Cheapest Car Insurance in California (Best Rates in 2025)
Geico has the best cheap car insurance in California, costing $124 per month for full coverage and $42 per month for minimum coverage.
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Best cheap car insurance companies in California
Best and cheapest car insurance in California
- Cheapest full coverage: Geico, $124/mo
- Cheapest minimum liability: Geico, $42/mo
- Cheapest for young drivers: State Farm, $114/mo
- Cheapest after a ticket: Geico, $194/mo
- Cheapest after an accident: Mercury, $226/mo
- Cheapest for teens after a ticket: State Farm, $64/mo Geico, $147/mo
- Cheapest after a DUI: Mercury, $252/mo
Monthly rates based on full coverage car insurance for a 30-year-old man. Some rates use different ages or coverage limits.
Geico offers the best combination of cheap quotes and reliable customer service for most California drivers. People with military ties can get even better rates and service from USAA.
Cheapest full coverage car insurance in California: Geico
Geico has the best full coverage car insurance quotes in California, at $124 per month.
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Full coverage from Geico is 26% cheaper than California's average rate of $168 per month.
Best full coverage car insurance in California
Company | Monthly rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $124 |
| Mercury | $142 |
| Progressive | $145 |
| AAA SoCal | $159 |
| State Farm | $180 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
| Data-powered research on California car insurance |
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You can also get cheap car insurance in California from USAA, Mercury, Progressive and AAA.
However, Geico and AAA have better customer service reviews than Mercury or Progressive. That's important if you ever need to make a claim or contact customer service.
In Northern California, AAA is sometimes called AAA NorCal or CSAA. But it may be called the Auto Club of Southern California or AAA SoCal in Southern California.
Cheap liability insurance in California: Geico
Geico has the cheapest liability-only car insurance in California.
The company charges around $42 per month for a minimum liability policy. That's $16 per month cheaper than the California average of $58 per month.
Best cheap liability car insurance in California
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $42 |
| AAA NorCal | $50 |
| Progressive | $53 |
| AAA SoCal | $57 |
| Mercury | $57 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
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- Is minimum coverage enough? A minimum coverage insurance policy gives you enough insurance to legally drive, but it usually isn't enough to protect you after a bad accident. So it's often worth it to increase your coverage if you can afford it.
- Getting help if you can't afford car insurance: Drivers with a low income can also get cheap car insurance with basic coverage through California's low cost auto insurance program. Rates are about $20 to $30 per month. You're eligible if you make less than $39,125 per year as an individual or less than $80,375 as a family of four.
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Cheapest insurance for California teens: State Farm
State Farm has the cheapest auto insurance in California for young drivers.
Minimum coverage from State Farm costs around $114 per month for an 18-year-old driver. That's $40 per month cheaper than the statewide average of $154.
State Farm also has the cheapest full coverage quotes for teen drivers in California. At $311 per month, full coverage from State Farm is $93 per month less than average.
Best car insurance in California for young adults
Company | Liability only | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $114 | $311 |
| Geico | $130 | $322 |
| Mercury | $148 | $340 |
| Progressive | $160 | $438 |
| AAA SoCal | $162 | $379 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Young drivers in California pay twice as much as older drivers for auto insurance. That's because young drivers have less experience behind the wheel, which means they're often more likely to cause a crash.
Young drivers in California should consider sharing a car insurance policy with their parents. A family policy costs an average of 62% less than two separate policies.
In addition, teens should get full coverage if they drive a lot or have a newer car. The added protection of collision and comprehensive insurance is especially useful if you're worried about how to replace your car if you cause an accident and it's totaled.
Best cheap CA auto insurance after a speeding ticket: Geico
Geico has the cheapest auto insurance in California for most drivers with a speeding ticket. Full coverage from Geico costs $194 per month after one ticket. That's $47 per month less than the state average of $241 per month for drivers with a speeding ticket.
USAA is a good option for drivers with military ties. At $157 per month, full coverage from USAA is $37 per month less than Geico.
Cheapest California auto insurance for drivers with a ticket
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $194 |
| Mercury | $202 |
| Progressive | $224 |
| AAA NorCal | $234 |
| AAA SoCal | $251 |
USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Full coverage car insurance in California costs $73 more per month after a speeding ticket. That's a 43% increase. You'll typically pay more for car insurance after a speeding ticket because insurance companies believe you're more likely to cause an accident in the future.
Don't rush to switch insurance companies if you just got a speeding ticket in the mail or made a claim after a car crash. You won't pay higher rates until your current policy renews.
Wait to shop for quotes until you see your new rate from your current company. Then, compare that with rates from cheaper companies in California.
Cheap auto insurance in CA after an accident: Mercury
Mercury has the cheapest full coverage car insurance quotes in California for drivers with an accident on their record. The company's average rate after an accident is $226 per month. That's $106 per month less than the California state average of $332 per month.
