Finding the cheapest car insurance in California doesn’t have to be hard. We analyzed rates from large California auto insurers to identify the most affordable choices.
Cheap Car Insurance in California
Comparing quotes to find cheap car insurance in California shouldn’t be a hassle. We evaluated companies in California to find the lowest rates.
Cheap Car Insurance in California for Drivers
A speeding ticket increases car insurance rates by 36% in California. The exact rate increase will vary by insurance company. Even though you’ll face higher insurance rates, you can still compare quotes for the best car insurance.
USAA and Wawanesa have the lowest average rates for drivers with a speeding ticket in California, so make sure to get quotes from those companies if you’re shopping for California vehicle insurance and have a speeding ticket on your record.
Cheap California car insurance for drivers who caused an accident with injury
Causing a car crash with an injury to someone else will make it harder to find cheap car insurance. Our analysis found an average increase of 89% in California compared to drivers with a good driving record.
If you cause a car crash with an injury, Grange and Wawanesa may have the most competitive prices among the insurance companies in our analysis.
An accident will stay on your record for three years in California. Here’s California’s guide to what’s next after you have an accident.
Cheap California car insurance for drivers with a DUI
Car insurance premiums in California go up an average of 131% if you have a DUI conviction on your record. You can still compare car insurance quotes to find better rates.
The cheapest California car insurance companies for drivers with a DUI are Wawanesa and National General, among the insurers we analyzed.
Cheap California car insurance for adding a teen driver
Adding a teen to your insurance increases rates by an average of 102% in California, compared to rates for a married couple without a teen driver.
Take a look at quotes from Hartford and Grange if you’re looking for cheap car insurance for teens in California.
Cheap California car insurance for young drivers ages 18 to 25
Purchasing your own car insurance is a pricey entry into adulthood. Our analysis found that Wawanesa and USAA offer the cheapest California car insurance for young drivers.
Car Insurance Discounts Required in California
California car insurance companies must reveal all discounts that a customer is eligible for, including those for good drivers, students, older drivers and multiple vehicles and any others available.
These are the car insurance discounts that must be provided in the state.
Good driver discount
Californians eligible for a good driver discount include:
- Drivers without more than one violation point or more than one dismissal of a complaint within the last three years.
- People who have not been the driver in an accident with bodily injury or death and not convicted of a violation connected to driving under the influence in the last 10 years.
The good driver should be charged at least 20% less than the lowest cost for a comparable non-good driver. Insurers must apply the discount to the total cost for coverage.
Training or defensive driving discount
California car insurance companies must offer discounts to drivers who complete driving training or defensive driving courses.
Older adult discount
California insurance companies must offer a discount to drivers who are age 55 or over and who finished an approved mature driver improvement course. Drivers must show proof of the course completion every three years to get the discount. The car insurance company decides on the discount amount.
Least Expensive Vehicles for Insurance in California
The most expensive for insurance in California among popular models are the Tesla Model 3, Standard Plus ($3,596 a year) and the Tesla Model S Performance ($6,727 a year).
With the right vehicle, you can potentially save money on auto insurance. In California, the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester and Crosstrek are among the cheapest vehicles for car insurance, based on average rates for 50 top-selling 2021 models. The 20 least expensive are below.