Nestled in California's Central Valley and with over 250 days of annual sunshine, Sacramento is home to 500,000 people. Situated at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers, the city faces occasional wildfire risks and a dynamic housing market.

While the blend of historic landmarks and modern development shapes Sacramento's character, rising costs of living can make Sacramento’s full coverage

car insurance

costs occasionally higher than other

California

cities.

The majority of Sacramento drivers pay around $2,565 annually for

full coverage car insurance

. You can certainly find cheaper car insurance rates in Sactown—you just have to be prepared to compare your options.

How much does car insurance cost in Sacramento, CA?

Sacramento drivers pay an average of $2,565 per year or $214 per month for a full coverage policy. For policyholders who choose to state minimum liability insurance, the average cost is $912 per year or $76 per month.

Overall, both full coverage and state minimum car insurance in Sacramento is less costly than the state and national averages.

Coverage type	Sacramento	California	United States
Full coverage	$2,565	$3,124	$3,183
Minimum coverage	$912	$1,078	$1,373

Learn more:

The average cost of car insurance in the US

Keep in mind:

Car insurance quotes

are determined based on your unique driver’s profile. Factors ranging from your age, driving history, zip code, marital status, and discount eligibility all

influence the final cost of your insurance policy

To get a fast overview on what you can expect to pay for car insurance in Sacramento, use the

Jerry

app and compare free quotes based on your personal profile.

To lock in your quoted price, just click “Confirm your rate” and complete your final application.

The whole process—from quoting to receiving your insurance cards—typically takes between one and two hours.

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Estimate your Sacramento, CA car insurance costs

Auto insurance companies consider a variety of factors about your driver profile when

calculating your car insurance premium

. The most important include:

Driver age and experience level

Driving record

Vehicle type

ZIP code

Let’s take a closer look at each of these factors to see if you could be overpaying for car insurance in Sacramento.

Age and driving experience

Aside from drivers with

DUIs

and other violations,

teen drivers

tend to pay the most elevated car insurance rates of any other demographic group. This is because they’re considered higher risk by providers since their lack of experience makes them more likely to get into car accidents and violate traffic laws.

In fact, the California Office of Traffic Safety found that the number of teenagers (aged 15-20) involved in fatal crashes rose by 14.8%, increasing from 413 in 2020 to 474 in 2021.1

Pro Tip: If you’ve added a young driver to your policy, it’s a good idea to complete a defensive driving course or safe driving telematics program in order to make sure your teen is staying safe behind the wheel and that you’re not overpaying for a policy.

The good news is that car insurance rates tend to settle down by the time drivers turn 25, and decline sharply once the driver is in their mid-thirties. Although

senior drivers

pay pretty reasonable rates, the age bracket that benefits from the most affordable rates in Sacramento is 55-64.

Age group	Average full coverage premium
18-21	$2,331
22-25	$1,497
26-34	$1,080
35-44	$1,007
45-54	$985
55-64	$873
65+	$1,043

Driving record

Maintaining a

clean driving record

ensures that you’ll have access to the best rates and coverage options in Sacramento.

Coverage type	Clean driving record	Violations
Full coverage	$1,623	$2,039
Minimum coverage	$551	$642

Repeated violations like speeding tickets or an at-fault accident on your driving record will cause steep inclines in your premiums—and these will remain high anywhere from three to five years. Meanwhile, if you get a serious violation such as a DUI, you’ll need to get

an SR-22 form

and your rates will stay high for the duration that this form is on file with the DMV.

Vehicle type

The kind of car you have will impact the rates you get. For example, if you have a larger vehicle, such as a full-size

SUV

, or if you drive a sports car, your rates will be higher than someone with a common compact vehicle.

Keep in mind: California is known for its love of Tesla and electric cars. While buying an EV might help you qualify for

EV incentives

that reduce your overall ownership costs, you may still end up paying higher rates for insurance.

In 2022, these 5 car models were the most popular in California:2

Model	Average national annual full coverage premium
Tesla Model Y	$2,640
Tesla Model 3	$2,676
Toyota RAV4	$1,824
Toyota Camry	$2,196
Toyota Corolla	$2,112

ZIP code

Auto insurance companies look at your ZIP code’s risk profile to evaluate whether you live in a dangerous location and determine whether they need to charge higher premiums. For instance, if you live in a high-traffic zone where car accidents often occur, or an area prone to car theft, you’ll likely see costlier premiums due to your increased risk.

The 5 most expensive ZIP codes in Sacramento, CA

Zip code	Average monthly premium
95818	$196
95820	$189
95834	$185
95828	$170
95821	$168

The 5 cheapest ZIP codes in Sacramento, CA

Zip code	Average monthly premium
95830	$107
95831	$111
95811	$115
95817	$123
95835	$126

Find the best car insurance companies in Sacramento, CA

Without a doubt, the cost of your Sacramento auto insurance policy will vary depending on your provider. Take a look at the table below to compare different average rates for full coverage with eight of Sacramento’s most popular insurance providers.

Insurance company	Average full coverage annual premium
Nationwide	$902
Allstate	$1,020
Infinity	$1,279
Progressive	$1,402
National General	$1,444
Direct Auto	$1,815
AAA	$1,954
Dairyland	$2,012

Why is car insurance so expensive in Sacramento?

