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Best car insurance in California for 2024
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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
|
$2,199
|
$544
|
|
4.4
|
$2,303
|
$430
|
|
4.3
|
$2,931
|
$594
|
|
3.8
|
$2,309
|
$605
|
Progressive
4.4
4.4
Avg. full coverage premium
$183/mo
Avg. full coverage premium
$2,199/yr
Customer satisfaction
635/1,000
-
Why Progressive made our list: Progressive offers potential discounts for online quotes, homeownership, bundling, safe driving and more. Progressive’s digital tools could also save you time managing your account and filing claims. Further, the carrier's Name Your Price tool might be helpful if you are on a strict budget. The tool allows you to input the amount you’re willing to spend on car insurance and then populates coverage options that fit your financial picture.
Geico
4.4
4.4
Avg. full coverage premium
$192/mo
Avg. full coverage premium
$2,303/yr
Customer satisfaction
626/1,000
-
Why Geico made our list: Geico offers low average premiums across many driver profiles in California plus more than a dozen potential discounts. These savings opportunities include affiliation, good driver, military, multi-policy and safety and security device discounts. Although Geico has well-developed digital tools — it placed above average in the shopping category in the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study — it has no local agencies in California. Geico checks many of our boxes, which is why it tied in the 2024 Bankrate Awards as Best Auto Insurance Company Overall and Best Budget Auto Insurance Company.
State Farm
4.3
4.3
Avg. full coverage premium
$244/mo
Avg. full coverage premium
$2,931/yr
Customer satisfaction
658/1,000
-
Why State Farm made our list: The company offers a robust set of car insurance discounts that could help you save on your premium. The company has more than 19,000 agents nationwide, but if you prefer to do your insurance business online, State Farm's mobile app is highly rated, giving policyholders the best of both worlds. State Farm offers two telematics programs with one option geared specifically toward young drivers. Endorsement options are somewhat limited compared to other carriers, but a handful of add-ons may be available.
Mercury Insurance
3.8
3.8
Avg. full coverage premium
$192/mo
Avg. full coverage premium
$2,309/yr
Customer satisfaction
596/1,000
-
Why Mercury made our list: Mercury’s coverage options and discount opportunities for its auto policies are consistent with other carriers we reviewed, and it also offers rideshare insurance for drivers who work for transportation providers like Uber or Lyft. The insurer enables you to submit a claim online or by calling its 24/7, toll-free claims hotline. Mercury could very well offer some of the best full coverage car insurance in California for those on a budget, as its average rates are among the lowest on our list.
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.
Why you can trust Bankrate
Read our full methodologyTo 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
Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
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
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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
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.
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Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
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.