Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Santa Clarita, CA (2024)

In Santa Clarita, California, the cheapest car insurance depends on coverage and driver characteristics. For full coverage, AAA leads, while State Farm offers the lowest rates for families with teens. The most affordable minimum coverage is provided by GEICO.

Chubb takes the top spot for both customer service excellence and best overall value, balancing price and service, which may resonate more depending on individual preferences and coverage needs.

GEICO offers the most affordable minimum coverage car insurance in Santa Clarita, making it an excellent option for budget-conscious drivers. When looking for the cheapest car insurance, consider the following providers:

• GEICO: $550 per year
• Progressive: $562 per year

The most expensive minimum coverage policy in the city is offered by Hartford at $836 per year. The difference of $286 between the lowest and the highest premiums underscores the necessity of comparing insurance rates to secure the best deal.

State Minimum Liability Requirements

In the Golden State, from the beaches of Santa Monica to the suburbs of Santa Clarita, car insurance coverage is set by state law:

• $15,000 bodily injury per person
  
• $30,000 bodily injury per accident
  
• $5,000 property damage liability per accident
  

For instance, under the minimum coverage, if you're at fault in an accident, your policy will cover up to $15,000 for injuries to one person and up to $30,000 for all injuries in that accident. Should costs exceed these limits, any additional amount would come out of your pocket. Drive easy, knowing these aren't secrets—just the standard rules of the road.

AAA offers the cheapest cheapest full coverage car insurance in Santa Clarita.

• AAA: $1,251 per year
• Progressive: $1,257 per year

Farmers has the most expensive full coverage policy in the city, costing $2,298 annually. This is a substantial $1,047 more than AAA, highlighting the importance of comparing rates for full coverage car insurance, which costs more than minimum coverage due to the comprehensive protection it provides.

Do You Need Full Coverage in California?

A full coverage policy in Santa Clarita includes coverage for damage to your own vehicle in the form of comprehensive and collision coverages. It usually also includes increased liability limits.

• Collision Insurance: This provides coverage for your vehicle in the event of a collision, whether with another vehicle or or a stationary object like a tree or light pole. It also covers rollover accidents and pothole damage.

• Comprehensive Insurance: This coverage insures your vehicle against various types of damage not caused by collisions, including theft, vandalism, fires, natural disasters and being struck by an animal like a deer.

If you have a new vehicle, it's wise to opt for full coverage insurance for more robust financial protection. If you're leasing or have a car loan, you are typically required to carry full coverage insurance.

On the other hand, owners of older vehicles may find that the extra cost — which can amount to several hundred dollars more per year — is not justified by the value of the vehicle. When deciding how much car insurance coverage you need, consider your ideal balance: more extensive coverage comes with higher premiums, but getting less coverage means you may pay more out of pocket if you need to file a claim.

Capital Insurance Group is the most affordable option in Santa Clarita for drivers with a bad driving record, offering competitive rates for full coverage policies in various scenarios:

• Speeding ticket: Capital Insurance Group ($1,798 per year)
• At-fault accident: Capital Insurance Group ($1,838 per year)
• DUI: National General ($1,503 per year)

The cost variance between the cheapest policy after a speeding ticket and the cheapest after a DUI is a notable $705, illustrating how significantly insurance premiums can be affected by the type of driving offense.

Insurance premiums in Santa Clarita, as in many cities, escalate with the severity of your driving infractions, reflecting the increased risk insurers take on. For instance, drivers with a speeding ticket face an average annual rate of $2,320, whereas those with a DUI are looking at about $3,889 — a $1,569 difference.

Consequently, those with driving offenses must be even more diligent in comparing insurance rates because shopping around can lead to substantial savings in the face of higher premiums.

State Farm offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance for teens in Santa Clarita, providing significant savings on an annual basis. Reflecting the most affordable rates:

• State Farm: $3,245 per year for female teens and $3,245 per year for male teens
• GEICO: $3,449 per year for female teens and $3,636 per year for male teens

These rates cover the combination of two parents and a teen driver, presenting a practical scenario for families. Nationwide offers the most expensive teen family policy in the city, with an annual premium of $5,382 for female teens.

