Updated November 1st, 2020
If you are a driver looking for coverage, you will find the cheapest auto insurance companies in California with Nationwide, CSAA (California State Auto Association), and Progressive.
Each carrier is from 19 to 36% lower than the median rate for drivers of similar age and profile.
If you are military or former military, your best option is going to be with USAA.
Other companies you want to put on your bucket list to get quotes are Grange, Allstate, and Mercury.
All three carriers can offer quotes from 16 to 30% lower than the median quote for similar age drivers.
Depending on the city you reside in, a good option is Allied, now owned by Nationwide.
They offer competitive quotes throughout many regions of California.
This article will cover the least expensive car insurance companies by age and city, the minimum requirements to drive, and a few cost-saving tips to help you lower your monthly auto premium.
If you would like to skip to a certain portion of the article, there is a table of contents down a little and to the right.
Note: A 25-year-old driver in California can find cheap car insurance with Nationwide, CSAA, and Progressive. I queried each at $1,833, $1,843, and $1,876 per year for full coverage. Which is at least 27% lower than the average premium of $2,565 in California.
Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements in California
| Coverage | California Minimum Liability Coverage | Recommended Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily Injury Protection | $15,000 / $30,000 | $100,000 / $300,000 |
| Property Damage | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| Personal Injury Protection | Optional | $25,000 / $50,000 |
| Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist BIL | Optional | $50,000 / $100,000 |
| Comprehensive Coverage | Optional | $500 deductible |
| Collision Coverage | Optional | $500 deductible |
The minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5.
These numbers represent the minimum amounts in thousands of bodily injury and property damage liability each driver must maintain.
Bodily Injury Liability
The numbers (15 & 30) represent the minimum bodily injury liability coverage for motorists.
Bodily injury liability pays for passengers’ medical costs in the other automobile; $15,000 for a single person with up to $30,000 if they’re more than one individual is injured.
Note: A 30-year-old driver in California can find the least expensive insurance quotes with Nationwide, CSAA, and Progressive. I queried each at $1,612, $1,654, and $1,670 per year for full coverage. Which is approximately 28% lower than the average premium of $2,288.
Property Damage Liability
Property damage liability insurance pays for damage to buildings, traffic signs, or the other party’s vehicle.
The minimum amount in California’s state is $5,000, represented by a number (5).
Who has the Cheapest Car Insurance in California?
Below are low-cost carriers for drivers from 25 to 55 years of age.
I queried quotes for 18 insurers to find the overall least expensive premiums based on an average per driver with no driving violations, good credit, and not married.
In California, the top carriers pretty much offer the lowest premium.
There is one “semi-local” carrier, CSAA, which offered the 2nd cheapest car insurance quotes for drivers.
The three lowest are Nationwide, CSAA, and Progressive.
Each insurer can offer quotes from 19% to 36% lower than the median rate for drivers of a similar age and profile.
Other carriers to put on your list to get quotes are Mercury, Grange, Allstate, and State Farm.
Each insurer can offer quotes from 16% to 30% lower than the median rate for similar profile drivers.
Your best option is to get quotes from any of the carriers listed then compare quotes.
You have to take into consideration discounts which may be offered too.
Insurers may offer a discount while others may not.
In the end, if you want to get the least expensive premium, your best option is to maintain a clean driving record.
| California Company | Average Rate 25 Y/O | 30 Y/O | 35 Y/O | 45 Y/O | 55 Y/O |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $1,833 | $1,612 | $1,209 | $1,008 | $810 |
| CSAA | $1,843 | $1,654 | $1,256 | $1,078 | $814 |
| Progressive | $1,876 | $1,670 | $1,267 | $1,123 | $819 |
| USAA | $1,955 | $1,703 | $1,389 | $1,149 | $867 |
| GEICO | $1,987 | $1,743 | $1,399 | $1,167 | $898 |
| Allstate | $2,021 | $1,765 | $1,411 | $1,189 | $934 |
| Allied | $2,033 | $1,789 | $1,578 | $1,199 | $939 |
| Travelers | $2,044 | $1,811 | $1,589 | $1,234 | $987 |
| 21st Century | $2,056 | $1,812 | $1,698 | $1,256 | $1,008 |
| Farmers | $2,087 | $1,832 | $1,734 | $1,276 | $1,023 |
| Safeco | $2,190 | $1,996 | $1,843 | $1,378 | $1,087 |
| Grange | $2,343 | $2,120 | $1,879 | $1,389 | $1,089 |
| Unitrin | $2,435 | $2,200 | $1,909 | $1,398 | $1,091 |
| Hartford | $2,521 | $2,265 | $1,998 | $1,439 | $1,078 |
| Kemper Specialty | $2,653 | $2,432 | $2,134 | $1,589 | $1,090 |
| MetLife | $2,764 | $2,497 | $2,145 | $1,689 | $1,149 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2,890 | $2,538 | $2,167 | $1,765 | $1,276 |
Best Discount Options in California
Although car insurance in California is higher than average, there are discounts available in the state, such as good driver discounts, student driver, and driver safety discounts.
