California Car Insurance Quotes – Find Cheap Rates Today
California has the highest number of licensed drivers in the country, at almost 27 million. Sure, it’s a big state- but no matter where you’re at in the Golden State, whether you’re driving the congested freeways of LA or in a more rural area, it’s crucial to protect yourself and your family with the right auto insurance in California.
Our California customers cover so many different types of terrain – from mountain to sea, from the redwoods up north to the Mexican border down south. We love California, and all its varied residents driving in so many different places with their families make California a diverse and beautiful landscape with an incredible group of people to insure.
Considering high average rates for car insurance in California, finding the cheapest auto insurance with the right California car insurance companies may seem like a daunting task.
Luckily, we’ve come up with a way to secure the cheapest auto insurance rates for our customers with our quote engine calculator.
Insurance Geek is all about not just savings on your car insurance policy, but service, too – we want our clients to find the best possible auto policies in California that fit their personal needs and budget. If you’re in the market for California car insurance, we’d love to help you!
Before you compare your quotes for car insurance in California, learn about the most important terms in the coverage auto insurance lingo.
California Auto Insurance Minimum Requirements
Just like in the other U.S. states, car insurance in California has special minimum requirements according to unique car insurance laws within California law.
Below, we discuss California’s minimum state-required insurance, including the type of protection you can expect from the coverage.
In pretty much all states, you’re required to have bodily and injury liability as well as property damage insurance. However, you’ll find California has a few minimums not shared by many other states – and that’s why we say it has “unique car insurance laws.”
Bodily injury liability – $15,000 person/accident; $30,000 all persons minimum coverage
Bodily injury is absolutely critical in all states. If you hurt someone else in an accident, this coverage will pay for your liability. BI protects you regardless of whether or not the injured person is in a different car, a pedestrian, or any other situation where you’re liable for bodily injury. If you’re driving someone else’s car and you cause bodily injury to someone, this part of your policy will protect you or anyone under your coverage.
Property damage liability – $5,000/accident minimum coverage
Though the California minimum is $5,000, we recommend at least $100,000 in this coverage. You’ll find such a low amount is certainly not enough to replace or repair from serious damage, so the more coverage protection, the better. Especially with the affordable car insurance that we can secure for your car insurance in California, you’ll find that getting enough insurance coverage will save you money in the long run and help you achieve peace of mind.
Uninsured and underinsured – $15,000/$30,000 BI, $3,500 property damage minimum coverage
If you’re the victim of a hit and run or if you are hit as a pedestrian by someone with little or no insurance, underinsured or uninsured coverage will protect you. If you don’t have this kind of car insurance in California, you can face multiple unnecessary fees and a long legal proceeding if you wish for the other party to reimburse your expenses.
How Much Will I Pay for Auto Insurance in California?
In California, insurance costs around $1,700 a year, one of the highest average rates in the nation. That said, the average rates are only there to give you an estimate of your insurance premiums.
Calculating your California car insurance rates is complicated, so we’ve decided to make it simpler by designing a calculator that finds cheap car insurance rates by multiple companies.
Your California auto insurance premiums are determined by a variety of factors, including:
Age
Young drivers are considered “high-risk drivers” because they are inexperienced.
You’ll find that most insurance companies issue higher auto insurance rates for young drivers than for average California drivers.
Note that this unwritten rule does not only apply to teen drivers but also to those who obtained their California driver’s license recently or have regained their driving privileges after a period of restrictions.
Driving Record
The driving record or the driving history is another important factor that will affect your insurance rates for car insurance in California.
If you have a positive safety rating due to your safe driving record over time, you’re likely to get the cheapest car insurance coverage.
Recent accidents or citations, as well as speeding tickets, will negatively affect your driving history and will drive the average cost up.
Your Car
You should know that the price of auto insurance also depends on the type of vehicle.
Age, make, and model of the motor vehicles – as well as color – will influence the rate. Sports and luxurious cars usually come with a higher cost of car insurance because they are associated with a higher risk and fast driving.
Financial Responsibility (Credit Score)
You should also pay attention to your credit history and credit score to get the cheapest car insurance.
A car insurance company will have a look into your credit score to check if you are punctual with your payments, so make sure to pay out any car loan and keep your financial transactions in order before you apply for a car insurance policy.
Location
The average rates will vary across the state.
Here are some top California car insurance cities we work with frequently:
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
- Sacramento
- San Diego
- Santa Cruz
- San Jose
- Sacramento
- Long Beach
- Oakland
That said, average rates on car insurance are higher in the metro areas because accidents occur more frequently. You’ll find the cheapest car insurance in smaller areas.
Insurance Company
Car insurance rates also vary from one insurance company to another. The same applies to a myriad of options to choose from and different coverage types that car insurance companies offer.
