Cheapest Car Insurance in California (Best Rates in 2026)
Geico has the best cheap car insurance in California, at $143 per month for full coverage.
Find Cheap Car Insurance Quotes in California
Best cheap car insurance companies in California
Geico and Progressive are the cheapest companies for most people in California.
- Want full coverage? Geico: $143/mo
- Only need minimum coverage? Geico: $41/mo
- Want the best service? Geico: $143/mo
- Have a speeding ticket? AAA NorCal: $223/mo
- Caused an accident? Progressive: $293/mo
- Need coverage for a teen? Geico: $126/mo
- Got a DUI? Mercury: $351/mo
Monthly rates are based on full coverage car insurance for a 30-year-old man. Some rates use different ages or coverage limits.
Cheapest full coverage car insurance in CA: Geico
Geico has the best full coverage car insurance quotes in California.
- Geico charges around $143 per month for full coverage car insurance in CA. That's 35% cheaper than California's average rate of $221 per month.
- You can also get cheap car insurance in California from USAA, where a full coverage policy costs around $159 per month. However, only military members, veterans and some of their family members can buy insurance from USAA.
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Best full coverage car insurance in California
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $143 |
| AAA NorCal | $176 |
| Progressive | $179 |
| Mercury | $197 |
| USAA* | $159 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
There are two separate AAA companies in California, one for Southern California and one for Northern California.
In Northern California, AAA is sometimes called AAA NorCal or CSAA. But in Southern California, it may be called the Auto Club of Southern California or AAA SoCal. You can't choose which one you have, but AAA has slightly better prices in NorCal.
Data-powered research on California car insurance
Cheap liability insurance in California: Geico
Geico has the cheapest liability-only car insurance in California. The company charges around $41 per month for a minimum liability policy. That's $34 per month cheaper than the California average.
Best cheap liability car insurance in California
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $41 |
| AAA NorCal | $43 |
| Progressive | $53 |
| Mercury | $68 |
| USAA* | $53 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
A minimum coverage insurance policy gives you enough insurance to legally drive and avoid penalties such as getting your vehicle registration suspended.
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.
Drivers with low incomes can also get cheap car insurance with basic coverage through California's low-cost auto insurance program (CLCA). Rates are about $20 to $30 per month.
You're eligible for the low-cost insurance program if you make less than $39,125 per year as an individual or less than $80,375 as a family of four. [/list]
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Average auto insurance rates in California by city
- Geico has the cheapest full coverage insurance in 90% of cities and towns across California, including San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco. AAA has the lowest rates in 9% of California cities, including Los Angeles and Glendale. Progressive is the cheapest company in the remaining 1%.
- Beverly Hills is the most expensive city in California for car insurance, at $356 per month for full coverage. This could be in part because there are a lot of expensive cars on the road. If your neighbors all drive luxury cars, a crash will be more expensive because there's a higher cost to repair the vehicle.
- The cheapest city is Mount Shasta, with an average rate of $166 per month.