In the state of California, if you have driven for three years with no traffic violations, you can get more than twenty percent off your insurance premium.
If you are a student residing in California, you can get over twenty-five percent off your premium if you have good grades.
If you have traffic violations or are over the age of fifty-five, you can get thirty percent lower rates for taking a driver safety course.
Program for Low-Income Families
California has a program for drivers who cannot afford your typical plan, which is popular in Corona, Salinas, and Escondido.
There are certain criteria to be excepted into the program.
If you cannot find a policy that fits your budget, you may want to look into the available program if you qualify.
Best Car Insurance Companies by Rating, Rate Change & Complaints
The best carriers by a rate change, written premiums, and consumer ratings are outlined in the table below.
Of course, the insurers with the most amount of written premiums will have more complaints.
The more customers, the more complaints any business is going to have.
The number of complaints is usually based on poor claims performance by a customer.
The numbers in the table shouldn’t be alarming.
However, you can use online customer reviews to help you make choices.
I am not going into much detail about that here since you are looking for the cheapest rate at the end of the day.
The rate change over an 18 month period is normal for most insurers.
One thing I noticed is the amount is slightly higher for smaller, more local companies.
You may want to consider that when shopping.
If you get a traffic violation, your rate change will be significantly greater.
The consumer ratings are based on JD Power & Associates, AM Best, and other reputable online sources to get an average.
You can use the customer’s experience when you shop for a premium.
However, the important factor is understanding what you are covered for and what the carrier will pay out when you file a claim if need be.
The insurers listed below have good financial strength and would pay out if a claim is filed.
| Company | Premiums | Rate Change | # of Complaints | Rating out of 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $3,655,463 | +3.4% | 133 | 4.6 |
| Farmers | $3,051,681 | +3.5% | 128 | 4.6 |
| Allstate | $2,204,330 | +3.3% | 265 | 4.4 |
| GEICO | $2,091,720 | +3.4% | 207 | 4.4 |
| California Automobile Company | $2,042,123 | +3.6% | 127 | 4.2 |
| Mercury | $2,035,971 | +3.8% | 187 | 4.4 |
| USAA | $1,127,170 | +3.3% | 111 | 4.6 |
| Progressive | $1,017,900 | +3.6% | 187 | 4.3 |
| Liberty Mutual | $846,362 | +3.6% | 87 | 4.2 |
| Garrison Property & Casualty | $657,948 | +3.9% | 78 | 4.2 |
| Foremost | $611,337 | +4.2% | 55 | 4.2 |
| Hartford | $611,554 | +4.1% | 85 | 4.4 |
| California Casualty | $608,386 | +4.2% | 101 | 3.9 |
| 21st Century | $589,557 | +4.4% | 43 | 4.7 |
| National General | $549,492 | +4.5% | 23 | 3.8 |
| Allied | $547,482 | +4.6% | 42 | 4.0 |
| Infinity | $411,583 | +4.2% | 28 | 4.0 |
| Nationwide | $336,476 | +4.2% | 23 | 4.4 |
| Amica | $333,429 | +4.2% | 22 | 4.5 |
| Safeco | $321,276 | +4.7% | 54 | 4.1 |
| Loya | $289,387 | +4.9% | 26 | 3.8 |
| Wawanesa | $211,453 | +3.6% | 11 | 4.3 |
| California Capital | $128,473 | +5.1% | 12 | 3.7 |
Average Price of Premium by City in California
Below are 30 cities detailing the average premium.
If you have a significantly higher price than those below, you may want to inquire about it to your carrier.