Hence, we allow you to compare rates from many insurance companies and determine which ones work the best for your particular case.
Discounts
The good thing is that you can save money in many different ways when buying auto insurance.
To get the cheapest rates, you can go for multiple insured vehicles with the same company. This is a great option if you have more than one vehicle in the family.
Bundle offerings can also earn you discounts. For instance, if you get home or life insurance along with the car policy with the same insurer, they’ll give you a discount.
Having security measures helps get a lower price, too. Anti-theft devices or deterrents like etched glass are good examples.
Get Cheap Car Insurance Quotes in California
Are you looking to find affordable car insurance?
When you take all the abovementioned into account, it seems difficult to get an estimate of the auto insurance rates you’ll get. They are influenced by so many factors, aren’t they?
At Insurance Geek, we wanted to take the matter into our hands and make it easier for our customers to get a car insurance quote – and not only that – but compare rates from multiple auto insurers.
We are partnered with the largest insurance companies that provide the cheapest auto insurance. Some of our top carriers include Safeco and Nationwide, reputable companies that are recognized by the California Department of Insurance.
California drivers can compare the cheapest rates in the following way:
The only thing you need to do is to enter some basic info on this page, and we’ll generate the quotes within minutes.
Next, an Insurance Geek insurance agent will discuss the specificities of your own case and guide you throughout the shopping process. S/he will also help you with any additional inquiries you may have!
We only require your info to generate the quotes, and we will not use it for any other purpose or bother you with unnecessary phone calls and spam emails.
Are Discounts Available?
Absolutely.
Carriers love giving customers discounts, particularly in the form of things like bundle discounts, discounts for a safe driving record, for family loyalty – including families sticking with the same insurance companies over generations. Paying your policy in full before it starts, and of course, having a safer car or being willing to use a safety driving device to monitor your speed and your reaction time, while you’re driving also, helps get lower California car insurance rates.
These are just a few of the discounts carriers will give you. Because they want your loyalty and they want more of your business, they typically give you discounts if you are a multicar household and you insure all your cars with one carrier. They will also give discounts to seniors, military members or veterans, and students.
The younger insurance companies can hit drivers and begin building lifetime relationships with them, the more they can ensure business loyalty throughout the years, and you will be a continued customer for a long time to come.
What Does Car Insurance in California Include?
Your auto policy can contain many different kinds of auto insurance coverage.
Take a look at what we consider full coverage car insurance that will offer you complete protection against any unprecedented events.
Note that not all of these are required by the state, so, therefore, not all parts mentioned below are mandatory but are highly recommended for adequate financial security.
Medical liability/PIP (Personal Injury Protection)
If you or your passengers are injured in a car accident, PIP covers you. This part of your auto policy can add some higher expenses, but it’s important to consider.
Medical liability insurance will pay for the injuries of both you and your passengers even in the event that an accident was your fault.
It can be especially useful if you miss time from work and need to collect lost wages or if you and your passengers don’t have health insurance.
What’s more, PIP auto coverage is very useful in addition to your health policy because it may be insufficient to pay for all of the expenses.
Bodily injury coverage
Bodily injury liability coverage kicks in if you are at fault for an accident in which another person is injured – even if they are a passenger.
The main difference between bodily liability insurance and PIP is that this part of your policy pays for the medical expenses of others.
Also, if another person has to attend a period of therapy and loses their income, this part of your insurance can compensate for them.
It can also be extended to cover your legal fees if you face legal charges for an accident – including counsel and court costs.
It’s always worth it going for higher liability limits than the minimum requirements (in the case of California, $15,000 per person per accident and $30,000 all persons minimum coverage) because only then can you rest assured you have enough coverage.
“Per person” limit means that that’s the maximum amount insurance would pay for a person injured in an accident, where the “per-accident” limit refers to an accident in which multiple people have been injured.
Collision coverage
Collisions are common. Potholes, guard rails, trees, fences, poles – anything like that can damage your own car, and another driver doesn’t even need to be involved.
Other examples include colliding with parked vehicles, pedestrians, or even animals. The definition is very broad, as you can probably tell, and it includes many scenarios.
The collision coverage car insurance can help repair your auto in these instances.
Our customers usually add collision insurance as an extension of their standard policy.
The amount of collision should be based on the value of your car, and the limit usually corresponds to the actual cash value of your car.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive is “everything else.” We see many windshield cracks or dings get repaired with this type of coverage. Comprehensive also covers items stolen from your car.
The range of the things that comprehensive insurance can cover is even broader than the collision. Other examples include theft, falling objects, weather conditions (like wind, flood, or hail), natural disasters, riots, vandalism, and so on.