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Find the cheapest car insurance near you in CA
City | Avg. rate | Cheapest company | Cheapest rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $307 | AAA | $192 |
| San Diego | $214 | Geico | $132 |
| San Jose | $214 | Geico | $131 |
| San Francisco | $251 | Geico | $144 |
| Fresno | $219 | Geico | $138 |
| Sacramento | $241 | Geico | $145 |
| Long Beach | $245 | Geico | $161 |
| Oakland | $252 | Geico | $158 |
| Bakersfield | $221 | Geico | $134 |
| Anaheim | $234 | Geico | $154 |
| Stockton | $232 | Geico | $145 |
| Riverside | $228 | Geico | $143 |
| Irvine | $224 | Geico | $137 |
| Santa Ana | $236 | Geico | $147 |
| Chula Vista | $206 | Geico | $117 |
| Fremont | $209 | Geico | $130 |
| Santa Clarita | $240 | Geico | $149 |
| San Bernardino | $244 | Geico | $161 |
| Modesto | $228 | Geico | $141 |
| Fontana | $239 | Geico | $153 |
| Moreno Valley | $237 | Geico | $148 |
| Oxnard | $219 | Geico | $137 |
| Huntington Beach | $223 | Geico | $146 |
| Glendale | $334 | AAA | $192 |
| Ontario | $239 | Geico | $158 |
| Elk Grove | $223 | Geico | $129 |
| Santa Rosa | $213 | Geico | $134 |
| Rancho Cucamonga | $232 | Geico | $144 |
| Oceanside | $210 | Geico | $128 |
| Garden Grove | $243 | Geico | $145 |
| Lancaster | $244 | Geico | $155 |
| Palmdale | $253 | Geico | $156 |
| Corona | $227 | Geico | $138 |
| Salinas | $208 | Geico | $134 |
| Roseville | $209 | Geico | $134 |
| Hayward | $230 | Geico | $144 |
| Sunnyvale | $200 | Geico | $121 |
| Escondido | $210 | Geico | $130 |
| Pomona | $245 | Geico | $162 |
| Visalia | $205 | Geico | $127 |
| Fullerton | $233 | Geico | $145 |
| Torrance | $231 | Geico | $146 |
| Victorville | $244 | Geico | $152 |
| Orange | $218 | Geico | $138 |
| Pasadena | $258 | Geico | $152 |
| Santa Clara | $206 | Geico | $130 |
| Clovis | $203 | Geico | $131 |
| Simi Valley | $227 | Geico | $152 |
| Thousand Oaks | $227 | Geico | $142 |
| Vallejo | $230 | Geico | $146 |
| Concord | $211 | Geico | $138 |
| Fairfield | $212 | Geico | $127 |
Best car insurance in California: Geico
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Full coverage rate$143/moThis analysis used auto insurance quotes for a policy with collision and comprehensive coverage.
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Claims processAverageClaims rating is based on J.D. Power's claims satisfaction survey.
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AM Best ratingA++An A++ financial strength rating means that a company has a superior ability to pay customer claims, even in difficult financial situations. This is the highest rating available.
The author, Lindsay Bishop, chose the best car insurance companies in California based on:
- J.D. Power's 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study
- J.D. Power's 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint data
- Each company's average car insurance rates in California
- Coverage availability and optional add-ons
- The author's 7+ years of insurance industry experience
ValuePenguin's reviews follow strict, independent editorial standards and are never influenced by commissions or partnerships.
Best cheap CA auto insurance after a speeding ticket: AAA NorCal and Geico
- Geico has the cheapest auto insurance in California for most drivers with a speeding ticket. Full coverage from Geico costs $223 per month after one ticket. That's $95 per month less than the state average of $318 per month for drivers with a speeding ticket.
- For drivers in Northern California, AAA also charges $223 per month after a speeding ticket. But to get coverage, you have to sign up for a membership to AAA.
- USAA is a good option for drivers with military ties. At $193 per month, full coverage from USAA is $30 per month cheaper than Geico.
Cheapest car insurance rates in California after a ticket
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| AAA NorCal | $223 |
| Geico | $223 |
| Progressive | $274 |
| Mercury | $281 |
| USAA* | $193 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Full coverage car insurance in California costs $97 more per month after a speeding ticket. That's a 44% 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'll get higher rates when you shop, but you won't pay higher rates with your current company until your 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: Progressive
Progressive 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 $293 per month. That's one-third less per month than the California state average of $437 per month.
Inexpensive car insurance in California after an accident
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Progressive | $293 |
| Mercury | $312 |
| AAA NorCal | $357 |
| Geico | $359 |
| USAA* | $301 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
California drivers pay about twice as much for car insurance after an accident. That's an average increase of $216 per month for full coverage.
Cheapest insurance for California teens: Geico
Geico has the cheapest auto insurance in California for young drivers.
- Minimum coverage from Geico costs around $126 per month for an 18-year-old driver. That's $62 per month cheaper than the statewide average of $188.
- Geico also has the cheapest full coverage quotes for teen drivers in California. At $364 per month, full coverage from Geico is $144 per month less than average.
Best car insurance in California for young adults
Company | Liability only | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $126 | $364 |
| AAA NorCal | $139 | $551 |
| Progressive | $158 | $528 |
| Mercury | $176 | $471 |
| USAA* | $128 | $334 |
*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 44% 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.