Inexpensive car insurance in California after an accident
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Mercury | $226 |
| Progressive | $240 |
| AAA SoCal | $273 |
| Geico | $315 |
| State Farm | $352 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
California drivers pay twice as much for car insurance after an accident. That's an average increase of $164 per month for full coverage.
Cheapest for teens after a ticket or accident: Geico and USAA
Geico has the best rates for most young drivers in California after a speeding ticket. Minimum liability insurance from Geico costs $147 per month with a speeding ticket in California. That's $59 per month cheaper than the average cost after one ticket, which is $206 per month.
Geico also has the cheapest quotes for most teens who have had an accident, at $179 per month for minimum coverage. Plus, Geico offers accident forgiveness. So, you could avoid higher rates after your first accident if you have this perk.
Cheap quotes for CA teens after a ticket or accident
Company | Ticket | Accident |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $147 | $179 |
| State Farm | $181 | $190 |
| Mercury | $196 | $186 |
| Progressive | $208 | $232 |
| Allstate | $227 | $303 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
In California, 18-year-old drivers pay $52 per month more for liability-only car insurance after a speeding ticket. Rates go up by an average of $72 per month after an accident.
Cheap California auto insurance quotes after a DUI: Mercury
Mercury has the most affordable car insurance in California for drivers with a DUI. Its average rate of $252 per month for full coverage is $225 cheaper each month than the California average.
Low cost insurance in California after a DUI
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Mercury | $252 |
| Geico | $313 |
| Progressive | $350 |
| Farmers | $473 |
| AAA SoCal | $506 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
The average cost of full coverage insurance after a DUI in California is $477 per month. That's nearly three times more than what drivers with a clean driving record pay for coverage.
High-risk drivers may also need SR-22 insurance after a DUI in California. This means your insurance records are sent to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Top rated auto insurance in California: USAA
USAA is the best California auto insurance company because of its dependable coverage, great support and affordable rates.
However, only military members, veterans and their family members can get car insurance from USAA.
AAA, State Farm and Geico are also great options for California drivers who don't qualify for USAA. These companies all offer reliable service at an affordable price.
Best California auto insurance companies
Company |
Editor's rating
|
J.D. Power
|
AM Best
|
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | 739 | A++ | |
| AAA NorCal | 658 | NR | |
| AAA SoCal | 658 | NR | |
| State Farm | 657 | A++ | |
| Geico | 637 | A++ |
How to pay less than $100 for car insurance in California
How to get California car insurance for less than $100
- Use a cheap insurance company like Geico to lower your rates to $124 per month. In California, a good driver who chooses Geico saves 26% off the state average of $168 per month.
- Car insurance discounts can lower your rates to about $105 per month. All companies offer some ways to save, and Geico's discounts include savings for your car's safety features, a welcome discount and a good driver discount.
- Bundle your insurance policies to lower your rate to about $95 per month. This brings your car insurance rate to less than $100 per month, without changing your coverage.
- Only increase your deductible if you have plenty of savings. You could save about $18 per month with a higher deductible, but you'll have higher expenses if you file a claim.
- Check if there are coverage options that you don't need. Some insurance companies automatically add extras like roadside assistance or rental car coverage, which you may not need. For example, you might not need rental car coverage if you have another way to get around after an accident, and removing it could save you about $4 per month.
- Consider a usage-based insurance program if your insurance is still more than you can afford. If you have high rates, usage-based insurance can help you show your insurance company that you're a safe driver. But watch out for any programs that could increase your rates based on how you drive.
Average auto insurance rates in California by city
Beverly Hills is the most expensive city in California for car insurance, at $269 per month for full coverage.
The cheapest city, Mount Shasta, has an average rate of $126 per month.
California car insurance quotes near you
City | Monthly rate | % from average |
|---|---|---|
| Acalanes Ridge | $152 | -6% |
| Acampo | $159 | -2% |
| Acton | $171 | 5% |
| Adelanto | $196 | 21% |
| Adin | $142 | -12% |
The average cost of a full coverage car insurance policy in California is $168 per month. But the cost of car insurance varies by up to $143 per month based on where you live.
You might have a higher insurance rate if there's a lot of car theft where you live, your roads are in bad shape or there are a lot of expensive cars on the road, like in Beverly Hills. If your neighbors all drive Teslas, a crash will be more expensive because there's a higher cost to repair the vehicle.
Cheap car insurance in CA by driver type
Geico and Mercury are the cheapest car insurance companies for most drivers in California.
