Best Auto Insurance In California: Top Picks

California is one of the most expensive states for car insurance, with quotes up to 24% higher than the national average. The average cost of car insurance in California is $155 per month for full coverage and $47 per month for minimum coverage. The best car insurance in California depends on your needs, but some of the top-rated companies include:

- CSAA

- Chubb

- Capital Insurance Group

- State Farm

- GEICO

- Progressive

- Mercury

- USAA

- Wawanesa General

- Travelers

Best for customer satisfaction

When it comes to customer satisfaction, Amica is the best car insurance company in California, based on the low number of complaints to state regulators for a company of its size. Amica has high customer satisfaction ratings and low consumer complaints, making it a great choice for good drivers. The company offers an extensive range of auto insurance coverages suitable for various types of drivers and vehicles. Coverage options extend beyond liability, comprehensive and collision insurance to ensure customers can tailor policies to their specific needs. Amica also provides additional protections such as roadside assistance, gap insurance and glass coverage. Ride-share and delivery-driving coverage is available in some states.

Amica also provides various opportunities to lower premiums. From legacy discounts for drivers under 30 whose parents have had an Amica policy for at least five years to discounts for remaining claim-free or having multiple vehicles on the same policy, the savings add up. Amica also rewards drivers for vehicle safety features like anti-theft devices and for completing an approved defensive driving course.

CONNECT Auto Insurance is another good option for customer satisfaction. J.D. Power ranked CONNECT highly for customer satisfaction, giving it the second spot overall for customer satisfaction in California. For those with a clean driving record, a discount is available, and CONNECT also offers a unique Good Driver discount in California to reward good driving habits.

USAA is also a standout choice for customer satisfaction, but it is only available to military members and their families. In addition to affordable prices in California, USAA consistently stands out in terms of customer satisfaction survey scores and claims satisfaction.

Best for ease of use

State Farm is the best car insurance company in California for ease of use. State Farm customers can manage their policy and submit claims online, and the mobile app has excellent user ratings for both iOS and Android devices.

State Farm offers a broad range of discounts and extras, including travel expense coverage, making it a good choice for most drivers. The company also offers two programs — one for safe driving and the other for young drivers.

State Farm's customer satisfaction rating for buying auto insurance is the highest among large insurers, according to J.D. Power. However, the company does not offer gap insurance.

Cheapest car insurance in California

California is one of the most expensive states for car insurance, with quotes up to 24% higher than the national average. The average cost of car insurance in California is $2,667 for full coverage and $651 for minimum coverage. However, the cheapest car insurance in California will depend on a variety of factors, including your age, driving history, location, and vehicle type.

According to NerdWallet, the cheapest car insurance company in California for 40, 50, 60, and 70-year-old drivers is Auto Club of SoCal, with an average annual rate of $1,187 for full coverage. For 20 and 30-year-olds, the cheapest car insurance company is Geico, with an average annual rate of $475 and $242, respectively, for minimum coverage.

For minimum coverage, Geico offers the cheapest rates in California at $239 per year, on average, for a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record.

For full coverage, Auto Club of SoCal offers the cheapest rates in California at $1,147 per year, on average, or $96 per month.

For drivers with prior incidents, Geico offers the cheapest rates in California for drivers with a speeding ticket, an at-fault accident, or a DUI. Mercury offers the cheapest rates for high-risk drivers.

For young drivers, Travelers and Geico offer the cheapest rates in California for insuring a teen driver, teens with a ticket, teens with an at-fault accident, and young drivers with a DUI.

The cheapest car insurance rates in California by city include San Diego, Bakersfield, Fresno, Riverside, and Sacramento.

Cheapest car insurance for teens

Car insurance for teens can be expensive, as they are considered high-risk drivers. However, there are a few insurance companies in California that offer competitive rates for young drivers. Here are some options for the cheapest car insurance for teens in California:

State Farm

State Farm is a popular option for teens and their families, as it offers some of the cheapest rates for young drivers. State Farm's average monthly rate for minimum liability coverage for an 18-year-old is $100, which is $24 cheaper than the statewide average. They also have competitive rates for full coverage, with an average monthly cost of $282 for 18-year-olds. State Farm has a robust set of car insurance discounts, including two telematics programs, one of which is geared specifically towards young drivers. They also offer local agencies throughout California, making them a good choice for those who prefer in-person insurance services.

Geico

Geico is another affordable option for teens, with a minimum coverage policy for teenagers costing an average of $1,355 per year. Their rates for minimum liability insurance for an 18-year-old with a speeding ticket are also competitive, at $123 per month. Geico has well-developed digital tools and a highly-rated mobile app, making them a good choice for teens who prefer managing their insurance online.

Mercury

Mercury is a good choice for teens looking for basic coverage at a reasonable price. Their rates are competitive, and they offer a RealDrive usage-based insurance program that can save low-mileage drivers up to 20%. Mercury has local agents available throughout California, making them a good option for those who prefer in-person services.

Progressive

Progressive is a great option for teens and their families, as they offer a teen driver discount. They also have a long list of other discounts, including those for online quotes, homeownership, bundling, and safe driving. Their digital tools are robust and can save you time when managing your account and filing claims.

USAA

USAA is an excellent option for teens from military families, as they offer very competitive rates. They are rated number one for customer service and have a variety of coverage add-ons, including roadside assistance and accident forgiveness.

AAA NorCal

AAA NorCal has affordable rates for teens, especially those with a recent speeding ticket. Their full coverage policy for drivers with one speeding ticket is $184 per month, which is 18% cheaper than the state average.

Grange Insurance

Grange Insurance offers good rates for teens and has positive reviews from consumers. They offer a variety of auto insurance types, including the standard coverage required by states as well as add-ons like new car replacement insurance and pet injury coverage. They also have 17 auto insurance discounts. However, their coverage is only available in 13 states.

The Hartford

The Hartford offers competitive rates for teens, as well as a safe-driver-training discount and a defensive-driver discount, which can lower car insurance rates for teens even more. They are also known for their discounted AARP auto insurance program, which can benefit teens who share a policy with an AARP member.

When looking for car insurance for teens, it is essential to shop around and compare quotes from multiple companies. Adding a teen to a family policy is also typically more cost-effective than having them purchase an individual policy. Additionally, look for insurance companies that offer discounts for teens, such as good student discounts or student-away-at-school discounts.

Cheapest car insurance for young adults

For young adults in California, the cheapest car insurance rates are offered by Wawanesa General, with an average annual rate of $1,505 for both female and male drivers. The most expensive option is Nationwide, with a sample yearly rate of $3,310 for female and male young adults.

The average annual car insurance rates for single 25-year-old female and male drivers living in California is $2,149. The cheapest option is Wawanesa General, averaging $1,505 per year for both females and males.

Wawanesa General also has the best rates for drivers in six other categories, including teen drivers, senior drivers, and drivers looking for high-coverage policies.

USAA also offers cheap rates for young drivers with speeding tickets or accidents on their record. However, USAA is only available to military members, veterans, and their families.

Frequently asked questions