Cheapest for teens after a ticket or accident: Geico
- Speeding: Geico has the best rates for most young drivers in California after a speeding ticket. Minimum liability insurance from Geico costs $142 per month with a speeding ticket in California. That's $112 per month cheaper than the average cost after one ticket, which is $254 per month.
- Accident: Geico also has the cheapest quotes for most teens who have had an accident, at $173 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 | $142 | $173 |
| Progressive | $205 | $229 |
| AAA NorCal | $210 | $258 |
| Mercury | $234 | $221 |
| USAA* | $157 | $169 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
In California, 18-year-old drivers pay $66 per month more for liability-only car insurance after a speeding ticket. Rates go up by an average of $92 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. The company's average rate of $351 per month for full coverage is $269 cheaper each month than the California average.
Low-cost insurance in California after a DUI
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Mercury | $351 |
| Geico | $361 |
| Progressive | $428 |
| Farmers | $510 |
| USAA* | $492 |
*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 $620 per month. That's nearly three times 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.
Is your car insurance company raising rates in California in 2026?
Some major California auto insurance companies have raised rates in 2026, while only one major company has lowered its rates across the state.
- ↑ Biggest increase: Kemper at +5.6%
- ↓ Biggest decrease: State Farm at -6.2%
Data updated: July 28, 2026. Learn about this data.
Company | 2026 rate change | 5 year rate change |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | ↓ 6.2% | ↑ 42.8% |
| Geico | 0.0% | ↑ 27.9% |
| AAA | 0.0% | ↑ 36.8% |
| Progressive | 0.0% | ↑ 25.3% |
| Farmers | 0.0% | ↑ 41.7% |
| Mercury | 0.0% | ↑ 38.0% |
| USAA | 0.0% | ↑ 28.3% |
| Liberty Mutual | 0.0% | ↑ 23.6% |
| American Family | 0.0% | ↑ 60.5% |
| Allstate | ↑ 0.3% | ↑ 52.2% |
| AAA | ↑ 0.8% | ↑ 35.6% |
| Travelers | ↑ 2.9% | ↑ 49.3% |
| Kemper | ↑ 5.6% | ↑ 55.0% |
A downward arrow (↓) indicates a rate decrease, while an upward arrow (↑) indicates a rate increase.
What to do if your rates went up in California
If your insurance company is raising rates in California, there are some things you can do to lower your insurance bill.
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Shop around for quotes from the cheapest companies in California, including Geico, AAA, Progressive and Mercury.
There's a difference of $144 per month between the cheapest and most expensive companies for full coverage insurance in CA. So comparing quotes could save you more than $1,700 per year.
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Look for a company that offers lots of discounts tailored to you. Most auto insurance companies offer discounts for bundling your home or renters insurance, which can save you a lot of money.
But some companies also offer more unique discounts. For example, Mercury offers a discount if you drive an electric vehicle (EV). And both Geico and Progressive have discounts for owning your home, even if you have home insurance through a different company.
- Take advantage of a safe driving program. Safe driving programs track your driving habits using a mobile app or device that you plug into your vehicle. If you avoid bad driving habits, such as speeding around corners and driving late at night, you could earn a sizable discount.
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.
- 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.
If you can't afford minimum liability insurance in California and you qualify for a policy through California's Low Cost Auto Insurance Program, or CLCA, you can legally buy auto insurance with lower limits.
The CLCA program aims to provide affordable car insurance for safe drivers whose household income falls below federal poverty levels. The minimum coverage limits for drivers with a CLCA policy are:
- Bodily injury (BI) liability insurance: $10,000 per person and $20,000 per accident
- Property damage (PD) liability insurance: Up to $3,000 per accident
- Uninsured motorist BI*: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per accident
- Medical payments*: Up to $1,000 per person
*These coverages are optional.
If you don't want to buy an auto insurance policy, there are three other ways to drive legally in California. However, not every option is available to all drivers.
You can make a cash deposit to cover the other driver's medical bills or car repairs if you cause a car accident.
First, you must deposit $35,000 in a savings account with any bank. Then, you'll contact the DMV Financial Responsibility Unit to fill out and submit an application form. Once it's approved, you must make sure that there's always $35,000 in the account. The DMV will use those funds if you're at fault in a car accident.
