Cheap car insurance in California for 2025

The best car insurance company for you will depend on your insurance preferences. When shopping, it’s helpful to start by making a list of your priorities. Once you know what you want from your insurance, you can do some research (or let Bankrate do it for you) to hone in on the best company for you. For example, some drivers prefer to manage their policies completely online or through an app, while others may want to go to an office and speak with an agent in person. Price is another consideration. It’s helpful to look at average rates in your area so that you can identify a good deal when you see it. Also, when getting quotes, don’t forget to ask about your discount eligibility — it could reduce your rate even further.

California drivers pay an average cost of $3,102 per year for full coverage, which includes collision and comprehensive coverage, while state-mandated minimum coverage is available for an average annual cost of $915. To give you a reference point, the national annual averages are $2,671 for full coverage and $806 for minimum coverage. Your own rate will differ from the averages, since it is based on a range of factors that are unique to you, your car and your situation.

When looking for the cheapest possible car insurance, there are a few strategies that may help. First and perhaps most important, consider asking for quotes from a range of insurers with a reputation for low rates, such as the ones highlighted above. You may be surprised at the different rates each company offers. Although it's easy to ask for quotes from many companies online, it can also be beneficial to talk to a live agent who can help make sure you are receiving all the discounts you are eligible for. Once you've found a cheap company, monitoring your personal rating factors can help stabilize your rates. Avoiding tickets and accidents demonstrates to insurers that you are a low-risk customer.

In most states, insurers can review your credit score when determining rates since individuals with higher credit ratings generally pose a lower risk. California, however, is an exception to this rule. Carriers may not access credit scores or penalize drivers with low credit ratings in California. California is one of four states where this is true; the others are Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan.

Rates were calculated based on the following insurance credit tiers assigned to our drivers: “poor, average, good (base) and excellent.” Insurance credit tiers factor in your official credit scores but are not dependent on that variable alone. Four states prohibit or limit the use of credit as a rating factor in determining auto insurance rates: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan. 

Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket, single DUI conviction and lapse in coverage.

Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following differences in mileage: 2K, 5K, 12K (base), 15K and 20K.

Unless otherwise stated, rates are for 2023 vehicle models. For new vs used vehicles, we included the following year in our calculations: 2013.

Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 18-70 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts due to state regulations. For teen drivers, rates were determined by adding a 16- or 17-year-old teen to their 40-year-old married parents' policy. The rates displayed reflect the total cost of a driver this age added to their parents’ policy. 

The following states do not use gender as a determining factor in calculating premiums: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania.

Rates were evaluated based on the following marital/family status: single (base), married, 40-year-old married man and woman. Marital status is not a rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts.