Dominating the west coast of the United States, California holds the beaches, national forests and Hollywood stardom that continue to make it one of the most visited states in the U.S. Driving the length of California can take a full 17 hours, and the famous Route 1’s beaches and ocean-front cliffs make the hours fly by. Because California is home to several of the nation’s most populated cities, driving in urban California can be stressful and hazardous, and it’s important to carry auto insurance coverage. This list of useful information for drivers has been compiled by CheapCarInsurance.net to help drivers find cheap car insurance in California and enjoy their driving experience in the 49ers state — a name that draws credit from the famous Gold Rush of 1849 that brought thousands of people to the territory, all of them hoping to strike it rich but very few succeeding.
These are different ranges of costs you can expect to pay in CA for an auto insurance premium based on your location and the type of vehicle you are looking to insure.
Average Cost for Car Insurance in California
- State minimum liability on average in California costs $115 a month or $1,380 a year. Full coverage auto policies costs around $359 a month or $4,308 a year in CA.
InsuranceQuotes cost rates are pulled from our real-time auto insurance database from recent quotes in California – Rates are based on a used car driver who is single, middle aged & has a clean driving record. Read on to learn about the cheapest local rates filtered by insurance providers, new cars, vehicle types and age.
Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance in California?
The cheapest state minimum liability coverage in California is from GEICO for $52 a month or $620 a year. A full coverage policy would cost $212 a month or $2,540 yearly with AAA. Compare the cheapest companies below:
| Insurance Provider: | Minimum Liability: | Monthly: | Full Coverage: | Monthly: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $620 | $52 | $2,540 | $212 |
| AAA | $860 | $72 | $3,763 | $314 |
| InterIns Exchange | $1,267 | $106 | $3,946 | $329 |
| Allstate | $1,310 | $109 | $4,478 | $373 |
Average Auto Insurance Costs by CA City
Search for your city to find the state minimum and full coverage costs for an auto policy:
| CA City: | Minimum Liability: | Monthly: | Full Coverage: | Monthly: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alhambra | $1,312 | $109 | $5,319 | $443 |
| Anaheim | $1,123 | $94 | $4,603 | $384 |
| Arden-Arcade | $1,174 | $98 | $4,516 | $376 |
| Bakersfield | $982 | $82 | $4,314 | $359 |
| Berkeley | $977 | $81 | $4,200 | $350 |
| Burbank | $1,327 | $111 | $5,301 | $442 |
| Carlsbad | $959 | $80 | $4,076 | $340 |
| Carson | $1,128 | $94 | $4,789 | $399 |
| Casa de Oro | $974 | $81 | $4,132 | $344 |
| Chico | $887 | $74 | $3,698 | $308 |
Showing 1–10 of 15
How Does Age Affect Auto Policy Rates
| Age: | State Minimum: | Monthly: | Full Coverage: | Monthly Cost: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | $2,605 | $217 | $8,215 | $685 |
| 18 | $2,338 | $195 | $7,690 | $641 |
| 20 | $1,645 | $137 | $5,770 | $481 |
| 22 | $1,341 | $112 | $4,817 | $401 |
| 24 | $1,234 | $103 | $4,472 | $373 |
| 29 | $1,044 | $87 | $3,797 | $316 |
| 34 | $1,003 | $84 | $3,652 | $304 |
| 39 | $998 | $83 | $3,579 | $298 |
| 44 | $991 | $83 | $3,517 | $293 |
| 49 | $967 | $81 | $3,421 | $285 |
How Much Does Car Insurance Cost for a New Vehicle?
| Vehicle Type: | Minimum Liability: | Monthly: | Full Coverage: | Monthly: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car (4door) | $980 | $82 | $4,277 | $356 |
| Hybrid Electric | $989 | $82 | $4,567 | $381 |
| Luxury Coupe | $968 | $81 | $6,434 | $536 |
| SUV | $1,018 | $85 | $3,607 | $301 |
| Truck | $1,110 | $93 | $4,885 | $407 |
Auto Insurance Costs by County
| Costs by County: | Sedan: | SUV: | Coupe: | Truck: | Hybrid: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda | $920 | $808 | $992 | $902 | $858 |
| Alpine | $1,154 | $1,002 | $1,226 | $1,106 | $1,078 |
| Amador | $910 | $800 | $978 | $884 | $850 |
| Butte | $858 | $752 | $910 | $826 | $796 |
| Calaveras | $920 | $806 | $994 | $894 | $858 |
| Colusa | $948 | $820 | $1,008 | $900 | $884 |
| Contra Costa | $990 | $862 | $1,050 | $960 | $924 |
| Del Norte | $978 | $854 | $1,054 | $940 | $916 |
| El Dorado | $1,018 | $884 | $1,086 | $968 | $952 |
| Fresno | $984 | $862 | $1,050 | $952 | $918 |
Showing 1–10 of 15
Insurance Costs by Vehicle Type
In California, the annual car insurance costs vary significantly between minimum liability and full coverage for different vehicle types. Here’s a detailed comparison:
Annual Costs for Minimum Liability:
- Car (4-door): $980 per year
- Hybrid Electric: $989 per year
- Luxury Coupe: $968 per year
- SUV: $1,018 per year
- Truck: $1,110 per year
Annual Costs for Full Coverage:
- Car (4-door): $4,277 per year
- Hybrid Electric: $4,567 per year
- Luxury Coupe: $6,434 per year
- SUV: $3,607 per year
- Truck: $4,885 per year
Annual CA Auto Insurance Costs for Different Vehicle Types:
| Vehicle Type | Minimum Liability Annual Cost | Full Coverage Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Car (4-door) | $980 | $4,277 |
| Hybrid Electric | $989 | $4,567 |
| Luxury Coupe | $968 | $6,434 |
| SUV | $1,018 | $3,607 |
| Truck | $1,110 | $4,885 |
This comparison highlights the considerable difference in costs between minimum liability and full coverage insurance for various types of vehicles, helping you choose the best insurance option based on your budget and coverage needs
Minimum Requirements for Car Insurance in California
- California drivers must be insured with a minimum liability insurance plan, according to the California State Insurance Department.
