling, or just price. Below we list a few companies based on what they excel at.

Ameriprise is the best for claims handling in California according to customers surveyed by J.D. Power handling auto insurance claims. They were also well ranked for their billing practices and the flexibility of policies they offer. Low mileage drivers, as in those who do less than 7,500 miles per yea, would also benefit from Metromile. The young company charges customers mostly on how much they drive. Los Angelenos who have reliable public transport but do need a car from time to time would benefit most from Metromile. Metromile won't be worth it however if you drive over 10,000 miles per year.

For fast, convenient and well priced auto insurance in Los Angeles, you should go to GEICO. You can start and buy your policy online without ever needing to talk to an agent. Finally, if you are eligible for USAA, they will be the best insurer for you. They have discounts such as taking 15% off your comprehensive coverage when you garage your car at a military base, like Los Angeles Airforce Base. They also give up to 90% off when you safely store your vehicle while being deployed overseas.

Fatal Accidents in Los Angeles

There were 1,115 fatal car accidents in Los Angeles between 2011 and 2015, the most of any one city in the country. Below we list the most dangerous roads and highways in Los Angeles.

Most Dangerous Roads in Los Angeles

About 23% of fatal accidents in Los Angeles involved a drunk driver between 2011 and 2015. That figure is less than some other California cities, and significantly less than Texas cities where it is usually around 30%.

Where to Find Auto Insurers in Los Angeles

We found different car insurance agents and insurers across Los Angeles county. While companies like GEICO and Progressive allow you to get and purchase a quote online, most other companies still require you purchase through an agent. We list three agents and insurers for each city in our survey of Los Angeles County.

Car Insurance Requirements in California

Drivers in California have to carry a minimum amount of car insurance if they wish to drive in the state. Compared to other states, California minimums are generally low. Overall, we would recommend most drivers opt for higher, less optional coverage.

California does not require drivers to carry comprehensive or collision insurance, nor uninsured motorist insurance. In most cases, if a driver can afford the coverages, we recommend drivers add them to their policy.

How We Got Our Numbers

We collected quotes from a variety of insurance companies across 142 towns and cities in California and 40 in Los Angeles County. Our sample driver was a 30 year old male who drove a Toyota Camry. To obtain quotes, we kept parameters for getting coverage the same, such as that he was single, had a good credit score and a clean driving record. The only variable that changed was the zip code where he lived in California. The amount of coverage we opted for gave our driver bit more than what is required of state minimums. 

Coverage Type	California Minimum	Study Limits
Bodily Liability	$15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident	$50,000 per person/ $100,000 per accident
Property Damage	$5,000 per accident	$50,000 per accident
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist BI		$50,000 per person/ $100,000 per accident
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Property		$50,000 per accident
Comprehensive & Collision		$500 Deductible