You can get a $35,000 surety bond. A surety company issues bonds to drivers that guarantee they'll cover medical bills, car repairs and other property damage if you cause a car accident. If you can't pay these expenses, the surety company will step in — but you'll have to pay them back later.
Contact the California Department of Insurance at 800-927-4357 for a list of licensed surety companies in California that offer this type of bond.
You can get a self-insurance certificate from the California DMV if you own more than 25 vehicles in your name. The certificate states that you can cover medical bills, car repairs and property damage expenses as a minimum liability policy would, and this certificate can prevent your vehicle registration from getting suspended. Before issuing the certificate, the department may require evidence that you can meet these financial demands.
Getting caught driving without valid insurance in California could result in a number of penalties.
Failure to present valid proof of insurance could result in a large fine — even if you've simply forgotten to carry your insurance card. If it's just a matter of forgetting proof of coverage, however, you can appeal for a reduced fine in court.
Penalties for the first offense
First-time offenders can face a fine between $100 and $200 plus penalty assessment fees. Penalty assessment fees are variable, and there may be several assessments added. Ultimately, assessments can double or triple the fine amount.
Once penalty assessments are added to a fine of $100, you could pay around $400. The court may also impound your vehicle.
Penalties for the second offense
For a second offense, fines increase to $200-$500 and penalty assessments rise to $520-$1,300. So you could pay between $1,020 and $1,800.
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.
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 a 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 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% |
| Geico | Accountants, dentists, educators, scientists | 11% |
| Mercury | Educators | 10% |
| Progressive | Aerospace engineers, dentists, educators, scientists | 5% |
Cost of California auto insurance over time
The cost of car insurance in California went up 29% between 2023 and 2024, 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in California per month?
The average cost of car insurance in California is $221 per month for a full coverage policy. Liability-only coverage costs an average of $75 per month.
Is insurance expensive in California?
California car insurance is cheaper than the national average. Full coverage in California costs an average of $221 per month, which is 5% cheaper than national rates. Minimum coverage in California costs about $75 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 $41 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 2018 Honda Civic EX.
Full coverage car insurance premiums include:
- $50,000 bodily injury limit per person
- $100,000 bodily injury limit per accident
- $50,000 limit on property damage
- Uninsured motorist coverage with the same 50/100/50 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).
To calculate rate changes by company, ValuePenguin used publicly available rate filing data from the California Department of Insurance. Rate filing data was sourced using RateWatch from S&P Global, which uses information from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
The table includes rate filings submitted by major insurance companies and their subsidiaries with effective dates between 2022 and 2026. Because insurance companies often break customers into different rating groups, a filing may apply only to certain drivers, vehicles, coverage levels, regions or policy types. Not every increase or decrease applies to every policyholder insured by that company in the state.
Data limitations
Insurance companies may submit multiple filings throughout the year. Some filings may be revised, withdrawn or superseded after publication.
Rate filing information was current as of July 28, 2026.
About the Author
Senior Writer
Lindsay Bishop is a Senior Writer at ValuePenguin, where she educates readers about home, auto, renters, flood and motorcycle insurance.
Lindsay began her career in the insurance and financial industry in 2010. She was a licensed auto, home, life and health insurance agent and held Series 6 and 63 financial licenses.
After a hiatus from the financial sector, Lindsay returned to the industry as a content writer for ValuePenguin in 2021. She enjoys having the opportunity to help readers make smart decisions about their insurance so they can be prepared for anything life throws their way.
When Lindsay isn't writing about insurance, you can find her spending time with family, enjoying the outdoors on Sunday long runs or riding her Peloton.
How insurance helped Lindsay
As a homeowner for 15 years located in South Carolina, Lindsay has plenty of experience navigating the coastal insurance market and managing the claims process. That includes successfully negotiating a full roof replacement claim.
Expertise
- Home insurance
- Car insurance
- Flood insurance
- Renters insurance
- Motorcycle insurance
Referenced by
- CNBC
- Yahoo Finance
- Miami Herald
Education
- BS/BA Economics, University of Nevada Las Vegas
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.
