The best car insurance companies in California are American National, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA — though rates will depend on your driving record and other factors.
By
Rachael BrennanRachael BrennanSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertRachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.&Andrew HurstAndrew HurstSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertAndrew Hurst is a senior editor at Policygenius who has spent his entire career writing about life, disability, home, auto, and health insurance. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, and Property Casualty 360.
Edited by
Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing EditorAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.
Expert reviewedExpert reviewedThis article has been reviewed by a member of ourFinancial Review Council to ensure all sources, statistics, and claims meet the highest standard for accurate and unbiased advice.Learn more about oureditorial review process.
We found that Wawanesa has the cheapest car insurance rates in California, at an average of $80 per month. That’s $959 per year, or $878 cheaper than the average cost for a full-coverage policy in California.
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Our other picks for the best and cheapest car insurance in California are GEICO, USAA, Mercury, and NationalGeneral. You should be sure to compare rates before buying coverage to find the cheapest company for you.
Policygenius has analyzed car insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. For full coverage policies, the following coverage limits were used:
Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
Property damage liability: $50,000
Uninsured/underinsured motorist: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
Comprehensive: $500 deductible
Collision: $500 deductible
In some cases, additional coverages were added where required by state or insurer.
Rates for overall average rate, rates by ZIP code, and cheapest companies determined using averages for single drivers ages 30, 35, and 45. Our sample vehicle was a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles/year.
Rates for driving violations and “Poor” credit determined using average rates for a single male 30-year-old driver with a credit score under 578.
Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.
Cheapest car insurance companies in California
Wawanesa
Policygenius rating
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
3.8
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
B
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
Bundle home & auto
Good student discount
Why we chose it
Wawanesa has some of the cheapest car insurance rates in California, and average rates are even low after an accident or driving violation. It’s a great choice if sticking to a budget is your number one priority.
Pros and cons
Pros
Lower-than-average rates
Top customer service ratings in California
Offers online claims and customer service options
Cons
Only available in California
No mobile app
More details
Why we chose Wawanesa:
Wawanesa is one of the cheapest car insurance companies in California (it only sells car insurance in California and Oregon). Rates are lower than average even after an accident or driving violation. You may also be able to find cheap coverage with Wawanesa with a teen driver on your policy.
Wawanesa doesn’t offer gap insurance, so you might need to consider another insurance company if that’s required by your lessor or lender. Wawanesa does offer roadside assistance, special equipment coverage, and OEM parts coverage.
How does the cost of car insurance from Wawanesa compare to average in California?
The average cost of car insurance from Wawanesa in California is $80 a month or $959 per year, which is 48% cheaper than the statewide average.
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
4.7
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A++
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
Offers classic car insurance
All 50 states
Offers motorcycle insurance
Good student discount
Mobile app
Usage-based discount
Why we chose it
GEICO has cheaper-than-average rates in California, even for high-risk drivers. GEICO’s in-app tools and convenience set it ahead of competitors.
Pros and cons
Pros
Available in all 50 states
Easy-to-use digital tools
Plenty of discounts
Cons
Only sells through GEICO agents
Doesn’t underwrite its other products
More details
Why we chose GEICO
GEICO is one of the best car insurance companies in California thanks to its low rates and wide availability. GEICO has cheap average rates even for California drivers with bad credit or newly-licensed drivers at home.
We also like GEICO’s convenient mobile app, which lets you estimate what repairs to your vehicle might cost after an accident. Even though it’s one of the largest insurance companies in the country, GEICO gets fewer complaints from its customers than expected.
How does the cost of car insurance from GEICO compare to average in California?
The average cost of car insurance from GEICO in California is $122 a month or $1,465 per year, which is 20% cheaper than the statewide average.
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
5.0
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A++
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
All 50 states
Bundle home & auto
Coverage for rideshare drivers
Good student discount
Usage-based discount
Offers classic car insurance
Mobile app
Offers motorcycle insurance
Why we chose it
USAA has some of the best car insurance rates in California and some of the highest customer service ratings of any company. Its add-ons, which include gap insurance, are basic but will probably suffice for most drivers.
Pros and cons
Pros
Low rates
Available nationwide
High customer service ratings
Cons
Only available to military members and their families
More details
Why we chose USAA:
If you’re an active or retired member of the military or a part of a military family, USAA has some of the best car insurance in California. USAA also offers gap coverage, which you need if you have a loan on your car or lease it.
USAA also has outstanding customer service, and frequently earns top scores from trusted third-party J.D. Power. It receives about an average number of complaints for the industry, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
How does the cost of car insurance from USAA compare to average in California?
The average cost of car insurance from USAA in California is $125 a month or $1,502 per year, which is 18% cheaper than the statewide average.
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
3.2
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
Coverage for rideshare drivers
Bundle home & auto
Good student discount
Mobile app
Usage-based discount
Why we chose it
Mercury offers drivers fewer add-ons and endorsements than other companies, but you can still find affordable rates in California even with an accident or driving violation on your record.