Look into your driving history, a lapse in your premium, or possibly your credit scores.
Each insurer determines your rate differently based on risk factors.
Location is another factor, as you can see in the table below.
One of the reasons a premium is much higher in one location of the state than the other.
The premium cost can be as low as $1,438 to as high as $2,200 per year, depending on the zip code you reside in.
If you would like more details based on cities, please read further below.
| City | Average Rate | City | Average Rate | City | Average Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $1,653 | La Canada | $2,500 | Porterville | $1,541 |
| Aliso Viejo | $1,787 | La Crescenta | $1,786 | Rialto | $1,498 |
| Arroyo Grande | $1,631 | Lancaster | $1,876 | Ripon | $2,130 |
| Apple Valley | $2,098 | Loma Linda | $2,006 | Red Bluff | $1,876 |
| Atwater | $1,458 | Napa | $1,678 | Salinas | $2,376 |
| El Centro | $2,367 | Norwalk | $2,097 | Sausalito | $1,603 |
| Escalon | $2,333 | Oakhurst | $1,599 | Sonoma | $1,811 |
| Fairfax | $1,759 | Orange Cove | $1,919 | Summerland | $2,009 |
| Glendora | $2,003 | Oxnard | $1,510 | Sylmar | $2,321 |
| Gonzales | $1,731 | Pacoima | $1,599 | Vacaville | $2,007 |
Los Angeles, CA
The cheapest insurance rates in Los Angeles, California, are found with Progressive, CSAA, and Nationwide.
I queried each at $1,833, $1,856, and $1,934 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
Which is approximately 23% lower than the average premium in Los Angeles.
If you are current or former military, a good option is with USAA.
For a 45-year old, the least expensive options are with Nationwide, CSAA, and Progressive.
I queried each at $1,432, $1,533, and $1,634 respectfully per year for full coverage.
Which is approximately 36% lower than the average premium of $1,850 per year for a 45-year-old driver.
Carriers I queried for quotes do not include discounts.
Any insurers, including Allstate and Travelers, could be low-cost options if you include multi-policy options or other discounts for more savings.
| Los Angeles Company | 30 Y/O | 45 Y/O |
|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $1,833 | $1,432 |
| CSAA | $1,856 | $1,533 |
| Progressive | $1,934 | $1,634 |
| USAA | $2,053 | $1,645 |
| Allstate | $2,142 | $1,668 |
| State Farm | $2,287 | $1,824 |
| Travelers | $2,345 | $1,993 |
San Jose, CA
In San Jose, the best companies to lower your insurance rates are CSAA, Nationwide, and Progressive.
I queried each at $1,332, $1,339, and $1,434 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
Which is 31% lower than the median rate for similar age drivers in San Jose.
For a 45-year old, the best options are with CSAA, Nationwide, and Progressive.
I queried each at $1,008, $1,032, and $1,044 respectfully per year for full coverage.
All three carriers are nearly 34% lower than the median quote for similar profile drivers.
Other insurers to put on your list of quotes are State Farm and Allstate.
Both carriers are more expensive; however, it may be cost-effective to get a policy with discounts or multi-policy options.
| San Jose Company | 30 Y/O | 45 Y/O |
|---|---|---|
| CSAA | $1,332 | $1,008 |
| Nationwide | $1,339 | $1,032 |
| Progressive | $1,434 | $1,044 |
| USAA | $1,487 | $1,087 |
| Allstate | $1,489 | $1,165 |
San Diego, CA
In San Diego, California, the cheapest car insurance can be found with CSAA, Progressive, and Nationwide.
I queried each at $1,272, $1,313, and $1,378 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
Which is 39% lower than the average premium for similar age drivers in San Diego.
The current or former military would do well with USAA.
Other carriers to put on your list of quotes are Allstate and Travelers.
Both carriers can offer 15% savings over the average premium cost.
For a 45-year-old driver, inexpensive quotes can be found with CSAA, Progressive, and Nationwide.
I queried each at $895, $934, and $987 respectfully per year for full coverage.
Which is nearly 40% lower than the average premium for similar age drivers in San Diego.
| San Diego | 30 Y/O | 45 Y/O |
|---|---|---|
| CSAA | $1,272 | $895 |
| Progressive | $1,313 | $934 |
| Nationwide | $1,378 | $987 |
| USAA | $1,423 | $1,045 |
| Allstate | $1,499 | $1,086 |
San Francisco, CA
Affordable car insurance quotes in San Francisco begin with CSAA, Progressive, and Nationwide.