- California Liability Coverage minimums include:
- $15,000 for an accident involving the death or injury of a single person.
- $30,000 for an accident involving the death or injury of multiple people.
- $5,000 for an accident involving property damage.
- Failure to provide proof of insurance can result in vehicle impoundment, suspension of registration and/or suspension of drivers license, so it’s in your best interest to carry car insurance in California — plus auto insurance coverage is extremely helpful to have in an accident.
Is California Car Insurance More Expensive Compared to Other States?
On average, the annual car insurance costs in California compared to all other states are as follows:
Annual Minimum Liability Costs:
- California: $601
- All Other States: $621
- Percentage Difference: California is approximately 3.32% cheaper than the average of all other states for minimum liability.
Annual Full Coverage Costs:
- California: $2,307
- All Other States: $1,976
- Percentage Difference: California is approximately 16.74% more expensive than the average of all other states.
Our 2024 car insurance rates data shows that while California tends to have slightly lower minimum liability costs, the full coverage costs are significantly higher compared to the average across all other states.
New Driver’s License Requirements
All drivers, and all residents who have lived in California for more than 10 days, are required to have a valid drivers license. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) outlines three tests that must be passed to obtain a regular California drivers license.
- Vision Test. To pass the vision test, an applicant must be determined to have a vision acuity of 20/40 or greater. If the applicant fails, certain circumstances allow a referral to an eye specialist to be prescribed corrective lenses.
- Written Test. The written test consists of 30 questions pertaining to traffic signs and laws. The California DMV provides a practice test which can be accessed at www.dmv.ca.gov. Upon successful completion of the written and vision tests, the DMV will issue the applicant a permit to allow him/her to practice driving. While driving with the permit, the applicant must be accompanied by a licensed driver age 18 years or older.
- Road Test. To successfully be admitted to the road test, the applicant’s vehicle must be in proper driving order and meet the necessary requirements listed on the California DMV’s website. The test administrator will evaluate the driver in the following areas:
- Safely starting the vehicle
- Moving forward
- Stopping
- Backing
- Changing lanes
- Freeway driving
- Defensive driving
- Turns
- Pay a License Fee. A $30 fee is assessed for a new driver and a renewal application.
- Drivers Under the Age of 18. Applicants between the ages of 15 1/2 years and under 18 can obtain a provisional permit. The California DMV requires a parent or guardian signature on the application. To take the road test, the applicant must not only have passed the vision and written tests, they must have held their permit for 6 months, have completed a driver education course, have completed 6 hours of professional driving training and completed 50 hours of driving training with a licensed driver 25 years of age or older. This must include 10 hours of night driving.
DUI – DWI Laws
- BAC limit: .08 California DUI convictions remain on a driver’s record for 10 years, and each offense results in a suspension of the driver’s license effective 30 days after the initial violation.
- License suspension of 1 year on the first offense and each subsequent offense is a deterrent to drunk driving. In addition to the reinstatement fees, California law enforces severe penalties that vary according to the seriousness of the offense.
- California’s Zero Tolerance Law targets drivers under 21 years of age. Under this law, the first offense will result in a 1 year license revocation, completion of DUI school and multiple fines.
- There is a drivers license reissue fee for all drivers involved in DUI. For a list of the fees visit the California DMV’s fees page on their website.
- About the CCI Author
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Michael Giusti, MBA, is a senior contributor who writes in-depth content about state-level auto insurance rules, pricing trends, and savings opportunities for drivers. His expertise supports data-rich rate guides to help you find the cheapest auto coverage quotes on CheapCarInsurance.net.