are highly individualized, and there are also other factors to take into account when choosing your provider, such as customer service and claims handling.

To help drivers better understand the differences between car insurance providers, Jerry conducted the largest insurance survey in the nation. We found that big-name companies got mixed reviews for policy cost and customer service, whereas smaller insurance companies like Kemper and National General got higher ratings from their customers.

The table below shows how San Diego drivers rated different popular insurance companies on a scale of 0 to 5.

Insurance company	Monthly minimum coverage cost	Monthly full coverage cost	Cost rating	Overall Jerry rating
Travelers	$40	$152	4.2	4.5
Kemper	$46	$146	4.5	4.1
Clearcover	$54	$169	N/A	4.6
National General	$63	$167	4.7	4.8

How'd we get these scores?
Jerry's experts conducted one of the largest car insurance surveys in the United States. We surveyed 15,000 policyholders, in all 50 states, over the span of 18 months. These policyholders hold insurance policies with 87 different insurance companies. We surveyed policyholders to gauge their satisfaction with their insurance carriers in: policy cost, customer service, buying and renewal experience, as well as claim experience. These scores were all reported by real customers of the insurance companies.

Cheapest car insurance quotes in San Diego

The average San Diego driver sees

auto insurance

rates of about $61 for minimum liability insurance and $179 per month for full coverage insurance. Car insurance for San Diego drivers comes in just under the national average.

Coverage type	San Diego, CA	California	United States
State minimum	$61	$66	$77
Full coverage	$179	$200	$165

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Best cheap car insurance quotes in San Diego

In California, you’ll be legally obligated to meet the state minimum liability insurance requirement. This amount of coverage will give you the cheapest rates, but it also represents a very low level of protection.

Generally speaking, minimum liability insurance isn’t enough for most drivers. At Jerry, our insurance agents usually recommend carrying at least 100k/300k/100k liability insurance and full coverage for maximum financial security.

Cheap minimum liability insurance quotes in San Diego

Per

California car insurance laws

, you’re legally required to carry minimum liability coverage when driving in San Diego. This includes:1

$15,000 in bodily injury liability per person

$30,000 per accident

$5,000 for property damage.

You’ll usually see these types of coverage referred to as 15/30/5 coverage. With this basic liability coverage, you’ll be covered up to the limits of your policy in the event of an at-fault accident.

Below, you’ll see examples of San Diego drivers who recently used Jerry to obtain minimum liability coverage.

Insurance company	Monthly minimum coverage cost
State Auto	$37
Travelers	$40
Allstate	$53
Clearcover	$54

Do you need more than minimum coverage in San Diego?

For most San Diego drivers, the state minimum liability coverage of 15/30/5 won’t be enough.

Remember that in the event of an at-fault accident, you’ll be responsible for medical bills and vehicle repairs that are over the 15/30/5 limit. If the damages are serious, the cost to replace a vehicle can be over $40,000, meaning that with state minimum coverage, you’ll be responsible for $35,000 worth of repairs.

On top of that,

California’s car accident laws

allow drivers involved in an accident to file bodily injury lawsuits for up to two years—and sue for property damage for up to three years. So, you could face additional financial hardship in the years following a crash.

To be certain that you’re financially protected, we recommend purchasing a full coverage policy with higher liability limits of 50/100/50 or 100/300/100.

Josh Damico

VP Insurance Operations, 18+ Years Experience in Insurance

A general rule that I recommend is to carry enough coverage to protect your current and future assets – at least $100,000/$300,000 of liability coverage is recommended, but you may need more coverage depending on your financial situation.

Cheap full coverage car insurance quotes in San Diego

When you opt for

full coverage car insurance

, you protect yourself from costs associated with repairing or replacing your vehicle. If you have a car loan, you’ll also be required to purchase this type of insurance by most lenders.

Full coverage includes two types of insurance: collision coverage and comprehensive coverage.

Collision coverage

includes the cost of fixing or replacing your vehicle after a car accident.

Comprehensive coverage

includes repairing or replacing your vehicle after a non-collision incident, like vandalism, theft, or a natural disaster.

You can also purchase

uninsured motorist coverage

to guard against uncovered injuries or damage following an accident caused by a driver without car insurance.