I queried each at $1,534, $1,588, $1,652 respectfully per year for a 30-year-old driver.
Which is 22% to 29% lower than the median rate in San Francisco.
Two other carriers you should put on your list of quotes are Grange and Allstate.
Each carrier is nearly as competitive as their cheaper counterparts.
Both insurers offer quotes over 19% lower than the average rate.
For a 45-year old, the least expensive options are with CSAA, Progressive, and Nationwide.
I queried each at $1,212, $1,244, and $1,245 respectfully for full coverage.
You can find quotes 23% lower than the median rate for similar age drivers in San Francisco with all three carriers.
| San Francisco | 30 Y/O | 45 Y/O |
|---|---|---|
| CSAA | $1,534 | $1,212 |
| Progressive | $1,588 | $1,244 |
| Nationwide | $1,652 | $1,245 |
| USAA | $1,670 | $1,249 |
| Allstate | $1,732 | $1,258 |
| Grange | $1,956 | $1,487 |
Fresno, CA
The cheapest auto insurance in Fresno, California, is with Progressive, CSAA, and Nationwide.
I queried each at $1,411, $1,432, and $1,455 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
All three insurers are over 30% lower than the average premium for similar age drivers.
Other carrier options in Fresno are with Allstate, Grange, and GEICO.
All three carriers offer quotes 16% below the median rate.
For a 45-year old, the cheapest premium options are with Progressive, CSAA, and Nationwide.
I queried each at $1,003, $1,009, and $1,113 per year for full coverage.
Which is 26% to 29% lower than the median rate for similar age drivers in Fresno.
| Fresno | 30 Y/O | 45 Y/O |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $1,411 | $1,003 |
| CSAA | $1,432 | $1,009 |
| Nationwide | $1,455 | $1,113 |
| USAA | $1,532 | $1,117 |
| Allstate | $1,567 | $1,148 |
Long Beach, CA
Long Beach’s cheapest auto insurance companies are Nationwide, Progressive, and CSAA.
I queried each at $1,487, $1,560, $1,600 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
Which is 22% to 26% lower than the median quote for similar profile drivers.
Other carriers to put on your list of quotes are Allstate and Grange Association.
Both insurers can offer quotes from 14% to 18% below the average premium for Long Beach drivers with a decent driving history.
For a 45-year old, the least costly insurers are with Nationwide, Progressive, and CSAA.
I queried each at $1,119, $1,156, and $1,238 respectfully per year for full coverage.
Which is 21% to 26% lower than the median rate for similar age drivers in Long Beach.
| Long Beach | 30 Y/O | 45 Y/O |
|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $1,487 | $1,119 |
| Progressive | $1,560 | $1,156 |
| CSAA | $1,600 | $1,238 |
| USAA | $1,668 | $1,376 |
| Allstate | $1,723 | $1,438 |
| Grange | $1,945 | $1,529 |
Sacramento, CA
Drivers in Sacramento, California, can find cheap car insurance with Nationwide, Progressive, and CSAA.
I queried each at $1,345, $1,355, and $1,421 respectfully for a 30-year old.
Which is approximately 30% lower than the citywide average premium.
The “mean” quote is over $2,000 per year, making any of the insurers illustrated worth getting quotes from.
A 45-year old can find inexpensive quotes with Nationwide and Progressive.
I queried each at $896 and $925 respectfully for full coverage.
Which is 32% lower than the average policyholder in Sacramento.
| Sacramento | 30 Y/O | 45 Y/O |
|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $1,345 | $896 |
| Progressive | $1,355 | $925 |
| Century National | $1,421 | $945 |
| USAA | $1,456 | $980 |
| Allstate | $1,563 | $1,012 |
| Allied | $1,580 | $1,065 |
| Grange | $1,700 | $1,155 |
Anaheim, CA
Drivers in Anaheim can get low-cost car insurance with Nationwide, CSAA, and Allstate.
I queried each at $1,455, $1,489, and $1,600 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
Which is 28% to 32% lower than the average premium in Anaheim.
Quotes clustered between $1,455 and $1,645, so all carriers illustrated are 16% lower than the “mean” rate.
