How To Find the Most Affordable Car Insurance in California

Finding cheap California car insurance options varies based on factors like age, location and driving history. On average, GEICO offers the cheapest California car insurance for a policy that meets the state’s minimum liability requirements, while Kemper offers the cheapest full coverage policy.

Keep reading to learn more about the various factors that can influence which insurance company offers the most affordable car insurance in California.

Key Takeaways California drivers must maintain minimum liability insurance of 30/60/15, but they may also need collision and comprehensive coverage if they finance or lease their vehicle. GEICO offers the cheapest minimum liability insurance in California at $44 per month on average, while Kemper offers the cheapest full coverage at $166 per month. GEICO offers the cheapest California car insurance for adults in their 30s and 40s, as well as for seniors in their 60s and 70s. For high-risk drivers, National General offers the cheapest minimum coverage at $95.33 per month, while Kemper offers the most affordable full coverage at $235.25 per month. In both the cities with the cheapest rates and the largest cities in the state, GEICO offers the lowest insurance rates on average.

What Are the Minimum Requirements for Car Insurance in California?

Like most states, California has a minimum auto liability insurance requirement that includes both bodily injury and property damage liability coverage:^[1]

• $30,000 for injury or death to one person
• $60,000 for injury or death to more than one person
• $15,000 for property damage

Other forms of coverage — including comprehensive, collision, personal injury protection (PIP), Medpay and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage — are optional.^[2] However, you may be required to have full coverage — which includes comprehensive and collision insurance — by your lender if you’re financing or leasing your car.^[3][4]

It should be noted that California’s Low Cost Auto Insurance is a state-wide program for eligible drivers with a good driving record who might be priced out of standard coverage policies — income eligibility guidelines apply.^[5]

What Are the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates in California?

Below, we’ll cover some options for cheap California car insurance based on various categories. Keep in mind that most auto insurance rates will vary by driver, and you’ll likely need to get a quote to determine the true cost of your car insurance premium.

Overall

On average, the cheapest California car insurance for minimum coverage comes from GEICO, while the lowest full coverage rate is offered by Kemper.^[6] However, individual costs can vary based on various factors, such as your age and driving history.

Cheapest Liability Coverage

GEICO offers the cheapest auto insurance rates for minimum liability coverage in California, followed by Progressive and Mercury Insurance. Here are a few options in California and how they compare:^[6]

Insurance Company	Average Minimum Coverage Cost per Month
GEICO	$44
Progressive	$60
Mercury	$63
National General	$67
21st Century	$68

Cheapest Full Coverage

Kemper offers the cheapest auto insurance rates for full coverage in California, followed by Progressive and GEICO. Here are a few California options and how they compare:^[6]

Insurance Company	Average Full Coverage Cost per Month
Kemper	$166
Progressive	$190
GEICO	$193
Mercury	$200
Wawanesa	$251

Young Drivers

The cheapest car insurance policy for young drivers — those under the age of 25 — in California will come from either GEICO or Mercury Insurance, depending on whether they want minimum or full coverage:^[6]

Insurance Company	Average Minimum Coverage Cost per Month
GEICO	$113.25
National General	$122.25
Mercury	$138.50
Travelers	$144
State Farm	$144.33

Insurance Company	Average Full Coverage Cost per Month
Mercury	$386.25
GEICO	$388.08
State Farm	$496.92
Travelers	$509.50
National General	$973

If your young driver has a DUI on their record — which negatively affects their driving history — National General may offer the cheapest coverage. If the young driver instead has a speeding ticket or caused an at-fault accident, GEICO is likely to offer the lowest rates.^[6]

Adults

Rates tend to drop once young drivers reach their 30s, as they’re considered more responsible and less likely to get in an accident or drive recklessly. GEICO generally offers the lowest median monthly rate for drivers in their 30s and 40s in California for both full and minimum coverage:^[7]