Pros and cons
Pros
Low-mileage discount saves you money for driving less
Offers rideshare coverage
Cons
No gap insurance or new car replacement coverage
Low customer service ratings
Higher-than-average rates
More details
Why we chose Mercury:
Mercury is one of the top car insurance companies in California because of its low average rates. You may even be able to find affordable car insurance with Mercury if you have an accident, DUI, or another driving violation on your record.
Mercury offers a few different discount options, including savings for signing up for automatic payments, paying your yearly bill in full, or signing up for Mercury’s per-mile insurance option.
How does the cost of car insurance from Mercury compare to average in California?
The average cost of car insurance from Mercury in California is $127 a month or $1,520 per year, which is 17% cheaper than the statewide average.
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
3.5
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A+
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
Bundle home & auto
Mobile app
Usage-based discount
Why we chose it
National General is mostly known as a nonstandard insurance company, but it also offers insurance to you if you haven’t been in an accident or received a violation before.
Pros and cons
Pros
Offers emergency expense allowance of up to $500
Affordable option for high-risk drivers
Online customer service available
Cons
Higher-than-average rates
Few additional coverage options
More details
Why we chose National General:
National General is among the top car insurance companies in STATE, especially if you have a hard time finding affordable coverage thanks to your driving record. National General’s rates for high-risk drivers are often very low, on average.
Coverage from National General is pretty straightforward, meaning there’s not much room for customization outside of adding roadside assistance and accidental death and dismemberment to a basic policy. But if you want a simple policy, this might be right for you.
How does the cost of car insurance from National General compare to average in STATE?
The average cost of car insurance from National General in STATE is $XX a month or $X,XXX per year, which is XX% cheaper than the statewide average.
The best car insurance company in California is Wawanesa, according to J.D. Power’s 2023 Auto Insurance Study, which ranks companies based on price, transparency, and overall satisfaction. [1]
USAA, and Mercury are some of our other picks for the best and cheapest companies in California, since they offer both cheap average rates and J.D. Power scores that are above the statewide average of 820.
Company
Score
1
USAA
871
2
Wawanesa
843
3
CONNECT by AmFam
839
4
Auto Club of Southern California
832
5
GEICO
830
Cheapest car insurance companies by age in California
Compared to their older counterparts, young adult drivers typically have very high insurance rates. That’s because their inexperience behind the wheel means they are more likely to be in an accident and make a claim than older drivers.
We found that the cheapest company in California for young drivers is Wawanesa.
Age
Cheapest company
Average cost
16
Wawanesa
$1,991
18
Wawanesa
$1,717
21
Wawanesa
$1,285
25
Wawanesa
$1,081
30
Wawanesa
$988
35
Wawanesa
$957
45
Wawanesa
$934
55
Wawanesa
$906
60
Wawanesa
$881
65
Wawanesa
$881
70
Wawanesa
$904
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Choosing the right car insurance company in California
Choosing the best car insurance company for you doesn’t have to be difficult. There are several factors to consider, including:
Cost: Nobody wants to pay too much for car insurance, so getting quotes from multiple companies can help you find the most affordable option.
Coverage: Choosing a plan that offers enough coverage to protect you in case of an accident is vitally important. Before you shop, figure out how much car insurance you need.
Customer service: Having an easy, painless experience when buying a policy or filing a claim is extremely valuable and could even be worth paying a little more for insurance coverage.
If you're ready to start shopping for insurance, Policygenius can help you compare options and find the right insurance coverage for your needs.
Compare rates and shop affordable car insurance today
We don't sell your information to third parties.
Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in California
Having an accident or a traffic ticket can make your car insurance rates more expensive, and it can make it especially hard to find car insurance if you're deemed too high-risk a driver.
Wawanesa is the cheapest car insurance company in California If you have an accident or driving violation on your record. If you can't find coverage, consider looking for a policy on CAARP, California's high-risk market.
Violation
Wawanesa
GEICO
USAA
Mercury Insurance
National General Insurance
United Financial Casualty Company
At-fault accident
$1,488
$2,690
$2,156
$2,655
$2,365
$3,604
Suspended license
$1,399
$2,689
$3,132
$2,529
$2,248
$3,835
Open container
$1,748
$3,764
$3,332
$2,529
$1,680
$3,357
Expired registration
$1,399
$2,427
$1,693
$2,023
$1,680
$3,604
Driving without lights
$1,399
$2,427
$1,546
$2,023
$1,680
$3,604
Running a red light
$1,399
$2,427
$1,693
$2,023
$1,680
$3,604
Following too closely
$1,399
$2,427
$1,693
$2,023
$1,680
$3,604
Hit and run
$1,748
$2,689
$3,546
$2,529
$2,248
$3,835
Not-at-fault accident
$988
$1,493
$1,546
$1,534
$1,605
$1,744
Passing a school bus
$1,399
$2,427
$2,276
$2,023
$1,680
$3,604
Reckless driving
$1,748
$2,689
$2,666
$2,529
$2,248
$3,835
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Cheapest car insurance after an accident in California
The cheapest car insurance company in California after an at-fault accident is Wawanesa. The average cost of car insurance from Wawanesa after an accident is $124 a month, or $1,488 a year with an at-fault accident on your record.
