Skip to Main Content

Best car insurance in California for 2024

Updated Mar 14, 2024
Bankrate’s analysis points to Geico, State Farm and Progressive as some best car insurance companies for California drivers.

Best car insurance companies in California

According to our research, California drivers pay an average car insurance premium of $2,692 per year for full coverage and $653 for minimum coverage. Bankrate’s insurance editorial team determined that Geico, State Farm, Progressive and Mercury are among the best car insurance companies in California. We first analyzed average annual quoted premiums provided by Quadrant Information Services for the largest insurance companies by market share in the Golden State. We also considered coverage options, discounts, digital tools and customer satisfaction scores from the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study. Bankrate knows that California’s insurance market was unstable throughout 2023, and we took extra care to ensure that the providers we chose are still writing new auto policies.

Based on our research, CA drivers might want to get quotes from the following national and regional companies if you are looking for the best auto insurance:

Insurance company
Bankrate Score
Info
Average full coverage rate Average min coverage rate
4.4
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
$2,132
$553
4.4
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
$2,278
$446
4.3
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
$2,354
$521
3.8
Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5
$2,148
$544

Progressive

Progressive

4.4

Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5

Avg. full coverage premium

$178/mo

Avg. full coverage premium

$2,132/yr

Customer satisfaction

809/1,000

Geico

Geico

4.4

Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5

Avg. full coverage premium

$190/mo

Avg. full coverage premium

$2,278/yr

Customer satisfaction

830/1,000

State Farm

State Farm

4.3

Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5

Avg. full coverage premium

$196/mo

Avg. full coverage premium

$2,354/yr

Customer satisfaction

826/1,000

Mercury Insurance

Mercury

3.8

Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5

Avg. full coverage premium

$179/mo

Avg. full coverage premium

$2,148/yr

Customer satisfaction

794/1,000

Lightbulb

How Bankrate chose the best car insurance companies in California

To choose the best car insurance companies in California, Bankrate analyzed average rate data from Quadrant Information Services, along with third-party financial strength ratings from AM Best, customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power, coverage options, discounts and digital tools. We used these metrics to assign each carrier a Bankrate Score, out of 5 points.

Bankrate logo

Why you can trust Bankrate

Read our full methodology

To help California drivers find the best car insurance, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team reviewed some of the largest insurers by market share. We based our picks on a well-rounded analysis of several metrics related to each company.

46

years of industry expertise

122

carriers reviewed

20.7K

ZIP codes examined

1.2M

quotes analyzed

Advertising Disclosure
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.

Compare auto insurance rates

Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers.
Caret DownCaret Up
Please select age
Location-Icon
Lock Secure Your information is secure
SAVE WITH TRUSTED PROVIDERS
+ MORE
Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
Insurance Disclosure

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

Badge No spam. No fees. No surprises.
Caret Left Back
Advertising Disclosure
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Choose from offers in
Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
Insurance Disclosure

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

How to find the best car insurance in California

While price is important to many people, you might also want to consider other factors when choosing an auto insurance company. The best car insurance policy looks different for everyone and will depend on your needs, lifestyle and financial responsibilities. To see which car insurance company could provide the best coverage for your needs, consider these key steps.

New

Industry news: California’s rate filing approvals are in full swing

In October 2022, California’s Department of Insurance began reviewing and approving auto insurance rate filings from many companies following a two-year pandemic rate filing freeze. In California, any rate increase request above 7 percent that is challenged by the public requires a public hearing. Although most rate filings in 2023 were for 6.9 percent, some of the largest insurance providers have recently filed for rate approvals anywhere from 10 to 55 percent. Some notable approvals include Allstate, which was approved for a 30 percent rate increase and State Farm, which plans to raise rates 21 percent. This thaw in rate freezes allows insurance providers to raise rates in order to continue offering coverage in California. Industry executives are unsure of whether or not such dramatic increases will be approved every year.

Related content:

Ready for your quote?

Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers in California

Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
Advertising Disclosure
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

How much is car insurance in California?

The average annual cost of car insurance in California is $2,692 for full coverage and $653 for minimum coverage, according to premium data obtained from Quadrant Information Services. This is 6 percent more than the national average premium for full coverage, which is $2,545 per year. California drivers pay more on average than drivers in many other states, including neighboring states like Oregon and Washington, which may be due to the CA’s heavily congested roadways, leading to denser traffic and a higher likelihood of accident claims.

City Avg. annual full coverage premium Avg. savings vs. state average

Estimate your car insurance cost in California

Comparing auto insurance quotes will show you which carriers offer the lowest rates for your unique rating factors and coverage needs. Get started with personalized estimates below.

Advertising Disclosure
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.

Calculate your monthly car insurance payment

Get a quick estimate to make sure you're not overpaying.

Caret DownCaret Up
Please select age
Location-Icon
Lock Secure Your information is secure
Caret DownCaret Up
Please select credit score
Why we're asking
Methodology

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2024 rates for ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

  • $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $50,000 property damage liability per accident
  • $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
  • $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
  • $500 collision deductible
  • $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2022 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.

Clock Wait
46
years of industry expertise
Search
122
carriers reviewed
Location
20.7K
ZIP codes examined
Dollar Coin
1.2M
quotes analyzed
Written by
Natalie Todoroff
Writer, Insurance

Natalie Todoroff is an insurance writer for Bankrate, prior to which she wrote for a popular insurance comparison shopping app. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English and has written over 800 articles about insurance throughout her career.

Edited by Editor, Insurance
Reviewed by Director of corporate communications, Insurance Information Institute