Driver type | Cheapest company |
Monthly cost in CA
|
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest minimum coverage | Geico | $42 (28% savings) |
| Cheapest for a safe driver | Geico | $124 (26% savings) |
| Cheapest after a ticket | USAA | $157 (35% savings) |
| Cheapest after an accident | Mercury | $226 (32% savings) |
| Cheapest after a DUI | Mercury | $252 (47% savings) |
| Cheapest for teens | State Farm | $311 (23% savings) |
Minimum car insurance requirements in California
California requires minimum liability limits of 30/60/15 for bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage, as of Jan. 1, 2025.
The change makes California's requirements among the top 10 highest in the country. Only eight states have requirements at that level or higher.
If you already have car insurance, you don't have to do anything to meet the new requirement. Your insurance company should automatically increase your limits.
- Bodily injury liability: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $15,000 per accident
This is the lowest amount of insurance coverage you can have. Any quotes you get will include at least this amount of coverage. However, these limits may not be high enough to cover the cost of a serious accident.
What's the best car insurance coverage for California drivers?
You usually have to have full coverage with comprehensive and collision insurance in California if you have a car loan or drive a newer car.
You should add collision and comprehensive coverage if your car is worth at least $5,000 or is newer than 8 years old. Your lender will typically require you to have both if your car is loaned or leased.
- Minimum coverage car insurance quotes meet California's minimum legal requirements.
- Full coverage goes beyond minimum coverage to include comprehensive and collision insurance. This protects your own car from damage after a crash, theft, vandalism or storm, regardless of whose fault it is.
If you live in one of California's expensive ZIP codes and have savings or investments, you should raise your liability insurance limits. You should also consider adding umbrella coverage for extra financial protection.
On the other hand, if you're a college student with an older car who doesn't drive often, you may not need the same level of protection.
Car insurance discounts in California for affinity groups
The California Department of Insurance recently proposed regulations to limit discounts based on your job (such as lawyers and teachers) or group discounts (such as alumni associations). These discounts are sometimes called affinity group discounts.
Farmers offers the largest affinity group discount among the biggest insurance companies in California. The company discounts policies by 14% for a variety of professionals.
Company | Affinity group | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 21st Century | American Medical Association membership | 4% |
| AAA | Accountants, educators | 8% |
| Allied | Accountants, dentists, educators | 10% |
| Allstate | Specialized professionals | 3% |
| Farmers | Accountants, aerospace engineers, dentists, educators, scientists | 14% |
Cost of California auto insurance over time
The cost of car insurance in California has gone up 29% since the start of 2023, after an informal pause on rate increases by the state’s insurance department during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The California Department of Insurance strictly limited how much insurance companies could raise rates through 2022. But as regulators began to approve rate increases, companies raised prices significantly to match the high inflation that occurred during and after the pandemic.
Auto insurance prices in California saw little to no increase between 2019 and 2022, but they shot up nearly 13% in 2023. Insurance companies raised rates by over 16% in 2024.
American Family had the biggest rate increase in 2024, at 46%. Allstate, State Farm and Mercury all raised rates by over 20%. Progressive and USAA customers saw the smallest increases.
Will car insurance costs in California go up in 2025?
The cost of car insurance is expected to go up in California in 2025. That's because the minimum requirements have increased.
The California Legislature passed a bill that increased the minimum required liability coverage to 30/60/15 starting Jan. 1, 2025.
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in California per month?
The average cost of car insurance in California is $168 per month for a full coverage policy. Liability-only coverage costs an average of $72 per month.
Is insurance expensive in California?
California car insurance is cheaper than the national average. Full coverage in California costs an average of $168 per month, which is 5% cheaper than national rates. Minimum coverage in California costs about $58 per month, which is 16% cheaper than national rates.
Who has the cheapest car insurance in California?
What is the best place to get car insurance in California?
Is Geico leaving California?
No, Geico is still available in California. However, you can only get a policy if you shop on the website or the mobile app. Geico closed its physical offices in California in 2022, so there's no way to get a policy in person. It's worth it to get an online quote from Geico because it has the cheapest California car insurance, costing only $42 per month for minimum coverage.
Methodology
To find the best cheap California insurance, ValuePenguin collected thousands of rates from ZIP codes across California for the largest insurance companies. Quotes are for a 30-year-old man with good credit who drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX.
Full coverage car insurance premiums include:
- $50,000 bodily injury limit per person
- $100,000 bodily injury limit per accident
- $25,000 limit on property damage
- Uninsured motorist coverage with the same 50/100/25 limits
- Collision and comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible
AAA insurance is available from two companies in California: AAA SoCal and AAA NorCal. These are two separate companies with different rates. You'll only be able to buy insurance from one or the other based on where you live. Other data sources include J.D. Power and AM Best.
ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only. Your own quotes may be different.
Auto insurance rate change data was compiled using RateWatch from S&P Global, which uses information from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