Rates for drivers with an at-fault accident
Wawanesa
$1,488
USAA
$2,156
National General
$2,365
Mercury
$2,655
GEICO
$2,690
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in California
The cheapest car insurance company if you have a DUI on your record in California is Wawanesa. On average, the cost of car insurance from Wawanesa after a DUI is $146 a month or $1,748 a year.
Rates for drivers with DUIs
Wawanesa
$1,748
National General Insurance
$2,191
Mercury Insurance
$2,529
GEICO
$3,764
United Financial Casualty Company
$4,196
USAA
$4,432
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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in California
The cheapest car insurance after a speeding ticket in California is Wawanesa. On average, Wawanesa is $117 a month or $1,399 a year after a speeding ticket.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in California
IInsurance companies in some states rate drivers based on their credit score. Theoretically, this is because drivers with lower credit scores are more likely to file a claim, but in practice it sometimes ends up unfairly penalizing some drivers. Because of this, California laws prevent insurance companies from rating based on credit history.
Cheapest car insurance in California by city
The car insurance rates in your area depend on crime rates, population density, the number of accidents nearby, and other local factors. Here are the cheapest car insurance companies in the 10 most populated cities in California.
Largest cities
Cheapest company
Average yearly rate for the cheapest company
Overall citywide average
Los Angeles
Wawanesa
$1,376
$2,613
San Diego
Wawanesa
$908
$1,754
San Jose
Wawanesa
$937
$1,808
San Francisco
Wawanesa
$1,066
$2,161
Fresno
Wawanesa
$915
$1,779
Sacramento
Wawanesa
$978
$1,998
Long Beach
Wawanesa
$1,033
$2,046
Oakland
Wawanesa
$1,048
$2,130
Bakersfield
Wawanesa
$928
$1,814
Anaheim
Wawanesa
$983
$1,944
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Compare rates and shop affordable car insurance today
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Buying car insurance in California
California requires everyone who owns a vehicle in the state to carry one of the following types of auto insurance:
Motor vehicle liability insurance policy
Cash deposit of $35,000 with DMV
DMV-issued self-insurance certificate
Surety bond for $35,000 from a company licensed to do business in California
$15,000 per person/$30,000 per accident for bodily injury liability
$5,000 for property damage liability
Drivers who don’t carry minimum levels of liability insurance or higher will have their registration suspended by the state, which means the car cannot legally be driven or parked on public streets.
In order to provide cheap liability insurance, California minimum insurance requirements are very low. This means they may not provide enough protection if you are at fault for an accident that is more than a simple fender bender.
The state also does not require you to carry anything more than basic bodily injury and property damage liability coverage, which means drivers carrying state minimum coverage levels don’t have coverage for damage to their own vehicle and they have no protection against uninsured or underinsured motorists.
Pro tip
As of 2019, 16.6% of drivers on the road in California were uninsured, which makes it all the more important to protect yourself by carrying full coverage and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which covers the costs if you’re hit by a driver without insurance.
California is also one of several states that have made it illegal for policy providers to use gender to determine insurance rates. Other states with similar laws are Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
How to get cheap car insurance in California
There are many ways for drivers to save money on their insurance, including bundling policies, keeping their driving record clean, and increasing their deductibles. However, sometimes that isn’t enough. For people who can’t afford even a basic minimum liability insurance policy, the state offers California's Low Cost Auto Insurance Program.
California’s Low Cost Auto Insurance Program offers consumers the opportunity to purchase lower levels of coverage. The CLCA policy includes basic liability levels of:
$10,000 bodily injury or death per person
$20,000 bodily injury or death per accident
$3,000 property damage liability per accident
For an additional charge of $39-$104 per year, drivers can also purchase:
$1,000 medical payments per person
$10,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
$20,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
Pro tip
Policygenius recommends drivers have a minimum of $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $100,000 in property damage liability coverage to ensure the maximum amount of protection.
Compare rates and shop affordable car insurance today
We don't sell your information to third parties.
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance per month in California?
The average cost of car insurance in California is $153 per month, or $1,837 per year.
Why are car insurance prices in California so high?
Car insurance is higher than average in California because of the state’s cities with very dense populations. Rates are higher in these cities because of a higher chance of accidents. California also has significant numbers of natural disasters, like wildfires and earthquakes, that contribute to more claims being filed under comprehensive coverage.
Who has the best car insurance in California for students?
Wawanesa has the cheapest car insurance for young drivers who get their own policies. But it’s not necessarily true that Wawanesa is the best for all students, especially those who join an existing policy. Instead, it’s best to compare the offerings and prices from different companies to find which is the best for you and your needs.
Is California a fault or no fault state?
California is an at-fault state, which means a driver who is at fault in an accident is responsible for the bodily injury and property damage costs caused by the accident, whether or not they have enough car insurance to cover those costs.
References
Policygenius uses external sources, including government data, industry studies, and reputable news organizations to supplement proprietary marketplace data and internal expertise. Learn more about how we use and vet external sources as part of oureditorial standards.
Rachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.
Andrew Hurst is a senior editor at Policygenius who has spent his entire career writing about life, disability, home, auto, and health insurance. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, and Property Casualty 360.
Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.