Updated: November 11, 2025
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GEICO offers the state's cheapest liability-only insurance at $39 monthly and full coverage at $91 monthly, with rates 45% below the California average.
The cheapest rates in California for young drivers (16-25) are $78 monthly with GEICO, while adult drivers (26-64) pay $39 monthly and seniors (65+) pay $42 monthly for minimum coverage.
GEICO has the cheapest rates for drivers with violations. Drivers with speeding tickets pay $58 monthly, accidents cost $69 monthly, and DUI convictions run $93 monthly. GEICO still offers the lowest rates in California for high-risk drivers.
To get the cheapest car insurance in the California, research costs from top car insurance companies in California and compare multiple provider quotes while maximizing available discounts.
GEICO offers the cheapest car insurance in California at $39 monthly for minimum coverage. Progressive ranks second at $54 monthly, while Mercury Insurance charges $66 monthly. All three beat California's average rates.
For full coverage, GEICO leads at $91 monthly. Progressive is the second lowest cost at $105 monthly and Mercury Insurance runs $139 monthly.
| Geico | $39 | $91 | $52 | 45% |
| Progressive | $54 | $105 | $37 | 32% |
| Mercury Insurance | $66 | $139 | $15 | 12% |
| AAA | $71 | $148 | $8 | 7% |
| Allstate | $81 | $141 | $6 | 5% |
*These rates are for a 40-year-old with good credit, a clean driving record and a 2012 Toyota Camry across all ZIP codes in California.
GEICO offers California's cheapest liability-only coverage at $39 monthly. This rate is $502 less annually than Allstate's $81 monthly option for the same coverage level.
If GEICO isn't an option for you, Progressive offers the next cheapest liability option at $54 monthly. Mercury Insurance charges $66 monthly and AAA charges $71 monthly. All three provide affordable liability coverage to meet California's state requirements.
| Geico | $39 | -45% |
| Progressive | $54 | -32% |
| Mercury Insurance | $66 | -12% |
| AAA | $71 | -7% |
| Allstate | $81 | -5% |
*These rates are for a 40-year-old with good credit, a clean driving record and a 2012 Toyota Camry across all ZIP codes in the state.
GEICO offers the cheapest full coverage in California at $91 monthly. Full coverage costs $52 more per month than GEICO's minimum coverage option, adding $626 annually to your bill.
Progressive is second cheapest at $105 monthly for full coverage. Mercury Insurance charges $139 monthly, AAA charges $148 monthly, and Allstate charges $141 monthly.
Compare these full coverage rates against your car's value and your ability to cover repairs out of pocket before choosing minimum coverage. Full coverage in California gives you collision and comprehensive coverage that protects YOUR car in the case of an accident, weather damage, or theft.
| Geico | $91 | $1,091 |
| Progressive | $105 | $1,264 |
| Mercury Insurance | $139 | $1,664 |
| AAA | $148 | $1,772 |
| Allstate | $141 | $1,692 |
*Rates are an average for a 40-year-old driver with good credit, clean driving record and a 2012 Toyota Camry.
GEICO offers the cheapest car insurance across all age groups in California. Adult drivers aged 26 to 64 pay just $39 monthly for minimum coverage. Young drivers aged 16 to 25 pay $78 monthly, roughly double the adult rate. Seniors aged 65+ pay $42 monthly, only slightly more than adults.
Young drivers pay more in California because they have higher accident rates and less driving experience. Insurance companies consider drivers under 25 high-risk since they're more likely to speed and drive distracted. Seniors pay slightly more than middle-aged drivers due to slower reaction times and potential vision changes, but their decades of driving experience keep their rates well below young drivers.
| Young Drivers | Geico | $78 |
| Adult Drivers | Geico | $39 |
| Senior Drivers | Geico | $42 |
*Young drivers refer to 16 to 25-year-olds, adults 26 to 64-year-olds and seniors 65+ years of age.
GEICO offers the cheapest car insurance in every major California city. San Jose has the lowest rates at $36 monthly, followed by San Diego at $37 monthly and Los Angeles at $58 monthly for minimum coverage.