The contrast of $2,137 between the cheapest and most expensive options for female teens underscores the importance of shopping around, particularly when adding higher-risk teen drivers to an insurance policy.

In Santa Clarita, as in many urban areas, young drivers face steep car insurance costs. On average, teens purchasing an individual annual policy can expect to pay $4,790, significantly higher than the $4,007 average if added to a family plan. The discrepancy persists due to the perceived risk insurers associate with inexperienced teen drivers.

Moreover, the likelihood of individual policy approval for teens is slim without an established driving record or credit history, reinforcing the advantages of a joint family insurance plan. Opting for inclusion in a family policy results in a more manageable premium and increases the chances of coverage for young motorists.

AAA is the cheapest option in Santa Clarita for people with military backgrounds seeking full coverage car insurance. This company stands out for its low annual premiums.

• AAA: $1,251 per year
• Progressive: $1,256 per year

Although USAA ranks third with an annual premium of $1,306, it should be noted for its dedicated service to active duty military members. USAA offers tailored services that may provide added value to those in the armed forces.

in Santa Clarita, comparing car insurance rates is a key strategy for cost savings. However, the process is often cumbersome, potentially requiring over an hour to examine rates from three or more companies.

MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator can help you streamline this process. By inputting details like age, driving history, credit score and preferred coverage, you can instantly receive rate estimates.

Finding the right auto insurance is a balance of cost, service, and coverage quality. MoneyGeek's research, which employs distinct scoring systems across categories, shows Santa Clarita's outstanding providers:

• Best overall: Chubb (MoneyGeek score 84 out of 100)
• Best for service: Chubb (MoneyGeek score 94 out of 100)
• Best cheap: Mercury (MoneyGeek score 81 out of 100)

In Santa Clarita, Chubb clinches the top spots for overall value and service. Mercury, on the other hand, emerges as the most favorable option for budget-conscious drivers, ensuring affordability while still maintaining a satisfactory service experience.

Chubb offers the best option in Santa Clarita for if you’re seeking the best car insurance.

• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100 ($1,884 per year)
• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100 ($1,564 per year)

Chubb shines among its peers with a robust MoneyGeek score particularly in the domains of customer satisfaction and claims experience. These scores reflect its superior service quality for customers opting for full coverage policies.

Chubb is the best option in Santa Clarita for car insurance solely focusing on customer service. This finding is strictly based on general satisfaction, claims handling and coverage quality, without considering the insurance rates.

• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 94 out of 100 ($1,884 per year)
• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 82 out of 100 ($1,564 per year)

Chubb stands out with its consistently high scores across all evaluated aspects, particularly excelling in claims satisfaction and coverage options. These factors make Chubb the premier choice for consumers who prioritize exceptional service and comprehensive coverage.

Mercury is the best option for affordable car insurance in Santa Clarita, providing a balance between cost-effectiveness and reliable service.

• Mercury: MoneyGeek score of 81 out of 100 ($564 per year)
• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 76 out of 100 ($686 per year)

Mercury stands out with the highest MoneyGeek score, thanks in large part to its exceptional affordability. It not only offers competitive annual premiums but also excels in customer satisfaction and claims handling, making it an attractive choice for minimum coverage policies in Santa Clarita.

Car insurance in Santa Clarita, California, averages $1,562, a figure that offers insight into the typical costs motorists in the area can expect. When compared with the broader state average, Santa Clarita's car insurance costs are equal to the state average of $1,562 for California. However, both Santa Clarita and state premiums stand below the national average of $1,781, with California seeing a difference of $219 compared with national costs.

Location plays a pivotal role in determining car insurance rates, as factors including accident frequency, theft rates, and urban congestion can vary significantly from one area to another. For instance, the city with the most expensive premium in California is Glendale, costing an average of $2,115, while Santa Maria features the cheapest average at $1,106.

This substantial spread exemplifies the impact of location, with Glendale exceeding the state average by $728. Rates may be even more favorable in non-city areas where traffic density is lower.