In the table below, you’ll find some examples of full coverage quotes that Jerry found for drivers in San Diego.

Insurance company	Monthly full coverage cost
Travelers	$40
Kemper	$46
Clearcover	$54
National General	$63

Average cost of car insurance in San Diego

Statistically speaking, we’ve found that the average cost for minimum liability coverage in San Diego is $61 per month or $732 per year, while the average cost for full coverage insurance is $179 per month or $2,148 per year.

Several factors contribute to the average price of insurance in the city:

Vehicle theft rate:2 Almost four per 1,000 people in San Diego were the victim of a car theft last year, making vehicle theft rates higher in San Diego than in Los Angeles. A higher risk of theft leads to more expensive car insurance.

Dangerous drivers on the road:3 San Diego sees a high number of DUI charges each year, and an average of 12% of crash fatalities in the city are the result of alcohol-impaired driving. When other drivers on the road are potentially dangerous, your insurance rates can rise to accommodate that risk.

Lots of highways4 and busy roads: There are four major interstate freeways and six state highways that serve San Diego. Busy, crowded roads can lead to a higher chance of car accidents—and higher insurance rates—-particularly in a city with a population of over 1.4 million people.

Tourists: In 2019 alone, San Diego housed approximately 35.8 million visitors5. Tourists who don’t know the roads in a new city are often more prone to get into car accidents than local drivers.6

Car insurance rates are highly personalized. While it can be helpful to look at average rates in your city, the only way to know how much you’ll pay is to shop for quotes from various insurance providers in your area.

"Jerry is the new benchmark in app usefulness. Period. It is SO EASY and the results are SO GOOD, and they specifically point out that no one is going to start calling and emailing me all the time. I gave very little info, it pulled up all my existing insurance info, and showed me how to get the same insurance for less, lesser coverage for huge savings, or better coverage for about the same I currently pay. I am personally saving around $1,400/year with my new insurance, and the entire process (including follow ups to sign the docs from the insurance companies) took less than an hour. If you make over $1,400/hour, this may not be worth your time. Otherwise, get the app and use it now!"

Sean S.

| Verified Jerry Customer

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Average cost of car insurance in San Diego by ZIP code

Car insurance rates can vary a lot based on ZIP code, even for residents within the same city. Neighborhoods with higher rates of car accidents and theft are typically flagged as high-risk and therefore have higher insurance rates.

Cheapest ZIPs	Monthly minimum coverage cost
92119	$53
92093	$57
92122	$58
92121	$73

By comparison, have a look at the most expensive ZIP codes—even in the same city.

Most expensive ZIPs	Monthly minimum coverage cost
92139	$121
92127	$122
92115	$125
92150	$145

Compare car insurance costs in other states

Nevada car insurance

Utah car insurance

Oregon car insurance

Arizona car insurance

Idaho car insurance

Washington car insurance

Colorado car insurance

Wyoming car insurance

Car insurance quotes in San Diego by rating factors

When

deciding your auto insurance premium

, insurance companies in San Diego take several things into account:

Your driving record and claims history: Insurance companies will charge more if you’ve had accidents or tickets in the recent past.

The kind of car you have: Collision and comprehensive coverage premiums are higher for luxury, high-performance, and sports cars.

Where you keep your car: If you park your car in a high-risk area with an increased rate of thefts and/or auto accidents, you’ll face higher premiums.

How you use your car: Many insurance companies will charge more if you drive your car to and from work rather than use it for leisure.

How do different factors impact your car insurance costs in San Diego?

Allowed (with applicable limitations): Driving experience, marital status, zip code.

Prohibited (or effectively prohibited): Gender, age, credit history, education, occupation, employment status, insurance history.

Learn more about the car insurance rating factors in San Diego:

Cheap car insurance quotes in San Diego after driving violations

Your auto insurance quotes are also impacted by your driving history. If you have a history of violations, potential insurance providers will see you as a high risk and charge more expensive rates.

Some common driving infractions that can increase your insurance premiums include:

Speeding

Reckless driving

Driving with a suspended license

Being at fault in a car accident

DUIs

Cheapest car insurance in San Diego after speeding ticket

Motorists everywhere will experience higher rates after a speeding ticket charge, least of all in California.