Some of the common reasons why you might face higher car insurance costs in Sacramento, California are:

Wildfires: Sacramento, along with the entire state of California, is known for its wildfires. These fires can contribute to car crashes, unsafe driving conditions (such as smoky, low visibility), vehicle property damage, and as a consequence, increased filed claims.

High cost of living: The cost of living in Sacramento, CA is 22% above the national average, which means insurance costs will also reflect that. 3

Uninsured motorists: According to 2019 data from the Insurance Information Institute, 16.6% of California drivers don’t carry even state minimum liability insurance, driving up auto insurance rates for the entire state.4

Car theft hotspot: Sacramento ranked #41 on the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB)’s Hotspots list of metro areas with high auto theft rates. In 2022 alone, 10,398 motor vehicles were stolen in the Sacramento metro area. 5

Auto insurance requirements for Sacramento, CA

California car insurance laws

dictate that all drivers must get the following minimum car insurance coverage:

$15,000 of

bodily injury liability

per person

$30,000 of bodily injury liability per accident

$5,000 of

property damage liability

Getting more than the minimum is a good idea for most Sacramento drivers, especially given the unreliable weather conditions and the rate of uninsured Californian drivers. For example, adding

collision

and

comprehensive coverage

can help you cover the damages caused to your vehicle by wildfires, hail, and the unforeseen crashes they cause.

If you live in Sacramento, consider raising your liability limits to at least $100k/$300k/$100k. While this might sound excessive, this typically only adds a few dollars per month to your premium compared to state minimum liability. You’ll also need comprehensive and collision coverage unless you can afford to replace your car out of pocket in the event of a total loss.

Aside from high liability limits and full coverage, you should also consider adding the following types of optional coverage to your car insurance policy:

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage:

If you’re hit by an uninsured driver, or a driver with insufficient liability insurance to cover your damages, this coverage can kick in to cover your medical bills.

Medical payments (MedPay):

Another way to cover your medical costs. MedPay pays for medical bills for you and your passengers regardless of accident negligence.

Rental reimbursement:

If you already have comprehensive and collision on your policy, you can add this optional coverage to reduce the cost of a rental car while your vehicle is in the shop following a covered loss.

Towing and labor coverage:

This optional policy add-on which can replace a pricier roadside assistance club membership, while providing the same basic benefits.

FAQs

Who has the cheapest car insurance in California?

While there is no single insurer that offers the best cheap car insurance across the board, Nationwide often has the cheapest rates in California for many drivers. That being said, depending on your driver profile, you could also find cheap auto insurance quotes with carriers like Progressive, National General, and Infinity.

How much is car insurance in Sacramento?

Car insurance in Sacramento costs an average of $1,623 per year for full coverage or $551 per year for state minimum liability coverage.

Who has the highest auto insurance rates?

California is definitely not the priciest state. Car insurance in California costs around $1,610 per year, while annual premiums in New York and Louisiana average around $3,077 and $2,516 per year, respectively.

How can I find the cheapest car insurance?

To find the cheapest car insurance, work with a trusted car insurance broker. Unlike insurance agents, who work with a limited number of insurance companies, brokers have access to a wider range of local providers and can show you a plethora of quotes.

Can I drive without car insurance in California?

No, driving uninsured in the state of California is illegal. Penalties include steep fines and the suspension of your driver’s license.

Is GEICO or Progressive cheaper?

GEICO tends to be slightly cheaper than Progressive, but you should always compare quotes to see for yourself.

How does the Jerry app work?

Jerry is a licensed insurance broker that offers affordable car insurance quote comparison through a mobile app. When you download the app, you’ll be prompted to build a driver profile, which Jerry uses to pull real car insurance quotes from insurers in your area. The Jerry app is free to use and makes money through commissions from insurance companies.

Meet our experts

Kianna Walpole

Expert Insurance Writer & Editor

Kianna Walpole is an insurance writer and editor with a comprehensive background in consumer behavior and online publishing. With experience in car insurance, maintenance, and repair, she is dedicated to building informative content that helps customers reduce costs while achieving the best service. Prior to joining the Jerry editorial team, Kianna worked as a junior editor in the content marketing industry, using consumer data and key insights to create and edit content for an array of large-scale clients in the real estate, cybersecurity, and healthcare industries.

Amy Bobinger

Licensed Insurance Agent — Expert Insurance Editor

Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars.

Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.

Josh Damico

Head Of Insurance Operations

18+ Years Experience in Insurance

Josh Damico is Jerry’s vice president of insurance operations and a licensed insurance professional with nearly two decades of experience in the industry. Previously, Josh held executive roles at Geico, where he had vast regional oversight and leadership opportunities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Medaille College, and has appeared on news channels including FOX and CBS to offer insurance expertise and tips to drivers across the country. His work has appeared in Business Insider, Kelley Blue Book, and Digital Insurance and been quoted in The Balance, GOBankingRates, and Inspiring Workplaces.

*Illustration only. For all the pricing information presented in this article (including various tables), please note that not all customers find savings and the information is for illustrative purposes only. Savings depend on type of car, location, policy features, driving history and other factors. Drivers who switch through Jerry save over $70/month on average.