California has the highest population of the 50 U.S. states, and three of the country's 10 highest-populated cities. In fact, one of every eight U.S. residents lives in the Golden State. It also has some of the highest average rates in the country when it comes to automobile liability insurance. Our study shows that Progressive has the best rates, and Nationwide has the highest average car insurance rates.
While car insurance has a higher average cost in California than in many other states, it’s still possible to find good coverage options for your vehicle. This guide to the best car insurance deals can help you find an affordable way to protect your vehicle.
| COMPANY | AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE |
| Progressive | $1,296 |
| Geico | $1,347 |
| USAA | $1,463 |
| Mercury Insurance | $1,470 |
| Allstate | $1.716 |
| Statewide Average | $1,780 |
| Travelers | $1,890 |
| Farmers | $2,054 |
| State Farm | $2,070 |
| Alliance United | $2,184 |
| Nationwide | $2,309 |
According to our study, Progressive has the lowest average annual car insurance rates in California, at $1,296 – that’s 27% less than the statewide average. The most expensive major car insurance provider in California is Nationwide, based on our study data, at about 30% more than the California average.
California Rates for Teen Drivers
| COMPANY | 17-YEAR-OLD FEMALES | 17-YEAR-OLD MALES |
| Alliance United | $6,006 | $6,006 |
| Allstate | $4,610 | $4,610 |
| Farmers | $4,843 | $4,843 |
| Geico | $3,769 | $3,769 |
| Mercury Insurance | $3,785 | $3,785 |
| Nationwide | $7,731 | $7,731 |
| Progressive | $4,375 | $4,375 |
| State Farm | $3,959 | $3,959 |
| Travelers | $3,920 | $3,920 |
| USAA | $3,690 | $3,690 |
| Statewide Average | $4,669 | $4,669 |
For those just learning to drive, there are no great rates – only less-painful ones. Nationwide has the steepest premiums and USAA the least expensive.
California Rates for Young Adults
| COMPANY | 25-YEAR-OLD FEMALES | 25-YEAR-OLD MALES |
| Alliance United | $2,620 | $2,620 |
| Allstate | $2,016 | $2,016 |
| Farmers | $2,359 | $2,359 |
| Geico | $1,630 | $1,630 |
| Mercury Insurance | $1,851 | $1,851 |
| Nationwide | $2,808 | $2,808 |
| Progressive | $1,664 | $1,664 |
| State Farm | $2,376 | $2,376 |
| Travelers | $2,212 | $2,212 |
| USAA | $1,840 | $1,738 |
| Statewide Average | $2,138 | $2,127 |
In California, young adults pay the highest auto insurance premiums compared to other age groups. Among the companies in our study, all charge the same for 25-year-old male and female drivers in the state, with the exception of USAA, which charges slightly more for females. Average annual rates for young adult drivers range from a high of $2,808 for Nationwide to a low of $1,630 for Geico.
California Rates for Seniors
| COMPANY | 60-YEAR-OLD FEMALES | 60-YEAR-OLD MALES |
| Alliance United | $2,091 | $2,091 |
| Allstate | $1,444 | $1,444 |
| Farmers | $1,864 | $1,864 |
| Geico | $1,178 | $1,178 |
| Mercury Insurance | $1,232 | $1,232 |
| Nationwide | $1,922 | $1,922 |
| Progressive | $1,081 | $1,081 |
| State Farm | $1,769 | $1,769 |
| Travelers | $1,654 | $1,654 |
| USAA | $1,281 | $1,284 |
| Statewide Average | $1,552 | $1,552 |
There's no difference between rates for senior women and senior men, except for a slight change with USAA. Progressive offers the best rate for this age group, and the highest insurance cost is from Alliance United.
California Rates for Good Drivers
| COMPANY | AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE |
| Progressive | $1,296 |
| Geico | $1,347 |
| USAA | $1,463 |
| Mercury Insurance | $1,470 |
| Allstate | $1,716 |
| Statewide Average | $1,780 |
| Travelers | $1,890 |
| Farmers | $2,054 |
| State Farm | $2,070 |
| Alliance United | $2,184 |
| Nationwide | $2,309 |
Progressive offers the lowest premium for those with clean driving records, and Nationwide has the highest. There’s a $1,013 difference between the two insurance companies' rates.
California Rates After a Speeding Ticket
| COMPANY | AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE |
| USAA | $1,602 |
| Mercury Insurance | $1,937 |
| Geico | $1,991 |
| Progressive | $2,471 |
| Allstate | $2,488 |
| Statewide Average | $2,531 |
| Travelers | $2,810 |
| Farmers | $2,830 |
| Alliance United | $2,881 |
| State Farm | $3,024 |
| Nationwide | $3,271 |
Our data shows that in California, USAA has the lowest rates after a speeding ticket and Nationwide has the highest. A single speeding event could add an average of $750 to your annual insurance costs, so slowing down can help save money on premiums.
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California Rates After an Accident
| COMPANY | AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE |
| Geico | $2,224 |
| Mercury Insurance | $2,546 |
| USAA | $2,551 |
| Progressive | $2,658 |
| Travelers | $3,104 |
| Statewide Average | $3,136 |
| State Farm | $3,162 |
| Allstate | $3,188 |
| Farmers | $3,537 |
| Nationwide | $3,645 |
| Alliance United | $4,745 |
According to our study, in California, Geico has the lowest rates after an accident and Alliance United has the highest. That accident will add anywhere from about $878 to $2,561 to an annual premium.