Violation	Monthly coverage cost	Rate increase (%)
Speeding	$169	41%

Cheapest car insurance in San Diego after DUI

A DUI charge can lead to substantial increases in your insurance rates. Luckily, Jerry has helped several San Diego drivers find affordable car insurance rates after a DUI charge.

Violation	Monthly coverage cost	Rate increase (%)
DUI	$331	170%

Cheapest car insurance in San Diego after an at-fault accident

California is an at-fault state, meaning if you were recently involved in an at-fault accident, your auto insurance rate could skyrocket.

Driving record	Monthly coverage cost	Rate increase (%)
At-fault accident	$187	53%

Cheapest car insurance in San Diego after other driving violations

Other types of diving infractions, like

reckless driving

or having a suspended license, can increase your insurance premiums in San Diego, too.

Violation	Monthly coverage cost	Rate increase (%)
Improper passing	$130	6%
Failure to obey signal	$133	9%
Failure to stop	$144	18%
Driving with a suspended license	$165	35%

Cheap car insurance quotes in San Diego by driving experience

While state law prohibits using age as a determining factor in car insurance rates, age often correlates with driving experience and accident susceptibility. That’s why young drivers under the age of 25 and older drivers over the age of 75 typically see higher car insurance rates in California.

Cheapest car insurance in San Diego for young and inexperienced drivers

Car insurance will be more expensive for

teen drivers

aged 16 to 19 and inexperienced drivers of any age. Inexperienced drivers have a higher risk of getting into an accident, meaning insurance providers often charge more to compensate for the potential risk.

To combat these rates, it’s often cheaper to keep teenagers on the same policy as a parent or guardian.

Age	Monthly minimum coverage cost	Monthly full coverage cost
<18	$184	$927


18-21	$157	$275

Cheapest car insurance in San Diego for middle-aged drivers

As drivers gain more experience behind the wheel, their rates lower. This leads to drivers 25-64 seeing some of the cheapest rates for all age demographics, with rates rising again after motorists turn 65+.

Age	Monthly minimum coverage cost	Monthly full coverage cost
22-25	$104	$206
26-34	$74	$157
35-44	$61	$126
45-54	$59	$118

While driver premiums are often lower than average for this age group, drivers can still achieve even cheaper costs by looking into car insurance discounts and bundling policies.

Cheapest car insurance in San Diego for senior drivers

Older drivers often face higher rates due to a statistically greater risk of accidents. Older drivers are also more likely to sustain serious injuries as a result of an accident, which contributes to their risk.

Age	Monthly minimum coverage cost	Monthly full coverage cost
55-64	$59	$112
65+	$81	$216

Cheap car insurance quotes in San Diego based on insurance history

If you have

a lapse in your insurance coverage

, or you’re currently without coverage altogether, you’ll often see higher rates as a result.

Insurance history	Monthly coverage cost	Rate increase (%)
With coverage lapses	$173	42%

Finding cheap car insurance in San Diego: Hear from real driver

Excellent customer service, happy with the monthly payment could not be better! Love the App

Lidia, San Diego, California

Thank you for giving me hope that affordable insurance still exists! I have been recommending Kemper to all my friends and family!! Thanks again!

Juan, San Diego, California

Jerry provided superb service and provided me National General at the best price possible!

Joe, Los Angeles, California

Cheap car insurance quotes in San Diego for popular cars

If your car is expensive to repair or replace, faces high theft rates, or has a poor overall safety record, you’ll see higher premiums as a result.

Some of the more popular vehicle models in San Diego include:

Vehicle type	Monthly minimum coverage cost
Toyota Camry	$100
Honda Civic	$62
Ford Bronco	$139
Toyota Prius	$111
Tesla Model Y	$226

How to get car insurance before buying a car

How to lower car insurance costs in San Diego

1. Shop around and compare quotes

The most effective way to get a better price on your insurance is to compare rates. Experts recommend doing this every six months, as insurance companies constantly change their rules around setting your premiums.

With Jerry, the shopping process is quick and easy. It takes less than a minute for Jerry to gather quotes from a pool of top insurance companies—-helping you find the best rates for the coverage you need.

Compare car insurance quotes now

2. Hunt for car insurance discounts

Most providers offer

a set of discounts

to their customers, and here are a few common ones to ask yours about:

Good driver discounts: Under California state law, providers are required to give a 20% insurance discount to drivers with one or fewer points on their record, and who have held their license for three consecutive years without being involved in any at-fault accidents causing injury or death.

