Full coverage car insurance costs an average of $2,436 per year in California—slightly higher than the national average.
Written by R.E. Fulton
Edited by Kathleen Flear
Full coverage car insurance costs
California drivers an average of $203 per month, or $2,436 per year, while drivers who choose state minimum coverage pay an average of $1,394 per year. California
car insurance is slightly more expensive than the national average. - On average, California drivers pay between $116 and $203 per month for car insurance.
- California’s average auto insurance rates are slightly higher than the national average.
- Young drivers, drivers in major cities, and drivers with violations pay the most for car insurance.
- California car insurance providers can’t use your credit score or gender to set premiums.
- Comparing insurance rates from multiple insurers is the best way to save on insurance in California.
- On average, California drivers pay between $116 and $203 per month for car insurance.
- California’s average auto insurance rates are slightly higher than the national average.
- Young drivers, drivers in major cities, and drivers with violations pay the most for car insurance.
- California car insurance providers can’t use your credit score or gender to set premiums.
- Comparing insurance ratesfrom multiple insurers is the best way to save on insurance in California.
Methodology
To find the average cost of car insurance in California, Jerry’s data analysts spent over 200 hours analyzing millions of real car insurance quotes from California insurance companies in the past year.
The average cost of car insurance in California
California car insurance is moderately expensive, with a state average rate of $2,436 per year for a full coverage policy and $1,394 for minimum coverage. High rates of both car accidents and auto theft, along with a high percentage of uninsured motorists, drive up auto insurance premiums in the Golden State.
Compare average rates for California drivers
Here’s how California car insurance rates change based on your age, driving history, and vehicle type. We’ve taken four common driver profiles to show you the range of average insurance costs across the Golden State.
The average California driver
An average driver over age 25 with a clean driving record in California pays about:
- $2,436 per year for full coverage
- $1,394 per year for state minimum coverage
Read More
The California teen driver
An average teen driver in California pays about:
- $2,935 per year for full coverage
- $2,494 per year for state minimum coverage
Read More
Why did my insurance go up in California?
Car insurance premiums are up across California as insurance providers recover from pandemic losses and face the costs of inflation. Inflation, supply chain issues, and labor shortages have raised the cost of auto repairs by approximately 50% in the past few years—meaning that insurance companies are losing money.
Those pressures are particularly hard in California, the top state for hard-to-repair EVs and a leader in both car accidents and insurance claims.
The result: huge jumps in the cost of coverage. Some auto insurance companies have even stopped writing new policies in California, making it harder than ever to find affordable car insurance.
Why your rate went up: Your annual premium might have gone up due to inflation and market forces—or your rate increase could be due to a recent at-fault accident, speeding ticket, or other violation. If you’re not sure, check with your insurance agent and compare new quotes from a few other providers.
How you can navigate the crisis: Shopping with Jerry connects you to real quotes from the best insurance companies doing business in California right now. Whether you’re trying to find cheap minimum liability coverage or an affordable full coverage policy,
Jerry
helps you compare California car insurance rates to find the cheapest car insurance
for your profile in spite of inflation. Who pays the most for car insurance in California?
If you are over the age of 25, have a clean driving record, and live in a small town or rural area, congratulations—you’re probably paying some of the lowest rates for California auto insurance.
However, young drivers, drivers with violations, and drivers in major cities tend to pay higher rates for the same car insurance coverage. Check out the tables below to see how much more you might pay if you’re in one of those groups.
Teen drivers pay the highest rates of any group
Age | Average annual premium |
|---|---|
18 | $3,017 |
21 | $2,659 |
25 | $2,025 |
35 | $1,663 |
45 | $1,532 |
55 | $1,500 |
65 | $1,316 |
75 | $1,349 |
High-risk drivers with DUIs and license suspensions pay higher rates
| Violation | Average annual premium (minimum coverage) |
|---|---|
| Seat Belt | $1,045 |
| Leaving scene of an Accident/Hit and Run | $1,147 |
| DUI | $1,224 |
| Open Container | $1,225 |
| Reckless Driving | $1,252 |
| Wrong Way/Wrong Lane | $1,257 |
| Careless Driving | $1,282 |
| Suspension | $1,369 |
| Clean Record | $1,389 |
| Defective Equipment | $1,473 |
Urban drivers pay more than in small towns and rural areas
| City | Average annual premium |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $1,992 |
| San Diego | $1,696 |
| San Francisco | $2,023 |
| Sacramento | $1,810 |
| Fresno | $2,035 |
| City | Average annual premium |
|---|---|
| Orange Park | $2,200 |
| Islamorada | $1,326 |
| Dunedin | $2,594 |
| Mount Dora | $2,469 |
| Seminole | $2,394 |
How to keep car insurance rates low in California
Even if you’re not in a low-risk category, finding cheap car insurance in California is still possible. Here are a few expert tips to help you find the lowest annual rates for car insurance in the state of California:
1. Look for discounts
Most insurers offer discounts on your car insurance policy based on payment options, driving habits, and more. Below is a list of some of the best
car insurance discounts
in California: - Progressiveoffers an average discount of 12% to policyholders who insure multiple cars.
- GEICOoffers a 15% military discount and a 25% emergency deployment discount to active duty military members.
- USAAoffers a 10% legacy discount to drivers under age 25 who are former dependents of USAA policyholders.
- State Farmgives a discount of up to 25% to drivers who remain accident-free for at least three years.
- Nationwide’s SmartRidetelematics program offers an average discount of 22% for good drivers who maintain safe driving habits.
- Allstate’s Milewisepay-per-mile program shrinks drivers’ coverage costs to an average of $2.22 per day.
2. Don’t buy a new car
If you’re ready to replace your current ride, look at used models instead of brand-new vehicles. California drivers who opt for a car at least four model years old pay as much as 38% less for full coverage.
3. Follow all California traffic laws—and consider a defensive driving course
Maintaining a clean driving record is the best way to keep coverage affordable in the Golden State, so brushing up on
all of California’s traffic laws
can help you avoid a costly ticket and the accompanying insurance surcharge. Using a telematics service to track your driving habits in real-time can help you curb unsafe driving behaviors and avoid accidents and violations.
4. Opt for full coverage with moderate liability limits and a high deductible
California’s car insurance laws
only require drivers to carry $15,000 per person/$30,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage and $5,000 of property damage liability coverage. For most drivers, California’s minimum car insurance requirements don’t provide enough coverage—but you don’t need to break the bank adding every type of insurance to your policy.
Our recommendation for California drivers looking to save money without sacrificing necessary coverage is a policy that includes:
- At least $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident of bodily injury liability insurance
- At least $50,000 of property damage liability insurance
- Enough collision coverage and comprehensive coverage to cover the actual cost to replace your vehicle
Choose the highest full coverage deductibles you could realistically afford to pay in the event of a covered loss. Depending on your needs and budget, you may also want to add uninsured motorist coverage matching your liability coverage limits, medical payments (MedPay) coverage, and/or roadside assistance coverage.
5. Compare quotes (more than once!)
Comparing quotes from multiple providers is the #1 way to find the best rates on California car insurance.
With the Jerry app, you’ll be able to see real insurance quotes from some of the
best car insurance companies in California
and select the coverage and rate you prefer in under a minute. And don’t just compare quotes once—more than 70% of drivers never reshop their policy, which means that over 70% of drivers are leaving potential savings on the table. Jerry automatically reshops for quotes when your policy is up for renewal, giving you the chance to snag extra savings and never overpay for your coverage.