Insurance Company	Median Cost for Minimum Coverage for 30- and 40-Year-Old Drivers
GEICO	$24 per month
Grange Insurance Association	$33 per month
Auto Club of SoCal (AAA)	$34.50 per month
CSAA	$35 per month
Kemper	$35 per month

Insurance Company	Median Cost for Full Coverage for 30- and 40-Year-Old Drivers
GEICO	$107.50 per month
Mercury	$110 per month
Kemper	$116.50 per month
Progressive	$121.50 per month
Auto Club of SoCal (AAA)	$122 per month

Seniors

Senior drivers may see their rates begin to increase as they get older, as they may be considered more likely to get into an accident.^[8] GEICO offers the cheapest median car insurance rate for seniors in their 60s and 70s for both minimum liability and full coverage:^[7]

Insurance Company	Median Cost for Minimum Coverage for 60- and 70-Year-Old Drivers
GEICO	$24 per month
Grange Insurance Association	$27 per month
Auto Club of SoCal (AAA)	$37 per month

Insurance Company	Median Cost for Full Coverage for 60- and 70-Year-Old Drivers
GEICO	$104 per month
Mercury	$104.50 per month
Auto Club of SoCal (AAA)	$106.50 per month
Kemper	$114 per month
Grange Insurance Association	$116 per month

After a Ticket

Getting a ticket for speeding, causing an at-fault accident or receiving a DUI can mark you as a high-risk driver, making it more difficult to find affordable car insurance in California.^[9] On average, National General offers the lowest rates for high-risk drivers seeking minimum coverage, while Kemper provides the cheapest rates for full coverage:^[6]

Insurance Company	Average Minimum Coverage Cost per Month
National General	$95.33
GEICO	$101.08
Kemper	$106.92
Mercury	$111.08
Progressive	$131.17

Insurance Company	Average Full Coverage Cost per Month
Kemper	$235.25
Mercury	$354.25
National General	$396.50
Progressive	$413.83
GEICO	$418.17

Keep in mind that most insurance companies will only track your driving history for the previous five years, so if you maintain a clean driving record, your rates may decrease over time. However, this time frame may be longer depending on your state and the severity of the infraction on your record.[10]

Be sure to shop around regularly, as you’re more likely to find a better deal once you’re no longer considered a high-risk driver.

Which California Cities Have the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates?

California cities with the cheapest car insurance rates tend to have smaller populations compared to the state’s more densely populated areas, as drivers in these regions are less likely to file a claim.[11] GEICO consistently offers the cheapest rates across these cities:^[6]

City	Cheapest Insurance Company	Average Cost per Month
Brisbane	GEICO	$35.42
Santa Rosa	GEICO	$35.50
San Jose	GEICO	$36.67

What Are the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates in Larger California Cities?

Below are the average monthly rates in some of California’s largest cities, where GEICO consistently offers the cheapest rates:^[6]

City	Cheapest Insurance Company	Average Cost per Month
San Diego	GEICO	$37.17
San Francisco	GEICO	$38.08
Fresno	GEICO	$40.58
Los Angeles	GEICO	$64.25

Which Companies Provide the Cheapest Car Insurance in California?

The cheapest California car insurance rates are typically offered by GEICO and Progressive. However, depending on the type of policy you choose or any marks on your driving record, Kemper or National General may offer lower rates.^[6]

How To Find the Cheapest and Most Affordable Car Insurance Rates in California

To find the cheapest California car insurance that meets your needs, you should shop around with different insurance companies to understand your options. Try to get quotes from three to five insurers to get a range of policy features and the associated car insurance premiums. You’ll typically need to provide personal information for underwriting purposes, including where you live, your age, your driving history and your credit score, alongside information about your car, including its make, model and mileage.

This process can become tedious, as you’ll typically need to go through this information with each insurance company one by one. You can speed things up by using an insurance marketplace like SmartFinancial. After answering a brief questionnaire, we can connect you with a licensed insurance agent to help you save money on your car insurance costs while getting the coverage you need. Click here for a free auto insurance quote today!