Good student discounts: Full-time high school or college students can get discounts from some providers if they maintain a B average or higher.

Telematics discounts: If you use telematics to track your driving habits, many insurers will give you a discount on your policy. Some providers will even give you a discount simply for signing up.

Bundling discounts: Many insurers offer discounts when you

bundle your home and auto insurance

(or auto and renters).

3. Increase your deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage

When you have full coverage car insurance, one way to reduce your monthly rate without lowering your coverage level is to increase your deductible.

Just keep in mind that you’ll be responsible for paying your deductible out of pocket in the event of an accident. Never raise your deductible higher than you can afford to pay!

MORE:

How to choose a car insurance deductible

FAQ

How much is car insurance in San Diego?

On average, drivers in San Diego pay $61 per month for minimum liability insurance and $179 for full coverage insurance.

Just remember that car insurance rates are individualized for each driver—so your rate might be very different from your neighbor’s.

What is the best car insurance company in San Diego, California?

Travelers, Kemper, and Clearcover were among some of the top-ranking providers in San Diego—but there’s no single ‘best’ car insurance company. Different drivers look for different things from their providers, and every motorist has their own profile for insurers to take into account. The best way to find a provider that works for you is to shop around and get several quotes for the coverage you need.

What is the minimum car insurance in San Diego?

California state law mandates that all drivers carry minimum liability coverage, which includes $15,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $30,000 per accident, and $5,000 for property damage. These coverages are commonly referred to as 15/30/5 coverage.

Methodology

The Insurance Research Team analyzes insurance products and services to drive insights and help consumers make informed purchase decisions. We analyzed over 25 million car insurance quotes and conducted the largest insurance shopping survey (over 15,000 customers surveyed and 85 carriers reviewed in the past 18 months). All average quote data is based on rates for single drivers with a clean record and a single car between the ages of 35 and 65.

We surveyed insurance policyholders for their experience with their insurers in the following areas: (1) insurance cost (2) customer service (3) insurance buying experience (4) insurance renewal experience (5) claim experience. In addition, we asked people what they like about their insurers and what areas in which their insurers could improve.

For the quotes and sold policies included in this article, please note that personal information has been hidden. Not all customers find savings.

Team: The team consists of licensed insurance agents, insurance industry veterans, and data scientists.

Sources

ttps://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/insurance-requirements/#:~:text=Here%20are%20the%20minimum%20liability,%245%2C000%20for%20damage%20to%20property

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-09-26/the-fbi-releases-motor-theft-data-in-los-angeles-how-to-keep-your-car-safe#:~:text=San%20Diego%20has%20a%20population,theft%2C%20according%20to%20the%20report

https://www.makeroadssafe.org/san-diego-road-safety-overview/#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20there%20was%20a,residents%2C%20tourists%2C%20and%20commuters

https://www.sandiego.gov/economic-development/sandiego/location#:~:text=Four%20major%20interstate%20freeways%20and,to%20the%20San%20Diego%20region

https://gitnux.org/san-diego-tourism-statistics/

https://www.yumainjurylaw.com/blog/2021/06/do-tourists-crash-more-often-than-locals/#:~:text=Unfamiliar%20roads%20can%20also%20create,have%20happened%20close%20to%20home

Meet our experts

Bonnie Stinson

Bonnie Stinson is an insurance writer with 8+ years of experience as a content writer. They specialize in making complex topics like insurance and technology easy to understand. Bonnie has written over 1,300 articles to help people become confident car owners, from how to choose the right car and build a car insurance policy to dealing with stressful situations like car accidents and unexpected repairs.

Before joining Jerry’s editorial team, Bonnie worked as a digital media strategist and user experience researcher, producing content for Furnishr, STACKEDD Magazine, InfinityCore Health, and the global non-profit Giraffe Heroes.

Maria Cruz

Expert Insurance Writer & Editor

Maria is an insurance writer with over 10 years of experience as a professional writer. Prior to joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2023, she worked at various online publications like Nimble Media, Factinate.com, and served as editor-in-chief at The Medium. She holds a double major in English and Professional Writing and Communications.

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.