California Rates After a DUI
| COMPANY | AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE |
| Mercury Insurance | $2,423 |
| Progressive | $3,074 |
| Geico | $3,155 |
| Farmers | $3,537 |
| Travelers | $3,918 |
| USAA | $4,181 |
| Statewide Average | $4,251 |
| Alliance United | $4,745 |
| Allstate | $5,581 |
| Nationwide | $5,600 |
| State Farm | $6,302 |
Mercury Insurance has the lowest rates after a DUI, and State Farm has the highest. Drinking and driving can more than double your auto insurance bill, to say nothing of the potential for injury or death to you – or to someone else.
How Much Is High Coverage Car Insurance in California?
| COMPANY | AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE |
| Progressive | $1,373 |
| Geico | $1,458 |
| USAA | $1,539 |
| Mercury Insurance | $1,567 |
| Allstate | $1,793 |
| Statewide Average | $1,887 |
| Travelers | $2,018 |
| Farmers | $2,161 |
| State Farm | $2,227 |
| Alliance United | $2,273 |
| Nationwide | $2,466 |
In California, high coverage car insurance costs the most with Nationwide and the least with Progressive. There’s a nearly $1,100 difference between the two auto insurance companies' rates.
How Much Is Minimum Coverage Car Insurance in California?
| COMPANY | AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE |
| Geico | $1,159 |
| Progressive | $1,167 |
| Mercury Insurance | $1,246 |
| USAA | $1,304 |
| Statewide Average | $1,570 |
| Allstate | $1,594 |
| Travelers | $1,621 |
| State Farm | $1,809 |
| Alliance United | $1,863 |
| Farmers | $1,906 |
| Nationwide | $2,032 |
In California, Nationwide has the highest rates in this category and Geico has the lowest. The difference between the two is $873 per year.
Is car insurance required in California?
Yes. The state of California requires anyone who owns or operates a motor vehicle to have auto insurance.
Which cars are required to be insured in California?
Any car that is driven or parked on a California highway, street, or road must be insured. If you decide to stop driving a vehicle, you can drop your car insurance if you complete an Affidavit of Non-Use with the state. At that point, the car cannot be driven or parked anywhere in the state until you have purchased insurance for it.
When should I get car insurance in California?
You need insurance in order to register the car with the state of California. The insurance company you choose will report the information to the state electronically.
How much car insurance do I need in California?
Coverage options vary, depending on the vehicle owner’s preferences. However, the minimum liability insurance policy requirements in the state of California are:
- $15,000 for injury/death to one person
- $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person
- $5,000 for damage to property
How much is car insurance in my city in California?
The highest cost among California’s major cities is Los Angeles. Its average car insurance rate is about $818 more than that of Fresno. In general, residents of densely populated cities pay higher premiums.
What happens if my car is not properly insured in California?
Driving without the minimum required insurance is illegal, and you can get a ticket. If you don't have insurance, your registration will be suspended. The state may even impound your car if it isn't properly insured.
Is California a no-fault state?
California is not a no-fault state. So, if you cause an accident, you could be sued. This can include you being sued for costs that your insurance company doesn’t cover.
This is why some drivers in California choose to pay for more than the minimum amount of insurance that is required by law in the state.
Do I need uninsured motorist coverage in California?
Your insurance company must offer uninsured motorist coverage to you, but state law does not require you to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. You can decline this car insurance option by signing a waiver.
Is liability insurance required in California?
Yes. Liability insurance covers accidents where you are at fault. Property damage liability pays for any damage you cause, and bodily injury liability covers injuries you cause to others.
Does California accept digital insurance cards?
Yes, you can use your smartphone to provide proof of insurance. Ask your insurance company if this is an option.
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How We Created This California Car Insurance Review
At U.S. News, we’re all about helping people make life’s important decisions. Our college rankings, launched in 1983, set the standard in educational rankings. Our rankings in other fields, like healthcare, government, and the automotive sphere, help people and thought leaders make choices that make lives better. Now we’re continuing to empower you with the information you need to make the right choices for your life with our Cheapest Car Insurance Rankings.
Our Study Rates
To get comparative insurance rates for this study, U.S. News also worked with Quadrant Information Services to analyze a report of insurance rates in all 50 states from most of the largest national car insurance companies, though not every company operates in every state. Quadrant obtained publicly available rate data that car insurers file with state regulators. Our study rates are based on profiles for both male and female drivers aged 17, 25, and 60. Vehicles used include the 2015 Honda Civic, 2015 Toyota RAV4, and 2015 Ford F-150, with annual mileage ranging from 6,000 and 12,000. Three car insurance coverage levels were used, as were credit tiers of good, fair, and poor. Clean driving records and records with one accident, one speeding violation, and one DUI were also used in the calculations of certain driver archetypes.
To get the study rates shown here, we computed the mean rate for male and female drivers aged 25, 35, and 60 who drive 12,000 miles per year and have medium coverage, good credit, and a clean driving record. The rates shown here are for comparative purposes only and should not be considered “average” rates available by individual insurers. Because car insurance rates are based on individual factors, your car insurance rates will differ from the rates shown here.
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