It is especially useful if you live in an area where collisions with animals are frequent, or you face extreme weather conditions, but it’s recommended for everyone. For instance, if you want to have this sort of coverage “just in case,” you can get it with a higher deductible and a lower premium.
Full coverage car insurance will contain both comprehensive and collision insurance that will account for basically any situation out there.
Property damage liability insurance
Property damage liability coverage policy is obligatory in California, similarly to most of the states.
This part of your policy defrays the costs of repairing or replacing a vehicle that you caused damage to, and it will not account for the damage to your own car.
The minimum of this part of your policy in California is $5,000, but needless to say, it won’t be enough. It’s in your best interest to get a significantly higher property liability limit – most of our customers go for $100,000. The reason is that you will have to pay out of your pocket if the damage is above your liability limit.
Underinsured or Uninsured drivers
Your car insurance in California should also contain uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
It provides protection when you are in an accident with an individual who doesn’t have a car insurance policy or enough liability damage limits to pay for the damage on your car.
For instance, imagine that you are facing medical feels and vehicle damage that cost around $200,000, and the other party only has insurance of up to $100,000.
The average cost of repairs or waiting to take them to court can cost you both time and money, so it’s wise to include this type of coverage and be prepared for absolutely anything on the road.
Do I Need More than the Minimum Coverage?
In short: to get full protection, you should definitely go above the minimum coverage. Getting the mandatory amount is one thing, and it’s enough to get you on the road, but being completely insured and having financial security is a whole other thing.
Although the state minimums will give you what’s necessary so you can drive legally, just being legal should not be enough.
It’s possible to cause some pretty serious damage to yourself or to someone else while you’re on the road, so staying safe at the best possible coverage just makes sense. $100,000 in protection for basic injury and property damage should be enough to get you going.
Generally, we like to see our drivers covered with $100,000 in BI, $300,000 max per one accident, and $100,000 in property damage coverage.
If you need help with finding cheap average rates for added protection, Insurance Geek is there to help you.
How to Get the Cheapest Car Insurance in CA.
Here’s how to do it: Fill in our quote tool on this page, and we’ll reach out to our partner carriers instead of you. To get the cheapest car insurance in California, you will definitely have to compare quotes from multiple car insurance companies.
They will get an estimate of the price you’d pay based on your location and needs. Because we work with more than 20 carriers, you’ll be able to shop around for the absolute best offer you can find.
Next, when you get those auto insurance rates from the companies, an Insurance Geek agent will work for you to help you obtain the cheapest car insurance.
We’ll go out of our way to find you a tailored option.
If you want to include other types of coverage or to insure multiple vehicles, please let us know so that we can help you score discounts in addition to the affordable quotes!
FAQ: California Car Insurance
Q: What car insurance companies have the cheapest car insurance quotes in California?
A: The best car insurance companies in California that offer the cheapest car insurance rates are Nationwide and Safeco. These two companies are known for their impeccable reputation and strong relationships with their clients, which is confirmed by the excellent customer satisfaction ratings that they have. What’s more, you’ll find that they offer a wide assortment of insurance products that run a gamut from home and life to auto policies. And if you want to combine different kinds of insurance, you will get a discount – so it’s always good to consider what’s all the coverage that you need. We can connect you to these companies if you use our quote engine calculator and generate your prices for insurance.
Q: What is the average cost for car insurance in California?
A: The average annual rates for California car insurance are around $1,700. This is more expensive than the majority of other states. The reason why the average rates in the Golden State are high is the high number of accidents that naturally come with a lot of drivers and highways. Bear in mind, though, that you’ll need to take into account many more factors to determine how much you will pay for insurance in California other than the average cost. Insurance companies will have a look into your driving record and credit score. Both of these factors can bring the rate up if they are negative. Also, the age, model, and make, as well as the color of your car, matter. Finally, the price will depend on your ZIP code in California and the conditions in that particular area. And if you get a discount, you’ll be able to get a lower premium. With all of these factors, it’s complicated to determine your premium. If you use our quote tool, we can help you with that and get quotes from multiple companies!
Calculate California Auto Insurance Rates
Californians deserve to be safe behind the wheel and to get the best possible coverage at affordable prices. With our free quote form, we connect you with a variety of carriers who will all give us different quotes based on your particulars and your specific situation.
The top car insurance companies we work with have the cheapest auto insurance you are looking for.
Let’s talk today about what we can do for your family in terms of getting you the best quote possible so we can keep you safe on the road.
There’s nothing we love more than working with families who have multiple insurance needs, so if you’re looking to bundle different lines or add to your auto insurance in California over time, we can come up with something that helps you – not just with your auto insurance, but with any other type of insurance policy that your family might need.
Insurance Geek can’t wait to talk with you and help you find the right insurance provider!