Skip to Main Content

Best car insurance in California for 2024

Updated Nov 07, 2024
Bankrate’s analysis points to Geico, State Farm and Progressive as some best car insurance companies for California drivers.
Location-Icon
Explore offers from trusted carriers
+ MORE

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.

Best car insurance companies in California

According to our research, California drivers pay an average car insurance premium of $2,835 per year for full coverage and $670 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 2024 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:

4.4
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
$2,199
$544
4.4
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
$2,303
$430
4.3
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
$2,931
$594
3.8
Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5
$2,309
$605

Progressive

Progressive

4.4

Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5

Avg. full coverage premium

$183/mo

Avg. full coverage premium

$2,199/yr

Customer satisfaction

635/1,000

Geico

Geico

4.4

Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5

Avg. full coverage premium

$192/mo

Avg. full coverage premium

$2,303/yr

Customer satisfaction

626/1,000

State Farm

State Farm

4.3

Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5

Avg. full coverage premium

$244/mo

Avg. full coverage premium

$2,931/yr

Customer satisfaction

658/1,000

Mercury Insurance

Mercury

3.8

Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5

Avg. full coverage premium

$192/mo

Avg. full coverage premium

$2,309/yr

Customer satisfaction

596/1,000

Lightbulb Icon

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

34.5K

ZIP codes examined

1.2M

quotes analyzed

Bankrate and Coverage Logo

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.

Compare auto insurance rates

Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers
Location-Icon
Your information is kept secure
Let our expert agents help you choose the best policy. Call now for customized coverage.

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 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 minimum coverage rates set to rise in 2025

Like many other states, California’s minimum coverage limits were deemed too low to meet the increased cost of car insurance claims. Senate Bill 1107 will raise the minimum amount of car insurance required to drive legally in the state from 15/30/5 to 30/60/15, meaning drivers will be required to purchase at least $30,000 bodily injury liability insurance per person, $60,000 bodily injury liability insurance per accident and $15,000 property damage liability insurance. While the new minimum coverage rates will still cost Californians less than full coverage car insurance, those who opt for the bare minimum will start to see their rates increase when their policy renews after January 1, 2025. Drivers looking for the cheapest car insurance in California may want to plan to get quotes from multiple companies early next 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 $2,835 for full coverage and $670 for minimum coverage, according to premium data obtained from Quadrant Information Services. This is 15 percent more than the national average premium for full coverage, which is $2,458 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.