For a 45-year old, the least expensive quotes can found with Nationwide, CSAA, and USAA.
Each queried at $1,043, $1,065, and $1,100.
All three insurers are 25% lower than the average policyholder’s premium price.
Allstate and Grange are worthy contenders since they are 18% lower than the median quote in Anaheim.
| Anaheim | 30 Y/O | 45 Y/O |
|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $1,455 | $1,043 |
| CSAA | $1,489 | $1,065 |
| USAA | $1,554 | $1,100 |
| Allstate | $1,600 | $1,143 |
| Grange | $1,645 | $1,187 |
| Allied | $1,800 | $1,328 |
Santa Ana
Drivers of Santa Ana, California, can get cheaper car insurance options by getting quotes from Nationwide, Allstate, and CSAA.
I queried each at $1,321, $1,400, and $1,456 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
Which is 26% to 29% lower than the average premium in Santa Ana.
Century National and Grange are below the “mean” quote with prices at $1,506 and $1,575, respectfully.
A 45-year old can get the best prices with Nationwide and Allstate.
Each queried at $940 and $980 respectfully for full coverage.
Which is 30% to 32% lower than the median rate citywide.
| Santa Ana | 30 Y/O | 45 Y/O |
|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $1,321 | $940 |
| Allstate | $1,400 | $980 |
| CSAA | $1,456 | $1,043 |
| Grange | $1,506 | $1,087 |
| Allied | $1,575 | $1,125 |
Stockton
Drivers in Stockton can get the cheapest car insurance if they start with CSAA, Nationwide, and Grange.
I queried each at $1,344, $1,378, $1,450 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
Which is 29% to 33% lower than the median rate in Stockton.
In fact, all carriers illustrated are more than 17% lower than the average premium.
A 45-year old can get the lowest quotes with CSAA, Nationwide, and Grange.
I queried each at $912, $925, and $990 per year for full coverage.
Which is 29% to 32% lower than the average premium for a driver of similar age and profile.
| Stockton | 30 Y/O | 45 Y/O |
|---|---|---|
| CSAA | $1,344 | $912 |
| Nationwide | $1,378 | $925 |
| Grange | $1,450 | $990 |
| Allied | $1,508 | $1,076 |
| Allstate | $1,544 | $1,125 |
Irvine
Drivers in Irvine can enjoy low quotes, which are lower than drivers who reside in Los Angeles.
However, to get the lowest start with Nationwide, CSAA, and Allied.
I queried each at $1,400, $1,450, and $1,504 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
Which is 23% to 27% lower than the median rate in Irvine.
Grange and Allstate are 18% to 21% lower with quotes at $1,543 and $1,598, respectfully.
A 45-year old can get inexpensive quotes with Nationwide and CSAA.
I queried each at $955 and $987, which is 26% to 29% lower than the median premium.
| Irvine | 30 Y/O | 45 Y/O |
|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $1,400 | $955 |
| CSAA | $1,450 | $987 |
| Allied | $1,504 | $1,063 |
| Grange | $1,543 | $1,085 |
| Allstate | $1,598 | $1,132 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which company has the cheapest car insurance in California?
It will depend on your driver profile if you have a clean record and other factors such as your age.
Companies to get quotes from are Nationwide, CSAA, Progressive, and Allstate for California drivers.
If you are a former military, USAA is probably your cheapest option.
The best thing to do is get three or more quotes, then compare.
Why is auto insurance so expensive in California?
Car insurance in California is expensive because of the state’s densely populated areas with high-crime urban areas.
When you have more drivers, you have more accidents.
Thus, you will have higher premiums.
All drivers share in the increase in premiums.
Is there an auto insurance program for low-income drivers in California?
Yes, California has a low-income program for good drivers to get liability-only coverage.
The requirement is to have a valid California driver’s license, own a vehicle valued at $25,000 or less, and meet income requirements.
Resources & Department of Motor Vehicles
| Department of Insurance | Department of Transportation | Department of Motor Vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| 5999 Slauson Ave, Commerce, CA 90040 (323) 278-5000 | 100 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 897-3656 | 4375 Derrick Dr, San Diego, CA 92117 (800) 777-0133 |
| Website | Website | Website |
Sources
http://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/01-auto/lca/
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/
https://www.alliedinsurance.com/
https://www.nationwide.com/california-auto.jsp