Urban areas cost more than rural areas due to increased traffic, higher crime rates, and more frequent claims. Your specific ZIP code affects your rate more than your city name, since insurance prices vary based on hyperlocal factors like neighborhood density and local accident data.
| Anaheim | Geico | $48 | -35% |
| Bakersfield | Geico | $38 | -42% |
| Chula Vista | Geico | $34 | -43% |
| Fontana | Geico | $51 | -37% |
| Fremont | Geico | $40 | -39% |
| Fresno | Geico | $38 | -38% |
| Irvine | Geico | $40 | -41% |
| Long Beach | Geico | $47 | -35% |
| Los Angeles | Geico | $58 | -34% |
| Modesto | Geico | $42 | -38% |
| Oakland | Geico | $41 | -41% |
| Riverside | Geico | $43 | -39% |
| Sacramento | Geico | $41 | -41% |
| San Bernardino | Geico | $45 | -37% |
| San Diego | Geico | $37 | -40% |
| San Francisco | Geico | $38 | -45% |
| San Jose | Geico | $36 | -42% |
| Santa Ana | Geico | $44 | -41% |
| Santa Clarita | Geico | $40 | -39% |
| Stockton | Geico | $42 | -38% |
*The lowest rate referenced is for a minimum coverage policy for a 40-year-old with good credit and no driving violations.
GEICO offers the cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers in California across all violation types. GEICO provides the most affordable rates for drivers with DUI convictions at $93 monthly, speeding tickets at $58 monthly and accident history at $69 monthly.
| Drivers With An Accident | Geico | $69 |
| Drivers With A DUI | Geico | $93 |
| Drivers With A Speeding Ticket | Geico | $58 |
Finding affordable coverage in California requires more than comparing company prices. California's insurance regulations and unique risks create savings opportunities you won't find in other states. Here's how to maximize your savings:
California Prop 103 creates big price variation between insurers. GEICO charges $39 monthly for the same coverage Allstate charges $81 for. That's a $502 annual difference just by comparing.
California law requires all insurers to offer a 20% good driver discount if you have no at-fault accidents, DUI convictions, or moving violations in the past three years. Many insurers don't automatically apply it on quote, so make sure it's included.
California allows traffic school once every 18 months to keep violations off your insurance record. A speeding ticket costs $228 annually in rate increases. Traffic school costs $20 to $50.
California leads the nation in car theft. In Los Angeles, Oakland, and Bakersfield, average stolen car claims exceed $9,000. A LoJack or GPS tracker qualifies for a discount and increases recovery odds if your car is stolen.
Multi-policy bundling saves money and simplifies management. In California, this is especially valuable if you bundle with earthquake coverage.
California requires minimum coverage of $30,000 per person bodily injury, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 property damage. While this gets you legal, it often leaves you exposed to financial risk. Here's what you need to know:
Without collision coverage, you pay all repair costs if you cause an accident. Average property damage claims in California hit $4,711 in 2023. That comes straight from your pocket with minimum coverage.
California sees regular weather events that damage vehicles. The state saw $1.9 billion in weather-related auto claims in 2023. Minimum coverage doesn't pay for floods, fires, hail, or theft damage. Without comprehensive coverage, you pay replacement costs or total loss out of pocket .
California's $60,000 per-accident bodily injury limit sounds high until a serious crash happens. One accident with multiple injured people can quickly exceed your limit. Most experts recommend 100/300/100 coverage, which gives you up to $300,000 coverage in an accident.
Any costs beyond your policy limit become your personal liability which can mean wage garnishment, property liens, or bankruptcy if you can't pay.
California has a problem with uninsured drivers. According to the Insurance Research Council, 17% of drivers are uninsured. If an uninsured driver hits you, you pay high out-of-pocket costs without uninsured motorist coverage which is an inexpensive policy addition.
Legal action against uninsured drivers often fails because they have no assets to pursue. You absorb the loss.
California drivers need accurate rate comparisons to find affordable coverage in the state's expensive insurance market. We built our methodology around real-world driver profiles and the factors that most impact your premiums.
We collected auto insurance data from the California Department of Insurance and Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed quotes from 12 major insurers and reviewed more than 200 million rate comparisons across every residential ZIP code in California.
California Driver Profile
Our analysis started with a standard driver profile to find the cheapest rates:
We adjusted this sample profile to find the cheapest option for various driver backgrounds.
Standard Coverage Levels in California
We compared car insurance companies in California that offer minimum and full coverage policies. We set the limits of the minimum coverage car insurance policy to the minimum amount required by law in California.
The minimum coverage liability limits in California are:
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.
